So what does it mean?

Gökotta is an untranslatable Swedish word, which essentially means “to rise at dawn in order to go out and listen to the birds sing”.

What is the origin of the tradition?

In some parts of Sweden, there is a tradition of going out into the wild on Ascension Day (40 days after Easter) to listen to the birds, and in particular the cuckoo, sing their songs for the first time in spring. Even churches in many parts of the country agree to hold their Ascension morning service in the open so believers can hear the cuckoo sing.

Why should you do it?

It has long been known that having a positive and energetic morning is the most important step toward crafting a peaceful and productive day, though it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that obnoxious alarm clock in the morning.

The other aspect of the concept – immersing yourself in nature – is yet another booster for mental and physical well-being.

And if that’s not enough, think of it as a way to get closer to Swedish culture without having to actually go to Sweden.

Want an extra challenge?

Have you already incorporated gökotta into your routine? We still have one more challenge for you: go camping near the city on a work day and start the following morning by using the birdsong as your alarm clock (here’s how we did it last summer). When you arrive at work, all your colleagues will be wondering where your good mood has come from.

More sunrise ideas

You’ve already made it out of bed, realized how different life is under the soft light of sunrise and want some more creative suggestions for how to celebrate the dawning of the day. Take some inspiration from our list of sunrise challenges and give yourself an energizing start to the day.

Read more: 10 sunrise ideas to start the day with a smile

Discover more untranslatable words: like aylyak in Bulgaria or dolce far niente in Italy. 

The post The Swedish concept of gökotta – listen to the morning birdsong appeared first on 203Challenges.

Did you know that Sweden has set an ambitious goal: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 76% by 2020?

But it`s not only high hopes. The country`s carbon dioxide emissions went down by 34% between 1990 and 2006.

Let`s dive in and discover Sweden`s secret to success:

From plans to real actions

Only 12% of Sweden`s trash is sent to landfills, according to Statistics Sweden. The numbers show that 31% of it is incinerated and 10% released to water and land treatment, whereas the remaining 47% of waste gets recycled. The energy generated from the waste is used to heat one million homes.

Also, the government explores and tries to tackle other problems like food waste that accounted for 127 kg per person in 2012, as the statistical data shows. The 2020 food waste target of the country is to use 50% of food waste as a natural fertilizer. The other 40% will be used to generate energy.

Ambitious? True, but also doable.

How do Swedes do it?

Through policies. The nation started implementing such policies as early as the mid-20th century.

Basically, what authorities aim to do is replacing fossil fuel energy with the energy generated from waste. Specifically, Sweden generates an estimate of 100 million dollars on an annual basis. Interestingly enough, they import trash from other countries like Norway, the UK, Ireland, and Italy.

Source: Now ThisWorld

Sustainable education efforts

Recycling is a way of life in Swedish communities, where children are taught how to do it from an early age. School teachers are also undergoing special training to engage children in practical activities related to implementing recycling policies.

The recycling stations are dispersed through residential areas, and the citizens receive discount vouchers and rewards for using them.

A smart business strategy

Sweden not only works towards providing a cleaner environment for its citizens but also manages to reduce energy costs for households.

The authors of the business strategy book Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne made a point that Sweden is successful in implementing it. The Blue Ocean Strategy refers to the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand.

The idea is that Sweden is currently positioning itself as a pioneer in the recycling industry, creating a blue ocean that turns the costly waste into a profitable business strategy.

It remains to be seen whether Sweden`s example will inspire the rest of the world to invest in sustainability.

The post Sweden leads the recycling revolution appeared first on 203Challenges.

The Disgusting Food Museum in Sweden shows a peculiar exhibition: 80 of the world`s most disgusting foods.

Redefining disgust

Did you know that the human perception of disgust has its evolutionary functions? It protects us from spoiled and dangerous for our health foods.

