East - Nordstjernan

Scandinavian languages united

meetup.com, the online URL that helps groups of people with shared interests plan meetings and form clubs brought a large group of New Yorkers together. SSCNYC is the social club in NYC you want to join if you enjoy speaking and hearing the languages of Denmark, Norway, Sweden. The images here, by Hanna Aqvilin, are from a gathering at one of the member's home in 2011.
SSCNYC on meetup.com: Swedish/Scandinavian Language Monthly Happy Hour and on Facebook: ..meet and chat with others in your Scandinavian language of choice. (You should speak Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, or have actively learned one of these languages)

Eric Zuarion speaks a few words of Swedish: "I don't have Swedish roots, but I want to learn Swedish because I have some Swedish friends. I have been to Stockholm on vacation, and everyone is so nice over there. The food was delicious and the waitresses were always so friendly. It's easy to talk to Swedes." ENLARGE IMAGE »

Allan Chin speaks Danish fluently: "I was born in the U.S. and don't have any Danish roots. But I really wanted to learn Danish, and when I quit my job, I just packed my bags and moved to Denmark. I have lived in Germany before, so Denmark wasn’t that far from that experience. My dream would be if I could teach Nordic languages professionally." Stacey Elva, the meet-up organizer, speaks a little Swedish: "I think I am the only one here that has no Swedish roots whatsoever. I fell in love with the Swedish language when I was a kid and had a Swedish best friend. We started to speak Swedish when we were hanging out." ENLARGE IMAGE »

L-R: Zack Simon speaks Norwegian: I dont have any Norwegian roots, I just have Norwegian friends. I work for the Norwegian water, Voss, so maybe that has something to do with it. My boss used to speak Norwegian with me, just to make fun of me and my accent. Jennifer Strindh speaks a little Swedish: My father is Swedish. I lived in Stockholm—Gamla Stan—for a couple of years when I was younger. Then we moved to California. My mom is American. Ause Atingdui speaks Skånska, a dialect from southern Sweden: I am originally from Lund, Skåne. I grew up there. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Thomas Nyberg speaks a little Swedish: My father is Swedish and my mom is American. I lived seven years in Vallentuna in Stockholm. But I haven't been there for years. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Fredrik Selby speaks a little Swedish: When I was a kid I lived a couple of years in Saltsjöbaden Stockholm, then I moved to Florida. Merdedeh Mirshamsi speaks a little Swedish: I lived first in Umeå and then Stockholm when I was younger. I lived in Iran as well, and now New York. I have lived here and there. Tom Nash—Stacey's husband—speaks only English: My only connection to Sweden is through my wife. And she's not even Swedish. But I think it's an awesome thing to do, and a nice way to meet others. So I don't mind that my wife brings strangers into our apartment once in a while. Laura Gauthier speaks only English: I cant speak any Swedish; neither have I any Swedish roots. I just like these meet-ups and the people are nice. But I have worked for H&M, and I have been to Stockholm for a couple of months. The culture is different compared with the U.S. Sweden works more as a family, for example, when it comes to business—the U.S. is bad at teamwork, here the individual comes first. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Malou Fickling speaks Swedish fluently: I'm from Gothenburg, born and raised in Sweden. I have lived here in NYC for 1½ years now, and I love it. ENLARGE IMAGE »

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