Norland and Östersund

The day of arrival to Ösersund finally arrived, with little fanfare from the maddning crowd. The drive up, of roughly 580 kilometres too aproximatly 8.5 hours, but was a stunning drive indeed. Its strange to see how the landscape changes as one drives up in lattitude. The landscape becomes more undulating, the tree’s shorter, having downward facing leaves for snow. More and more it becomes, almost, polar, if I dare to say.

Its still a strikingly beautiful place, with unmapped forests, lakes, strewn accross the landscape, and close to my estimate of 32 different types of green...its going to be interesting in winter, with 1 type of white...

The town of Östersund is a long stretched out town, hugging the edge of a large, fresh water lake, Storjön (For the english speakers, its pronounced stor-ghuun, with a soft “g”, as...oh never mind). With a population of roughly 55 000 people, its the biggest town in the Norland (northen to central part of Sweden) and has all the necessary ammenities one needs in a big city. Google it, its a pretty good looking town. The fact that its symbol is a snowflake in the shape of the heart, does give away that its geared for winters...hrmmm.

This city is also located the the district of Jämtland. Which apparently wants to be a republic, they have their own flag etc etc, like the republic of Hout bay, only much MUCH bigger...they are crazy these people, I’m putting it down to too long winters that they have this idea J

I am now officially the proud owner of a rented apartment...if that means something to you, but in my mind it does. Its 20 square metres, has green wallpaper..but is mine to rent for as long as I want. I have a bed, desk, chairs, bookshelves, a now equiped kitchenette...and a place to call my own. Pictures to follow when I figure out how to work camera’s, cables, pasting and transferring, in swedish...

Saturday was spent with Ruth and Håkan being a tourist in a stunning land, driving to the ski hot spot of sweden, Åre (its also worth a google), pretty nice to see in summer might I add. We also went to see a few natural wonders, in summer time, with no ice, snow and 1 colour scheme...it will be good to see at another time, another season I am sure.

I have been on the lookout for a church and decided to visit one this morning. The church claimed to have a preacher from Tanzania that sunday, promising I thought, as it might be in English...turned out to be a Swahili message, translated into swedish...so it was essentially, the same message twice, in languages that I am not quite sure of either...intereseting I tell you...but nice church nonetheless, very friendly...

And this is a sunday evenings wrap up, more info to follow in the week, as I set up more of a life in Sweden...we are in the place, I can see the university...and only God know’s the future...here’s the the next chapter of this nordic chronicle...

Andrew...

The way things work...

And things work indeed...

After spending almost a full week in Sweden, let me outline how well things work here..
Firstly, IKEA...do I need to explain more? Wowza what a place...and the cherry on top is 5:- for a coffee and kaneelbula...5 bucks for a good coffee and cake, in the middle of your shopping...now thats amazing...
Traffic circles: People STOP at them, to let you cross over, on a bike or walking. People actually stop, or allow the other cars who arrived first, to go through...it actually happens that traffic circles work.
Public Transport: Trains and busses...clean, efficient, relatively affordable...
Tax Office: No ques, no inefficiency, incompetency, no blank faces when you ask questions...tell them what you want to do, fill in 1 form and voila, its done, no arguing, no debating, no paying favours to get it done...its just done, simple as that.
Banks: No charging like wounded buffalo's, low interest rates...
Cell phones: Cheap, good coverage, low call rates, immediate response times and best of all, n_ br____g _p __ cal_s wh__ ____ talking.

Well thats a little of the way things work here, lets see when the proverbial penny drops, and can see the other side of the coin. This perfection must have a flip side...maybe the lack of chaos can get to a person, where are the "bye byyyyyes", the noise, the excitement and adrenalin rush...and guys selling you coat hangers and super glue on street corners....

Till we meet again...
'Cheers

Greets from Sweden...

Almost three full days from Sverige and its due time for another addition to this story line...
Firstly, helsa vran sverige (welcome from Sweden). Its a warm sunny twenty plus degree's, the sun and shining and the population is smiling. Sweden in late summer is a fantastic place. Apparently one must enjoy the days like this, as they are few and far between...
Now, to get into the story line.
There was a teary good bye from a chilly Johannesburg on the 12th of August. Dad, mom, sister and brother were all at the airport to wish me off. It was tough saying good bye, but I am sure it was tougher being the ones staying behind :)
The flight was pretty full, but uneventful. Two painkillers and a glass of Turkish wine is enough to ensure a good nights sleep on the plane, so that lesson goes down into sounds travelers advise.
Istanbul Airport is a bustling area filled with interesting sights and languages from across the globe. Interesting place indeed, and it has starbucks coffee, winner winner!.
My first taste of fooling officials was a rather strange affair. When I had checked in, I was sitting next to an iraqi gent, who had been living in Sweden for over 6 years. Officials came checking passports, and after seeing my swedish one, checked out the iraqi's swedish passport. Upon questioning him in English, they realised this was fruitless as he understand bugger all, and told me to translate...in swedish...
Now my swedish is better than his english, but by no means good...and there I was, three Turkish officials telling me to translate into swedish!! Anyway, after exhausting my swedish vocab (about 2 sentences) and mumbling something in bad afrikaans, we came to an understanding, that the Iraqi's passport was legit, and I admitted to the officials, that he can speak swedish better than I can. I tell you, any time I want to go to Iraq I will have a friend for life...(Fallafels, anyone)

Arriving in Sweden was an uneventful affair, but the bus from the airport to was great. First world public transport is brilliant. And if any one wants to travel in style, and safely, I have happened to notice a Volvo Limosine that you can be ferried around in...yes, a VOLVO limo...only in Sweden folks...

Saturday was a great family day with the Swedish connections. We spent the day at their holiday home in Angslycken, which, is a piece of heaven. We picked kanterell (wild mushrooms, and I am not allowed to tell you where, according to Swedish custom). A sauna and swim in the lake is a recepie for happiness...

Now, before wrapping up, I have had an epiphany. I know now, why the Swedish population of roughly 9 million people, have accomplished so much. Its simple really. Its a four letter word, and I will share it with you. Are you ready? Its: Fika.
Any nation, that can break for a coffee break, but have as strong coffee (no sugar) and as often as the swedes, they too will accomplish much. The swedes are on a constant caffine high from all their fika. For this reason, they are so productive. This I am sure of...

Anyway, Sweden is a great nation, beautiful in country and people. Its not all snow and ice, the sunshine can be warm. And everything works..
And I would love to share more, but its time for another fika...
Hej då

And it begins...

And August the 12th has arrived. After a year of planing, speaking about it, emailing, prepping, packing and sorting...its now finally time to head out. Its the most surreal feeling in the world, yet, I am completely calm (must be the painkillers for the wisdom teeth :))
Its not fear of the unknown, not at all...but rather an adventurously expectant attitude...I know that the Hand of the True Divine has had His say in the past, is still having His say, and I know that His final Word has not been spoken...so I have nothing to fear...
And as much as it sucks saying good bye to family, friends and loved ones...I know that its not permanent, and the invite is out there for you all :)
Till more word from the other side...

With 1 day to go...

With one day to go till the greatest adventure of the year, I think that its only worthwhile to start a blog, write down the memories, and share it everyone who may be interested...
So, watch this space, share your comments...