If you have a job in Sweden, you get paid on the 25th of every month (or the weekday closest to the 25th if it falls on a weekend/holiday). Just once a month. None of this weekly paycheck thing or the 15th and 30th of the month that we’re used to in the US.
This means that people are usually pretty poor by the weekend leading up to the 25th of the month. Including this blogger. In fact, being poor on the days leading up to the 25th of the month is truly Swedish. 🙂 Continue reading
I love living here.
And there are some days that particularly stand out as good “example days” of why I love living here. These last two days were a good example of one of those reasons: Swedish Honesty – a Truly Swedish trait.
Welcome back, readers!
It’s a new year and time for some new thoughts on what it means to be Truly Swedish. I visited the US during Christmas and the differences between our two cultures stood out even more while I was there. I love seeing these differences and analyzing them. The trick is learning what those differences are, how to adjust to them, and when to just “let it be” so you can stay sane. 🙂
I went to lunch with a bunch of colleagues yesterday and while we were walking there, we started talking about criminals and the criminal justice system in Sweden. I don’t remember how the topic came up, but it was certainly an inspiring walk to lunch.
To my loyal readers — HAPPY NEW YEAR! See you in 2011 with some more #TrulySwedish blog posts…
Gott Slut!
Around this time of year, many companies like to take their employees out to a “julbord” dinner. The phrase “julbord” literally translates to “Christmas” (jul) and “table” (bord), and it always involves some massive portions of traditional Swedish “holiday” food. I call it “holiday” food because it’s the same kind of food you would eat during Easter and Midsummer too!
Ahhhhh… the Christmas season. There is fresh snow on the ground, the air is fresh and crisp, and the wonderful smell of firewood burning in the fireplace lingers outside. (By the way, that’s one of my favorite “smells” of this season!) How best to celebrate this cozy season than with glögg, the Swedish version of mulled wine? I was introduced to glögg my first year in Stockholm and have since thrown a glögg party every year, just like any truly Swedish person would do.
I’ve done it. I’ve gone on the Finland cruise and survived. It was a #TrulySwedish experience, that’s for sure!
If you read my other post, then you would remember that Josh and Kellee were going on the cruise yesterday. I left out a key fact that I and some other of Josh’s friends would also be going. I left this out because it was meant to be a surprise for Josh, and who knows if he was going to read my blog post (he didn’t). Anyway, I’m back and this is what I found.
In Stockholm, there is a truly Swedish activity that everyone makes fun of – taking the ferry overnight to Finland. Also known as the booze cruise, it’s an opportunity for the lone cougar to attack her young 25 year-old prey, or for the young male cub to pounce on a more mature tigress. The possibilities are endless. They’ve even done a reality TV show on the cruise. Yep, this is the Tallink/Silja Line ferry to Finland.
Why do the Swedes have such great design and fashion? What is it about living in a country that is dark during the winter and bright during the summer that teaches someone what “good design” is? Must be something that is truly Swedish. Continue reading
Box wine in the US is reserved for tacky afternoon picnics where you need a convenient and cheap way to transport alcohol. The wine is often bland and is almost a guaranteed way of getting a headache.
But that’s not the case here, is it? I see many of you smiling with recognition. Continue reading