Resting Reflections

Our Opportunity

2009-03-14T23:16:00.023+01:00

On March 12th, a few other members from the LUMES crew and myself attended the Energy Crossroads Global Summit Series which was being held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Copenhagen summit kicked off the first of a series of regional events that are to be held on all continents throughout 2009. The principal aim of the events is to "unite the young generations of the world in a common effort to create a blueprint holding the opportunities to solve the global energy challenges. We call this 'Our Opportunity.'" - http://www.our-opportunity.com/about.html

I decided to attend the final day of the three day conference. The session began at 9:00am so that meant an early morning as the train from Lund to Copenhagen takes an hour. The rising with the morning sun was well worth it though as the session was attended by two quite influential people in the fields of climate and energy.

Tim enjoying the pilotless view of the commuter metro in Copenhagen.

The opening keynote speaker was Dr. James Hansen, Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who has been coined the "Grandfather of Climate Change." He has been perhaps most notably known for his testimony in the 1980s to congressional committees regarding the human impact on climate change which brought forth wide awareness to the issue of global warming.

Starting off his speech, Dr. Hansen reflected on the years past in which he was more intricately involved in the scientific exploration of climate change and explained that he was not one for activism on the results he discovered. He mentioned his granddaughter though, a girl that he didn't want to have growing up in a world desolated by the negligence of himself and others who understood the impacts of human activity on the earth and climate but did not act upon their understanding. So he decided to become an activist as well, giving speeches all across the globe on the pertinent issues facing the climate regime today.

"There is a gap between understanding and what is known by the public regarding global warming," he professed; an argument I am in increasing agreement with. He attributes feigned ignorance as the contributing cause of this gap.

Dr. James Hansen

The following link is a powerful powerpoint presentation quite similar to the one he presented at the session, http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/TippingPointsNear_20080623.pdf. There is no doubt that the earth is warming at the moment as shown in the graphs presented in this link. However, the intriguing debate given by global warming skeptics is that the earth goes through trends of historical warming and cooling phases, and they suggest we are simply in a warming phase. This is true to an extent, the earth does go through historical trends in warming and cooling due to orbital perturbation. As Earth's axis shifts there are times where the poles are nearer to the sun, causing warming to occur and a release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. There has been correlations made between carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere and global temperature rise. However, as can be seen in the presentation, there has been increased carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere far above the natural rate due to human activity. The natural rate of carbon dioxide emission is around 0.0001 ppm/year, whereas the human-induced rate today is around 2 ppm/year!

There are obviously many more speculations regarding the global warming debate, but there has been increasing evidence, and fairly unanimous support within the scientific community, that there is direct causal relation between our activities here on Earth and global temperature rise.

Dr. Daniel Kammen concluded the session's climate discussion. Dr. Kammen is Professor of Energy at University of California, Berkeley, but has recently been named President Barrack Obama's Senior Climate Advisor. His research at UC Berkeley was focused on the science and policy of low-carbon energy systems, and he brings forth a wealth of knowledge regarding the climate context that should hopefully prove useful and usable within the Obama Administration.

Dr. Daniel Kammen

At UC Berkeley's Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory's website, http://rael.berkeley.edu/publications, several publications regarding the climate debate can be found including similar presentations to the one he gave at the session. One of the very intriguing aspects of Dr. Kammen's speech evolved around Land Use Change (LUC). LUC, or indirect land use, has been considered to be a significant contributor of GHGs. While the GHG emissisions from LUC are highly uncertain, estimates have been made that indicate that they are high enough to negate the climate benefits that have been calculated for fuels like corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel.

This simply illustrates the point in discussion revolving around my studies in sustainability science that a full, holistic approach needs to be taken in order to understand the complexity surrounding our decisions for transitioning toward a "greener" future. Further research is needed in order to ensure that the most effective means of alternative fuel use are being implemented. I am not suggesting a continuation of the nonrenewable patterns we are currently trapped in; I am in agreement that some temporary measures need to be taken. However, before another multi-million dollar investment is made toward a supposed "greener" technology, maybe we as consumers and demanders of energy need to rethink our habits and needs while the producers of such resources need to consider the "cradle to grave" effects of their processes.

Dr. Kammen provided quite a unique informational point that made me rethink of the possibility for change in today's energy-craved world. He asked us which country we thought has the largest percentage of the population on Earth that receives their energy from solar power. After much deliberation and failed guesses, he stated Kenya. Yes, Kenya. Although a country noted as one of the most if not the most industrialized nation in Africa, Kenya is still far removed from the capacity of a Western-developed world. However, Kenya has adopted the technology of Amorphous PV, and is pressing forward toward a greener horizon less dependent on fossil fuel.

Is it so difficult to adopt change, or are we simply ignoring the consequences of subdued action? Yes, I am faulty; I at times stand in the shower singing breathlessly, unmindful of the water wasted to every note. However, through our daily activities, if we try to remain conscious to the truth, subtleties can occur that can have rippling effects of change.

Frosty Moments

2009-03-14T19:42:00.017+01:00

As promised, here are more pictures from the wintery day when I was with Magnus in Vara. Nature truly has a gift which inspires the mind and enriches the soul.

Winter Bygones, and Spring Hopes Continued

2009-03-07T18:13:00.060+01:00

I had forgotten to mention in my previous post about one of the most significant Swedish Christmas traditions, Santa Lucia. That’s what happens when you delay to write for so long. As tradition goes the 13th of December is the festival of Santa Lucia and this day really marks the beginning of Christmas. There is no real knowledge of when the tradition began in Scandinavia, but it has been recorded on the “primstav” (calendar stick) which preceded the calendar, so obviously awhile. Supposedly the first festival was in Värmland, Sweden, where a white-clad maiden, wearing a crown of burning candles, brought food to the starving villagers on the shores of Lake Vänern.

It was surprising for me to find out though once I arrived in Sweden that the tradition is actually not Swedish. For 22 years I had been confused about this fact remembering the Christmas days in my Grandma Strom’s farm home when she would annually adorn my sister and cousins in white robes complete with candles on their heads and have them parade around for the evening. The tradition in fact comes from Syracuse, Italy on the island of Sicily around 304 A.D. Here’s how the story goes supposedly:

“According to the Sicilian legend, Lucia's mother, a wealthy lady, had been miraculously cured of an illness at the sepulcher of Saint Agatha in Catania. Lucia, a Christian, persuaded her mother in thankfulness to distribute her wealth to the poor. So, by candlelight, the mother and daughter went about the city secretly ministering to the poor of Syracuse.

