Innovative Little Learners

That awkward American in a Swedish gym moment 😅
Instinctively grabbed a 10 🏋️‍♀️
Just assumed I got a lot weaker since it felt heavier than when I last worked out in the US
Then I remembered I’m in Sweden and the weights are in kg, not lb 😭
NGL, it took me a minute to realize 😂🤦‍♀️

Sweden welcomes spring with fire. 🔥🇸🇪

This tradition is called Valborg — or Valborgsmässoafton — one of Sweden’s most iconic spring celebrations.

Every year on April 30, communities gather around bonfires with songs, speeches, food, and celebrations to say goodbye to the long, dark winter and welcome spring together.

Historically, the fires were connected to older spring customs, including clearing brush and protecting livestock before they were sent out to pasture.

Another thing I didn’t realize before moving here: Valborg happens the night before May 1, which is a public holiday in Sweden for International Workers’ Day. So the bonfire night feels like the start of a holiday.

As a former U.S. teacher and mom, this is exactly why I believe learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. Sometimes it happens by standing around a fire in a new country, learning how another culture honors the changing seasons. 🌎

Follow along as we turn life abroad into global learning.

Have you ever heard of Valborg before?