Jeffrey Wambeck
Cultural appreciation
Q: How did you find the transition from Sri Lanka to Sweden?
A: The transition from tropical Sri Lanka to Sweden in 1973 was certainly a challenge. Initially, the climate combined with a foreign language posed the most serious challenges.
The climate, which was very different to what I was accustomed to, took considerable time getting used to. Thankfully, I learnt that there is no bad weather – just bad clothes.
Another challenge was the limited daylight hours during winter and abundance in summer.
I missed the friendly demeanour of Sri Lankans compared to the Swedes’ reserved behaviour. If greeted on an early morning walk, it would probably be by an intoxicated person! To be fair, once you get to know them, it’s a different story.
Q: What are your favourite Swedish traditions?
A: A Swedish tradition that I appreciate is Midsummer, which is the most celebrated event of the year. People dance around the maypole and sing traditional songs dressed in traditional country folk dresses.
The highlight is the internationally renowned smörgåsbord, comprising various culinary delicacies such as pickled herrings, meatballs, smoked ham, salmon, dishes of baked potatoes with anchovies and more, washed down with copious amounts of beer and snaps.
Others are Lucia, a pagan festival celebrated on 13 December, where girls parade with candle headdresses and boys with crowns; Valborsmässoafton, where large bonfires are lit to celebrate the upcoming spring season; and Christmas of course, with the traditional julbord of delicacies similar to the smörgåsbord.
Q: Did you face challenges in adjusting to the Swedish lifestyle?
A: From a lifestyle perspective, Sweden has a rather strict regime compared to Sri Lanka. I wouldn’t say that I missed the disorder – perhaps thanks to the regimental lifestyle I was accustomed to at S. Thomas’ College’s boarding.
Punctuality is strictly adhered to, which I found pleasing, as it was extremely frustrating back home.
Q: How about language – has it impacted your experience living in Sweden?
A: I had the privilege of following a Swedish course at Stockholm University. Designed for those with English as their mother tongue, it proved to be advantageous. Swedish being a Germanic language like English certainly helped.
After nine months, I was able to follow a civil engineering course in Swedish at the Kungliga Tekniska högskolan (KTH Royal Institute of Technology).
In 1979, leading Swedish construction company Skånska Cementgjuteriet (later Skanska) came to our establishment as it needed civil engineers for the construction boom of the ’70s.
The added attraction was that it was tendering for Sri Lanka’s Kotmale hydropower project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), tipping the scales in Skanska’s favour over other companies.
I was fortunate to be posted in my country of birth on an expatriate contract, despite the minimum requirement of four years of home service prior to being sent on foreign assignments, thanks to my Sri Lankan heritage.
This was the beginning of an international career in large infrastructure projects – mainly hydropower – spanning Asia (Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India), Europe (Poland, Denmark and Greenland), and South and Central America (Peru and Panama).
I spent a couple of years in each country, interspaced by compulsory returns to my home base in Stockholm to avoid missing the latest construction industry developments.
FACT FILE
FAMILY
Wife – Rebecca
Daughter – Annelie (lives in Amsterdam – in the Netherlands)
Son – Jeremy (lives in Kent – in the UK)
SCHOOLING
Kindergarten in Badulla
Girls’ High School – Kandy
S. Thomas Preparatory School
S. Thomas’ College
HIGHER EDUCATION
Åsa Gymnasium
Kungliga Tekniska högskolan
PRESENT OCCUPATION
Consultant civil engineer
COUNTRIES OF RESIDENCE
Sweden
Sri Lanka
CITIES OF RESIDENCE
Stockholm
Colombo
CV IN A NUTSHELL
Born a twin in Colombo to a Burgher dad and Sinhalese mum, Jeffrey Wambeck lived in Badulla, Kandy, Bandarawela and Colombo, as his father was an electrical engineer posted in different parts of the island.
Wambeck represented his college in boxing, swimming and water polo, and attended two cadet camps in Diyatalawa and a jamboree as a Boy Scout.
He is a keen wildlife enthusiast, and has enjoyed tenting in many parts of Sri Lanka and overseas, hiking in the mountains of Sweden, skating on frozen lakes and cross-country skiing.