tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post7729245766685703852..comments2023-11-10T23:55:11.147-06:00Comments on A Swedish American in Sweden: Sandwich Cake WTF?Hairy Swedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-10733281033408794952014-11-20T17:40:56.646-06:002014-11-20T17:40:56.646-06:00Agreed. On all counts!Agreed. On all counts!Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-57811983328875476742014-11-14T07:51:16.618-06:002014-11-14T07:51:16.618-06:00I understand your aversion to smörgåstårta. It'...I understand your aversion to smörgåstårta. It's not everyone's cup of tea. If there's a lot of mayo on it I have a hard time eating it too. It doesn't always sit well in my stomach.<br /><br />Haha, yes, the "oooh you're so much bigger since I saw you last when you were a toddler" comment - classic! I think the whole awkward family gathering situation might be pretty universal. Everyone's family is awkward I guess :)<br /><br />Why thank you Hairy, the mixing of Swedish and English is how I usually speak. I think languages are best when mixed :)Linn The Pink Vikinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16777563570143050001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-72688889423397966742014-11-14T06:22:07.166-06:002014-11-14T06:22:07.166-06:00I don't like them one bit. I think it's al...I don't like them one bit. I think it's all the creamy stuff. It just feels like its a mush of things that I'm supposed to try to eat. It doesn't work.<br /><br />And I have been to a few of those fun little family gatherings in both the US and Sweden. The awkward conversation is the best with people you've met once. When you were three. And they seem surprised that you've gotten so much bigger in the last 27 years. And my how you've grown. And oh, I remember when you were this big. Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly at all, your description also seems to fit the bill for an American family gathering.<br /><br />Also, this was the best mix of Swedish and English in a comment I've seen in a very long time. I love it so much. Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-22079805864852803552014-11-11T11:12:31.916-06:002014-11-11T11:12:31.916-06:00So do you or don't you like smörgåstårta? I ha...So do you or don't you like smörgåstårta? I have a kind of love-hate relationship with it. I guess it depends on the pålägg. I hate leverpastej (but don't think I've ever had it on a smörgåstårta actually...), fancy caviars and the slimy gravad lax (bläää!), but there's nothing wrong with cold cuts, cheese, mayonnaise, tomato, cucumber, salad and stuff like that. That sounds pretty much like the kind of sandwiches you eat in the US, right? And shrimp?! Damn, I love shrimp! Smörgåstårta isn't all that bad, imo.<br /><br />Anyway, I would say it's more common to serve smörgåstårta at "släktkalas" - a fine, Swedish institution where you have to invite hela släkten when someone fyller år eller tar studenten, and bju' på kalasmat (e.g. smörgåstårta) followed by coffee, an assortment of småkakor and regular cake. You have to make awkward conversation with people you don't really like or know, but who are, unfortunately, related to you by blood and marriage. You have to answer the same boring questions ("Jaha, vad gör du nuförtiden då? Hur går det med kärlekslivet? Vad ska du plugga? Hur går det på jobbet? Vilket fasligt väder vi har haft det senaste, eller hur? Sommaren/vintern har bara regnat bort, som vanligt!"), all the while smiling and, in between questions, saying things like "Jahaja", "Jo, så är det", and "Mmmm". This is pretty much mandatory, at least until you are 18 and can decide for yourself what you want to do.<br />Ever experienced a real Swedish släktkalas?Linn The Pink Vikinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16777563570143050001noreply@blogger.com