Midsummer Part 1

Although going to Sweden in the summer is a usual tradition for our family, this year we flew in from all directions to celebrate. Benjamin (read his blog for more details) flew in from India after visiting his friend Donny in Bangladesh and then a brief visit to India and the Taj Mahal. My mom and Thomas were already there, leaving basically right after Thomas' last day of school, while my dad and I flew in a couple days later from Berlin.

Our first excitement was on Wednesday night, when Sweden had a soccer match in the European Cup. We were all rather disappointed when they lost.

The next morning, my mom and I went to the airport to pick up Maribeth, whom I met in Chile, and who was coming to visit for Midsummer in Sweden and then coming back to Berlin with me for a week. Shortly after we got back to the house, my uncle and aunt, Ake and Helene, came to pick us up and take us out to Ake's summerhouse, where the festivities would be taking place.


[a whole suitcase full of American food in the front, and all the other packing]

Maribeth and I slept most of the car ride so we were ready when we had to take the boat across to the island.


[Helene driving the boat, apparently something was funny]

When we arrived, we were the first ones there and had a couple minutes to relax. But not too long after, everyone else started to arrive. This meant a couple of things. First, everyone had to be ferried over to the island, which is quite a task when 15 people came on Thursday and another 15 were yet to arrive. On top of that, everyone was quite loaded down with all the food that we would eat over the weekend. Then, we had to began setting up tents and arranging sleeping locations for everyone. This began the process that our family knows too well of about two people actually doing a task and everyone else watching on and giving advice.


[Maribeth and I waiting for dinner]


[Family sitting outside after dinner, still very light out at around 11:00]


[Ake and Louise trying to put up the wind-cover walls, while everyone was looking on, adding their two cents]

The first night it rained, but we managed to stay dry in our tent, but it was the only bad weather that we had all weekend. Otherwise it was sunshine and warm for Sweden weather.

Friday was the big day, when everyone else would arrive, and it was actually Midsummer. The day began with a late breakfast, and then helping Cornelea slash around in the pool. She loves to play in the water and was having a good time in the pool.


[Cornelea playing in her little pool]

Then I became part of the ferry team that was sent to first only pick up my mom, dad and Benjamin as they were coming across. But every time we got there, someone else had arrived at the dock that needed to be taken over!


[Waiting for lunch]

Finally almost everyone was over, and we began preparing for lunch. Everyone had their job for the afternoon...


[Maribeth, Thomas, and Arne working on the Midsummer (May) Pole]


[My dad and I working on the hoops]


[Helene announcing how to use the new burn-your-poop bathroom]

We finally had lunch, where everyone loaded their plates with potatoes, pickled herring, meatballs, and other typical Swedish food.


[Maribeth taking chances on bizarre Swedish cuisine]

Then we had a relaxing meal, singing cheers songs that Johan had published into a little booklet and enjoying the sunshine.


[Everyone at the table]


[Singing a cheers]

After lunch it was time to begin the "traditional" Midsummer activities.


[The men raised the May Pole]


[Typical Swedish... sunshine, May Pole, and little red house...]


[We danced around it... although the baby doesn't seem to find it very fun]


[Then we had a "tips promenad" or a team-question walk... where we walked around in teams to answer questions for prizes]


[The winning team]


[But Cornelea was a much more interesting subject, note the UMBC sweatshirt!]


[And some Kubb]

After that we were all pretty exhausted and ready for a sauna. The ladies had sauna time first, and it was so relaxing and nice to be in the sauna and then jump into the cold water!


[Natalie, Maribeth, and I in the water]

In the evening, it was time more an American touch to the Swedish holiday. Our family had been commissioned for the dinner-meal, which was supposed to be American food. Of course, we had burgers, potato salad, coleslaw, and baked beans and the final touch was marshmallows and smores for dessert. All this food had to be specially brought from the US. Needless to say, the bags were checked before they even left the US. I'm guessing it was because either they thought it was hilarious that someone was bringing all this food or maybe they were genuinely worried about the metal cans that were there...


[The Swedes standing around trying to perfect marshmallows for delicious smores!]