Swedish Press February 2014 Vol 85:01

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Swedish Press N Y A

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February 2014 Vol 85:01 $4.95

2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi: Sweden’s great hopes on the slopes

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Top Swedish ski resorts Vasaloppet first-hand Barbro Osher on Nordic unity

The Power of Knowledge Engineering Introducing SKF BeyondZero - a product portfolio designed specifically to reduce negative environmental impact

IAL EC R P S FFE O

Are you missing your favourite Swedish TV-shows?

SVT World, the international channel from Sweden’s public service broadcaster SVT celebrates it’s 25th anniversary with a special offer to all viewers in North America.

All new customers are offered the required Set-top-box free of charge.

The monthly fee for a 12-month subscription is $19.50.

SVT World offer a broad selection of programming including drama series such as Real Humans and The Bridge, Scandinavia’s number-one talk show Skavlan; reality shows such as All for Sweden and documentaries like the Academy award winner, Searching for Sugarman.

To subscribe please contact our customer service ConNova at +46 141 20 39 30 or svtworld@connova.se

As North America’s exclusive source for all things Swedish since 1929, Swedish Press is your gateway to Sweden. Available in both digital and print editions, Swedish Press is published 10 times a year from its headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. SWEDISH PRESS (ISSN 0839-2323) is published ten times per year (Dec/Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July/ Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov) by Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite #101, Blaine, WA 98230 for $35 per year. Periodical postage paid at Blaine, WA 98230-9998 (No. USPS 005544).

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4 Letters to the Editor

OFFICE: 1950 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 3L8

5 From the Editor’s Desk

WEBSITE www.swedishpress.com E-MAIL info@swedishpress.com TEL +1 604 261 2484 TOLL FREE +1 866 882 0088 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tatty Maclay tatty@swedishpress.com CO-EDITOR Anton Fredriksson anton@swedishpress.com ART DIRECTOR Joan Law Fredriksson joan@swedishpress.com Subscription Manager Pia Hilton pia@swedishpress.com

Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News: Challenges to the tolerant face of Sweden 7 News at a Glance 8 Swedes in the News Business 8 Business News 9 Company File: Peak Performance

REPRESENTATIVES Calgary: Carin Pihl +1 403 931 0370 Thunder Bay: Elinor Barr +1 807 344 8355 Toronto: Gunilla Sjölin +1 905 727 9837 Winnipeg: Ellen Boryen +1 204 897 1216 ADVISORY COMMITTEE Björn Bayley, Olof Flodmark, Lars Romert, Ulf Waldén, Paul Horn af Åminne, Peter Ladner, Brian Antonson, Christer Garell, Anders & Hamida Neumuller

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Visit www.swedishpress.com for our interview with the Swedish Women’s Curling Team Skipper (Captain) Margaretha “Maggan” Sigfridsson.

Photo: WCF/Jesse Kushneryk 2013

Heritage 15 Vasaloppet: i fäders spår 16 Samuel’s Diary 17 Maclayhem Lifestyle 18 Top Sju 19 Book Reviews

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CONTENTS ( February 2014 )

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Swedish Press

Photo credit: Peak Performance

Features 10 Fjälläventyr som lockar

Interview 12 Sweden’s hopes on the slopes

Hemma hos 20 Design: Skipark 360o 21 Treats à la Maggan 22 Lär Dig Svenska 23 Barn Sidan: Fun in the snow In the Loop 24 Landskapsnyheterna 27 Canada & US Update 28 Calendar and Events 29 Ads and Info 30 Sista Ordet Med nordiska förtecken 31 Press Byrån

PRINTED IN CANADA NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 10

On the cover: Ski-cross star Anna Holmlund sets her sights on Sochi. Photo: skidor.com

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February 2014 3

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Letters to the Editor Swedish documentary film­maker

Eva Wunderman shares her story Screening of

"Once were enemies"

broadcasted on SVT and KCTS9 February 9, 2014 1:00pm ­ 3:00pm Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby BC Refreshments provided. Free admittance.

RSVP Yvonne Spence 604­980­8866

www.wundermanfilm.com

maestro mar tensson music and comedy

SCS is pleased to present comedian, pianist and conductor Magnus Martensson and his critically acclaimed music-comedy show

Extra Legroom For My Piano, Please Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby BC February 28, 2014 Doors open at 7pm Tickets (incl. light refreshments) $30 (ticket pre-sale at Scandinavian Community Centre or swedishculturalsociety.ca@gmail.com)

maestromartensson.com

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Hello, Just want to say, I enjoyed your article on “Moose Hunting Odyssey in the pine forests of Jämtland” by Susan Holmberg.

It was a great article on the moose hunt in Sweden.

I hunt moose in Northern Ontario, and found the story interesting in comparison to what I experience here in Canada.

Ray Sigus, CITT Scarborough, Ontario I enjoyed this paper. Had it for many years. Hope you keep up the good work, and don’t change it too much.

Good luck.

Gunnel Kekkonen Elliot Lake, Ontario Since I do not speak the Swedish language, every issue contains twenty five to thirty percent that is of no use to me.

You should consider publishing two separate magazines, one in English and the other in Swedish.

Subscribers would then have a choice of language.

I will not be renewing my subscription. I subscribe to thirty magazines and would be interested in hearing from you if you decide to implement my suggestion or alternatively, to lower the subscription price by thirty percent.

Walter Broughton Toronto, Ontario Editor’s comment: Did you know that free English translations of the Swedish parts of Swedish Press are available each month? Just email info@swedishpress.com. We very much hope this fact will encourage you to stay with Swedish Press! /TM

Hello Tatty, Your October and November issues were quite interesting: Sweden granting asylum to Syrian refugees; Sweden and Obama commemorating Raoul Wallenberg; Kiruna, the Swedish Space Centre. I also liked the Lar Dig Svenska (Sorry, my computer program balks at the two dots over the ‘a’.)

But when I read the Swedish Press, I’m aware that there’s not very muchabout Swedes in Canada. Swedes emigarate to the United States: “A Move to America in 1868” in two issues. But of Swedes in Canada, not a word. It’s as though we don’t exist.

Irene Howard Vancouver, British Columbia Editor’s comment: Thank you for your comments, Irene, which we will definitely take into consideration when planning our content over the next year. /TM When I hear or see the word “jantelagen”, I usually stop listening or reading. Either it is a boring loser speaking, or an arrogant, self-important person, who is unable to face the fact that most people don’t think he (It is always a he) is all that brilliant, charming and entertaining. After reading your November page, I was happy not to be alone in that conviction.

I started reading “En främling... ” many years ago, but didn’t get very far.

But for all I know, the original meaning was the opposite: It was the rich and the powerful in that town, who used the “jantelov” to keep the common people down!

And yes, I read the SP from cover to cover and also pass it on to American friends, thank you!

Bengt Svensson med family by email

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From the Editor’s Desk

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Swedish Press February 2014

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t’s been a mild and rather dreary winter so far here in Svealand, but as I write the first few snowflakes are falling outside my window. Snow and winter activities are among the best things about living in the frozen north and this issue, in the same month as the 2014 Winter Olympics begin in Sochi, we celebrate all that’s fun and fabulous about snow and ice.

With the Olympics drawing close, we interview Swedish team members, ski-cross star, Anna Holmlund, and Olympic gold medalist, Charlotte Kalla, and talk teamwork, tactics and their hopes for the Games. (Hopes are also high for the Swedish hockey team – see below for the team lineup). Vasaloppet regular Björn Sjögreen describes how it really feels to take part in the gruelling 90km crosscountry ski race and, if you’d rather participate yourself than spectate, we’ve rounded up four of the best ski resorts in Sweden and some cool snowy activities to enjoy with kids.

From the slopes to the big cities, our headline news story looks at the issues of immigration and integration and the worrying rise of the Sweden Democrat party in this election year. On a similar but happier note, don’t miss the story about the Somalian bandy team from Borlänge, Dalarna in Landskapsnyheterna. An inspiring example of bridge-building and the ability of individuals to create positive change.

In Sista Ordet, San Francisco’s Swedish Honorary Consul (and also my first cousin once-removed!), Barbro Osher, gives her thoughts on another area in which positive action is needed – the unity (or lack thereof ) of the Nordic countries.

We hope this issue inspires you to make the most of winter, and provokes thoughts on other subjects deeper than the snow.

Tatty Maclay Editor-in-Chief Tatty@Swedishpress.com

Sweden’s Olympic Hockey Team 2014 Note to Subscribers: Please note that subscription renewal notices will no longer be sent out in a paper slip inside your Swedish Press, instead you will find a reminder on your address label on the front cover of the magazine. Look out for it!

Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres Jonas Gustavsson, Detroit Red Wings Defence: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Phoenix Coyotes Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks Henrik Tallinder, Buffalo Sabres Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks Johnny Oduya, Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall (AC), Detroit Red Wings Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

Forwards: Henrik Zetterberg (C), Detroit Red Wings Daniel Alfredsson, Detroit Red Wings Jimmie Ericsson, Skellefteå AIK Nicklas Bäckström, Washington Capitals Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins Johan Franzén, Detroit Red Wings Carl Hagelin, New York Rangers Marcus Krüger, Chicago Blackhawks Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues

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Swedish Headlines Challenges to the tolerant face of Sweden

by Susan Holmberg

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he new year began with an inauspicious reminder of the looming intolerance among certain members of Swedish society. Several swastikas were scrawled on the door of a Stockholm mosque – the latest in a rise of incidences of vandalism against religious buildings in the country.

While this particular act was directed against Muslims, other groups are also increasingly targeted.

Anti-semitism in the southern city of Malmö prompted the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in 2010 to issue a warning to Jews to avoid travelling to southern Sweden. Roma people have also experienced victimization. During the fall of 2013 it was revealed that police in Stockholm had been profiling Roma people, including children, in what was later determined to be an illegal and unethical fashion.

There is considerable popular and official support for tolerance and integration in an increasingly multicultur-

al Swedish society. The official stance of all political parties represented in the Riksdag is to encourage tolerance and dialogue and to draw upon the strengths of multiculturalism. The difficulty, however, appears to be figuring out a way to bridge the divide between well-intentioned rhetoric and more complex relations on the ground. A case in point is the series of anti-racist protests that took place in December 2013. A peaceful anti-racism rally held in the Stockholm suburb of Kärrtorp was disrupted by members of the Swedish neo-nazi resistance organization Svenska Motståndsrörelsen in which several people were arrested.

The aggression of the neo-nazi group was followed by a nationwide series of anti-racist marches and rallies in 15 towns, quickly mobilized through social media.

Another example highlighting the complexity of communication between those critical of excessive multiculturalism and immigration, and those supporting tolerance is the furore surrounding the decision of national newspaper Dagens Nyheter to run a full page ad for a controversial book entitled “Immigration and Cov-

erup” (Invandring och Mörkläggning) on December 8th, 2013. The authors cited the importance of providing factual foundations for informed discourse, while more established voices interpreted the act as inflammatory and racist. The newspaper defended its decision on the grounds of editorial impartiality. Not surprisingly, the book sold out.

