<p>Has anyone here ever been to or heard about what Sweden is like? I did a major research paper on it and I know about its economy and politics, etc...But culturally-wise what is like? What are the people like?</p>
<p>I have a family member moving there. I may visit over the summer.</p>
<p>bump 10 char</p>
<p>Hot chicks good soccer team</p>
<p>Sweden? Eh. Pretty good, but... eh.</p>
<p>"pretty good, but... eh"?</p>
<p>what else does anyone know? I'm very interested.</p>
<p>Hahaha, I've been hooked on their techno too.</p>
<p>I meant they're soccer team.</p>
<p>Sweden seems.. Sweater-y.</p>
<p>Does anyone know what people are like in Sweden? What are they like as opposed to Americans?</p>
<p>My sister is studying abroad there and she really likes it I think, well the people and the country. But she said she feels like she doesn't fit in because she is overweight and everyone there is like, thin and blonde...</p>
<p>i love anything scandinavian. i am a dane myself, so i am more fond of denmark obvioiusly. i am studying in denmark in a couple years.</p>
<p>sweden is very nice. nice cool weather. gorgeous in the summer. gorgeous people. they have a hotel made of ice...how cool is that?!</p>
<p>the only thing is that scandinavian countries are very very homogenous. everyone looks the same. denmark is slightly better because not EVERYONE is blonde haha (you will still find that there are A LOT of blondes), and there is a lot of ethnic diversity (at least in copenhagen).....and sweden is only a short flight or boat ride away...</p>
<p>sweden is flippin' awesome. very liberal. beautiful scenery, everyone's happy. tall.</p>
<p>My husband was born and raised there. He moved here when he was 18 and started his business.
He goes back every year. Sometimes I go, but not for a couple of years.
It is a beautiful country. Very dark from about October to May, but then it is very light for the remaining warmer months ( well, not that warm )
We were there last as a family during the end of May, and were pretty impressed with the sun setting at 11pm and rising at 4 am ! And even less during the actual summer months.
The people there are a little more reserved, if they don't know you, but overall a lot more liberal that Americans , and I don't mean politically.</p>
<p>They do a lot of socializing , and their parties are very festive, with games ,singing and schnopps like shots.</p>
<p>It is a custom to NOT wear your shoes in the house. You are expected to take them off it the door.
Most people there under the age of 60 or so speak English, which comes in handy.
They are big on coffee, and I think a lot of people smoke , from what I have seen.
They eat pork a lot and fish ( a lot of herring )
Not everyone is blonde, but they seem more fit overall as compared to Americans. That is most likely because they do walk more and bike more..cars are so much more expensive, as is their gas prices that they simply do not drive like we do and they tend to keep cars much longer than we do here. Funny, our nieces, who are blonde , color their hair dark. Some of their services are so much more expensive there than what we pay, such as haircuts and other salon type services.
Drinking is handled much differently there..kids drink,with some limits, but not a big issue. No one, and I mean no one ever gets behind the wheel of a car when drinking...not even a beer with dinner. They are very conscious of this as they can lose their license permanantly. They can even be checked the morning after a night of partying.
Our country could take a few of their customs on, when it comes to this issue.
Some of their major cities have some major issues with their immigrants and not very safe to be in as a result..
Very few people attend church any longer ( Lutheran )
Marriage isn't as common as cohabitation anymore, and it is not a big deal to them.</p>
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Some of their major cities have some major issues with their immigrants and not very safe to be in as a result..
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i hear immigrants are 'well-treated,' as the tax is high?</p>
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Marriage isn't as common as cohabitation anymore, and it is not a big deal to them.
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i agree..also with most of what you said..</p>
<p>Their taxes are indeed very high.. I think some of the immigrants get better care in terms of medicine than the older citizens do. There are some pretty serious issues with clashes between immigrants and the native Swedes, as well as amongst each other. There has been a huge spike in violent crimes in recent years, mostly from the immigrant population.</p>
<p>A lot of my husband's family and friends have seen it first hand..a lot changed when the European Union was formed, making it easier for Europeans to travel from one country to the next. They have had issues with Polish people and Russians breaking into businesses ( easy to come into town by ferry ) and stealing anything from toilets to fax machines. Those are more nuisance that anything</p>
<p>Yeah, but isn't Sweden (i know Denmark and England are) one of the few EU countries that still hold some limits on its cooperation with the other countries. i know there is a lot of bitterness among these nations because they want to be their own country instead of a conglomeration of european nations...</p>
<p>i think they keep their currency and policies and everything. and i do know that although their taxes are very high, they are content with that. they live simply and modestly which is much much different from their American counterparts!</p>
<p>oh and scandinavians love their fish, cheese, and alcohol! :]</p>
<p>jackht27,
Although the taxes are very high, they do seem content. They don't know any other way. They do still use their own currency. They do live more modestly than most Americans I know, but it is funny the things they do choose to buy when they come over here. Even with the rate exchange between the dollar and Krona or Euro, they have their vices that they just have to but here...a little cheap in some ways, that need to be corrected when they visit us here in the US.</p>
<p>my german friend stayed with me over the fall. he was on a mission to find jeans and a new backpack for school!</p>
<p>it is funny. it's just that things that we are so used to having are so expensive over there and almost unattainable for some people... </p>
<p>to the OP. Scandinavia is a wonderful place with lots of incredible culture. it is not to be missed.</p>
<p>it's my heritage and i love it. ;]</p>
<p>Are they smart? I know this is a pretty vague question...I know they enjoy reading and the nature.</p>