Stina Söderlundh Clason

Back in Sweden after my year at Claremont I continued 3 more years of "normal" studies having French, English, Latin and German. My mother died during this time (my father died the summer before I went to Claremont). 1 year of University - Pedagogy and Sociology - ended up being pregnant and married. I was tired of studying and found a reason to bring it to an end. My husband and I moved to my old familyhouse. He completed his exam and worked as a teacher. His boydream was to become a farmer so he built a simple barn where he kept his horses and a cow that he milked every night. We had lots of milk to handle, almost everything I cooked included dairy! I made butter, cheese and bread (nowadays I have excluded milk from my diet). During this time I gave birth to three wonderful children. In the middle of modern Sweden we made something like an Amish life, except for the religion (we left the Swedish state church at this time). Happy hippies! We lived econimically and I scarcely bought new things and clothes. I make up for this now, you could almost call me a shopaholic! I also did some languageteaching and raised our awesome children. I worked in the wellknown touristshop with handprinted textiles. This was a familybusiness started by my grandmother (please, look at www.jobsboden.se). In 1974 I took over the business and I am still planning and selling! I divorced in 1985 and started dyeing my hair red, red. I became a licensed aerobicteacher and a specialist in many new-agebranches working at a nearby healthcenter. I did have a tough time with myself but started to feel better and more splendid than ever. Travelling has always made me happy too - I have seen my Claremontfamily several times, and taken advantage of friends that live in foreign countries - in that way I have been able to see much of Mexico and other Latinamerican countries. I learn a little more Spanish every time - my latest passion is Cuba, its people and their salsa. Nowadays I live happily by myself and I have made a colorful home with two cats and my family not far away. I look forward to make this trip over to California to see you and to enjoy and revive friendships.