A Week Of Firsts!

This week is the week of FIRSTS. These firsts were about figuring out what to do, where to go, how to get there, how to talk, how to act, etc.  These firsts have been incredibly interesting, frustrating and fun. Some should not have been frustrating but traveling with a child can make things  more challenging. Some of these firsts are only memorable because of traveling with a child. Some of them were nerve wracking just because they were new and different experiences. Sometimes it seemed that it would just be easier to avoid the firsts. However, all of these firsts had to happen in order to learn, grow and feel more comfortable. Below I will list and give short stories about the most interesting firsts that we have experienced so far. Feel free to read all, some or come back and read a few more later. Enjoy!

1. Getting lost on the bus with a sleepy child! This first was one of the most nerve wracking firsts of all. The mistakes made were so silly and avoidable but, at the time, were not very apparent. We had a very successful day of traveling on different buses all they way across town and back. We had used our new bus cards and toured Adam's new painting studio. We were feeling confident on how to get home so Adam decided to get off the bus early and pick up a few things at the store. Meanwhile, Jasper was falling asleep on the bus and being quite cranky. I was watching intently to see when our stop was coming up. It should have been very soon after Adam got off the bus. I waited and watched but things were looking very unfamiliar (even more they should have). I worried that I had not paid attention closely enough and soon I realized I really was way passed our stop. The scariest part about this whole experience is that I did not know my address or have a phone. I made it all the way to the end of the line before I knew for sure that I was not going to see my stop. For some reason, the bus took a different route home and did not go passed the stop we got on. Thankfully, going back into town, the bus went passed our stop and I was able to get sleeping Jasper and I safely back to our cozy cottage. This experience would have been nerve wracking for most individuals but not impossible to figure out if you have time and patience. However, when you have a sleeping 3 year-old with you, these situations seem more intense. Needless to say, I wrote my address and phone numbers down in my notebook as soon as I got home.

2. Sledding, playing and walking with Swedish family! This first was a very good experience that really helped us connect to our neighbors and the community. Our third day here our neighbors (who also live on the same property) took us sledding and all around the neighborhood. They have three boys who are all older than Jasper. The boys played a lot and they really liked Jasper. We were able to get to know there parents and started to develop and open, friendly relationship. They took us to a nice park nearby and continued to walk down a path and along a beautiful, frozen tree lined canal. I am looking forward to many outside adventures in our neighborhood. There seems to be endless possibilities for nice walks around us.

3. We almost burnt down our cottage! Hopefully this is our first and last time doing this. After we came home from an afternoon of sledding, our neighbor Anders encouraged us to make a fire in our antique, wood burning stove/oven. We had been thinking about it for a while but had not yet attempted it. This did indeed seem like a very good time to try! We gathered a sled full of fire wood and I returned inside with Jasper to start the fire, while Adam shoveled outside. There are four different chambers on our wood burning stove and we thought that you were supposed to light the fire in the bottom one. I did not know, but it seemed plausible because heat rises. I went ahead and started the fire and it quickly became really smokey. Soon, smoke was billowing out of the stove and into our cottage. I waited for Adam to come in and have a look at it. He continued to mess with the fire, thinking a draft had not been started to take the smoke up the chimney or that the flu was not open or something. Smoke continued to billow out of all cracks. Our cottage was filled with smoke! We doused it with water, which made it even more smokey. Adam ran to the neighbors to get a fan and advice and by the time he got back we had all window and doors open and the fire was out. It turns out we were lighting the fire in the wrong place. The fire was suppose to go in another small chamber at the top of the stove. We thought we knew, so we did not ask how to do it. We felt very silly but I was glad we had spent a recreational day getting to know them before the fire incident so we did not feel quite as bad about it. Our bed blankets will probably smell a bit like camp fire until spring.

Where would YOU put the fire? The answer should be: the top right little chamber.

4. Alone grocery run with Jasper in a foreign country! Shopping at home, in a place you can read the language easily, communicate with people, in a store you know, can be complicated with a 3 year old. I realize now that going to another country can be even more challenging (and more rewarding!?) for parents. For those of you who don't hang out with kids much, they take a lot of your attention and tend to not listen and run off (at least mine does) when you most need them to be attentive and well-behaved. This was even more apparent when trying to go to a grocery store that is 5 times larger than the one I am use to with a different set up, different language and different etiquette. This first was dreaded but needed to happen because next time I will feel 50 times more confident!

5. Swedish meatballs and Semla! Both of these things I have never eaten in my life but on Valentines Day we had booth of these traditional Swedish foods. After Adam and Jasper had made me a wonderful breakfast in bed, Adam went off to work and I decided I would go to the grocery store (the first time mentioned above) and get ingredients to make Swedish meatballs for dinner. This is also why the grocery store experience was frustrating because I was getting specific ingredients I don't use much anyways.  We never eat meat and potatoes but this is a very normal, traditional Swedish meal. So this is why I wanted to do it. The Swedish meatballs turned out very yummy! We had mashed potatoes with them and roasted broccoli and cherry tomatoes with garlic. I wanted to have a  nice dessert as well but did not want to take more time at the grocery store so I skipped it (Adam did get ice cream and champagne though). However, to our surprise our neighbors stopped over with a traditional Swedish dessert that is only made at this time of year (specifically for Mardi Gras) for a few weeks. Semla! It was wonderful and really topped off our night! Jasper was especially excited for it. We have such lovely neighbors that are really helping us feel welcome and comfortable.

Swedish meatballs, potatoes and roasted veggies!

Hazelnut and Almond Semla

Semla Monsters

There are many first that I could think of sharing with you like.....

Jasper peeing his pants all over the train seat and having to change him in the middle of a busy train station because we had no coins to get into the bathroom.

On the train, where the peeing happened. Probably it happened while this photo was being taken.

Learning how to use the demon washing machine, it shakes violently and I don't know what any of the words mean.  Even translated they say things like "rinse stop" and "stress easily".

Teaching Jasper how to use a shower (we have no bath and he has never liked showers):)

Getting a library card in a foreign country.

Jasper flying off a child's zip-line.

...but I will not explain them all in detail.

I am sure there will be plenty more interesting, frustrating and fun firsts to write about in the future. Each day we are learning more about the culture, getting a better sense of place and developing relationships. Until next time, enjoy the glimpse of our Swedish existence!