Our first Sunday in Sweden.  Following the  suggestion of a friend's friend's friend, we chose a church to attend in Malmo.  We had tried to connect with a couple who had been referred to us via email, but there was a mix-up along the way so we hadn't heard back from them.  As God would have it, we sat directly in front of them, and when they saw our English Bibles, they suspected that we were the American couple who was moving to the area.  We couldn't understand any of the service at the start because we got there a little late (just getting to know the bus system) and we did not realize that they had headphones with English translation.  But that was taken care of when our soon to be friends figured out that we didn't understand Swedish and quickly retrieved two sets of earphones. 

After church we enjoyed Fika with the other congregants:

Fika

Afterwards, there were some visiting artists who, for those interested, shared a little about their work.  Once is from Greece and the other is from Macedonia.  They both restore and create Icon's.  They shared that one needs permission from the church to create Icons, and then before one starts a work, he or she receive a blessing from a Priest (or Bishop...).  The materials they use are all natural, using crushed stones for color, mixed with egg yolk (making tempera paint) and utilizing shellac, lime and resin.  In the picture, you might be able to see their demonstration of the work progressing from right to left.  It is done in layers to get depth in the colors.  Very interesting. 

Then afterwards our new friends asked us to their lovely home for lunch!!   So gracious!   Thanks to all who have been praying that we make friends!!

The plane ride was great – great service, great food (really) – but hot. 

John and I sat next to a Danish woman and a man from Lund on the airplane.  Both were very friendly and informative.

We arrived in Copenhagen airport at ~0700.  There were no security checks, and we did have to not pay to use a luggage trolley.

 I loved the two statues in the above picture!!

Managed to get our 6 suitcases, two computer bags, and ourselves onto the train to Malmo.  From there we took a short taxi ride to the apartment.  The driver was a very friendly 27 year old Palestinian who said he has 200 cousins in Malmo.  The tab was 127 Kroners.  When John gave him 150, the driver returned 50 and said it was enough.

A woman rode by the apartment in a tricycle with one wheel behind and 2 wheels in the front.  She had a child behind her in a child carrier chair.  In the front of the tricycle was a very large basket that was close to the ground and was probably around 30” in diameter.  In it was sitting an older child, probably ~ 4 years old, and a bunch of groceries!  It was great!

 We went to the grocery store to pick up odds and ends, fully aware that we had to carry everything back (no car – though we could have taken a bus.), so we didn’t by too too much.

Then out for another walk.  We are trying to walk a lot so that we can get our bearings.  We noticed that the Avengers movie – which was filmed in Cleveland, partly at NASA was opening tonight full week earlier than in Cleveland.  So of course we went.  We really enjoyed it!!  Two differences of note are that the seats in the movie theater are assigned – and that the bathroom was for both men and women.  The stalls went from floor to ceiling, but it did seem strange. 

Then more walking, and home.

A little background

So, here we are.   Packers came yesterday.  I am surrounded by boxes.   We have said "good-bye for now" to almost everyone.   There are scraps of food in the house.  I have watered the garden, and packed my bags. 

To those of you who didn't even know we were going, or why: here is the scoop:  John has been looking for another job for a few years now.  I had kinda stopped paying attention to this as it had been a few years and we were still in N.O.  But in mid-December he says, "So what do you think about Sweden?".  My response was, "Sweden?!  What?"  So on the 12/20 he Sype interviewed and by 1/2 we were in Lund for his second interview.  And so, after months of thinning out all our accumulated treasures (and junk: like the instruction sheet John found from his first job describing how to fill out a dental claim), and sorting what was left, off we go.

Bed linens to wash....

First blog post: Our new digs

And so this is my first blog entry.  Today is my birthday.  I am 53.  Funny story:   A few weeks ago someone mentioned that they wanted to introduce John and me to someone who is in their mid-50’s.  For s split second I honestly thought, “Oh.  Ok.  But they are a lot older than us.”  Funny. 

So in two days the movers come.  We fly to Washington DC, and then eight hours to the Copenhagen airport.  From there it is a mere 20 minute train ride to Malmo, Sweden.

We have rented our house in North Olmsted, gone to every doctor for every check-up that we can think of, sold our cars, our kayak (which we never should have bought), our Weber grill and some furniture, eaten through our inventory of food stuffs, quit our jobs, been wined and dined by many friends and co-workers, and  have now (mostly) split our household between what we anticipate will stay in Cleveland, and what will eventually go over the pond … And the house looks like it threw up….

For the next few months, we will be staying in a charming little (63 square meters) furnished apartment.  Housing (and life) are more expensive in Scandinavia, and the homes are much smaller.  Most apartments in Malmo and Lund are 700-900 square feet.  Interestingly, most apartments are purchased, and it is not easy to find a “first hand rental” apartment.  The term “first hand” equates to being the primary renter, as opposed to a sub-letter.  One might wait months or even years to rent a place “first hand”.  Our preference would be to rent, but we anticipate buying a place. 

Anyway, here are some pictures of the apartment we are renting for a few months.  The laundry room has a  mangle (!) and the drying rack.  

Life is an adventure. 

 

Oh – prayer request:  I need to make friends!!!! 

Later--