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11 things people say that make Swedes facepalm

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Swedes in the States
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If you’re a Swede in America, you’ve definitely heard your fair share of comments and misconceptions about Sweden, which probably just makes you want to bury your face in your hands and cry (but you don’t, cause you’re Swedish).

We’ve compiled a list of 11 things that every Swede in the U.S. hears on a regular basis. Let us know if we forgot something!

1. You’re not blond. Are you really Swedish?

If you happen to have another hair color than blonde (naturally or not), you’ve definitely heard this comment. Or some variation of “aren’t all Swedish people blonde?” But just like Americans, we don’t all have the same hair and eye color. Although many of us are born with light hair, it turns darker, to a color we Swedes like to call “råttfärgat” (translates into rat-colored or raw-colored). So yes, most blondes dye their hair, even in Sweden.

credit: spiralday/imgur.com

2. Why are you cold? Aren’t you supposed to be a Viking?

Newsflash people: Being from somewhere where it’s dark and below 40 degrees most of the year doesn’t mean you’re immune to the cold. There’s a Swedish saying that goes “there is no bad weather, only bad clothes”.” but sometimes we forget, and then we get cold. Just like any other human being.

3. Oh yeah, I’ve been to Switzerland! I love it there!

Swedes know the difference between Canada and the U.S. and they’re closer in distance than Sweden and Switzerland.

We have no words for this. Just please stop thinking we’re Switzerland.




4. Oh, I love your chocolate! And watches, right?

Again, unless you’re talking about Marabou or Daniel Wellington, we’re not that country.

5. I hear Sweden is really dangerous nowadays

Yeah, no. Sweden is still one of the safest places in the whole world. We also live until we’re 82.73, as we wrote about in this article so we’re fine, thank you very much.

6. Why do you speak English so well?

According to the English Proficiency Index, Swedes are the second-best in the world at speaking English for countries where English is not the first language. After the Netherlands, probably because no one understands the Dutch language including themselves. 

In all seriousness, the real reason is that we start learning English when we’re really young, we don’t dub our movies and everybody watches American TV-shows and films.

7. Is it true that people are nude everywhere?

Swedes are known to have a liberal view on sexuality and nudity, which stems from Sweden being one of the first countries in the world to openly show nudity in films. This is usually referred to as The Swedish Sin, and you can read more about it here. Being naked is a somewhat different concept for us, as the body is just not as sexualized in our culture as it is in America.

For example, you will absolutely see a mother breastfeed her child in public in Sweden, and even though we like to skinny dip in the summer after a nice session in the sauna, we don’t walk around naked all the time. Mainly because it would be too cold.




8. Where are you from? “I’m Swedish” Oh yay, so am I!

As a Swedish person in the U.S., you most likely encounter Americans, who will also say that they are Swedish when you mention where you are from on a regular basis.

We think it’s wonderful to hear that you have Swedish ancestry, but please make sure to mention that you’re not actually Swedish as in, born and raised there, or speak the language before we excitedly switch into speaking our native language with you.

Because Sweden isn’t the same melting pot of a country, the way the United States is, we tend to not identify our nationality with where our ancestors came from, the way Americans do. Which leads to major confusion for us. 

Credit: MemeCenter

9. You’re from Sweden? I know Sweden! IKEA! ABBA! 

Yes, we are proud of our Swedish exports such as ABBA and IKEA, but there’s more to Sweden than a multinational furniture company and a famous band from the 70s. For example, did you know that the three-point seatbelt was invented by a Swede, that Skype and Minecraft are famous Swedish companies as well? If not, check out our weekly article series #Swedishmade, where we feature things that many might not know are Swedish.

10. Oh wow, aren’t the taxes really really high?
Yes, they are high, but not the highest in the world. If you compare Sweden with the U.S., we get a lot more for our taxes including entirely free education, starting from daycare all the way up to university level, free healthcare and one of the most generous parental leave in the whole world

11. “Flurgy durgy hurdy” –  the Swedish chef

Yes, we know about the Swedish Chef from the Muppet show. No, that’s not actually Swedish. It’s not actually a language at all. However, we must say that it’s vaguely similar to Norwegian….our little brother next door that we love to make fun of.

 

Credit: Foodrepublic.com

This article was originally published December 7, 2018

Why Texas Should Be On the Top of Your “To-See” List

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Swedes in the States
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0

You may be tempted to ignore Texas in favor of more famous states like New York, Florida, and California. However, if you want to experience Southern hospitality at its best, Texas should be your next destination. There are lots of hidden gems to explore, from the Big Bend to the Alamo. If you love nature, there are plenty of places to go back-parking and mountain climbing as you explore the second largest canyon in the United States. 

People from all over the world visit Texas thanks to its culture and architecture. It also used to be home to American Indian Tribes like the Apache. Below are some of the reasons why visiting Texas will leave you with beautiful memories.

