Neil met a Swede and moved to be with him. The idea was to come for one year but one year became two, then 5 and now 20!
Swedes
الدليل الاجتماعي لفهم السويديين
في معظم الثقافات حول العالم، كل الناس لديهم عادات وبعض الأشياء الغريبة التي تكون منطقية تمامًا في بلد المعين، لكن ذلك يمكن أن يكون مربكا بالنسبة لقادم جديد. السويديون ليسوا استثناء ولديهم بعض رموز نمط الحياة التي يمكن أن تكون جيدة للمبتدئين في السويد التي يجب التعرف عليها. كمبتدئ، قد يكون من الصعب في بعض […]
Most common mistakes Newbies make
Getting used to living in another country can be quite difficult and you might be making some mistakes. Swedes have some “rules” that no one tells you about, but can do wrong many times. Are you doing something wrong? Paying in cash Sweden has the most beautiful banknotes in the world (literally), yet they actually don’t really want you […]
How you know it’s spring in Sweden
Spring in Sweden is here! It’s finally happening: days are getting longer, blue skies, it’s getting warmer and warmer and Swedes start to crawl out of their shells! You may have noticed that there are some significant differences happening in Sweden this time of the year. You see people standing everywhere in just the smallest […]
The social guide to understanding Swedes
In most cultures across the globe, people have habits and quirks that make perfect sense in that particular country but that can totally baffle a newbie. Swedes are no exception and have certain lifestyle codes which can be good for newbies in Sweden to keep track of. As a newbie, it can sometimes be hard […]
Expectations vs reality in Sweden
Expectations vs reality in Sweden can be a bit of a shock an eye opener when you arrive. What you thought was a universal truth may not at all be the case, while other expectations hold totally true. Expectation: Sweden is expensive Reality: Yes, Sweden is more expensive than many countries, but it’s definitely not […]
The Swedish attitude to weather
However much I have lived abroad and worked with people from all over the world, I am still painfully Swedish, especially when it comes to my relationship to weather. And I am not only talking about going for a walk in rain without grasping the absurdity such a stupid enterprise. I am talking about the fact that right […]
When will spring arrive to Sweden?
Spring in Sweden is profoundly looked forward to every year! There is no fixed date for the first day of spring. Instead, SMHI (svenskt metrologiskt och hydrologiskt institut), who is in charge of Swedish weather and climate, defines the start of spring as seven consecutive days with rising temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius […]
The Swedish enthusiasm for races
Swedish races of all shapes and forms are a staple in the life of many Swedes. The beginning of the year, to me, equals with optimism: Longer days, a fresh start, a pretty-much empty diary waiting to be filled with exciting opportunities and of course the new years resolution. I’m definitely not alone in promising […]
Are Swedes really shy and reserved?
When asked about a national character, almost any newbie – or oldie, is likely to describe the typical Swede as shy, reserved and almost uninterested in human contact. Although everyone is a unique individual, and generalising is always a risky pursuit, I believe this topic might be worth investigating, bearing in mind the limits of […]