Amidst the clamour on the streets and online, the Sweden Democrat Party continues to grow while attempting to shed its extremist image.

Over the past few months, several resignations occurred after revelations of hateful online messages posted under aliases on the discussion boards of extremist websites. Since entering Parliament in the 2010 election with 5.7% of the national vote (4% is required to enter Parliament), the party has been viewed and treated as a pariah by all other parties – no one wants to be seen cooperating with the Sweden Democrats. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt recently commented ‘the Sweden Democrats bring hatred into Swedish politics.’

Whether despite, or perhaps because of, this they have become the third most popular party in public opinion polls (9.3% approval) following the Social Democrats (34.3%) and current coalition leader the Moderate Party (25.5%). With 2014 being an election year whose outcome currently looks highly unpredictable, all of the political parties are engaged in deep strategic soul-searching about how to communicate with the public and with each other. It promises to be an interesting year.

Imam Mamut Kalfi shows on his mobile phone the photos he took of swastikas spray-painted on the entrance of a mosque in Stockholm on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. Swedish police have opened a hate crime investigation. Photo credit: AP Photo/TT, Leif R Jansson

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News at a Glance DC Embassy bomb threat Sweden House, the Swedish embassy in Washington DC, was evacuated and searched by the Secret Service recently following a bomb scare. The threat was made by an anonymous caller, who asked to speak to someone responsible for the Julian Assange case before adding that there was a bomb in the building. Nothing suspicious was found following a thorough search.

Kidnapped Swedish reporters Magnus Falkehed (left) and photographer Niclas Hammarström (right) have been reunited with their families. Photo: AAP

after, attended by more than 10,000 people, was peaceful.

Anti-racism rallies An anti-racism rally held in the Kärrtorp suburb of Stockholm in December resulted in the arrest of 26 neo-Nazi counter protestors.

Around 50 neo-Nazis from the Swedish Resistance Movement (SMR) attacked demonstrators with fireworks, bottles and sticks. No one was seriously injured and a second anti-racism demonstration the week

Taxes down Sweden’s reputation as one of the most highly-taxed nations in the world is changing, as a new report reveals that, within the EU, citizens of Denmark, Belgium and France all pay more tax than Swedes. Income taxes have dropped from 50 percent to around 45 per cent of GDP, which still puts Sweden above the EU average of 40 percent.

Journalists released in Syria Two Swedish journalists taken hostage in Syria on November 23rd, 2013 have been freed after a month and a half of captivity. Photojournalist Niclas Hammerström and reporter Magnus Falkehed were leaving Syria when they were abducted by rebels.

Hammerström was shot in the leg during an escape attempt and the pair were subjected to mental and physical abuse during their captivity.

School to start at six?

New government proposals would see Swedish children starting school at six, rather than seven. The government wants to increase compulsory education to ten or eleven years, instead of nine. ‘The more time you practice, the more you learn,’ Education Minister Jan Björklund said. If the current government retains power in the upcoming elections, the reforms could come into effect by 2018.

Protesters rally against racism during a demonstration in the Stockholm suburb of Kärrtorp.

Photo: REUTERS/Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency

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[Swedes] in the News Hockey star in record deal

Queen Silvia turns 70

Henrik Lundqvist, the Swedish national hockey team goaltender, recently signed a seven-year contract with his NHL club, the New York Rangers, reportedly worth $59.5 million. The 31 year old player, known as ‘King Henrik’, said: ‘I want to be a Ranger for life.’ Since signing the contract at the beginning of December, however, the goalie has suffered a serious slump in his game, giving up 15 goals in five games.

H.M. Queen Silvia. Photo: Julia Hetta, The Royal Court, Sweden

Edberg to coach Federer Tennis legend Stefan Edberg is back in the news coaching Swiss star Roger Federer. The hope is that the Swede will help the 17-time grand slam champion, who ended 2013 at No.6, his lowest ranking since 2002, recover his form. Federer posted the news on his Facebook page, adding: ‘Stefan was my childhood hero, and I am really looking forward to spending time and learning from him.’

Queen Silvia recently celebrated her 70th birthday surrounded by family and friends. A gala performance in honor of the event at Stockholm’s Oscar Theatre on December 19th also saw the launch of a new charitable foundation, H.M. Queen Silvia’s Care About the Children Foundation.

[Business] News SAS posts profit, but at what cost?

Against growing competition and lacklustre demand, Scandinavian Airlines stayed out of the red in its 2012-2013 fiscal year, posting a profit of SEK 178 million ($27 million). This is SAS’s first fullyear profit in six years, a welcome change after reporting a SEK 3 billion ($460 million) loss the year before. With few gains in year-overyear revenue, the company’s profit is largely due to extensive cuts throughout its operations in the form of salary reductions and asset sales. In September, SAS sold off its Norwegian regional airline Widerøe, to the tune of SEK2 billion ($311 million) and in October, 10% of SAS’s ground handling services was bought up by Swissport. Even with the cuts,

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February 2014 8

SAS has bold plans for 2014 with new planes, redesigned interiors and the addition of 43 new routes.

H&M goes gold with new collection When Sweden’s athletes enter the Fisht Stadium in Sochi for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, they will be sporting clothes

by H&M. The Swedish clothing company inked a 4-year deal with the Swedish Olympic Committee back in April to outfit Swedish athletes for both the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In stark contrast to the classic stripes worn by the Swedes at the 2012 Games in London, the 2014 uniforms are bold and futuristic. Although the actual designs worn by the athletes won’t be available to consum-

ers anytime soon, H&M is still capitalizing on the opportunity by releasing a new Olympic-inspired sportswear collection titled “Go Gold”. Featuring similar designs to those worn by the Swedish Olympians, the Go Gold collection is a strategic move by H&M to tap into the higher-margin world of athletic clothing, a growing market which is currently worth $220 billion annually.

H&M Olympic Collection.

Photo: H&M

Company File En gedigen passion för sport och en tidlös moderiktighet ligger till grund för Peak Performance framgångsrecept. Med rötterna i den jämtländska vintersportorten Åre har Peak Perfomance sedan starten 1986 etablerat sig som nordens största klädmärke inom funktionellt sportmode.

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eak Performance historia börjar i mitten av åttiotalet när tre vänner träffades i den jämtländska skid- och friluftsorten Åre för att dela erfarenheter från sina senaste skidupplevelser. Stefan Engström, en framgångsrik skidåkare med ett antal vinster i världscupen, Peter Blom, chefredaktör för Sveriges största skidtidning och Christer Mårtensson, en art-director och designer, var tre passionerade skidåkare som alla saknade sportkläder som inte bara var funktionella men också snygga.

Tillsammans insåg de att det fanns ett glapp i marknaden för just den typen av produkt, och de bestämde sig därför för att tillverka kläder som de själva ville bära i skidbacken. Eller som Peak Performance idag beskriver det: ‘Allt började med två frågor: varför tillverkade ingen skidkläder som vi ville ha på oss, plagg som kombinerade utmärkt funktionalitet med

[Peak Performance]

enkel, snygg design? Och fanns det något sätt som de tre vännerna kunde spendera mer tid på den skidort som de alla älskade – den lilla bergsbyn Åre? Det visade sig att svaret på båda frågorna var Peak Performance.’

1986 började Peak Performance producera kläder i liten skala och till en början bars kläderna främst av grundarna och deras vänner.

Men omvärlden började snart få upp ögonen för det nya sportklädesmärket som inte bara var funktionellt men också moderiktigt. Den avskalade estetiken som fortfarande är Peak Perfomances signum fick ett stort genomslag efter åttiotalets extravaganta stil.

Grundarnas genuina passion för skidåkning bidrog också till att Peak Performance etablerade sig utanför Sveriges gränser, och företaget hade vid mitten av nittiotalet nått ut till några av de mest exklusiva skidorterna i Europa och Nordamerika såsom Cortina, Chamonix, Vail, Aspen, Verbier, Zermatt och St Moritz.

‘Idag är vi inte tre skidåkare, utan ett litet företag som har växt till ett internationellt bolag. Våra värderingar och vår passion har vi behållit trots detta,’ säger Peak Performance.

När Peak Performance firade sitt tioårsjubileum 1996 hade bolaget växt ordentligt. Nya butiker, fler anställda, och en börsintroduktion med ett ökande aktiepris var några av de milstolpar som bolaget framgångsrikt lyckades bocka av.

Peak Performance fokus hade också breddats utanför skidåkning till den totala naturupplevelsen med aktiviteter såsom extremsport, vildmark, utomhusträning, skidåkning och golf. Peak Performance myntade också det uttryck som beskriver företagets kärna och passion – “The Great Outdoors” – det vill säga en önskan att hellre vara utomhus än inomhus.

1998 såldes Peak Performance till den danska börsnoterande gruppen IC Companys som är ett utav nordens största klädföretag.

Peak Performance har sedan dess fortsatt att expandera internationellt och varumärket finns nu i över 20 länder. Samtidigt har Peak Perfomance lanserat nya produkter såsom glasögonbågar och fritidskläder, vilket har gjort att företaget har nått ut till en mycket bredare publik. Peak Performance beskriver att deras kund inte är definierad av kön eller ålder, men är en öppen person som längtar efter äventyr, möten med nya människor, och naturupplevelser – en sk “Social Adventurer”. av Monika Nordqvist

Photos: Peak Performance

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Fjälläventyr som lockar Vintersäsongen är över oss och det är det dags att snöra på pjäxor, snöskor och skidor och ge sig ut i spår och pister. Svenska fjällen har mycket att erbjuda med destinationer värda namnet. Här är några pärlor att hålla i åtanke för den vintersugne resenären.

Mest populära – Åre

För den äventyrslystna – Riksgränsen

Åre

Riksgränsen

är en stor metropol för vinterturismen och Skandinaviens största och mest internationella skidort. Åre är unikt i att byn erbjuder en kombination av relaxation, fartfylld afterski, restauranger, evenemang och shopping – allt i en pittoresk fjällby. Det sägs vara Europas mysigaste samtidigt mest aktiva skid destination. Med tre olika skidsystem på nära håll finns varierande skidmöjligheter både nerför och på längd. Några kilometer öster om Åre by ligger Åre Björnen. Detta området är barnanpassat och väldigt populärt bland familjer. Duved och Tegefjäll ligger strax utanför Åre by och erbjuder ett lugnare tempo med allt från nybörjarbackar till mer avancerad åkning.

Skidsäsongen 2014: 20 December – 27 April (Duved och Björnen) och 4 Maj (Åre) Liftkort 1 dag: • Vuxen: 415kr • Ungdom & senior: 330kr • Under 7 med hjälm: gratis Skidskola: • Skidskola Barn 3-9 år eller Skidskola Ungdom 10-15 år: 3 pass á 1,5 timmar, 845 kr Boende: Finns allt från hotellrum, lägenheter, fjällstugor till privatboenden att hyra. Copperhill Mountain Lodge (copperhill.se) är ett alpint designhotell på toppen av berget i Åre-Björnen. Det är ett modernt ski-in ski-out design hotell med konferensmöjligheter, ett prisbelönt spa, barnpassning, bibliotek, flera restauranger och barer samt skidshop med skiduthyrning.

