A little Swedish Soundtrack

Read the title, because that is what it is. In two days, I leave on a train to The Netherlands only to return in August. I could write nostalgic stories about how amazing, wonderful, strange, sometimes a bit challenging, Swedish, educational, great and at times also very normal this year has been, but I guess that would demand a rather exhausting amount of syllables. (Which neither I want to write, nor you want to read, I guess.) So, I rather let you hear some songs that for me are attached to this last year. Sine musica nulla vita est, eller hur?

July 2012. On my Ipod, I repeat Triakels I Himmelen forever, while on my way to my job for the last few weeks. I have actually no clue what the song is about except for ‘heaven’, but ‘it’s Swedish and that counts’. Later I am to discover that it’s actually a church hymn.

August. I have arrived! The first weeks bring lots of activities, as barbecues and pre-drinks, with my mentor group. We listened to Gangnam Style before it was cool. Or so we pretend.

August also brings my introduction course of Swedish, with teacher Fredrik, who makes 150 international students sing ‘Ring Ring’ by Abba. In Swedish, accompanied by his ukulele.

The occasion to use the then newest addition to my Swedish vocabulary: jättekul, Fredrik.

Autumn. Life in Margaretavägen heads off. For 50 SEK, Maria buys a radio at the flea market, which is a welcome addition to our kitchen. The autumn hit of 2012 is this one – not a brilliant song, but one of the very few that I have heard so often that I start to recognize it and even can sing along some lines. Händerna mot himmlen means actually so much as ‘The hands in the air’.

In November, I help with organizing a small Taize day. This is a new and beautiful Taize song, which I sing there for the first time.

Whenever I study in the Public Library, this song is played at the end of the day when they throw everybody out. I like it a lot. However, where is home actually?

December brings lots of snow, giving Lund such a magical white touch that Enya’s mystical music – which I do not always like - becomes appropriate.

January brings deadlines and the feeling that I will fail all my courses. (I don’t, surprise.) And it brings Vivaldi’s Mandolin Concerto, which pulls me through the last hours of Hebrew. Listen especially at the piece starting at 20:50. My favourite.

The English Congregation uses the ‘Methodist Hymnal’ in its services. An enormous red volume which can hardly comfortably rest on your lap. It contains rather traditional hymns and before you know it, you sing along with ‘Be Thou my vision’ or even ‘Amazing Grace’. Which is nothing like good ol’ Oosterhuis, but actually quite nice for a change.

Spring brings a bit more studying. The Piano Guys are good background music, of course alternated with Bach.

May 1^st – the day after Valborg, the Student Male Choir welcomes Spring with songs in front of the University building. I listen together with friends and recognize one song. Uti Vår Hage – kom hjärtans fröjd!

Mid-May. I end up playing the flute (only in 2 songs, but still) in the Kalmar Spex – a very cool experience! All songs in a spex (a Swedish  student play) are regular pop songs, but with self-written lyrics. So, whenever I now hear ‘People are Strange’ by the Doors, I hear a rather different text.
“Don’t be a captain, if you are beardless, don’t go to Halland’s, dressed as a slave.”

No clue whether I’ll write any blogs over summer, but we’ll see. For whoever has my address at Margaretavägen and has sent me card(s) there – thank you so much! I made a picture of the wall with all my the cards that I received this year and it makes me truly happy to look at it.

However, you can now erase this address from your planner, as I officially have already moved out. (The living room couch sleeps fine.) I found a new room and will have the address from mid-August onwards. Let me know if you want to have it.