Goodbye Sweden, Hello South Africa... My SSS

I am packing.  Maybe for the last time.  Hopefully not, just the last time for the long-run.  We've been living abroad since November 2009 and I can now readily say I am looking forward to unpacking for a while in my own home.  Tonight is my last night in Sweden.  Today I took my last bus ride, yesterday my last tram ride.  My last Swedish Fica (a tradition I want to keep doing in SA) and... my last snowflakes (yes this afternoon, while sitting on the bus a couple of snowflakes gracefully said their goodbye's)!

The last two years has been exuberant, exhilarating, exhausting, exquisite, excellent, exceptional, extravagant and a experience!  An experience I would do over and over again and one I would never forget.  It would stay rooted in my mind and heart forever, forming part of who I am now.  I can never be complete, but it started to build my completion-blocks.   

The first S:

South Korea, you came as a shock, physically and mentally.  But I overcame my fears and in the process learned things about myself and did things I never imagined I was capable of doing. 
You taught me to be patient, to make sacrifices, to be more gentle on myself, to open my eyes to a new and interesting world that existed beyond the glorified walls of a conventional life.   I met the most amazing people;  was part of a expat group in Gyeongju who I will always be grateful to for welcoming us with open arms and showing us how the expat life really should be like.  I look back on you with a proud stillness in my heart.  I will always wonder about you, South Korea.  Wonder if the 90degree backbone of your stature grew to heavy, if your rice fields still wake in the morning fog, if your women in their traditional Hanboks still walk silently up the path to Bulguksa and Songron Grotto.  If your war with the North echos into the very hearts of your youth.  I will always taste your Kimchi on my tongue, missing and hating it at the same time.  I will long for Sangipsal and the gossip around the charcoal grills and ventilation pipes.  I shall miss you, even when I'm not thinking about you. Thank you for inviting me into your realms, sharing with me your beauty, grandeur and youth.  I will always be thankful.

Sweden.  I arrived in Sweden unsure of who You were.  But then I had to shed my skin.  That was your price.  I had to grow again.  To start anew.  You taught me to trust myself again, and others.  You taught me to open my heart to new friendships and let go of others.  You nurtured my spirit with your glory mornings and snowflakes.   You showed me to stand on my own two feet again and believe in what I believe again.  You abled me to see the world and made some of my wildest dreams come true. I will always be grateful to your kindred spirit and your, sometimes, harsh words (and winters).  You showed me nature in a way I've never seen.  You shared the language with me, even just for a little while.  Most importantly you showed me childish innocence and taught me to find mine again.  And the importance of holding on to the child within me.  I will always be grateful to the people who made us feel welcome in Sweden, right from the beginning straight to the end.  For the expats who shared my frustrations and disbelief sometimes, thank you.  For everyone at work, thank you for your kindness and friendship and amazing farewell.  I will always remember that.  The lessons I've learned in Sweden are priceless and forever rooted in my soul and for that I thank You.

Now I am going back to where it all started, South Africa (My first and last S).  There are still a lot to be learned, a lot to be discovered, a lot to experience.  I will never let go of the traveler in me, I can never set her free, for she will always be part of me and steer me on different and adventurous paths I would never have dreamed to go before I met her.  South Africa holds a dream for me that I have yet realised or accomplished.  I need to chase that dream now and find my roots again in My Beloved Country.

Weddings and Wedding anniversaries

It is our three year wedding anniversary today and I had to look back and write.... We planned our wedding in two months (We didn't want a long engagement).  I know I wanted the beach, with sand between my toes and the ocean air in my hair.  And we were blessed with the most amazing day, sunshine and blue skies!  We refused to have a plan B just in case the weather was bad, we just believed...

