A Taste of Sweden

How to explain Swedish food? This is a difficult one. There's a lot to cover. It's a big subject.

If I ventured to sum up Swedish food, I would say it is practical, simple, low-key, and made with common ingredients. There's nothing flashy or over the top about Swedish food. It simply does the job. You need food to live and you'll get food made with everyday ingredients with a touch of flavor that will get you the energy you need.

Some people, like Bill Bryson in his book "Neither Here Nor There" are of the opinion that Swedish food is bland, but I believe he approached it from the wrong angle. It's not meant to be in-your-face spicy. It's fresh, good-quality food that isn't frilly.

There is a lot to enjoy about Swedish food. It's true that there isn't much extra kick to it if you compare it with other countries, but it is enjoyable because it is simple. It has worked for generations of people and families in Sweden. Husmanskost (home cooked everyday food) is popular because it has been around and has stood the test of time. It's not shockingly different and I think that's why people like it. It's wholesome and filling food. You know what you're getting. It's what works.

Swedes have also been quick to add and incorporate new types of food from other cultures into the mix, so when you go, you won't just find typical Swedish fare, but also food from all around the world. Take a quick stroll down a street in Gothenburg and the street will be dotted with Swedish, American, Japanese, Thai, Iranian, Italian, Mexican, and Chinese restaurants. Swedes aren't shy when it comes to trying new dishes.

Typical everyday foods include bread, cheese, seafood, meat, fruit, and veggies. It really isn't so different from everywhere else in the world.

You'll find several grocery stores in the bigger cities. They seem to be on every other block. You won't find too many supremely large supermarkets in the country, although a few do exist. Most stores are smaller shops that sell food to people in the immediate area.

There are a few unusual grocery store features, at least for Americans. One is the interlocking shopping carts that require you to insert a coin into them before you can release it from the other carts. The coin stays in the cart until you're ready to finish shopping. Once you're done, you just bring the cart back to the front, re-lock it back to the other carts in the area and you get your money back. I think this is ingenious and really wonder why American stores don't give it a try.

Another feature that throws off a lot of Americans is paying for a plastic bag and bagging up your own groceries. It's not commonly done in the US and it comes as a surprise for many who visit Sweden. It doesn't take anyone long to figure it out though.

On this most recent trip to Sweden, we spent most of our time getting food at the supermarkets. It's easier when you're on the go and much cheaper than eating out. And it makes me feel less like a tourist.

When I started the paperwork to become an exchange student in Sweden back in 1997, I had an odd recurring daydream - I wanted to walk the aisles of a Swedish supermarket.

I know, I know. It sounds strange, but there was just something so exotic, yet so normal about it. It was this paradox that made me wonder what it would be like. Would the shopping carts look the same? Would the foods be recognizable? Would I know and understand what I was looking at? Would I know how to prepare the foods I came across? Would Swedish milk be packaged like American milk? Does Coca-Cola taste the same in both countries? Would they also have beaming fluorescent lights in the ceiling? I had too many questions and I couldn't wait to have them answered.

I had my chance in August 1998. My first temporary host family was living outside of Töreboda (in between Gothenburg and Stockholm) and they took me shopping with them one day.

I was fascinated. I could have spent two hours in that store. I'm sure my host family thought I was crazy and they had good reason to think so. It was like walking into Willy Wonka's factory - familiar, yet new and strange. It was a place I understood, yet it was somehow so utterly foreign at the same time.

There was the cart that wouldn't unlock until you put money in it AND held your coin hostage until you brought it back to the front. Cheese in a toothpaste tube. Beans in a clear, plastic round roll. Milk in a small square paper box you cut open with scissors. Huge chunks of cheese with names I couldn't pronounce. Coca-Cola Light in long slender plastic bottles. A pink tube labeled "Amerikansk Dressing". And Cheeze Doodles, "the Cheezier Snack". This is also where I first found out how cheap and abundant Swedish candy really is. My life has never been the same.

I understood enough to get the general idea, yet not enough to fully access this new world of food. My host family had to help me understand what I was seeing during the trip and I must have asked them several questions they considered silly. I was slightly disappointed I didn't have more time to look around on that first trip but I knew I would have many chances to traverse the supermarket aisle in Sweden. Plus I found a copy of Flowers for sale on the front counter. That wasn't part of my original daydream, but I was quite ok with it. I bought that copy and took it home. It was my first purchase in a Swedish supermarket. Ironic.

