Stockholmies

Number one

We have been busy bees planning our next adventure, and it is official, it is taking us back to California after nearly ten years away (between Boston and Stockholm). So, while we enjoy our last spring, summer, and fall in Sweden, it's time to really think about what life as Stockholmies has taught us. I suspect that we will have quite a period of reverse culture shock, even though there is still plenty of it going on here.

So the first thing that I am thankful for in Sweden is the parental leave. I don't mean the payment and the time off that I received, so much as the way that society supports men taking time off. I know that without the taxes that we paid and the system in place this wouldn't have been possible, and it was totally worth it. Watching the relationship that Dave and Anya has is so much fun. The fact that dads are encouraged to take the time to be with their children, and that the mothers' careers are acknowledged as meaningful is really fantastic. 

The Help = Niceville?

The running tag (or whatever it is called) is still in English and the new title is in English - so why the new title at all? 

A good reminder

Despite the relatively mild winter up until now, I have been a bit down about Sweden. It's not really Sweden so much as it the fact that it is very far away from our families. 

My morning walk through our neighborhood park reminded me of some of the beauty that I was too grumpy to notice the past couple of weeks.

 

Who is crossing the road here?

Restaurant Review: I Cinque Sensi

We have been generally pleased with a number of restaurants in our neighborhood (reviews forthcoming), so we didn't think it was a big risk to try another place.  We headed out on our anniversary, baby carriage in tow, in search of a place that was open and had space for us and the sleeping baby.

We chose I Cinque Sensi because it fit the requirement and also had a good looking menu. With a name like Five Senses we were eager to see what they had to offer, especially given how great some of the local spots are (Rött, I'm looking at you!). 

Starting with a caprese salad, the mozarella was pretty good, but the tomatoes were cold and, as a result quite mealy and flavorless. The pasta dish that Dave ordered lacked much flavor, as well, and the seared tuna had all the wrong kinds of flavor.  Although the tuna appeared charred with proper grill marks, it tasted like liquid smoke and nothing else.  The flavor was so overwhelming. After cutting off the outside, the already small 30 dollar portion of fish was noticeably undersized and overpriced, perhaps even by Stockholm's standards. 

I am not sure that I would consider returning, although would be open to hearing what others thought of the place.  Did we just come on a bad night? 

One good thing is that since we were still both hungry, we didn't really feel guilty for splurging on two scoops of ice cream at the nearby ice cream shop for dessert.  

Bumperlations 3: Bad motto or just bad grammar?

 

Spring pants

In some places, spring is defined by a final thaw, some number of consecutive days above freezing, and beautiful buds on branches. In Stockholm spring comes with a dramatic shift in wardrobe.  The dark hues of winter give way to bright bursts, and by summertime black and blue denim are replaced with bright whites.  

 

 

Just a little sample: 

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 What are some untraditional signs of spring where you live? 

(and yes, I am completely ignoring the fact that I am posting this on May 3rd and it snowed this morning)

 

 

Bumperlations 2

Bacteria: Urban Section Infection

Thoughts?

forget something?

Isn't someone missing this?  It has been resting here on the street for at least a day.

Bumper-lations (aka sticky signlations)

Back when we first moved to Sweden and didn't understand any of the signage or language, we would find signs and text around the city that amused us and asked readers for input.  Input meaning witty commentary, their own interpretation or translation, or really just about anything.  

Walking around the city I keep noticing bumper stickers, usually in English, that amuse me.  So, here we go...introducing bumper-lations.  Translations might not be as interesting here (obviously) but perhaps you have some insights into what this bumper sticker is advertising.

Let's begin with our first find: