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Blog by Hilde Talstra & Ruben Heijloo
In the autumn of 2011 Hilde Talstra and Ruben Heijloo moved from Amsterdam to the small village of Revsund, Jämtland. Hilde runs a bed & breakfast – Revsunds Prästgård – while Ruben has started a company in internet and social media strategies: Nyckelpiga Media. They are also authors for Mooie Dingen uit het Noorden , a Dutch weblog about design, literature, music, film and fashion from the Nordic countries. For Midscand they write about their everyday life in Jämtland: the problems they face, the nice things they discover and how they experience the immigration process.
2013-06-03Swedish hospitalityAt the moment I’m walking St. Olavsleden – an ancient pilgrim’s way that runs from Sundsvall in Sweden to Trondheim in Norway. All in all it’s about a 580-kilometre hike. Through forests, along lakes, over mountains, tracing the footsteps of the Viking Olav Haraldsson (995-1030). And I must say: it’s the best way to really get to know my new home country. [... read more]
2013-05-08funny noisesThere are many funny noises in Sweden. Especially when the Swedes open their mouths to speak. Or speak, even with their mouths closed. Now, after living here for a while, I think I can differentiate some of the noises and try interpreting them. [... read more]
2013-04-15The seventh commandmentThe situation is as follows: Agnes is married to Olle. Together they are raising three children. Before Olle, Agnes was married to Nils, the carpenter, with whom she has one son. But this son is younger than the three kids she has with Olle. How is that possible? [... read more]
2013-03-19FinallyOf course, I’ve heard stories. And I’ve seen pictures and videos on the internet – who hasn’t, on occasion? But yesterday I could experience it firsthand. Finally. And it was as good as I had hoped. I want to stress that word, ‘finally’, because I have always felt a little bit silly being a northern lights-virgin. [... read more]
2013-03-04Shopping listThe shopping list for today: - Potato salad: great with knäckebröd. Although I have eaten a little bit too much of it lately. - Knäckebörd: great to combine with potato salad. Stays fresh for weeks! That explains the name of the bread, I guess. - Cereals: so much to chose from! More than in Holland, anyway. I especially like the cornflakes with dried red berries. [... read more]
2013-02-04hug & kissExactly at the time that I found the strength in Holland to say ‘no’ to kissing as a means of greeting someone, I moved to Sweden, where people don’t kiss, but hug. And so I could start all over again with my crusade against intimate greetings. [... read more]
2012-13-16Flipping the birdI’ve moved from the big city to rural Sweden, and I love it here. But I’m afraid that some of my bad city habits will never die. You’re allowed to drive 100 kilometres per hour on the road from Gällö to Bräcke. So why am I stuck behind a car that’s doing 80 for over 15 minutes now? [... read more]
2012-12-29Dairy experimentsIt’s called långfil. On the packaging it says that it’s a typical northern Swedish dairy product. I can’t wait to taste it. But when I pour the långfil into a bowl, I know I’m screwed. This isn’t milk or yogurt; this is dairy glue – thick, sticky stuff with a weird, lumpy texture and a strong, sour smell. I take one mouthful – just one – and leave it at that. [... read more]
2012-11-19Fashion victimTwo weeks, one day and three hours. That’s how long I’ve been wearing these jeans. They have mud and paint stains on them and they smell kind of funky, but I’m not even considering taking them off. It’s because they feel so fine. And nobody cares here anyway. [... read more]
2012-10-22My first timeFrom the air, Holland looks like a sort of patchwork quilt. The precious land is neatly divided in little pieces. No square centimetre is left unused. The straight lines being interrupted from time to time by meandering rivers, which refuse to be captured by the Dutch urge to dominate nature. [... read more]
2012-10-05Living the dreamIf a year ago you had told me that one day I would have my own chickens, I would have probably laughed you in the face. Chickens, yeah right. But here we are, one year since I moved from Amsterdam to the Swedish countryside, and I’ve got chickens. And a boat. And a cool tractor-lawnmower thingy. And a big, (almost) new Saab. And a bed & breakfast full of guests. [... read more]
2012-09-17A berry fairytaleI never really understood the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood (‘Rödluvan’ in Swedish). If she hadn’t gone off the road in the first place, she wouldn’t have met the wolf, which would have prevented her – and her grandmother! – from being eaten by the damn animal. I mean, to get lost in the forest just because of a couple of flowers, that’s so silly. [... read more]
