Traveling Resa with Linda - Columbia Asset Management

All Aboard! Destination-Sweden! Travel Buddy-Linda! Most of you know (with Linda being the longest employee of CAM- 19 years and counting!) that she was born and raised in Sweden. Linda moved to the United States in 1996 and has called Ann Arbor her home since then. Linda’s family remains in Sweden and once a year she travels home, or her parents come to Ann Arbor for an extended visit. This year, Linda and her husband, Randy, traveled to Sweden to visit family and attend her niece’s high school graduation. Let’s tag along on their adventure home and learn a little bit about her homeland.

Tell us what it was like growing up in Sweden?

When talking with my friends that grew up in the United States, it seems that we all had similar experiences with our childhood. However, one of the main things that stands out as a difference to me is vacation time. Swedes are allotted much more time (6 weeks), and therefore, my family would have long summer vacations together where we traveled to other countries or traveled around Sweden in our camper for long periods of time.

What is a big difference for you from living currently in the United States compared to Sweden?

As I already mentioned, the cultural focus on work versus non-work time is one of the major differences between the two countries. Another difference is the amazing diversity of pretty much everything in the USA. Every aspect of life- geographical, cultural, foods, weather, etc. offers the opportunity to experience, learn and grow as a person. Sweden, when I left in 1996, was a homogenous society in terms of population and culture. It is slowly becoming more diverse, which was great to see during this visit, but it has a long way to go to match the US experience.

You got to watch your niece’s high school graduation. Tell us about that.

It was wonderful to be able to take part in her graduation. She wants to continue her academic career by studying architecture in Stockholm. Graduation day is a fun and festive day as all high schools graduate on the same day. The post-graduation celebration starts with a motorcade, each class piles onto a big truck with loud music playing and then on to celebrating at home with family and friends. The night will most likely end with a pub crawl for the newly graduated (night life ends around 3 am in Sweden).

What are your favorite foods from Sweden?

Potato pancakes with lingonberry sauce, salt pork, Swedish meatballs with brown beans and potoatoes, and cured salmon.