Resa Hit: Flexibelt, med möjlighet att ta natt tåg från Stockholm eller Göteborg, flyg till Östersund, direkt bussar från Stockholm, eller med bil. Avstånd från Stockholm 630 km.

Websida: www.skistar.com/sv/Are

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February 2014 10

är Sveriges och världens nordligaste skidort. Skidåkningen i Riksgränsen är legendarisk och mycket handlar om offpist eller pister med lättillgängliga offpiståk. Liftsystemet har nerfarter i vild terräng för alla nivåer, och det erbjuds guidning och toppturer som utforskar området i anslutning till liftsystemet. För att hitta den bästa snön för den optimala skidupplevelsen finns möjlighet till heliskiing där helikopter används som lift till orörda fjäll. Unikt för Riksgränsen är också den världskända midnattsolsåkningen – i Juni håller anläggningen öppet för skidåkning mitt i sommarnatten.

Skidsäsongen 2014: 21 Februari – 1 Juni & 19 Juni – 22 Juni Liftkort 1 dag: • Vuxen: 335 kr • Ungdom & senior: 270 kr • Under 7 med hjälm: gratis • Midnattsåkning: vuxen 300 kr, ungdom/senior 240 kr Offpist guidade turer: • halvdag, 395 kr per person inkl. lavinutrustning och guide Toppturer: • heldag, 750 kr inkl. lavinutrustning, transfer och guide Heliskiing: 3 åk 2750 kr, 6 åk 4950 kr Boende: Hotell Riksgränsen är kärnan i Riksgränsen, centralt beläget endast 100 meter från skidsystemet och lika nära tågstationen.

Där finns både hotellrum och lägenheter att hyra.

Resa Hit: Möjlighet att ta natt-tåg från Stockholm eller Göteborg.

Nattåget från Stockholm tar ca 18 timmar. Flyg till Narvik eller Kiruna tar ca 90 min från Stockholm eller Oslo. Buss eller tåg tillgängligt från Narvik eller Kiruna. Avstånd från Stockholm med bil är 1400 km.

Websida: www.riksgransen.se/

Foto: Mattias Johansson

Text: Martina Söderlund

Grönklitt

ligger på toppen av Siljansbygden i närheten av Orsa i Dalarna 300km från Stockholm. I Grönklitt är barnen i fokus och det är ett mycket populärt familjeresmål. Vildmarken är en stor del av upplevelsen i Grönklitt och förutom vintriga landskap med skidåkning finns möjlighet att utforska rovdjur, hundspann, isfiske, eller gå på tur med snöskor eller snöskotersafari. I byn är närheten viktig och boende, pister, längskidåkningsspår och restauranger ligger allt inom gångavstånd. Krögaren Peter Lundkvist sköter resturangerna i Grönklitt och det satsas på hög kvalitet med lokala råvaror och spännande smaker för att erbjuda kulinariska upplevelser som matchar skidåkningen vilket håller hög klass.

Liftkort 1 dag: • Vuxen: 300 kr, • Ungdom & senior: 245 kr • Under 7 med hjälm: gratis Skidskola: • dagar grupp 60 min: 510 kr • Privat grundpris: 510 kr Boende: Förutom lägenheter och stugor att hyra finns ett vandrarhem beläget mitt i backen, samt möjlighet till vintercamping.

Resa Hit: Flexibelt med möjlighet att ta direkt bussar, tåg eller flyg via Mora, eller med bil.

Websida: www.orsagronklitt.se

Grönklitt vinter. Foto: Grönklittsgruppen

En doldis – Tännäskröket

Tännäskröket

är ett skidområde i Funäsfjällen, Härjedalen, där liftköer och trängsel ännu så länge är okända begrepp. Sedan Tännäskrökets nystart i början av 2000-talet har anläggningen utvecklas med nya bostäder, nedfarter plus möjligheter för spännande offpiståkning, men än så länge kommer man till Tännäs för att njuta av lugnet, tystnaden och naturen. För den som söker matupplevelser finns Restaurang Arran som drivs av Årets Kock 2011, med sydsamisk meny baserat på fjällinspiration och lokala råvaror.

Foto: Tännäskröket

Tilltalar familjen – Orsa Grönklitt

Skidsäsongen 2014: Öppnar julveckan 2013 Liftkort 1 dag: • Vuxen: 300 kr • Ungdom & senior: 260 kr Skidskola: • Skidkul (4år och uppåt) från 750 kr • Utforskarna (5-6år) från 750 kr • Äventyrarna (6år och uppåt) från 750 kr Boende: Det finns nybyggda arkitektritade fjällhus, lägenheter och privatstugor att hyra samt vintercamping.

Resa Hit: Snabb-bussen Härjedalingen går regelbundet hela året från Stockholm, Uppsala och Gävle. Direktflyg finns från Stockholm via Röros, ca 2 timmar. Avstånd från Stockholm 560 km.

Websida: www.tannaskroket.se

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February 2014 11

Sweden’s hopes on the slopes With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics fast approaching, Swedish Press spoke to two of Sweden’s Olympic hopefuls, Anna Holmlund and Charlotte Kalla, to talk team-work and tactics.

By Susan Holmberg ANNA HOLMLUND, from Sundsvall, is a ski cross athlete with two World Cup victories under her belt.

Ski cross is a fairly new sport. How did you get involved in it?

I did a lot of alpine skiing growing up, but when I was 15 I decided to play soccer. Still, I was longing to ski and I saw some people doing ski cross on television and basically just tried it out and came to really like it.

Can you give our readers a basic description of ski cross?

It’s a part of freestyle. It’s like motor cross but you do it on snow with regular skis. You go down a course with different features and you have to be the fastest of four people racing. We are like alpine in that we want to go fast and have tight clothes, but we have another mentality, like a small family, which is closer to the freestyle culture.

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February 2014 12

Is ski cross more aggressive than other types of skiing?

I wouldn’t describe it as aggressive.

The sport is growing a lot thanks to the (Vancouver) Olympics, but it’s a really simple sport (four people race and the first to cross the finish line is the winner) so you don’t have to be an expert to see who is the winner. Basically, you do what you did when you were a kid, but under good circumstances and you get paid!

It can look aggressive and of course everyone wants to win.

The Swedish team seems to be doing very well internationally. Why do you think it is so successful?

Our sport is growing, and Sweden is ahead of other countries in terms of how we are developing our sport. We have the best sponsors, we have great staff who work hard to get the sport itself popular, we are a good team with great coaches and we train hard.

Of course there are good teams like Canada and Switzerland, they are bigger countries and have more skiers, but I would say we are getting stronger and stronger every year.

You competed in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. What was that like?

It was really cool. Vancouver did a great job. It was a great life experience to be there and a really good event.

I had been to Canada before but not

Vancouver, and I wish I could have seen some of the town, but we were always in the Olympic Village (in the mountains)!

You had some serious injuries earlier this year, but you are definitely going to Sochi.

Yes, I feel good. I had a big crash in January 2013. I broke my kneecap and several things around it. I didn’t know if I could walk or not – I was on crutches for 110 days. I had a rough time, but it’s getting better and better and I’ve been working out a lot and getting really good help from friends and doctors and I’m very happy to be back.

What are your thoughts and feelings about competing in Sochi?

Well, if I’m in good shape and if my knees are working I am of course going for the gold, and I don’t see any other goal for me to go there. I want to win. That’s my main goal for doing this sport.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

It’s hard to say, but if I don’t have any injuries and if I’m having fun and getting better and better why not continue? Sweden has applied for the Olympic Games for 2022, so that would be really cool to be in the Olympics in your home country.

CHARLOTTE KALLA, också från Sundsvall, är stor-favorit och proffs i längdåkning för det svenska dam skidlandslaget.

Varför började du med längdskidåkning?

Min farfar tog med mig som 7 åring på en skidträning med klubben IFK Tärendö. Det var spännande att få åka iväg utan mamma och pappa och jag var fast direkt. Där började min idrottskarriär och sedan dess har det varit självklart att det är längdskidåkerska jag vill vara.

Vad tycker du bäst om med denna sporten?

Att få tävla när jag är formtoppad!

Det är en härlig känsla att få känna att kroppen svarar på det som huvudet ber den att göra. Det är en underbar känsla när jag jobbat hårt för att utvecklas och sedan känna att jag når framsteg. Jag trivs även väldigt bra med att få tillbringa tid ute i naturen.

Där hämtar jag energi och jag trivs väldigt bra med den livsstil som jag har just nu. Jag har fått uppleva så mycket tack vare min idrottskarriär och jag lär mig massvis hela tiden. Jag har fått resa till fantastiska platser och lärt känna fina människor och som elitidrottare pågår en ständig process av att utvecklas som person.

Du lyckades väldigt bra på OS i Vancouver 2010. Hade du åkt i Kanada eller USA tidigare? Hur kändes det att vinna Guld och Silver medaljer?

Jag var över till Kanada första gången våren 2009 då vi besökte både vårt pre-camp ställe på Vancouver Island och sedan var vi iväg till OS-spåren utanför Whistler. Det kändes betydelsefullt att få vara på plats nästan ett år innan det var dags för OS att gå av stapeln och få uppleva arenan och de platser som väntade. För mig innebar det en trygghet att ha fått vara där i lugn och ro och det hjälpte mig mycket i mina mentala förberedelser som ex. visualisering som jag använde mig av under förberedelserna på sommaren och hösten.

Längd åkning har utvecklats mycket de senaste åren. Kan du vänligen förklara vad skillnaden är mellan klassisk och fristil (skejt) åkning.

I Sverige har vi en lång tradition av att åka klassiskt och det är klassiskt som du får lära dig grunderna i när du börjar åka skidor som liten. Det är riktig skidåkning för den äldre generationen och den populära motionstävlingen Vasaloppet går i just klassisk stil. När du blir äldre så får du lära dig skejting och där handlar det om att genom skridskoskär få tryck på dina skidor. I mellan-Europa är det mer vanligt med skejt bland motionärer upplever jag när jag är ute och reser. Fördelen med skejtåkning är att du bara behöver valla glid och slipper den kluriga biten med att välja rätt sorts fästvalla som är en sport i sporten när det kommer till klassisk åkning.

Det verkar som att längdåkning är på väg tillbaka och en yngre publik provar även längdåkning isället för att bara åka utför – stämmer detta? Tror du att du har medverkat till att starta denna trenden?

Jag tror att våra framgångar i landslaget har bidragit till att den folksport som längdåkning är fått ett uppsving bland barn och ungdomar. En viktig faktor är givetvis att vi nu haft väldigt fina vintrar i Sverige där även södra delarna haft bra med snö och en stor

del av befolkningen har fått möjlighet att utöva längdåkning. Hälsotrenden är även den en parameter som haft inverkan. Det är häftigt och inne att motionera, ta sig ut i naturen och leva ett hälsosamt liv. Längdskidåkning stämmer in på alla de tre punkterna.

