How Swedish are You?

If you like IKEA, the old Saab and Pelle Howlin Petterson in The Hives, maybe you’re a little bit Swedish?

Here you can put your Swedishness to the test:

 http://kajsaclaude.polldaddy.com/s/how-swedish-are-you

ABBA

Dala horse

Midnight sun

Midsummer pole

Saab

Midsummer spread

The Hives

Stockholm panorama

Swedish girls drinking snaps, blogger centre

Everybody wants England to lose - and other short stories

We've been in South Africa for two years now and it's been quite a journey with amazement and frustration in equal doses. I am still battling with Home Affairs and their latest attempt to question me being here. They want additional proof of our marriage since the marriage certificate isn't enough. They want to see proof of the registration of our marriage, so we have to find the magistrate (in Krugersdorp), who might be dead, who registered our marriage, and find the entry in the physical register that no-one knows where it is. No online registers, just physical papers that can get lost, then you're in trouble.

Having said that, I must admit that my experiences of this country and its people have been overwhelmingly positive. I am thinking of writing a book, with the title above.

But before I start, I'd like to ask whoever is reading this blog, what you would like to know about South Africa and what you'd like me to write about? Any ideas are welcome.

Driving in Johannesburg

I once read that you don't learn to curse properly until you start to drive a car. When we moved to Johannesburg 20 months ago, I hadn't driven a car for 16 years. I had to reacquaint myself to driving in downtown Johannesburg (or the CBD as we call it here). It was an unforgettable experience, you had to be both absolutely fearless and equally fearful the whole time for what might happen. My colleague at the time said: Don't let the taxi drivers intimidate you. I have tried to follow that advice and some people actually say that I drive like one, which I try to take as a compliment.

Feeling at home

Why do I feel at home in South Africa?

I have asked myself this a million times and analysed it in every possible way. I don't know, but ever since I landed in Durban on 30 December 1993 I have felt at home in this country. Not at home as in I recognise all the habits and traditions in all the ethnic groups, no, it's more on the inside. Like leaves slowly falling to the ground after a windy day, with a mmm... nice to be home, kind of feeling.

Anyway. Tomorrow we are going to Durban for my birthday on Sunday, because for my birthday I need to be by the sea.

We're going home.

What's in a name?

Two years ago, I had colleagues with names such as Patrik, Birger, Jenny, Janna and Maria. Now my colleagues are Palesa, Dineo, Zani, Khanyisile and Nadeema.

Yesterday was Heritage Day in South Africa where we celebrate the diversity of this country and the wealth is amazing in terms of culture, traditions, religions and names.

My name is considered very strange and hardly pronouncable by many. I am usually called Kaiser, Keyser or Khanyisa (which means light in Zulu). I sometimes say, when introducing myself, that my name is like Kaiser Chiefs without the Chiefs! It makes it easier to pronounce but also causes confusion since Kaiser is a man's name. (To my non-South African readers: Kaiser Chiefs is one of two very succcessful football teams in Soweto, the other being Orlando Pirates.)

But what's in a name?

Touch - Pause - Engage!

"He is a jockey-size player, but his heart is much bigger than that", was what the rugby commentator said about a Japanese player in the match against France on Saturday morning.

It's all happening. The Rugby World Cup started in New Zealand on 9 September and the temperature is HIGH in South Africa. Every newspaper has full-on specials about the game and I have found my source of information in the Mail & Guardian's "Rugby for dummies". And of course my mates who are all very happy to share their knowledge. I am learning all about the difference between a scrum a ruck and a maul. On paper at least, because they all look similar and very messy.

Today was South Africa's first match in the Cup, against Wales, and I can't say much about it other than it was a very tight win for South Africa, 17-16 to RSA and many dropped balls.

One of South Africa's key players, Bakkies Botha, wasn't playing today due to injuries and my all-time favourite Os du Randt ("born when meat was cheap") left professional rugby years ago. But after today, I think my new favourite is Francois Hougaard. More to follow.

I love SARS!

A Swedish friend of mine, living in Johannesburg, once compared South Africa and Sweden by saying:
" In Sweden, everything works and nothing is possible. In South Africa nothing works and everything is possible." And I have always thought that it kind of describes the South African attitude to things: even if it doesn't work we'll make it work!

This morning I went to the South African Revenue Services to present supporting documents for my tax return. I was expecting a Home Affairs experience, but was pleasantly surprised.

There were long queues of people every where and the service was somewhat both manual and automatic. On arrival I received an orange note that said "General" and was asked to wait in a queue that only led to the toilet. We went through to a large hall with rows of benches and were asked to take a seat. A man approached me and exchanged my orange General note with a number. High up on the wall there was an electronic board ticking the numbers and an automated voice calling them out as well. In addition, a lady, standing in front of the rows of benches, simultaneously called out the numbers, which created a kind of echo or stereo effect.

Anyway, not more that 30 minutes later, I was called to Desk 02 to present my supporting tax documents to a somewhat serious looking woman. The whole procedure only took three minutes and now I just have to wait and see. Just like anywhere else.