What is it like?
I recently was lucky enough to spend some time in Stockholm ahead of the International Society for Biblical Literature (ISBL) conference. I don’t take my capacity to travel for granted, particularly becuase there were many years when I thought that I wouldn’t ever get to do it. During the conference, someone asked me what Stockholm was like - was it like Paris? Berlin? Adelaide?
I didn’t know how to answer the question. I don’t think I have been to another city quite like Stockholm and I am still thinking about how to make sense of the experience. But for me the really interesting thing was that there was an assumption I was familiar with Paris and Berlin.1
I did get to go to both these cities as a teenager when my parents took us on a grand European adventure when my Dad had long service leave. However, I hadn’t been back to Europe since then until last year’s ISBL which was held in Amsterdam. On that trip I got to Spain and England, but I didn’t have time for Berlin or Paris. I am dreaming about getting back to France at some point and practising my school-yard French. So perhaps when I have had another chance to visit Paris and/or Berlin I will be able to answer the question.
When I got back from the teenage European trip, the two people who had been my closest friends before the trip decided I thought I was better than them and so pretty much stopped talking to me. That feeling of rejection stays with me and so I don’t post my travels much on my facebook page. I do love a good conference though, and I will continue to choose exotic locations as much as possible.
Which is to say, come to ISBL next year in Adeliade. It’s right up there with other world cities like Amsterdam and Uppsala. ;)
I think he knew I have connections to Adelaide so I will give him that.