Vi är mycket intresserade av att höra dina tankar om kommande OS – både för egen del, för svenska teamet och allmänna tankar om Ryssland (Sochi).

Jag ser fram emot OS och att få representera Sverige och vara en del av ett stort team. Jag har fina minnen från mitt första Olympiska Spel i Vancouver och den gemenskapen och glädjen som genomsyrade hela den svenska truppen. Jag har bara varit i Ryssland en gång tidigare och aldrig besökt Sochi. Det är en skillnad från förra OS då vi varit på plats. En annan skillnad är att min favoritdistans 10 km skejt inte finns med på programmet. Jag hoppas ändå att jag ska kunna göra bra ifrån mig och då främst på Skiathlon som OS inleds med samt 30 km skejt som är den sista tävlingen vi damer åker.

Var skulle du vilja vara (och vad kommer du att göra) om fem år?

Jag vet inte! Ifall jag fortfarande tycker att jag utvecklas och är beredd på att lägga ner min själ i min satsning så kommer jag att åka fram till nästa OS 2018. Men sedan vet jag faktiskt inte. Om jag lägger av så kanske det om fem år precis har börjat klarna för mig vad min nästa karriär kommer att bestå av. Just nu brinner jag för att utvecklas som skidåkare så jag bekymrar mig inte särskilt mycket över vad jag kommer att göra senare i livet. Var sak har sin tid!

For interviews with two other Olympic hopefuls, the Swedish Women’s Curling Team Skipper (Captain) Margaretha “Maggan” Sigfridsson and biathlon athlete Tobias Arwidson, visit www.swedishpress.com.

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February 2014 13

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H E RI TAG E

Heritage

{

Vasaloppet

}

Vasaloppet: i fäders spår av Björn Sjögreen

I

Foto: Vasaloppet

B:11”

T:10.75”

Sverige har vi något som heter “En Svensk Klassiker” som innebär att man skall genomföra fyra speciella långlopp inom ett år. Loppen som ingår är Vansbrosimningen (3 km i Dalälven), Lidingöloppet (världens största terränglopp i löpning 30 km), Vättern Runt (30 mil cykling) och Vasaloppet (90 km skidor). Det finns också möjlighet att genomföra ett annat skidlopp också.

Som glad motionär från Lidingö på nästan 50 år hade jag således bestämt mig för att genomföra det mest klassiska av alla svenska långlopp – Vasaloppet, som går mellan Sälen och Mora. En sträcka om 90 km och med sju kontroller som serverar varm blåbärssoppa, bullar, bananer, kaffe mm längs vägen.

Om det inte är självklart för alla påpekar jag gärna att loppet är en rejäl utmaning för alla. Ingen kommer otränad och oförberedd och glider igenom utan att betala ett högt pris.

Jag tränar totalt ca 200 pass (olika saker) under ett år och inför Vasaloppet hade jag ca 30 mil på benen, vilket anses vara lite för lite. Det var därför med viss oro och anspänning som jag klev på bussen i Rättvik kl 03.45 för att åka till starten i Berga by vid Sälen. Kl 6 klev vi av bussen och det var ca 10 000 andra spända skidåkare på plats. Det var mörkt och kallt men ändå en positiv och laddad stämning i startområdet.

Vid kl 7 gick starten och rader av skidåkare gled iväg i led efter led. Det är absolut ingen hets i de led

Den 16 januari 2014 utger Posten ett nytt frimärke med Vasaloppet som motiv. Frimärket ingår som ett av fem märken i häftet ”En Svensk Klassiker” vilket innebär att de övriga klassikerloppen också får var sitt märke. Detta är andra gången som Vasaloppet blir svenskt frimärke.

som jag startade utan folk pratar lite med varandra medan de glider iväg. Anledningen är att det efter ca 1 km kommer en lång smal uppförsbacke som fungerar som en tratt där alla fastnar. Efter ca en halvtimma i “tratten” är man uppe och resan mot Mora kan börja, först är det en lång flack sträcka längs hedarna innan man kommer till första kontrollen i Smågan.

Det är sedan bara att kämpa på mil efter mil i den takt som kroppen orkar med. Kontrollerna med klassiska namn som Mångsbodarna, Evertsberg, Hökberg och Oxberg passerar förbi i takt med att krafterna avtar och slitaget på kroppen ökar. Såväl rygg, fötter som armar klagar högljutt och ifrågasätter om det inte är dags att bryta. Blåbärssoppan och vilan vid varje kontroll är verkligen välkommen. Vid sista kontrollen i Eldris gäller det att ladda batterierna maximalt innan de sista 9 km mot mål skall klaras av.

Det börjar mörkna och jag har nu åkt i ca 10 timmar.

Trött, matt men väldigt stolt går jag i mål i det klassiska målet i Mora där texten på målportalen lyder – “I fäders spår för framtids segrar”. Aldrig har en målgång känts mer välkommen. Känslan av glädje och trötthet är oslagbar och jag kan verkligen rekommendera alla som gillar lite utmaning att pröva på “Vasaloppet”. För egen del genomförde jag hela “En Svensk Klassiker” under 2013 och nu är jag anmäld till Vasaloppet mars 2014 också...

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February 2014 15

HE RITAG E

A Move to America in 1868 Retiring from teaching in 1914, S. M. Hill moved to Oregon to become the pastor of a small Swedish settlement in Colton. He tended his Swedish flock, valiantly fought US involvement in WW I, wrote songs and poems, finished a two-volume autobiography, and typed up his old 1868 emigration journal. Hill passed away in 1921.

{

}

Samuel’s Diary Part 10

Diary Kept on the Journey to America in 1868 by Samuel Magnus Hill Introduction and translation by Lars Nordström [Thursday] June 5th We traveled all night and came to Altona, [Illinois], at 9 o’clock in the morning. We found food and lodging where August could lie down on a couch. There he got to breathe his last breath at 1 PM, four hours after we had arrived. It was God’s great mercy that he did not have to go on. He was so emaciated that the swelling was completely gone. Ever since the previous fall he had suffered from dropsy [edema], and all through the winter we did not think that he would survive and be able to go on our journey. But then he got better and the doctor said that the sea voyage might possibly cure him.

In Altona we were received by Mr. Sandén, Pastor Sandquist’s father-in-law, in a completely unusual and unexpected manner. Sandén was a schoolteacher and organ-player in Altona, and the congregation provided help to all emigrants who came. Altona was the [train] station closest to the large Swedish settlement in the Andover area. We were continuing on to Berlin, or “Bullen,” as they usually called it, where Uncle Anders lived at the time.

We were served coffee, bread, meat and boiled pork, which strengthened us a great deal after the long, tiresome journey. Augusta was offered lemonade as well as fresh milk to quench her thirst.

In the evening I was very surprised at how quickly it got dark. We sat down to supper and had an evening prayer afterwards, and soon after, when I went outside, I found the night to be dark and the air full of flying sparks. They had not told me what fireflies were, and now I got to see them without knowing anything about them, and I was completely amazed. When I came back in, and they saw how surprised I was, they laughed and said that there were lots of things like that in America.

[Friday] June 6th The cost of a coffin for August was 8 dollars, and we received it around noon. My father and I had been to the cemetery to dig the grave. It was located seven miles away on a forested slope. The funeral was held in the afternoon and officiated by Setterdahl, a student at the time, and later parish minister in Sweden. That a student was allowed to officiate at a funeral was something completely new to us, but then we did expect to see and hear new things in this country. Mr. Sandén was there and he sang.

Carl Wist and Johannes Starkman were there too, as well as Father and me. This made up the entire procession. Mother was not able to be there, because the road was long and difficult, and she was not strong enough [in addition to being] completely forlorn by grief.

(This is the extent of my notes. On the last page is the following piece of information: August Samuelsson – Hill died June 5th 1868 at an age of 8 years, three months and 26 days in Altona on the journey from Sweden to Berlin, Illinois, North America.)

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February 2014 16

H E RI TAG E

A move to Sweden in 2012 Tatty and her family recently moved from Scotland to Sweden. Half-Swedish and half-English, Tatty grew up in the UK and works as a journalist. This is a journal of her first year in Sweden with her Scottish husband and four young children.

{

Maclayhem

}

Maclayhem: Thoughts from the Motherland

by Tatty Maclay

W

here we used to live in Scotland, the year-round weather report was fairly consistent (‘Rain, cloudy, 11˚C’). This was dreary in the extreme, but didn’t really call for any extreme equipment – just an anorak and some wellies. But when we moved to Sweden and had our first proper winter, the right ‘kit’ suddenly became a matter of urgency.

Those of you who live in places with proper winters, especially those of you with small children, will know what I mean. Welly boots and woolly gloves no longer cut it in double minus figures. Bits can fall off. There will be whining. The kit is all important and sourcing it for a family of six (without going bankrupt) is practically a full-time job.

Snow boots, overalls, thermal long-johns, wool double socks, hats, gloves that stay on, don’t get wet and actually keep little fingers warm – the sourcing, shopping and storage of said items occupies much of my thought and time from November until the snow melts in spring.

It’s all worth it though, when you get a stunningly cold day with bright blue skies and ice crystals floating in the air. Ice forms on your beard (well, not mine) and your breath catches in the cold. You find the ice on the nearest lake is perfect for skating and spend hours silently twirling and racing on a perfectly smooth, natural ice rink with no one else in sight. A million miles away from the indoor rink in Paisley.

Here again, though, kit is everything – don’t even think about getting onto the ice without ‘isdubbar’ (ice picks for pulling yourself out of icy water, should the ice crack) round your neck, and a chain saw comes in handy for carving out an ‘isvak’ – a hole in the ice brave souls can dip into after a sauna.

I have also learnt that, as with pretty much everything in life, when it comes to outdoor gear, nature knows best. When I was in Finnish Lapland two years ago, I met a Sami reindeer herder who told me that the temperature had recently dropped to -50 (thankfully, it was a relatively snug -20 when we visited). How did they cope in those temperatures? I asked.

Apparently, the reindeer aren’t bothered at all and are quite comfortable outdoors. When it came to going out to feed them, however, the herders’ hi-tech modern snow suits could only take the strain for around half an hour, whereas when they donned their traditional Sami gear (wools, furs and reindeer hide) they were toasty warm for two hours. Nature knows best and – one winter in – Sweden has taught me to take her very seriously indeed.

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February 2014 17

Lifestyle

Top Sju

7,000

2

sq m, is the size of this year’s Ice Hotel, which recently won the award for the best travel experience in the country at the Trip Global Awards. The winner is nominated by 30 international tour operators.

It’s the second time the Ice Hotel has bagged the top spot and this year there was particularly stiff competition in the form of the new Abba museum.

out of every 3 cars sold in 2013 was a Volvo, according to a report from motorist association Bil Sverige. Top of the list was the Volvo V70 II, with 20,252 cars sold.

