Almost Swedish

As I walked home tonight past the Goulburn Street Police Centre, I noticed “Mamma Mia” (the movie) was screening in the window of a real estate agent, opposite. “How odd”, I thought to myself, as it was on one of those screens normally reserved for real estate advertisements, where they have replaced the traditional photographs and cards with a multi-media extravaganza.

I have no idea why they were showing “Mamma Mia” on the screen, but it was an interesting distraction as I walked home from Swedish class listening to my current Swedish favourite, Bo Kaspers Okester.

It was our final Swedish class for the year tonight, and we celebrated with some food and wine. There were herrings, there was crispbread, there was chocolate and there was champagne. Our teacher, Marianne also made Janssons Frestelse (Jansson’s Temptation), a traditional Swedish favourite made from potato, onion, cream and anchovies. It’s kinda like a salty potato bake and it was very very yummy.

Unfortunately, our next class is not until February 10. I’m gonna really miss the class over the next few months, as it gives me a great routine around which to base my Swedish language studies. Without it, I’d probably just sit and listen to Swedish pop music and think “that’s learning Swedish”. But the routine of the class challenges me to go that little bit further. I need to work out how I can progress on my own over the next few months.

But it won’t be completely isolating. There’s a Swedish Fair at the Lutheran Church (aka Swedish Church in Sydney) this Saturday which I plan to attend. It sounds like fun. The bazaar begins with an Advent Service, and afterwards there are stalls with traditional Swedish decorations, Swedish foods & refreshments and a music programme by “Nordic Voices”. And my “Facebook Friend”, Matt is back from his time in Europe with a truck-load of Swedish pop, with the possibility of a catch-up to dance around listening to our common favourite, Magnus Carlsson.

You will tell me, won’t you, if this Swedish stuff starts to get a bit freaky? Or is it already too late?