Sometimes I go crazy in Sweden. It just drives me bonkers. Any place that one lives in long enough would drive you insane but there are days when I really wonder if Swedes are mentally okay in the head. Here are my ten reasons why I hate Sweden because I can bitch and whine just like any other Swede.
1. Fitted bedsheets that aren’t fitted. WTH? These Swedish bedsheets look like table clothes, they barely fit on the bed. I want a real sheet that covers the bed and doesn’t fall off when I toss and turn while sleeping.
2. Whiny Swedes; stop complaining about the weather! We know the weather is terrible and we know it’s dark for 3 full months but stop bitching. It’s shitty weather in NY, Maine, Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, and Ontario. They don’t whine all day about 30 inches of show, blasting blizzards every two weeks, -20F weather (that is minus 30C for those needing metric), and the need for studded tires in the winter. Suck it up Swedes, the more you complain, the worse life will be for you. Stop bitching about the glass being have empty and the weather being dark and cold. You’re a goddamn viking, be one!
3. System Bolaget. Monopolies are bad. Unnatural monopolies are even worse. Unnatural monopolies created by and run by the government is worst. Unnatural alcohol monopolies created by and run by the government is really really creepy. People who believe that it’s okay for their government to run a monopoly and “trust” their government wholeheartedly, are insane.
4. The shitty selection at the alcohol monopoly stores. YES, your choices suck. If you think you get a good selection of alcohol, you are from Mars. And ordering beer from the catalog? Are you nuts, are we doing 1890s Sears mail orders? Should I also order my drill set, bedsheets, and a toaster? Sorry to bust it to the Swedes, but if you have no taste in beer, I don’t trust your selection of other alcohols either.
5. No one has responsibilities; Swedish socialism. the government treats Swedes as a bunch breast sucking eternal babies. Grow up! Make decisions on your own! Give people the opportunity to take control and be responsible for their actions. O_o
6. Wearing horrible fashionable clothes. The 1980s fashion died for a reason, let it be dead. Leggings, stupid looking t-shirts, big belts, and oversized hobo bags make you like a bag lady not a classic lady. Stop looking like a douche from Flashdance.
7. Fear from others. It’s okay to speak to a stranger every once in a while. It won’t kill you; honestly I promise. Actually helping someone carry groceries or opening a door may be considered by some people to be courteous. OMG, what a concept! Being nice to others. I didn’t say you have to be a friendly cherub, just some common sense and a little smile. Might also help to stop whining too.
8. Idiotic Stockholm drivers. You guys suck ass. Why the hell spends thousands to get a drivers license when obviously in Stockholm it is okay to:
Go down a one way street the wrong way
Refuse to yield at a cross walk
Speed in the innerstaden area
Make illegal left turns on red
Park your car on the sidewalk and take up all the space
Make illegal right turns on red
Drive backwards for at least 100meters to only get back into the intersection and turn around to go the other way
Run people over in the middle of the crosswalk. Do you asshats have eyes or buttons?
9. Sucky Swedish beers. Sweden cannot make beer. They produce filter pee with malt flavoring and call it beer. I find it nauseating. How can Swedes drink such nasty stuff. There are days I feel that Miller or Budweiser beer tastes better than all these nasty Stockholm City, Pripps Blå, Lapin Kulta, Spendrups, and other various disgusting concoctions of alcoholic beverages.
10. An everything is better in Sweden attitude. No, your country is not awesome. You’re just damn lucky that millions of people aren’t running through the borders and that you live too far up north on Earth for anyone to give a shit to take over. (Unless you’re Norway, in that case I heard it is okay) Stop giving me the “in sweden we have this system and it works better because…”
11. American bashing. Probably because I am American, I get to hear all the complaints about Americans from the Swedes.
‘Why do you guys sue each other all the time?’ Because we have different legal system, it’s based on checks and balances and the right to challenge authority.
‘Why is there no universal health care?’ Agree, we suck there; I assert responsibility to the powerful pharmaceutical industry.
‘Why do you have checks at the bank?’ Because we fucking do.
‘Why does American have to such a large army?’ Because we want to be a hegemonic state and well, we like big toys.
What’s your “I hate Sweden” story? We’ll give the Swedes a happy post later on why we love Sweden, but for now, it’s time for Sweden bashing.
My “I hate Sweden” story:
Endless debate with my Swedish roommates on Nutella (& peanut butter). I just don’t get why Nutella is put on the baking section of supermarkets instead next to the jams. Hello, isn’t it obvious that Nutella’s label has a picture of a bread being spread with the oh-so-good hazelnut spread!
Yesterday a wise lady told me that the Oreos in Sweden and the US are not the same. That’s another thing that sucks.
@Natasha I love Nutella! And the package says it’s supposed to go on bread and be eaten for breakfast.
@natalie – damn those Oreo makers. It’s like M&M’s, not the same either.
:O They are not the same??
Why are they giving the American candy a Scandinavian touch??
Indeed! I understood that the M&Ms got a new recipe because the food dyes were not safe for the Swedish market. So the Swedish government saved us all from terrible doom and gave us safer M&M candies. ;)
2. If you’re from Sweden, complaining about the weather is what gets you through the day, so no, it’s impossible to stop, sorry.
5. Totally agree with you there, please, let me grow up.
6. As an American, you really don’t get to comment on fashion, cus everytime I’m there it makes me cry. While the parts of the 80’s are trendy here AGAIN the US hasn’t really moved past 1998 when it comes to fashion. (I even got handpicked on the street in NY by Complex magazine because I had soo trendy clothes, same clothes most Swedes wear, and yes true story.)
8. Yes, drivers in Stockholm do really suck, and it’s only because everyone thinks they are better than everyone else, so it justifies driving backwards 100 m (I mean, everyone is driving the wrong way if I’m driving backwards, right?)
9. I’m not really a beer kinda guy, but since beer from the US tastes like water it’s okey to drink (some brands tastes like lukewarm piss though.)
10. In case you hadn’t noticed, millions of people ARE running through the border. More than 1 million of Swedens 9 are made up of immigrants and more are coming. And of course we think our system is better, otherwise we wouldn’t use it. You obviously think that the American way is better. Take Systembolaget as an example of our different opinions.
11. And yes, if you are the biggest and most powerful nation on earth with politics and an economy that effects most of the planets population you will have to endure more bashing than the rest of us. You will probaly have to endure that in most countries, not just in Sweden. Plus, I got kinda bashed in the US for not participating in the 2nd world war (yes, still) and not fighting with you and saving the planet in Iraq and Afganistan (we take all refugees though.) And most Americans I’ve spoke to think that Sweden is the capital of Germany or a part of Russia, so you’ll have to excuse us for the bashing.
Fun blog to read though and don’t take everything I wrote too serious! ;)
@erik – glad you’re enjoying the blog, be good to hear your opinion on dating in sweden on some of the other posts. =)
As for the case of immigration in Sweden, I don’t think any country has it figured out. But credit should be given to Sweden for bringing in more refugees from the Iraq war than any other country. Because America did suck for accepting a few refugees.
And for Bolaget, it’s not about the American system or even the Swedish system (as other countries have alcohol monopolies), it’s about free market and freedom of choice. And it’s about avoiding artificial monopolies controlled by the government, that just doesn’t sit right.
Unorganized ramble
Dont really mind the Systembolaget. Dont have much more to say really :) It’s been there for along time.
About swedish beer.. well i got a few brands that i think is decent, though ive tasted alot better ones in say germany. Then again, whenever i go abroad and taste any of the water outside Sweden i think the water totally is worthless and taste like how i imagine used toilet water might taste. So it might just be all about getting used to it. Once you are addicted to the taste, everything will work itself out :) Just like swedish candy, love it. Marabou/Frazer/Malaco is awesome, and all the weight candy we got is also alot better than any other country ive tasted at least. Same with the chips, that is Estrella(not OLW). Then again ive never been in america, though i have been in China and an american international school so i got a idea what kind of candy you guys eat.
About American bashing… Well i can truthfully say that i got as much prejudices against 08ors(stockholmers) as i got against the swedish american stereotype of a religious, trigger happy, ignorant and stupid american. Dont take the prejudices that serious, but they are still there >.<
welcome to culture shock!
cheers!
Oh you are having one of those days! Been there many times myself over the last 20 months and I am sure I still will.
But you know somedays I take a walk or a bike ride and really appreciate the nature here or the architecture and it dawns on me that its worth all the bad stuff just to be able to go out and appreciate what Stockholm has to offer.
But just for you and in keeping with your blog post. My pet hate…
Why dont Swedes wait in the line at the bus stop? Why do some go straight to the front of the queue. It rude and shows no respects to the folks who have been waiting longer than you!!!
1. Systembolaget. Extremely inconvenient. If I want to buy alcohol on a Saturday evening, why the hell can’t I? (I used to think that the word ‘nannystate’ only applied to the UK) Moreso, whatever happened to picking up a crate of beers when they are on special offer and saving them for a rainy day?
2. Apoteket. It’s expensive, the choice is massively limited. A bit like Systembolaget really! Also – why can’t I get ‘cold and flu’ sachets or co-codamol without a prescription?
3. People freaking out over their bus being one minute late (or early). Your transport system is amazing. Stop complaining!
Native swede. Agreeing with you. On ever single count. Well, sort of on the crappy
beer since all of the named ones truly deserve a bashing, but we do have some sweet micro brewery stuff although the nicest ones never make it to Systembolaget because, as you pointed out, that institution sucks balls in the worst of ways.
You are so funny. I was thinking of visiting Sweden in November, but maybe not if it is going to be -20F degrees!
Two of my biggest pet hates in Sweden;
1, open mouth coughing and sneezing on public transport, this is unforgivable. Swine flu will inevitably bring the nation to it’s knees based around this very point. You need to catch it, bin it and kill it, come on Sweden clean up your act!