Swedes remain loyal to the trusted brand, and Volvo models have been the bestselling cars in the country for the past 56 years.

Art Suite: A face in the Crowd

by Mikael “Nille” Nilsson & Ingemar Almeros. Photo: Christian Strömqvist

40 new words officially entered the Swedish language in 2013. The list, released by Språkrådet (the Language Council of Sweden) includes the words ‘mobilmissbruk’ (mobile phone addiction), ‘dygnis’ (24 hour daycare) and ‘carpa’ (enjoying life, as in carpe diem), as well as phonetic rewrites of English words, ie. ‘embrejsa’ (to embrace) and ‘twerka’ (to twerk).

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February 2014 18

–5 is the ideal temperature for playing musical instruments made of ice; much warmer and they can melt, colder and they can shatter. A vital detail for the musicians playing in Sweden’s largest ever ice concerts, being performed in an igloo in Luleå this winter. The shows, which include a range of music from folk to Lady Gaga, began on December 28th and will run until April 6th.

ICEconcert hall. Photo: Jack Affleck

2014

is Umeå’s year as European Capital of Culture, the most northerly city ever to hold the title. The year-long program of cultural events will kick off on the weekend of January 31-February 2 with an opening ceremony called Burning Snow, which promises to set the Umeå river on fire, literally and metaphorically. For more information, visit www. umea2014.se.

1000 Canadian hockey fans made the trip to Sweden to support their team at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, turning Malmö Arena into a sea of red. The Canadians however, left Sweden emptyhanded losing to Russia in the bronze medal match.

Sweden fared better advancing to the finals, but it was the Finns who took home gold.

11

Photo: Andreas Nilsson

is the number of categories in which a film based on the life of Swedish jazz star Monica Zetterlund has been nominated for the Guldbagge awards on January 20th. Alongside Monica Z, the other two contenders for Best Film at the ‘Swedish Oscars’ are Återträffen (The Reunion) and Känn ingen sorg.

Lifestyle

Swedish Roots, Oregon Lives

by Lars Nordström (Swedish Roots in Oregon Press)

I

n this volume, Swedish Press contributor Lars Nordström has gathered and edited fifteen oral histories from the thousands of Swedes, and their descendants, who came to Oregon during the ‘Great Migration’. This period, between 1850 and 1929, saw around 1.2 million Swedes leave their native country for a better life in America.

While we can read about the reasons for this huge exodus – poverty, religious persecution, class oppression and famine, among others – in the history books, firstperson accounts such as these give a very personal perspective on the real lives behind the statistics.

We read about young girls forced into service from 11-yearsold, long journeys into the unknown, families torn apart as one family member emigrates and the rest are left behind. A certain stoicism – a Scandinavian trait, perhaps an attribute of the older generation permeates the stories.

Life was hard and there was no sense in complaining about it.

But equally evident throughout the volume is the huge sense of pride, in both old and new countries, and the strength of family ties and traditions over many

Book Reviews

generations. As Kathleen (Olsen) Allen-Kirsch, born in Portland with strong Swedish and Norwegian roots, puts it: “even as third and fourth generation Swedes we are keenly aware and proud of our heritage.”

This volume is both a great read and an important historical record.

Stoft, Dust of Our Being: A Collection of Poems

by Arthur Antonius Anderson (McNally Robinson)

A

rthur Antonius Anderson was born in Norrbotten, Sweden in 1894 and emigrated to Canada with his wife and two young sons in 1924. He was very active in the Swedish community in Winnipeg, was awarded the Royal Patriotic Service Gold Medal from the King of Sweden and was made Swedish Consul for Manitoba in 1955.

He also wrote poetry and this collection of 43 poems, which was first published in Swedish in 1934, has been now re-published with an English translation by Ellen Boryen alongside the Old Swedish.

Poetry is notoriously difficult to translate but Boryen does a good job of retaining the rather heavy, mystical and dramatic tone.

The common thread throughout the anthology is of life as an immigrant and related reflections

on heritage and h omeland. As he says in the poem Fridlös/Restless “I am torn between the present time and time that has gone by, and am an outlawed fugitive, who owns no home or shade.” Alongside the brooding and the longing though, are humorous sketches of his fellow countrymen and beautiful descriptions of natural surroundings, both in Canada and back in Sweden. Andersons’s poems provide a moving insight into the immigrant soul.

Hakon of Rogen’s Saga and A Slave’s Tale

by Erik Christian Haugaard (University of Minnesota Press)

H

akon of Rogen’s Saga, and its sequel A Slave’s Tale, are epic tales of Viking adventures, told from the point of view of a young slave girl, Helga.

The books, by celebrated Danish author Erik Christian Haugaard, are aimed at younger readers but are a great read at any age, bringing Viking history to life with rollicking adventures but also while depicting the harsh realities of the time. The sagas are illustrated with wonderfully atmospheric woodcut illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon.

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February 2014 19

[Design]

Hemma hos Skipark 360°: skiing in Sweden is about to reach new heights, year-round

By Kristi Robinson

S

weden is already home to a number of world-class ski resorts and by 2015 there will be one more added to that list. However this one is a little different – there’s snow, lots of it in fact, 365 days a year. Skipark 360° will be Sweden’s first indoor ski resort and thanks to the grand vision of the architects, will hold the title of the world’s largest indoor ski slope.

To add to the accolades, Skipark 360° will also be one of Sweden’s tallest buildings. It seems there is something perfectly iconic about this for a culture of ski and snow buffs.

With a 700m (2,297ft) long downhill slope and a drop of 160m (525ft), Skipark 360° will be the only indoor facility in the world to meet the requirements for hosting

[ ]

February 2014 20

the World Cup. The climate-controlled environment will be a great boost for Swedish sport, allowing Sweden’s elite athletes to train in the comfort of their home country yearround. The complex will also contain a snowboarding park; an ice rink for hockey, bandy (think field hockey on ice), and figure skating; an arena for biathlon; and an impressive 3.5km cross country ski tunnel. Aside from the range of winter activities, the complex is designed to be a resort destination with restaurants and shops, a spa, a hotel with access to the surrounding lakes and forests, and a conference centre.

This state of the art complex will take up residence in Bålsta, 40 minutes outside of Stockholm. Designed by the Swedish branch of C.F. Møller Architects in collaboration with the Stockholm-based architectural firm Berg Arkitektkontor, Skipark 360° is set to break some records as not only the biggest, but also the greenest, indoor ski facility in existence. The architect’s goal is to make the building 100% self sufficient by incorporating

renewable energy sources into the building design such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, and geothermal heating. Despite the sheer size of the complex the actual ground footprint has been minimized. In the words of the architects, the building is conceived ‘as a simplified silhouette’. Made of a massive elevated ramp, the structure is supported by six tapering columns, descending in size. The result is open-air spaces with unobstructed views of the landscape that allow wildlife to wander through. At the building’s highest point an outdoor terrace provides panoramic views that we anticipate will be simply awesome.

Artist rendering of Skipark 360°.

Photo © C.F. Møller & Berg Arkitektkontor

[Treats] I

à la Maggan

live with my fiancé Gullik and ten-year-old son Lukas, on Alnö, one of the largest islands in Sweden situated east of the city of Sundsvall.

At the moment, I am a full-time curler but one of my big interests besides curling is food. We do a lot of cooking in our family but also enjoy eating out. I enjoy different cuisines, particularly wild, locally produced organic food.

We try to keep a well-balanced diet both during training periods and during competitions. It is most important to eat enough carbohydrates the days before and during competitions to be able to preserve energy and maintain good physical capacity all the way through.

We consult a dietician and we have made long-term measurements of our blood sugar levels during competitions to be able to adjust our food intake. During training periods we eat fewer carbohydrates and more proteins. Of course we enjoy something sweet sometimes when we are not competing.

Photo: WCF / Jesse Kushneryk 2013

Ground meat steaks or meatballs are everyday food in Sweden. This is my recipe, with a twist. It is also fabulous to spice meatballs with

green peppercorns instead of the whiskey.

I love eating different meat casseroles during the winter and this one is a bit similar to the great Boeuf Bourguignon, but with Nordic flavours.

By Margaretha “Maggan” Sigfridsson, the Swedish Women’s Curling Team Skipper (Captain)

Photo: WCF/J esse Kushnery

k 2013

Game Stew Ingredients: 500g stewing game meat butter for frying 2 tbsps tomato puree salt, pepper 200 g mushrooms 2 onions, 1 carrot 2 dl cream ½ dl chopped parsley Marinade: 1 onion 4 dl red wine 1 tbsp olive oil 5-6 crushed juniper berries 1 bay leaf 1 sprig thyme

METHOD Day 1: Make the marinade. Peel and chop the onion coarsely. Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Add the meat to the marinade, cover with cling film and chill overnight.

Day 2: Sieve off the marinade and save it for later. Keep the onion bits.

Then, brown the meat in the butter in a heavy-bottomed casserole dish.

Brown the onions from the marinade also.

Add the marinade and tomato purée. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Slice the onions, chop the onions coarsely and slice the carrot.

Brown them together in a frying pan and add to the stew.

Pour over the cream and let the stew cook for a further 20 minutes.

Scatter a little chopped parsley over the top and serve with rice or potatoes. The stew is even better the day after!

Whiskey Meatballs Ingredients: 500g mixed minced meat 1 dash (approx 0,5 dl) of your favourite whiskey 1 dl breadcrumbs 1,5 dl milk 0,5 dl cream 0,5 – 1 tbsp mustard A good amount of ground black and white pepper 2 tsps salt 1 tsp onion powder 1 pinch sugar 1 egg (can be left out)

METHOD Mix the breadcrumbs with the milk and cream. Let them absorb the liquid for 10 minutes. Add in the mustard and herbs. Then add the mince, salt and whiskey (a fairly smoky whiskey is good!)

Mix together, preferably with your hands. Add in an egg at the end so the mixture stays together better when frying.

Let the mixture stand for a few minutes before you form your meatballs and fry them. I usually brown them in a frying pan and then let them cook in the oven at 120 degrees Celcius.

Serve with mashed potatoes, sauce and lingonberry jam. Or with oven-roasted vegetables.

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February 2014 21

LÄR DIG SVENSKA God fortsättning på det nya året!

Åker = Go, Går = Go

Two main rules for the verb “gå”:

his is a phrase that Swedes greet each other with after a new year has begun, the first time they see each other after the holidays.

Learning a new language always makes you face different challenges depending on what language you already know and what language you want to learn.

One of the challenges for English speaking people, like many of you Swedish Press readers, who want to learn Swedish, is to understand the difference between the two Swedish verbs “åka” and “gå”. I’ve often heard immigrants in Sweden say something like: “Jag gick till Italien förra veckan.”

This is very unlikely, as it would mean the person walked to Italy! If you want to understand the difference between “gå” and “åka” then keep reading.

• We use it to describe that we are walking, and not using any kind of transportation.

