I moved to Sweden in August to start my Master’s programme at Linköping University, and as two and a half amazing months have passed, I have been able to start getting a grasp of some peculiarities of Sweden and the Swedes.
It is important to highlight though, that I live in a small student city called Norrköping so, my experience might not be the same as that of a person living in bigger cities such as Stockholm or Gothenburg. And, of course, my reference points are the places where I have lived until now.
However, it is very interesting to be living in a country which has had such good press around the world because now I am able to experience it first-hand and debunk the myths that surround it, unless … they are not all myths after all.
Fika and work-life balance
There is no way to talk about Sweden without talking about Fika because it is an important part of their gastronomy and almost a philosophy; it’s like the Swedish version of Hakuna Matata. Fika is a Swedish tradition that means you make a pause (or more than one) during your day to enjoy something sweet and relax. So, if you have a sweet-tooth, Sweden will definitely feel like heaven!
Every restaurant, supermarket, café and even gas stops have a selection of pastries that never disappoint. I am personally obsessed with kanelbullar, and you might see it and think: well, it’s just a cinnamon roll. That’s what I thought, but it is not just any cinnamon roll. It is very likely the best cinnamon roll you’ll ever taste in your lifetime.
This is a tradition that already tells us a lot about how important time off is for Swedish people, and I believe that a common stereotype about the Nordics is that they are more relaxed, live a slower life, prioritize their well-being and so on. So, maybe my perception will change after some more time living here, and maybe a local could argue that this is not the case. But this has been the vibe I’ve been getting as an outsider and it’s something I really appreciate because this has allowed me to live in a slower way myself.
Kindest people on earth?
I don’t think politeness is a widespread stereotype that people connect with Swedes.
On the contrary, there is a big misconception about people from northern countries being cold and distant. I totally disagree.
I must say that until now, I have the impression that Swedes like to keep their distance when it comes to deeper relationships, but are extremely kind and polite in public settings, even to me as a non-Swedish speaker. I might have mentioned in previous posts that, based on my experience, the Irish were the kindest people in the world. But I must admit that the Swedes might be able to dethrone the Irish as my No. 1 very soon.
Furthermore, I have also been amazed by how fluent Swedish people are in English! In some countries, there is a generational variation. So, for example, it is not uncommon to find older German people who are not able to speak English, which is completely fine and understandable. In Sweden, however, everyone I have interacted with, no matter their age, is able to communicate comfortably in English, which is making my stay here way easier, although learning the basics of Swedish is still within my plans.
Definitely not a tapas and wine culture
When compared to places such as Portugal or Spain, where there is a bar in every corner, life in Norrköping can feel a bit lonely since enclosed hanging-out spaces that are open in the evening are not too common. I have realized that after fika, which is a moment to socialize, people tend to go home or to their individual activities that include going to the gym, walking their dog or going for a walk.
However, in the case that people do want to hang out, this tends to happen at someone’s home and not necessarily in a bar. In their defense, Swedish homes are the coziest I have ever seen, so if your house looks so nice, it would only make sense to always invite your friends over.
I also believe that a big part of this is related to how expensive alcohol is in Sweden. Here, like in Finland and Norway, it is not possible to buy alcoholic drinks in supermarkets. Instead, there is a state-owned company called Systembolaget which holds a monopoly on alcoholic drinks. They are very strict on age verification and are not open until late hours which has been motivated by a set of increasingly restrictive policies that aim to reduce alcohol consumption.
So, if you are coming from a country such as Portugal or Germany where you can get a beer as a part of your McMenu, the Swedish system might be a bit shocking.
Overall, I must say that I am absolutely in love with living in Sweden and both the country and its people have exceeded all my expectations. The only negative thing, even for me not being a fan of sweet things, is that I’ve had to increase my daily exercise to compensate for the amazing pastries that I’m eating everyday.
No regrets, though!
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Read more about Sweden here in Dispatches’s archives.
Mónica da Silva is half-Venezuelan, half Portuguese and has lived in Venezuela, Portugal, Spain and Germany. She has studied linguistics and has a Bachelor’s Degree in European Studies. Besides contributing to Dispatches, she works remotely as an English teacher, which allows her to be on the move as often as she wants.
