Adrian and I are finally getting used to the fact that Sweden shuts down in July. Businesses stop, schools close, restaurants post signs saying "closed - happy summer!", and the cities empty out as Swedes run to their ubiquitous stugas in the forest or on some beautiful stretch of lakefront or coast. And in fact the shutdown really begins mid-June and work doesn't really get going again until mid-August. When you have a consensus-oriented decision-making process, you kind of need to wait until everyone is there to get things done.
This is so unbelievably un-American. I mean, first of all you'd never take 4 weeks off in one go because if you did people might notice that the world didn't end when you weren't at the office and then they might fire you because you're not essential. Secondly, it's just not apple pie to not be open all the time so you can make as much money as possible. Close your office or restaurant when a customer might need something?! But they might go to a competitor?! (But wait, the competitor is closed too ...). And finally, it's just not American to relax and enjoy your life. Much better to run around like a crazy person with your Crackberry beeping, picking up multiple children in your big SUV after working 50 hours a week while you drink your 50-oz iced latte from Starbucks. Sigh. I miss the U.S. Ha!
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3 comments:
We are planning a 1-week vacation in June...and all those thoughts crossed my mind. But I am so desperately in need of time off, I just don't care anymore. I am honoring my inner Swede.
-Claudia
Well the Euros argue you only really start relaxing after 2 weeks so your vacation needs to be AT LEAST 3 weeks, so you have a ways to go. Frankly, I can relax in 2 days, but then my life is hardly stressful ;)!
You know you miss it! How can you live without your Crackberry??
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