Monday, May 12, 2008

European Shorts




I just can’t do it.

This past weekend brought temperatures higher than most summer temperatures to southern Sweden and even higher than those in Los Angeles – 23 degrees Celsius/78 Farenheit. We here in Sweden know a good and fleeting thing when we see it, so a summer celebration took place a little early around here, but…

I just can’t do it.

Whether you’re playing volleyball, Frisbee, KUBB or whether you are lakeside, riverside, sailing or napping in the sun, when that first delightful weekend-long reminder of summer hits Sweden, the celebration is on, but...

I just can’t do it.

No one can accuse me of not being open-minded or attempting to adapt to my new culture while living abroad. I’ve eaten herring, suffered through strömming, sat in a sauna (only once), drank more coffee than needed in a lifetime, biked through the snow in winter, paid taxes on goods and services at 17% or higher, “danced” around a fertility pole (okay, I was taking pictures and therefore happily “observing”), reveled around crayfish like it was chocolate, taken holidays I didn’t even know existed and even learned a new language (c’mon, be nice). I’ve made an admirable effort to fit in while in Sweden and Europe, but every man has his limits, his dignity.

I just can’t do it.

I’ll have you know I even tried them on (from the comfort of my own private fitting room, of course). They were admittedly some of the most comfortable clothing I’ve ever worn, but…

I just can’t do it.

If it's needed to have a true experience of living abroad, then I guess I will just always have to settle for almost having a true experience of living abroad.

I just can’t do it.

You can take the man out of America, but you can’t take America out of the man. The knees are as far as I go. Though climate change is real, I simply refuse to prepare for the oncoming flood.

I just can’t do it.

I have not and will not wear "European" shorts.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Could I actually be part american? I just can't do it either.

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHA! Haven't laughed at one your posts this hard in a long time. A nice departure from the more "mature"/"serious" blogs, Sean.

Anonymous said...

Sean,

The world would like to thank you for not doing it.

I would like to note, however, that Steve did it and pulled it off quite nicely!

Best,
D

Todd said...

C'mon Sean. If Dad can do it, you can do it.

Wait...that's actually reason number 5,435 not to do it.

Just don't do it!

Alex said...

How do american shorts look like? Don't you wear shorts in America?

/Alex