The Cities

If you get bored visiting the countryside, you have plenty of locations to enjoy city life. Houston and Dallas will offer you the best when it comes to shopping, food, and nightlife. Other cities like Austin are known for their youthful population’s thanks to universities and colleges in the area. Here soon you’ll even be able to travel between Dallas and Houston via a new Texas bullet train line, according to sites like webuildvalue.com, instead of renting a car and driving for hours on end. Dallas is particularly interesting as it is filled with history! If you are intrigued by American history, it’s the place to be, and be sure to check out the JFK parade route. 

Food and Culture

Many people organize road trips to Texas to enjoy its unrivaled barbeque. The state is known for its slowly smoked pit-style barbeque. Although most restaurants have their signature approaches to preparing barbeque, using signature sauces and ovens, the culture and the food supersedes everything else. Don’t forget to try the juicy Texas brisket, which is synonymous with most restaurants in Dallas and Houston. 

The Big Bend National Park 

Big Bend National park may not be the most visited in the US, but it should be! It’s a gem in the area as it borders the Rio Grande River and is home to countless flora and fauna. The park was underwater in its formative years, as is evidenced by the dinosaur fossils showing its rich history. If you are an outdoor person, you have plenty of challenges exploring trails! This hallowed place gives you the option of engaging in water activities like swimming or hiking the many trails found in the region. 

The Alamo 

The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio and was built in 1744 by Franciscans as a Mission center. However, the place was converted to a fort in 1834 when Texas was warring against Mexico. The Mexican Army surrounded the defense, and all soldiers inside were killed, making it famous. As a result, it’s one of the most visited landmarks in Texas. 

Texas Hill Country

Explore the hidden gems of the Texas Hill country famous for its wide variety of culture, heritage, and food. If you love taking pictures, the enchanted rock state natural area is the place to be. It’s ideal for hiking and camping although you can still enjoy water activities like swimming.

If you are from the Scandinavian countries, you may find Texas different from your current cities or countries, making it even more appealing! The Barbecue is fantastic, and the many hidden locations are worth exploring. Throw yourself into another world, and dive into the deep southern state of Texas. 

Cooking with Swedes in the States: Swedish Crayfish

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Swedes in the States
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Cooking with Swedes in the States: Swedish Crayfish

In the second episode of Cooking With Swedes in the States, Johan from Big Swede BBQ shows us how to use both beer and crown dill to cook your crayfish to Swedish perfection. For full recipe: https://swedesinthestates.com/cooking-with-swedes-in-the-states-swedish-crayfish/

Slået op af Swedes in the States i Tirsdag den 30. oktober 2018

 

“Kräftlag” – The cooking liquid

Mix together;

1 gallon of water
1 bottle of beer
2-3 tbsp of sugar
1 cup of kosher salt
Dill, preferably Crown Dill




How to 

  1. Rinse the crayfish thoroughly and bring the “kräftlag”, cooking liquid to a heavy boil.

2. Add the crayfish to the cooking liquid in a swift movement and cover with a lid. Let boil for 5 minutes.

3. After having boiled for 5 minutes, place the crayfish in an ice bath for about a minute to stop the cooking process.

4. When the crayfish have cooled down in the ice bath for about a minute, place them in the cold cooking liquid and let soak in it for about 24-48 hours.

 



This article was originally published on October 30, 2018

IKEA releases scented candle that smells like meatballs

By
Swedes in the States
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You have to love IKEA and its pursuit to push their Swedishness to new levels again and again. At this point, we’re surprised the Swedish embassy isn’t located within an IKEA.

So with all that said, here is some rather unsurprising news: IKEA will be releasing a meatball scented candle just in time for the 10 year anniversary of the IKEA family in the United States. The candle will share the same name as IKEA’s famous meatballs – Huvudroll.

As a part of their celebrations, IKEA will be hosting a 10 year anniversary sweepstake where participants can win gift boxes and meatball-scented candles. Anyone who is a member of IKEA’s Family Program in the United States and 18+ can participate in the sweepstakes.

According to the Swedish news site GP, the candle will only be available in the U.S. Strategic move on IKEA’s end – with the amount of meatballs consumed in Scandinavias households, we’re not so sure the candle would make much difference there.

The team at Swedes in the States will be sure to get our hands on Huvudroll, and report back to our readers with an in-depth review.

Marcus Samuelsson picks Swedish Emma Bengtsson in line-up of chefs for Met Gala

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Swedes in the States
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1

Sweden has two reasons to be proud of the line-up of chefs at this year’s Met Gala – and they are named Emma Bengtsson and Marcus Samuelsson.

Swedish top chef, Marcus Samuelsson, who currently lives in New York and is the founder and restaurateur behind the successful restaurant concepts like the Red Rooster & Marcus, was given the job to put together a line-up of chefs for 2021’s Met Gala. According to Vogue.com, the menu will be entirely plant-based with a focus on sustainability. Each chef will be contributing to the menu with their own interpretation of regional American cuisine.