2012-08-20The art of networkingSwedes love networking. They’ve got networks for women, for people in the creative sector, for higher educated people, for the tourism industry and many more. They’ve got lunch networks, they’ve got casual meetings after work, they’ve got fika networks, they’ve even got pre-breakfast meetings (very, very early in the morning). [... read more]
2012-08-01Happy HuntingIt’s a funny word to say and it’s one of Sweden’s favourite pastimes: loppis. If you drive through Sweden – especially during summer – and you see a loppis sign next to the road, do yourself a favour and stop to take a look! Loppis is a kind of flea market, a place where you can buy second hand stuff. You’ve got big loppis shops, private loppises in sheds, garden loppises and even loppises in car trunks. [... read more]
2012-07-13It’s not as far away as you think!Einstein was right when he argued that time was relative. Sure, travelling for one day is a lot longer than travelling for one hour, but it’s all about perception. Let me give you an example: a couple of weeks ago my girlfriend had to go to Holland for urgent family matters. So there was no time for a lot of planning beforehand. We had to decide fast and book quickly. [... read more]
2012-06-18Thumb in the middle of your hand‘Ha tummen mitt i handen’ – having your thumb in the middle of your hand – means that you’re no good at doing odd jobs, renovating and handling tools. It’s the same as the Dutch expression ‘having two left hands’. And it’s a really fitting description for yours truly. I know what a hammer is, I know what a nail is, but I haven’t got a clue what to do when you put the two together. [... read more]
2012-06-04Swedish word of the day: projekt = projectAlthough Jämtland had the coldest start of June in fifty years, I feel that summer is coming. Two weeks ago we had a taste of summer when it was over 20 degrees Celsius for days. Life was good: grilling, gardening and even swimming in ‘our’ lake. But there was one thing missing: a boat. The lake was irresistible, being all blue and glittering. We had to get out there to see what’s happening in tiny bays and behind the horizon! [... read more]
2012-05-21There is no such thing as bad weatherThe Swedes claim it’s a typical Swedish expression. The Norwegians say it’s from Norway. And in Iceland you can hear it too: ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, there is just bad clothing.’ Let’s just say it’s a very typical Scandinavian expression. And it’s very true. [... read more]
2012-05-09Home made presentsIt’s the morning after the open house in our bed and breakfast. I’m having coffee with left over kanelbullar and am looking at: - one home made sausage - one self-caught fish ... ... [... read more]
2012-04-23The SFI bubble‘The SFI-bubble’, our teacher called it. By that she meant the safe, relatively comfortable microcosmos that constitute our Swedish language lessons. The school in Bräcke where we go two days per week to study Swedish is actually one of my favourite places here in Sweden – I would never have expected that when I moved here. [... read more]
2012-04-09Conversing in SwedishAs a writer I’m used to choosing my words carefully. Even when I speak, I like to use words that really fit the situation. Can you imagine how frustrating it can be to only be able to speak broken Swedish? [... read more]
2012-03-21Cultural differences or just bad luckThree times I've called Ms E. to make an appointment. She said she would call me back. She didn’t. I sent her two emails after that, which she ignored. Ms A.: the same story. Mr P. hasn’t returned my phone calls. It seemed to go better with Mr M, but after he cancelled our meeting (‘I’m sick.’), I never heard from him again. [... read more]
2012-03-12One week before our B&B opens and I have a feverIt’s one week before Revsunds Prästgård, our bed and breakfast, opens. I have a sore throat, fever, and lots to do. Yes, I have heard the stories about people emigrating, being way to ambitious about a renovation, and getting into stressful situations. [... read more]
2012-02-24“I am living in Sweden now. Sweden!”The setting: a small cottage on the edge of a lake in the middle of Jämtland. Outside it’s dark, but the snow and ice glisten in the moonshine. In the townhouse of Revund a small group of people is listening to singer Dag Westling. Heads bobbing, feet tapping to the rhythm of his melancholic Irish songs. It is this moment, far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, that I feel the emotional impact of our immigration for the first time. [... read more]