Unfortunately, this was during the last great persecution of Christians in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. The pagan young man, to whom Lucia was engaged, took a dim view of this distributing of her dowry, and denounced her to the prefect, Pascasius, who ordered that she be seized and tortured. Miraculously, when neither boiling oil nor burning pitch had the power to hurt her, she was blinded and slain with a sword. Her martyrdom is recorded in ancient sources and in an inscription found in Syracuse.” http://www.newsweden.org/luciahistory.htm

Having been the most Swedish tradition I could account for, I suddenly became confused of my identity as an American-born Swede. Yet, the tradition has been around for ages in Sweden, so the claim can also be theirs according to my standards. So on the eve of December 13th I went with Ellinor’s mom and dad to see her sing in the Santa Lucia concert. The concert was in the Lund University Main Building, one of the oldest university buildings in Lund, so again the atmosphere was idyllic. In came the singers, all dressed in white robes with the girls carrying candles and some of the boys holding stars and adorning pointed hats. Only one girl was Santa Lucia however, and I have to say I felt a little bad for her because she actually had real candles on her head and by the end of the night much of her hair was completely solid of wax! As nerdy as I am and completely in love with all things musical I attached quickly to some of the songs they sang that night and proceeded to sing for the rest of the month all things Christmas; I even picked up some Swedish Christmas songs.

With Christmas just weeks away I was clearly homesick as this was the first Christmas in 22 years that I had spent away from my family. Being away from my family however brought me closer to them, as strange as it may seem. Through life’s mysteries, however, there is always reason.

In my perpetual yearning for the simplicities of comforted life that I have grown so attached to throughout the years I was continually reminded of the lyrics from “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays.” Clearly, there is no place like home when you are surrounded by all that you love and care for, those influences that can divert you from the everyday density of life. However, in the moments of yearning I would reflect on past memories, those most cherished reminiscences. It is so easy to take for granted true love and compassion that your family and cared ones continually provide for you. It is a love that comes effortlessly, without needed push or tug. And it is in the moments that I felt I was farthest away from feeling any comforts of home that realized their love will always be with me “no matter how far away [I] roam.”

I reflect often these days. Being so disconnected from all that I’ve known has brought new light and perspective, and truly new life. I have indeed reached a distinct clarity within my life and have found new comforts here in Sweden, though I of course have not lost those comforts of home. It just seems that in recent years past my life has been misted over. The bustle of college and the dreams of adventure and new beginnings after have plagued my mind and have inhibited my heart and soul. Of course it is good to dream, aspire, and hope, but I have always been reaching for the horizon, to see what is new, exciting, or more promising just around the river’s bend. I have realized more now than ever that happiness also lies within the moment. We lose happiness when we become discontented with the present and rely on the future’s promise. But it is our choosing to ignore the water that is currently carrying us down the river. We need to stop and appreciate what is around us, what we have in the moment. This is a life not to be taken for granted. We should not waste moments yearning for something else before we realize what we have. We should not dwell on the inequities of our lives, even though life treats differently every individual. We are blessed in moments of reflection when it is realized the reason and blessings of life; this reflection often comes to fruition in our loneliest moments. Although the yearning and desire for the simplicities that provide me happiness at times becomes so unbearable, I have been given hope and faith to believe that in all of life’s mysteries there is reason. To a degree I have always known this, but it is strengthened through reflection, as is the mind, heart, and soul.

Apart from my reflections, I was keeping busy during the season baking delicious Swedish holiday treats, and of course in true Anderson Christmas fashion, working on my made-gift last minute. With Ellinor and her mom I was introduced to the fine Swedish Christmas delicacies, Saffron Buns, or “lussekatter.” These buns have definitely become amongst my favorite holiday treats.

Can you guess which one is mine?

For my holiday made-gift, which has been an Anderson tradition before me, I had drawn my cousin’s baby Boone. As the tradition goes the spending limit is to be $20 or $25 and the paint, if any, needs to be dry by the time the gift is opened. Well, in my true fashion as mentioned, I started on my project just weeks before. With Ellinor’s help though, we created these cute finger puppets out of wool and got them sent off. However, as Sweden’s postal service is still seemingly stuck in the Viking Age, my gift didn’t get there until 4 weeks after I sent it, three weeks after Christmas! There must have just been too much plundering and pillaging to do before hand. :-)

Finger Puppets!

On one of the Thursdays before Christmas the St Knut Rotary Club of which I am a part had a small Christmas celebration. Being a member of Rotary has been really spectacular for me as they have become like a family to me. One of the Rotary members, Milena, had offered the weeks before the meeting if I had wanted to sing at the dinner since she knew I was a singer. So with her and two other Rotary members we sang a few Christmas songs at the dinner of the meeting; three of them were in Swedish! I received very nice compliments afterward. This particular meeting and Christmas dinner was held in the old council chamber building of Lund where businessmen of the city can meet if desired. It was a beautiful ordained room that we sat in for dinner, not to mention the dinner itself was exquisite. After dinner, as a Rotary tradition, the club held an auction. It was quite the sight to see as the auctioned items were to be things you could consume or services to hire out, and not just use. So much of the items were homebaked goodies or one of the items was actually offering for two of the Rotarians to come and act as waiters/waitresses at any festivity you would like. There were many laughs that evening, and even some more singing and a little dancing. What a great group of people!

The big day had eventually arrived: Christmas Eve. Yes, Christmas Eve is the celebrated day here in Sweden, and Christmas day is just a day to relax and digest from the previous day’s indulgence. I partook in the Swedish holiday traditions with Ellinor and her family. It was wonderful experiencing the cultural differences and similarities between her families’ (Swedish) and the Strom/Anderson (American-Swedish) style Christmas.

To start, the Christmas feast is referred to as a ‘julbord’ (Christmas buffet), sort of like the Strom/Anderson style smorgasbord. The first course is made up of cold fish including herring (served in many different ways), gravlax (salmon which has been cured in sugar, salt, and dill), and occasionally smoked salmon (though we didn’t have smoked salmon Christmas Eve). The fish course is normally eaten with some bread and butter.

This is followed by cold meats including the ‘julskinka’ (Christmas ham). These are eaten with cheeses, salad, and pickles. Again, different types of bread and butter accompany this course.
Next comes the warm savory food! This includes meatballs, ‘prinskorv’ (sausages), jellied pigs’ feet (we did not be have this thank goodness!), and lutfisk (also did not have this! I know uncles, it was a sad day for me :-). These are served with red cabbage and ‘Janssons Frestelse’ (matchstick potatoes layered with cream, onion, and anchovies that is baked until golden brown).
At the end of the meal comes the ‘risgrynsgröt’ (rice porridge) as well as a wide selection of addition pastries, homemade sweets, and pepparkakor biscuits (gingerbread cookies). The risgrynsgröt is served with the hidden almond just as in the Strom/Anderson tradition. Anyone who finds the almond in his or her bowl is believed to marry in the coming year. Of course, to wash down the food the Swedes have some ‘glogg’, but served with almonds and raisins.

So from the sounds of it, it seems like our family has done pretty well keeping close to the julbord standards. Although, lutfisk is not quite the praised delicacy here in this particular part of Sweden as it is at home. It seems that the recipe may have gotten lost along the way. But alas cousins, at least we do not have to brave the jellied pigs’ feet!

