After 16 hour on a bus from Amsterdam we reached Ulricehamn again yesterday. The volcano outburst on Iceland has caused chaos all over northern Europe and a group of 27 people from Ulrichamn got stranded in Amsterdam. Luckily Jochem used his positive persuasive manners and found us a bus in a city with ten thousands of stranded people (something our travelling agency could not do!)
I have spent the last 3 days in the Netherlands with 15 companies from Ulricehamn and a few members from the municipality (including the chief executive) and the association of local businesses showing them different development projects in Amsterdam and Almere. We have also looked at how the city of Almere is working to grow with 60 000 new inhabitants and 100 000 new jobs to 2030. It was a very interesting trip where we were very well taken care of by the World Trade Centre in Amsterdam and Almere, by the City of Almere, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and all the other 9 organisations who participated. All in all I think many of us felt inspired and impressed with what we heard, experienced and the saw. We also had some time to get to know each other better (not only during our bus trip home). I am impressed with the many hard working, inspiring and creative company leaders that we have here in Ulricehamn. A trip like this is about learning more about other places, getting new ideas and contacts but also about connecting our local businesses to learn more about each other. It is vital that the municipality work closely together with the local businesses in order to develop the municipality further and during this trip we talked a lot about different possibilities.
Today Jochem and Nils headed off by car to the Netherlands. The airports are still closed and the last time the volcano on Iceland had an outburst it lasted for 2 years. As long as it is active no airplane can fly. Imagine what effects this can have on the economy of northern Europe? Jochem, who commutes between Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy will not be able to go to work (but can obviously work from home) and transportation of people and goods will have to go by boat, train, bus or car instead. Well, it is no use to worry about this yet but to take one day at a time. In the last few days we have seen many innovative ideas and visions and maybe the impossibility of using our airspace will lead to new innovative means of transportation?
I will spend the weekend with my two girls and enjoy Ulricehamn and the surrounding area. Amsterdam and Almere are fantastic places to visit but being here I feel just like the folder I handed out to our colleagues in the Netherlands – small and proud!
PS: The title is stolen from our local newspaper Ulricehamns Tidning!
May 2013
in Ulricehamn
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A map on the wall or a digital tool showing layers of information?
Nils is playing panfu on the Internet and there he can hook up with his friend Daniel. They can become a team and play together and chat with each other on what strategies to use. However, none of them know how to write or read very well yet so instead they call each other and talk while playing. Bet they soon will install the camera on Skype to be totally connected. Yesterday I got the phone from Nils and spoke to Daniel who had forgotten how the H look like (he needed it to log on again) and I tried to explain where on the keyboard the H would be found over the phone. Not an easy task!
I envy the digital generation who never stops by an obstacle but just find a new solution. In Nils world a computer is a central tool and he never worries about doing anything wrong or that he will accidentally delete something. From an early stage he has learned to use much and sometimes complex information (in different languages) in a flat, global system, open 24/7 where you find friends with similar interests – friends from all parts of the world. We watch over his shoulder, do not allow our children to chat yet and keep the family laptop in the kitchen to maintain some control. We talk about the dangers of the net and what they should watch out for but we also see them develop as they use the tools, the games, the films, the information etc.
The kitchen is probably the most use room in our house. On the walls we have two maps. One is an old school map of Sweden from a Dutch school and the other map is a world map with all the world flags. When Jochem leaves every Sunday we have come to talk about where he is going and what country he will be visiting this time. A map can be explored infinitively and it’s a fun way of teaching the kids how the world looks like. Because we know how the world looks like, don’t we? Maybe we as part of the old generation see the world divided into continents and countries while the digital generation look at it in a completely different way? Yes, it is good to know the map as we know it today and to understand how our current world was established and evolved but will boarders have the same effect in the future? Will people feel connected by a nationality or will new cultures evolve that are boundless or will new cultures appear that will change world order, as we now know it?
If one look at how fast things have changed in only the last 10 years with new technologies, new superpowers emerging, developing countries growing quicker than many European countries, improvement of health and at the same time climate changes that are threatening the world – who knows what more is to come! I don’t think anyone can foresee the future right now but despite many serious challenges I think we live in exciting times. The digital generation will live in a new order and influence where we are going. The geography of the world will most likely look the same in 50 years but I bet the maps will look completely different with many layers and much more information and Nils will be able to tell his kids that in the old days they used paper maps that they put on the wall!
I envy the digital generation who never stops by an obstacle but just find a new solution. In Nils world a computer is a central tool and he never worries about doing anything wrong or that he will accidentally delete something. From an early stage he has learned to use much and sometimes complex information (in different languages) in a flat, global system, open 24/7 where you find friends with similar interests – friends from all parts of the world. We watch over his shoulder, do not allow our children to chat yet and keep the family laptop in the kitchen to maintain some control. We talk about the dangers of the net and what they should watch out for but we also see them develop as they use the tools, the games, the films, the information etc.
The kitchen is probably the most use room in our house. On the walls we have two maps. One is an old school map of Sweden from a Dutch school and the other map is a world map with all the world flags. When Jochem leaves every Sunday we have come to talk about where he is going and what country he will be visiting this time. A map can be explored infinitively and it’s a fun way of teaching the kids how the world looks like. Because we know how the world looks like, don’t we? Maybe we as part of the old generation see the world divided into continents and countries while the digital generation look at it in a completely different way? Yes, it is good to know the map as we know it today and to understand how our current world was established and evolved but will boarders have the same effect in the future? Will people feel connected by a nationality or will new cultures evolve that are boundless or will new cultures appear that will change world order, as we now know it?
