坐滿二個體育館的數百位扶輪社員認識瑞典文化

Hundreds of Rotarians filled two stadiums to learn about Swedish culture.

瑞典馬爾摩報導──直到5 年前， 美國扶輪社員歐德法克(Lizette Odfalk) 都還住在瑞典，因此6 月13 日， 她特別喜愛國際扶輪年會舉辦的社交活動「瑞典之夜」。

Malmö, Sweden — Up until five years ago, U.S. Rotarian Lizette Odfalk lived in Sweden, so on 13 June she was especially enjoying the Swedish Night social outing at the Rotary International Convention.

在馬爾摩一間體育館，歐德法克一邊觀賞瑞典傳統歌舞表演，一邊吃著醃鯡魚與喝著香甜酒。這位美國紐約州旖色佳(Ithaca) 扶輪社社員說︰「能夠來到這裡實在十分特別。」

In a Malmö stadium, Odfalk watched a performance of traditional Swedish songs and dances while eating pickled herring and drinking schnapps. "To be able to be here is so special," said the member of the Rotary Club of Ithaca, New York, USA.

曾經在瑞典住過12 年的歐德法克是買票出席瑞典之夜的諸多扶輪社員之一，這項活動以寓教於樂的方式讓來賓認識瑞典的習俗、食物、節慶、歌曲和舞蹈。

Odfalk, who lived in Sweden for 12 years, was one of many Rotarians who bought tickets to Swedish Night, which gave an entertaining lesson on Swedish customs, foods, festivals, songs, and dances.

這項活動在二個相鄰的體育館舉行， 每個體育館有不同的節目。扶輪社員分為二組，在各自的表演結束後再交換場地。

The event took place in two adjacent stadiums, and different performances took place in each stadium. Rotarians were split into two groups, and then switched stadiums when their shows ended.

在其中一個體育館， 扶輪社員一邊瞭解瑞典的節日， 一邊吃著瑞典人在這些節慶通常會吃的食物。每個人的座位都有餐盒，裡面有香甜酒、啤酒、醃鯡魚、當年收成的馬鈴薯、淡水螯蝦、紅色捲心菜、球芽甘藍及番紅花麵包。不久就很容易可以發現幾乎每個節慶都會食用鯡魚、馬鈴薯、和香甜酒。也很容易可以看出香甜酒和唱歌是焦孟不離的。

In one venue, Rotarians learned about Swedish holidays while eating food that Swedes typically consume during those celebrations. On their seats were boxed dinners containing schnapps, beer, pickled herring, new potatoes, goose, crayfish, red cabbage, brussels sprouts, and saffron buns. It quickly became apparent that the herring, potatoes, and schnapps were consumed at just about every festivity. And it also became apparent that schnapps and singing went hand-in-hand.

為了重現該國的仲夏慶典， 穿著傳統服飾的舞者繞著一根五月柱跳舞。在呈現於12 月13 日舉行的聖塔露西亞慶典時， 許多穿著白袍的女孩拿著蠟燭，扶輪社員一邊享用番紅花麵包，一邊聽瑞典歌手桑納．奈爾森用瑞典文演唱「聖夜」。

To recreate the country's Midsummer celebration, people in traditional dress danced around a maypole. To represent the festival of Santa Lucia, which takes place on 13 December, girls in white gowns held candles as Rotarians ate the saffron buns while listening to Sweden's Sanna Nielsen sing "O Holy Night" in Swedish.

紐西蘭阿瓦普尼(Awapuni) 扶輪社的汪恩(Rodney Wong) 十分欣賞尼爾森洪亮的歌聲， 可是對香甜酒他可不敢恭維。他說︰「喝起來味道像水管清潔劑。要有漫長、寒冷、黑暗的冬天才會喜歡喝這種東西。」

Rodney Wong, of the Rotary Club of Awapuni, New Zealand, was impressed with Nielsen's powerful voice, but he didn't feel that way about the schnapps. "It tasted like drain cleaner," he said. "You'd have to have some long, cold, dark winters to really enjoy that."

在另一個表演場地， 一位喜感十足的地精擔任司儀， 帶領扶輪社員展開瑞典豐富的音樂懷舊之旅，包括女高音尼爾森以及流行樂團阿巴合唱團(Abba)、羅克賽合唱團(Roxette)、以及王牌合唱團(Ace of Base)。在最後的一個節目時，穿著白色禮服與喇叭褲的舞者與歌手齊上舞台，表演Abba 組曲，包括”SuperTrouper” 、”Mamma Mia” 、”Take a Chance on Me” 、”Waterloo” 。

In the other venue, a comical gnome acting as a master of ceremonies led Rotarians on a nostalgic trip through Sweden's extensive musical past, which includes soprano Birgit Nilsson, as well as pop bands Abba, Roxette, and Ace of Base. For the final number, dancers and singers in white dresses and bell bottoms took to the stage and performed an Abba medley that included "Super Trouper," "Mamma Mia," "Take a Chance on Me," and "Waterloo."

表演終了時，美國愛荷華州愛荷華大湖（精力湖）Iowa Great Lakes (Spirit Lake) 扶輪社的辛明頓(Brad Simington) 十分快樂。他說︰「我本來已經忘記我聽過那麼多Abba 的歌曲。」

Brad Simington, of the Rotary Club of Iowa Great Lakes ( Spirit Lake), Iowa, USA, was pleased at the end of the show. "I'd forgotten how many Abba songs I knew," he said.