Sugar beets- the on going saga!

A sugar beet contains 18% sugar. 40% of the worlds sugar consumption comes from these beets. The only remaining sugar plant in Sweden is not far from here, about 10 km (7miles or so). We live along the main road that leads to the sugar plant, and according to statistics, there are about 300 trucks A DAY passing our house with sugar beets! Each truck weighs about 60 tons (metric tons).

The beets has lead us to jokingly glance through the window when we here a truck passing and excitingly exclaim, "Hey! Look, beets!"  There is also fields of beets (almost) surrounding our house! There is no sidewalk along this road, so I have got together with a couple of neighbours to collect names and try and get one! A journalist was here two weeks ago and took pictures of our little village and the kids in it to try and help us get publicity in the matter. So, we were in the paper! Andreas is convinced I will end up doing local politics..... we'll see.

I started working last week, and I LOVE IT! I am exhausted by the end of the day, but it is sooo much fun! I have my own class of 5-6 year olds in a tiny little school, there are 48 students in the school, and 15 in my class. I am only doing this job until Christmas, and then switching over to another place after Christmas. BUT, guess where this little school is located? 2km from the Sugar-plant! (feel free to laugh here).

As I sit here and compose this little text, it is 9 pm and the beet trucks are zooming by outside the window. They do have a break from about 11 pm to 4am.... and they go from November to mid-January! Welcome to the country side!

I spoke to a man in church on Sunday about his wife's new store, and then I went back to ask about him, and if he was done with the crops for this year, "No, the beets have still to be taken out" (-Aaaaaarrrrrggghhhh!) "Don't tell me YOU have beets too!?"

The sugar beets are following us where ever we go! I look forward to February!

Sugar beet, still in ground

Photo taken by the journalist

So Long!