Find more info here
2, Train etiquette, people here seem to be scared that they’ll be left behind if they don’t charge forward at the people trying to get off the train, weird indeed but true. At first I thought this can only be a minority, maybe some poor suckers with mummy daddy issues, but no, every man and his dog (literally) are doing this. In Japan you can go to jail for such behavior and I think they should start it here too.
Form a orderly queue (kö in Swedish) wait for the little monkeys to get off and then proceed to get on the train, it’s not that hard!
The only things I can agree on are number 8 (Idiotic Stockholm drivers.)
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Maybe I should check my comments before posting.
I would love to write a ‘things I hate about Switzerland’ post actually… perhaps you have inspired me to do so! ha! ;) Saw you via the BlogHer link on my blog. Nice site!
One thing I hate about Sweden is the lack of diversity (and the fact that sometimes Swedes seem to be proud of it). I’ve noticed that while walking in Stockholm: always the same shops each 50 meters (H&M, Stadium, Jack Jones, McDonald’s, Systembolaget, 7-eleven, etc) selling the same merch as the one before, with people dressing and behaving almost everytime in the same way and so on. Obviously, the fact that many Swedes look like each other didn’t help to avert this sensation, on the contrary it increased it. Sometimes I ironically thought they mass produce themselves.
In your blog you make it clear that you pretty much hate Sweden and Swedes so why don’t you just leave then?
@ Dr Niklas – are you really a doctor? =) Yes, crappy beer on the whole. I did find a couple good beers at the SmakLust this weekend but that probably accounts for 5% of the whole beer population.
@Chloe – upstate New York is -20 in the winter; Stockholm is -5… way big difference. But you should definitely visit.
@moneyboy – teehee, you always make laugh.
@. – when approving your comments at first, i couldn’t understand why there were three comments for one, then i giggled when i read them.
@Jessica – Yes, you should write a “i hate a switzerland” post. a little bashing is always fun.
@Stefano – Ditto. Quite possible that on any given Friday night all Swedes head to random shitty bar. Their clothes were bought from H&M and TopShop, their makeup from Face, and their shoes from some failed ballet store. After getting drunk on stor stark (normally terrible Spendrups), they all head to 7-Eleven to have a räkkorv. If they’re lucky enough to get laid, they will be using a condom from Profil. The day after, the Swedes will be at a Coffeehouse by George discussing the events of the night before and head to Coop/ICA on their way home to buy potatis, ost, and mjölk.
… reproduce via photocopy machine. =)
@Sven – Nope, don’t hate Sweden, just idiots like you who don’t bother to read the sarcasm and humor.
About Swedish beer: There are some really good Swedish microbreweries making excellent beers. Try something from Oppigårds, Oceanbryggeriet, Nynäshamns Ångbryggeri, Dugges, Närkes Kulturbryggeri, just to name a few.
Unfortunately, most people are still drinking crap lager (isn’t that the case with most Americans too, though?), but I think this microbrewery moment is growing stronger and stronger!
Sweden is heaven. I know this because every shop in stockholm is H&M or Lush or a interior design shop. Foodwise I really liked those lingon pie things and that sort of fish potato pudding (laks) and that hurry curry place. I live in france so I think
swedish people are very friendly and very trendy. America is a bit like the slobs version of europe from what I can remember (“budweiser is a eal good awesome beer”..yes, of course it is ..sigh)
What about their compulsive dependence from cell phones? In public transports and on the street everybody is busy writing messages and talking to someone. I have never seen people using cell phones so much like here. I am wondering how they could live without before…
I agree! I also agree with Stefano about the lack of diversity.
Another thing I hate is that some Swedes stare at you, and when you notice and smile or nod at them, they look at the ground frowning. Seriously how hard can it be to simply smile! It’s not like I’m trying to be your best friend, I’m just trying to be polite and friendly.
I also hate that Swedish people always say that they love meeting new people, but when they are in situations where meeting new people would be possible (social gatherings etc.) they are to shy to talk to anyone they don’t know. That is, until they get drunk, then they’ll talk to you. It’s like Swedes live by some unwritten rules, that I haven’t been informed about.
Of course, all Swedes aren’t like this, some are very friendly and open, and it’s a great country to live in in many ways, but I still want to leave :(
Sarah, do you mean to say that there are places in the world where there aren’t unwritten rules? Of course we live by unwritten rules. They may not always be understandable to outsiders. From an outsider perspective they may even be bad rules. But it has taken us a hundred generations to develop these rules and they’re our rules, dag nab it!
…still, I suppose that if someone’s been “caught” intruding on your privacy, the least they could do is smile back. However, while I can see how that would be polite, shame is a VERY important part of the Swedish psyche. As is the right of privacy in public.
Great list! Especially:
5. No one has responsibilities
6. Wearing horrible fashionable clothes
10. An everything is better in Sweden attitude
What I most hate are the sink stoppers! You would think the Swedes could design a useful sink stopper, and not a rubber flap that falls out every 3 seconds.
And let’s not talk about the inability of companies to fire incompetent and lazy employees…
hey there! So happy to see your blog and as I am one of those love-to-take-a-poke-at-a-swede bloggers ( not all the time , just more often than not) THIS just thrilled me.
OK, my absolute faves- ‘ because your list is hilarious!
1.) I go back to the US of A, I BUY FITTED sheets- nice real stuff 400 count instead of Hemtex’s “satin”( crap) ones… I show the Swedes in min familje how to use them, and make them feel the nice fabric. Darned if I don’t turn around and find the crappy ( my guess 90 count!?) cotton tablecloths back on their beds if they do the wash and I don’t. and yes, I find them all scrunched up and off all but one side,leaving the poly/cotton covered mattress “top?”-(whazzat!?) exposed ..don’t even get me going. HOW they can sleep like this is beyond me..beyond me…..
4.) System Bolaget- and their”selection”- yes it DOES STINK! totally, and what’s to it, you can supposedly simply “order” any thing you want and they’ll get it for you…..right. like I was a wine bottle label collector in my former life( wish that I had been!) I just like good wines! I don’t have to be a freak about it,do I!?
No idiot anyone arranges wines by PRICE! geesh! PRICE!? A brave editor took this up in a recent edition of the Goteborg’s Posten. I was so excited! will he start something – a movement- an outrage- protests? to stop this!?
Never heard any more afterwards..bet the poor bloke was fired…..
10. ) Everything is better in Sweden..min bonus-sonner is perfect at this. At the age of 19 he thinks everything here is “one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world”.Heard it a million times from him….. but the best was the other day: he announced to me that he definitely plans on growing old and APPARENTLY dying here….saying that he had decided( yes, already!?what da hell you thinkin’ about THIS at your age!?) that when he gets way old ,that he wants to go and die in the same old somewhat ratty nursing home that his 80 year old FarMor is in….because , you guessed it:”It’s one of the best in sweden…..”
well, honey, with any luck ,it’ll still be there in….. oh, another 60 years!
FABULOUS POST ! FABULOUS!
Jacob, I see your point and I agree that there are other places than Sweden where people live by unwritten rules; I was only saying that I have yet to understand all of the Swedish rules, maybe that’s just my problem.
I don’t see how someone smiling at you could be an invasion of your public privacy and if that’s how the Swedish psyche works then it should be added to the list…
First off monopoly is good when it works and in Sweden it dose, whould never work in the us becuse of the interest groups paying your politician. And second American beers have no taste come on :)
I really like monopolies, and I think Systembolaget is very good compared to foreing liquor-stores I’ve been to. And Swedish fashion is not boring, on the contrary I think that Swedish people dress very well. Well I’m glad I haven’t moved to USA, since a list about stuff I hate with that country would take days to write :)
@Sparkles – Thanks for the tips, will definitely check out those beers.
@Denis – I never noticed, but you’re totally right. I think people use phones so much so they don’t have to talk to ’strangers’
@sarah – It is ironic that if Swedes say they want to meet new people and then they do nothing at a party (where foreigners are present), it seems to go in the wrong direction of “making new friends.”
Yes, Sweden does have a lot of unwritten rules, many I am trying to figure out too.
@Karen – I never noticed the price arrangement at bolaget! THAT is weird. Usually it’s by region or varietal followed by wine guide points and lastly followed by priced (cheapest on bottom shelf). The mere fact that bolaget arranges all their wine by price and mentions NOTHING about the ranking the wine, says a lot about the “awesome selection” of wine.
@Langenbrunner – How is the monopoly successfully working? I really don’t know so please enlighten us.
@Martin – It’s a good thing you haven’t moved to the US then.
And with that, I’ll smile to my Swedes. =)
What about the absolute lack of customer service, everywhere, and absolutely incompetent, bitchy salespeople with the I.Q. of drunken hedgehogs?
Two incidents this month:
One, my sambo bought me the wrong size panties at H&M. I wanted to return them (with the tag on, and a receipt, within 2 weeks). Never wore them, and they were 99 crowns. Not cheap, at all. I wanted to exchange them for my actual size, and the sales lady actually said, “That is disgusting! Of course we cannot let you return panties!” I tried to explain the situation, and she was noticeably upset. Maybe this is common in Sweden, but I have never experienced being bitched at by a saleswoman in the USA before.
Incident number two: I bought a racetrack at BR Leksaker. It did not work. I returned it within 3 weeks, and they refused to take it back until I fought with them for 45 minutes, and then they would only give me store credit, even though they told me when I bought it that I could get my money back if it didn’t work (it was very expensive). The reason they refused? I had to have two separate receipts with me, even though the sales lady I originally bought it from only gave me one. I told them that, and they said, “But she should have known better, which means it must be your fault.” Wow.
Incident number three (from about 3 months ago): I bought an overpriced, crap-quality (as all clothes in Sweden are), made-from-rice-paper (basically) dress at Lindex. It came unraveled in the back, as the seams were improperly sewn, and it was also faded on the back, which I did not notice at first. I went to return it at Lindex, and the sales lady actually said, “Are you kidding me? How are we to know you did not do this yourself?!” So I asked her if she thought that I had intentionally undone the seam and bleached the back or something to make it lighter. She told me they could not help me.
