| To: International Swedish Interest discussion list
From: Susan Larsson <[email protected]>
Now for a more interesting topic - vacation. Are the non-Swedes on the
list aware of the fact that a minimum of 5 weeks vacation is guaranteed
by law to Swedes? That 4 of those 5 weeks must be consecutive (if so
desired) during the summer months? That one of those weeks can be
saved for 5 years so that an extended vacation can be taken, with your
job held for you until you go back? That government employees are
entitled to more vacation days depending on their age? That the word
for 'vacation' in Swedish is 'semester' (confusing for me when I moved
to Sweden straight from college)? That most Swedes (I may get hung for
this one) have a cottage by a lake or shore, or a relative or a friend
with a cottage (at least it seems this way to me) where vacation is
spent renovating, gardening, and enjoying the great outdoors. Quality
of life is an essential ingredient in Sweden, and vacation is a
necessity to the human spirit often overlooked in the US.
Now - for my vacation plans. At the end of June I pack up with family
to spend 5 weeks in Bohusl�n on the family farm where my mother-in-law
was born. Family includes farfar; my younger son who is currently in
Sweden at boarding school and comes home next week but is just as eager
to go back; my older son who has just moved out and is happy in his
newfound independence but wouldn't miss a trip to Sweden for anything;
and my 9 yr old daughter (only American born) who spends 4 weeks
refusing to speak Swedish and then chatters away the last week. And of
course my first generation American husband, who spoke Swedish growing
up.
We spend our vacation like any Swedish family - renovating, gardening,
hiking, mushroom and berry picking, 'saft'-making (juice from berries),
swimming in the fjord (last year the water was about 75 F). Each
morning starts with a hike, run or bike ride of 5-10 miles, and in 5
weeks we never repeat the same one. We still find new ones, even after
24 years. We row to the nearby islands, have campfires and wienie
roasts (grilla korv), or take the motor boat to the outer skerries for
snorkeling. Car trips to fishing villages along the coast
(Fiskeb�ckskil, Sm�gen), or castles with formal English gardens and
folk music and dance demonstrations (L�cko), and the annual visit to
Liseberg (amusement park).
Ferries to islands where no cars are allowed (Gullholmen, Koster).
Coffee in the garden with 'sju sorters kakor' - yup, 7 different
cookies, cakes and "t�rta" (usually strawberry shortcake). Oh, yes,
Swedish strawberries - yum! And ny potatis (potatoes with skin so thin
you can scrape it off with a knife). Now I'm getting into it - matjes
sill (herring) with sour cream and chives and new potatoes on a sunny
day picnicking in the garden. Wienerbr�d. Marabou chocolate. And
visiting with old friends and relatives.
Anybody homesick for svensk sommar? BTW, I have no Swedish background,
but was fortunate enough to have married into this paradise.
Susan Larsson
LaConner WA
[email protected]
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