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!!
1 comment:
Het was hartstikke leuk en bedankt dat we bij jullie in huis konden verblijven..
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