While we’re on it: where did this myth about Swedish-made things being “of the best quality” come from? At any rate, it must have come before the age of sewn-by-monkeys clothes made out of toilet paper and IKEA assemble-it-yourself furniture that lacks character and falls apart within a year.
Also…what about people that are extremely rude for absolutely no reason at all whatsoever? (This is not only in Sweden, but I find it happens more often here than in any of the other places I have lived).
Incident from yesterday:
I was in a café with a work group. We had rented out a room for ourselves, and a random couple walked in and sat down at our table. I told them that they were welcome to sit there, but that it was probably going to be less-than-comfortable for them, since we were going to get loud during the meeting. I told them we had another table reserved outside the private room they were welcome to use, at which point they mumbled a string of obscenities at me and called me “worthless”. Then, when the meeting DID get loud (as I had warned them it would), they left.
I have to disagree with the woman above who said that she thinks that Swedes are “friendly”. I have not met very many genuinely friendly Swedes. I think that Swedes can be cordial (when they want to be, which they sometimes are), but I think they are rarely truly friendly. I am here because my sambo does not have his green card for the USA yet. As soon as he gets it (or a job anywhere else…in almost any other country on Earth) we are gone.
That said, I really like the affordability of medical care here. And the buses are very nice and they come on time. Also, it is nice that education is virtually free, even at the higher levels. I think that all countries on Earth should adopt those three things. I wish that those three things were enough to make up for all the b.s. I have put up with in this country, but they are not.
Jessica B- The procedure of the sales people in all 3 examples seems quite standard for even where I live and have visited. I’ll agree the couple with the obsenities seems odd. I myself am quite happy with my IKEA furnature I have no problems with it, if anything I enjoy the self assembly(i know i must be strange) Good luck with your hasty exit, its never good to have to live somewhere that doesn’t agree with you. As for things I hate, well I still have to visit Sweden and see about that. Sorry to say this Sapphire most of those hates are a reality in my life too and don’t bother me except the idiot drivers(i cycle)but as for your last hate, and this might be just me, I think should sometimes be a televised sport, no offense intended.
Jessica B – That is just nuts. You’ve really had some horrible experiences, no matter where you are in the world.
Possibly, though not a big help, write to the corporate office, especially for Lindex. You’ve inspired me to write a post for everyone to share terrible customer service experiences in the hopes of raising awareness.
Jen – hehe, you reminded me of the ikea fail site (can’t remember the url now). I understand what you mean that it could be entertaining to do some America bashing, but sometimes people just spend insulting America without admitting to problems in their own country.
You live in stockholm right? Stockholm is a beautiful city but i understand that you easily get a lot of negative aspects of sweden if you spend too much time there. It’s the only “real city” in sweden so of course a lot of things are different. You should try going down to Skåne instead, in my opinion people in general are more open minded and continental there..
Swedes are not friendly and do not smile.
I was in Nice last October for a conference during Höstlov. During the daily breakfast there were many children and their parents there (They were having their fall break in France as well). Every morning we got smiles and hellos and bonjours from many of the kids and their parents. On our 2nd to final day at the table across from us sat a couple with a young boy. When the young lad looked over I smiled and waved. What I got in return was a blank stare that seemed to question my behavior. I jokingly told my (Swedish) husband, “Oh they must be Swedish!” And guess what? Yep they were, and from Skåne at that!
To Erik: I’ a NYer born and raised. Complex Magazine certainly does not set the standard nor trend. In addition, I have also lived in Paris. Want really fashion go to real clothing shops in NY, go to Paris, London and Italy and Hamburg. Certainly NOT Sweden.
Sapphire: No one takes responsibility and they trust their government blind! Yes as Americans we love a conspiracy theory and we are paranoid.
Karen: Hilarious about the sheets! When I moved I came with 15 boxes of bed and bath linen and my husband’s step mother has stolen my fitted flannel sheets (notice how you cannot get flannel bed linen here?). Must admit by “bonus” kids like them.
“Bonus” kids? Um, a bonus is normally a good thing. does not always work when they’re Swedish tweens and teenagers! The bonus son seems to think that getting drunk at 15 is not a big deal!
Jessica B: yes it is nice to have free education but I know first hand that the system here lacks a great deal. Kids are NOT graded until the 8th year (so they are 15 when they get graded for the first time in their lives) and the system moves them on to the next grade irrespective of the fact that some are failing. Then it’s a big shock when they do not get “VGs”. I once told my 9th year class that none of them had the standard of knowledge to actually get a passing grade in a NYC, British or French school and they told me I was rude. I now teach “modersmal English” to kids whose parents do not complaining about the homework I give nor the discipline I demand. Of course, by the time they are at university the kids who want to work and get good grades do: every year I have a class of final year engineering university students who never fail to impress!
Ahh Americans whining about Swedens is always a blast.
The majority of you guys
1. Don’t speak the language
2. Are too ignorant or retarded to even make the effort to learn the language
3. Instead of adapting to the Swedish society learning the language, the culture etc. you just whine and whinge like the ignorant twats you are
How about learning the language, stop asking questions like (hey this isn’t like in the USA) instead of trying to understand and adapt to the society.
And wtf the girl whining about that she couldn’t return a pair of panties?? Are you fucking serious? You never return panties or any underwear for that matter it’s absolutely disgusting, and if you think that a pair 100kr panties are expensive I’m quite sure that your just as trashy as the American stereotype which keeps on flying around the globe.
And the funniest thing is that most of you haven’t even been outside of Stockholm. IT’S THE SWEDISH CAPITAL, it’s an internationl city with a certain kind of “international people” how about travelling through the country? Truly experiencing Sweden.
But that’s right since you can’t speak the language I guess that would be hard for you. Heck I might try to speak only French the next time i visit the USA.
Idiots.
I’m happily integrated into the Swedish society, I’ve been around and Sweden (not Stockholm) is by far (according to me) the best country in the world. I couldn’t wish to live anywhere else.
If you aren’t prepared to learn the language and adapt to the society, just get the fuck out. No one here wants a bunch of “hey I’m an adult but can only speak one language” ignorant retards running around in this country.
@ Niklas: woha, easy there tiger
Regarding the article:
Why you hatin’ on us girl? Alright, I’ll bite.
1. Fitted bedsheets that aren’t fitted. WTH?
Yes, they’re much better in USA. Even the IKEA-ones. :)
2. Whiny Swedes; stop complaining about the weather!
Wait, you’re whining about Swedes whining?
3. System Bolaget.
Well, I don’t know about trusting the government. I mean, the worst thing that could realistically happen is that we don’t get any booze. It’s not like they’re controlling the food supplies or anything. There’s a very good reason that systembolaget exists. Basically, we were all alcoholics in the 19th century.
I doubt that systembolaget will get to keep their monopoly for very long though.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systembolaget#History
4. The shitty selection at the alcohol monopoly stores.
Depends on which store you go to, but the largest ones have a pretty wide selection. If it’s not to your liking you can always order pretty much anything you want.
5. No one has responsibilities.
Welcome to socialism.
6. Wearing horrible fashionable clothes.
Yes, we need to impose some kind of fashion laws. Like the hair cut laws of North Korea. Seriously though, let people wear what they like.
7. Fear from others.
Well, do unto others and all that. I don’t want strangers to start talking to me. I simply don’t like it. So, I don’t start random ass conversations when I’m on the bus or whatever. It’s a culture thing, not saying anything is, if not “being nice”, at least the “correct” thing to do. When you’re being “American-nice” you’re not being “Swedish-nice”. Perhaps you should consider that.
That being said; we’re all individuals. Some like random conversations some don’t.
9. Sucky Swedish beers.
Oh yes. Swedish beer sucks copious amounts of ass. American beer is pretty terrible too, although arguably better. :)
10. An everything is better in Sweden attitude., 11. American bashing.
Yes, this is truly infuriating. No-one wants to hear that shit, people should stop it. Some do it more than others. You know who you are.
why don’t you just leave if it’s so horrible in sweden?
Is USA really that much better? just beacause it’s not like america it doesn’t mean it’s wrong, or is it?
we’ll it was kinda funny reading though, to see what other ppl think of sweden.
btw,
why don’t you just buy the correct size of bedsheets haha?
Well here’s some Swedish friendliness for you then: Just get the fuck out of here, it can’t be that hard, can it? It’s not like we need any more Americans who wont learn our language and can’t even sum up the wits to buy large enough bedsheets. We’ll do just fine without your friendly face around here… You probably haven’t even been outside of Stockholm, the city with the stiffest and most boring people of Sweden.
Does every country have to be like USA? What the hell, in Sweden socialism is not a forbidden word, people tend to be more shy (not necessarily a bad thing: I’d take Swedish shyness any day rather than haveing to endure some fucking loud American) and alchool is restricted. So what? Get over it or get to another of the countless capitalist-free market heaven countries. The world is full of them.
Swedes think everything is better in Sweden? Oh, I guess that’s crazy: I mean, I never heard an American saying that the American way is the best way. Never ever ever.
Finally, it’s always funny hearing about the deep distrust of governments that Americans have. It’s just impossible for them to think that there may be countries where citizens feel that the government is actually a representation of the people, so they trust their government. I guess it’s just another side of the “me first” American attitude. Europe has a pretty long tradition of democracy, and I’d say that our system works much better then the USA and the quality of life is quite higher; I really don’t think we need to become more “americanized”. Quite the opposite, actually.
Niklas, Simonize, and LutherB – Ironic to see that based on this one post you think I should “get the fuck out” of Sweden. Reminds me of the Americans who told dissidents of the Iraq War (back on 2002) to “go home” if they disagreed. Seems that some American traits, ignorance, has rubbed off on you.
I never said Sweden should be like America. I also never said capitalism is better than socialism. On top of it, I never said America is better. On the contrary, I believe in voicing what’s wrong with my country in the hope of change.
And what’s the deal; if I do or don’t speak the language, it has no bearing on my ability to criticize a country.
But I guess it’s okay to criticize America on everything and anything but not Sweden. Because pointing out problems in this country is well…not accepted?
