School help

[Sabeine]

I don't remember all the names, but the founder of Nordstrom department stores, plus Greyhound buslines were Swedish Americans.

[Debbie]

You are welcome for the site.

BTW My Grandfather was one of the men that helped build Chicago. His brother owned much real estate in Chicago until the Crash. My mormor's brother trained at Orreförs and opened a glass cutting factory in Minneapolis.

Just a little bragging.......

[Carolyn]

Funny, Debbie, our grandfathers may have known each other. My grandpa was a mason and stucco-er and worked and owned property in Chicago till the bank closures took everything and they went off to Idaho to farm instead.

[Sabeine]

It is really wonderful to hear about other people's families, and their immigrant roots in the States.
My grandfather was from Sweden originally, moved to the States in the late 1930's. During WWII he worked for a factory helping to build planes for the allied forces. He was very proud of this. Even years later before his death when he had Alzheimer's Disease and he could not remember who I was, he always remembered his working to build planes to help the allied forces. I believe it was his proudest moment. He later became a US citizen and ended up being the sole sponsor when my own parents moved to the States from Sweden in 1958. My parents became citizens in 1964. More than half of my family on my mother's side are a group of first and second generation Swedes in America. They are very proud, hard working people. They love the States. My dad's side are all from Sweden, born and raised. My dad is the only one to ever move to the US. I don't want to drone on, I am just very proud of my parents, and extended family. They took a huge risk and wandered into the totally unknown. My dad moved to the States having dropped out of school in Sweden when he was 12 years old. His dad had died of tuberculosis, leaving his mother with 5 kids to support in the middle of WWII. My dad being the only boy, quit school and went to work for 18 hours a day in a bakery in Skellefteå (Northern Sweden). He slept on a cot in the backroom. He did this for many years. It was really tough. Fast forward to the States, and many years of struggle, but still working hard as hell, he now has a PH.D in Physics. Neither of my parents could speak any English when they moved to the States. Funny enough, when I was growing up my parents would always correct my grammatical errors, because by then they had learned correct English. I am so proud of them.

I gave my presentation on emmigration and in turn immigration to the US today. Researching it was a real eye opener for me. In reality it made me realize how much my grandfather must have struggled when he came to the US. My parents had it bad for several years, but he had it much worse. I gained a new sense of pride in my family. For so many years when I was a kid in Brownies, and Girl Scouts I went out of my way to try to hide my parents accents, and their clearly not being American by birth. It embarrased me to no end. I only wanted to fit in with all the other girls, but had a hard time doing that when all the other girls moms would bring brownies and cupcakes and my mom made "ris alamalta". It was very humiliating for me back then. Now I am thankful for it. It is so easy to throw away one's culture and history to fit in. But my parents managed to blend the two together. It was a good mesh of both.

Has anyone seen, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? This is how I felt to a certain degree. My parents really wanted to keep their traditions, like eating sill and surströmming and share them with other people (my boyfriends, friends etc,.. much to my horror) so after seeing that film I felt at home. My parents were not as extreme, but there were many parts I could most certainly identify with.

A huge "kudo" to anyone with immigrant parents. Blending one or two cultures is not easy. I certainly am more respective of my parents for managing to do it, despite my complaints at that time.

[Natooke]

Sabeine,
How to go … I’m so happy to hear you did so well in your presentation. ;D

The Swedes in Western Canada were considered one of the most influential groups of immigrants that helped build the country. Not only were the Swedes great Pioneers & hard workers (as many other immigrants were at the time) … they set up Social Credit Unions, Worker Unions … established a great social network, which on the barren Prairie was essential. Many towns in Alberta are named after the towns and villages they left behind. My Parents lived in Thorsby for many years and a man named Lundquist established it … He was their Postmaster & Banker.

Our family is lucky enough to have our Danish Farfars diary … he wrote (in Danish) about his landing in Halifax N.S. and his trek to the West. While working as a Lumber Jack in British Columbia he writes about card games and the alcohol that flowed. He then writes about how hard the camp life was more so then the physical work it self … he found himself mediating fights over the card games, fair wages with his boss. My grandfather later moved to Edmonton and started his own successful painting business, married my British grandmother and they had 3 kids. Unfortunately he passed before my parents met. My Mothers side of course is just as colourful … with having a father who was born in North Dakota to a Scottish & Irish parents … they Homesteaded on the Prairies.

[Carolyn]

Well, doggone it (sorry for the strong language), but I was expecting to come here and see that Sabeine had posted and, naughty vixen that she is, she's hiding her Swedish-American light under a bushel.

I got an e-mail from her to tell me she did her presentation and got her grade on it, and she had the top grade in the class. So come on there, girlfriend, this is also a place to share the good stuff.

;D

[Sabeine]

Okay Carolyn, I'll share.

As she wrote, I got the highest grade in the class. She said so in front of the class. I was thrilled, but also wished that she had told me so in private. A few people in the class looked a bit ticked.

I'm happy though, I worked hard on this presentation. It counted for a fourth of our total grade, so I'm very pleased with the outcome.

[Natooke]

I'm so moved

[Carolyn]

When I was telling my Anders about it last night (I specify MY because Sabeine has one too), he said immediately, "What a wonderful subject to talk on." He thought because it had some relevance as well and Swedes also like to know that others outside of Sweden know (1) they exist and (2) they have made some great contributions.

Once again, HOOOOOORRRAAAAYYY