Roots

Friday July 6, 2012

 

Today we played hooky with a leisurely breakfast and then the subway to Gamla Stan, Old Town, for shopping. I didn't get anything but it was fun to look. Lots of souvinier shops to wade through with stuff made in China. I had no interest in purchasing anything that was not made in Scandinavia.

We made our way to City Hall to meet my second cousin Lena, and her husband Betril. They had seen photos of us so they walked right up and we exchanged warm hugs. It was much like we knew them already as they were both very personable. Lena told me that she hadn't been conversing in English for a couple of years since our Canadian cousins had visited, but I thought both of them did so well. Lena said she would be very tired after the day of thinking and speaking in English.

It strikes me as very presumptuous that they must do all the work and we just speak English to everyone here and they always answer. I have had several conversations with people in subways, on buses and on the street and all speak English to one degree or another, even older people. We are spoiled.

Bertil (you hardly sound the "r") and Lena (3 syllables really) often conferred with each other in Swedish to come up with the English words, but the conversation was occasionally technical, especially when Bertil was explaining how his farm and lumber business worked. They raise cattle and sheep for meat and sell a lot of lumber that they mill themselves. Lena has a job in the nearby town in an insurance firm. We were not able to meet their sons or their families, but this was a workday so difficult to arrange. Bertil got his son to tend to the farm for the day and Lena took a day off. So dear. Her grandmother and mine were sisters. Mine came to Canada and hers had already met the man she was to marry so did not want to leave Sweden. Funny how lives can take diverge like that.

We walked back to Old Town for lunch (not such good food but the company made up for it) after which John and Caroline went off for their kayak ride around one of the islands in the lake that surrounds Stockholm. They did not find the boats too stable and so had to work hard to keep themselves afloat when motorized craft went by. I did not mind missing that experience.

The rest of us went back to our hotel for a rest and come coffee and more chat. I had forgotten the photos I'd carted with me from home - my mom's family and my sisters through the years - so was happy that I was able to show these to them.

They brought photos of their family plus their large and wonderful farmhouse that was built in 1902. It was beautiful. They have 500 acres of forrest plus their farm land for the animals and a few crops. I certainly hope we are able to see each other again - either if they come to California or we return to Sweden. Ron would like to come back on our own and travel in the countryside. It would be easy to do so, really. They even drive on the same side of the road as we do. I think they changed some years back but I don't know what prompted that.

We had dinner with the tour group on a ship that was permanently docked. Almost a floating restaurant. Reindeer again for dinner so John, Caroline and I were able to score fish instead. Like I've said, I am not adventurous in the LEAST when it comes to meat.

Tomorrow we have a bit more touring before we leave for Helsinki where we have got NO idea of what awaits us. Finland will be a whole new world except for Jean Sibelius and Esa Pekka Salonen!

 

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