If one look at how fast things have changed in only the last 10 years with new technologies, new superpowers emerging, developing countries growing quicker than many European countries, improvement of health and at the same time climate changes that are threatening the world – who knows what more is to come! I don’t think anyone can foresee the future right now but despite many serious challenges I think we live in exciting times. The digital generation will live in a new order and influence where we are going. The geography of the world will most likely look the same in 50 years but I bet the maps will look completely different with many layers and much more information and Nils will be able to tell his kids that in the old days they used paper maps that they put on the wall!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Visit Ulricehamn - such a great place that Visit Sweden keeps it a secret!
The sun is back after some grey days and the Easter break is around the corner. Ingrid, Rob and their 3 kids have arrived from the Netherlands and hopefully Ulricehamn will be at its best the coming week. Tomorrow they will go skiing and then we will taste some ecological lamb steaks and roasted veggies with some nice wine. Danish Malene and Peter with their kids will also join us tomorrow so we have all the ingredients for a delightful Easter.
The last weeks have been hectic with much to do at work, the flooding of the summerhouse and just getting the daily life puzzle in place. Ingrid is preparing for her one month trip to the US this summer with CISV and we are arranging a wide range of group activities for the kids to get to know each other well (the 4 kids travelling from here). The camp will take place in Tennessee and the theme is “Peace – picture it”. Two girls and two boys from 12 different countries, all 11 years old, will spend one month together to learn about tolerance, democracy and peace. Ingrid can’t wait to get going! If you think this is something for you kids check out “CISV – Building global friendship” in your country (www.cisv.org). You can take part in youth camps at the age of 11 or on an interchange at the age of 15 but there are also many interesting local activities being arrange within this organization. I was a member of CISV as a teenager and spent an unforgettable summer in the US in 1987 and after that I was hooked on international encounters.
Taking about international encounters I am off to the Netherlands with 15 businesses in two weeks time. It will be 3 days filled with activities and hopefully our local companies will come back with new ideas and new contacts. With continues increased business between Sweden and the Netherlands (our 7th largest export market, our 5th largest import market and a total yearly trade of 120 billion makes it a larger market than our trade with France) I see much potential in arranging a trip to the Netherlands for the businesses of Ulricehamn. I also long to see some tulips, enjoy a latte at an outdoor cafe and maybe have time for a short visit at the embassy (no promises though!).
This morning I spoke to the Dutch family who moved here about a month ago and tried to explain “påsk kärringar” (Easter witches – young kids dressed up as witches doing trick or treat today). They seem to have found their way around here and the kids are getting more and more used to the Swedish language, their school and have made some friends. This summer they get to test their business idea (www.slaktbasiccamp.com). Today another Dutch family called. They have not yet found jobs but already bought a place outside Ulricehamn by Blidsberg. I think it’s wiser to first find a job and then look for a place to stay but I wish them all the best and hope they will enjoy their new life in Sweden.
This winter has been filled with many foreign visitors in Ulricehamn, especially from Denmark and I hope many of them return this summer. Despite that we are not to be found on the official tourist website of Sweden (Visit Sweden) we slowly make this town more and more known internationally. I am campaigning to change Visit Sweden’s way of portraying Sweden. They only show towns, cities and organizations who pay and I think that an official international website funded by the state should include all municipalities at least with a link. I have nothing against that groups who pay extra should have extra space but currently, if you search for Ulricehamn, you get the message that this place does not exist. But we do!
Happy Easter everyone!!
The last weeks have been hectic with much to do at work, the flooding of the summerhouse and just getting the daily life puzzle in place. Ingrid is preparing for her one month trip to the US this summer with CISV and we are arranging a wide range of group activities for the kids to get to know each other well (the 4 kids travelling from here). The camp will take place in Tennessee and the theme is “Peace – picture it”. Two girls and two boys from 12 different countries, all 11 years old, will spend one month together to learn about tolerance, democracy and peace. Ingrid can’t wait to get going! If you think this is something for you kids check out “CISV – Building global friendship” in your country (www.cisv.org). You can take part in youth camps at the age of 11 or on an interchange at the age of 15 but there are also many interesting local activities being arrange within this organization. I was a member of CISV as a teenager and spent an unforgettable summer in the US in 1987 and after that I was hooked on international encounters.
Taking about international encounters I am off to the Netherlands with 15 businesses in two weeks time. It will be 3 days filled with activities and hopefully our local companies will come back with new ideas and new contacts. With continues increased business between Sweden and the Netherlands (our 7th largest export market, our 5th largest import market and a total yearly trade of 120 billion makes it a larger market than our trade with France) I see much potential in arranging a trip to the Netherlands for the businesses of Ulricehamn. I also long to see some tulips, enjoy a latte at an outdoor cafe and maybe have time for a short visit at the embassy (no promises though!).
This morning I spoke to the Dutch family who moved here about a month ago and tried to explain “påsk kärringar” (Easter witches – young kids dressed up as witches doing trick or treat today). They seem to have found their way around here and the kids are getting more and more used to the Swedish language, their school and have made some friends. This summer they get to test their business idea (www.slaktbasiccamp.com). Today another Dutch family called. They have not yet found jobs but already bought a place outside Ulricehamn by Blidsberg. I think it’s wiser to first find a job and then look for a place to stay but I wish them all the best and hope they will enjoy their new life in Sweden.
This winter has been filled with many foreign visitors in Ulricehamn, especially from Denmark and I hope many of them return this summer. Despite that we are not to be found on the official tourist website of Sweden (Visit Sweden) we slowly make this town more and more known internationally. I am campaigning to change Visit Sweden’s way of portraying Sweden. They only show towns, cities and organizations who pay and I think that an official international website funded by the state should include all municipalities at least with a link. I have nothing against that groups who pay extra should have extra space but currently, if you search for Ulricehamn, you get the message that this place does not exist. But we do!
Happy Easter everyone!!
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