• We use it in general, when we don’t talk about the way of transportation at all, like “gå på bio”, “gå på fotbollsmatch”, “gå på teater”, “gå på restaurang”, “gå i skolan”. We would also use the verb “gå” when talking about departure: “bussen går klockan 10.00”, “båten går om en halvtimma”.

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Ord som passar i svensk vinter (Words suitable for Swedish winter) Snö / Det snöar. = Snow / It is snowing Regn / Det regnar = Rain / It is raining Snöblandat regn = Freezing rain Tö = Thaw Slask / Det är slask = Slush / It is slushy weather Åka pulka = Go sledding Åka skidor = Go skiing Åka längdskidor = Go cross country skiing Åka slalom = Go downhill skiing Åka till fjällen = Go to the Scandinavian mountains See the Swedish2go winter video on the Swedish2go blog on the Swedish Press website! This is also where you will find the correct answers to your “åka” and “gå” quiz.

One rule is that when we use the verb “gå”, we usually mean that we use our legs, so it could be translated to “walk” instead of “go”. That is straightforward. The problem is that we do have situations when we need to use the verb “go” and translate it to “gå”, like here: “Ska vi gå på restaurang?” This does not refer to the way we get to the restaurant, but simply “Shall we go to a restaurant?” Now you probably start to realize that there is more than one way to use the verb “gå”.

What about “åka”?

Well, that is easier. Simply learn that when we are going somewhere, on any kind of transportation (even skis, and sleds), we use “åka”.

Here are two sentences that show these differences quite clearly : • Jag går på semester vecka 29.

• Jag åker på semester vecka 29.

These two sentences don’t mean the same to a Swede. The first sentence is informing us that the person begins his/her vacation time, in week 29 (Swedes love to talk in week numbers). The second sentence on the other hand is informing us that the person is going away on holidays, travelling somewhere, from week 29.

Test your “åker” and “går” skills in the little quiz! (åka, åker, åkte, åkt) (gå, går, gick, gått)

Swedish Language Teacher Åsa Bouck is a Swedish teacher, living in Alberta, Canada with her Canadian husband and two bilingual sons. 2011 she set up Swedish2go, an online company offering self-instructional material for learning Swedish in the form of videos, presentations, quizzes, listening comprehensions and more.

Feel free to ask questions about the Swedish language by contacting Swedish Press or visiting Swedish2go.com.

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February 2014 22

• Ska vi _______ på hockey?

• Ja, men vi _______ väl inte bil. Det är bättre att _______ buss till arenan.

• Familjen Olsson har _______ till fjällen på semester och kommer tillbaka i mitten av mars. De ________ mycket slalom och längd.

• Åh vad härligt! Jag _______ inte på semester förrän i sommar.

• Det är inte så vanligt att _______ på restaurang i Sverige. Det är för dyrt.

• Vad tråkigt! Det är trevligt att _______ ut och äta.

• Hur kommer du till skolan? _______ du eller _______ du buss?

• Jag _______ bil. Men på sommaren cyklar jag.

• Kom så går vi ut i snön och _______ pulka!

Correct answers to “Do you know the Swedish Christmas words? Adventsljusstake, Julstjärna, Julafton, Juldagen, Julbord, Julklappar, Ett luciatåg, Trettondagen, Annandag jul, Tomten, Ringdanser, Julgransplundring

B A R N SIDAN Calling all cartoonists!

Are you a budding artist or aspiring cartoonist?

We invite all our young readers to enter our cartoon competition.Your cartoon can be about anything, but must have a Swedish angle.

Email your entry to: joan@swedishpress.com

by February 10, 2014.

The winner will see their work published on next month’s Barnsidan page.

Fun in the snow

If you’re bored of sledging and sick of snowmen, try out these cool chilly weather activities: Ice cube hunt Freeze water colored with different food coloring into ice cube trays and then hide them outdoors for a treasure hunt with a difference.

Snowflakes Like fingerprints, no two snowflakes are exactly the same. But have you ever really checked this out? Collect snowflakes on a pre-chilled piece of black paper and use a magnifying glass to examine the unique patterns and shapes.

Snowball lanterns Form snowballs into a conical igloo shape, making sure to leave a gap in the first layer. Push a lit candle through the gap into the centre of the igloo and you have a natural lantern which will light up your garden beautifully.

Painting the snow Fresh white snow makes a wonderful blank canvas on which to ‘paint’, using food coloring mixed with water.

You might want to avoid using yellow, though...

Sweden’s sixth best-selling children’s book of all time

In case you’ve missed the Swedish publishing sensation

by Mats Strandberg and Sara B. Elfgren, The Engelsfors Trilogy (‘The Circle’, ‘Fire’ and ‘The Key’) has been published in over 30 countries and won Best Teenage Book 2012.

ABBA’s Benny Andersson has now snapped up the production rights for these urban fantasy books and filming will start this year.

Authors Sara B. Elfgren and Mats Strandberg.

Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson

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BLEKINGE

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Arkeologer har vid utgrävningar i Västra Vång, hittat 29 så kallade guldgubbar, små, tunna och förgyllda bleckfigurer, från järnåldern. Det är det tredje största fyndet av guldgubbar i Sverige.

Man har även hittat huvuden och byster gjutna i brons samt glaskärl och pilar. Fynden visar att platsen kan ha varit en kultplats för sisådär 2 000 år sedan.

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Landskapsnyheterna

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De hälsofarliga utsläppen från fordonstrafiken har minskat sedan trängselskatten infördes. Det gäller både kväveoxider och farliga partiklar, enligt beräkningar som gjorts av Göteborgs kommun. På gatorna i innerstaden minskade utsläppen av kväveoxider med i snitt 16 procent, jämfört med samma tid förra året. På de centrala förbindelserna över eller under Göta älv var minskningen nio procent.

Antalet bilar har minskat med drygt 10 procent. Enligt Trafikkontorets beräkningar passerade under hösten 75 000 färre bilar genom platsen för trängselskattens betalstationer jämfört med samma tid 2011. Restiderna har blivit kortare och lättare att beräkna. Samtidigt har kollektivåkandet ökat med upp till 20 procent.

Störst är ökningen på de så kallade expressbussarna, men även lokaltågen har fått 17 procent fler resenärer.

På valdagen den 14 september får göteborgarna en möjlighet att i efterhand säga ja eller nej till trängselskatten. Folkomröstningen är enbart rådgivande och det är därför långt ifrån säkert att de 36 betalstationerna försvinner även om det blir ett nej från väljarna.

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In the Loop GÖTEBORG

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En första så kallad maskbild i brons hittades redan 2004 i samband med ett vattenreningsprojekt. Men mer metodiska arkeologiska utgrävningar kom igång först 2012 och fortsatte förra året. Fynden har hållits hemliga, dels för att arkeologerna skulle få arbeta ostört och dels för att undgå risken för plundring.

BOHUSLÄN Skolgången för eleverna vid Bohusläns Helhetsskola i Ljungskile är säkrad. I december fick skolan chockbeskedet att den inte skulle få starta igen efter jullovet. Orsaken till stängningen var att skolan inte hade sökt nytt tillstånd när den nya skollagen kom för två år sedan.

Bohusläns Helhetsskola har 13 elever med särskilda behov för vilka skolgången i vanliga kommunala skolor inte fungerat. De berörda kommunerna har betalat avgifter för eleverna i stället för den vanliga skolpengen och det, enligt Skolinspektionen, innebar att skolan behövde söka nytt tillstånd när den nya skollagen kom 2011. Men det kände skolan inte till.

Inför den nya skollagen hade Friskolornas Riksförbund faktiskt kollat om skolor behövde söka nya tillstånd. Svaret från Skolinspektionen löd: ”Såvitt vi vet i dagsläget, så behövs inga nya tillstånd”. Om det mejlbeskedet säger Skolinspektionens Marie Axelsson att myndigheten kanske var otydlig.

Nu tar de berörda kommunerna ett samlat ansvar för Bohusläns Helhetsskola. Med ett kommunalt huvudmannaskap löser man ett byråkratiskt problem och därmed kan en skola med bra resultat fortsätta sin verksamhet.

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DALARNA

Borlänge har tagit ett väldigt annorlunda grepp för att skapa nya kommunikationsvägar mellan svenskar och invandrare. Det sker genom bandy.

Det somaliska landslaget som bildades för några månader sedan är i full gång med förberedelser inför VM i ryska Irkutsk i slutet av januari. Per Fosshaug, en av Sveriges bästa bandyspelare genom tiderna, är förbundskapten.

Han har också varit tränare på elitnivå. Träningen sker i samarbete med bland andra Borlänge Bandy. Somalia slipper att möta Sverige och Ryssland i VM – laget får spela i C-VM tillsammans med andra utvecklingsländer.

Somalias olympiska kommitté har sanktionerat bildandet av ett bandyförbund, som, för övrigt, har valts in i det internationella bandyförbundet.

Det bor ungefär 3 000 somalier i Borlänge och hittills har integreringen inte fungerat smärtfritt. Det var Borlänge-journalisten och entreprenören Patrik Andersson, 48, som tyckte att det var dags att göra något åt det. Han bestämde sig för att använda bandyn, som enligt honom är det svenskaste man kan göra, som inkörsport till det svenska samhället.

De flesta trodde att pressmeddelandet om att ett somaliskt landslag från Borlänge ställer upp i bandy-VM var ett försenat aprilskämt. Och äventyret har inte varit problemfritt. Pelle Fosshaug måste fortfarande hjälpa några av de somaliska spelarna att knyta skridskorna. En del kommer för sent till träningen i Borlänge ishall. Och i fel kläder. Somliga har glömt hjälmarna hemma. Någon saknar skridskoremmar. Men ingen har givit upp.

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LAPPLAND

organisation. Man måste också titta på om innehållet i kyrkans verksamheter stämmer överens med vad som krävs för att få bli certifierad.

NORRBOTTEN

VÄSTERBOTTEN

JÄMTLAND

HÄRJEDALEN

SKÅNE

ÅNGERMANLAND

Vellinges kommunstyrelseordförande, Lars-Ingvar Ljungman, har ett månadsarvode på 103 121 kronor – 130 procent av det fastställda grundbeloppet.

Nu lagom till Lars-Ingvar Ljungmans avgång har han själv tagit initiativ till en utredning. Reglerna för ersättning till förtroendevalda ska ses över. Senast kommunens reglemente om ekonomiska förmåner var uppe i fullmäktige var efter förra valet, 2010. Då yrkade Nya listan, Kristdemokraterna, Miljöpartiet och Sverigedemokraterna att LarsIngvar Ljungmans arvode skulle sänkas, men yrkandena avslogs.

MEDELPAD HÄLSINGLAND

DALARNA GÄSTRIKLAND UPPLAND VÄSTMANLAND Stockholm VÄRMLAND SÖDERMANNÄRKE LAND DALSLAND ÖSTERGÖTLAND BOHUSLAND VÄSTERGöteborg GÖTLAND GOTLAND SMÅLAND HALLAND ÖLAND SKÅNE

BLEKINGE

Malmö

Wall Street Journal har gjort reportage om det märkliga projektet och det blir en dokumentärfilm om spelarna som lärde sig att åka skridskor bara några månader innan de deltog i ett världsmästerskap i bandy.

