Days 19 and 20 – Linblomanns Skola, Downtown Umeå, and the Elk Farm

Old Town Hall all lit up in lights!

Yesterday was another day at the Linblomanns skola where I continue to learn a lot about the Swedish school system. I had the opportunity of getting involved with the physical education class of the 5^th and 6^th graders and meeting the principal of the school. In gym class the students were learning how to play basketball. I did not know what Johan was instructing to the students in Swedish but luckily, I knew what was going on in the class. Since I learned how to play basketball in school, I could figure out what was being taught to the students by the hand motions of the teacher. I found physical education easier to understand than observing a Swedish class. During physical education I learned a new game that is played like the game board “Sorry.” I really liked the game that he was having the students play. Every time the students scored a basket, they got to move their game piece around the hula-hoop board.

The Heart of Umeå

During school I was told that gymnastics is not a sport. One of the students explained to Katarina (my cooperating teacher at Linblommans) that gymnastics is not a sport because you do not get paid professionally. I thought that was the cutest thing a student has said. The student felt that in order for it to be considered a sport you must get paid professionally and it must involve a ball. Katarina explained that she had to tell the student that gymnastics is a sport because you need to have the strength and ability. Some of the students are impressed that I did gymnastics especially since they did gymnastics last week in physical education class. 

I ate lunch with the students on Friday as teacher supervision. Plus the principal suggested that I eat with the students more often to try all the foods that the school provides since they are all Swedish foods. It another fabulous Swedish meal of Swedish meatloaf, potatoes, and a pasta salad. I loved the meal, expect that the meatloaf was a saltier than what I am used you! The sauce was a Swedish sauce topping that tasted so good I wish I knew what the recipe was!

One of the bridges lit up in lights

After school, the girls and I decided that we were going to go downtown Umeå for the evening. There was an event show is called Umeå Höstljus (Umeå Autumn Light). The event is the seventh light festival of Umeå Autumn lights that have various light installations in the centre of the city. The light installations are made up of 20 different public light installations throughout the city. We saw about eight of the light attracts and they were absolutely beautiful. It started with a festival opening ceremony, which was difficult to understand since everyone was talking in Swedish, but then we went exploring for the various light decorations around town. My favorite attraction was the circle of candle jars that had candles lit inside. The children from the schools in Umeå decorated jars with tissue paper and paint and they were placed in circle in the park. It was such a beautiful sight to see. There are about 4,000 candle jars and lanterns placed at Vänortsparken produced by the children each year! This is a gift to the city that is lit on the first night of the opening festivities. It was such a beautiful and touching sight; words cannot describe the beauty of the magical lights!

1000-tals lyktor och ljuskarusell - 1000
lanterns and candles carousel

On Saturday, Erika, Amanda, Kim, Sara, and I had the opportunity of going to the Elk farm in Bjurholm, just outside Umea. Our supervisor, Lennart and his friend Yvonne were kind enough to drive us to the Elk Farm. The drive through the country was so pretty! I wanted Yvonne to stop like every five minutes to take pictures, but I didn't have her do that because it would have taken longer to get there! Even when the sun was setting, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful but was another wonderful adventure to experience in Bjurholm, Sweden.

Proof I was eating the Elk!

Before I begin about the Elk farm, I will give you some background. The Swedish people call them Elk, but in North American we call them Moose. I am going to refer to the animals as Elk throughout my blog. I had seen Elk in Skansen but today was the second time I had seen the Elk. This time I got up close and personal with the animals. We arrived around 12:00 and lunch was served as we were arriving. For lunch we had salad with vegetables (corn and peas), Swedish bread and butter, peeled potatoes, and Elk stew. The elk stew had carrots, zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms, with a Swedish stew sauce. Yes, if you are all wondering, I ate ELK for the first time! Actually all five of us had Elk for the first time! I was so proud of myself for trying another Swedish dish. Yvonne explained that in the North you would experience many Swedish dishes when you visit places like the Elk farm. It was extremely delicious and it tasted just like a beef stew!

The Elk Stew Meal

After we lunch, we were led on a tour. First we watched an 18-minute video about the elk and their life throughout the year. I learned that the male elks only have their antlers during the summer and in the winter they lose their antlers. After the video, we were led through a small museum. This was in a small shed that had stuffed elk, antlers, pictures, and facts about the elk. The facts were difficult to read since they were in Swedish, but it was nice having the guided tour of the museum. I learned that an elk that the Swedish men were trying to keep alive was shot one year because it was considered a female during hunting season one year. They were trying to keep the male elk alive for as long as possible until it was mistaken. The reason it was mistaken was because it had lost it’s antlers earlier than it should have been so the hunters thought it was a female. Some of the largest populations of elk in the world are found in Sweden. Each year about 40% of the elk population is hunted during the hunting season to control the animals. When our tour guide was explaining the hunting season of elk, I thought about hunting season of deer.

The Elk eating their lunch. It just looked like
a rabbit pellet meal!

Finally after eating the elk and learning about the elk, we got to meet the elk. We met Charlie (an older elk) and two calves that are about six months old. Since it is the end of mating season for the elks, we could not pet the other elk in other pens, but we got up close to three of them. Charlie was very calm as the other two wanted to eat and play. Erika had the opportunity of feeding Charlie the elk a banana. The elk were loving and kind that they were giving out kisses to all of us and trying to get into our purses. It was fun and we were able to get some awesome pictures with the elk.

Since it was so cold outside, we only spent about an hour petting the elks. After we finished, we took the adventure back to Umeå. On the way back, we stopped on a bridge to view one of the rivers that flows in Sweden. It was a sight to see! The river was flowing and we were so high up on the bridge, I was scared that I was going to lose my phone when I was taking pictures! It was a test of my fears even though I knew I was safe on the bridge!

Once we arrived back in Umeå, Yvonne and Lennart dropped us off at the Åldheim Centrum right next to our dorm rooms. Yvonne was explaining how much fun she had with us today and we thanked her for driving us to the farm. She then told us that she would like to make us another Swedish meal of reindeer! So I wonder when we will be having reindeer in the next few weeks.

I am having a blast with the adventures I am encountering. I have experienced so much in the last few weeks that everytime we do something it is an adventure in itself. I don’t think that I would have ever expereicned what I am experience if it was not for this wonderful opportunity to study abroad. I start teaching lessons about U.S. geography on Monday and the students are excited to learn more. It will be better than them labeling a US map with the states and capitols! Well, it looks like I should start my lesson planning so that the students have something to learn about! I will update you on how that lesson goes on Monday.