Mmmm...pig's feet...no just kidding...pure deliciousness!

Risgrynsgröt, complete with almond.

After the festive Christmas Eve julbord, a friend or family member dresses up as Tomte (Swedish Santa) or a Christmas gnome who is believed to live under the floorboards of the house or barn and used to ride a straw goat known as Julbok. Tomte wears a white beard and red robes and carries a sack with gifts in it. He gives out the gifts and presents, often accompanied by funny rhymes, hinting at the contents of the package. Previously, it was Julbok who gave out presents and then Tomte or Santa Claus came in. Today, Tomte and Julbok are no longer associated together though a little brownie known as Jultomten, helps Santa Clause to give gifts to good children in Sweden. The modern American figure is quickly catching up in Sweden and Tomte is losing his original identity, unfortunately.

And so went the Christmas holiday. It was very happy to have been invited by Ellinor to be with her family and relatives for the evening. I even received some gifts including a book to read (all in Swedish!). I have not yet started, but it will be one of my life goals to read it! Although, my Swedish is still quite poor at the moment.

Christmas Day I spent organizing for my trip to Småland which would last for two weeks and require me to travel halfway across the Län (Sweden’s administrative districts).

The next day I headed out to Hyltebruk to visit Bo and Else Delefelt. They are related on my farmors (father’s mother’s) side. My Grandma Strom’s mother Fredrika was born just outside of Hyltebruk and she had a sister that was Bo’s grandmother. As you can tell, the distance is becoming quite distinct, but our relationships with relatives have remained close thanks to my grandmother and her frequent letters. That evening I rode with their daughter Kerstin to Jönköping to meet with their other daughter Ingrid and her boyfriend Håkan. The four of us then went to see HV-71 play hockey. It was a great game as HV-71 won and I sat next to Håkan who used to play for the team. It was my first professional hockey game, and it reminded me of all the days that Derek and I would spend countless hours on the pond skating and playing hockey in the winter. Of course Derek was always much better than me as his slightly bigger build, years of practice, and ability to stop on a dime would leave me covered in ice shavings. Those were some of the best highlights of my youth though, and I’m sure of days to come.

Que "We are the Champions"

The next day was spent at the Delefelt’s farm just outside of Hyltebruk where I helped Bo remove a 30 year old wood burner that had seen the last of its days. It was great being out in fresh air and having the feeling of helping out on the farm again. After warming up in the small cottage house by the fire with hot cocoa and sweets Bo and Else took me to the childhood home where my great grandmother was born. All that was left was the foundation of stone that created the layout of a typical Swedish home built during the late 19th Century. The main entrance door was clearly identified with a smaller backdoor that would have been the primary means of entering and leaving the house. The house settled on a slight hill over-viewing the beautiful surrounding landscape.

To imagine the desolation that afflicted Småland in the late 19th century is not easy. Farming was the only lifestyle to most, and the harsh winters had no friendly promise of survival. That is what forced most migration outward to America and elsewhere. Some family members would leave while others fought for what was left. Families split apart and few returned. The ease of communication was limited to handwritten letters that would take weeks, maybe months to travel. Word of good health or unfortunate occurrences would maybe come only once a year, most likely around the Christmas season. My generation has become quite complacent and unaware of the trials and tribulations our elders had gone through the world over to promise us a better life. It was only a few generations ago, and already so much has been forgotten. Luckily for my family close ties have been kept between loved ones. Hopefully this will continue onward.
After spending a few days with the Delefelt’s I ventured across the Län to Vara to see Magnus and Susanne Jönsson and Magnus’s mother Meijlis. Magnus’s sister Mari was also there with her husband Johann and 2 year old son Lukas. The relationship to the Jönsson’s is also on my Grandma Strom’s side. When I got to Vara Magnus showed me around the farm as the last time I was there was 9 years ago. He also showed me his current progress on the new house they are building on the farm where they will move into hopefully during next fall. That evening we had dinner with the whole family, a fantastic moose meal complete with mashed potatoes and snaps (of course!).

Me at the co-op in Vara.

Magnus and the new house.

The farmstead.

The day after was one of the most beautifully designed days complements to nature’s handiwork. A freezing frost had come through the night before that iced the land over. So Magnus and I went out for an extended farm tour including all the forested land he is currently managing, and the fields which have been harvested. I understood from Magnus that they have been in the transition of growing organic crops! Unfortunately, he also told me that the incentives have persuaded some fairly perverse practices among his fellow farmers. Apparently the Swedish government subsidizes organic commodities, which is a fantastic incentive to grow organic! However, these incentives just require that the farmer grow organically, but need not harvest the crop. This results in a lot of farmers receiving subsidies for crops that are not being taken to market since they don’t harvest the field. Magnus also enlightened me on proper forest management as well as their recent invasion of wild boar in the area. As it goes, there was a farmer not too far that had a fenced forest where he would bring in rare wild game such as a particular breed of deer and this wild boar. However, supposedly the fence broke and the animals have escaped and have successfully populated all over the Småland region. I didn’t see any boar, but was fortunate to see a white deer, not a white-tail deer, but an all white deer! I was simply astonished as it just blended in to the frosty horizon.

Nature's handiwork. See more pictures from this day posted after this blog.

I spent one day at home back in Lund before when I then received a call from my third set of relatives, the Daveby’s, that live in Växjö. Thusly, I headed up there the next morning to spend a week with them at their farm in Valdermarsvik, toward the east of the Län. The relation to the Daveby’s is again on my Grandma Strom’s side, and I believe that my day and Fredrik Daveby are second-cousins. So Fredrik and Ylva and two of their three boys, Simon and Eric, went for a week’s adventure in the wilderness. The oldest son, Philip, stayed back home since he had to work unfortunately.

On the way to Valdermarsvik we stopped at one of the Daveby’s long time friends farms to spend New Year’s and do a little hunting! Yes, I was fortunate to partake in a little Scandinavian hunting while in Sweden. I’m sure many of you reading this are just excited for me as I was to join in on the festivities. Well, maybe not. But anyway, it was spectacular. For three days we rose with the morning sun to hunt roe deer, fallow deer, fox, hare, and wild boar. In true Swedish fashion several of us would sit in well planned positions while two hunters walked the forest with dogs on the prowl. The day would be split up with short fikas (coffee and snacks) and stories of potential that had passed by. The first day yielded no rewards but the second day brought forth a roe deer shot by Fredrik. Just being out in nature, accompanied only by the frigid air and my thoughts, really awakened me again to why I am involved in sustainability science. It is important that we preserve this pristine nature for our children and children’s children to enjoy, so that they may one day share the same ineffable feelings and emotions I have been fortunate to experience.

Lost in thought and beauty.