Nevertheless, different cultures have their unique (and often acquired) tastes. Fried grasshoppers, for example, can be a delicacy in South America, but absolutely repelling to most Europeans.

That`s why the Swedish Disgusting Food Museum challenges visitors to see, smell, and even taste some of the world`s most disgusting foods.

Are you ready to redefine your perception of what`s edible?

Disgusting delicacies from around the world

Didn`t lose your appetite yet? Let`s have a disgusting meal together:

Surströmming

Ever heard of the traditional Swedish fermented herring surströmming?

Consumed since the 16-th century, the fish is caught after spawning, fermented with salt and placed in a can for at least six months. But beware: surströmming can only be opened outdoors as it`s quite a smelly delicacy. Here`s a fun video of Americans trying this peculiar Swedish delight for the first time:

Source: Buzzfeed

Casu marzu

From a suspiciously smelly fish to a maggot-infested cheese. Casu marzu is a Sardinian sheep milk cheese that is full of live insects larvae. The cheese has gone a step beyond fermentation and started a process of decomposition. You might find it hard to swallow, but the larvae are about 8 mm long and look like white worms. Enjoy your meal!

Cuy

Let`s finish our virtual meal with cuy – a roasted guinea pig that`s traditionally eaten in Peru. The famous Western domesticated pet has been a staple in the Peruvian diet for about 5,000 years.

Cuy is usually served with corn on the cob, yellow potatoes, and a special sauce. It`s totally acceptable to eat it with your hands (you can get some confused looks if you do it with the help of cutlery).

If you don`t plan a trip to Peru, drop by the Swedish Disgusting Food Museum. You`ll have the chance to explore many other revolting delicacies like the Chinese stinky tofu, the well-aged Icelandic shark (hákar), and the notoriously smelly fruit from Thailand (duran).

Location and opening times

Where?

Malmö, Sweden

Slaghuset, Carlsgatan 12

When?

Hours

Wednesday – Sunday: 12:00 – 18:00
Recommended last entrance 17:00

Closed

• April 4-5
• May 4
• May 20-24

Prices

Adult: 185kr
Student/Senior: 150kr
Children under 16: three children enter for free per parent/guardian.

If you want to prepare some kind of dish at home, at https://matekitchen.com/ you will find a lot of interesting recipes.

Don’t forget to take care of your health and to take antioxidants and vitamines, natural superfood and etc.

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The idea

285 million people worldwide are visually impaired. The idea behind this exhibition is for the seeing world to understand what it feels like to be one of them, to experience life without the sense that provides us most information – the sight. Overcoming the obstacles blind people face in everyday life people learn how they can be helpful and more understanding towards them.

The invisible part of the exhibition

The guides in the exhibition are blind or partially sighted. Your eyes are useless while they walk you in complete darkness through 6 differently furnished rooms. By touch, sounds and sense you identify the objects around you and the situations you are in. You learn how they get through everyday situations like crossing the road or paying for a cup of coffee.

The visible part of the exhibition

In the visible part of the exhibition you see the objects visually impaired people use like a talking clock or pen. You can also learn more about the Braille Alphabet and write your name with a Braille typewriter.

A good example

Stockholm is a city that provides a lot of help to its blind citizens. They have pedestrian signals when crossing the street, house a braille library as a part of The Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired, and don’t separate the blind from the sighted students in school. This city’s overall positive example for proper attitude towards the visually impaired, as well as visiting the Invisible Exhibition in particular, can be a great empathy lesson for you and for your kids (they have to be at least 7 to visit the exhibition).

Useful information

The address of the museum is  Tullvaktsvägen 2, 115 56 Stockholm. It is open Monday through Sunday from 11 till 20 o’clock. Groups of 8 people start every 15 minutes. The last one is at 18:45. You can make your reservation online or via phone at least a day before the arrival. You have to be there 15 minutes before your reservation time.

Other cities where Invisible Exhibitions can be found are Budapest, Prague and Warsaw.

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