This morning, just after nine o’clock, the six of us piled into the car and drove some twenty miles south and inland to Burträsk, where we delivered Lydia to the first of her summer activities, a four-day arts camp at Edelviks folkhögskola.  From now until Thursday afternoon, she and four other girls will be immersed in learning the ins and outs of web radio, while their fellow campers engage in either theater or visual arts studies.

Though Lydia was excited about the camp many months ago when she asked to apply, her interest had waned considerably since, and she was less than thrilled about the morning’s journey.  No amount of cajoling could cheer her up, and her parting words to me were, “You’ll probably just have to come back and get me tomorrow.”  So far, though, the only thing I’ve heard from her was a request made via text for me to “stop by” with a toothbrush, the reply to which–“buy one with the spending money we gave you”–was met with only a minimum of grumbling.

We also heard from her, indirectly, when we listened to their first show, which aired at two o’clock.  She wasn’t the “host” for that sending, so she didn’t do a whole lot of talking, but she did get in a few words here and there.  I’m not sure yet when it will be her turn to be in the driver’s seat, but I’m looking forward to it (and hoping she is as well, by now).

The junior radio troupe will be broadcasting two live shows every day on Radio Garderoben, from 10-11 a.m. and from 2-3 p.m. (central European time).  Tune in and give it a listen if you’re in a mood to hear the banter of a gaggle of adolescent Swedish girls and a variety of tunes picked by their instructor (who must be about my age, if I were to judge from the selection of 1980s hits that were played–and mocked by the students–this afternoon).