(I would find myself back at that same supermarket checkout line eleven years later. I stood there in July 2009 reading the newspaper headlines as I waited to checkout. One headline was about Michael Jackson and the other was about Ace of Base. Weird, huh?)

This slideshow is from a grocery store in Gothenburg. I'm pretty sure most of you have never daydreamed about being in a Swedish supermarket, but if you're curious about what it looks like, take a peek:

If you go to Sweden, you'll find you have to ask questions about the food. You might even have to watch other people eat before you figure out how you're supposed to approach a certain type of food. I'll give you one example from my exchange student days. My host family decided to cook spaghetti on one of the first nights. I thought it was simple. I could deal with that. The spaghetti didn't have any sauce on it. "Interesting", I thought, "maybe they add it later". Then I saw someone pick up a bottle of ketchup. And they... put it on the spaghetti. My eyes must have come unglued from my head as I was witnessing this because they stopped their ketchup mid-squeeze and asked me if we do the same in America. "Well, uh, no, we don't." I decided to try it myself and found out it actually tasted good. Now I eat my spaghetti that way and I get the same reaction when I find myself in the company of someone who has never seen me do it before. "Ketchup?? Seriously?!?", they ask. "Ketchup. Seriously.", I answer.

I tried a lot of Swedish food while I lived there and the vast majority was very, very good. I really enjoyed trying and eating new foods. I even picked up a love for potatoes from living there. They're my fave veggie. I also eat a lot more fruit and seafood now. And I always have cravings for Swedish food. For me, IKEA is a grocery store, not a furniture store. The only craving I haven't been able to satisfy for many years is my need for a semla. Ok, If I had my choice, I'd take semlor. That's the plural form. Many, many semlor.

The taste of semlor are little difficult to explain but they are awesome. It's a pastry bread with a touch of cardamom, a hollowed out center filled with almond paste and bread crumbs, all topped off with whipped cream and powdered sugar. It is heavenly and it's usually only available just before Easter, during the Lenten season. Like I said, it's heavenly.

I've only been to Sweden once during that time period and that was in 1999. I was able to track one down out of season in 2004, which means I haven't been able to get one for six years now. Six long years.

I've tried making them myself but it never works out right. It just isn't the same. If you're in Sweden during that time and you overnight me one in the mail, I will name my first child after you. It's just that good. Try one!

Semlor: It doesn't get any better than this.

I have always enjoyed trying new food and new dishes, because frankly, I have a stomach of steel. I can eat anything. There are only two exceptions to this rule. Number one: Kalles Kaviar. What on God's green earth IS this stuff? Ah, where do I start? It's pungent. It's pink. It's putrid. Stay away. Far, faaaar away.

And number two, which I discussed with Jenny and she must've found it humorous because she referenced it in the hello from Karlstad video: Lakrits. The salty variety. I don't know any Swede who doesn't eat this stuff. They fawn over it. They croon about it. Probably write poetry about it. I'm surprised it's not mentioned in the Swedish national anthem.

But for someone who hasn't grown up with the taste, it's nearly impossible to consume. How do I explain the taste? Ah, I know. Take a pair of bowling shoes and sweat in them every day for about a year. Once summer arrives, set those shoes out in your backyard. Let them bake in the heat. Afterwards, cut up the shoes and place them on the BBQ grill. Once they are thoroughly cooked on each side, slice each shoe up into several small pieces and serve with an overdose of salt. It's just that vile, my friends.

The taste is so utterly repulsive, I have inflicted it on several Americans with, I have to admit, a slightly devious squeal of glee. I always preface it with, "This is the worst candy you will ever taste! Taste it!" and guess what? They take a piece! Every single time.

That's when the show starts. I watch as they pop a piece in their mouth, do a little shake-shake dance until their eyes water, and bolt out of the room to find a trash bin to get rid of the offending piece of leather (uh, candy). Then it's customary that they search out the biggest drink they can find to get the chemical taste out of their mouth.

If you ever go to Sweden, I strongly recommend you try it. And Jenny does too. She said it. On the video. And you know, she always gives good advice.