GOTLAND Domkyrkan i Visby vill som första kyrka HBT-certifieras efter att Kyrkomötet, Svenska kyrkans riksdag, sagt ja till en motion om att kyrkostyrelsen ska uppmuntra alla stift att HBT-certifiera sina arbetsplatser. Certifieringen, som utfärdas av Riksförbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas och transpersoners rättigheter (RFSL), ska garantera att HBT-personer bemöts respektfullt.

I Visby domkyrka vill man ta ett steg till i den riktning. Men RFSL, som ligger bakom certifieringen, har ännu inte tagit ställning till om det går att HBTcertifiera en kyrka. Ulrika Westerlund, förbundsordförande på RFSL, anser att det kan bli problematiskt med tanke på att RFSL är en religiöst obunden 42

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We are the Swedish Club

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SMÅLAND Personalen på BB i Växjö slår larm om att föräldrarnas tid går till mobiler och surfplattor i stället för till de nyfödda barnen. Uppdateringar om spädbarnet på sociala nätverk tar fokus från bebisen själv, menar avdelningscheferna.

Nu uppmanar de föräldrarna att lägga ifrån sig mobilerna, i synnerhet under amning.

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VÄSTERGÖTLAND En kvinna utanför Falköping hittade en 1 500 år gammal ring. Nu har hon fått 11 000 kronor i hittelön från Riksantikvarieämbetet för fyndet.

Det var en sommardag för två år sedan som kvinnan såg hur det glimmade till i åkerkanten när hon gick till grannen för att hämta ägg. Efter en närmare titt tog hon kontakt med Västergötlands museum. Det som hade glimmat visade sig vara en spiralring från 500-talet.

Platsen där ringen hittades undersöktes men det blev inga fler fynd.

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Stop by for lunch or dinner on Fridays.

The Swedish Club New members welcome!

1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, 98109

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206.283.1090 www.swedishclubnw.org Visit us on Facebook

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D I R E C T O R Y

A D S Scandinavia

TROUT ROCK LODGE

Call for our free catalog and order online at www.ingebretsens.com 612-729 9333 • 1-800-279 9333 info@ingebretsens.com

Preserve, Present and Promote Swedish Immigrant Heritage

World Class Aurora Viewing and Trophy Pike fishing on Great Slave Lake, NWT Contact: Ragnar Wesstrom www.enodah.com 867-873 4334

Need a Dala Horse or Tomte?

Check out the great selection of Scandinavian gifts, imports and goodies in our catalog or at:

www.hemslojd.com

800-779 3344 or 785-227 2983 PO Box 152 • 201 N Main St Lindsborg KS 67456 USA

Escorted Tours Customized Tours Independent Travel Cruises

Brekke Tours & Travel 1-800-437-5302 www.BrekkeTours.com

Scandinavian Specialist since 1956

Established 1972 Elim Lutheran Church

5 Historic Buildings tell the story of Swedish Immigrant life in Minnesota

www.gammelgardenmuseum.org Visit our website for Tours, Festivals, Events & Programs

Museum/Butik open May 1—Dec 23, 2014 Historic Building Tours: May– mid-Oct Tour Groups Welcome: Luncheon Tours Available!

651-433-5053 * 20880 Olinda Trail N. Scandia, MN 55073

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Founded in 1981

Swenson Center

Augustana College Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Phone 309-794 7204 sag@augustana.edu www.augustana.edu/sag

Nordic Roots Adventures

Custom Guided Genealogy Tours of Scandinavia Steven Persson 720.438.8670 nordicrootsadventures@gmail.com

www.nordicrootsadventures.com

Dr. Bo I Höglund

Certified Specialist in Orthodontics Orthodontic applicances, braces and invisible braces for children and adults.

White Rock/South Surrey/Whistler Phone: 1 888 535 3028 www.whiterockortho.com

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Canada & US update

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Local Community News in Swedish North America

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Chicago

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Dressing Swedish: From Hazelius to Salander, opened January 10 in the first-floor gallery of Chicago’s Swedish American Museum and will remain through Sunday, February 23.

Composed of individual pieces and entire outfits from provinces of Sweden, the presentation answers the questions of who wears folk costumes, when and how they are worn, and what it means to “dress Swedish.” The different styles indicate identities and senses of belonging. Each signifies an affinity for a specific region, and all are symbols of national pride.

Worn formally for significant celebrations such as the Nobel Prize banquet and openings of Swedish and Sami Parliaments, folk costumes are also customary for baptisms, weddings, church services and festivals.

“Dressing Swedish: From Hazelius to Salander” is currated

by Charlotte Hylten-Cavallius, research director at the Multicultural Centre in Botkyrka, and Lizette Graden, chief curator at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. The names refer to folklorist Artur Hazelius, 19th century founder of the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm, and Lisbeth Salander, the urban anti-heroine of Stieg Larsson’s “Dragon Tattoo” Millennium Trilogy.

Located at 5211 N. Clark Street, the Museum is open seven days a week. This exhibit and various ongoing historical installations 8

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may be seen from 10 am to 4 pm Mondays through Fridays and 11 am to 4 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Visit www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.org for a schedule.

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Seattle Pull, Twist, Blow: Transforming the Kingdom of Glass, which opened in December 2013 and continues until April 2014 at the Nordic Heritage Museum, introduces the work of young, innovative Swedish glass artists. Glass is a part of everyday life for people all over the world, and in Sweden glass art is considered an institution. For many years, glass art in the country was defined by traditional techniques and patterns passed down through an apprentice system at glass factories in Glasriket (The Kingdom of Glass) in the region of Småland, where 15 of Sweden’s 16 glassworks are located.

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Following consolidations, buyouts, closures, and the globalization of the Swedish glass industry, new artists are interested in exploring their own artistic voices and challenging expectations of what glass should be.

The exhibition reveals the works of young, contemporary Swedish glass artists, how they relate to their predecessors, and how they are addressing the future of glass.

Nordic artists featured in the exhibit include Peter Hermansson, Annika Jarring, Åsa Jungnelius, Ingalena Klenell, Simon Klenell, Helena Kågebrand, Matilda Kästel, Ludvig Löfgren, Fredrik Nielsen, and Karl Magnus Nilsson.

In collaboration with the Glass Factory in Boda, Sweden, and specifically for this exhibition, each of the artists selected objects from the Glass Factory’s extensive collection to use as a reference to create their own original work. The pieces that served as inspiration will be displayed alongside the new works, including pieces by Monica Backström, Kjell Engman, Hertha Hillfon, and Bertil Vallien.

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Calendar & Events

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Guide to interesting and fun events in Swedish North America

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CHICAGO

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Swedish American Museum 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Tel: 773-728 8111 | info@samac.org www.swedishamericanmuseum.org Continuing through Sunday Feb 24 – “Dressing Swedish: From Hazelius to Salander,” an exhibition that displays folk costumes representing diverse regions and cultures of Sweden through the ages.

Feb 6 – Thursday 1 pm and 7 pm: Free showing of a Swedish film.

Feb 6 and 20 – Thursday 4 to 5 pm: Hejsan after-school cultural program on Swedish literature for children of ages 5 to 10.

Feb 9 and 23 – Sunday 10 to 11 am: Bullerbyn, a time for children of ages 6 months to 5 years to speak and sing in Swedish with adults.

Feb 9 – Sunday 1 to 3:30 pm: Scandinavian Jam with instruction by Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler; guests are invited to bring instruments and participate.

Feb 22 – Saturday 10 am to 12 pm: Nordic Family Genealogy Center program with members sharing their experiences visiting Sweden.

Feb 22 – Saturday 11 am: Guided tour of the permanent exhibit, “A Dream of America – Swedish Immigration to Chicago.”

DETROIT

Swedish Club of Southeast Mich.

22398 Ruth Street, Farmington Hills MI 48336 | Info: 734-459 0596 www.swedishclub.net Feb 2 – Sunday 1 to 2:30 pm: Buffet Mar 2 – Sunday 1 to 2:30 pm: Buffet

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American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave Minneapolis MN 55407 Tel: 612-871 4907 | info@ASImn.org www.asimn.org Continuing through Saturday April 26 – Metatranslations: Ed Bok Lee’s Intervention in ASI’s Library and Archives. A Readers and Writers Library Residence event with Ed Bok Lee will be held at ASI on Wednesday, Feb 19 at 6:30 pm Continuing through Sunday May 25 – Papercut! The Incredible Psaligraphy of 8

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Karen Bit Vejle – Discover the incredible psaligraphy of Danish-Norwegian artist Karen Bit Vejle.

Feb 1 to April 26 – Entangled Introductions: The Work of Sonja Peterson Feb 5 – Wednesday 5 to 6:30 pm: A Conversation on Leadership and Coaching with Pia Sundhage.

PHILADEPHIA

American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145 | Tel: 215-389 1776 info@americanswedish.org Continuing through Sunday Feb 23 – The Enduring Designs of Josef Frank – Enjoy this beautiful exhibition featuring some of Josef Frank’s most eminent textile designs and iconic furnishings.

Feb 22 – Saturday 11 am: Semlor and a Movie – Treat yourself to a rich semla, a cream and almond paste filled Swedish pastry, along with a cup of hot coffee and a Swedish film.

SEATTLE

Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 Tel: 206-283 1090 info@swedishculturalcenter.org Feb 2 – Sunday 8 am to 1:30 pm: Swedish Pancakes. Music and dancing, plus authentic Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, ham, and all the right fix’ins.

Feb 2 – Super Bowl Sunday at the Club?

We’ll open the bar and have the food, drinks and big-screen TV you need for a big day of football. However, we’ll have to know by Monday Jan 27 to make the plans, so please RSVP to rsvp@swedishculturalcenter.org or call 206-283-1090 if you’re coming.

Nordic Heritage Museum 3014 N.W. 67th Street, Seattle, WA 98117 Tel: 206-789 5707 | nordic@nordicmuseum.org www.nordicmuseum.org From Feb 23 to Jun 1 – Nordic Chamber Music Series (the 19th Season) – the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series and Smörgåsbord will bring musicians from the Nordic countries to Seattle.

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OTTAWA / TORONTO

Embassy of Sweden Ottawa 377 Dalhousie Street, Suite 305, Ottawa ON K1N 9NB | Tel: 613-241 2277 www.swedishembassy.ca Feb 13 – Thursday 8 pm: Ane Brun in concert in Montreal – Sweden’s Ane Brun will perform at L’Astral in Montreal, as part of her Solo Acoustic Tour, with special guest Linnea Olsson.

Feb 14 – Friday 8 pm: Ane Brun in concert in Toronto – Sweden’s Ane Brun will perform at Rivoli in Toronto, as part of her Solo Acoustic Tour, with special guest Linnea Olsson.