2013-05-08funny noisesThere are many funny noises in Sweden. Especially when the Swedes open their mouths to speak. Or speak, even with their mouths closed. Now, after living here for a while, I think I can differentiate some of the noises and try interpreting them. [... read more]
2013-04-15The seventh commandmentThe situation is as follows: Agnes is married to Olle. Together they are raising three children. Before Olle, Agnes was married to Nils, the carpenter, with whom she has one son. But this son is younger than the three kids she has with Olle. How is that possible? [... read more]
2013-03-19FinallyOf course, I’ve heard stories. And I’ve seen pictures and videos on the internet – who hasn’t, on occasion? But yesterday I could experience it firsthand. Finally. And it was as good as I had hoped. I want to stress that word, ‘finally’, because I have always felt a little bit silly being a northern lights-virgin. [... read more]
2013-03-04Shopping listThe shopping list for today: - Potato salad: great with knäckebröd. Although I have eaten a little bit too much of it lately. - Knäckebörd: great to combine with potato salad. Stays fresh for weeks! That explains the name of the bread, I guess. - Cereals: so much to chose from! More than in Holland, anyway. I especially like the cornflakes with dried red berries. [... read more]
2013-02-04hug & kissExactly at the time that I found the strength in Holland to say ‘no’ to kissing as a means of greeting someone, I moved to Sweden, where people don’t kiss, but hug. And so I could start all over again with my crusade against intimate greetings. [... read more]
2012-13-16Flipping the birdI’ve moved from the big city to rural Sweden, and I love it here. But I’m afraid that some of my bad city habits will never die. You’re allowed to drive 100 kilometres per hour on the road from Gällö to Bräcke. So why am I stuck behind a car that’s doing 80 for over 15 minutes now? [... read more]
2012-12-29Dairy experimentsIt’s called långfil. On the packaging it says that it’s a typical northern Swedish dairy product. I can’t wait to taste it. But when I pour the långfil into a bowl, I know I’m screwed. This isn’t milk or yogurt; this is dairy glue – thick, sticky stuff with a weird, lumpy texture and a strong, sour smell. I take one mouthful – just one – and leave it at that. [... read more]
2012-11-19Fashion victimTwo weeks, one day and three hours. That’s how long I’ve been wearing these jeans. They have mud and paint stains on them and they smell kind of funky, but I’m not even considering taking them off. It’s because they feel so fine. And nobody cares here anyway. [... read more]
2012-10-22My first timeFrom the air, Holland looks like a sort of patchwork quilt. The precious land is neatly divided in little pieces. No square centimetre is left unused. The straight lines being interrupted from time to time by meandering rivers, which refuse to be captured by the Dutch urge to dominate nature. [... read more]
2012-10-05Living the dreamIf a year ago you had told me that one day I would have my own chickens, I would have probably laughed you in the face. Chickens, yeah right. But here we are, one year since I moved from Amsterdam to the Swedish countryside, and I’ve got chickens. And a boat. And a cool tractor-lawnmower thingy. And a big, (almost) new Saab. And a bed & breakfast full of guests. [... read more]
2012-09-17A berry fairytaleI never really understood the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood (‘Rödluvan’ in Swedish). If she hadn’t gone off the road in the first place, she wouldn’t have met the wolf, which would have prevented her – and her grandmother! – from being eaten by the damn animal. I mean, to get lost in the forest just because of a couple of flowers, that’s so silly. [... read more]
2012-08-20The art of networkingSwedes love networking. They’ve got networks for women, for people in the creative sector, for higher educated people, for the tourism industry and many more. They’ve got lunch networks, they’ve got casual meetings after work, they’ve got fika networks, they’ve even got pre-breakfast meetings (very, very early in the morning). [... read more]
2012-08-01Happy HuntingIt’s a funny word to say and it’s one of Sweden’s favourite pastimes: loppis. If you drive through Sweden – especially during summer – and you see a loppis sign next to the road, do yourself a favour and stop to take a look! Loppis is a kind of flea market, a place where you can buy second hand stuff. You’ve got big loppis shops, private loppises in sheds, garden loppises and even loppises in car trunks. [... read more]