I hope you've enjoyed this slightly off-kilter look at Swedish food. If you go, be sure to try everything you find. Yes, even the salty licorice and the Kalles Kaviar. Who knows? Maybe you'll like it. You never know until you try.

A sign hanging up near the spice rack at the hostel. A little self-deprecating humor from the Swedes.

Swedish food may not be spicy, but if you get into a conversation about Swedish food, you can always be sure the conversation will be a spicy one!

Happy eats.

First and Most Recent

Take a look at the translation of this fun little interview from the Mix Megapol Gothenburg show (19 October) while you wait for the second concert report to be finished:

MM: It's time now for "first and most recent" with Jenny Berggren.

JB: This is exciting.

MM: This is exciting.

MM: I'll start. Tell us about the first time you were asked to sign an autograph on a body part.

JB: Oh, I don't remember actually. It may have been a little kid who asked, "Can I have your autograph?" Sure. "Write on my arm." I don't have any memories of myself asking someone to sign an autograph on a body part.

MM: Can we be the ones to start that?

JB: Sure, you can sign autographs on my body. I don't have a specific memory of someone asking. It was surely outside of an outhouse in Denmark.

MM: Now there's a good unique band name(Outhouse in Denmark).

MM: The last time, Jenny Berggren, that you bought something crazily expensive?

JB: Hmm, well, it depends on what you mean by expensive.

MM: Something that's expensive for you.

JB: Something expensive for me. It was definitely a wedding thing that my husband bought. Incredibly expensive. I don't remember actually, but it was expensive. Really expensive.

MM: When was the first time you, Jenny Berggren, lied about your age?

JB: I haven't started yet. But I have forgotten how old I am a few times. I felt like I was 22, then thought, no I'm at least 25, even though I'm not 25. I'm at least 27. Ok, now I lied. The first time is now.

MM: The most recent time when someone asked you to turn down the radio?

JB: Oh, that was surely the children yesterday.

MM: What did they say?

JB: They said, "Down Mother". They didn't mean down with mom, but "turn it down, Mother." They didn't use the word Mother, but it's fun to say Mother like in Mother's Day.
MM: The first time you dented a car?

JB: A brand new driver's license. I was at the red light at Esperantoplatsen and I didn't stop when the other cars stopped because I was messing with my mobile phone, which a lot of people didn't have then. I drove straight into the old guy in front of me.

MM: Did you mention later that you were sitting there with your mobile phone?

JB: No, they didn't know what it was then. It was almost like something from another planet.

MM: The most recent time you were recognized in a public bathroom?

JB: It was probably a few days ago or something around there. You feel these x-ray eyes when you go in and use the bathroom. It's a little uncomfortable, yes. I do have to use the bathroom sometimes. These things happen.

MM: Is there often a chat or is it more, "Is it you?" "Yes, it's me"

JB: Yes, that's it. To wash your hands afterwards when you... I'm sorry, this is a bit gross. Pardon me if you're sitting there eating your breakfast at home. But when people recognize that I was in there and actually did something, my body and I, it's there. It's at that point when we're all standing around washing our hands to get them clean. That's when it happens. "Um, is it you who, uh, is the dark-haired one in Ace of Base? Are you Jenny?" No, no, it can't be. That must be my uncle.

MM: First and most recent with Jenny Berggren. You did a very good job.

JB: Thank you so much. They were such good memories.

MM: After the commercial break, we're going to hear a new song from your new solo album. Which one will it be?

JB: It'll be "Gotta Go" with me and Staffan.

MM: Do you know that one Staffan? You don't need any help?

(Staffan answers in the background that he knows it)

Sneezing, Uploading, and Writing

I've caught a cold! Atchoo! I'm just glad I didn't catch it a month ago!

I'm currently in the process of losing my voice. You should hear me when I try to sing along with "Air of Love" while driving. Huh-larious! I sounded funny before the cold, but now it has been elevated to the status of epic funny. And no, I'm not posting a video of that.

Speaking of videos, here are a few to watch until I finish the report on Tranås (which should be done in a few days):

Knock, and the door will open...

If only it were that easy in Sweden.

I'm going to write about doors. Opening them, to be exact. There is an unbelievable amount of door variations in Sweden, along with unending variations on how to open said doors. For those of you who live in the country, you may have never noticed these two little facts, but I promise you it's true.