Sweden!
God what a people!
The countryside is totally fantastic, pity about the inhabitants(of course I am generalising).
Swedes seem to think that the rest of the world will one day be the same as Sweden.
Swedes are the perfect people blond big beautiful and oh so phuqued up!
I am so glad that there are lots of foreigners coming to the whinging centre of the world.
Swedes cant do anything wrong. There are two ways of doing things in the world, no sorry, the known and unkown universe; the totally utterly wrong way and the Swedish way.
Swedes aren’t shy they are just phuqued up and are slowly, oh so slowly begining to realize that there is a world out there and they just might be doing something right. But, hey the person who’s doing has with all certaintity Swedish ancesters!
For a country with a population of nine million there are so many paragraph punchers and smart- ass “Gunillas and Saras” that it’s scary.
My tip to anyone who has any plans for visiting this anus of the world is dont!
Please dont!
For now, Systembolaget tops it all!!!!
What’s with people believing that Swedes think our country is the best and that we’re going to make the rest of the world as us? Flashnews, we don’t. Some people might, but there are people in other countries who’d say the same.
As for what @davo wrote, well we just think it’s cool if someone of success has Swedish ancestors, it’s not that we think they success because they have Swedish ancestors! And if you have plans on visiting Sweden, you should, I think it’s a beautiful country, but unless you like the cold, you shouldn’t go in the winter. July or June would probably be the best time to go, it’s the best weather then and Sweden has its most beauty.
As for the fashion, well that’d depend on what you’re used to, wouldn’t it? I’d bet anything I wouldn’t like the american fashion at first if I went there, or if I went to, say German. Then it’s also about your own taste, but people may wear what they want. :)
Okay, so all this about Swedes whining about the weather, WTF?! I very, VERY rarely hear anybody complaining about the weather, besides, I don’t think we’ve especially crappy weather, I could be warmer, but I like the changes.
Though I agree on the cellphone part, I usually ask myself even, how I (we) could ever have lived without them.
And you who was met by rude sales ladies, that has yet to happen to me (and I live here!) so I’m sure you’re just unlucky. But not all swedes are happy and polite, which I’ve gotten the feeling that most people seem to think. As we’re only humans we can also have bad days! :)
And lots of you’ve been complaining about smiling to people who doesn’t smile back. I always do. My friends always do. The majority of the random people I smile to does (I often smile to random strangers). But you might have been in Stockholm then, people tend to be a little more stressed there, I live a trainride away and it’s so different from where I live.
What I’m trying to say here is, Sweden most certainly isn’t the best country, no contry is, since all countrys has its flaws you just have to learn to live with them, but Sweden isn’t as bad as you’re making it seem. We in Sweden aren’t unusually polite or happy or anything, we have our culture which might make people see us in a special way, wheather or not they see us as rude or polite is another story, but as in any other country there are shy persons here, as well as outgoing ones. There are rude ones as well as there are polite ones.
Yeah, well it was fun to know what foreign people think of Sweden, just wish it’d been a little more positive! Peace out! :)
Davo – I would disagree about telling people to never visit. Sweden is a beautiful country and its cities are relatively the same because they have not seen war (cool because you can see how buildings evolved over time).
Lovisa – I dunno, I have met only one Swede who hasn’t complained about the weather. I agree that the weather here isn’t terrible, a bit dull and cold in the winter, but not bad. But I get fed up with people discussing, “omg it’s so cold and dark!!! I want to go somewhere warm.” Duh, it’s Sweden, what do you want from the poor country?
As for customer service, well like many European countries, it just doesn’t exist. I guess it’s not a bad thing if you’ve seen different, but honestly, if I’m going to spend 50, 100, 200, 400, or even 700kr for a meal, god damnit I deserve some politeness and courtesy.
As for fashion, ditto. But since Sweden sits as one of the more fashion forward countries, ugh, 80s fashion just is crap. Sorry, I grew up in the 80s, there is NOTHING good about the fashion from that decade. What that crap fashion arrived in the US in 2007, I cried. Hehe.
lolz
This 10 point is ridiculous. The first bad thing about Sweden is getting a fucking job when you don’t speak their language. Give me a fucking break why would I ever learn a language which spoken in 1 country on Earth? You can’t say the same about french or spanish.
Swedes are sly fucks, who living on the lands of milk and honey and have no idea about what’s like living in 2nd and 3rd world countries.
The second thing I hate about Sweden is that it’s fucking expensive. You spend like 1K sek in Stockholm during a day just for food and travel then they throw you a low wage salary cause you are just a fucking migrant oh and you pay almost half of it for tax…
Well things are different in Sweden than they are in the US, just accept it. I can see the irony in your post Sapphire but some of the other posts are just completly retarded.
Of course you can complain (which according to these posts apparently on swedes does) and hope it’ll change things for the better. But when you say we are completly stupid, ignorant, retarded and don’t know how to behave people might be offended or hurt. If you don’t like it then leave (yes I say so cus you obviously don’t like it here and have a bunch of bitter foreigner COMPLAINING all the time doesn’t really make this country a better place to live in.) And by the way, americans are experts on telling everyone how everything is better in the US (I’ve met them in Sweden, I’ve met abroad, I’ve met then in the US (yes, it’s true!) and I’ve seen ALOT of them in the comment section in this post.
And Deedee, I didn’t say they “set the trend” in NY, I have no idea what sets the trend in NY, apparently fat/blind people do since everything is in size XXL, the model casual (which in fact people in Europe would call XL) or a combination of horrible colours. And no, I didn’t set foot in every store in NY but I went into all the major department stores along 5th and I was over in Brooklyn visiting all the vintage stores. You have to remember that Stockholm is a city of 2 million people, not 20 million people like in the NY, we can’t have the same amount of stores you got and people will eventually look a like since trends spread alot faster here than in bigger cities.
http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2007/05/on-street-young-armani-woman-ostermalm.html
Oh snap! :)
I agree I don’t know how anyone saying that Swedes are “completly stupid, ignorant, retarded and don’t know how to behave” could ever begin to live enjoyably. Being that negative and not taking the time to learn anything is definitly not going to make any friends and it is just going to be hurtful and offensive. The best thing maybe is to pack and move elsewhere.
I’ve been to Sweden a couple of times now, and all I can say is that I love it, LOVE it. Beautiful country (great architecture, unspoiled nature), friendly people (going out of their way to give me directions, tips on where to shop, where to eat, what to eat!), great fashion sense (yes, Scandinavians are trendsetter, and unfortunately for americans not everything comes in a triple XL, white sports socks or with a Nike logo). Of course Sweden isn’t perfect, jeez, which country is? I recognize a lot of these complaints, having heard them from expats (mostly americans) over here in the Netherlands as well. And some are indeed founded, though horribly exaggerated! All I can say is that you’re lucky to be living in such a great country, be grateful for the good aspects of living in Sweden (or anywhere in Northern/Western Europe!). I’ve lived abroad for more than 8 years, I’ve done my fair share of traveling, and I couldn’t think of a better place to live! Love ya Swedes! Kus (puss) from Amsterdam
I’m sorry but i lived in Sweden for a month………(A MERE MONTH mind you!) and I felt like I was trapped in a world of robots. Swedes do everything the same, if it’s not ‘the Swedish way’ it’s like its some kind of toxin that will kill you if you even touch it.
They are extremely narrow minded and have this haughty superior attitude that makes me want to puke, its no wonder they have only invented the cell phone and volvo…… anyone who has a new idea is just asking to be shunned and disliked.
They think all Americans are fat, stupid, and redneck. (I’m none of those thank you very much!) WTH……They have no right to bash on the US just because we’re stronger, better, and more diverse than your narrow minded little snow country. Just because we do things in a way that “Is not Swedish” does not mean its wrong….. I know what you mean about American bashing…….I just want to bash Sweden right back in their face, how do they like it? Not so much……
Sure the people are good looking, but they have robot brains……
I came to Sweden ready to learn with an open mind and I can honesty say I have nightmares about Sweden to this day …… I’m not just an object that you can vent negative bashing on as if I dont feel a thing…..geez……
Ok im done. And feel much better ( :
Phil, I’m glad you love Sweden. I do love living here as well except it always makes better blog fodder to bash something than to be positive. ;) And I think this post has served as an outlet for many people having a bad day/week/month/year.
Katrine, where did you stay for the month? I can agree that much of the people are the same because of the mentality swedes have (don’t be different). But, in the big cities, you can find a variety and depth of folks, though they may not be as crazy as the ones in San Francisco.
I’m glad you feel a little better now though. ;) Do post again with more of your travels in Sweden.
[...] be easy to do. Since hating on the Swedes totally made me laugh, I will write more. Turns the 10 things I hate about Sweden is one of my post popular posts, even though I don’t hate the country (just Bolaget [...]
“And most Americans I’ve spoke to think that Sweden is the capital of Germany or a part of Russia, so you’ll have to excuse us for the bashing.”
Enough with the whole Americans are too stupid for simple geography. Its bullshit.
No one in America thinks Sweden is the capital of Germany you fucking idiot. And I highly doubt that ever happened to you. And certainly not more than once.
Find something credible to bash American for if you are going to do that.
Idiot.
1. selfcentered swedes, it’s almost always “me, me, me” first, ugh. If I don’t gain anything by helping you, why should I….
2. Ppl can’t do their job right or at all. They’re always passing the bucket. If there is a problem and you want their help, cos it’s their bloody job to have the knowledge and competence to help you, 9 times out of 10 you get “I don’t know” and I ask, “well whos resposibility is it then? ” “I don’t know” Aaarrgghh! And you can’t sue when ppl fuck your life up due to ignorance and lazyness.
3.YES, the customer service does in most cases NOT exist. How dare I step into H&M and ask the snobby looking salesperson something, Can’t I see she’s busy looking for shoplifters or talking to her coworkers!? It’s H&M wake the fuck up and smell the coffee, you don’t work at Armani or what have you…
4.Unless you binge drink atleast 3 times a week it’s almost impossible to have any sort of contact with swedes.
