Marcela’s Journals

November 30, 2024

Dim and Bright Lights

“You’re going to HATE November” is what almost everyone I met would tell me from the moment I stepped into Sweden, and just for that is that I was looking forward to it.

Yes, it’s cooler now and we have daylight between 8:00 and 16:00 although sometimes when it’s cloudy you don’t see the sun at all (I’m not lying when I say I didn’t see the sun for 3 weeks straight) plus sometimes the rain comes as a bonus (let’s keep in mind that here in Skane its always windy too). This might sound depressing for some but believe me when I tell you that it is actually really cozy, and this is why: Swedes know what to do at this time of the year.

If you wanted a more detailed explanation that means preparing for advent and Christmas since it’s what pushes almost everybody to get through November. That includes preparing glögg (also known as glühwein, vin chaud, greyano vino, vin brule, shoga sake, mulled wine, amongst others), creating your own Christmas decorations (that you don’t necessarily have to put up yet), Christmas shopping, practicing the choir music plus other songs for the coming up concerts and overall, just creating moments of mys (coziness).
My first memory of this month was being welcomed by a new bonus family (meaning that once again I stayed with them temporarily). We had a skördemåltid (harvest meal) or höstmiddag (autumn dinner) which consisted of seasonal ingredients at their best: root vegetables, mushrooms, game meats (as always, served with brunsås and lingonberries) and of course äppelkaka med vaniljsås.

Another memorable dinner I had occurred on Father’s Day, which is celebrated (not so widely) on the second Sunday of November here. Despite the chilly weather and the early starry skies, candles (typically placed by the windows, but found almost in every corner of the house) and good company are good at keeping warmth.

A thing that I took note of are choirs. They’re a big thing here. A friend even told me that every Swede is either on a choir, has been on a choir, or knows someone on a choir, and so far, she’s right (the moment this changes you’ll hear about it). In terms of language learning, music has always been my best friend no matter what but seeing how it plays a role in cultural learning is also quite interesting.

As people say, music brings people together for one reason or another. In my case it literally did as I was walking home with my Swedish mom one evening, arms wrapped around each other, singing I Have a Dream by ABBA. Little moments like such made of what for many is a slow month into a joyful, fuzzy month to remember.

Malmö is not really known for being snowy but from time to time there can be snow, like how it did almost at the end of the month! I found it amusing that it didn’t feel as cold as it would usually be without the snow, but that might be since it wasn’t too windy that day (spoiler alert: it rained right afterwards and yes, it felt cooler).

November came to its end with the inbounds from my district meeting the inbounds to our neighboring district in Copenhagen, Denmark at a Christmas market in Lund, Sweden. It’s still crazy for me the ease in which exchange students bond so easily, we’re a community I’d love for everyone to join.

I’ve been asked how it is like living with different families every now and then, and it’s astonishingly enjoyable, probably one of the best things that have happened to me here due to what I’ve got to experience. I’ve lived right next to the ocean, in the heart of the city, and near the countryside. Shared meals and roof with music teachers, CEOs, politicians, football/soccer players among other great people. I’m truly lucky and thankful to call them all my big Swedish family (despite them not being related, they’re just my big Swedish family).

Och det var allt för idag! November was good and unique in its way, but now I’m looking forward to the holidays more than ever before, and I hope that so do you. Before I tell you my album recommendation for the month, I must admit it’s getting harder to choose. But with that said, I’ll at least have a little of everything to share. Today is Nightmares in the Waking State Pt.1 by Solution .45. Hoppas ni gillar det, and as always take care and stay safe.

Har det så bra, vi ses!