Home doors are pretty self explanatory in Sweden. They tend to open and close in the same direction no matter what house you're at, for the most part. Where it gets tricky is when you visit a business. That's where you'll need to put on your puzzling hat.

A door seems like a simple mechanism. Open it and walk through. Alas, this is exactly where Sweden messes with your mind.

As you approach the door, you have to examine it to determine how it will open or how it will move. Will you open it manually or will it open on its own? Once you've gotten to the door, will you need to push on it or pull on it? You might also need to press a button while opening the door at the same time. Or maybe you'll have to turn and hold the lock as you exit. Do you need a code to open it? If it's a rotating door, will you need to rotate it manually by hand or will it rotate automatically?

You may think this is funny and it is.

If you ever go to Sweden, stand back and watch people try to get out of a door. They'll pull and it won't budge. Then, they'll push and it won't move. Third, they'll try to hit the little button while exiting and maybe it might work. If they're lucky, it's an automatic door, but that still doesn't make it much easier.

In all circumstances, it's a riot to watch.

If you come across an automatic door, it might not open if you approach it too quickly. It won't register your movement fast enough and you will be frighteningly close to smashing your face directly into the glass. I've seen it happen and have almost done it myself. On that occasion, an older gentleman saw me and let me know I had to walk to the door slowly before it would open. He gave me an "Ah, those youth! Always rushing!" look, then he took pity on me and demonstrated the proper procedure for exiting. I'm impressed he didn't break out into hysterical laughter as he watched me nearly break through the door. Kudos.

On this trip, the door mishaps were abundant. Here are three for your enjoyment.

Mishap #1: The Expressen door was automatic. It let Jessi through without a problem, but Anja ended up being stuck between two glass panels of the rotating door. She became a rotating door prisoner for a minute. The door was automatic and rotating, but it needed a code to let people through and the code expired while Anja was on her way through the door. We took the manual door the second time around. Much safer.

Mishap #2: Jenny, Jessi, Anja, and I were walking around in the hotel after the Förkväll TV show was over and we were looking for an exit. We rounded a corner and came face to face with a solid glass panel. We stood there for a few seconds ruminating over whether this was in fact an exit. You think that sounds strange but, like I said, this is Sweden and the doors mess with your mind. If doors confound the native Swedes, it will completely throw everyone else for a loop. And I secretly think the Swedes like it this way.

Mishap #3: Jessi, Anja, Anna, and I tried to exit the Mimers Hus building and couldn't get out on that first try. We tried to open the door manually using the handle, yet it wouldn't budge. We looked closer and read a sign on the door that told us to hit a certain button if we were there past opening hours. Sure, just one problem. Where is the button?? Halfway across the room. Nearly. We found the button and gave a little victory cheer as the door opened automatically.

If you're going to Sweden, you will need some assistance with this door thing. So I present to you a few examples, along with a quiz to help you study. Grab a piece of paper and write down your answers to see how well you do.

Question # 1: The door above. Is it manual or automatic?

Question #2: Open with button or lock?

Question #3: Manual or automatic?

Question #4: Key or code?

Question #5: Manual or automatic?

Question #6: Door or no door?


Question #7: A train door. Wait for the conductor to open it or open it yourself?


Question #8: Locked or unlocked?


Question #9: Push or pull to open? (Swedes, this one is a freebie!)


Question #10: What kind of door do these buttons belong to?

Answers:
1. Automatic. It tricks you at first. You think it's a manual but it's one of those that doesn't open until you get nearly right on top of it.

2. This one opens with a button. You'll find them in a lot of places. Note the white sticker that tells you which way the door opens.

3. Not exactly a full fledged door, although you'll find these contraptions in any supermarket after you enter the outer door. It's automatic.

4. This one leads to several residences. You'll use a code to get in this door.

5. The door leading to the hostel. It has a handle but it's an automatic door.

6. This looks suspiciously like a wall. Guess what? It's not. It's a door. A solid glass door that slides. See why we were debating at the hotel whether the glass panel was a door or not? You just don't know.

7. This particular train door is opened by you. Just press the little green button and the door whooshes open. Some train doors are opened by the conductor only.