The following three days were spent at the Daveby’s farm and again more hunting ensued. I was not marked by fortune on the first of these two days with a kill, but was fortuned to see upwards of 50 deer come within 100 meters of my still body, unaware of my presence. A few hare were spotted, and even a wild boar that ran between me and Fredrik, splitting us at a distant of only 90 meters. Simply fantastic. The last day though, within the last hour of daylight suitable for accurate sight, I was approached by a doe roe dear. At only 30 meters I decided to take the shot, and hit the targeted zone perfectly. The deer downed within 50 meters. It died quietly, with only nature surrounding it.

I know there are many people out there who do not understand hunting, or think it is morally wrong or barbaric. However, I would like to provide my aspect on this, though be it biased. In its entirety hunting serves a purpose on many levels. First off, it is an appropriate way to manage a rapidly growing population that, if went unchecked, would quickly reach a carrying capacity that would only be limited by its consumption habits. For a growing forest and other animal populations this spells devastation. Secondly, it is important to know where our food comes from, and not only that, but how an organism lives and survives and supports the sustenance and growth of other life-forms. Too many people today have become disconnected from nature and do not understand the fundamentals that keep us alive. Finally, hunting personally for me has been one of the greatest motivators for me to have an interest in sustainability science. For years I have spent days on end wandering through nature, tracking animals, and trying to understand their behaviors and interactions with the environment. In all of this I would often come up empty handed; in fact, 90% of the time I hunt I think I head home unfulfilled of the initial task. Empty handed I am not however, as I come back each time in greater awe of life’s miracles in nature. Many people find this awe through hiking, camping, fishing, etc., and I do as well most definitely; but I also find this awe when hunting.
And so my winter holiday break ended on a bang, literally :-). I forgot to mention however that I was able to go skating on a completely frozen lake, twice! Once was on New Year’s Eve when I was at Fredrik’s friend’s farm. It was the smoothest ice I have been on in a long time, and it was great playing hockey against the boys and their two friends. Again, it made me wish that my whole family was there on the ice with me, just as it was 10 years ago and more back home on the farm ponds. The second time was actually back in Lund, well, outside of Lund. Ellinor’s mom, Ellie, and I went to a lake just south of the city for a great last skate of winter. There are not many days where the weather is cold enough this far south to skate, so we were very fortunate to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. It seemed the whole town was there skating around the lake, and there was definitely a clear path of skate marks in the ice that showed the designated way. Ellie and I however just skated around for fun and enjoyed the day. It was fantastic of course.

Classes started back in full swing on the 7th of January. Updates on life since then will come soon!

To be concluded…

Winter Bygones, and Spring Hopes

2009-03-06T21:23:00.007+01:00

Winter is passing quickly, and I realize I have been without a post for 3 months. This is not to suggest that I have merely been lying idly in my room hibernating and waiting for the promise of spring to awaken me. I shall instead attempt to put blame of inconsistency purely on the elaborate complexity of everyday life. Though life has been to a degree representative of this fact, there lies truth in another that there are days of rest where I reflect, ponder, maybe dwell, and eventually reach conclusion of the days occurrences and could have easily written them for others to read. But as is human desire to attempt to express and share feelings of everyday life and feelings, it is also human nature to reflect and keep in transit the emotions only with themselves when life becomes equivocal. Alas, however, the appearance of spring is soon near with the melting away of all things winter, most markedly the snow, early sunsets, and Christmas desserts. And with this knowing my reclusive existence is too melting away. My reappearance of blog literature will thus hopefully gain consistency once again.

However, it would be shameful to not share some of my experiences over the past months. So, without further ado I will return to my wintery days in Lund and Sweden.

November

Winter beginnings first arrived to Lund in November with the appearance of snow. Hearing from the locals I gathered that it was rather unusual receiving snow so early this far south in the country. The rest of the winter was fairly mild, but two weeks ago we actually received a consistent snowfall each day of the week. Sadly it has all since melted away; but again this gives a promise that spring might be lurking just around the bend.

It was a difficult Thanksgiving week for me in Sweden as it is not a recognized holiday for rather obvious reasons. The thought of turkey and mashed potatoes drowning in gravy, with a side of stuffing and one of grandma’s freshly baked rolls made me yearn for home, not to mention also being close to family and loved ones. Yet, even though it is rather difficult to find turkey in Sweden, my stomach did not pass the day empty of such cravings. Ellinor and I baked a rather surprisingly delicious Thanksgiving meal (surprising based on my abilities, not hers). All the necessities were there: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing imported from the states (thanks mom!), and green bean casserole. A touch of Swedish delicacy was included as well as lingonberries proved a fine substitute for gravy. Though far from home and family I was glad I could share this traditional occasion with Ellinor and her family here in Sweden.

Yummers!

December

Gifts on the 5th of December? Leave it to the Dutch to celebrate the holiday season three weeks early. As two of my fellow LUMES classmates are from the Netherlands however, it was enjoyable to gather with friends and learn of this cultural uniqueness. The benefit of having a class of 40 students from nearly 25 different countries is exactly this.

“The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which has been uniquely Dutch and Flemish for centuries. St. Nicholas’ Feast Day, December 6th, is observed in most Roman Catholic countries primarily as a feast for small children. But it is only in the Low Countries - especially in the Netherlands - that the eve of his feast day (December 5th) is celebrated nationwide by young and old, christian and non-christian, and without any religious overtones.” – http://www.thehollandring.com/sinterklaas.shtml

So on the eve of December 5th, all those who wanted to participate from the LUMES 2008-2010 batch gathered on the 4th floor of Geocentrum 1 (LUMES headquarters) for a night of gift exchange and laughter. The gift exchange was unique itself as it had specific rules associated with true Dutch culture. A gift of no more than 50 SEK was to be bought for a person of which you were assigned to. Accompanying the gift had to be a short poem from Sinterklaas for the person relating to the contents inside. The rules in its entirety were quite lengthy (http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/i.c.vanalphen/bestanden/SinterklaasSpeechEvent.pdf).

I had drawn Courtney’s name for the gift exchange. There have been a few nights where the talents of fellow LUMESians has been demonstrated at social gatherings and on one of these nights Courtney played the piano wonderfully. Accordingly, I found a Swedish piano book with Christmas tunes for her to play. As I have become known as the farmer of the group, I was given a puzzle with farm animals on it. Needless to say, I loved it.

Classes ended around the third week of the month, but my plans were to stay in Sweden for the holidays, spend Christmas with Ellinor and then travel around Småland to visit my distant relatives. Ellinor had given me a wonderful Christmas present, two tickets (one for her of course) to see G.F. Händel's Messiah! It was a great evening of beautifully orchestrated music and chamber vocals that reverberated off the walls of the magnificent Domkyrkan Lund, Lund Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1145. You can just imagine the surrealistic evening it was.

To be continued...

Manifesting the Ineffable

2008-11-15T18:04:00.034+01:00

My transition to Swedish life has reached a certain level of comfortableness and familiarity, and has for some weeks now. It is thus time for me to express some long-awaited reflections.

