A new Job

I have been having a bit of a career crisis in Sweden. I could complete the master's degree I started at Duke, but it won't do much for me in this country. I could try to pursue teaching, but then I would have to go to school for a few more years to collect my Swedish teaching credentials. I could try to become a priest in the Swedish church but that would require some more years of study to become appropriately attuned to way of formerly state sanctioned Swedish Lutheranism (not to mention conversion and membership). I could try to become a pastor in one of the non- formerly-established "free churches," which often lack money and therefore hiring capabilities and would require me to jump through whatever membership/ministerial hoops they deem necessary. Or, I could start all over and become a doctor or farmer or something.

Basically, after 6 years of university and post-graduate study, I am still pretty darn worthless in this non-religious society that requires documentation for everything and undervalues past experience, especially if it took place in a foreign country. Right now, I would just really like to have a job, but being as how all my education and past experience are undervalued here, I am rooting around in job applications that I am overqualified for, just hoping someone will give me a chance.

Thankfully in this dire mire, I received a call from Pastor Daniel (Västerås Penticostals to the rescue again) asking if I could help with childcare and cleaning for a family in the congregation in rather acute need of assistance due, in part, to the 2 of the children having asperger's syndrome. Being no stranger to aspergers or family chaos, I was quick to accept and have therefore been hanging out with some remarkable children and helping their parents keep up with the housework. I mostly spend time with the two youngest - 4-year-old twins. I think of them as rather less well-behaved versions of Freddie and Flossie, the adorable young Bobbsey twins (Characters in the children's novels from the early 1900s I used to read. now quaint examples of the heights to which racial and sexual stereotypes have flown in American literature.)


Here we are enjoying the pond and ducks at Djäkneberget.