Wanted! American citizen is on the run in Sweden has anybody see them please get them back to Kallinge we miss them a lot! It was a great time and a pleasure to be a hosted family to Carol and Shana and having BBQ with the rest of the team Beth, Jamie Dennis and Peter. Take care for the rest of your journey and a nice trip back home. Best regards Christer Och sabine
Farewell We miss you! Thank you so much for everything and your wonderful presentation on Skarfva gard!
Have a nice time in our beautiful Stockholm.
You are all very welcome back to your new friends in district 2400!
Jöran
Thank you for sharing your time in Sweden on this blog! You look like you had/are having a wonderful time! I also wanted to wish Carol a Happy Birthday on Tuesday! :)
Living The GSE Magic... Hejsan Team Sweden! It has been absolutely delightful to follow your incredible GSE journey over the past 5 weeks. You have lived the magic of one of the most culturally enriching, professionally enlightening and personally transforming adventures of a lifetime! You are an amazing team that has represented District 5580 exceptionally well and made us all proud! We look forward to many more stories of beautiful Sverige upon your return. Enjoy the long summer night skies of Stockholm! Skål!
This ain't the end, by no means the end... This transition from the formal program (how long do you expect these Rotarians to cater to your ever whim, anyway?) to the long-lasting informal portion is a rather jarring one. Whomp! You're out the other end of the shoot, and left standing there, waiting to board an airplane. But I assure you - it is not the end. Rejoice! It is not the end! There is so much more to experience. There are countless opportunities to "try something" and "taste something", challenge yourself, revel with friends and strangers alike, and be inspired by generosity or awed by gesture. 'Tis simply the way it is... Lycka till med resan till Stockholm! Smaka på den djävla ålen, fegis! ...den smakar bäst med öl, givetvis! Kom snart hem, trött men glad, och då sitta oss ner och börja berätta om... Välkommen åter!
Poignant, that... As I follow your trip, I am dually thinking of the adventure you are having, while also reminded of the adventure I had. You are ever so clever in pointing out the depth, rarity, and treasure of what you are experiencing, with whom you share this experience, and more. Thank you for allowing ME to share with you, while also being reminded of the treasure that was bestowed upon me, and providing me a change to express my sheer wonder and gratitude for that. ...I hope you took notes on how to do that BBQ - that looked tasty!
What an accurate description of what the GSE experience is all about, the inward journey is as important as the physical journey.
I am enjoying every step of your adventure.
The garble of garage sales... The "festival of fleas, the tables of treasures, the morass of merchandise...the bunches of baubles." You go half-way around the world, and find charm in a garage sale... Oh well, I guess indeed this is a voyage of discovery!
Actually, there is something charming in the familiarity of a flea market. So I hope you did enjoy it, and DIDN'T bid on that used lawn mower or bed frame.
You paint an interesting picture that again makes me look forward to hearing the stories. And now, you will have a dalahäst puppet to help illustrate the harrowing boat-ride, the power-climb up a pile of rocks, or windmill, the gallop out of the eel pond...
Nice Tshirt Dennis! Hi team 5580. It´s nice to see that you still have a great time in Sweden. If YOU have something to do with the weather in our district I suggest that you all visit us every year from now.
I like your T-shirt Dennis, looks like you´re turning to become a genuine Swede now. Did you wear it on the National Day? I´m also honored of what you wear on your head.
Wish you wonderfull team a really fine and exiting last week of your trip and a good stay in Stockholm. I´ll continue to follow you on your blog.
Graduation day! You should have Dennis look into whether he can get all of YOU hats - those white Popeye ones - for YOUR graduation from the GSE program! ...I bet he owes you at least that... You can embroider an eel on it somewhere, perhaps slithering around a windmill - that sort of mottif. Or not, heck, I just think the unique experiences you've shared is fantastic, and worthy of some commemoration and celebration.
You folks are terrific. I am so proud of you, and I am also so happy that your experience has been enjoyed, has been meaningful, and has been profound. Thank you for the chance to share - from a vast distance - your exchange. I look forward to hearing the stories! And I really look forward to your presentation in Minot!
Cowboy photo I enjoy reading about your travels and viewing the pictures! How did William end up wearing a white hat in the old west photo shoot? Have fun the last few days and a safe trip back!
You're making me jealous! AND THAT IS FANTASTIC! I love the pictures, and the commentary, and how together they evoke confirmation of such a powerful experience. Of course, it is impossible to convey the nuance, the depth, and the minutia of it all - but that is immaterial. Once you are home, this website will be all you need in response to the question "how was your trip?" Just point the inquisitor here. Good job! Good fun! And Good God, keep making me jealous!
Miss U Hi everybody,
Just want to say we miss you a lot. It was really nice to get to know you all. Have fun and enjoy the rest of your trip!
Carol, Jamie -Sixten has recovered and is out playing again :)/Malin
more eels??? Thanks for keeping us informed on the eels. Do they have more than one variety of eel? Do eels have white meat or dark meat? Your public wants to know!!! Where are the pictures of the Absolut tastings? I received a nice email from Dennis today. Thanks for such a lengthy and informative recap of the trip. I have forwarded it to the GSE committee. We are all looking forward to your return home and hearing of more stories and pictures.
