There are so many ways to look at the Swedish word lagom, which if you glance over past entries, you will see is a word that’s in my book’s title. Now my friend Linda has added her thoughts about trying to live lagom as an American in Sweden.

“I have a love/hate relationship with lagom. I should be more lagom.  I really should.  But, wait!  I’m not Swedish.  I love my new coat, I needed it and, boy, did it feel good today.  I’m glad I bought it and I told people that (OK calling attention to my neon blue gloves was a bit…  AMERICAN.)  OMG I am American.  The very fact that I wear neon blue gloves screams that I am American.  I’m OK with that.  They were on sale  and what daughter of Scots/Irish can resist 70% off? But I love your lagom musings.  And love the photo.  Oh, wait.  I shouldn’t “love” it.  I should admire it in just the right measure so you don’t get a swelled head and think you are better than…  oh, never mind.  More lagom.

“And have you ever noticed when an expensive car goes by on the street here?  Is it more lagom to ignore it and not give whoever spent that obscene amount of money on it the attention they are begging for?  Or is it OK to crane your neck and see if you know who is driving it! Or is there a more lagom way to look at that Jag or Porsche? You have to just love the yin yang of the whole thing.  It is a fascinating concept.”

{ 2 comments }

1 Shatha January 18, 2009 at 22:58

There is no concept of lagom in Dubai–you’re a weirdo if you don’t drive a BMW, Mercedes or giant SUV. And it has to be no more than five years old! I always loved living in the US because showing off was never all that important where I was in MA, NY and IL–but nowadays I wonder if Americans are actually on the other extreme, with girls in their pajamas walking down the street…

2 Sandra in Sweden January 19, 2009 at 08:36

I love it! I have been wanting to go to Dubai for some time now.

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