Okay, we don’t actually live in the countryside with horses and goats (although, how cool would that be), but Sweden is so beautiful that even when you live in a town, everywhere you look you see forests and lakes and green fields. It is not uncommon to see deer, moose, squirrels, and foxes walking through the forests, running through the neighborhoods, or crossing streets. For a city girl like me, it doesn’t get much more magical than that.
I’m always amazed at how intertwined people’s lives here are with nature. From what I have seen, even the least outdoorsy person can ski, hike, swim, make a fire, and has spent at least one night outside around a campfire. One of the main activities during the warm season is berry picking, which seems to be as incorporated into Swedes’ lives as eating barbecue is incorporated into Armenians’ lives.
In the summer and early autumn, the nearby forests are packed with blueberries, raspberries, cloudberries (yup, that’s a thing), and lingonberries (that’s a thing, too). People gather them and use them in food and pastry, turn them into jams and a delicious drink called “saft,” or freeze them for nourishment in the cold winter months.
On any given day, when I’d much rather be a happy little couch potato, Daniel will gather up his berry scoops and buckets and announce that we are going berry picking. He will end up with one or two full buckets, while I barely manage to fill a quarter of one, and I’ll probably be nagging him the whole time and wondering how he can lose himself for hours in the forest without getting bored. But in all honesty, I find it inspiring; I would love to be free of this technology addiction I have and just be in nature for hours, allowing my brain to wonder and create, without needing constant external input. (And then, of course, I will notice Daniel’s airpods, no doubt playing an audiobook, and all magic will disappear in a puff of smoke.)
I’ve always been the type of person who loved the idea of the outdoors, but was too scared of the bugs and dirt to actually leave the house and spend some time in nature. While the hermit inside of me has not fully died yet (and I doubt it ever will), I do find that there is a kind of peace and fulfillment you can only find it nature, and no amount of imagination or pre-recorded ocean sounds can imitate it.
Even when I lived in the city, I often daydreamed about living in a town like this, but I never imagined it would actually happen. Both Daniel and I are so attached to this silence, fresh air, and greenness all around that even in Armenia we will do our best to live in a smaller town. He loves how much more outdoorsy I have become and gets so surprised when I am the first to suggest that we have our lunchโor “fika,” which is the Swedes’ word for a cozy time of rest and fellowship with some snacks and drinksโin the forest during the weekend. After all, as my father-in-law likes to say, “Everything tastes better when you prepare and eat it outside.”
Every time I go out, meet other people, or simply enjoy the freedoms that I have, I think of all the people that cannot do that. I feel lucky to be living in a country where, out of respect for human free will, there were never any mandates and the restrictions were always at a minimum, until recently when they were removed altogether. I know that so many around the world are not allowed to leave their homes, have lost their jobs, or are being rejected by their family and friends. Just know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers, and I am so proud of all the brave people now risking their safety to peacefully fight for freedom, while doing so much good in the process.
People in Armenia always ask me how I’m surviving the cold. The answer is: I’m not. Just kidding. The real answer is: insulation. Daniel is always surprised that Armenians, being the innovative and smart people that we are, still haven’t figured out that we can insulate our homes. The truth is, I didn’t even know that was a thing until I met Daniel. Whatever this “insulation” is, it sure keeps the houses warm.
And the second kind of insulation, as my parents-in-law (is that a word?) have been teaching me, is in how you dress. Wearing several thinner layers is better than wearing one thick layer, because the air trapped between the layers serves asโyou guessed itโinsulation. The right kind of clothing makes all the difference, too, although I feel like I’m the only one benefiting from them. I see people walking around on the streets without so much as zipping their coats, and next to them I look like a mummy with only my eyes peeping out from between my scarves and hats (yes, sometimes plural).
But all joking aside, even the winters here are ridiculously beautiful. The sun sets pretty early, sometimes as early as 3:00pm, but then all the houses begin to glow with candlelight on the windowsills. As a night owl, I have no complaints about the nights getting longer, but I think even people who hate the dark pretty much make up for it in the summer when the sun rises at 3:00am.