Lund & Life:

Night arrives quickly in these cold, wet months approaching winter with the sun departing the horizon around 4:30pm. Candles have begun to appear in window panes, offering a little shimmer of light to the darkness and to remind passers-by that there is much amiable warmth still to be had.

The weather in Lund is fairly finicky. Often times I will be mislead by the blue skies of morning only to later find myself caught in the rain later that afternoon on my way back from class. Unfortunately, there is little promise of snow in the upcoming months as Lund is too close to the Öresund Strait.

My weeks have become characterized by a certain element of routine divided amongst master's classes, Swedish language class, Rotary, and volunteering. However, I have left room for those unexpected chances of travel and adventure-seeking, and of course some R&R.

LUMES:

I am currently in the third class of my master's program: Environmental Governance. It is typical in Sweden to take just one class at a time for a month or month and a half, instead of having multiple classes at one given time as in the U.S. This allows for full devotion to be allocated to one particular subject at a time.

Each class for my master's program is structured differently, some requiring more in-class work while others have required a significant amount of individual and group preparatory work out of the classroom. On average, I spend between 4-6 hours in class and 3-4 hours outside of class on program related work. In my current class, however, I only have class for 2-3 hours a day, but the time is more than made up outside of the classroom, devoting 5-6 hours most evenings to required readings. Studies have proven to be demanding, but rewarding.

Environmental Problem Awareness (EPA) constituted the first class of my master's program. It was designed to introduce principles of ecology, ecosystems, evolution and biodiversity, natural resources, environmental quality, the international environmental agenda, and human interactions with and impacts on the environment. The course also required field work in Breanäs which was discussed in one of my earlier posts.

The second course, entitled Ideas Behind Economy, Environment, and Society discussed important elements concerning the following: history of science, technology and environmental science; the making of green knowledge; technoscience and the environmental crisis; environmentalism and environmental movements; the debate over modernity; post-modernism; environment and modernity; gender and gender power relations; and the state, citizenship and civil society.

Environmental Governance, the class of the moment, is comparing the relationship between global environmental governance and sustainable development. Underlying focus encompasses the following: green political theory; green parties and social movements; the policy process; policy instruments; globalization, global trade, investment and financing in relation to the environment; international environmental regimes; and principles of international environmental law.

Svenska:

On Mondays and Wednesdays, when classwork permits, I have been attending Swedish language classes at Folks Universitet. This past week constituted our 6th week of class, and each session lasts around 3 hours. I am attempting to converse in Swedish as each week passes, but my poor Skåne accent is a bit prohibitive to those trying to understand me. Nonetheless, I am enjoying my attempts to merge with the Swedish culture.

Rotary:

Most Thursday evenings I visit with my host Rotary club, St Knut Rotary. A typical evening includes a delicious dinner with dessert, casual conversation where I can practice the little Swedish I know while learning more about current events or the culture of Sweden, and finishing off with a guest speaker that usually speaks in Swedish (another good chance for me to further my learning). My host counselor, Benedicte, is very gracious to pick me up from my living corridors and return me after each evening as the club is in the northern outskirts of town.

I very much enjoy conversing with the members and learning more each week about their roles within Rotary. Opportunities have arisen to also travel with the club to varying events including a trip to the island of Ven and a tour of Skånes Arkivförbund (archive museum). This upcoming month will allow me to enjoy the fine theatrical performance of SPEX.

My engagements with Rotary have also allowed me to visit other clubs within the Lund Region. This past Thursday (Nov. 13) I was privileged to have the opportunity to present my role as an Ambassadorial Scholar of goodwill to the Lund Ideon Rotary Club. They seemed to receive my speech with high regards.

Sankt Hansgården:

On select Saturdays from 11:00am to 3:00pm I have been volunteering at St Hansgården, an after school recreational/educational center for children that is also open as an activity center for the public Saturdays-only. At the center children are taught practical lessons about sustainable development, ecology, and animal care. Permaculture, a portmanuteau of permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture, is used as a tool for the design of the center.

More information about St Hansgården can be found at the following website: http://www.eco-guide.net/skane/Sankt_Hansg%C3%A5rden_project.php.

My role at the center is to interact with the kids, teach them about environmental sustainability while attempting to answer their questions, and help out in the café. The majority of the children are aged between 4 and 14, most of them being Swedish. However, in Sweden and Lund especially, there are a number of refugee families that also take part in the activities at the center. Often I play a dual role not only teaching them about the environment but also helping them practice their English as they do not often have the opportunity to. The children mostly take care of the animals that are at the center on their own initiative, feeding and watering the rabbits, chickens, and sheep, cleaning up after them, and even shearing the sheep's wool. The wool is washed and the children use it to make crafts.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my invested time at the center as I have missed having the opportunity to interact with children on such a personal level. While at Iowa State University I mentored a student for four years who attended Gilbert Middle School, and I was also the general co-director for Dance Marathon, a non-profit philanthropic organization at Iowa State that raised money for the Children's Hospital of Iowa through the Children's Miracle Network. Obviously I hold a dear connection to many of the kids at home that have grown so close to my heart. I am incredibly grateful and blessed for any opportunity that I can act as a positive influence in the life of a child.

This is the "barn" which houses the sheep and rabbits.

Rabbit judging at St Hansgården

Traveling:

The constrictions of classwork and additional necessities has limited my opportunities for extensive traveling. However, as some of my previous entries have depicted, I have traveled much within the Skåne region, often hiking or biking around. As time allots in the future I plan to visit my ancestors in Sweden, visit the northern regions of Sweden where the sun never rises, and absolutely visit the more southerly regions of Europe.

R&R:

When not engaged in any of the above mentioned activities I do find time to rest and relax. Weekends are often spent visiting with classmates and other friends or reflecting on the time gone by.

Night life in Sweden is fairly unique as most other students find themselves at a Nation on a Friday or Saturday night. Somewhere between a student organization, fraternity/sorority, and a social organization, Nations are a place to eat, hang out, live, and essentially party. There are 13 Nations in Lund spread throughout the city and membership in one means entry to all, providing a unique opportunity to socialize and take part in Swedish student life.

I am a member of Östgöta Nation, but have only been to one of their parties so far with plans to attend a few more in the future. The evening was lively to say the least. I have also participated in Krischansta Nation's sittning, an evening dinner that is usually accompanied with drinks and lots of singing from the sångbok (songbook).

The Ineffable:

Thus far I have portrayed to the best of my ability my thoughts and emotions in order to help captivate and engage the reader in my experiences. However, some apprehensions of moments in time, thoughts, and emotions are purely ineffable. The following attempts to describe these instances remain fruitless but may provide some clarity regarding the equivocal comprehension of my mind and heart.

