Developed World Plus

Sweden is an amazing country with an amazing culture. During my recent visit I was impressed by the Swedes and their way of doing things. It seems that they are preparing constantly for the future – a long term plan. They are very punctual, and service orientated. Their systems work. If it fails, they are quick to repair and maintain it and quick to explain why delays occur when they do.

Stockholm is remarkably clean for such a big city with so many visitors. At the same time there is a keen sense of caring for nature, for bringing up their kids in the first few years at least in a close family unit and for being part of their nation. There is much to learn there, and in all my discussions, the people were open and engaging, free of fears of being hi-jacked or attacked. Children and women are safe, even late at night on the tube.

A warming and calming experience, it showed me again that it is possible for humanity to live in reasonable harmony. It only requires respect, a sense of belonging and above all, the discipline to take responsibility for the here and now and for the future. They do not dwell in the past and they do not shift blame. This is what we must achieve in South Africa as well. Yes, Sweden do have some ghastly issues too, but it is being managed actively, decisions are made and executed. How do you become “First World Plus”? I quote a new friend in Sweden: “I make decisions and act on them, I do not change my decisions, I only make new ones.” Subtle.

Nordic Ice

Sometimes we just need a bit of a change of pace and environment to see things in perspective again. Sometimes you just have to spend a bit of time with new friends in an exotic place to get the stress release needed. During our short visit to Stockholm we have had great weather so far and we have seen wonderful things. Mingling with a culture different from your own is always great and at a gala dinner in the Vasa Museum, we were fortunate enough to meet Keith and Karen Pollock from Vancouver.

Discussing all sorts of issues we soon realized that we all have the same things that delight and bother, it is just the intensity that differs! To celebrate the long day, we decided to visit the Ice Bar at the Nordic Sea Hotel. At the same time Sweden pulled off a 2-0 win over Greece in a soccer match, which had the whole of Stockholm celebrating like crazy. Chrissie had a great vodka drink called Diamond Dust: Vodka, lime and tonic and I went for Wolf’s Paw – no surprise there I guess. The drinks are served from ice tumblers in a very cold room at an exorbitant price, but who cares. We had fun.

Maybe all we need is a proper break from our environments to see life for what it can really be. So now I’m off to go get rid of that Wolf’s Paw taste and the after effects (which strangely include a rapidly growing beard and a keen sense of smell and hearing, and I find it hard typ........).

Rome

When in Rome... And so we did. It is not easy if you cannot do the language in this town. People ignore you, so if you plan to visit the eternal city, buy that language course and practice. It will pay back in the savings you make by being able to negotiate!
I only spent a few hours in town, but it was amazing. Soon pictures from this trip will feature on my Picasa site (reflected in the slide show on this page). But I was really here for work, and that is why my visit to the city was brief. The work was a fantastic learning experience, more so as it again strengthened my resolve not to just buckle under pressure and to be part of some non-event in Africa. I think we must always remember what humanity can achieve if it puts its mind to it, rather than to consider being less just because that is what culture prescribes. We in Africa have some really cool ideas and smart approaches and we must continue to believe in ourselves: that is the only way.

Then, I must also reflect on my visit to the Colosseum: I walked into the place expecting to feel a sense of wonder, but a deep feeling of despair and fear gripped my soul as I looked out over the trenches. It was as if I could smell the pain and trauma, as if all those animals and people that suffered were still there to remind us not to ever be so cruel again. Returning to my room I fired up my browser and checked in on the news in Africa. Zimbabwe! I suddenly experienced the same emotions that came to me in the Colosseum. God help the poor people, animals, in fact, all of creation that suffer under the incredible selfishness and brutality of so many ignorant leaders in the world, and especially in Africa. May people with clear and balanced positive values come to power soon, because we cannot build monuments like those I saw in Rome anymore. Or are we no more than what we were 3000 years ago?