Archive for 'Living in Sweden'
Sweden, A Mushroom-Loving Culture Posted by Chelsea B on Oct 15, 2021
Do you live in a mycophilic or a mycophobic culture? These adjectives of Greek origin mean either mushrooming-loving or the latter, mushroom-fearing. Foraging for wild mushrooms is commonplace in Nordic, Slavic, and Baltic countries, yet it’s not a tradition that’s taken root with American immigrant culture. Swedish youngsters grow up learning how to safely identify…
Västerbottensost Pie: Kräftskiva’s BFF Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 27, 2021
My first ever kräftskiva was at the end of August. I fumbled through learning to eat the small, briney, dilly kräftor watching my Swedish family crack and slurp. Although crayfish are the reason for the party, the side dishes are often the stars. My kräftskiva debut was also my first time eating Västerbottensostpaj, a beloved, cheesy…
Summery Prose with Harry Martinson’s Juninatten Posted by Chelsea B on Jul 23, 2021
It’s July, almost August in fact. And although we’re technically over the Midsommar hump, I feel like summer only just arrived. Long days still fade into mild evenings and the sun sparkles gently as it sets into any of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes. This week, I want to share a poem that captures that feeling. Juninatten…
Riksdagen Drama: Non-Confidence Vote Vocab Posted by Chelsea B on Jun 25, 2021
Tensions rose earlier this week as the Swedish parliament made history. They voted to oust Stefan Löfven, current Prime Minister and party leader of the Social Democrats. The hot topic? Rent control. With only a few days left to plan his next move, and the Swedish government in a shaky position, what better time than…
Celebrate Pride with Swedish Queer Vocabulary Posted by Chelsea B on Jun 18, 2021
June is recognized as Pride Month all around the world. With Sweden’s long progressive stance on gay rights, it’s no surprise that Swedes host more Pride celebrations per capita than any country in the world. From rainbow-painted park benches and crosswalks in cities like Malmö and Göteborg to the Stockholm Pride parade drawing half a…
6 Swedish Women to Follow on Instagram Posted by Chelsea B on Mar 12, 2021
Internationella kvinnodagen (International Women’s Day) happened on Monday, March 8, but let’s keep women in the spotlight a bit longer, shall we? This week, I’ll highlight 6 inspiring Swedish women with Instagram accounts you’ll want to follow. Last week in the musikblogg , I emphasized the importance of diversifying your target language content – so, here’s…
5 Tips to Discuss Sustainability in Swedish Posted by Chelsea B on Feb 26, 2021
54% of Sweden’s energy comes from renewable sources. With a commitment to fighting climate change, Swedish society has taken action to make sustainable choices every day. It’s commonplace for Swedes to discuss their flygskam (shame of flying) or their apartment building’s system for sorting hushållssopor (household waste) into multiple smaller bins for efficiency. Practicing vocabulary…