Traveling Alone:

I recall this feeling occurring a plethora of times in my life: taking the school bus for the first time, the first overnight at a friend's house away from the console of mom and dad, moving to Ames to begin my undergraduate career, living in D.C. while interning for summer's on end. Sweden has brought forth this same feeling, a conjoined sentiment of excitement and fear for the unknown that lies ahead, the uncertainty of what life will bring. However, it seems that this trip carries with it even higher uncertainty. For some indescribable reason this journey is set apart from past similar experiences.

It is almost implausible to consider leaving behind all the familiarities of life: family, friends, etc. These familiarities are what we identify and connect with, but they are not what define us. It is when we are extracted from our comforts that we begin to find ourselves in a new light and experience life in a new way. We begin to reach outside of our "comfort zone," take chances, make mistakes, and leave behind the inhibition that often suppresses us. Our reliance becomes internal and our capabilities are emboldened. Life becomes a little richer.

Homesickness:

It is expected that the first weeks of any new transition involves a period of fascination and wonderment. As a newcomer to Sweden I was entranced by my surroundings, the history of Lund, meeting new people, beginning a new master's program in a field I adored. These are similarities that accompany any new adventure: the opportunity to start anew. With every transition however there eventually comes a period of acute longing for home and loved ones as you become exacerbated by unfamiliar environments.

There have been an innumerable amount of times that I have been accompanied in solitude by this anxiety and sadness. I have often felt lost, insecure and inadequate. It is inhuman not to have such feelings of despair from time to time. But it is in life's darkest moments that our true expressive nature surfaces and we reflect on the importance of life. I am blessed by this opportunity to experience a new life abroad in a culture so rich in my heritage. Whatever trial and tribulation life carries, my willingness to persevere will not be defeated.

Remember that...

"We lose the peace of years when we hunt after the rapture of moments." - Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." - J.K. Rowling

Söderåsen National Park and Lund

2008-10-27T01:05:00.032+01:00

To those readers who have been following this post intently (mainly my family) I apologize that there has been a significant lapse in time since my last post. And I apologize in advance for the lack of descriptive textual language to accompany the following pictures, but I felt at least posting pictures would allow readers to visually take a journey through the sites I have been seeing. As time allows I will attempt to return to this post and add more description.

The following photos were taken around Lund and Söderåsen National Park on multiple occasions. Söderåsen has been one of the most beautiful places I have visited thus far during my stay in Sweden. The onset of autumn is depicted in the colorful array of leaves that adorn the trees and forest floor. The chilly air and the late-to-rise early-to-set sun has also indicated that winter is just around the corner.

Surströmming at Ven

2008-09-15T20:48:00.026+02:00

On Saturday, September 6th, the St Knut Rotary Club invited me to join along for a day at the island of Ven to enjoy one of Sweden's most interesting delicacies, surströmming.

Ven is an island of only 370 inhabitants located in the Øresund strait, between Sweden and Denmark, which can be reached by a ferry boat that departs from the town of Landskrona. One of the Rotary members of St Knut lives on the island, providing an inside view to the beauties and history. Tycho Brahe, a well-known Dannish astronomer, built two observatories in Ven during the late 15th century. The Rotary group was fortunate to have a private tour of the Tycho Brahe Museum and enjoy a traditional Swedish meal capped off with a pleasant night bike ride around the island often referred to as "the pearl of Øresund".

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) was a Dannish astronomer and alchemist who was granted Hven (Hven is the old Swedish spelling) as a fief, at that time under Denmark's rule, to perform and record his research. He was famed for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations of the time. His interest also lied within medicines and pharmacology. Tycho grew many of his one herbs and medicinal plants on the island in order to create new medicinal concoctions. There have been indications that Tycho's untimely death was a result of mercury which was one of his commonly used ingredients.

For more information on Tycho Brahe please visit the Tycho Brahe Museum website at http://www.tychobrahe.com/.

After the tour of the museum and observatory we rode on our rented bikes to the Rotarian's house for dinner. At the top of the menu list was the much awaited, highly acclaimed yet highly detested, surströmming. To the faint of heart or picky eaters, the odor and taste of this "fermented herring" would be having you begging for seconds of the infamous lutefisk, another Swedish tradition that has yet to dissipate from the the Strom and Anderson Christmas smörgåsbord despite the annual uprise from my fellow cousins. It seems that maybe the uncles of my family will have yet another tasty treat to add to the dinner list of this year's Christmas that will sure to be left half eaten.

Here's a little background on this delectable fish. To start off I would like to quote Sweden.se, Sweden's national website which relays information on all facts related to the country. As the site states on the topic, "surströmming, or fermented herring, is not the most appetizing of Swedish delicacies." Apparently, the invention of surströmming came about when Swedes wanted to save on the cost of their all-important winter supply of salt herring. To save they simply reduced the amount of salt used, which directly contributed to the fermenting of the herring instead. In an age of plentiful salt it would seem to me this tradition has been kept alive merely by disillusioned ancestors wanting to keep this time-honored relic in existence, possibly to prey on the inexperienced younger generations.

Nowadays, the herring is fermented in barrels for one to two months, then thinned where the fermentation process continues, and after a half year to year later the fish eventually makes it onto the dinner plate of the unsuspecting. It should be noted that due to the long fermentation process the cylindrical tins that the herring is stored in actually bulges into a more rounded shape as a result of the high pressure from the gases. Certain airlines have even banned the tins on their flights since the pressurized containers have been deemed potentially dangerous!

After learning of the history of herring and enjoying the occasional smirks from those about to participate in the feast, I decided that what won't kill me will hopefully just make me that much more appreciative of lutefisk. So yes uncles, to your pleasure and delight I stomached a fair amount of the traditional Swedish herring. And it actually was quite tasty, once I mustered the smell. We had the fish on flat bread with onions, potatos, tomatos, and butter. An almost integral addition to the meal was the strong Swedish snaps. Able to disolve the foulest of smells and tastes, the Swedish snaps is a tradition during many Swedish meals that is usually precursed by song and ended with a satisfactory sigh of relief.

I hope to send some surströmming back for the Christmas season, so be ready one and all from the Strom and Anderson family!

Windmills along shorelines. Sweden has transitioned much of its electrical grid to support this renewable energy alternative.

Riding our bikes along the Ven countryside.

One of Tycho Brahe's astronomical inventions.

Rotarians learning about the history of Ven.

Tycho Brahe Museum.

Tycho Brahe's observatory which was located underground to prevent his instruments from weathering.

Preparing for the surströmming with Rotarians from St Knut Rotary.

Röda Ulven, "Red Wolf," surströmming.

Burstful laughter and gasps for air soon ensued.

A close-up of the feast to come.

There were explicit instructions to ensure full surströmming satisfaction.

Simply proof.

The aftermath.

Harbor in Ven.