Fortunately I don’t miss hanging with swedes so I don’t mind beeing sober.
5.Yes, I you say hi or smile to someone they think your’re an alien . I remeber last summer, I commented about a girls hair cos I thought it was beautiful and I told her so, Wow, she looked at me like I was something the cat drug in… Sad but true.
6. Unless you wear the latest and greatest (?) you’re just weird. Oh don’t forget to starve yourself to fit those skinny jeans.
I don’t mind beeing weird in a swedes eye, means I’m not like ‘em, LOL!
7. You’ve gotta have bleached trashy hair and carry a tan booth or fake tan year round, which in most cases make you look 38 when you in fact are 25.
*shrugging*
8. Unless you listen to disco, techno or metal you can NEVER be in the Incrowd.
Me myself listen to 40’s music. Oh crap there goes my ticket, lol!
9. Don’t forget to sleep with everyone and everything and you MUST brag about how you got free booze last nite, all you had to do was sleep with a few dudes.
10. It’s the land of papers and meetings. We have to have a meeting about the meeting we’re having next week, so if we could meet up and plan that meeting soon?
Sigh, there are so many things about swedes that makes me ashamed to be a Swede, yup, I am born here but have never felt so alianated as I do when I’m in my home country.
Fortunately I landed myself an american, lol, and we are gonna try to get the heck outta here when all the incompentent ppl can fix the mess they’ve put us thru.
I most say, not all swedes are bad eggs but most are…
LOL.. It’s the land of papers and meetings. We have to have a meeting about the meeting we’re having next week, so if we could meet up and plan that meeting soon? And by the way if you are lucky to get the job!!! After some shitty interviews which they only give to their own people.. what a drag?
What I hate about sweden is:
every 2nd shop in stockholm is hm.
beer tastes like pee.
this pee is to expensive.
you can only purchase pee at peeshops.
every guy looks like sven.
sven has a small milk mustache.
sven loves to drink milk.
but only the warm one from mommie.
Sweden is a bull-shit country!! I hate das fucking system (comunism with coca cola). Living there for 16 fucking years and no way– back to miami again! fuck d fuking fuckers!.
u forgot something very important about d swedish people = envy.
Stockholm = bullshit city .Ulf Lundell.
sweden is the heaven on earth
i m not ok with mom for i love sweden and swedish girls
i ll go there swimming if possible
copensameh@hotmail.com
help me
to get there i ll give you my all
bye
hey da
Oh I want to become a fat retarded hillbilly, please help me!
Well after reading all of this and being an “Amerikan” who has livrd in the “south north” of Sweden for 10 years I have some serious bones to pick with Sweden and Sweeds in general, I from the get go did understand a word of swedish but managed to land a good steel working job here because of my Military education in Aviation and the fact that I had Great work ethic (something sweedes need to learn)
Sadly I lost my First Job because of corruption the previous woners managed to embezzle 3 Million kr and hid it from the new owner this cost 6 people their jobs and this is after we all worked our asses off for 9 months to get rid of the debt all but 675,000 kr was made but that money was 6 peoples jobs IE 1 months gross payment of & peoples Jobs IE it cost 380kr and hour to pay me 89 kr an Hour! and this was in 99 to 03 cute eh?! So much for following Rules!
Sweden has a great double standard when I took SFI at nights after work the teacher told me I didnt need the classes because I was American and had a Swedish Girlfriedn BIG MISTAKE! that has caused me problems ever since but alas jag har lart mig sjelv! granted my spelling suks but who needs to spell when you WELD for a living! “Svets” Many good friends of mine pushed me to learn swedish by immersian and i did so to you SWEEDS who dont think AMERICANS are CAPABLE STFU (shut the fuck UP!) de håll käften Svensk javel!
Now a Little history about Sweden and Swedish History: Sweden had a Brown History Just like Germany Sweden had Concentratiion camps for POW’s was allied with the GERMANS untill Feb 1944 and imported (%= MILLION tons Of Steel to Germany not to mention made munitions and weapons for them DOES THAT SOUND NUTURAL?
Sweden is mostly raceist EXAMPLE: many many times I had people comment oh thank god we got an american immigrant better you than andother SVART SKULLE! I politly kept my mouth shut( I am Vehemetly anti Racist and PRO DEMOCRACY and EQUALITY Demographics and education are the root to a better world!)
Not to mention the insane amount of Nazis I meet they are stupid enough to think because I am white and amercian I must be racist too DUMBASSES.
MY Biggest Issue with Sweden at the moment is that I was injured 5 years ago because of NEGLIGENCE and I cannot sue I am stuck in a system with little or no way out and I am fighting the backwards so called swedisg social democracy all the way to the EU Courts as to prove a point about how SWEDEN DOESENT REALLY VALUE HUMAN INDIVIDALITY AND RIGHTS AS AMERICANS DO OR EVEN GERMANS DO
I have been Misdiagnosed by 2 doctors how on earth can somone not think to have xrays taken after a fall???!!! I demanded MRI in 2008 and it showed EXACTLY what I told the dumbass doctors here 5 years ago that I had damaged the diskis and tissue in my back because I fell and why did I have an accident!!! (a whole other story showing swedish incompitence in the workplace,I’ll save it for later!)I still havent recived proper medical treatment am watitng for the FKassan to make a desion on sending me to German or USA for treatemnt and will recive a decision in April!and I am discusted with the SUPPOSED PERFECT SWEDISH WAY IT IS BULLSHIT,MYTH DOESEN’T EXIST, Exept if maybe I was a swedish Kändis or athelete but NOOO god forbid not an Avarage working class Person!
I Thank GOD for the day I was born American and that My forefathers had the insight to create AMERICA and American Democracy because it is by far better than any Political System in the WORLD as We As American have UNALIANABLE RIGHTS UNDER GOD and they upheld by the courts system and you can SUE THE SHIT out of Incopitent BOOBS WHO DONT DO THEIR JOBS AND CAUSE HARM TO OTHER PEOPLE good luck with that here Sweden the land of pass the buck and incompitence (Lagom Svens slavighet!)only being made up for with more laws to supposedly protect the Public! it is a SHAM and so amazinly sickening that as soon as MY Girl finishes her military Training and moves up to Officer she will Be Looking for work with NATO so we can Move the Hell out of here and to a County LIKE Belgium that is at least the Caplital Country of the EU and has some more and better understanding of Human Rights and Negligance laws that SWEDEN DOES! Oh Yeah and that Maybe just Maybe I can get a Job working for the ABMC (American Battle Monumnets Commision) tending over the Graves of BRAVE MEN Who FOUGHT for FREEDOM instead of ebing trapped in a double standard System! Medical care what bullshit social protection what Bullshit! You Can keep your lagom Sverige and everyone same attitude this is why Sweden will end up a 3rd world country as it hasnt evolved past the 60’s enjoy your Ever Increasing Crime Impodent Justice and Police system and watch it Burn baby Burn SWEDEN has allot of Growing up to do and maybe my REALTY Check will help it WAKE THE HELL UP!
As the late Adrian Rogers said, “you cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”
An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”.
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D!
No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
EAT IT!
I meant to say 850 million tons of Steel hey Im human and pissed off so bash my poor American education LMAO
Okay, here’s a few myths people in Sweden believe that should also be trashed:
1) Sweden’s educational system (grades 1-12) is superior to the US.
Fact: When my kids moved with me to Sweden they were in fact ahead of thier Swedish peers by about 2 years in math and science — even though they were at least 1 year younger than their classmates (since Swedes start school later than Americans).
2) Sweden’s college system is superior.
Fact: My oldest two sons spend far more time in liesure activities than I was able to in the US. They joke about how easy it is here.
3) Swedes have superior analytical abilities.
Fact: What is promoted in Sweden as “analytical” or “critical” thinking is, in reality just cynical thinking. Swedish children are taught that to understand a subject you have to look for the flaws — and pretty much nothing more. That is just going to promote depression and helplessness, not being able to accurately analyze an issue, idea or even possible marriage mate.
4) Speaking of marriage — Swedes are always a good catch.
Fact: Yeah, they have their good, bad and ugly just like all countries. However, Swedes generally play house with someone for several years (often starting in high school), then leave them and start again, then leave, then maybe around 30 hitch up with someone once the crop of potential singles starts to thin. Also, if Swedish people are such good catches, why do so many Swedish women prefer non-Swedish men?
5) And speaking of Swedish men — they are Vikings, right?
Fact: That is debatable. One could speculate that the men with balls around 1000 years ago were the ones who packed thier bags and settled in northern Germany, Poland, Russia and other areas — leaving the men who were less adventursome back home. Then the next purge of Swedish masculinity may have taken place when many men packed up and took their families to America. Maybe that explains why Swedish males are afraid to offer up any opinion and prefer to just go with the flow (and call it concensus building.
6) Swedes are efficient.
Fact, if Swedes had been in charge of creating the earth the Garden of Eden would still be in the planning stage. Swedes love their meetings…to the point of nausia! They might actually get something done if they cut their meetings in half and went out and worked!
7) Swedes believe in individuality.
Fact: They cannot even go out for a walk alone. Ever try passing one of their herds on the sidewalk when you want to go for a run? Also, you can’t even reporduce the way you want to in Sweden — a single woman has to travel to Denmark to get a baby through insemination and if you are a lesbian couple or a couple where the hubby shoots blanks you do not even have a right to choose the characteristics you want the donor to have. Also, donors, male or female, cannot be paid, which decreases supply and creates long waiting lists for people wanting families. Just a little advice for any healthy, intelligent andattractive Swedish women out there — check what you can earn in the US as a donor.
Oh, and See how people will react if you are a woman and say that your ¤1 goal in life is to be a loving mother of a large family. No, you are supposed to be on par with the man, or woman, you marry economically and your kids should be raised by dagis personnel.
8) Sweden’s economy is better than the US.
