Sweden's national Day - 6th of June

Yesterday it was Sweden's national day. Jonathon and some colleagues had been invited to the celebrations at the Swedish Business council's reception at Sas Radisson Blu in Abu Dhabi. I was also invited and really looking forward to it, hoping to get some Swedish food that I miss so much.

We left the children in the safe hands of Chaturi and went on a coach along with 30 other Swedes, which took about an hour. At the reception there were 500 people, who were greated by blonde Swedish children handing us blue and yellow flowers to wear. They looked so pretty! In the main hall there was a band playing Swedish music, one girl and two boys playing the guitar. It reminded me very much of me and my brothers signing, kind of the same songs as well. I did get a lump in my throat actually.

Then there were tons of people to say hello to and be introduced to. This was a mingle party, the idea being that buisnessmen (like Jon) could meet other businessmen, exchange businesscards and have a drink together and eat Swedish food. I of course intended to just enjoy myself and eat lots of food.

There was a speech by the Swedish embassador, thanking a lot of people and introducing the emirate businessmen who were also invited, like the trade minister of Dubai or something. They looked very stylish in their white dishdashas.

We got talking to a very nice emirate man who was there with his brother who seemed to be a very important man. He said he had met the Swedish king when he was in Dubai recently. And that he loves Volvo cars. He has them specially made, quicker than Ferraris...not very legal but he imports them in some roundabout way. Said he would love to go to Sweden, the only reason not to go is that he probably wouldn't want to leave.

Then there was a Swedish buffe' with lots of food, like Jansson's temptation, princess cake, salmon, herring, caviar, roast beef, meat balls. Nice, but not at all like dad's.

I talked to a lot of interesting people, a russian couple who works for Fagerhults designing lamps, a Pakistani couple who'd lived in Dubai since the 70s, Sony Ericsson expat Swedes, a couple from Sudan invited by ITT. Talk about multicultural evening. And everyone connected to Sweden in some way or other.

I truly enjoyed myself.

Now it's time to concentrate on packing. 10 days and counting and I'm really, really looking forward to going home to dear Sweden. After all, Dubai and all its glory, what can be better than a Swedish summer day? And to be honest, I don't care if it's raining this year....