Language - so much more than words

Speaking a language is not just knowing the words and what order to put them in to make other people understand what you want. Language is cultural and historical. A lot of expressions that makes sense to all the natives could be gibberish for a newcomer, even though the newcomer know the words.

I've come to accept that I won't get all the cultural or historical references in English. If someone tells a joke and everyone around me laughs, I'll smile politely and try to remember it so I can ask someone later. I won't ask in a group, that will give me too much of the spotlight and make me too self-conscious. But I'm not embarrassed to ask a friend what something means when we're alone. Friends help each other and I sometimes need help with this foreign language they speak in my new country.

Last Friday we went to see Spamalot. Even though I know the story and am fluent in English I knew that some jokes would be lost on me through language barriers, both cultural and in pronunciation. I was right, I got 95% of what was happening on stage, but every now and then a word or a reference would fly past me without me realising what it meant.

The show was still highly amusing and I don't feel like I missed out on the lost jokes. The same goes for the stand up comedy show we went to a couple of weeks ago, I had to ask A on a couple of cultural references, but I didn't feel like I missed much. The part I understood was hilarious!

Suitcases

When limited to just 'what I can carry' while moving it's tricky to choose what stuff to bring. Some things are necessary and just have to go in the bag, some things are necessary for making one feel at home, but not essential for existence and has to get a lower prio. Some things are just too loved to be left. Clothes, makeup, boring paper and shoes are of course essential, as well as knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn, patterns, buttons, ribbons, gauge ruler, scissors, pearls, sewing thread and needles...the list goes on...

We now have an empty shelf in the living room where my stuff should've been if there had been space in my suitcases to bring them. Hopefully the postman will have a package to deliver to me soon so I can feel at home.

Meanwhile I have knitting to do, podcasts to listen at, a park to wander around in and a city to enjoy. And of course A doing his best to make me feel at home :)

Part of the stash that needs some sorting

Hello London

Snowdrops in the park

I've now been in London for a week. I feel lost, confused, excited, curious, all feelings at the same time. The contrast was striking, from 20 cm of snow, overcast and a couple of minus degrees to 8-10 degrees and sun, I've even seen snowdrops! I know it's warm for the season but I can't help but feeling like spring is on it's way (but we could just as well get snow here as well)

Me waiting for the flight to London

Monday we went to IKEA and survived both 3 hours in the warehouse AND assembling the furniture afterwards. Yes, you read furniture, me and A bought furniture together. Exciting, exciting!

The week has been spent trying to figure out the best way to store our stuff so that it feels like we're both living here. It's not the easiest thing when one of us has been living here for years and I had 3 suitcases with all my belongings coming here. I have managed to occupy the living room with yarn and needles without any loud protests from A though, so far so good.










Since I haven't got a job yet I have to make use of my days.
Monday I joined a test knitting of a lovely cowl pattern, I'll post photos and link when that's released.
Tuesday I went to Liberty to check out their yarn and crafts department. I must admit I got pretty excited in there and had to be strict on myself. I came out of there with only one ball of yarn, intended for the test knitting.
Wednesday I went to a knitting group at a pub nearby. Lovely bunch of people who meet every week to chat and knit. Actually there's a few people there not knitting, they still go to the knitting group and have a chat. I really enjoyed and my Wednesday evenings are now sorted.
Thursday I was ill and slept most of the day, I tried to knit but ended up having to correct mistakes half the time.
Friday I knitted on the tube to and from the city. I got a smiles of approvement and the ride was rather enjoyable. I also sneaked in a visit to John Lewis' crafts department. I started to get very tired late afternoon, otherwise I could've spent a veeeery long time there. Lots of nice yarn and also fabric and other crafts. I found some Lumio reflecting yarn that I intend to knit a hat from. Perfect to wear at night when out and about and wanting to be seen by vehicles.
Friday I also visited my local yarn store, small but nice yarn.

Trafalgar Square

Lord Nelson and the Blue cock

Almost empty Trafalgar Square

Bye bye Sweden

Yesterday was the last day at work and today I've returned laptop, phone and keys. It felt a little weird to say goodbye to my work since 5 years, both sad to leave such a fun job and excited about what's to come.
Sat on the bus I'm starting to feel bubbly excited! I'm not sure I've taken in what I'm doing. I'm leaving my country, my job, my family and my home. I'm going to become an immigrant, lost in a new world. Even though Sweden and UK are fairly similar western countries there are so many differences, not many big ones, but endless of small ones. The word 'please' doesn't have an equivalent in Swedish and I might appear rude because of a cultural difference in our languages. I'm trying hard to remember to say 'please' all the time.

There's a lot of snow on the Swedish west coast and I think I'm going miss it a little, even though my feet are constantly cold in the winter. I enjoy winter for about two weeks a year, then I it's time for spring. I've had my two weeks now and it feels ok to leave it. I'm also leaving rain from the side (backside of living on the coast), I might even get an umbrella now. Umbrellas are useless when on the windy coast but handy in London.

The (not so) glamorous hotel life

I've now been living in hotels for the last week, except for the weekend when I slept on my brother's sofa. I long for a home. I wouldn't mind staying in a hotel for two weeks on a vacation, but between flats while moving is not a glamorous existence.
I have a very limited amount of space in my bags, and thus very limited choice of clothes. I have my book, my knitting and a couple of tv channels to keep me company. The extra blanket turned out to match my knitting perfectly.

I've started to think about things I'm going to miss when I leave Sweden. Not much springs to mind, except lingonberries!

Sweden and UK are a lot similar or at least near similar in many ways. There's no big differences, but a lot of small ones. I'll probably find a lot of things that I either miss or absolutely don't miss. It'll be fun to see what actually makes that list. And some things I'll just have to bring, like lingonberries and semlor. I had to buy a semla today to make sure I got one before I leave.

Homeless

I left my flat to my tenant 4 days ago and I'm now staying in hotels and on my brother's sofa for the reminder of the time until I fly over to my new home in London. It's mixed feelings leaving my home of 5 years and letting someone else use my furniture. It feels great to be on my way, but I feel a lot more vulnerable as I don't have my own home for two weeks. I choose to do this myself and it feels very good to not having to think about the flat anymore. All I have to do now is finish up at work and then I'm ready to go in 9 days. Excitement overload!
Luckily I have my Nutkin socks to work on in the evenings. First sock is 2 rows from bind off and I'm very pleased with the result. It's the first time I'm knitting socks and it's surprisingly easy and fun. Hopefully the second sock will last all the way to next Friday because I can't get toy other yarn or needles to start something new.