8. This door is locked. It has an emergency handle on it and a zip tie to keep it shut when not needed.

9. You will push on this door to open it. Tryck means push. If you see "Drag", that means you'll pull on the door.

10. This is the panel for the bathroom door on the train. You have to open the door from the outside, then close the door from the inside. The third button is to lock the door while you're inside. And finally, you'll hit the open button to get back out. And if you don't know Swedish, I hope you're good at guessing.

Each question is worth 10 points. On a two part answer, if you only got one part right, give yourself 5 points.

0-25: You should probably stay away from Sweden, or at least be ready to spend some time in the hospital fixing your broken nose.
26-49: You might want to grab a local and ask for advice before you attempt to open any doors.
50-75: You're doing pretty well, although you will want to watch out for those tricky doors.
76-100: You're an expert. How long have you been living in Sweden again?

Some extra pictures:

When you have to write instructions in both the native language and a second language, you know this is a typical problem. This sign was posted at the tourist center in Karlstad. The entrance was a manual revolving door you had to push yourself. The exit was an automatic revolving door you shouldn't push. That's where this sign was posted. One building, two different doors. That's precisely why they had to put instructions on it.

The ubiquitous button you will find on several doors. You have to press it and open the door at the same time. Not easy when you have something in your hands. I think pressing this button and exiting gracefully should be elevated to a national sport in Sweden.

Looks easy enough and it is! It's a plain old automatic door.

Another door with Tryck posted - in two languages.


This looks pretty straightforward. Candy inside! They mess with you though. This door is locked. The real entrance is a little ways down the street. They beckon to you with the candy sign and when you try to get to the godis, you find out the door is locked and you'll have to find another way in. Those rascals!


Here you will see the incredible sliding glass panel in action. That hulking piece of glass is actually a door. I would never have known this was a door because, frankly, I don't assume a monstrous glass panel several feet high is actually a door in disguise. I saw someone walk into the store and it was only at that point I realized this was the main entrance into the store.

You have now been schooled in the fine art of door opening in Sweden.

Class dismissed.

Jönköping audience expectations and response

The audience expectations and conversations before the lecture at Allianskyrka:

Terese, Amelia, Marianne were chatting together as I approached them with my questions about the morning. I found out that this type of breakfast event happens a few times a year. It's an ongoing event, just like the one in Karlstad, except this breakfast is for everyone and not just the women.

This was the first visit to the church for all three ladies. On what they expected, Terese said she wanted to hear a little bit about Jenny and her life as an artist. Amelia had read Jenny's book and thought it was very good. She thought the book was interesting, so she also thought listening to her speak would be interesting as well.
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I spoke with Monika and her daughter Maria a few minutes later. They were also both guests at the church. Monika saw an ad in the paper and asked her daughter if she would like to come along.

I asked them what they think of the city. If they were asked to describe it to other people, what would they say? Maria said the city is a nice place with a lot of water surrounding it. She likes the proximity to bigger cities like Gothenburg and Stockholm. Monika said the nature and nearby woods are her favorite part of living there.

I asked them what they knew prior to today and Monika explained that she has read Jenny's book, which was given to her by her son. She was fascinated by the book, so she thought going to the event was a good idea. She didn't know anything about Jenny prior to reading the book. Maria hasn't read the book but she knew Jenny was in Ace of Base. That is all she knew prior to the presentation. Maria thought it would be interesting to hear, so she decided to take her Mom up on the invitation.
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I met four ladies by the names of Hannah, Lisa, Marie, and Lisa. They were sitting in a corner table by the window. I sat down and asked them a little bit about the city and the church.

The ladies are not official members of the church but they attend services there. Lisa described the church as a good blend of ages. She has been going for about a year and said it's an easy-going place. She thought it was easy to get to know others in the congregation.

The group came to a consensus about the town of Jönköping. They said it was a very nice city with a lot of cafes and churches. It's a student city and also a very international city with people from all over the world living there.

Hannah said she had heard about the morning's even through earlier Sunday services and through the congregation newsletter.

All four also knew Jenny was a part of Ace of Base and had heard she has a strong faith.

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Reactions:

I thought the discussions after the lecture were so interesting, I decided not to edit them down into summary paragraphs. Instead, I've translated and transcribed them so you can "listen in" on the conversations:

Annete, Lisa and Mikael were sitting beside us during the presentation. Just after the speech was over, I turned to them and asked what they thought.