Fact — while the per capita income seems to suggest at least equal levels of income, if you factor in taxes (direct and indirect, like energy taxes, VAT,etc.) you will find tht the average American couple can enjoy a Swedish lifestyle that it takes two people workiing full time to attain with only one income.
9) Swedes have long and cherished traditions.
Fact: The average Swede is totally in the dark about their proud heritage. Most have no clue about Viking accomplishments or even their basic history. And as for traditions, why do they have to steal all their holidays from other nations, i.e. Lucia?
10) Sweden is the future.
Fact: Not with their below-replacement birthrate they aren’t. And in a cultural sense, only if Orwell’s 1984, or the way the movie “The Time Machine” from 1960 presented the blonde, ambitionless human survivors of the future, is an accurate presentation of what humanity has to look forward to.
LOL – sounds like you are having a bad experience. I have to say (honestly) I don’t recognise your gripes. I am English (proper English, not the septic version. Septic tank is slang for yank). I have lived here 18 months and have nothing but good to say about the place.
Sure the opening times of system blogaret are a pain but the choice is fantastic – bears wines and spirits I have never heard with staff that are very knowledgeable.
The rest of the suff is just you have a good whine – ironic in that is what you mon about Swedes for. You are obviously not adapter to living abroad.
BTW, didn’t you realise everyone bashes dumb Americans the world over…?
@Shira’s American Man – You raise a couple valid points:
1. Some Swedes are secretly racist. Because it’s pretty much against the law to make racist comments or protest (peacefully!), no one really knows who the racists are.
Because the US protects all, people can and do make racist comments. Alas, I rather know there’s a KKK in my city than having them be hidden. And by knowing your “enemies” other organizations can peacefully fight for the other side.
As I am: American & Brown, most Swedes look at me as an American first. But there are those days, when club bouncers or bus riders look at me like dirt because I am brown. And those days when you hear about a robbery/theft and the first question is “Was he Arab?” WTF? The robber couldn’t be a white-trash Swede or white immigrant? The de facto is “Arab, Iraqi, Brown” etc. That makes me sad.
2. There is no real system of “suing” in Sweden. Whether or not people agree, it’s about placing adequate blame on to whoever broke the law. It’s like the average “life sentence” in prison in Sweden is 7 years. Where’s the justice in that? And where’s the justice if you lose you arm in an accident at work because their equipment was faulty to begin with? You get social security benefits, but the company gets slapped with a minor fine, no harm done.
Anyway…
@Brian – Haha, I learned a new phrase today, septic.
I disagree about Bolaget’s fantastic choices. They buy wine/beer that will sell. Boutiques/small companies are far from Bolaget’s choice because they cannot provide the mass quantities nor guarantee for shipments. That leaves outs hundreds of small, exclusive companies that produce wonderful wines that Bolaget will never buy, and Swedes will never know about.
Living in France and California has spoiled me. There’s no end to access of wonderful wines, beers and even spirits. Bolaget to me is like going to the airport newspaper shop; there’s a selection, but nothing to write home about. Frankly, I’m fed up of seeing the same shit over and over (even though stores have different selections).
Lived in other countries as well. And on any day, I’d pick living in Sweden than France. For SURE!
Having been living both in USA and Sweden for quite some time, I would say there are advantages and disadvantages in both.
One major disadvantage of US, for us males, are predominance of grossly overweight, tasteless obnoxious females with princess attitude and with tendency to sue people around. Another one is ruthless serf serving legal system. Just make one mistake, like not being aware of particular law, and hordes of profiteers descend on you. One can be facing a long sentence for virtually nothing, a miserable experience with male on male rape not excluded, and little chance for employment thereafter as public record is available to any employer for a nominal fee. The highest incarceration rate in the world speaks by itself. The main advantages of US are significantly better pay (so far) for us professionals, availability of warm places, excellent service, politeness, friendliness, can do attitude and availability of medical services for those with insurance or savings, less and less so for those getting older.
The major disadvantage of Sweden, besides climate, is sticking to some artificial proven to be detrimental values (welfare immigration is one example), too much drinking and smoking, expecting the worst from the stranger instead of the best, and of cause dysfunctional health services: I personally waited in Karolinska emergency room for 4 hours to get my temperature checked. And I had 41C with no clue what is going on. Too expensive due to VAT, and if Malmo is an example for anyone, without no long term future. The advantages are long vacation and sick leave, availability of ombudsman and consumer department, much better sense of style and quality of food, air and water, better product quality. Both nation grossly disregard their young and older population in my opinion.
However, if given a choice I would still choose France or Israel instead of Sweden and USA, even with their lower wages, as the quality of medical service, in particularly after retirement makes more value for me than in both Sweden and USA by a large margin. And fun to live, communal attitude add to what both Sweden and USA lacks
Since the territory of the United States is fairly equal to the entire size of Europe, and since the United States is populated from peoples of nearly every country in the world who have moved here for a better life, we agree we are not perfect. And if we can get back to personal freedom with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and away from socialism government control of life and business we will prosper again in life and economy.
Wow. At least I know I’m not alone in my feelings. I cannot get over the level of CONFORMITY here. I am shocked and alarmed by the average Swedes level of naivety, and by the amount of xenophobia and all out rascism here.
I am white and American; my wife, on the other hand, is black and hispanic, from South America. I am treated like gold everywhere I go, even though I dont speak a word of Swedish (for all their America bashing, mention you’re from NYC and watch how Swedes react.) My wife on the other hand, is treated like DIRT on a regular basis, even though she speaks perfect unaccented Swedish (she has lived here for most of her life). She has several college degrees, has lived in no less than 6 countries and speaks four languages, and yet to Swedes she is just another “invandrare,” here to steal their social security and wreck their economy. Swedes do not realize what they are missing out on by not taking advantage of what their immigrant population has to offer.
There are many things I LOVE about this country! I just had to get that off my chest!
Oh yeah…and why do people follow each other in herds when they walk on the street?? Its REALLY annoying. When I get off the train I watch everyone take the escalator, not one person takes the stairs. Then, I walk up the stairs (i like the exersice) and suddenly, a whole pack of people is behind me!! Try it some time! Its like everyone just follows the person in front of them!
I can here my mother’s voice in my head “If so and so jumped off a bridge would you do it too?” Sometimes I think Swedes would!! :)
The American bashing is tiresome (and I am not American). If America’s so bad, why amongst the European nations I’ve visited (which is many) are the Swedes the most anxious to wear American fashions, use American slang, adopt American sports (football), and American customs?
Unfriendliness…geez, smile, say ‘hello’, things like that.
The men…so self-consciously trendy it’s not funny. Being a fjortisar at 15 is almost forgivable. At 26, you look like a douchebag.
The women…yes, a lot of them are good looking. However, they carry this whole ‘got an ATTITUDE but I am totally insecure’ thing to an extreme. Cold fish, but then they end up with some total douchebag because they are too insecure to be single or date someone that just might get attention from another women. Unless that is they end up with someone who has money…holy frikkin’ goldiggers.
“Unless you binge drink at least 3 times a week it’s almost impossible to have any sort of contact with swedes.”
It’s the only way they can interact. Take away alcohol and outside of work you’d live in a totally silent society.
“Yeah, they have their good, bad and ugly just like all countries. However, Swedes generally play house with someone for several years (often starting in high school), then leave them and start again, then leave, then maybe around 30 hitch up with someone once the crop of potential singles starts to thin.”
The high school part is shocking, but very true. I am glad they have fewer sexual hangups than North Americans, but letting your 14 year old daughter screw one guy after another isn’t liberated, it’s irresponsible. And, truthfully, when you are a 30 year old guy do you want to marry some chick whose looks are fading and has spent the last decade and a half being passed around like an open beer? No thanks.
“Maybe that explains why Swedish males are afraid to offer up any opinion and prefer to just go with the flow”
Going with the flow…more like desperately try to conform and only open your mouth once you are drunk off your ass.
Funny, I have relatives in Sweden…from way back in the ancestral chain. I am still in touch with them and the 17 year old that I refer to as my niece keeps begging me to help her move away from Sweden.
@ Chris
You are exaggerating a bit much here. After reading what you have to say, I get the feeling that you base this out of what you have heard and not on any real experience of sweden and the people who live here. And about your niece, Im sure that she is a nice girl and all but really. A teenage girl wanting to get out and see the world? I mean no real job experience or anything that includes living on your own. might be funny to you but if you look around, you will see that most teenagers are like that.
And please tell me how a trendy 26 year old look like a douchebag.
I have a swedish friend is annoying. She is always like
“why do you guys eat so much junk food?”
“You guys change your clothes everyday? Why? In sweden we wear clothes 3 times!!”
:-p sicko
Once I was fixing my hair in the mirror and she said,”Am I the only person who doesn’t care about their clothes,hair and makeup!!!!!”
She cries everyday and is obsessed with beanie babies. In sweden she had 1 friend and she has 2 friends here!! (Good job Carolina!)
I totally agree with you!! I’m born in sweden but I can’t wait to go away from here! I looking for job in US right now! Bur I have one question, why are you in sweden if you hate it so much?
As a swede this blog has been pretty intresting to read both about pos and negative stuff.
I agree with some and disagree with other thing.
And yes we swedes in generell are shy which can come out as rude or arrogant :(
But i honestly dont think you have met many swedes if you think we only are able to talk to strangers when we are drunk that is not the case but it takes some doing on your part which you either accept or not.
Best way to meet swedes is if you get to know one swede which will take you to friendly gathering with his swedish friends.
Thats how i have meet strangers from other countries and have had great talks and also some of them is people im talking and meeting fairly regular.
Also stockholm is not sweden so what you see or hear in stockhom where i live btw should not be taken for granted that it applies to the rest of the country.
Regarding racism in sweden its a problem and we do have skeleton in the closet concerning ww2 which we are pretty open with and most people do know this its nothing we are trying to hide.
We also have other problems with new racism and its sad that we dont have any answers for instance to Sweden Democrats which by the look of it may even be voted into the government next election :(
I go by the mantra, You dont get respect for free you have to give respect to earn respect and it works wery well to bad not all people understand that.
