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- 3 yrs 23 wks 1 days old
- Updated: 14 May 2008
- 841 entries
- 902 comments
Culture-Clash
Swedish practicality starts young...
Friday, 9 May 2008 2:13 P GMT+01
A team of Helsingborg, Sweden, high school students has won a national award for its invention — men’s underwear with pockets for condom storage.
Underwear condom pockets earn award
Somehow I don’t think this would have gone over big as a 4-H Project
Pain at the pump: a little reality check for Americans
Friday, 2 May 2008 7:21 P GMT+01
I’m hearing plenty of griping about gasoline prices from my American friends and family lately, but it’s hard for me to be sympathetic when I don’t even own a car.
However, if I did have wheels, I’d be paying close to 7 bucks a gallon.
Caffeine kick: short shots are better than 'big gulps'
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 6:32 A GMT+01
Caffeine jump-starts the body and sharpens the mind. But studies suggest that we Yanks are doing it wrong. For optimal brain gain, regular tea breaks, as favored in the UK, are more effective than a 20-oz Starbucks sucked down in lieu of breakfast.
Another kallbadhus convert created!
Saturday, 12 April 2008 11:23 A GMT+01
Today I introduced yet another American to the wonders of the traditional Swedish sauna and cold plunge routine. It's one element of the culture here that I have TOTALLY embraced, though I missed the best part of the winter bathing season t
Sweden screws with yet another holiday tradition
Tuesday, 25 March 2008 12:38 P GMT+01
Easter Weekend was a four-day affair here in Vikingland since both Good Friday and Easter Monday are official holidays.
You thought I was making it up, didn't you!
Tuesday, 12 February 2008 9:20 P GMT+01
Since moving to Sweden oh so many moons ago I've had numerous occasions to shake my head in wonder at the culture's weirdly obsessive rules for use of shared laundry facilities in apartment buildings.
When the workout gods know you're slacking...
Wednesday, 6 February 2008 7:37 A GMT+01
What follows is a rather lengthy story about how Dr. Darling and I got locked in to our local fitness club last Saturday morning, and how the reaction of everyone one involved was so typically, well...Swedish.
"Bringing in the sheets"
Monday, 28 January 2008 8:45 P GMT+01
We spent a good chunk of the weekend entertaining my father-on-law. He had initially invited us to visit him in Falkenberg, but ever since becoming Copenhagen's 1st PhD postal carrier, Dr. D has (finally!) become a bit protective of our weekends.
Large majority of Swedes want to allow gay marriage
Tuesday, 22 January 2008 12:45 P GMT+01
Large majority of Swedes want to allow gay marriageIn reality, it's probably the main reason I live here.
In Sweden we whistle AT construction workers!
Friday, 18 January 2008 9:42 P GMT+01
I can think of few things sexier than a man in a kilt...except maybe a really fit construction worker in a kilt!
Pecan Pie: Post-Christmas Breakfast of Champions
Wednesday, 26 December 2007 3:11 P GMT+01
Think about it. It's made with lots of eggs and nuts. It's a protein extravaganza!
We're officially "networked"!
Monday, 12 November 2007 3:57 P GMT+01
Dr. Darling and I like to think of ourselves as fairly technically savvy when it comes to our respective computers. We own four of them between us (two Mac laptops for me, two WinDoze-based desktop machines for her).
Financially solvent again...
Friday, 7 September 2007 11:28 P GMT+01
My new bank card arrived in the mail today and since I've been feeling somewhat crippled this week without it, I couldn't wait to activateit.
My new career as a barista...
Saturday, 25 August 2007 9:21 A GMT+01
I'd forgotten how much time I spend making coffee when my mother is here. She drinks it all day long, and thus fits right in with the java guzzling Swedes.
Is it any wonder I've always had a "thing" for bullfighters?
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 1:29 P GMT+01
This AP photo is part of the Yahoo slideshow of images from the annual Sam Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain. This is where the most famous of the idiotic "Running of the Bulls" rituals occurs, with scores of people injured while taking part.
Multiculturalism on parade...
Tuesday, 17 July 2007 8:56 A GMT+01
Dr. Darling and I went to a performance of Carmen on Sunday. This was an unusual thing for us to do since we aren't big big opera fans. (We agree that it's great music to have in the CD player when you need to be concentrating on something else.)
Independence Day...independent of fireworks
Wednesday, 4 July 2007 10:53 P GMT+01
Hap 4th of July to all of my American readers. I celebrated it Swedish-style...otherwise known as "Wednesday."
Taxing day for ex-pats
Friday, 15 June 2007 4:45 P GMT+01
Today is the deadline for Americans living abroad to file their tax returns...which means I sent mine in yesterday.
And the 2007 Sleepless Season begins!
Monday, 11 June 2007 8:15 P GMT+01
Sometime shortly after dawn this morning...for the first time this year...I had to break out the sleep mask
So Europe's not THAT relaxed about nudity....
Wednesday, 23 May 2007 8:08 A GMT+01
Naked U.S. tourist shocks German city
Clearly this guy did not do much research prior to his trip to Nuremburg. He told the police officers who charged him with indecent exposure that he thought strolling around naked was acceptable in Germany.
Nakedness NOT optional on Swedish TV
Sunday, 20 May 2007 2:57 P GMT+01
One of the endlessly entertaining things about guests visiting from the US is the cultural differences they tune in to...stuff I was know I was hyper-aware of when I first moved here but barely notice now.
Taking back Mother's Day for Peace
Monday, 14 May 2007 9:42 A GMT+01
Mother's Day falls on a different day in Sweden than in the U.S., and since both dates are in May, it's not unusual for me to get them mixed up. Dr. Darling is no help in this matter since she'd space calling her own mom if I didn't remind her.
Lessons in Swedish commuter etiquette...
Wednesday, 9 May 2007 10:16 A GMT+01
One of the things that helps make my 35 minute train ride to work so tolerable is the abundance of free commuter newspapers. Depending on how awake I am and how hard I want to wrestle with Swedish, I will at least scan the headlines during thr trip.
Casual Monday AKA "Squeeze Day"
Monday, 30 April 2007 12:37 P GMT+01
In many countries around the world, May 1 is an official holiday for one reason or another. In Europe, it's the date on which many countries mark Labour Day. Sweden is one of these.
Barista milk: It's not just for Starbucks anymore!
Sunday, 29 April 2007 10:35 P GMT+01
After nearly five years of living in The Land of 9 Different Grades of Cream and STILL having to improvise my own half&half, the Swedish dairy industry seems to have taken a step in the right direction by adding barista milk to their product line.