I’ve been able to do things during this winter that I never imagined I would do, such as sitting in an igloo, running outside in my pajamas to see the northern lights, and riding a kicksled on the ocean. Yup, you read that right: on the ocean. Sure, it was frozen, but how many of you can say that you’ve actually sat on it?
On most days, though, I am indoors, either doing coursework, working on my thesis, or whatever else needs to be done. To the great surprise of everyone who knows me, I’ve started cooking and greatly enjoy it, even though Daniel still remains the better cook (he is now objecting to that). In March, I’m hoping to start attending daily Swedish classes, so wish me luck! And because I spend so much time sitting in front of the computer, we aim to go for a walk at least once a day.
I did want to tell you about my thesis. It is a novel about a Swedish guy who travels to Armenia (no, it’s not Daniel). While my initial intent with the novel was to write a humorous story about the clash of two very different cultures, it expanded into something so much more and will include even the 44-day war in Artsakh. Ultimately, as all stories should be, it is about the character’s journey and how Armeniaโand the friends he makes thereโtransform him. And I do hope that the uniqueness of both countries and my love for them will come through. My goal is to try and get it published some years down the road and get to share it with you!
Sometimes, in a matter of minutes, I can go from looking out the window and wondering how I can be so lucky to be living in such a beautiful town, to finding a plastic bag at the back of a cupboard with the word “pharmacy” written on it in Armenian letters and feeling so homesick I could cry. Maybe nothing ever does replace the land where your roots grow deep, the sound of your language being spoken at the store, the shared pain of a history that you don’t need to explain. No matter how much you love a country, no matter how warmly it embraces you, maybe there is a part of you that will always feel like a stranger in it.
Still, I won’t be lying when I say that I feel truly happy here, and our little apartment has started to feel like home. I think what made the transition so seamless and easy for me was feeling like I already had a family here. Daniel’s family is some of the most caring and thoughtful people I know. (They even bought a painting of Ararat and placed it in our apartment before we moved in, so that I could always have a piece of home!). It makes all the difference when people care about your country and ask questions about it. It makes all the difference when your spouse not only understands your love for your country, but feels it, too.
The very first time Daniel came to Armenia, before he had even met me, he says that as soon as he stepped outside the plane, he felt like he had come home. He couldn’t understand that feeling, but he says that he still feels it every time he arrives in Armenia. Believe it or not, he spends more time than me talking about one day moving back to Armenia. (The goal is that when we have kids, they will get a chance to live in both Sweden and Armenia, so that neither of their countries will feel foreign to them and that they can get to spend lots of time with all their grandparents). So I guess it is possible to feel at home in a country you weren’t born in, and what a great gift that we can both feel that way about each other’s countries.
Dearest Christina. This is such a good and picturesque glimpse of your life in Sweden. But the highlight was this quote:
โSometimes, in a matter of minutes, I can go from looking out the window and wondering how I can be so lucky to be living in such a beautiful town, to finding a plastic bag at the back of a cupboard with the word โpharmacyโ written on it in Armenian letters and feeling so homesick I could cry. Maybe nothing ever does replace the land where your roots grow deep, the sound of your language being spoken at the store, the shared pain of a history that you donโt need to explain. No matter how much you love a country, no matter how warmly it embraces you, maybe there is a part of you that will always feel like a stranger in it.โ
So well said and inspired! I love it and can so relate to it ๐๐๐๐
Thanks so much, Mom. I knew you would relate to that ๐
Kul att lรคsa hur du upplever Sverige och dess kultur, jag kรคnner igen en del av din historia frรฅn de asylsรถkande som jag mรถter. Yerevan var ganska likt sweden, mycket av det som Astine berรคttade om รคr likadant som i Sverige. Hoppas vi ses!
