Conference turris::scandia

493.0. "Winter days" by TLE::SAVAGE () Tue Dec 10 1991 14:17

    From: [email protected] (David Partain)
    Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
    Subject: Ramblings about Sweden, Chapter 1
    Date: 6 Dec 91 00:52:18 GMT
    Sender: [email protected]
    Organization: University of Linkoping, Dep't of Computer Science
 
  
    I moved here to Link�ping about 3 months ago from far, far away in
    eastern Tennessee.  It occurs to me that I _might_ have observed some
    things in that time that would interest both ye ol' Nordics as well as
    Nordic-wanna-be's.  So here goes...
 
    The word for the day is "light".  Since I've come to Sweden, I've begun
    to understand a little bit of what light is (well, right now, isn't).
    When I first arrived here, I thought that Swedes were somewhat
    overzealous in their devotion to "light".  An apartment's most
    important characteristic was that it was "light".  Big windows are
    great.  Colo(u)rs tend to be bright.  Swedish furniture is at least
    stereotypically light.  Advertisements talk about "light", etc, etc. (I
    could probably go on, but I'm too tired.) 
    
    Nearly every time I've been in a Swedish home (and mine's half
    Swedish), there were many candles either burning or out and obviously
    used regularly.  Lamp oil, which I've never really noticed in the U.S.,
    is _everywhere_ (I love exagerating), and many people seem to buy it. 
    And, on the briskest of days, with colder weather than I really prefer,
    if the sun's out, I'll be out in it--just because it's light!  Folks,
    if you have never experienced a gray November in Sweden (and everyone
    tells me November is the worst month), with its cold and gray weather,
    then you have an incomplete appreciation for "light".  The days are a
    short 6 - 6 1/2 hours of light, then it's back to black.  If you work
    semi-normal hours, it's likely you're not home during any hours of
    light during the entire week.  And if you sleep late on Saturday (and I
    do), you miss that light, too.  I no longer wonder why Swedes, and I
    presume others in Norden, surround themselves in their everyday lives
    with things that bring light into a dark world.
 
    In truth, it's been delightful with the charm of the candles, the
    bright apartments, the Christmas stars and candelabras in the windows
    as I ride my bike home to Ryd.  I admire the way a place that is so
    dark can be made so bright.  Let's hear it for light!
 
    There you have my thoughts at nearly 2 AM.  Hope it was worth reading
    even if it wasn't terribly profound.  G'night all.
 
    -- 
    David Partain                   |  [email protected]
    IDA, University of Link�ping    |  work phone:  +46 (013) 28 26 08
    S-581 83 Link�ping, Sweden      |  telefax:     +46 (013) 28 26 66

    
    
    	Hi,
    
    	Don't worry. On the 21:st it will start getting lighter...you
    	just don't notice it until March :-)
    
    	Even if you are a Swede (or from any of the other Nordic 
    	countries I guess) you never ever get used to the dark.
    	I've heard that sunbeds are recomended, not for the tan, but
    	for the light!!!
    
    	I'm swedish, but I've been living in Munich since '89. I think
    	the difference in "sunhours" are about 2 hours or similar. But
    	those 2 hours means the world to me. I feel a lot more "awake"
    	here in November than I would in Sweden...and I don't burn half
    	as many candles :-)
    
    	I do miss the Swedish summer nights though.....
    
    	Lena