Hello Kristianstad It is gratifying to hear that you are having good times, good weather, and great expriences!
Keep up the energy and enthusiasm, folks! HEEEE HAWWWW!
Chris
AGAIN WITH THE EEL! Please tell me you, nor Shana, won't be waking up in the middle of the night, cold sweat running down your back, thoughts of eels racing through your head. SWEDEN IS MORE THAN EELS! (Although, those big Eel Limosines are quite the nice touch!)
We have our own eel story, which we will share at the proper time, accompanied by copious shots of Absolut, and a big, steaming plate of... Ål!
När vi två bli en Här kommer alla känslorna på en och samma gång... Per Gessle is the author of both of these songs, and both continue to resonate in my mind, whether watching your adventures (from a safe, restraining-order abiding distance), participating in the hijinx of the team now departed, or my own team. (I was blessed with a chance meeting of 2 of my team members this weekend, long enough to convey a sincere and boisterous birthday wish to my esteemed team leader.) The song mentioned in this title is "when two become one", and that commemorates your meeting with your counterparts, although the song itself has a more lusty meaning... The second song describes all emotions coming to the surface all at once - something that GSE continues to inspire in me. So, when you see me smile, and cry, all at once, I bet even transcribed Curious George will understand regardless of shape, or color...
Per Gessle and Gyllene Tider! Halmstad is the home of Per Gessle, who formed Roxette after the demise of Gyllene Tider. Per Gessle and Maria Fredricksson stormed the world, and for a year or two were the biggest thing since ABBA. Per Gessle continues to put out music, and is likely as rich as anyone/anything in Halmstad. So, I hope you take some time to sing SOMMARTIDER HEJ HEJ SOMMARTIDER! Or, at least have someone sing it for you.... In Angleholm, you have to listen to Jill Johnson and sing Oh, Vilket Harlig Dag! ...or not. Not everything needs to be punctuated by song. ...or is that wrong, Beth?
Booking Shana for Fall Presentation Just to let Shana know - her physio friends back in T-Bay have booked her for a fall OPA presentation - and we want the singing too! Your trip looks wonderful...glad you're all having so much fun!
Gotta Love That Paper... These adventures have an odd ring of familiarity to them - or, at least credibility and poetic justice. We always knew one of more of you would be arrested, but to put you in the dog cage? So much for the notion of Sweden being "progressive"... I like the photo of Shana Oakly!
Let us resolve to FIKA often, long, and to teach others the blessings of this tradition!
Chris
SHOUT IT OUT! Here, where stain-cutting products are not equally forbidden, you should be able to treat that coat, or it will disintegrate - hell, I don't know ~ and likely, you don't want me to do your laundry.
Climbing a wind tower AND riding in a fire truck? NOW I'm jealous! If you get strapped into a boat that can do a full 360 roll in sea-swells at least 80 feet tall (ok, so we exaggerate over time) followed by cow-plop bingo in a neolithic boat-grave, then to hell with the rules, I'm going back for a second run at this thing!
Actually, what is confusing to me is merely the names you mention then looking at the pictures, am I to believe that Carol and Shana didn't clamber up the windmill? Somehow, there has to be a story there, too.
Today, we had a little "remember when" moment of exploits now 8 years past, and it was glorious to remember, I swear. My whole team joined in a collective sigh and skål, and I have to say - you all will join in that game too - and it will be wonderful, and you will all laugh, and sigh, and smile. I bet you a million dollars (Zimbabwean, given that I have the chance of assembling such a sum) that you will collectively NEVER look at a windmill the same again.
Rock on, folks! Build your memories, just as we celebrate ours. And in the end, let us raise our glasses high, sing Helan Går (off-key, and likely already inebriated), and endeavor to carry on the spirit of GSE so the NEXT team too is prepared, wowed, safe, secure, happy, and helpful. To those who are given much, much is expected. What I expect from you all is to seek "wow" moments here too, and also to provide them to others.
We're the 2008 GSE team from Rotary District 5580 (USA & Canada) touring District 2400 in southern Sweden! We're having a fabulous time thus far and are amazed at the opportunities we're given! Thank you for checking in on us!
Our fearless leader:
Dennis - Lawyer, Perham, Minnesota from Perham Rotary Club
Team members:
Beth - Music Teacher, Bismarck, North Dakota on behalf of Bismarck Rotary Club
Carol - Professor, Fargo, North Dakota on behalf of Fargo-Moorhead AM Rotary Club
Jamie - Court Reporter, Two Harbors, Minnesota on behalf of North Shore R... full info
Christer Thagesson
non-member comment
Wanted!
American citizen is on the run in Sweden has anybody see them please get them back to Kallinge we miss them a lot! It was a great time and a pleasure to be a hosted family to Carol and Shana and having BBQ with the rest of the team Beth, Jamie Dennis and Peter. Take care for the rest of your journey and a nice trip back home. Best regards Christer Och sabine