USA store

We had heard all about the USA Godis store selling American items, so one day after school last week Gabby and I decided to see it for ourselves.  I was underwhelmed.  The store was small and reminded me of the convenience stores you go into in the middle of nowhere with one of each item on a shelf.  Audra had been missing Goldfish crackers so we bought one bag for $6 and a small bag of peanut butter M&Ms for $3.  The girls savored their goldfish crackers two days and we're still working on the M&Ms!  Even Gabby agreed that it was a disappointment and doesn't feel the need to return to the store.  Check that one off the list.

regular size bag of candy cane kisses = $13.42

PTA Book Club

On Tuesday, November 12, I hosted the November SIS PTA Book Club monthly get together.  Renata, who organizes the book club, does a great job of selecting books written by authors from different countries.  So far we've read:  The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki Jun'ichirō, The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. 

People usually read the books in English (thank goodness!) because the words/descriptions do not always translate the same into other languages.  The discussion about The Hypnotist was very lively about society, etc. since the book is a Swedish murder/thriller. 

It was very interesting to discuss Unbroken (about a WWII POW) with a group of women from Italy, Hungary, Denmark, Poland, Columbia and the U.S.  We talked about the versions of World War II history we each had learned and what our view is/was from our country.... some had been in school under a communist government.  Because we are all smart, educated women we could talk politics AND religion and still be friends after three hours!

What else I learned...  I do not have enough coffee mugs/tea cups, I need to buy a teapot and I should never again admit that if making a cup of tea for myself that I heat the water in the microwave. Yes, Evelyn, thankfully I did heat the water for tea in a pot on the stove. 

hazelnut/dark chocolate biscotti

In the mood

It is so much easier to get into the Christmas spirit when it is cold outside!  On Tuesday a large Christmas tree was set up in Ostermalmstorg.  Decorations and lights are being hung all over the city but won't be lit until 3pm next Saturday, November 23. 

Now if I only had some of Gigi Haskell's eggnog!  

Aquarium-Water Museum with 36 first graders...

Luckily the trip was a short one...  and the museum is small.  I never would have signed up for this if it were the Georgia Aquarium!

we left the school at 1:20pm
wrangled 36 first graders onto the #2 bus
and transferred to the #7 tram

Most people on the bus and tram were amused when inundated by the short, yellow-vested kids.  One guy did get off a stop after we got on. 

2 Sofias...

Taking the #2 bus to Sofia!  Sofia loves having her own bus!

We had an aquarium guide with an irreverent sense of humor... when one kid asked what something was in a tank, he answered 'I think someone took a poop'!  It was a sea cucumber. 

We started out in the 'rainforest' exhibit which has a simulated thunderstorm... predictably many kids screamed.  Another highlight was 36 kids bouncing up and down on the rope bridge in the rainforest!

LARGE tank, BIG crack! The sign says "the broken glass is reinforced and poses no safety risk"

At 3pm we herded the kids back to the entrance
put on 36 coats
and 36 yellow vests
counted heads and headed back to the tram

Because we were running a little late we took the tram to the end of the line then walked/ran the rest of the way back to school, getting back just 10 minutes after dismissal. 

Romanesco Broccoli

I wish I'd bought it to try...  it's a very cool example of the Fibonacci Sequence (Gabby started off with that in math at the beginning of the school year otherwise I would never have known or noticed!!). 

Reindeer wrap?!

It was a little shocking to find this guy advertising lavash type wraps in the grocery store! 

UN Day - October 24, 2013

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries (now 193 members) committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.  www.un.org

Stockholm International School has students from 61 countries (out of approx. 200 countries total). 
It was exciting and touching to watch hundreds of students at the Stockholm International School participate and take pride in their countries.  It was also interesting to see what country some kids chose to represent if their parents were from different countries.  Yes, it was challenging to identify all the flags... we have some studying to do! 

Ireland

U.K.

Spain

One family from Romania

Holland has spirit!

We have to up our game next year!!

Red and white check is Croatia