Studying abroad in Sweden next year
- Thread starter redmoretrout
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I can't remember... I'm so out of touch with the real world it's not even funny. So yeah, take that bit of trivia with a handful of salt.lionsprey said:
Good advice for any bloke moving to Sweden: try out the whole Tinder thing. Studies have found it's a very good idea there.
http://elitedaily.com/envision/sweden-place-tinder-exist-results-infinitely-better-photos/701105/
http://elitedaily.com/envision/sweden-place-tinder-exist-results-infinitely-better-photos/701105/
I'm Finnish so not exactly the same but culturwise we're pretty similar I'd say.
Taxes are counted into everything, so no tipping or such is required.
We don't wear shoes indoors, not sure how common that is otherwise in other countries but there's a big myth like thing over here, that the rest of the world (except some Asian countries) wear shoes indoors :/
When I went to school like 15 years ago (second grade), we started learning our "second language" at third grade, that changed a few years ago so you could pick English or Swedish at about the age of 8 and then at the age of 10 the other language also became mandatory... not sure how it works these days, I'll ask a friend who works as a part time teacher if he knows and I'll edit the post after that unless I happen to have had the correct answer here.
Taxes are counted into everything, so no tipping or such is required.
We don't wear shoes indoors, not sure how common that is otherwise in other countries but there's a big myth like thing over here, that the rest of the world (except some Asian countries) wear shoes indoors :/
Yeah we do learn Swedish, well I'm a swedish speaking Finn (Swedish is mothertoungue and dad is completely Finnish) so I'm fully bilingual plus I'd like to think my English is pretty good.Mutant1988 said:
When I went to school like 15 years ago (second grade), we started learning our "second language" at third grade, that changed a few years ago so you could pick English or Swedish at about the age of 8 and then at the age of 10 the other language also became mandatory... not sure how it works these days, I'll ask a friend who works as a part time teacher if he knows and I'll edit the post after that unless I happen to have had the correct answer here.
Thanks a lot this information is extremely helpful. Sorry for the loong delay in writing a response I've been busy with mid-terms lately.
Hmm, I don't know if I'm disappointed by the small town aspect or intrigued. I knew I wasn't going to a metropolis but didn't realize how small the cities were. Anyways, I am history major and would love to hear locations of historical interest, if your still up for it.Muspelheim said:
What could you possibly mean? One of Sweden's stereotypes is having beautiful women, and Swedes seem less uptight about sex than us North Americans. From where I'm sitting it seems like a pretty good place to be a straight white guy.Nods Respectfully Towards You said:
I'm confused, are you suggesting that heterosexual white men are oppressed by a tyrannical multi-ethnic Trans/Gay elite? Because that's just comical in its absurdity.
The only thing I can think of right now is that Canada and Sweden share the same mind set, if I recall correctly, so our personalities should go very well together. Over here it's called jantelagen and it's basically an unwritten rule that we must not be proud of our achivements and that we're never better than anyone else.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante
I don't agree with the previous posts that say Swedes think their English is better than it is though. I reckon the problem is that we read, write and listen to English almost more than Swedish these days(well, the younger generation), but we almost never speak it. When we have to we realise how little practise we've gotten, which gives us constant brain farts, followed by embarassment, followed by more fuck ups.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante
I don't agree with the previous posts that say Swedes think their English is better than it is though. I reckon the problem is that we read, write and listen to English almost more than Swedish these days(well, the younger generation), but we almost never speak it. When we have to we realise how little practise we've gotten, which gives us constant brain farts, followed by embarassment, followed by more fuck ups.
Look up Uppsala if you're intrested in going to bigger cities. I live in Stockholm myself and did a lot of travelling to different cities when I practised for my driving license. Most of the towns were extremely small(pretty much just one street) and left me disappointed. Uppsala on the other hand is decently sized, beautiful and a major student city with tons of partying.redmoretrout said:
The stereotype about Sweden is that they treat minorities better on principle to look more tolerant, while taking away the rights of the majority, in other words straight white men.redmoretrout said:
I've never been there but I'm gonna assume that stereotype is wildly exaggerated.
