Tips for Living in Sweden

Since deciding to move, I've gotten some interesting cultural knowledge and advice for living in Sweden.  I thought I could share some of it here.  (These are obviously generalizations.)

• Swedes can be reserved and likely will not go out of their way to strike a conversation.  But once a friend, that person will likely be a friend for life.
• Sweden is a pretty Americanized country. Micke once asked me about whether we actually use red plastic cups for drinking beer in college.  That kind of knowledge of American culture amazes me!
• Swedes actually like Americans.  Yeah! 
• Most Swedes (around 95%) can speak English. 
• I will not be the only brunette around. Seriously.
• Sweden is really far north. It’s about the size of California, but with only 10 million people.   There’s lots of open space and clean air. 
• As a resident of Sweden, I am allowed free education!  The government even offers a special course for new residents called Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) that is free.  If I do well in the course, the government will actually pay me money (!!!)  
• The state runs the sale of all alcohol. There is one place to buy alcohol and that closes early (I think at 3pm on Saturdays), so planning ahead is probably a very good idea for weekends!
• Lagom! The Swedish motto meaning everything in balance and moderation. This has benefits such as Swedes typically work much less than Americans.  If you work long hours, Swedes will likely think you are incompetent, not ambitious. Lagom also applies to how much food a person eats. A Swedish kid could consider 5 meatballs ok, but 6 is too much.  The fact that lagom can be quantified so specifically blows my American mind.
• Long maternity and paternity leave (18 months per child!) This probably factors into the whole 26 hour average work week... 
• Like anywhere where you are unfamiliar with the customs, it’s a good idea to follow local cues.  For example, signing up for laundry beforehand is what Swedes do. I heard a story about a poor American woman who got nasty looks from the other tenants in her building for just doing laundry when she felt like it. She had no idea anything was wrong for months. Asking a Swede the proper way of doing something will make the Swedes very happy.  
• Group decision-making is highly valued in Sweden. Another story I heard involved a German sitting in a stuffy meeting room. He decided, without checking with the others, to open the window. Apparently this did not go over well with the group. This kind of attitude also applies in a business setting. While Americans are taught that to succeed we should take credit for our brilliant ideas. In Sweden, teamwork and not standing out are more valued and accepted. 
• There seems to be a form and a method for everything. Which seems bureaucratic, but if you can follow directions, things get done! And maybe even efficiently! 
• This also seems to apply to how days are structured. There is a time for work, time for family, time for laundry, time for meeting with friends, etc. When explained to me, time seems a little more rigid than what I am used to.  
• Feeling and being competent seems to be very important. I read a story about a woman who dropped the contents of her purse onto an escalator and no one helped her!  But from a Swede’s point of view, they apparently didn’t want to acknowledge her mistake or make her feel less competent by helping her.  
• You should take off your shoes before entering someone's home. 
• Eating with a fork AND knife is considered good manners, even in casual settings.   

I don’t know yet how true any of these are… I’ll have to report back once I’ve lived here long enough to have an opinion!