Plethora of random happenings
Hi Everyone,
Let's see. I have a few random tidbits to share.
First off, we were on the bus yesterday and a dog got on with it's owner. I realized that this is a very pet friendly environment. Dogs are allowed on public transport (train and bus), stores, and restaurants. It is up to the owner's discretion, I guess as to where they go. It is nice to have the option to go out with your dog and not worry about access and what to do with them if they are not allowed.
Another unrelated matter is how Saniya is adjusting to school. She is slowly learning the language. As Rob and I learn, she learns as well. So, it is coming. We are hoping the short term awkwardness, isolation and feelings of being different, in general, will be beneficial later in life. We hope that she (and Rowan) will be comfortable in her skin because she gets that everyone is different, can learn other languages easily, has empathy for others that are different, and an appreciation for cultural diversity in general. The same for Rowan, but it is a little different for him because he has no initial frame of reference. His acclimation will come when we return home and everything is different for him in the U.S. It is interesting to see Saniya really learn that there are so many different people and cultures around the world. To live where they are speaking another language and celebrating different tradition really shows her that Americans are just one type of many different people on this earth. The play group in our complex is all children from other countries and there is a theme each week. This week was a Russian mom with two kids that taught them traditional Russian children songs on the piano. Last week was on Japanese children rhymes. So, she is doing great considering the crash course in global diversity she was thrown into.
What else, Christmas is so big here. They are really into it. There are so many traditions. The day is celebrated on the 24th and Santa (Jultomten) comes to the door and brings presents. There isn't the whole stocking/chimney thing, I think. There is a Julbord (Christmas table) which has very specific saffron buns, a weird fish that is cooked with lye (yuck) and other things I am not sure of yet. Also, there is mulled wine called Glogg, and the ginger bread cookies and decorating gingerbread houses is huge. Oh, and these candied almonds that we tried from a vendor yesterday. Yummy. Rowan kept sucking off all the candied part and spitting out the nut. He was so into it. They light candles each week in December until the day arrives. Also, there are lights everywhere and outdoor holiday craft markets all over. It is interesting to have it be a holiday with none of the commercialism we have in the U.S. There are no pressures to buy this or that. No, "have to get the latest for the kids" drama. No, blaring neon at the markets, malls or TV commercials. It is just decorative, festive and steeped in tradition. It is great!
Also, I know lot's of you have asked if we did Thanksgiving here. We didn't do any Thanksgiving at all. I think it snuck up on us and by the time we realized it seemed like more energy than we had to make it come together. We will try for next year though, when we are more settled with living here. It is a tradition we should keep for Saniya and Rowan, I think.
Maybe that's it for now. Rowan has four words. mama, dada, hhhhoooottt (in a breathy voice) and done (said it the first time this morning!). What a pile of work that little cutie is right now.
Rob is leaving for France for work next week until Thursday night, so I will be flying solo in the parent category, and computerless. Other than that we are happy and healthy, and as always, tired but inspired.
Yasmiene
Let's see. I have a few random tidbits to share.
First off, we were on the bus yesterday and a dog got on with it's owner. I realized that this is a very pet friendly environment. Dogs are allowed on public transport (train and bus), stores, and restaurants. It is up to the owner's discretion, I guess as to where they go. It is nice to have the option to go out with your dog and not worry about access and what to do with them if they are not allowed.
Another unrelated matter is how Saniya is adjusting to school. She is slowly learning the language. As Rob and I learn, she learns as well. So, it is coming. We are hoping the short term awkwardness, isolation and feelings of being different, in general, will be beneficial later in life. We hope that she (and Rowan) will be comfortable in her skin because she gets that everyone is different, can learn other languages easily, has empathy for others that are different, and an appreciation for cultural diversity in general. The same for Rowan, but it is a little different for him because he has no initial frame of reference. His acclimation will come when we return home and everything is different for him in the U.S. It is interesting to see Saniya really learn that there are so many different people and cultures around the world. To live where they are speaking another language and celebrating different tradition really shows her that Americans are just one type of many different people on this earth. The play group in our complex is all children from other countries and there is a theme each week. This week was a Russian mom with two kids that taught them traditional Russian children songs on the piano. Last week was on Japanese children rhymes. So, she is doing great considering the crash course in global diversity she was thrown into.