Feb 15 – Saturday 3 pm: Färjestad BK vs.

Toronto Marlies in Toronto – Färjestad BK will be the first Swedish Hockey League club ever to compete in North America.

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VANCOUVER

Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 Tel: 604-294 2777 info@scandinaviancentre.org Feb 1 – Saturday 6 to 9 pm: Danish Brotherhood Annual Valentine’s Party – every­one is invited to attend the annual Valentine’s din­ner and dance. To reserve your tick­ets, call Niels Jensen 604 581‑3999.

Feb 9 – Sunday 1 to 3 pm: Movie screening with Eva Wunderman – Eva, well-known Swedish documentary film-maker, presents one of her documentaries, followed by a Q&A session. Refreshments provided. RSVP Yvonne Spence phone 604-980 8866 Feb 17 – Monday 8 pm: Ane Brun in concert in Vancouver – Sweden’s Ane Brun will perform at the Electic Owl in Vancouver on February 17, as part of her Solo Acoustic Tour with special guest Linnea Olsson.

Feb 22-23 – Saturday to Sunday: Scandinavian Design Show – An outstanding opportunity to show off some of the Scandinavian objects that caught the attention of the world in the middle of the 20th century. Contact Carolyn Thauberger at cthauber12@gmail.com for more info.

Feb 28 – Friday 7:00 pm: Magnus Martensson, a Swedish born comedian, pianist and conductor is coming to the Scandinavian Centre. Reserve this date in your calendar.

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[Ads] & Info Alberta Organizations Svenska Skolan i Calgary bedriver undervisning för barn 3-15 år gamla på lördagar kl 9:30-12. Alla barn är välkomna. Undervisningen sker på svenska. Kontakta Svenska Skolan genom Scandinavian center 403-284 2610 eller skicka epost till contact@ swedishschool.com. Läs mer om vår skola på www.swedishschool.com

BC Organizations Consulate of Sweden Tuesday 1-5 pm, Friday 10 am – 2 pm or by appointment. #1480-1188 West Georgia Street. 604-683 5838 Scandinavian Business Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month. New members welcome. Phone Ben Marklund 604524 2915. Visit us at www.sbc-bc.ca Scandinavian Community Centre Beautiful setting for weddings, parties, birthdays, meetings and seminars. 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC info@scandinaviancentre.org 604294-2777 www.scandinaviancentre.org Svenska Kulturföreningen Ordförande Monica Olofsson, 604-987 6086. Kassör är Linda Olofsson, 604418 7703 www.swedishculturalsociety.ca Email:swedishculturalsociety. ca@gmail.com Svenska Skolan en gång i veckan för barn mellan 3 och 14 år. Ordförande Mia Logie 604-7258431, Administratör Anette Anastacio svenskaskolanvancouver@gmail.com Sweden House Society President Lena Normen Younger 604-838 5362, Vice-President Laila Axén, Treasurer Ron Spence.

Swedish Press Classified: The Fast and Inexpensive Way to Buy, Sell or Tell

org eller Pia Hilton tel:604-261 2484 email:sweavanmemb@gmail.com.

Besök oss på www.sweavancouver.org Swedish Canadian Village Swedish Canadian Manor and Gustav Vasa Place at 1800 Duthie Avenue in Burnaby, B.C. V5A 2R4 604-420 3222, provides retirement apartments, beautiful grounds. Just steps from the bus. Swedish Canadian Resthome Association President Erik Nordholm.

Victoria BC Organizations Swedish Club of Victoria Meetings held third Wednesday of each month at 1110 Hillside Ave. Contact Annabelle Beresford 250-656 9586.

Washington Organizations Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, 3014 N.W. 67th St., Ballard 206789 5707 Open Tuesday – Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays 12 noon to 4 pm. Monday closed.

Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave., N, Seattle, WA 98109; Tel: 206-283 1090. Open MonFri. Pancake breakfasts on first Sundays. Catering available for all events.

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Max, Maximilian Kyndelsmässodag Disa, Hjördis Ansgar, Anselm Agata, Agda Dorotea, Doris Rikard, Dick Berta, Bert Fanny, Franciska Iris Yngve, Inge Evelina, Evy Ange, Ove Valentin Sigfrid Julia, Julius Alexandra, Sandra Frida, Fritiof Gabriella, Ella Vivianne Hilding Pia Torsten, Torun Mattias, Mats Sigvard, Sivert Torgny, Torkel Lage Maria

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Grandson of Swedish Immigrants The Lady in the Willows and Her Nest of Spies

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February 2014 29

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Sista Ordet Med nordiska förtecken Av Barbro Osher

I

glåmiga januari med mörker och obeslutsamma temperaturer runt nollstrecket inställer sig genast mången eftertankes kranka blekhet.

Vi har vänt blad motett nytt år med eventuella förutsättningar att höja blicken ovanför bordskanten och vidga vyerna bortom stugknuten. Hur vore det om vi tog ett gemensamt tag kring Barbro Osher är honorär generalNorden? Vi nordbor vill konsul i San Francisco. gärna vara internationella, globala, hellre dryfta världens elände i form av hungersnöd, krig, förtryck och naturkatastrofer på fjärran kontinenter

Eat in a new culture.

Swim in a new language.

Play and learn

at a Minnesota summer camp!

Register now for Swedish language programs!

Youth • Adult • Family • Day Camp Scholarships available. For more details visit www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org/scholarships.

www.SwedishLanguageVillage.org

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February 2014 30

än att ägna tid åt våra närmaste grannar. Är Norden ett mossigt begrepp? Och vet vi egentligen något om våra grannländer, som vi tycker oss känna väl, men egentligen kan försvinnande litet om? En gång var begreppet Norden något många politiker hemmavid ägnade sig åt. Media höll ordentlig koll på vad som försigick i Oslo, Köpenhamn, Helsingfors och Reykjavik med omnejd.

Vi läste åtminstone danska och svenska i skolan, hade nordiskt studentutbyte, beundrade föreningen Norden, som stöttade dylikt. Nordiskt samarbete stod högt i kurs.

Vi fick chansen att fritt röra oss över gränserna utan restriktioner, för många blev det det första stora “utlandsäventyret”. Nu känns det som semesterorterna i Asien ligger närmare hemma än Hangö, Kragerö, Gilleleje och Akureyri. Från min horisont långt bort i förskingringen på den amerikanska västkusten blir läget ett annat. Det vi hemmavid kan betrakta som skillnader mellan oss och våra nordiska grannar ser vi här som knappt märkbara, här är det likheterna som gäller. I det stora amerikanska rummet kan en samlad nordisk profil i våra många gemensamma frågor få ordentligt genomslag. Det gäller allt från vår hållning till klimat-och miljöfrågor, till sociallagstiftning och utbildning, till individens rättigheter och samhället skyldigheter, till jämlikhet och yttrandefrihet. Listan kan göras lång. Här finns också ett nyväckt intresse för vad nordligaste Europa kan bidraga med i form av kunskap och erfarenhet, som förnyare och fritänkare.

Och si, börjar inte t.o.m våra politiker och samhällsvetare hemma i Norden få upp ögonen för att vi har något gemen-samt att lära ut. Under en hel månad förra året samlades nordiska krafter till en kulturell mammutsatsning på Kennedy Center i Washington DC. Det var ett amerikanskt initiativ, som fick oss nordbor samarbeta över våra egna gränser. Resultatet var ett monumentalt genomslag. I denna anda vill jag rekommendera en bok av Bengt Lindroth “Härlig är Norden”.

Den blev utsedd till Föreningen Nordens årsbok 2013, utkommen på Carlsson Bokförlag. Läs den, lär av den och bli lika övertygad om Nordens möjligheter att påverka i samverkan. Även globalt!

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Press Byran 1 Swedish Antiques

2 The Nordic Diet

O

3 Swedish Cakes

4 Swedish Fairy Tales

5 Traditional Cooking

$34 $24 $35

$24

$24

This inspiring full-colour guide highlights the rich traditions of Swedish furniture and décor.

Hardcover 192 pages, with beautiful photographs, size: 8.5”x11”

It’s all about eating locallysourced ingredients in a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates and good fats. Softcover, 144 pages, size: 8” x 10”

6 Scandinavian Classics

7 Swedish Desserts

The only book you need to master the delicious art of baking and decorating Swedish goodies.

Hardcover, 192 pages, with nearly 300 recipes, size: 6” x 8.25”.

8 Alice Babs 2 CDs

Spellbinding art by Sweden’s greatest fairytale illustrator, John Bauer, brings the enchanted world of folk-tales to life. Hardcover, 254 pages

9 Dragspelsmästare

A “culinary treasure” by popular author Caroline Hofberg.

Hardcover, 196 pages, size: 9.5” x 10.9”, 200 full colour photographs will inspire any cooks.

10 Cornelis Vreeswijk

$39 $24

$29 As one of Sweden’s hottest chefs, Niklas Ekstedt shares with us his favourite traditional dishes.

Hardcover, 256 full colour pages, 126 photographs, size: 7.8” x 9.5”.

$35

Item 1.

2.

3.

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7.

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9.

10.

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Swedish Antiques The Nordic Diet Swedish Cakes and Cookies Swedish Fairy Tales Traditional Swedish Cooking Scandinavian Classics Swedish Desserts Alice Babs 2 CDs Svenska Dragspelsmästare Cornelis Vreeswijk 2 CDs Alice Babs 2 CDs + 1 DVD

$35

The best of Scandinavia’s favourite singer on 2 CDs, or purchase a new documentary DVD about Alice Babs for the same price!

A beautifully illustrated guide with 80 recipes by Cecilia Vikbladh to baking traditional Swedish desserts. Hardcover, 128 pages, size: 6.4” x 8.6”.

Pcs

Total

$ 35 $ 24 $ 24 $ 24 $ 34 $ 29 $ 24 $ 35 $ 35 $ 39 $ 65 Sub-Total 1

1 year $ 35 1 year $ 28 1 year $105

2 years $ 65 2 years $ 50 2 years $200

One of the very best concerts ever with Cornelius Vreeswijk.

Conny Söderlund on guitar and Owe Gustavsson on base. 2 CDs.

Item Pcs Cost

12. Trio Con Tromba 4 CDs $ 55 13. Sweden’s Greatest & Swedes on Love 2 CDs $ 35 14. 3 CDs + 1 DVD on Ruben Nilson $ 65 15. Swedish Bread and Pastries $ 34 16. Swedish Knits $ 24 17. Ten New Lives $ 21 18. The Big Book of Woonden Boat Restoration $ 29 19. Carl Larsson Birthday Calendar $ 10 20. Double Deck Sweden Playing Cards $ 15 21. Carta Marina in 1539 (14” x 10.25”) $ 15 22. S-sticker for the car and luggage $ 4 Sub-Total 2

Price includes shipping and handling in the US. Canadians must add $5.00 per item for shipping plus provincial and federal taxes.

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Double-CD with Swedish Masters of the Accordian plus Swedish text booklet presenting more than 40 recordings from 1906 to 1951.

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