So with that, I present to you… a revival of this series, and hopefully a kickstart for far more to come!

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MUST READ

“Ghost of Forsberg skates on,” a commentary by Denver Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla. I still follow hockey a bit — not like I used to — but with the Olympics going on, it’s hard not to. Swedish star Peter Forsberg is competing for his home country in the Olympics and the team, Tre Kronor (“Three Crowns,” the Swedish name for the national team) is on track to be one of the biggest competitors; they won gold in 2006 and look very strong this year, especially against last year’s silver-medal-winning Finnish team. Forsberg is one of my all-time favorite athletes, and while I have always enjoyed watching him play, it really feels like this is his big goodbye to hockey and I’m okay with that.

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MUST SEE

The trailer for Food, Inc. It’s a documentary about the food industry in the United States, and one heck of an eye-opener. At least see the trailer, because you might just be intrigued enough to watch the entire thing; however, after watching the film, I definitely feel a bit uneasy about most of the food I consume.

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MUST HEAR

“As Tall As Cliffs” by Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s. I had heard about this band before, and even tried to make it to one of their shows, but I never put in enough effort to actually give them a good listen or see them play. Next time I get the chance to see them I will not pass it up — their music is amazing, and this song is quickly becoming a favorite. Are they a bit “indie”? Sure. Does that mean they aren’t very mainstream? Pretty much. Is the music still good? Even better, if you ask me.

Uppsala Domkyrkan (cathedral) in Uppsala, Sweden

Last week marked two years since I moved back to the U.S. from Uppsala, Sweden. I climbed on a plane on 20 June 2007 to go to Dublin for two days before flying into Chicago for a week with the family, ultimately landing back in Denver, CO on 29 June 2007.

I think about life in Sweden almost daily. If I had the opportunity — that is, the visa for a job and a job that can pay my bills — then I’d probably be back there in an instant. After all, part of the reason I pretty much abandoned my desire to go to law school was because I could see myself living in Sweden again, and law school (and paying for law school) takes the kind of time and effort that would keep me from being able to return anytime soon.

Once in a while, I dream about life in Uppsala. I have one particular recurring dream that I happen to enjoy: I’m in Storatorget in Uppsala, walking through the Åhléns, telling myself that I can will myself to step out of my dream and onto the streets in an instant, just for a quick visit. I wind my way through the shops and the streets and find myself unable to will myself there, knowing that my time is limited and I’ve only got hours or even minutes before I wake up in my bed back in Colorado.

I’m in no rush to go back to Sweden, not even for a visit. I wish I could say that I was, but it’s tough to afford Sweden as an American, especially with a bad economy. My current work is unreliable and I am better off paying bills and saving up some money than I am traveling back. I wish I didn’t have to restrict myself so much; it seems like a lot of people do the sensible thing by saving money and waiting for a trip, but sometimes end up never going back. I don’t want to end up like that, so I do intend to make a trip back in the next few years, even if I’m not moving back.

The things I miss the most vary quite a lot. Some of the food was great, like filmjölk (soured milk), leverpastej (liver pâté), sill (herring, particularly pickled), Lingongrova (a really good rye bread). Certain aspects of my social life there was great, but I really only knew a student’s life, so I don’t know what it would be like to live there as a professional and make friends and acquaintances that way.

Things I don’t miss… well, for one, it seems like a lot less now that I am here in the US and I have good memories of Sweden. It’s the whole “grass is always greener” and whatnot. I’m sure I would find the weather and darkness to be a drag, and even though I speak Swedish, sometimes I really missed my first language a whole lot. I think that will happen to any ex-pat, anywhere.

For now I’ll have to be content with the surreal dreams and great memories of my time there. Is it completely satisfying? No. Will I be missing out on a lot by having to wait to go back? Probably, but that’s a matter of perspective at some degree. But will I actually return, whether it’s a full move or just a visit? Yes. And I’m counting on it.

I was looking for something related to Swedish cuss/curse words and stumbled upon A Swedish American in Sweden. I’m really enjoying it so far and certainly glad I hit upon it.

The only thing is that it depresses me to read it. I would really like to be back in Sweden right now, as much as I am enjoying life in Boulder and the beginning of the end of uni life. Sure, I like a lot of things about being back in the States — an occasional long drive (certainly not as a daily commute, though, because I just like driving!), 24-hour groceries for those late nights of studying (though the late nights of studying don’t really happen in Sweden), not paying out the ass to have a good night of barhopping with friends — but I do believe that my happiness was greater in Sweden. I miss speaking Swedish every day, having a more laid-back lifestyle, and just being healthier overall. Trust me, life is much healthier in Sweden — even from the viewpoint from living in Boulder for several years.

I will have to sit still for a little while, though, and have some patience. I’m not sure how long it will take me to get back to Sweden, However, I do know that if this next election goes horribly wrong that I will be a lot more willing to leave the U.S. a lot sooner.

Although blogging again is a resolution of mine, I decided I might as well start again now so I can recap a little about my year; explain a little bit of why starting at the end still make the beginning of the year a bit better.

This was a roller coaster sort of year. A year ago today, my parents and brother and I were in southern France while my grandfather and aunt watched my dog, Magoo. I hadn’t seen my family in roughly five months, and didn’t know Magoo would be gone when I returned seven months after our great vacation in France and Spain. The year started out great, but finished with some tough circumstances; all in all, it was the best of years and it was the worst of years.

In June, Magoo died while I was still in Sweden. My father had told me to come home earlier, but I insisted on milking my time in Sweden. I can’t regret what I did, though, because I never could’ve known that my very precious dog – the one animal I’ve really ever attached to so much – would die rather young. I came home in July to spend the last few months of my grandfather’s life by his side. In September, my grandfather passed away at 92 after a long, rich life; although he had a great life and he was around for over 21 years of my life, it’s still hard to say goodbye. It was a stroke that had initiated his last days, one stroke that was worse than all the ones before it — something that was very hard to watch as all the things he was trying to say were impossible to understand. At least he understood what we were telling him in his last days, and it was that we loved him and that we could handle a goodbye. I’m not so sure about that last part, but I am glad that he is no longer suffering.

It’s hard to lose two of the most important things in your life within months of each other. It was also hard to go from a life that had an expiration date – a life in Sweden that I loved very, very much – and return to living in a place I’d known my entire life. I really didn’t want to leave.

But I realize that I’m lucky that I left for Sweden in the first place. To come back to the U.S. was a huge eye-opener — not that I hadn’t already been aware of the direction in which this country is going. But I was lucky to have my dog and my grandfather in my life, too, even if my dog wasn’t there nearly long enough. In fact, Magoo would’ve turned 8 today. As for Grandpa, some people never get to know their grandparents. I was quite fortunate.

So with that attitude, I will ring in the New Year knowing that I am a fortunate person. I have the opportunity to return to Sweden someday, something I will certainly pursue. With 2008 comes a multitude of possibilities and a chance to have new things to focus on. I would be foolish to squander the potential that lies ahead of me.

Have a happy and safe New Year.