Tack sรฅ mycket, Roger! Jag hoppas at vi ses ocksรฅ ๐
Hey, Kisisa, that’s wonderful, I also want to be a part of your famblog (family+blog?)๐ค๐ค
Dzukik โฃ๏ธ I am so touched! You are very welcome ๐
Tusen takk, Christinaโฃ๏ธSo much of what you describe I can relate to, being Norwegian living in my country. However, I have lived many years abroad, and yet, a part of me would always be โleft behindโ – where I grew up, in the countryside where we had to actually put on our skis in order to go to school from 1st grade.
I love how you describe your new life, and also the photos to go with it.
Looking forward to one day reading your thesis.
Kirsten ๐ฅฐ I really was curious what you would think of this, being from Norway. Thank you so much for reading and your kind words! I didn’t know you have lived abroad, now I’m really curious. I will ask you about it the next time we talk!
Enjoyed reading!
Thank you for sharing about your life in Sweden, dear Christina. It did indeed sound like you have a โnewโ life there ๐
All the best and much love to you and Daniel.
I’m so glad you enjoyed reading, dear Nazik โค๏ธ Lots of love and tight hugs to you and Christian from me and Daniel!
Dear Christina, it was really enjoyable to read, I loved the Berry picking part, as it has been one of my dreams to do it one day .
I am very excited to hear about your thesis and it’s very interesting story, I can’t wait till I get the chance to read it.
You are one of the people I know that I can’t wait to buy their book and have them in my library as you truely are an amazing writer.
Sending you lots of love and hugs,
Shiva
Shivaaa โค๏ธ You don’t know how much your words encouraged me! You are such a sweet person (and I’m not just saying that because of this comment, haha). I really hope you will get the chance to do some berry picking soon (maybe with us!?) ๐
Thank you dear,you are very kind and I love reading your writings,they are so deep and sweet, it is always a pleasure โค๏ธ
I would love to do berry picking with you guys! hopefully Denis and I could visit you one day and you guys are also always welcome to our place,we would love to explore Brittany with you!
Christina, hey, so glad you are doing this. Your picts look wonderful! I will read everything later when I have time. Looks so nice there.
Tom!!! Thank you soooo much for reading. You know your opinion always has a special place for me. And please send me some of your poems when you have time!
We are so happy and grateful that Daniel found you and that we have started to get to know you. You are now a beloved part of our family. This summer we got to visit your Armenia and we look forward to seeing more of this country in the future.
Your story about Sweden here in the blog drew my attention to the fact that with your entry into our family, I have begun to look at and appreciate our own country with new eyes.
Dark winter days and bright nights in summer,
clear seasonal changes between spring, summer, autumn and winter,
forests and streams everywhere in the surroundings,
to see wildlife both in the forest and in the neighborhood,
to be able to go out into the woods and pick berries and mushrooms,
that I actually walk a little differently when it’s slippery (without thinking about it),
how fun it is to ride a snowracer and mattress on a snowy slope,
all the different shades of green the Swedish summer offers,
…
I look forward to continuing to discover our country through your eyes. ๐ฅฐ
Britt-Mariiii, thank you for your sweet words! They mean a lot to me, and I had no idea that I helped you appreciate your country more. So cool! And by the way, you should become a poet ๐
Hi Christina. I enjoyed reading your article about your first year in Swedenโฆ so happy you like it thereโฆ your husband understands you and obviously you love each other, despite your differencesโฆ.may the Lord bless your new homeโฆ wherever you go!
I sooo appreciate you reading and all your kind words! May God bless you abundantly โค๏ธ
Hamoveeees~
I cried and I laughed while reading this beautiful piece of your writing. Thank you for sharing your thought and experience with us. I am so happy you know how to love and appreciate important people and moments.
I love Sweden the way you describe it, and hopefully I can visit you there too. I remember the Ararat painting your parents-in-law bought from Vernissage and hid it to surprise you :)) and my heart is melting when I read Britt-Mari’s words. Love is the most important thing. You are blessed with a lot of love.
(I found the receipt to make saft. I will defiantly try it when have berries here.)