The number one tip I can give regarding swedes is that we are fairly private as a people and can across as a bit cold as a result. We generally do not like loud people, and for heaven's sake do not brag about money or similar stuff (it is a huge faux pas). If you have trouble or are just curious about something most people are helpful as long as you are courteous and not to pushy. We are a lot like the japanese in that regard.
And although the majority understands English as a language and speak it, loads of people have problems with pronounciation so it will sound a bit off.
Yep, booze is pretty darn expensive. So is food at resturants and fast food places, it is generally a lot cheaper to buy it and cook it yourself. A tip is to try out native organic meat, our organic pork tastes like wild boar. Is noms.
Ah, and religion is seen as a private issue and people who openly talk about is seen as quirky and weird. The Swedish church has a yearly attendance rate of 5%, as in only one in twenty members visited a church in the whole year.
So yes, it is a gross stereotype pretty much.
And although the majority understands English as a language and speak it, loads of people have problems with pronounciation so it will sound a bit off.
Yep, booze is pretty darn expensive. So is food at resturants and fast food places, it is generally a lot cheaper to buy it and cook it yourself. A tip is to try out native organic meat, our organic pork tastes like wild boar. Is noms.
Ah, and religion is seen as a private issue and people who openly talk about is seen as quirky and weird. The Swedish church has a yearly attendance rate of 5%, as in only one in twenty members visited a church in the whole year.
The reality is more that people treat some minorities better to look progressive and then turn their backs when people stop looking. As a bisexual trans woman I can say that most people get embarrased when I tell them I am attracted to women and that is the end of it. Being an open trans woman is more difficult, only two years since the sterilization programme of my sort stopped, jokes about how the worst thing possible to a happen to a straight man is having sex with a trans woman are frequent. All people complaining about lack of free speech that I have seen are in actuality complaining about them insulting people not being seen as socially acceptable.PsychedelicDiamond said:
So yes, it is a gross stereotype pretty much.
It's depressingly common for people to claim the majority is being oppressed by a minority it is less dominant of, though.redmoretrout said:
Just a tip.
If you want to have a drink, then make a trip to the other side of Øresund (or Öresund according to our Swedish neighbours). The alcohol is so much cheaper here in Denmark than it is in both Sweden or Norway.
If you want to have a drink, then make a trip to the other side of Øresund (or Öresund according to our Swedish neighbours). The alcohol is so much cheaper here in Denmark than it is in both Sweden or Norway.
Word of warning here - Do not buy more than you can reasonably claim to have for your own consumption. The customs office does not like smuggling of alcohol for resale (Because they get no tax money from it).MrFalconfly said:
My experience is that the unemployed native population has it just as bad the immigrants. But at least the natives can speak the language and aren't burdened with racism and having every effort to improve their integration derided as partial treatment and oppression of the native population.PsychedelicDiamond said:
It's just all kinds of dumb really. Any time anyone does something to help anyone, someone else is shouting "What about me!?". Not to say that our society doesn't have issues, but the cause is at the government level. And yes, I have worked with immigrants (Somalian, Burmese, Afghan and Kurdish), I can see the difficulties they have and they're much the same as mine. Except with the addition of language barriers, cultural differences and the emotional baggage they have from whatever traumas they suffered in the past (Since the majority are refugees).
I think a big problem with Swedes is that most of us don't realize how good we have it, even at our worst.
Bragging is a definitive no no. It's a rather fuzzy distinction between how much pride you are allowed to express for your accomplishment and when that turns into bragging. Generally speaking, if you have done a good job and are complimented or praised for it, then just say thank you and leave it at that. Most people are genuinely appreciative and do recognize accomplishments, but they don't really verbalize it.Angelowl said:
Mind, some are just selfish and mean, but those tend to be easy to pick out and avoid. That's a thing called "Jantelagen" which is a dialectal writing of "Jag är inte", which means "I am not." The meaning is that it's a set of rules to enforce that I'm not better than I think I am. Don't act above your station, do not express pride, do not show of your successes, etc.
It's a load of garbage, but something to be wary about.
Politics tend to be a touchy subject as well. Do not expect to be able to discuss it with anyone except your closest friends, lest you want to start a huge argument. Asking who you vote for in particular can be seen as confrontational.Angelowl said: