Rauks on the island of Fårö, Sweden 1996 ©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
You know you are from Sweden when...
Helsingborg, Sweden 2006 ©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
My children are preparing for next week's International Week at their school. The Swedish blue and yellow soccer t-shirts are already laid out, I'm preparing to bake kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) and the Dala Horse is parked by the door, ready to make his journey to school again like every year when my family "represents Sweden". All this nationalistic hubris made me feel like posting something Swedish today. I belong to a Facebook group called "You know you are from Sweden when...". There are currently almost 40,000 members (should be 9 million, that's how many Swedes they/we are) and I laugh myself silly whenever I look at the list of postings that members have written, it's so completely true!!! And even though I'm only half Swedish and moved there when I was 18 I seem to have morphed into the perfect Swede because I recognize myself in much of this "typically Swedish behavior". Drives my husband crazy...
Here's a sample of what's on the list of over 500 entries. You don't have to join Facebook to read the list, visit the "Sweden of course" website:
1. You don’t rely on weather forecasts unless presented by John Pohlman.
2. You know it’s a sin lifting the top layer in the Aladdin chocolate box before it’s empty.
3. You find people from other cultures generally being rather loud. With the exception of the Finish.
4. You wouldn’t even consider buying electrical items unless they are “S”-marked.
5. You get guilty conscience from throwing things in the dustbin that could have been recycled.
6. You don’t consider a congregation of trees being a “real” forest unless it takes at least 20 minutes to drive through it.
7. You use the metric system and really don’t get why there are people out there who don’t.
8. You consider Denmark and the Danish “pretty continental”.
9. You are obsessed with health issues.
10. You find the idea of carpets in bathrooms and toilets simply appalling.
11. You thought carpets was a concept of the past or the ferrys to Finland/Estonia/Germany/Denmark. Then you went abroad and realized that you were wrong.
12. You consider yourself as Scandinavian, not European.
13. A good nights sleep only counts if it consists of 8 consecutive hours. 10 hours would be considered too much.
14. You don’t really consider silence a problem in social situations.
15. The question “how are you?” is a question that needs to be answered with a honest and thorough explanation of your mental health. Therefore, you don’t understand why Non-Swedes give you one word answers.
16. You think people that don’t send their kids to nursery school (”dagis”) are strange.
17. You feel bad if you’re not outside on a sunny day.
18. You know that individuality vs. conformity is the eternal Swedish conflict.
19. You unfortunately find it embarrassing and a bit uncool to be “too” Swedish.
20. You find it normal that the most serious debates between the political leaders of the country broadcasted on TV are held in charming and homey milieus, including flowered curtains, blond wood, colorful pillows, pastries and coffee.
21. You consider Volvo and Saab the ultimate family cars.
22. You ONLY eat sweets on Saturdays.
23. You think it’s a BIG THING to have a drivers license before you’re approaching your thirties.
24. You can actually see the logic of “klämdagar”.
25. You think thats its ridiculous to build houses from bricks. Wood is the real deal!
26. You refuse to believe that snuff or “snus” is harmful.
Since snuff “isn’t harmful”, you can’t understand why no one except the Scandinavians use it.
27. You don’t think a farmhouse is actually a farmhouse unless it is red or yellow with white trim.
28. You don’t find “bananer i pyjamas” to be a bit sexual.
29. You realize that five ants are more than four elephants
30. You hate keyboards without “å, ä, ö” with a passion.
31. You think it’s perfectly normal and not offending at all when Frank Zappa’s song “Bobby Brown goes down” is played at a disco for 9-year olds
32. You know they are the same, but you just don’t trust ibuprofen and paracetamol the way you trust Ipren and Alvedon
33. You, in pure disgust try to tell your fellow peers that it’s basic human behavior to shower after PE and they look at you like you come from a different planet.
34. You can’t believe that you have to pay for your disgusting school lunch.
35. You don’t consider Starbucks a proper café, since a real cafe is a atmospheric, groovy, cosy place not at all as brightly lit and multi national as Starbucks.
1. You don’t rely on weather forecasts unless presented by John Pohlman.
2. You know it’s a sin lifting the top layer in the Aladdin chocolate box before it’s empty.
3. You find people from other cultures generally being rather loud. With the exception of the Finish.
4. You wouldn’t even consider buying electrical items unless they are “S”-marked.
5. You get guilty conscience from throwing things in the dustbin that could have been recycled.
6. You don’t consider a congregation of trees being a “real” forest unless it takes at least 20 minutes to drive through it.
7. You use the metric system and really don’t get why there are people out there who don’t.
8. You consider Denmark and the Danish “pretty continental”.
9. You are obsessed with health issues.
10. You find the idea of carpets in bathrooms and toilets simply appalling.
11. You thought carpets was a concept of the past or the ferrys to Finland/Estonia/Germany/Denmark. Then you went abroad and realized that you were wrong.
12. You consider yourself as Scandinavian, not European.
13. A good nights sleep only counts if it consists of 8 consecutive hours. 10 hours would be considered too much.
14. You don’t really consider silence a problem in social situations.
15. The question “how are you?” is a question that needs to be answered with a honest and thorough explanation of your mental health. Therefore, you don’t understand why Non-Swedes give you one word answers.
16. You think people that don’t send their kids to nursery school (”dagis”) are strange.
17. You feel bad if you’re not outside on a sunny day.
18. You know that individuality vs. conformity is the eternal Swedish conflict.
19. You unfortunately find it embarrassing and a bit uncool to be “too” Swedish.
20. You find it normal that the most serious debates between the political leaders of the country broadcasted on TV are held in charming and homey milieus, including flowered curtains, blond wood, colorful pillows, pastries and coffee.
21. You consider Volvo and Saab the ultimate family cars.
22. You ONLY eat sweets on Saturdays.
23. You think it’s a BIG THING to have a drivers license before you’re approaching your thirties.
24. You can actually see the logic of “klämdagar”.
25. You think thats its ridiculous to build houses from bricks. Wood is the real deal!
26. You refuse to believe that snuff or “snus” is harmful.
Since snuff “isn’t harmful”, you can’t understand why no one except the Scandinavians use it.
27. You don’t think a farmhouse is actually a farmhouse unless it is red or yellow with white trim.
28. You don’t find “bananer i pyjamas” to be a bit sexual.
29. You realize that five ants are more than four elephants
30. You hate keyboards without “å, ä, ö” with a passion.
31. You think it’s perfectly normal and not offending at all when Frank Zappa’s song “Bobby Brown goes down” is played at a disco for 9-year olds
32. You know they are the same, but you just don’t trust ibuprofen and paracetamol the way you trust Ipren and Alvedon
33. You, in pure disgust try to tell your fellow peers that it’s basic human behavior to shower after PE and they look at you like you come from a different planet.
34. You can’t believe that you have to pay for your disgusting school lunch.
35. You don’t consider Starbucks a proper café, since a real cafe is a atmospheric, groovy, cosy place not at all as brightly lit and multi national as Starbucks.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Chinese numerological superstition: Nine Kinesiska lyckotal: Nio
Orchard Villas, Chengdu Feb 14, 2009 ©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
Siffran nio är oerhört viktig i kinesiskt tänkande. Det är det högsta ensiffriga talet (i 10-systemet och det kraftigaste yangtalet. Traditionellt var nio kejsarens tal. Det var bara kejsaren som kunde bära kläder med nio drakar på och ta från tallrikar målade med nio drakar. I Förbjudna staden i Beijing, Himmelens tempel, Sommarpalatset osv. finns ett genomgående siffertänkande. I Förbjudna staden finns nio stora knoppar vågrätt och lodrätt på de enorma röda portarna. I en av gårdarna finns en andeskärm med nio svävande drakar (jiulongbi). Det är ingen slump att det sägs finnas 9 999 rum i hela palatset eftersom det är bara himlen som kan ha 10 000 rum (egentligen finns drygt 8 800 i hela palatsanläggningen).
Nio, jiu (九), är likljudande med "långvarig", jiu (久), och förknippas därmed med långt liv. Både den 09.09.1999 och den 19.09.1999 var speciellt lyckobringande dagar i Kina där många valde att förlova eller gifta sig då chansen ökades att deras kärlek skulle stå sig i all evighet. Jiu kan också betyda "bara, enbart", jiu. Således kan sifferkombinationen 5917 (wu jiu yao qi) på tex en bil nummerskylt tolkas = "jag vill bara ha pengar", wo jiu yao qian. Den nionde dagen i den traditionella kalenderns nionde månad är "Dubbelnian", Chongyangjie, allmänt firad som Pensionärernas dag. I ett av Kinas gamla bokverk, Herr Lüs kommentarer till Vår- och Höstannalerna (Lüshi Chunqiu), som sammanställdes för ca 2 200 år sedan, beskrevs världen så här: Himlen har nio fält, jorden har nio regioner, landet har nio berg, bergen har nio pass, i havet finns nio öar. Nummer nio självt är något mysko: alla multiplar med nio resulterar i att siffrorna när de läggs ihop blir nio: t.ex. 9 x 3 = 27 = 2 + 7 = 9. (Undantaget är 0 x 9 = 0). En nummerskylt med fem nior är mycket eftertraktat i Kina och kostar således mycket pengar under bordet eller en speciell kontakt på Myndigheten för fordonsregistrering!
