2014 is my 4th challenge, and 3rd as co-host. In 2011 I didn't have a clue and didn't have a theme, but muddled through and had a great time.
2012 I decided on "Postcards from Sweden" where I shared a picture, taught a word of Swedish, and included a childhood story that went along with the word. Had another great time, and a lot of people who read the whole series! Yeah!
2013 I decided why mess with a good thing, so I did "Adventures in America" where I told stories (and shared more embarrassing childhood pictures) about my first year as an immigrant to America. That proved to be popular as well. I mean, how many of you have spent 4 months in a body cast at age 9? People were curious.
Which brings us to 2014. I'm going Swedish again. Write what you know, they say! Besides, I'm proud of my heritage, and my homeland. Without further ado, my theme is:
"It's very Swedish..." I will be writing about cultural differences big and small. I'll share some very Swedish things I miss very much, and also talk about differences in attitudes and beliefs. It won't be all about kaviar och kaffee! (That's coffee for those who didn't do the 2012 language lessons. I figured you could figure out the caviar and "and").
Please join me in learning more about a unique culture. Yes, Hilary, I'll talk about fierce viking chicks big and small, might throw in a Swedish word or two. One thing you can count on: embarrassing photos. After all, that's become an A-Z tradition. No worries, Momarazzi took plenty of pictures...
I hope to see you around a lot in April! Now off to check out your themes.
~Tina, Fierce Viking Chick (that means I'm bossy...ask my team...or my minions...)
51 comments:
Hi Tina .. that's great that we'll be reading more Viking/ Swedish stories .. it's always good for us to know about other countries and some of the differences.
Thanks re the Viking Chick .. I'll see the British Museum exhibition after the A-Z ... but we are getting lots of Viking info thrust at us here .. very interesting it is too.
Cheers to you and enjoy the A- Z - you're doing a great job as co-host and are always mighty-fine to be around ... Hilary
It's going to be a pleasure learning about the Swedish cultures. As long as you've been paying homage to Sweden each year, I think I should know some Swedish words by now haven't retained much of anything you taught us in 2012. I look forward to taking a peek into a world that I'm unfamiliar with, given that I have yet to travel out of the country, let alone to Sweden, lol. I'm all about the food though...gotta have those Cinnamon Rolls, please :)
~Nicole
#atozchallenge Co-Host
The Madlab Post
Interesting theme.
I've seen that flag before. In fact, I see it every weekend and every vacation when we go to our cabin for skiing >;)
Cold As Heaven
Tina...I Got This...yep I'm so in for more of your 'Swedish Family' adventures and culture. No thanks on the caviar, but here's 'mud in your eye' over a cup of 'kaffee' or as we say in Texas...'mud ya'll'.
I'll miss being on your 'Call List', but I won't miss a single one of your posts. Let's do this!!!!
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
And here I was thinking all Sweden had was cheese and meat balls! Oh and don't forget Swiss Miss and army knives!
Your theme sounds fascinating. It's always interesting to hear about how things differ between cultures. It's the little things that tend to be the most intriguing. I'm so looking forward to April this year :)
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings
Loved your previous Swedish posts Tina, I will look forward to this year's bunch. I didn't do a them reveal because mine is a dual topic, wildlife and recipes. Hilary's sounds great too.
I thought the Vikings were all Danish, my personal heritage.
Ohhh looking forward to learning a lot about Sweden!
It will be so interesting to learn about a new culture through your Swedish series! I'm all set to join you in this journey!
Aditi, A2Z participant
I'm sure you'll have a long list of differences!
Cool! I can't wait to read more about your Swedish heritage!!!
Can't wait to read and learn! Thanks for co-hosting! :)
I am definitely looking forward to learning more about Sweden. History and culture are such fascinating topics for any country, but getting a bird's eye view from on of my fabulous team members is even more exciting!
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
Loving it! I thrive on learning new cultures and ways of thinking. I guess that's why we loved living in NYC so much, and why we really like being in the diverse area surrounding Disney World.
i am looking forward to viking chicks and coffee for sure...hahahaha...cool...i remember a few of hte interesting things from the last year....
But will there be meatballs? That's all that really matters at this point.
I'm looking forward to learning more about Swedish culture :)
I'm looking forward to this, I always love learning about places I've never been to and cultures I don't really know anything about. Sure to be an interesting month here. :)
Hi Tina, I'll look forward to these landing in my inbox. Forgive me if I do not comment as often as I'd like to. You know my feelings about blogging platforms! I recognise your style in the guest posts now.
Sue A to Z ing at http://suestrifles.wordpress.com
Really cool idea. I have been to Sweden. Stockholm back in 1992. haha.
I am sure it's changes so I look forward to reading your post.
I'm so looking forward to reading your awesome Swedish tales over my kaffee:) Your entertaining factor is very high on the list!
WriterlySam
resident bartender for A to Z Theme Reveal Party!
One country I'd love to visit. Wishing you the best on your A to Z journey. :)
Oh fierce Viking Chick - I'm going to look forward to reading every morning with my kaffee!!
Yah forr shurre (isn't that Swedish??)Just messin' with ya!