Marianaaa โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ I SO appreciate how you are always there for me and rejoicing in my every success and happiness! It would be such a joy if you could come and we could do all this stuff together ๐
ีึีซีฝีฟีฟ, ีซีถีนึีกีถ ีฌีกีพ ีฅีฝ ีถีฏีกึีกีฃึีฅีฌ ีกีดีฅีถ ีซีถีน, ีฏีกึีคีกีฌีธึึ ีทีกีฟ ีงีซ ีฐีธึีฆีพีฅีฌึ ีีกีฟ ีฏีกึีธีฟีฅีฌ ีฅีถึ ึีฅีฆึ ๐
ีีซ ีทีถีนีธึีด ีฏีกึีคีกึีซ, ีซีถีน ีดีกีถึีธึีถึีถีฅึ ีฏีกีถ, ีธึ ีทีกีฟ ีฏีกึึีธึ ีฅีถึ ิปึีธึ ,ีธึ ีทีกีฟ ีฐีกีพีฅีฝ ีฏีตีกีถึ ีธึีถีฅีฝ:
ีีกีถีซีซีซีซีฏ, ีดีฅึีฝีซ ีทีกีฟ-ีทีกีฟ ีฏีกึีคีกีฌีธึ ีธึ ีกีถีธึีท ีญีธีฝึีฅึีซ ีฐีกีดีกึ โค๏ธ ิตีฝ ีงีฌ ึีฅีฆ ีฅีด ีฐีกีฟีธึีฏ ีฏีกึีธีฟีธึีด ีธึ ีฐีธึีฝีธีพ ีฅีด ีทีธึีฟีธีพ ีีกึีฏีซีถ ีงีฌ ีฏีฎีกีถีธีฉีกีถีกีด ๐
Dear Christina
So wonderfull how you wrote about your new live in Sweden.
Thank you for the nice picutres.
Be blessed on your way with Daniel in Sweden and Armenia.
Many blessings
Sonja
Sonja, your words means so much to me, thank you! And many blessings and warm greetings to you and your dear family ๐ฅฐ
You are an amazing writer!! So much “Love” permeates throughout the paragraphs! I particularly loved the similarities and differences you were able to discern between the two cultures , and how well you have adjusted to your life there.
Looking forward to reading your thesisโฃ๏ธ
Happy that your dad shared proudly your writing on FB.
Salpy
Wow, thank you soooo much for these encouraging and thoughtful words, Salpy!!
Hello!
Thanks to Anna-Karin Lovetรฉn I got to read your story. Wonderful.
Hope to read more about your journey in Sweden.
Rgds
Irene Tengberg Herrstedt
Ps
Your husbandโs parents can be called just โin lawsโ
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words, Irene! I will do my best to write more about Sweden at some point ๐
I got one comment to make, itโs 4am in the morning here as I received the news from an interesting source that this article was published and I was urged to check it out since it seemed to be a big deal. But forgive me that I mostly skimmed through it and only looked at the pictures for the most part since I am tired and I do tend to get superficial when I am tired. The interesting thing that caught my eyes was after that a closer analysis you are definitely well on track into blending in with the local community and itโs hard to tell you apart from a localโฆ
Yes, I think I can guess who it is ๐คช As with most things you say, it’s hard to figure out if it’s a compliment or an insult, but thanks anyways for skimming through ๐ I hope you sleep well and have a good work day (and come back and actually read the blog post ๐).
What a nice little story. So Happy for you both!
But you are betraying your Canadian ancestry by not knowing about insulation and igloos!! amot! (just kidding). And remember what I told you before the wedding! Married and poison is the same word in Swedish. So be careful and communicate only in English when you are wild berry picking.
Hope to visit you there soon, when traveling becomes less of a headache.
ps. I always though the plural of moose was meese….
Areeen, as always you made me laugh out loud ๐ I will heed you advice about only speaking English around berries. (And I had to search the internet for the plural of “moose.”) I also hope that soon you can come visit!๐