#swedish class

We were allowed to use her Powerpoints when answering the questions (two essay-questions). Gods. I wouldn’t have had to study at all, honestly. Even though I guess it’s a good thing I did, because some of these things might be fun to know in the future.

It never fails to amaze me how in other schools people are doing drugs and shit in school but.. as fast as my teacher leaves some bois start throwing wet paper towels around the room. It's a war and everyone is involved.

It's been over a month, I'm still not over it.

Me: *hating on my swedish teacher*

Parents: *trying to reason with me by being logical*

Me: *silent for a while, staring, pissed, down into my teacup*

I hope she gets pregnant. *mutter mutter*

Swedish is a language that uses a lot of proverbs in everyday communication so I figured I should write about my favourite 8 that you’d hear if you came to Sweden. 

Borta bra, men hemma bäst - “Away is good, but home is best”. Something said by every mother ever after returning from a trip. In English “home sweet home” or “There’s no place like home” would serve the same purpose. 

Som man bäddar får man ligga - “As you make your bed, so you must lie in it”. Meaning that your actions will have consequences that you have to live with. Also often used as a way of saying that you have no one to blame for something but yourself.

I de lugnaste vatten (simmar de fulaste fiskarna) - “In the calmest of waters (the ugliest fish swim)”. Usually when someone uses this proverb they only say the first bit (not that within the paranthesis) as everyone understands the meaning. It means that those who seem most normal have the biggest/darkest secrets. Usually used when someone who’s percieved as very normal has been found to have some wierd secret or a dark past. It can also be used to say, do not take things at face value. For example if someone is perfect/boring/very normal you can say “In the calmest of waters” to express that you think there’s more to them than it seems.

Smaken är som baken (delad) - “the taste is like the bum (divided)”. Again the last word is usually left out. Meaning that there’s a difference of opinion. Similarly used to the English “agree to disagree” or “suit yourself”. However, the Swedish is usually used a bit more insultingly (not always). Meaning that there is a division between our opinions but yours is wrong or (like a bum).

Är man med i leken får man leken tåla - “if you’re in the game, the game you have to tolerate”. Used similarly to the English “it’s all part of the game”. Meaning that if you have entered into something willingly you have to see it through, even if it ends badly for you.

Bränt barn skyr elden - “a brunt child dreads the fire”. Apparently this is also an English proverb but I have never heard of it. It has the same meaning. That if some act has lead to dire consequences that person will not act in that way again. Can also sometimes be used to express a willingness to let someone try something that will end badly so they will learn from their mistakes.

Den som gapar efter mycket mister ofta hela stycket - “ the one who gapes for a lot usually loses the whole piece”. Probably the wierdest translation so far. It means that if someone is greedy and keeps wanting more or isn’t satisfied they will risk to loose everything.