Also when it comes to bad service when you are shopping or whatever all depends on what store you go to.
I honestly dont get bad service everywhere i go but sure sometimes i do and then i never comes back to that store or whatever it is.
I can say a lot of bad things about us or other countries but this blog was about sweden so ill keep my answers to that :)
Anyway very funny blogpost :)
When do we get a Hate the US-page? We spendt 250 years getting rid of all the scum we didnt want and now no matter where U go the scum has returned as vulgar americans blablablaing about the world seen from their substanceless plastic-country.
As a european travelling in the US one can only wonder how these people can believe that greedy, consumersick plasticland is so F…… fine.
U yanks should apreciate the swedes they (for some bizarre reason)love your vulgar culture. Not like the rest of us Europeans who consider U shaved monkeys in cities of 0 culture…
Well. I see that some of you all don’t like so much Sweden. From these coments maybe we can imagine that if you criticize other country (from eastern Europe or Asia and Africa), the comments will become deadly-negative. Please don’t forget that in the rest of the world there are people who will laugh on that kind of thinking. However I live now in a country with more than 1400 years of history and here most of the population gets less than 200 euros average salary in month. Here is expensive. Here the taxes are bigger. Some people say that if u r training for example football and u wear weights and therefore in the match u will fly baby… So it is same like if u live poor and go to wealthy country. However I don’t want to say that these things are not important. We must live better. We must demand better to us and our beloved ones.
Well I have lived in Sweden all my life and well I really hate Sweden just not as a joke, I really do! I would be the first one attending a Swedish flag burning and I invite Russia, Finland or Norway, please take over this shit place! Im serious.
Oh dear. Swedes really take criticism well, don’t they?
..And really, if Americans are all so very stupid, why do you lot keep giving us Nobel prizes (usually in the sciences)? Sweden has won 28, The United States has 320 to date.
Conny – Thanks for your comments. I agree that being shy should not be equated with being rude. And that you have to work to make friends, they don’t appear out of thin air (as many people imagine).
Thomas – The irony is as you pointed, Swedes love America. There’s something twisted in that as well.
Bgboy – I think any country can be criticized.
RS – How come you hate Sweden so much? I’d love to know what got you ticked off about living here.
Suze – LOL! So true though, Americans do do some good deeds.
I am not American or not Swedish,I am Russian living most of the time in the year in Cayman Islands I also do travel alot mostly in latin America and to Europe. I just saw posts about Sweden and I been there many times.I visit many they citys.
I think Sweden is not good place to live.Cose people do pay huge taxes and do not get the service that they pay for.Also taxes stop of the professional grow – what is the point to work hard and to studiy hard.Then big part of your money will be gone.
As for people there.I feel they are not frendliy
(as Finns are also) only they start talk then they are drunk.I guess it will be not so nice to live all the time with people that are not frendliy and not open to you.Also the weather it is dark for 6 mouths there.So is no point to live there there are much better and more frendliy locations with much less tax or no tax at all.
This isn’t a hate thing just something I noticed when I visited and it puzzled me – why do Swedish doors open outwards?? In UK they all open inwards – is this a crafty methaphor for the difference between British and Swedish lookouts of life??
To the russian girl/boy:
Have you even visited Sweden?
You are telling us that we aren’t open with people… Funny joke. When you are saying that the weather is dark for 6 months, do you mean that it’s cold or that Sweden doesn’t get any sun? If you talk about the weather, please let me laugh first. Russia and USA is colder…
Why we got big taxes is because it makes everyone happy. You can be really damaged/sick and still get your money. Why? Because that is fair.
Suze says:
April 12, 2010 at 00:11
Oh dear. Swedes really take criticism well, don’t they?
..And really, if Americans are all so very stupid, why do you lot keep giving us Nobel prizes (usually in the sciences)? Sweden has won 28, The United States has 320 to date.
And Americans are gold medallists at being able to take criticism eh suze?You’re the worst in the world.
If Americans are all so very intelligent..how come they don’t know Alfred Nobel,founder of the “Nobel prizes” was Swedish?and only handed out in Stockholm? And that giving the prize to very clever swedes every year wouldn’t go down too well,so they cheat and give them to you yanks to make you feel better!
It’s on a level with like..say America having “the world series” competition and only allowing American teams in it.Makes people suspicious. ;)
Nobel also invented Dynamite..without which you’d all still be crossing the states on wagon trains!
Amazing what these Swedes invent when we’re not looking eh?
@ Princess – Doors opening outwards is Swedens version of terrorism!
There’ll be a huge video on youtube one day of us all making total t***s of ourselves!
The only good thing about them is that they catch a lot of Swedes unawares too.
There’s actually a very funny video on there with one of Suze’s clever Americans robbing a store.When the security gate falls and stops him getting the cash he turns to go out..but pushes the door instead of pulls.
Thinking it’s a security lock thing he commences kicking,punching,threatening and falling on his arse,before he suddenly realises his mistake,pulls and runs out! Funny shit.
@Dano
Clever theory. Is that why the pedestrian crossings at traffic lights also sound like a ticking bomb? Scared the shit out of me at first being used to the British friendly beep beep beep. The Swedish tick is a tad aggressive for such a laid back country methinks. Are these noises also a methaphors for our cultural differences? Swedes tick – us Brits beep… hmmmm
I have lived in Sweden (not Stockholm!) for 9 years after growing up in the UK. I can speak the language, I am married to a swedish girl, and I can pretty much say i feel the culture. Do I like Sweden?…yes and no. It has a beautiful landscape and I really enjoy exploring it. Politically, I am not a big fan of socialism, but I do see the positive effects from it when it is run efficiently. Thus you gain alot in welfare, transport, education etc..In other words, you are well looked after and it is certainly more efficient than britain.
However, its the people that make a place. I have plenty of swedish friends and on a personal level swedes are very nice people (generally, as it is pretty much everywhere!). I do find though on mass swedes are just horrible. I think it is important to be able to communicate, and in the UK the general public are generally (amongst other things) very curtious, not afraid to talk to anybody, say hello, and not afraid to confront someone if needs be. It seems like here in sweden, alcholol is the only real way to break the ice and Swedes tend not to be very good at these qualities otherwise. Swedes, in britain atleast, are renound for being somewhat cold, lack respect for each other, and are a little dull. Interestingly enough my wife is not like this at all and is very outgoing and personble (so personable infact, I know a lot of swedes are or have been intimidated by her), but thats one of the main reasons why I married her, because its appealing! I think it would be arrogant of me to say that the british culture (and this includes all english speaking commonwealth countries and the USA) is supreme, but I think (as it is for anyone who lives aborad) it becomes very hard to accept when your cultural values are not met. My british values are obviously different from the general swedish population and it can get very very frustrating.
As for fashion, yes i think swedes do live in some 80s time wharp, but on the other hand its a small country with a small economy, thus the demand is lower and there is a limited choice…especially for men! I do all my clothes shopping abroad basically!
I am also a firm believer in “if you cant stand the heat, get of the kitchen”, but as I am married, and she has a great life here it would be selfish of me to just tell her to pack her bags and say we are leaving. I have a fulltime job in Canada, but am also able work from home in sweden. I love Canada and I feel like I “fit in” better, but then again its partially british and everyone has my values! This has made living in Sweden a little easier again due to this little cushty arrganement I have, but I have to still suck it up day in day out when im in sweden.
At the end of the day, culture has alot to answer for!
@Princess – To be honest i’ve not actually used a pedestrian crossing here yet! But i’ll take your word on it lol.
Which brings me to Swedish driving!! All i know about pedestrian crossings is that i’m usually past it before i know it’s there!Talking the normal “zebra” crossings here (as we Brit’s know them).I’m used to ours which have big flashing lights on them.(Bleacher beacons)These swedish crossings are bloody deadly! No warning lights and many of them are so worn away from wear and tear it’s impossible to see them as a pedestrian sometimes never mind a as a driver!
And they place them in such stupid places! Just over the brow of a hill..halfway around a bend…a second one 10 metres after the first one.WTF is that all about??
People don’t even look before walking out!..I hope Swedish prisons are nice! :(
Cont:( due to rushing the last post on the way to bed.)
…I understand that pedestrians here now have “right of way” on crossings,but they all seem to have just abandoned the basic human self preservation and survival instincts that most of us apply when venturing across a busy road!
Cycle paths in the middle of the pavement!..Ridiculous.
Driving down a road..cars emerging from side roads to your right have right of way!..and they emerge like bats out of hell!
The worst one for me is the fact that Sweden hasn’t invented “cats eyes” (reflective studs in the roads that tell you which way the roads bend at night in total darkness!) yet.
This might not be a huge concern in Stockholm,but out here in the countryside where street lighting is in very short supply..it is!
I’m a trucker by profession and i guess after years of night driving the brain is used to driving automatically just by using cats eyes as a guide.
This was brought home to me in a recent very unplanned experiment when some fool turned off all the street lighting on a large roundabout at the end of a 90kph stretch of road. Enter yours truly..and a momentary lapse of concentration.Midnight – no lighting – no cats eyes for warning = a very short but fast scary trip across the aforementioned roundabout,halted only by one of the offending non working streetlights!
Blah! Not really things i “hate about Sweden”..but certainly some serious bugbears!
@Dano
Hmm no cat’s eyes – that’s mad. Point of order though it’s A Belisha Beacon (named after some MOT guy). Jeez there were loads of the bleeping crossing things in Stockholm. Perhaps they just don’t have enough bomb scares cos that bloody sound wouldn’t wash in Blighty.
Can’t say i thought the drivers were bad. Hey they’re not Italians (overtaking on blind bends and the like), or Indians (they don’t really seem to do lanes – come to that neither did the Eyptians). They just weren’t v many cars around but guess that just shows the the UK is too jam packed with cars. Do they have motorways on Sweden??
