There was a bit of hesitation when I was about to write this blog. In the process of choosing a preferred title, I was about to point out a dozen of interesting things but in the end, I only got 11.
Then, I realized that I’m coming up with my eleventh blog which is a round write-up of the second month of stay here in Sweden. Sound like a good coincidence with this 11 interesting things featured in my 11th blog.
Cruise Ship to Finland
For typical Swedish families and individuals, riding on a cruise is somewhat a way to unwind and literally, getaway from the professional matters. While staying in Stockholm, experiencing the quite luxurious treat of riding a cruise ship to Finland was something new to me. It was actually my first time.
Going on a cruise can be associated to how Swedes are trained to be more focused even at a young age. So, it is normal that when they grow up, they do not mix up things. Work is work and fun is fun.
With mostly adult Swedes on the ship heading to Mariehamn in Finland, I was an eye witness to how they get away with their busy life.
Food was overwhelming. There were different kinds of dishes and fun would mean watching shows, drinking, dancing, singing in a karaoke and buying tax free products.
Castle Visits
Growing up, I was made to watch several movies of monarchs, royal families, about legends, battles and of course, castles. Seeing one which looks like the castle shown in most movies brought out the kid in me.
As I gazed upon the towers of Gripsholm in Mariefred, I wandered far from the real world. Entering its wooden bridge with the defense gate, gave me some historical feel of how it was in the olden times in Europe. Most castles are built around bodies of water and that was for defense purposes.
Mariefred was a small city yet, it provided a display of how the old Swedish city looked like. Its panoramic view of the lake paired with the castle gave me lasting impressions that small cities are beautiful and cozy.
Aside from the Royal Palace near the Stor Kyrka (Big Church) in Stockholm City, my first foster family also brought me to Drottningholm, the Royal Residence, the majestic edifice with a huge garden and the scenic view of the lake and the surrounding landscape.
Solo Concert
“Songs of Faith Amidst Struggles” was the title of my short concert focused on the unwavering faith of the Filipinos to the Almighty. It was a celebration of the revolutionary heritage of my church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente through the nationalistic songs and it also featured some of Filipino liturgical composers’ work expressing the faith of my country’s people.
Given the privilege to sing in a solo concert was rather monumental for me because back home, I normally perform during church services. All the more, I felt blessed seeing the people cry to tears during my finale song matched with the pictures from the recent earthquakes and typhoons.
Easter Play, Easter Celebration and the Symbols
Played the role of a Roman soldier with no speaking parts on the first day, gave goodies for the kids on the second day and became an alternate musician for the third day. These were the roles I played during the Easter play in my first congregation.
Characters like the upper room host at the Last Supper, Judas the traitor, Peter who denied Jesus three times, Mary Magdalene and the Angel inside the empty tomb were portrayed by two priests and church workers. I really admire the church workers who themselves became theater actors and singers within the three days.
Retelling the Easter story was an indirect way of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the kids who are living in a highly-secularized society and they are compelled by the system that prayer of any kind is not allowed in school. It was an accomplishment to expose the real meaning of Easter – Christ’s resurrection which goes beyond what they have known through symbols as Easter eggs, bunnies and feathers.
But one unforgettable thing about Easter celebrations here was when I received Easter gifts from my foster mother’s daughter. At least I’ve experienced how nice it is to be a kid in this part of the world for it’s not only in Christmas that you get to have presents.
Cherry Blossoms and the Different Colors of Spring
It was the second day of spring when I set foot in this land of the Vikings and each passing day would mean, new colors have been added to the surround. Spring brings new life to every creature in this land especially the plants and the trees. Wild flowers of all sorts come sprouting everywhere, Easter lilies bloom in time for the celebration and tulips of different kinds grow in the home gardens and parks.
Trees also grow their leaves and flowers from the long winter cold and one of the most beautiful trees I saw were the cherry blossoms in Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden) Park in Stockholm City.
Middle Gathering’s Food Festival
Aside from the sharing of learning experiences from the first congregation, it was an awesome experience dining with my fellow participants with dishes from the participating countries.
The food Festival was a convergence of food traditions in one’s plate and of course, it was a pride for the Filipino group to feature “Sinigang” (Tamarind Soup) using salmon.
Västervik, A Walk through Sweden’s History
My new journey began in the 28th of April in Västervik. Transferring to a new congregation brings new challenges, adjustments and new experiences but the feel of being in a small city, made me appreciate more of its ambiance. Cozy and beautiful, that’s how I described the city which could be a perfect hub for a writer scribbling his thoughts every now and then.