English: The number nine is one of the most important numbers in Chinese numerological superstition. It's the highest single digit number, rich in yang, and was traditionally reserved for use by the emperor. Only he could wear clothing embroidered with nine dragons and eat from plates decorated with these nine heavenly creatures. The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace are full of "nine combinations", nine massive door studs both vertical and horizontal on the huge palace doors, spirits wall decorated with nine dragons (jiulongbi) and supposedly 9,999 rooms, as only heaven could have 10,000. (There are actually only about 8,800 rooms in the palace).
Another reason why nine, jiu (九), is so important is because it's a homophone with jiu (久), a word meaning "a long time" in Chinese and thus is associated with long life. Dates that consist of many nines are auspicious for anyone getting married or engaged, the thought being that the relationship will get extra help to last forever or at least as long as possible. 090999 and 190999 were popular days when people flocked to the wedding license offices or proposed marriage.
Car license plates with lucky numbers are especially sought after in China and either cost a lot of money, good luck at a license auction in the cities that have them, a fat bribe or a special connection in the Department of Motor Vehicles. The above combination of five nines should be interpreted as anything that the owner wants or desires will be theirs "forever".
Chengdu Panda Hash Harrier Red Dress Charity Run
The things foreigners (and quite a few local Chinese friends) get up to. Chengdu's very own Panda Hash Harriers had a Charity Hash Run on Sunday Feb 15. Everyone was dressed in red, men in red drag of course - to benefit Sichuan Quake Relief. I wasn't there but got a look at it on Facebook today and found more pictures on their website. The local Chengdoodlians that lived along the Hash route seem to have enjoyed the spectacle enormously!
For anyone who doesn't know what the international Hash Harrier "thing" is visit their website or look up Hash House Harrier on Wikipedia. As they explain it, they're a "Drinking Club with a Running Problem". On any Hash Run there's usually lot's of beer and shenanigans involved but all with good fun (and here a good cause) in mind. The Hash in Hash Harrier refers to food by the way...
You guys looked great! (Johnny D and Barry J - you look sexier as women than men :-)
(Photos courtesy of CPHH website and Peter Samuels)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Western Sichuan 1: The road to Danba
All photos©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
This is a continuation of my series of postings on Western Sichuan (see Feb 4, 2009)
During the summer of 2007 (late July) we made a week long trip to Tagong via Danba, visiting the incredibly beautiful Qiang and Tibetan villages in the area before heading up over onto the Tibetan Plateau to Tagong via Hongshi (Red Stones). Large quantities of rain had recently fallen on the area leading up to Danba and both roads and bridges had washed away or been damaged by falling rocks. We rented a van in Chengdu and headed NW via Dujiangyan and Wolong and onward through the tight, deeply shaded, slightly ominous, misty valleys that make up the border area between the Chinese world and the Tibetan in western Sichuan.
This is panda, golden monkey, red panda and in the not so distant past tiger country. Lush bamboo forests and dense evergreens. The road skirts roaring rivers and small roadside habitations, hardly large enough to be called villages, many of them existing solely to maintain the road or serve food to passersby. At this time of year corn was drying from the eaves and large, meaty fuschia-coloured dahlias and brilliant nasturtiums were in profusion, giving me a hint of the maybe merry nature of the people who spent their lives here. I often marvel at the resilience of those who can exist all their days in dark, wet valleys, waiting for a ray of sunlight to pierce the gloom and lighten their hearts (or dry the wash hanging everywhere). If this were Scandinavian my mind would turn to tales of loneliness, depression and suicide, and maybe that same sad story is true here too.
The road over the Balangshan was horrendously bumpy, full of potholes and slithery, gooey mud. We made it over the pass (4523 m) at sunset just in time to catch the last rays of daylight illuminate the Four Sisters Mountain (Siguniangshan, 6250 m) before it was sucked into the night. Beneath us we could see the valley of Rilongguan. After about 14 hours of almost straight driving we pulled into the town of Danba: five adults (including the driver) and two children tumbled out with sore joints and headaches. We had hoped to make it all the way to Jiaju but the driver was exhausted, it was pitch black outside and simply too dangerous to continue. A clean, little guesthouse near the big bridge swallowed us up for the night, all of us falling asleep to the sounds of the roaring river below. The next day we awoke to glorious sunshine and entered the magical world of Danba, a microcosm of sun, flowers, stone houses, high skies and singing villages.
