Småland

During May I visited the beautiful province of Småland, a few hours south of Linköping, on a number of occasions for both business and pleasure.

First I was in Nybro visiting Thomas and Birgitta, the couple I stayed with for Christmas. It was nice to spend time with them catching up on all that has happened since last we saw each other. In Nybro I gave two presentations to Rotary Clubs and both gave generous donations towards imPATCHit. I also got to walk through a very rainy spring market and admire all the local handcraft. There was even time for a study visit to a Rotarian’s engineering factory that makes parts for Boeing airplanes.

After a weekend in Nybro, which included my side trip adventures in Stockholm, I went to Torsås to spend an evening with Lena and Bo, the couple that hosted me during the district conference. Even though I was only there for short time I was very busy. I gave 3 presentations on South Africa at 2 local high schools. The presentations went really well and I even taught the classes how to sing Shosoloza so they could sing while watching the Soccer World Cup. The pupils seemed to really enjoy it and I had them all dancing and singing along. The last class enjoyed it so much that they asked to do it again!

Afterwards I had another study visit to a spring factory which turned out to be one of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited. I’m such an engineer!

That evening I spoke at another Rotary club and for the first time ever I had individual Rotarians asking to privately sponsor a goGo for a year. From that single meeting I raised 15 000 crowns for imPATCHit! I spent the evening at “the end of the world” with Stefan and Lyn. Their village was so small and hidden out in the forest that they knew everyone on a first name basis. The one farm had even been owned by the same family for  almost 16 generations!

The next morning they drove me to Kalmar, the biggest city in the area, where another two study visits had been organised for me. The first was with a city councillor who is involved with projects with a sister municipality near Stellenbosch in South Africa. The second was with a professor at Linneås University, Sweden’s newest university, who is involved with environmental engineering issues. Both were very interesting and I learnt a lot!

By this time I was exhausted I was glad to be catching the train back to Linköping. Although it was not my last time in Kalmar. Two weeks later I returned to speak at the Kalmar Rotary Club. I arrived the day before and spent the evening with Yael, the Rotarian who organised the RYLA seminar.

The next morning she took me to the island of öland just across the water from Kalmar. We visited old castle ruins and the Royal Families summer palace. I even got a chance to take photos of the famous windmills that are scattered all over the island.

Then it was time for the Rotary meeting. This was the biggest club I’ve visited, close to 60 people, and I had to give my presentation from a stage so that everybody could see me. Word had gotten around that I was speaking and my Exchange student and RYLA friends were also at the meeting. It was great seeing them all again and afterwards we spent some time together in the town.

Of all the places in Sweden, Småland easily became one of my favourites. With its tiny rock walled farms, wild forests, magnificent coast line and of course friendly people this is an area I’ll never forget and one of the places I’d most likely return to in the future...after Linköping of course!

Hej då