I walked through frangipanis towards my groom, stopping at each guest to receive a flower (we asked in the invite for each girl to bring a flower that reminds them of me).  My bunch of flowers grew bigger than I suspected....  but I loved it!  We used this for the official wedding bouquet which I threw, later in the evening, towards the excited "next-to-be-bride". 
While signing the marriage certificates, Stephan's sister's daughter sang, in her beautiful voice, Amazing Grace.  After the ceremony, walking through the guests, red rose petals were strewn over us (and this created beautiful pictures).  And our family friend, Malitsaba sang the African cheering "tlatlatla...." which gave the end of our beach-ceremony an African twist.  It was special and we felt her blessing and happiness through the beautiful African sound.
Our wedding function was walking distance from the beach at a small hotel.  Our tables were basic, with candles, red rose petals, white see-through linen and bright red wine glasses.  We put more detail in the food - rather than having a "opskep"/buffe.  We put some "throw-away" cameras on the tables so that the guests could make their own memories.  Developing the films (yes, it was film cameras) served us with many funny and fun photos...  We printed our own message on a white servet (that my mother made) and the guests could take that home.  My sister-in-law made us "love" key-chains as gifts for the women. The men received cigars.

We partied right through until it was time to celebrate my birthday.  Yes we got married on the 21st of March.  My birthday is the 22nd.  I danced barefoot all night, still feeling the sand between my toes.
Our guests were brilliant and so full of energy (and dance moves).  We didn't focus a lot on speeches and the normal detail of a wedding, but still had the wedding cake and a roaming mice which offered the most amazing stories frour friends and family.  I will always be grateful! 
Our day turned out perfect.  Do I have regrets?  Yes, maybe all brides do, I don't know, maybe not...
Regrets:  We wanted a small wedding, but had to pay the price - I couldn't invite everyone I wanted to share our special day with.  Forgive me always.

We didn't focus so much on speeches or thanking people or family.  Looking back, I really should have thanked my two grandmothers.  For being there, for contributing to the person I have become, for loving me always and just for being the most amazing grandmothers I could ever ask for (both now in their 80's - I was so blessed to have them at our wedding).  Thank you Grandmothers!!! 
Thanking a lot of other people I should have thanked, but didn't.  Thank you! 

We forgot to take a group photo and official friend photographs.  I only have random photograps of me or Stephan with friends.  Regret - hiring the photograper for only half the day and not the full evening. 

Looking back, I am grateful.  It was the most amazing day in my life.  Thank you for everyone who made it special!

Öckerö, guinea pigs and a sunset

After about an hour's tram ride from where I live to Botaniska Trädgård, I met my friend and work colleague, Cheri and her son Samson. We drove in her car to the ferry port, Lilla Varholmen, where we (and the car) got on the ferry, no charge, and enjoyed the sights of the surrounding islands. The ferry ride only takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Arriving on Öckerö we made our way to Martha's (from El Salvadore) house, also a friend and work colleague. She has a beautiful house and it was such a treat to meet her family. Her seven year old daughter, Alice, showed us her guinea pigs and rabbits, which she's very proud of.

A week before the visit Martha asked me at work if I am allergic to anything, if there's anything I do not eat. And if I am allergic to guinea pigs or rabbits. Immediately I thought, how am I going to tell this women that I'm not going to eat guinea pigs or rabbits. And I was thinking I am not Rita Golden Gelman, author of "Tales of a Female Nomad", who vowed to eat everything on her travels that she was offered. I try to follow that travel rule, but sometimes I fail.... . I then scrapped up the courage and told her that I don't think I would be able to eat guinea pig, maybe rabbits, but not guinea pig. Suddenly she burst out laughing so hard I immediately realized my mistake and joined in... 