Field Work at Breanäs

2008-09-07T22:08:00.037+02:00

From the 3rd to 5th of September, the LUMES bunch of 2008-2010 headed to Breanäs located in northeastern Skåne on Lake Immeln. Bonding with nature and each other, we explored the environment of Breanäs pertaining to water, soil, forestry, and biodiversity issues. My respective research group was Forestry with the agenda to discover the tree types of northern Skäne while also attempting to measure the carbon sequestration rate in a hectare of Boreal forest.

Method of Analysis:

In order to begin our estimations of the amount of carbon a typical hectare of Boreal forest could store, we first had to estimate the timber volume of the forested hectare. Note: a hectare is 10,000 square meters or 2.47 acres. To measure the timber volume we used a simple tool known as a Relascope. The Relascope measures the basal area of the trunk surface at a height of 1.37 meters (4.5 feet) from the base of the tree. This height is referred to as the DBH, Diameter at Breast Height, and is considered the "sweet spot" on a tree where measurements and calculations are made to determine various aspects such as growth, volume, yield, and forest potential. The basal area is then combined with the average height of the trees in order to determine the timber volume which is read off the timber volume table.

How to use a Relascope:

1. Position yourself in the centre of a tree stand that is representative for the average of the forest.
2. Hold the end of the chain against your cheek and sight through the slot on the edge of the Heightmeter towards a position 1.3 metres up the tree.
3. All trees wider than the slot are counted. Every second tree having the same thickness as the slot is also counted. Proceed counting trees as explained, as you turn around (360°).
4. The number of trees counted represents the current base area of the forest.
5. Determine the average height of the trees using your heightmeter.*
6. Read out the current timber volume/ha at the intersection of the obtained base area column and the average height of the trees row in the timber volume table.

(Picture and instructions provided by Alana Ecology, http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/How_to_Use_Clinometers.html)

*Instead of using a heightmeter, we measured the height of the tree by using a little trigonometry as described here, similar to the way a clinometer works.)

(Diagram provided by The Woodland Education Centre, http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/newpage2.htm)

The basal area of timber of the measured hectare was roughly 34 trees with an average height of 26 meters giving a timber volume/ha of roughly 400 meters cubed, determined by the timber volume table.

The average age of the forested region could also be determined after measuring the basal area and height of the trees using references in the timber table guide. However, we made approximations of our forest based on the height of the trees and by counting the rings of trees that had alread been harvested that on average had the same stem diameter of our sample area. The trees in our hectare of measurement were estimated to have been around 70 years old.

In order to continue our estimation of carbon storage in the forest hectare we needed to know the density of a typical spruce tree, the representative tree of the Boreal forest in our measurement.

Density = weight/volume

1000 kg of pure water is equal to 1 cubic meter, thus materials under 1000kg/cubic meter will float. All tree species have a specific density, Spruce is approximately 450kg/cubic meter. After obtaining density and volume in our sample hectare, the weight of wood was calculated using the density formula.

450(kg/cubic meter) x 400(cubic meter) = 180,000(kg)

As shown, the weight of one hectare of Spruce tree is 180,000kg or 180 tons as 1,000kg~1 ton. This weight is measured as dry mass. All measurements are given in dry mass since it is a more reliable indicator of biomass as opposed to wet or fresh mass. Wet mass measurements are dependant on the fluctuating water concentrations in the material measured.

Once we discovered the weight of our sample hectare in dry mass we then had to determine the amount of pure carbon in the dry mass. The weight of the dry mass could not be considered pure carbon since the biological material still contained hyrdrogen, oxygen, nutrients, and minerals. When you extract these materials, carbon is left comprising approximately half of the dry mass of wood. Therefore, in our calculations there was 90,000kg of carbon in the measured hectare.

180,000(kg) x .5 = 90,000(kg)

However, when measuring the basal area of the sample hectare, we only took into account the stems of the trees. We therefore roughly estimated, and can be considered a general rule of thumb, that there was the same amount of dry mass composition in the roots and branches as there was in the stem. Therefore, we doubled the carbon weight previously determined to reach our total carbon weight.

90,000(kg) x 2 = 180,000(kg total carbon wieght) ~ 180(tons total carbon weigth)

By knowing the total carbon weight within our sample hectare, we were able to determine the number of days it would take for the hectare to sequester (store) the carbon we emitted by traveling to Breanäs. Numerous online sites allow you to calculate the amount of carbon a person emits traveling to and from particular destinations utilizing varying modes of transportation (ie, car, bus, boat, plane, etc). For our trip to Breanäs there were near 50 individuals that traveled in a passenger bus. The calculated carbon emissions as a result of our trip was 0.89 tons of carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide, however, is not pure carbon and is thus not able to be directly inputed into our previous calculations. Instead, the two oxyen atoms that are attached to the carbon atom must be extracted. To do this required some simple chemistry, however, the tricky part was thinking back to high school chemistry and of the periodic table of elements. Fortunately for our research we remembered that Carbon had a mass of 12 grams, while Oxygen is 16 grams. The entire CO2 molecule has a mass of 44 grams (12+16+16). As a percentage, carbon is therefore 12/44 or .272% of carbon dioxide. Knowing this, we then calculated that the bus trip to Breanäs emitted .24208 tons of carbon.

0.89(tons of CO2) x .272 = .24208(tons of carbon)

In order to determine the daily amount of carbon the sample hectare could sequester we first divided the total carbon weight by the age of the trees. This allowed for a rough estimation of how much carbon the hectare could store in a years time.* The year sequestration rate was then divided by 365 days within the year to reach an approximate daily sequestration rate. When knowing how much the sample area can sequester on a daily basis, we were able to conclude it would take approximately 35 days for the trees within the sample hectare to store the carbon emitteed by the bus on its trip to Breanäs.

180(tons total carbon weight)/70 years = 2.57(tons total carbon weight/year)

2.57(tons total carbon weigth/year)/365(days/year) = .007(tons total carbon weight/day)

.24208(tons of carbon)/.007(tons total carbon weight/day) = 34.6 days ~ 35 days

*It is important to note that the trees sequester carbon at differing rates throughout its growth span. A trees growth curve represents a sigmoidal growth curve - a curve having an "S" shape. The ability of a tree to store carbon depends at what stage in the growth curve the tree is at; a trees highest sequestration rates are during its adolescent years. Our method of analysis however was to be based around estimations and approximations resulting from our own discoveries and intuition.

The challenge to determine the sequestration rate of a typical Boreal forest during my trip in Breanäs provided me the opportunity to fully appreciate the power of science and nature. The ability to reach rough conclusions through simple scientific procedures is a method rarely explored to its benefit. Instead, it seems that we are too dependent, or rather too anxious to learn of the immediate answers that lie within the written pages of books and references. We need to instead step back, think critically, and rely on our careful observations of our surroundings and own intuiton to reach the conclusions that are presented right before us.

Here are some pictures to enjoy from the excursion to Breanäs with LUMES.

Unidentified Flowers (Lucas catching frisbee in background).

Lucas (France) learning from Mats.

Unidentified flowers 100 year old preserved farm.

Birch tree.

