When my great-grandmother Olga started to train as a nurse in Glasgow in 1901, she combined practical work with formal classes at Govan Parochial Hospital. During "three years, three months and four days" she worked her way through her training and, apparently, quickly showed that she had a natural aptitude for nursing as she advanced... Continue Reading →
We are fast approaching the end of the school year in Sweden. At the moment, both teachers and students are very busy. Every week there are several examinations that require a lot of studying. We are all very much looking forward to summer holidays. A hundred years ago, my grandparents Rudolf attended Year Four and... Continue Reading →
My grandmother Edna’s old photo albums from her and her parents’ (Olga and Nils) years in China offer many glimpses into their daily lives and what mattered most to them. Olga and Nils had two children who survived into old age - my grandmother and her sister. Their little brother died in China at the... Continue Reading →
Life truly takes unexpected turns, and you should never assume you know what lies just around the corner. Since I last wrote and wondered what it would be like to follow in my relatives' footsteps in China, I’ve actually had the chance to do so, though on a much smaller scale. Through my job, I... Continue Reading →
Throughout my research, one particularly important source has helped me make sense of the adventures my great-grandparents experienced during their time as missionaries in China. The Swedish missionary magazine in China - Sinims Land - first published in 1896, is filled with articles from Robert, Dagny, Nils and Olga. Aside from their contributions, I can... Continue Reading →
Her name was Li-Niang. She worked with Olga and Nils at the station in Dali/Tungchowfu in China. Li-Niang was a hard-working woman, who helped my great grandparents take care of their children. My grandmother Edna loved Li-Niang. It was Li-Niang who taught her Chinese, who made sure she got bathed and hid Edna when bandits... Continue Reading →
