Fika - How meals build relationships

Fika- "is a concept in Swedish (and Finnish) culture with the basic meaning"to have coffee", often accompanied with pastries, cookies or pie." (google)

This morning I woke up and went to the city to enjoy Fika and then attend church. I have a habit of participating in activities by myself if I cannot get anyone to go with me, so I headed to the town alone in desperate need of coffee.

 Flash back a week ago, my classmates and I arrived at university the first thing we participated in was "Fika." Our professor informed us that this might be the most important Swedish word that we would learn during our time here. {I'm thinking boy/ girl in Swedish might be more important so that i don't walk into the wrong restroom.. but nonetheless...}

Last monday we enjoyed our first Fika. In my brain I was just excited that this 'Fika' word meant free coffee and cookies. I did not truly understanding how this word encompassed the Swedish culture.  Sweden was a very poor nation just 100 or so years ago. This resonates with me now because my family moved from Sweden to the States during this time because they were unable to survive in Sweden. Because the Swedish people were unable to share meals together due to the impoverish conditions, they would share fika. At this time it was just coffee, but today it is coffee and a treat. The Swedish people were very grateful to share this time and drink together because they had so little. Today Fika is enjoyed all over Sweden. Companies will stop work to enjoy Fika together. It is a time for the employees to meet and talk in a more social setting. Could you imagine everyone in one business stopping everything they are doing to enjoy coffee together in the US? No way that would happen.

 If a college frequently skips Fika in their workspace it would be a demonstration that they are too stressed or overworked.  So maybe today I went and just enjoyed Fika by myself and missed the social interaction, but I enjoyed the meal with time to reflect about what this time means to the people of this country and how I can bring back what I have learned about this meal and use it in my life in the states.

Another thing I pondered this morning was how different coffee drinks define a location for me. In the states I buy iced vanilla lattes regularly, because I drank them every day while i was in Hawaii. It takes me back to that trip that was filled with so much joy. When I'm stressed I drink sprite. Something about the bubbly high fructose corn syrup (and maybe the fact that I don't order it frequently) brings me a little peace.  Ever since I arrived in Europe I have been drinking cappuccinos. I don't know what it is. Maybe it was the fact that Marie made me one the first day I arrived here, or maybe it is the design made of milk that is just a little different in each cup. Or maybe it's the texture of the foam. Whatever it is and however this trip evolves into my life will forever be related.

I hope you have a blessed Sunday

 Also this is one of the readings at Trinity this morning. As much as I enjoyed worshiping here in Sweden this morning, I miss my church family.

Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”