It was a strong presentation. She's been through a lot, yet she still has both feet on the ground.

It's a life story that doesn't directly correlate to your own, so it's interesting to hear how things were from the inside.

When you think about how well-known she is in the world, and to see how she's just standing here in our little church, and how she has a message that is completely different than this luxurious lifestyle. She is so normal, seems so simple. The presentation was simple, strong and real.

It's interesting to hear her reflect on her own life within the situations she has found herself in. That she's noticed a change in herself, that she did things in a different way, like how she acted with her friends after she came back from a trip and things like that. It was quite interesting. You can connect those things back to your own life, I think.

The grass isn't always greener on your neighbor's lawn. You should try to take care of the grass you have at home.

Also, how we can take care of things in our own lives? We can reflect over our own lives.

It's surely not an easy thing to do when you're living in different places and taking a tour on the red carpet. There are other things that grab your attention.

It's good not to forget what you have.

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Madeline, Gun-Marie, Gunilla, and Ingared were sitting at a back table together and seemed to be in a deep conversation already before I joined them. They happily answered my questions and below is the result of their discussion:

I knew she is very well-known and I thought the presentation sounded like an interesting thing. There was a note about the breakfast in the monthly letter at the church, that she was going to talk a little bit about her life. And the presentation was totally fantastic.

It was very good.

There were so many strong stories she told. The whole thing was memorable. Her simplicity was memorable. She's so well-known, yet she still has this simplicity about her. This little person trusts and focuses on God through everything she's been a part of and that's completely wonderful. The whole time she has trusted God even though the ground was giving way around her.

I think the whole presentation was good. When she was a kid, how she searched for God, and during the confirmation camp and the church's youth program - how that peace is so strong. She found the direction even though it was chaotic and she decided she would stay on that path. She found a bit of peace in this chaotic life.

And how she has trusted God the entire time, even though things were teetering on the edge for her. She's been through very difficult things while she experienced all this glamor and fame. You don't see a backside when you see a well-known artist or celebrity. It doesn't look like there's a backside or you can't think there is one, but there are backsides.

You don't think about the backside of fame when you sit there and watch something on TV or a concert. You don't think about the background.

Te entire presentation was good. She talked about being part of two worlds - in the church and the everyday life. I think it's important to have that, to have both. To know that you can give the message in both places. That you can live in both worlds. I think that's very important.

Yes, I agree with that because I am like that. I can go out to a concert or, for example, I was with friends having a dinner and drinks yesterday and today I can be in the church. You don't have to direct your life towards just one thing. That's not what it's about, but it's about what's on the inside. And she talked about this green grass, about being happy for what you have. I think that's important. There are many people today who look at the other side of the fence. It's not greener, I think. It's not really more green. And maybe it takes a little time to realize that. And she has realized that since she's been on the red carpet and it's not better. But you may not realize that during the first few years.

Also how she's held fast to her faith the entire time. It could happen that with all this fame, you lose your faith or your ground that you've had from the start. But she hasn't lost it and it's great. She's had such a trust in God, a need for God. She has felt that she can't manage without God. She has made it through and even though it seems she could have everything in the world, that need is still there.

There's also the story of this little cross, this gold cross. It was unusual.

Yes, it was.

Yes, that she went through with it. That she took off the cross and gave it to the man. I don't think I could have done it.

Me neither. (Laughter all around)

That she listened and was so convinced about it. There are so many situations she talked about where she was so convinced that it was God's hand.

Her mom, she survived, right? She said four percent survive. Is she still alive?

(Yes)

Fantastic!

Yes, that's great.

I was sitting there wondering when she was going to talk about when her Mom died, then later on it was a wonderful surprise to find out she's still alive.

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Birgit, Gerd, Yvonne, and Gunvar were the last people I spoke with. As I approached, they cleared a place for me at the table and motioned to me to take a seat as if I were an old friend, even though they had never seen me until that moment.

I thought it was an interesting story to hear. And to get the story of her entire life told in under an hour is incredible.

It's a very gripping story. You could really feel what she's been through. She's such an excellent speaker. There aren't many people who can speak in such a riveting way.

(At this point, a gentleman helping to clear the tables overheard the conversation and chimed in. He agreed with the analysis and said the speech was moving.)

