Olympics in Sweden

We have been enjoying watching the Olympics over the past 10 days.  We benefit from being only 1 time zone away from London, and thus see everything as it happens.  Watching them here, however, does have its drawbacks and oddities, which are small glimpses into life as we have come to know it in Sweden.

The most obvious drawback of watching the Olympics while in Sweden is that commentary is in Swedish.  Now in some instances, this isn't a problem at all, and in fact it is interesting to hear those few words of familiar terminology.  At other times, we are simply watching what is going on and pick up on little of what is said.  At other times, though, there is no commentary whatsoever.  We've watched entire competitions with absolutely no commentary!  Not that the Swedish TV stations don't have commentators, but like many other instances of life in Sweden, the Swedish people chose not to talk unless it is necessary.

One story to illustrate this very noticeable and dramatic difference from the US happened when I went to get my first haircut in December.  Salons in the US are typically gab-centers where you are questioned and chatted to non-stop while some near-stranger chops away at your hair.  Not in Sweden.  When I sat down in the chair, the lady asked me what I wanted, double-checked that she understood, and then went to work without a sound until she was done.  And it wasn't just my stylist who worked in this manner.  There were at least 8 others in the salon with me and no one was talking!  I thought it was a wonderful experience!  I didn't have to try to come up with conversation, and I could just sit and enjoy being pampered.  But like so many differences between life here and life in the US, we feel a nice in-between approach to life would be better than the far extremes.

But the Olympics have been fun to watch, and despite the oft-times silent broadcasts, we have especially enjoyed seeing the gymnastics, swimming, diving, and other events.  And seeing the US flag and hearing the US national anthem played during medal ceremonies certainly takes on a different meaning when living in a foreign land.  Go team USA!  And team Sweden!