The place also serves as a window to the history of Sweden. In Sta. Gertrude Church alone, one can find stories about the culture, traditions, church life and way of living centuries back. As I see it, even the chairs inside the church have their stories to tell, the chandeliers, the altar and the church organ, one of Sweden’s oldest and finest.
As I recalled, the group of exchange program participants was brought to Skansen’s open air museum. The experience has given me an idea of what the city looked like centuries back and in this second congregation, it’s as if I’m walking through Swedish history everyday as I drove the bike around the town.
Swedish Holidays and Traditions
Traditions come from history.
On the 30th of April, I witnessed how people value the spring and their celebration of the eve before St. Valborg’s Day meant lighting a big bonfire and singing of spring secular tunes. Despite the cold and rainy weather that time, there were several people of all ages who attended the event which was graced by a male choir singing songs of admiration for the spring.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden turned 68 on that same day and to show their respect to the monarch, Swedish flags were unfurled around the public places.
Labor Day came next day and May 1 was filled with demonstrations. There were at least two groups who held their rally at the City Park. People came to witness and take part in the demonstrations as well.
Meeting Last Year’s Swedish Exchange Program Participants to the Philippines
Last year, there were four exchange program participants sent to the Philippines but I never met them because they were assigned mostly in the areas of Luzon. But I was glad to finally meet three of them here in Sweden.
Lilly (Linkoping Diocese), Agneta (Stockholm Diocese) and Bella (Västervik, my second host congregation) shared their own experiences from my home country and most of them conveyed that they loved the country especially its people. It was the family spirit of the Filipinos that they get to love and miss about their short stay and I get to tease them about my fondness of the “balut” (developing duck embryo).
Bikes and Kites
With this second congregation, I was rekindling my childhood years through bikes and kites. Though the words may rhyme but I’m not doing a poem either. These are the two things I used to do almost everyday in the yesteryears.
Riding a bike around Västervik is the easiest way of transportation from one point to the other. Added joys to biking around town would be panoramic view of the sea, colorful trees and plants scattered in its vicinity and the cozy feel that the place wishes to offer.
It has reminded me so much of my childhood and the funny way on how I learned biking when I was in the fourth grade. Because I did not know how to bike and I envied on my classmates enjoying the ride, I was a bit pressured to learn it on my own by stealing the bike owned by one of our bakers (we used to have bakeshop).
So later in the day, I learned a little of biking but I came home with wounded knees and feet. And I got reprimanded but at the back of my mind, I was happy because I learned to ride the bike.
Also, I felt nostalgic while flying a kite on my own during my first days in Västervik. Years ago, it was my father who taught me to fly kites and all these years, I have not done it on my own. But I was glad that once in a mature man’s life; I flew a kite on my own.
Faith Renewing Experience in Vadstena
My day started in a seemingly stressful way because I had to wake up at five in the morning to ride the bus to Linkoping. Days before the trip and when I arrived in Linkoping Diocesan Center, I had a heavy heart with me.
But when I was in Vadstena and while coming inside the Abbey Church where St. Bridget of Sweden’s remains is laid, I felt calm and had goose bumps. The burdened heart of mine felt an ease while inside the church and the song a women’s choir sing chants before the noon prayer added to the mystic and reflective ambiance of the place.
Peace and calm was all over me and I started to pray and light candles for the intentions of my family, relatives, friends, workmates and fellow members of my church.
Two months passed quickly and home is a month away from now. But what I do now is cherish every single experience here in Sweden.
It’s been fun scribbling thoughts all these weeks and I keep doing it because the experiences are motivating and the environment is very conducive for a working mind, a sensitive heart and a reflective soul.
//Klein F. Emperado is one of the exchange students in the exchange programme ”Young in the World Wide Chuch” 2014. During three months he will be spending time in Sweden, sharing life, faith and every day life. Klein is a Mass Communications graduate from Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines and also he works as Editorial Assistant for the said university. In the exchange he represents the Philippine Independent Church/Iglesia Filipina Independiente. His line of ministry is focused mainly on Liturgy and Music for the Diocese of Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
// Klein F. Emperado är en av deltagarna i utbytesprogrammet Ung i den världsvida kyrkan 2014. Under tre månader delar han vardag, tro och liv med människor här i Sverige. Under sin första månad spenderar han tid i St Mikaels församling i Stockholms stift. Klein har tagit examen i masskommunikation vid Silliman University, Dumaguete, Filippinerna och han jobbar idag som redaktörsassistent för nämnda universitet. I utbytesprogrammet representerar han den Filippinska oberoende kyrkan (Iglesia Filipina Independiente). Hans stora intresse och inriktning innom kyrkan är främst liturgi och musik för stiftet i Negros Oriental och Siquijor.
Lämna ett svar