@Grammar/spelling/punctuation police – Lol yes i knew the spelling was questionable,just couldn’t be bothered googling it. :P
They have enough crossings down here too,(Skåne)i just don’t use them as i tend to follow the British rule of crossing where the bloody hell i like!
I was never a student at Uni’..so i’ve not travelled the world much while i was supposed to be studying.Closest i’ve gotten is Paris in rush hour..was bad enough!
They have “baby motorways” here,only 2 lanes,and a small strip that i think passes for a “hard shoulder”.Breaking down here isn’t recommended as a third of your car sticks out of the hard shoulder making you a spectacular target for sleepy truckers!!
Also there are NO emergency phones situated every mile! In fact no phones situated anywhere!
Break down without a cell phone and you’re in DEEP doo doo! (Although i’m reliably informed that that protocol demands that passing vehicles stop and see if you need help,which is illegal on motorways in the UK!)
Some very weird rules here!
@Dano – ha ha ha like my new name. Hey I’ve taught English what can I say – it’s in the blood to correct mistakes!!!
People stop and help – well that’s just not British. Surely they’ve got enough room for a proper hard shoulder – how mean.
Well..with a population of 10 million in a large country…you’d think they had enough space for 3 lanes and a big enough hard shoulder?
Maybe Volvo’s just don’t break down?
@Dano
Well if that’s the case am gonna buy me a Volvo as my French piece of crap aka Renault Megane is rubbish and seems to love being in the garage to get fixed.
@Dano – Yea, what’s with the lack of cat’s eyes reflectors on the road? I noticed that too as my inlaws live in the boondocks and there are no lights, no road markers, no emergency breaking points, nothing. How annoying!
Lol,it’s more than annoying Sapphire,it’s outright terror sometimes! Sweden has a lot of twisty roads,most of them in the middle of huge pine forests and at night it can be a very dangerous state of affairs.Throw in wandering foxes,badgers,Elk Moose and suicidal joggers without a reflective jacket..and life gets pretty complicated!
Countries without cats eyes are still living in the dark ages.Literally!!
Meh!
@Princess – They have some nice Volvos these days.You can barely see where the turret and 88mm cannon used to be now! :)
I’m almost a year late with this reply but I am glad this is here.
I’ve been here a month and dear god….I’ve been through culture shock, but THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE.
Shops closing at 7-alcohol from one place???? And to go to bars and clubs is outrageous.
Everything is so expensive, the food is ghastly. Chinese food isn’t even…Chinese food. I swear I thought the food here would be great but I don’t think they have as strict a regulation on restaurants here. Food looks old half the time. McDonalds is even different. Pay for restrooms almost everywhere and they are nasty, NASTY restrooms.
Why does a license here cost so much? And who would want to drive here with the silent crosswalks and the tax, and parking meters jeeeesus.
And for fashion, come on! I’ve never seen so many people dressed in drab. Ugly outfits everywhere I look. Men look ridiculous, short shorts, pastel spring colors…..jacket tied around their necks….sissy men. I was so excited to shop here-now I find myself paying extra buying off the a&f website.
I’m from Orlando so I can complain about the weather-it is freezing and it’s the end of June. I was so excited for “sun all day long” but I didn’t know that meant sun with plenty of clouds and chilled air around me. UGH. I think this sums it up. Basically it’s not home is all. So I’m American, I like my fried foods, (not kebab) I like my 80 degree weather in the summer, (100 degree where I’m from) modern houses, bigger cars, and Wal-Mart —yea that’s right. Sue me, I love Wal-Mart and I didn’t even know it until just now. lol
I give this to Stockholm though-transportation for the public is awesome.
Also I have not met one mean or rude Swede. They have all been very nice and helpful-with no complaints about speaking English to me.
Also I love how pet friendly this city is. And tanning beds are much cheaper here and they’re like vending machines! Really neat.
That is all. I feel much better!
I agree with you, Im from sweden myself and has grown up in this country and never had a big problem with it until now when i grew older… Im so tired of this place! The laws are too strict and I really garee with you! If I went out talking to someone on the bus for example they would belive I was high or something XD It sucks!
And they are too nice to us! I met alot of people here who are such cowards, Everyone is afraid that the teachers or other people will get them in trouble, Blah blah blah XD Im just tired of living here now and im planning to move out as fast as i can! :D Im only 15 thou so gotta wait
@Dano – Maybe we should appeal to Vägverket for common sense and to place cat eye lights on the side of the road. Surely, the Swedish government can afford to put little reflective lights to prevent accidents.
@Meagan – American Chinese food is gross enough, but Swedish Chinese food is downright inedible. Been to the Mongonlian restaurant on Birger Jarlsgatan for lunch once; was terrible food. A couple Thai restaurants serve Thai and Sushi, even more gross.
@Alexander – Time to rebel man. Push those jante laws out of the way.
I wonder when the Swedish state will accept that they are a member of the European union and abolish the stupid illegal systembolagets monopoly.
Allow alcohol to be sold in ordinary shops at ordinary times.
The ilegal monopoly also creats unfair competition within the union.
Sweden you are making a fool of yourself by joining Europe and then not complying by the rules set down.
Sweden, play fair, comply to European rules or get out of our union.
Hey Edward, thanks so much for your personal perspective of your life in Sweden! Spot-on, Man!! Wishing you success and a speedy recovery. God bless you and your girl!
Hear, hear, American Citzen! Total agreement. :)
Hey Dano, while I don’t agree with you on most anything, one thing I will give you is this… Regarding America and its many winnings of the coveted Nobel Prize, we have many people I believe should have never received it and only did so do to false pretenses and political agendas. Case in point: Prez Obama getting the Nobel prize was the stupidest thing I had ever seen! (Okay, his NOT rejecting it was even more idiotic!!) He was just elected and hadn’t done a damn thing… It was a prize for what people EXPECTED him to do IN THE FUTURE! INSANE!!! The America we have now is NOT our Founders America. It is currently quite shameful, with a government even more ridiculous than Sweden’s! — at the moment. But I LOVE my country and what is was – and is still meant to be – and will fight til my last breath to bring back the America I know and love oh so very well.
What’s with the bashing and over-generalization? This article is incredibly negative and full of “black and white” thinking and many of the comments go even further downhill. From what I see, it seems that when experiencing the discomfort of culture shock some decide to just bash the culture to make themselves feel better. The author of the article claims the article is just using sarcasm and humor (oh, the bashing is so funny and clever) but in reality there is a lot of underlying hostility.
@betin Sometimes expats needs a place to vent frustrations but I agree that the negativity in here is a bit disturbing.
The interesting thing is to see similarities between the different cultures that claim they do not understand each other.
Both sides seem equally bad at hearing criticism about their countries. If it is acceptable to have a bash-Sweden thread I think people should be allowed to do a bit of of bashing outside of Sweden as well.
Both sides seem to know fact from fiction and is eager to point out that what they say is the truth. A dose of humility perhaps?
Both sides seem to point out how nasty and horrible the other culture is in a manner that makes you question if that person is any better than the culture he/she is criticizing.
I have encountered open racism in most countries where I have lived and before accusing one culture of being the experts at it – maybe one should take an honest look at the situation at home.
And last, if it really is necessary to start comparing what country has the largest….whatever (childish enough?) – one can at least try to compare fairly. Sweden has 9 million citizens, the U.S. about 310 million. If we compare at an equal number of citizens it is reasonable to assume that Sweden would then 964 Nobel prizes if they had as many citizens as the U.S. So it was not a very good argument.
As I see it there are very few people here that is setting a good example when it comes to representing their own culture – but there is plenty of fingerpointing. But I do understand the need to vent frustration at times. I’ve been there.
@Freddie – just to keep you calm – I have willingly taken the piss out of my own culture a lot of this blog. (NB: If Ben is reading this this will be the sarcasm thing). I’ll do it now for you – Britain is SHIT. We’re crap at everything. If you don’t belive me just wait for the Olympics…we’re useless…honest. Hope that makes you feel better :-)
I think that the posters who are telling Sapphire to get out of Sweden are overreacting a bit. It’s unrealistic to think that one should like everything about a place, whether it is your home country or a foreign country. You might like living in a place 99% of the time but we all have our bad days, and I think that’s all this post was.
I also think that this is pretty much a universal experience for expats. I am American, but I used to live in Italy and I currently live in the UK. There are things that I love about living in each country, and things that I hate about each as well. I do think it’s important to be respectful and to try your best to adapt to your new culture and home, but I fully understand that even then there will still be bad days and frustrations.
When you live in a place for a long period of time, you learn about the reality of it– not the glossy finish that you may get during the first few weeks, and not the absolute worst that you get during your lowest days, but a point somewhere in the middle that both acknowledges flaws and appreciates beauty.
[...] writes about everything from the harsh opinions about Sweden (receiving numerous “fuck you”s) to irritation with buying alcohol and renting an [...]
I hate the Swedish restaurants. Besides serving the crappiest food on earth, they have no waiter service in 90% of the places!!!! If i wanted to pick up a tray, the fork and knife, the bread, the water and the plate and after eating leave the tray back in the designed place, I’D STAY AT MY FUCKING HOME. If I go to a restaurant I want to be served, don’t want to be like in a fucking prison queueing with my tray to get my portion of shit
I had to laugh outloud as I read your 10 reasons for hating Sweden! I lived there in the mid to late 80’s for 4 years and recognize much of what you dislike about Sweden. I could write a book. But it goes both ways. I was married to a Swede who came to America only to find just as many things to complain about, and believe me, Swedes know how to complain and be critical. I learned long ago that there is nothing right or wrong about another country, only different. You have to look at it that way or things will continually piss you off all the time and build up. I do have to admit, however, that just like you, Swedes are very big complainers and whiners and they start with the weather, a VERY BIG topic of conversation to most Swedes. They even complain about their own government to each other, but NEVER to us Americans….then they show their Swedish pride. We Americans complain less and are generally much more optimistic people. Negativity among Swedes is one reason I couldn’t stay there more than 4 years, I just didn’t fit in with that mentality.