A place that feels like elsewhere

Right now, I’m sitting at The International Bar. It’s just around the corner from where I live.

Every now and then, I drop by for a beer or two. I like the atmosphere. The staff is super friendly, and I often bump into some regulars.

Like one guy — an aspiring author from Germany (we can call him Jan, because that’s his name). We usually chat a bit about reading, writing, and whatever’s going on in the world. Always a good vibe!

Depending on where you live, this might sound like standard practice. But here in Sweden, it’s unfortunately far from standard. Saying hi or striking up a conversation with strangers can be met with hesitation and even suspicion.

The cliché about Swedes being shy and reserved is, sadly, often true. But for some reason, this bar manages to avoid that trap. Everyone on the staff knows my name (ok, that does sound a little like the words of an alcoholic regular…) — and I know theirs. Kind of unique for being in Sweden.

The staff, actually, is the main reason and inspiration for this post. They know I’m a blogger, and the other day one of them asked if I had ever written about them. Today, another staff member asked the same thing.

So here I am, finally blogging about this lovely bunch of people. Thank you for being “international” in more than one sense: Amelia, Lea, Oliver, and Tyra.

This blog post is for you! 🤩