Sammy D at www.bemuzin.com
Boom ,there, done! Now I have committed to a theme! Thanks Viking Chick!
Your theme sounds yummy! I'm hooked. I would love to know more about Sweden and its culture. :)
This is my first A-Z challenge, and I'm both nervous and excited but it sure looks like fun.
Hi Tina,
That took some serious scrolling to get to the part where I can leave a comment. Look at that list of alphabet sheep. A is for arghhh and B is for Bah! :)
You mention fierce Viking chicks. Kinky!
Have a peaceful, hopeful weekend, my kind friend.
Gary
I think I remember reading your posts last year. (If not you, then someone else was blogging something similar.) Sounds fun. =D
Tina! I love your comments about Mommarazzi! You're pretty funny yourself! In my family of Scots, I was the straight man. I'm the only child of parents who were WAY funnier than I; especially my father, but that's a Glaswegian for ya! I look forward to learning some Swedish things, other than music and their fiddles. I had a viola coach who is Swedish and she has a fiddle with 12 strings and a devil's head scroll!
She also does some kind of dancing in a Swedish dance group and it looks like fun. All we Scots do is throw telephone poles around, toss pillows filled with tiny stones and flash people with our kilts! Not very civilized. And our folk-dancing I believe is the root of "lame white-guy dancing" so it's not something to shout about. The haggis is pretty horrid too.
Anyway, I am really looking forward to this challenge and reading your posts. I must go bother Hillary now! See you at the next #AZchat! Mary aka ViolaFury on Twitter @ViolaFury
Makes me sound really boring - I've lived in the same town for almost 28 years - I live about 10-15 minutes walk from my parents house (and where I grew up). My husband thinks it's a running joke how if I move further than 5 miles away from my parents house then I will explode. Having said that, I have travelled a bit (furthest from home was Turkey but that was like 8 years ago! It's about time I have another crazy adventure!)
I can remember reading some of your posts during the 2012 challenge, but I don't think I can remember the content... so much for learning the language... *sigh*
See you on the A to Z circuit!
Writer In Transit
I'm so pleased I'll be able to do more research on Sweden this year :) Maybe then I'll get on with my next book...
Have fun
Jemima
#TeamDamyanti
Blogging from Alpha to Zulu in April
smiles...sweden is a cool country... haven't been there so far but would love to visit.. home to one of the fav writers of my childhoood - astrid lindgren and my fav furniture store..ha...guess...smiles... oh and my fav clothes store... H&M...smiles..oy
happy weekend
That's a fabulous theme! I think I remember some of the Swedish from 2012--okay, I remember *seeing* it, but cannot for the life of me remember a single word :D I'll be visiting often for sure.
Thanks for stopping over at Quiet Laughter: The Mighty Theme Reveal yesterday, and for the lovely comment--much appreciated :)
This sounds fun!
Hugs and chocolate!
Lovely! I am doing a similar thing on my second blog this year, called "The crazy thing about Hungarians..." I am also compare it to America since that's where I am currently studying.
Looking forward to learn more about Sweden!
happy A to Z! :)
I have a feeling I'll be learning a lot.
I'll be popping in :-)
Love your theme. I just read a book about the founder of IKEA and learned quite a bit about Swedish culture. I want so much to go back and really see more of the country instead of the quick in and out that you get on tours.
The Swedish posts sound like a lot of fun! I've some Viking ancestry myself (though Norwegian, rather than Swedish).
I visited Sweden back in '94. The main things I remember (being quite young) was picking raspberries in the woods and an unexpected hailstorm!
(Also watching Fiddler on the Roof a gazillion times because the parents were out at a conference and we had nothing to do in the house, though that's not really Swedish.)
This is a great chance to fill in the gaps of my education/memory!
anna @ Deeply Shallow
Wow, Hilary, your blog is inspiring! I look forward to the fun of April and can't wait to see what you decide to post. Happy writing!
I love learning about different cultures. Thanks for sharing. GOod luck!
Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z Challenge
Caring for my Veteran
Sounds good, Tina. I'm half Norwegian, and have met my viking ancestors, so a bit of Swedish culture would do me good :)
Shells–Tales–Sails
You are our go-to expert on Sweden. Will there be a book on Sweden on the horizon?
Lee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
This sound like am awesome theme. It's my first time with atoz challenge. Looking forward typo read more about a different culture.
*to
Woo-hoo, c'mon Sweden. I love that part of the world, so you know I'll be popping in as often as I can.
See you soon.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
I love your theme this year. I've read you over the years and always have a good time here. I'm glad to hear your Swedish stories. I'm also happy because I am part of the Blog Blitz and I missed your post in the Big Reveal. (I'm back for another year, this year Literary Grannies is being moved to March. This year I'm writing Bold Writing Prompts from A to Z. Should be fun! I look forward to reading you then... and am glad to be here now!
Only a few more days until the A to Z Challenge! By the way, Happy Blitz Day!!
BRING ON THE VIKINGS! I am so about this!
I'm participating in AtoZ, as well. My topic is writing in general + my current work-in-progress in particular.
See you around!
~Andi-Roo @TheWorld4Realz
I look forward to reading more of your stories of Sweden. As I know I will learn a lot from you.
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