Figge, digital cameras and cover shots
©Ingrid Booz Morejohn and Gleerups Publishing, Sweden
Sometimes I feel like that radio guy on the Swedish TV program HippHipp! that gives the daily crossword clue: my mind starts in one place and winds up 5,000 miles away. I am conscious of this and do try and keep my conversations and writing slightly on track, in the end circling around to where I began and hopefully tying up all the loose ends in the process. That's why I am showing you three book covers that I photographed for a fantastic series of fact books for children, Figges kunskapsklubb, for Gleerups Publishing. What got me thinking, of course, is the picture of candy that I posted below on Today's Picture 090215. Although that exact image was used inside the book, its sister is on the cover above. I'd asked two mischievous little girls - Anna and Frida Rönn - to be the "hand models" (and face models for a shot inside the book). They more than willingly accepted when I said they'd be allowed to eat heaps of gummy candies in the process. I bought a huge pile of candy to create the effect of "plenty" and let them have it. That was one of the best shoots I've had and they were over the moon giggly all the time. Afterwards we ate up all the "props".
I worked on Figge as a picture researcher and filled in as photographer whenever I couldn't find a stock image to fit the book text. Often my two children had to act as models: playing with Legos, making a puzzle, eating a lemon, posting a letter, scraping their knees, reading a newspaper and so on. It was a real joy to work with the series editor Ulrica Lejbro, a fantastic person and very capable editor, now with a child of her own. I was always amazed that she could understand how kids think without having any herself. (I hadn't a clue to the workings of a child's brain until I had two myself, now I remember that my mind worked just as deviously.) Ulrica and I had lot's of fun and made around 20 books in this series (withthe help of several authors of course!) You can still buy them today via web bookstores and used book sites etc.
Footnote: All of the cover images were taken with small compact digital cameras, nothing fancy at all. The one of Emy posting a letter is a cheap little Konica. These were my first digital cameras, only about 3-4 million megapixel each. When I took my first image I was amazed how "easy" it was, I could take the picture and send it high res to the client in just a few minutes, amazing! Nowadays I have other more complex and advanced digital cameras, but just want you to know that it isn't the typewriter that writes the book, or the camera that takes the picture, it's you. And if you understand the limitations of a camera you can still create good shots with them. Even a pinhole camera can produce a wondrous image in the right hands...
China Daily: Player's face paralyzed after mahjong marathon
Street mahjong, Beijing Houhai area ©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
Listen up fellow Chengdoodlians! The perils of playing too much mahjong are ever present and perilous!
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-13 09:21
A 50-year-old mahjong fan suffered facial paralysis after he played the game all night in Shenzhen special economic zone.
The man, surnamed Yang, rushed to Shenzhen hospital of traditional Chinese medicines for help after his face started to swell and he had convulsions.
He said the symptoms began when he walked out of the house and into the wind following an entire night playing mahjong in the Bao'an district.
Tao Jiaping, a senior doctor from the hospital, said Yang will need acupuncture treatment for at least three weeks.
(Southern Metropolis Daily)
Happy Valentine's Day blog readers!
Sega godisar är gott! ©Ingrid Booz Morejohn
This is an appropriate day to thank everyone (You the Reader) who visits and reads this blog. I have to admit, it's a kick to log-in and see if anyone has checked in and read something, getting a comment is a real high! (Please comment more ;-) From my blog feed I can see when friends I know check-in, recognizing their geographic location but of course not knowing 100% if it's them or someone in the same city. I've had people visit from all over the globe: Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, Thailand, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Philippines etc and several islands in the Caribbean (looking mostly for postings about my boatbuilder/artist brother Chris). If Duluth, Georgia doesn't check in every day I begin to worry that either I've lost their interest (who are you?) or they're away or sick or something. I personally know most of my "Followers", good friends from way back. One though is someone I've never met, hello Qin!
35% of the visitors come from Sweden (of course), 35% from the US, and a good portion from China. Besides those who visit regularly and read basically everything I post, favorite topics are Chinese festivals, anything Tibetan, my brother-in-law Miche Booz (!) and anything to do with photography. The more I post, of course, the wider the topic choice will be. As you can see my minds wanders considerably. Blogging is both very rewarding and exhausting, it takes a lot of time but I enjoy it immensely. We'll see if I can keep up the pace though, 127 postings in just about as many days. Thank-you all so much for looking in, feel free to take a candy! Välkommen åter.
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