Lunch did not consist out of guinea pigs or rabbits. It was a delicious creamy chicken and mushroom dish with a hint of spice. After lunch we went for a walk around the island where I realised there's a library, a supermarket, lots of boats, a rocket spaceship thing on a huge rock (which no-one knew what it was) on the island and Alice's school. I was impressed with the whole island community existence and learned that Öckerö is quite and old community. There is even a sea-training facility on the island.
After our walk we went home to get out of the cold. Martha's husband made us some delicious Swedish coffee and we ate left-over birthday cake. (Alice had her birthday party the day before). I had two slices of the delicious, homemade birthday cake.
Our trip home was exciting. Me, Cheri and Samson chasing sunsets in a glorified, golden sky. Cheri stopping now and then for me to jump out, take a picture of the setting sun over the mirror-flat water. Then driving over the big green Gothenburg bridge provided one of the most amazing sunset settings I've ever seen. A full, red-ish sun falling in the sky like a fire-ish red balloon with skyscrapers and big cranes in the background forming magnificent dark shadows... shadows in a golden sky.

Journey to a Swedish island...

I'm on my way to the island Öckerö to visit a friend and enjoy a Sunday lunch. It's quite a long journey, but looking forward to what surprises the afternoon might offer.

On my ipod I have the following to keep me company:
Florence and the machine
Swedish band First Aid Kit
South African bands Freshly Ground and off course Prime Circle ;)
The Amelie sountrack (for the French side of me) ;)
Snow Patrol - Called out in the dark (a new favorite)
Russian Red which I love
Swedish Melissa Horn
And oldies...Pink Floyd and Alanis

The day is grey, but winter started to move on, making way for small buds, green grass and warmer skies. Lets hope for some sunshine on the island of Öckerö.

Rome (definitely) wasn't built in a day

I came back from Rome with sore muscles and with a horrible cold, but it was all worth it!  Now I just want to go back for there is so much more to see and explore! 

Rome is a mixture of culture, beauty, jealousy, glory, history and indulgence.  Our hotel had an amazing location and we could walk everywhere.  We arrived late afternoon on a Thursday and had the whole evening to explore the streets of the age old city.  The sounds of Rome, coming from the streets and it's people, has an extraordinary ring to it that I immediately recognized after watching the Italy part in Eat Pray Love again when we arrived back in Sweden. 

And off course I had to do my research "Rome in 2 days" and book a Vatican tour beforehand!  And that really helped our time limit!  Our first night we explored Trastevere, where the cute and cozy little characteristic trattories (an informal restaurant or tavern serving simple Italian dishes) can be found between the cobbled streets and authentic, medieval neighbourhood.  Trastevere is separated from  the rest of Rome by the River Tiber and this was our furthest walk from our hotel, but a beautiful one!  And yes, we got lost on our first evening.  One-and-a-half-hour-lost, getting me in bed far later than I had planned.  And after a couple of glasses of red wine this wasn't the most fun I ever had, but definitely and adventure on its own.  We accidentally walked around the Roman Forum (which was Ancient Rome) instead of through, but then (luckily) ended up at the beautifully lit up Colosseum. And what a sight! I felt a couple of a chills down my spine and tears down my cheaks!

Our first day basically consisted out of the Vatican museums, the Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel), St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza Navona.  The Vatican tour provides you with amazingly interesting facts.  I've never been a fan of the Vatican or it's politics, just because they pillaged the whole of Rome and all it's treasures are locked up in their museums and vaults.  Who knew they stripped the Colosseum of it's marble to build St. Peter's square?!!  But I have to admit, the tour was interesting and watching Angels and Demons in the aftermath was a kick!

Piazza Navona - having a glass of wine while the sun touched the last colorful buildings in the square, watching artists and their paintings, with the three baroque fountains spurting water softly through its ocher-colored water, artists trying to make a coin with interesting gestures - giant flying bubbles, the invisible man with glasses, a stage with actors dressed up in medieval costumes, a horse carriage and the beautiful Italian language in the air.

Day two and three consisted out of  The Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Imperial Forums, the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and a lot of Pasta and Pizza!

There's so much to do and see in Rome and around every hook and cranny is a sight worth seeing or a cobble street worth exploring.  On our way to the bus station on our last day we walked straight into a parade:  a children's street carnival.  Children dressed up as cartoon characters could be found all around Rome (and I started to notice it on Piazza Navona the day before).  And this sums up Rome for me:  a surprise around every corner!

Piazza Navona