2012-07-13It’s not as far away as you think!Einstein was right when he argued that time was relative. Sure, travelling for one day is a lot longer than travelling for one hour, but it’s all about perception. Let me give you an example: a couple of weeks ago my girlfriend had to go to Holland for urgent family matters. So there was no time for a lot of planning beforehand. We had to decide fast and book quickly. [... read more]
2012-06-18Thumb in the middle of your hand‘Ha tummen mitt i handen’ – having your thumb in the middle of your hand – means that you’re no good at doing odd jobs, renovating and handling tools. It’s the same as the Dutch expression ‘having two left hands’. And it’s a really fitting description for yours truly. I know what a hammer is, I know what a nail is, but I haven’t got a clue what to do when you put the two together. [... read more]
2012-06-04Swedish word of the day: projekt = projectAlthough Jämtland had the coldest start of June in fifty years, I feel that summer is coming. Two weeks ago we had a taste of summer when it was over 20 degrees Celsius for days. Life was good: grilling, gardening and even swimming in ‘our’ lake. But there was one thing missing: a boat. The lake was irresistible, being all blue and glittering. We had to get out there to see what’s happening in tiny bays and behind the horizon! [... read more]
2012-05-21There is no such thing as bad weatherThe Swedes claim it’s a typical Swedish expression. The Norwegians say it’s from Norway. And in Iceland you can hear it too: ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, there is just bad clothing.’ Let’s just say it’s a very typical Scandinavian expression. And it’s very true. [... read more]
2012-05-09Home made presentsIt’s the morning after the open house in our bed and breakfast. I’m having coffee with left over kanelbullar and am looking at: - one home made sausage - one self-caught fish ... ... [... read more]
2012-04-23The SFI bubble‘The SFI-bubble’, our teacher called it. By that she meant the safe, relatively comfortable microcosmos that constitute our Swedish language lessons. The school in Bräcke where we go two days per week to study Swedish is actually one of my favourite places here in Sweden – I would never have expected that when I moved here. [... read more]
2012-04-09Conversing in SwedishAs a writer I’m used to choosing my words carefully. Even when I speak, I like to use words that really fit the situation. Can you imagine how frustrating it can be to only be able to speak broken Swedish? [... read more]
2012-03-21Cultural differences or just bad luckThree times I've called Ms E. to make an appointment. She said she would call me back. She didn’t. I sent her two emails after that, which she ignored. Ms A.: the same story. Mr P. hasn’t returned my phone calls. It seemed to go better with Mr M, but after he cancelled our meeting (‘I’m sick.’), I never heard from him again. [... read more]
2012-03-12One week before our B&B opens and I have a feverIt’s one week before Revsunds Prästgård, our bed and breakfast, opens. I have a sore throat, fever, and lots to do. Yes, I have heard the stories about people emigrating, being way to ambitious about a renovation, and getting into stressful situations. [... read more]
2012-02-24“I am living in Sweden now. Sweden!”The setting: a small cottage on the edge of a lake in the middle of Jämtland. Outside it’s dark, but the snow and ice glisten in the moonshine. In the townhouse of Revund a small group of people is listening to singer Dag Westling. Heads bobbing, feet tapping to the rhythm of his melancholic Irish songs. It is this moment, far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, that I feel the emotional impact of our immigration for the first time. [... read more]
June 2012Rönnegårdens Posten May 2012 [... read more]
May 2012Rönnegårdens Posten May 2012 [... read more]
April 2012Rönnegårdens Posten April 2012 [... read more]
May 2012Rönnegårdens Posten May 2012 [... read more]
April 2012Rönnegårdens Posten April 2012 [... read more]
Previous Midscand blog by Chris van der Hoek (2011)
In February 2011, the van der Hoek family from the Netherlands moved to Hede, in the municipality of Härjedalen. Chris van der Hoek started to work for Sykes, and his wife, Marga, started her own hair-stylist company. Their two children go to the primary school in Hede. In this blog you can follow their everyday life in Jamtland.-
2012-02-08Everyday life in Sweden [... read more]
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2012-01-16New job in Hede [... read more]
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2012-01-02A happy Christmas and a sad New Years [... read more]
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2011-12-23Preparations for a Swedish Christmas [... read more]
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2011-12-14A weather report from Härjedalen [... read more]