Rose hips.

Rose hips flower

Left to right: Zeljka (Croatia), Mariana (Mexico), Nina (Slovenia), Mariya (Uzbekistan), Jonida (Albania), me.

Mats teaching us about the plants of Skåne's forests.

Enjoying music and memories around the fire.

Early dew of the morning.

The cottage at Breanäs.

Forest management in Breanäs.

Karin (Sweden) determing the age of the tree.

Tim (New Zealand), Henner (Germany), and Nina (Slovenia) presenting their results.

Malmö and Lomma

2008-09-07T18:52:00.020+02:00

The first weekend in Sweden brought forth great experiences as I traveled to Malmö and Lomma. Malmö, the third most populous city in Sweden, is only a 15 minute train ride from Lund. There were four individuals from the LUMES program that joined me in Malmö for the day; Margarita from Colombia, Kaitlin from Nova Scotia, Jasper from the Netherlands, and Björn from Malmö. We arrived around 14:00 (2:00pm), with intentions to buy a bike, but unfortunately the majority of shops closed between 14:00 and 15:00; Swedish culture is fairly relaxed on the weekends as most shop owners want to enjoy the day by closing shops early. It was nice having a personal tour guide to show us the beautiful city of Malmö for the rest of the day though. The city overlooks the Øresund strait, and on a clear day Copenhagen, Denmark can be seen.

Even though the city is the third largest in Sweden, the open air parks and sandy beaches provide a relaxing atmosphere with beautiful sites. Here are some pictures to enjoy!

A sea of bikes, Jasper trying to find a spot for his.

The train station, only costing 35 kr, $6 to travel from Lund to Malmö. Notice the "cykel" lane for bicyclists.

Beautiful architecture and cobbled streets of Malmö.

Quiet park just outside the city. Sweden sets high priorities to preserve the natural surroundings.

Malmöhus Castle dating back to the 16th century

Enjoying the sunset over Øresund strait.

The sun falling into the ocean with Copenhagen in the distance.

Lomma is a port city only a half hour to hour bike ride from Lund. On Sunday a few new friends from my mentor group and I headed to the beach to enjoy an afternoon of swimming, picnicing, and relaxation. Alexander Olsson, one of the mentor leaders, led the way and we arrived in the early afternoon. Ellinor Isgren, another mentor leader, met us there as she lives very near in the small town of Bjärred.

In order to get to Lomma I had to borrow a bike. The bike, a single speed peddle break which occassionally skipped, provided an interesting ride but nonetheless got me to my destination. I hope to purchase a relatively newer bike as I wish to do a lot of cycling throughout Skåne, but the prices are still too steep at the moment. The ocean water was a frigid 16 degrees C (60 degrees F), but you could walk for 100 meters it seemed with water only coming to the waste. It was refreshing.

As most of the traveling company decided to return to Lund around 17:00, I optioned to stay as I wanted to again watch the sunset and reflect on my first week in Sweden. Ellinor joined me and together we enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature. She is also studying Environmental Studies so it was nice to share our common appreciation of the natural aesthetics surrounding us.

Picturesque sunset

Bike ride back to Lund from Lomma.

Arrival in Lund

2008-09-07T17:07:00.018+02:00

In the year of 1890, my great grandfather Axel Strom emigrated from Sweden to find new beginnings in the young and promising land of America. The late 1800's were a hard time in northern Sweden as populations were growing and productive farmlands decreasing. These factors, among others, forced many to leave the comforts of their home and family to strive for new hope. After 118 years, I am the first of the Strom descendants to return "home" for an extended period.

Before departing from the four generation farm that my great grandparents Axel and Anna Strom founded outside of Lily Lake, Illinois, my grandma Edna Strom, the daughter-in-law of Axel and Anna, told me "säg hej till dem där hemma," "say hello to those at home." It was an emotional moment for my grandmother as I could only imagine the trials and tribulations that she had heard as a child from her parents. My grandma also informed me that on that day, August 24, 2008 (the date of my departure), my grandfather Otto Strom was born 100 years earlier - August 24, 1908. I never had the blessing to meet my grandfather Otto as he died just months before my birthday in the year of 1986, but I feel though it was the Lord's design to send me back to Sweden on the date of his birth.

Lund is a majestic city of only 105,000 inhabitants nestled in the countryside of Skåne, Sweden's most southerly province. The fertile plain of Skåne is Sweden's granary producing the majority of the country's cash crops. Wheat fields envelop the outskirts of the city for kilometers on end with the occasional horse or cattle farm dotting the landscape. 40,000 of the inhabitants in Lund are students attending Lund University, making Lund a youthful city of expanding minds. The university dates back to 1666 and is often noted as the oldest institution for higher education and research in Sweden. With no clearly identified central campus, the university buildings are dispersed throughout the city. Cobbled streets and century old landmarks create a quaint atmosphere full of historical significance and promising discovery.

The infrastructure of the town is conduscent as well to bicycles, which has proved to be the main mode of transportation for the majority of people. Biking Sweden's landscape is easy and safe to do as a result of all the well developed bike paths. You also are able to get close to the aromas and images of your surroundings by being able to bike. The senses that are enhanced through the experience are integral parts of every biking adventure, not to mention it is healthier for the environment as well!

Lund University Main Building, built in 1882

AF-Borgen, student run complex

Fountain in the city center.

More bikes than people it seems.

Beautiful green open spaces in the city center.

Lund Cathedral.

Kyrkogatan, one of the main streets.

Simple aesthetics.

Concrete, for a little extra security.

University library.

Astronomical building.

New Adventures, New Beginnings

2008-09-07T15:33:00.009+02:00

Welcome to my blog spot! This blog begins as I begin a new adventure as a masters student in Lund, Sweden. I am pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES) hosted by the Lund University Center for Sustainability Science (LUCSUS) located at Lunds Universitet. LUMES is a two year transdisciplinary master's program aiming to prepare committed students to act as positive change agents toward a long-term sustainable development through a critical and systems thinking approach.

While in Lund I am also representing Rotary International as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar for the 2008-2009 academic period. Sponsored by Elgin-Breakfast Rotary of District 6440 in Illinois and hosted by St Knut Rotary of District 2390 in Lund, Sweden, I am honored and humbled to be promoting international understanding and acting as an ambassador of goodwill in Lund.

This blog will attempt to document my new discoveries and hidden passions as I acquire new understanding of the world surrounding me, and the part I will take in it to make it better for future generations. As an ambassador of goodwill in Lund I will delve into the culture of Sweden and promote Rotary's motto of Service Above Self through active involvement in the community. As a student studying environmental sustainability I hope to analyze and formulate solutions to the complex issues that are facing our world's deteriorating environment. As a reflective thinker characterized by my quiet contemplation, I will traverse the natural world that has so captivated my life in hopes to better understand the miracles that surround it.

I hope you enjoy my quiet contemplations and resting reflections.