What else, Christmas is so big here. They are really into it. There are so many traditions. The day is celebrated on the 24th and Santa (Jultomten) comes to the door and brings presents. There isn't the whole stocking/chimney thing, I think. There is a Julbord (Christmas table) which has very specific saffron buns, a weird fish that is cooked with lye (yuck) and other things I am not sure of yet. Also, there is mulled wine called Glogg, and the ginger bread cookies and decorating gingerbread houses is huge. Oh, and these candied almonds that we tried from a vendor yesterday. Yummy. Rowan kept sucking off all the candied part and spitting out the nut. He was so into it. They light candles each week in December until the day arrives. Also, there are lights everywhere and outdoor holiday craft markets all over. It is interesting to have it be a holiday with none of the commercialism we have in the U.S. There are no pressures to buy this or that. No, "have to get the latest for the kids" drama. No, blaring neon at the markets, malls or TV commercials. It is just decorative, festive and steeped in tradition. It is great!
Also, I know lot's of you have asked if we did Thanksgiving here. We didn't do any Thanksgiving at all. I think it snuck up on us and by the time we realized it seemed like more energy than we had to make it come together. We will try for next year though, when we are more settled with living here. It is a tradition we should keep for Saniya and Rowan, I think.
Maybe that's it for now. Rowan has four words. mama, dada, hhhhoooottt (in a breathy voice) and done (said it the first time this morning!). What a pile of work that little cutie is right now.
Rob is leaving for France for work next week until Thursday night, so I will be flying solo in the parent category, and computerless. Other than that we are happy and healthy, and as always, tired but inspired.
Yasmiene
posted by Yaz and Rob at 10:46 AM
5 Comments:
Hey guys,
Being a product of multicultural immersion and arriving in Western Samoa at 3 years 4 months, I can totally relate to Saniya's experience. I don't so much remember the awkwardness of culture shock and the strangeness of my new environment, as feeling surprised when people thought I was different. I thought I was samoan, and wondered why they called me a foreigner (this didn't take very long).
I did miss my Aussie friends initially, apparently, (because I wrote letters to my grandparents talking about them and have letters from my friends that my Mum kept). But I remember the fun I had with my Samoan friends more and the terrible culture shock I felt going back to Australia at age 11. Now I find that I adjust to new cultures and environments easily and that I can feel at home everywhere (eventually) but sometimes feel like I don't BELONG anywhere.
In my teens I wished we'd had an ordinary life like my aussie friends, but now wouldn't change it for the world. I'm an Aussie that was born in west Africa, spent my childhood in the south pacific and have now lived in foriegn lands for almost half of my life (16 of my 35 years). Saniya and Rowan will have a fabulous time overall, especially seeing as you guys have thrown yourselfs wholeheartedly into Swedish life.
One of my biggest fears for both of them is that they will not be able to fit in any culture. I hear this of people who grew up moving quite a bit. I guess that is why Rob and I are so into learning the language to help her acclimate, and then for the two of us to be a solid unit so she feels good about her family. It is hard though and we'll see how she does as the year go by. Good perspective Sandra.
Got a funny story from when I was in Korea in '91. I was standing in a crowded subway train daydreaming out the window (or at the reflections of the passengers). Suddenly I was thinking "wow what an ugly westerner" before I realized it was me. For some reason I thought I should look Korean and was shocked to find I didn't.
I moved a lot as a kid...it sucked. But, when I reflect upon it as an adult, I wonder how much of it was my parents inablity to recognize when we were having problems. I am thinking now that parents can do things to make the stability of a "moving" kids homelife such that the moving is not as much of an issue. I think that if there is stabilty and parental-awareness at home, that kids will feel stable where ever they are...overseas or not.
yes, that is what I am thinking.
Love hearing about the Korean / Caucasion mishap. I actually feel like that sometimes. When I start to not feel different, does that mean I am becoming Swedish?
Also, I agree Jess with the "home is where the heart is" aspect. I have to say this experince has made us more in tune with each other, more accepting of the rawness of all emotions, and being their for each other. We have started funny traditions, like movie night, to have just that sense of normal. It is hard, though, because we are all going through so much change individually, and then collectivelly is like adding another member to the mix.
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