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Who Wouldn't Want To Be A Swede?


franciscanheart

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Maybe this is the thing that's so attractive to me. I like that everyone kind of melds together, that no one is really overly concerned with anyone else or how brightly they shine. :think:

 I appreciate individuality. I dont mind if people dont want to stick out (I really dont want to either) but I would feel uncomfortable to be a social pariah because of my boisterous personality haha.

 

But i think the main thing here is that the Swedes will know if youre not a Swede...just by looking at you. 

 

I have a friend from the Netherlands and she said the main things that give you away as an American are:

 

  • Jeans
  • Sneakers
  • Baseball hats
  • Gum chewing
  • Loud
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franciscanheart

I appreciate individuality. I dont mind if people dont want to stick out (I really dont want to either) but I would feel uncomfortable to be a social pariah because of my boisterous personality haha.
 
But i think the main thing here is that the Swedes will know if youre not a Swede...just by looking at you. 
 
I have a friend from the Netherlands and she said the main things that give you away as an American are:

  • Jeans
  • Sneakers
  • Baseball hats
  • Gum chewing
  • Loud

I don't wear jeans, sneakers, or baseball hats. I hate the sound of gum chewing. I can be loud. :blush:
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And Im sure that the whole "dont be an individual" thing is probably a bigger deal in my head than it is in actuality. Im sure once I get there ill  hardly notice it!

 

Im just excited for Fika! And Swedish kanelbullar! 

 

buns_big__1254424055_5735.jpg

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No, it's a real thing. Jantelagen, or the Law of Jante. One of the most degrading things a fellow Swede can say to you is, 'Tro inte att du är något.' Don't think that you are something - anything. You're not a special snowflake. Trust me, it burns.

 

There's actually a big part of me that hates Germanic Sweden, because it ****ed over my Sami family historically and presently - much the same story as with Native Americans in North America. So mainly I just maintain my citizenship for the kanelbullar and the good music.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC57z-oDPLs

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Ahh yes! Ive read a bit about the Sami. 

 

But yes, if what you say is true then I will probably be a bit prickly around that social norm. 

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franciscanheart

No, it's a real thing. Jantelagen, or the Law of Jante. One of the most degrading things a fellow Swede can say to you is, 'Tro inte att du är något.' Don't think that you are something - anything. You're not a special snowflake. Trust me, it burns.
 
There's actually a big part of me that hates Germanic Sweden, because it ****ed over my Sami family historically and presently - much the same story as with Native Americans in North America. So mainly I just maintain my citizenship for the kanelbullar and the good music.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC57z-oDPLs

I have a lot to learn... That's pretty off-putting, really, and not my favorite social norm. I can get behind the idea that no one need be obnoxiously loud or boastful (pride is unbecoming, after all), but to suggest that everyone is exactly the same and no one should presume themselves an "achiever"? That just seems silly. I guess I'm pretty American in that regard...
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I don't want to be one. I hate their snotty attitude about religion, Catholics in particular. No thanks. Other European countries, yes. Sweden, no .

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I don't want to be one. I hate their snotty attitude about religion, Catholics in particular. No thanks. Other European countries, yes. Sweden, no .

 

The Swedes are a very progressive bunch...which I know will put a sour taste in some peoples mouths. They fund almost everything through taxes (everyone gets healthcare, transportation, parks/recreation, education etc), they have extremely low abortion rates (high use of contraception and sex ed), they have a full year of PAID maternity leave, they are super into equality for everyone so things like homosexuality, gender, race, religion etc arent even issues at all.

 

Their culture is also so much  more relaxed than the US. For instance if you look at the professional environment, they value people a lot. There is always 5 weeks paid vacation for starting positions (which is most often used in the summer for their HUGE Mid Summer festival), they take care of women with maternity leave like i mentioned above, and they always make time for fika!! (coffee/social breaks throughout the day).

 

Their whole approach to life is  vastly different than the US from what Ive learned. I find it very attractive. 

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Except when you're drinking!

Perhaps you could clarify because I always thought that in the beginning of the sentence, it's noun and then verb (Hon gillar fisk...) but in the latter part of a sentence, it's the verb followed by the noun. (gillar hon fisk). Perhaps does usage of "men" reset the order?

It would be easier if it was always noun followed by the verb at all times! (Hon gillar fisk! Jag är arg! Jag kan inte sova! Katten är söt!) :kitten:

 

Actually as far as I can think of, it's the same word order as English (noun, then verb). Hon gillar fisk - she likes fish. In the sentence I corrected, it's certainly the exact same word order: men hans familj kommer från Polen - but his family comes from Poland.

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franciscanheart

What is the equivalent of "Como se dice" in Swedish? I find myself saying "Como se dice" all the time, about everything, always. It's really quite embarrassing...

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Sweden.
What Catholic wouldn't want to be Swedish?
Thirty year war in 1600's. Decimation of Germany. Dissipation of the Holy Roman Empire. Sweden is why so many tyskas are living in Poland.

Edited by Anomaly
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