Is she still a part of the group? She didn't really mention whether she was in the group or not.

(I explained the current situation and we continued our conversation.)

There's so much you remember from what she said.

Yes. A lot.

But the most memorable story was about the cross.

Yes, exactly.

Gripping in a way. It followed her and the circle came back around to its close when she got the cross back. I thought that was fantastic.

Exactly. I also thought to myself, what could I give up that meant a lot to me? Would I be able to give it to someone else?

She was willing to obey.

She did run another lap, of course. (Everyone around the table breaks into laughter)

She certainly hoped he wasn't still sitting there when she returned. But she decided she would leave it with him if he was still sitting there when she got back.

It's also a tough world she experienced with Ace of Base. I can imagine there are a lot of drugs and alcohol and everything possible, so to be in that and think in a different way, take a different track is fantastic.

That she still held onto her faith.

Yes, that she held onto it. It's surely always been there, but she can also be a part of these two worlds. It's good.

She said that the pillars in our lives are our parents and I thought it rings so true with those of us who have lost people who are near and dear to us. It's exactly how she describes it. The rug is pulled out from under you in some way. You become half of what you were, without legs for awhile.

I agree with that. And how she could find this joy even when she wasn't sure her Mom would survive. To find that joy in the midst of tragedy. I thought it was incredible. And the song she sang, where she said "listen to the words" - she was forced to say that because she's such an incredible singer that you would otherwise focus on how well she sings instead of focusing on the words. And to hear how this was a fantastic comfort she found in these words and how the words brought joy into tragedy. It was fascinating to hear.

I liked the part where she talked about the grass not being greener on the other side. Instead live where you are now and be thankful for everything around you and your meetings with people.

It's not better on the other side.

The last part she said, that it is a little greener on the other side but watch out that the grass you're standing on doesn't fade. I am a person who is never happy with things. I always want a little more, but she made me think about not neglecting where I am so it doesn't turn into just weeds or destroy the things you have. You can focus on both at the same time a little bit but not so much. I also thought that was something to think about.

Working, working

I'm currently working on the audience reaction post from Allianskyrkan. It's nearly finished. It just needs a little polishing before it's posted. I'll be putting it up after work today, which means early tomorrow morning for most of you. Keep checking back.

Welcome to Allianskyrkan!

We set out before the morning sun on October 16 to get to Jönköping. I stayed up all night thinking I could avoid sleep until I got back to the States, so I didn't go to bed. I just packed my bags and jumped in the shower.

I joined Jessi and Anja on the other side of the hostel around 6 AM and we set out for the church.

I thought I would stay awake for the whole ride but I ended up falling asleep in the middle of the trip. I awoke and found ourselves in Jönköping. That was easy!

Anja had the hard part of driving the whole way. She didn't get to sleep at all. And the roads were a little icy too. Anja is our hero of the trip!



We arrived and tried to see if the church was already open. It wasn't open yet, so we went back to the car. Jessi braved the cold and bought a parking ticket for the car. You can see there was frost on the parked cars outside of the church. Brrrrr!


The church bulletin board.


The outside announcement of the morning breakfast.


The entrance to the church.

About twenty minutes later, we noticed people going inside, so we joined them. We walked into the entryway and hung up our coats on the coat racks you find in various buildings all over Sweden.


The entryway of the church.


The information desk and coffee machine.

Breakfast was already set up and ready to go. There was a man taking payment at the door and people were already going in to eat, so we went in too.


The two sides of the breakfast table. MMM! Let's eat!


Apple pastries.. yummy!


Don't forget your drink!

Lovely decorations in the church...


Apples in the entryway.


Flowers on the meeting room tables.


Candelabra and centerpiece on the breakfast table.


A quiet meeting room before the breakfast and lecture began.


Everyone getting their food at the breakfast table (with Anja to the left wondering what exactly I'm taking a picture of).

We had a nice little breakfast and set up all the camera equipment afterwards. Once everything was set up, I grabbed my trusty handheld recorder and began to chat with people in the meeting room. As usual, I asked them about the breakfast, the church, a little bit about the city, and their expectations for the morning.

I finished interviewing and somewhere around this point, Jessi caught a glimpse of Jenny as she was walking into the church. Jenny spent a few minutes setting up a table with books and CDs in the entryway, then she stopped by the table to say hello to us.

We chatted a little bit about the early morning, the drive up from Gothenburg, and the lake in Jönköping. After our little hello, she left to finish the set-up for the lecture.


A packed house. Notice that empty chair? That ONE empty chair? Hands off! It's mine!


The view of the outside from my seat.


The stage setup.


This woman was the host for the introduction and the final closing of the lecture. She works in the church and has done events like this before. That camera in the picture frame belongs to Jessi.

The lecture began about five minutes after nine and lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Screenshots from the lecture:







The lecture, like previous days, was based upon the book. Jenny hit several of the main points from previous lectures, yet added a little spin onto each of the stories. Jessi once said that no two lectures are alike and there are always new bits and pieces in each one. This speech proves that point. The stories were familiar, yet the way they were told was engaging.

This crowd was one of the most engaged of all the audiences during the two weeks. They were made up of people from the church and many people from outside of the church. A great majority had never been there or had been there only a few times.

During the lecture, the audience paid rapt attention. They sat forward, listened intently, and were always focused. Every time Jenny created a dramatic pause, the only sound was of air moving around the room. It was that quiet. There were also many "ah-ha" and "mmhm" moments on people's faces during the speech itself. You could almost hear people thinking through and processing the things they were hearing.

A longer, more thorough report about the content of the speech will appear on jennyberggren.net in the near future for those interested in the finer points of the lecture.

After the speech was over, Jenny went back out to the entryway to meet people and sign her book and CD.


The crowd waiting to meet Jenny after the speech.

Like previous lectures and concerts, I interviewed people in the crowd after everything was over.

The people I met were thoughtful and full of insight. I asked them what they thought of the lecture and they mentioned several things without any prompting. All my interviewees kept coming up with different points to talk about, so it was an easy interview for me. I just sat back and listened. One person would mention a certain aspect of the speech, then a second person would chime in and elaborate on another point. After that, a third person would bring another insight to the discussion. It became a round table discussion that would twist and turn into various topics.

(I'll chronicle their reactions in the next post!)

I spent a pretty good deal of time interviewing and once it was over, I saw that Jenny was still outside talking to people and signing autographs. Everyone had cleared out of the meeting room at that point, with the exception of the people cleaning up after the breakfast. I grabbed my gear and headed out to the entryway.


Oh, did you want some more food? All gone!

Jessi and Anja were outside waiting for the crowd to thin out. Once the crowd thinned, they pulled out their 25 copies of "My Story" that Simon brought to them the night before. All of the CDs had to be opened and the booklets had to be removed so Jenny could sign everything. Thankfully, Jessi had a silver pen for the autographs so they would show up on the cover. A normal pen would have been difficult to read, but this silver marker was just the right type of pen to autograph the album.


Jenny and Jessi working down the list of names of people who wanted a signed copy of "My Story".


Signing the CD booklets for fans. Booklets everywhere!


A very cool book Jessi and Anja created from the photos they took during the January concerts.

We gave Jenny a few small tokens of appreciation after the signing and we also gave her a thank you card that explained our idea of collecting donations for the VOI-Project from the fanbase as a way to thank her for her music and her work over the years. If you haven't been able to donate and would like to do so, click here!

After everything was signed, the four of us moved to a table in the breakfast room and sat down for a few minutes. We also chatted with the woman who was the host for the lecture.

Not long after we sat down, Jessi pulled out her computer so Jenny could listen to the "Gotta Go" fan remixes. There was a contest on The Jenny Source website for remixes and cover versions and it was time for Jenny to decide the winners.


Anja laughing about something as we were listening to the "Gotta Go" fan remixes.

We spent some time sitting and listening. Jenny had to decide one winner for each category, so she whittled down the choices and took another listen to her favorites one last time using a pair of headphones before deciding who would take the top prizes.

Once the remix and cover version winners were decided, Jessi asked about an interview and Jenny obliged, even though it meant she would miss out on a luncheon she had planned to attend. We found a well-lit area in the entryway and sat down on a few benches.


Jenny being interviewed as she answered questions from a thread at the AceBoards.

Once the interview was over, we said our last goodbyes of the trip. We thanked her for the past two weeks and wished each other well.


With the lecture over, we settled back into the car and enjoyed another gorgeous day in Sweden on the drive back to Gothenburg.