Summer "semester" in Sweden

Warning! This post is a bit random, but sometimes one thought just leads to another...

On the bike trip home from work today I had to stop and watch the construction of the new walk/bike bridge over the river. I think it will be very beautiful. It's made of wood and wires. We have companies in our town that builds large bridges and high-rise of wood instead of concrete. I only have one more day at work before the summer holiday will start and this semester is over. But in Swedish we call holiday "semester"! So here, everybody looks forward to this word now because it means so much, hopefully with traveling, visiting friends and family or time in a country house.

Now when I use two languages I've began to think about different words sometimes. The Swedish language has taken many English words like in sports, technology and especially all about computers. But there are also words that I think has followed the Vikings to England and also the European immigrants to the US. During the years some of the words has change a bit and that will maybe explain why the word "semester" means different things.

Another word I've thought about is the Swedish word for purple that is "lila" which is very close to the English word for lilac. I think that's just perfect for a purple-fan like me who loves lilacs and have four different shades in the garden growing close together.