In a post on his Instagram, Marcus Samuelsson writes:

“I am so excited to present this talented group of incredible New York-based chefs who are each contributing a plant-based recipe to @VogueMagazine #MetGala that reflects their unique take on modern American cuisine. Please welcome this year’s #MetGalaChefs: Fariyal Abdullahi, Nasim Alikhani, Emma Bengtsson, Lazarus Lynch, Junghyun Park, Erik Ramirez, Thomas Raquel, Sophia Roe, Simone Tong, and Fabian von Hauske!“

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Marcus Samuelsson (@marcuscooks)

Chef Emma Bengtsson comes with quite the list of achievements herself. She is currently the Executive Chef at the Scandinavian, two Michelin star restaurant, Aquavit, in Manhattan, New York. If heading the top Scandinavian restaurant in the United States wasn’t enough, Emma Bengtsson is also the first Swedish female chef to have received two Michelin stars, and the second female chef to have received two stars in the United States. For anyone who has had the pleasure of dining at Aquavit, this probably comes as little surprise.

In a post on her private Instagram, Emma Bengtsson writes:

“I feel honored and extremely excited that I got the opportunity to be part of this incredible line up of chefs for this years met gala.
It’s an amazing group of chefs and I can’t wait to see the final results of all the hard work that has been put into creating this plant based menu.
Thank you @marcuscooks for inviting me.“

Featured image: Screenshot from Chef Emma Bengtsson’s Instagram account @emma._bengtsson

The World’s Oldest Tree Lives in Sweden

By
Elina Sundqvist
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2

The world’s oldest tree, Old Tjikko, is a 9,500-year-old Norwegian Spruce tree that was discovered in 2004 by Professor Leif Kullman, and to this day remains the world’s oldest tree. The tree is located on Fulufjället, in the province of Dalarna.




Kullman, professor of Physical Geography at Umeå University, named the tree after his Siberian husky and discovered the age of the tree by using the carbon-14 method.

“During the ice age the sea level was 120 meters lower than it is today and much of what is now the North Sea in the waters between England and Norway was at that time forest,” Professor Kullman told Aftonbladet.


Winds and low temperatures are what has kept Old Tjikko alive through the years “Like a bonsai tree. Big trees cannot get this old.”

Photo credit: Karl Brodowsky



Sweden is home to the most disability-friendly city in Europe

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Swedes in the States
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The Swedish city of Jönköping has been chosen as the most accessible city in Europe for people with disabilities by The Access City Awards, an award given by the Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion department of the EU commission.

The award is meant to highlight and celebrate European cities’ efforts to become more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities. To be eligible for consideration of the award, the city must have at least 50.000 inhabitants and be located in an EU country.

Jönköping was appointed winner with the following motivation:

“Jönköping, in the south of Sweden, made continuous improvements in both the new and old areas of the city, in collaboration with disability organisations. The city also created a local ‘Access City Award’, for businesses or organisations that worked with their customers to improve accessibility. Out of 50 applications, Jönköping was designated the winner of the 11th edition of the Access City Award at the online ceremony on 1 December.”

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by sweden.se (@swedense)

Bremerhaven, Germany and Gdynia, Poland were acknowledged as the second and third most accessible cities in Europe, out of the 50 applicants.

This isn’t the first time Sweden has received the award. In 2014, Gothenburg received the award, and the following year the Swedish city, Borås, was chosen as the most accessible city in Europe.

This article was originally published on January 5, 2021.

Swedish vs US education systems

By
Swedes in the States
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0

The Swedish and American education systems remain among the highest ranking in the world. Although successful in their own way, they have plenty of significant differences in a wide range of aspects. If you would like to know more about both systems, this is right what you might need. These are some of the basic differences in the education systems and learning methods between Sweden and the United States. 

Classes 

The education system in Sweden has a more practical approach. As early as in high school, students have the option to focus on disciplines that have a strong connection with their future profession. At university, Swedes tend to take their focus to a higher level and devote their university studies, from start to finish, to a specific focus area where they acquire necessary skills for future jobs.

Across the pond, the American learning system is more diverse and broad. The students learn numerous disciplines that might not correlate with their future profession. Students choose majors and minors which adds a number of courses designed to focus on a specific industry, but they still have to take courses like history. For example, a student studying an engineering major might very well need to compose essays in Literature class, although the class or assignment itself won’t contribute much to a career in engineering. In cases like this, many learners prefer to order an essay online. The American approach allows preparing universal professionals who can switch to different niches when building their careers. If you are learning at college in the United States, you are likely to become more flexible and try working in different fields. 

Schedule 

American students need to learn a whopping number of different subjects during their studies. Therefore, they have a very loaded schedule with 5-7 lessons per day. This might be too challenging for many bright minds since students are expected to spend all their free time learning. 

The Swedish education system is a bit different. The learners have fewer classes per day. The program is usually not so loaded as in the United States since students are focused on profession-specific subjects. As a result, they have more free time for volunteering, working, and learning foreign languages. 

Homework 

The American education system tends to assign homework and tasks for their students to do after school hours. The students need to complete dozens of academic assignments within the shortest terms. Many of them fail to meet the deadline and have a low academic performance. This rule is not working for Sweden. 

Of course, Swedish teachers assign various types of homework, including making presentations and writing essays. However, you don’t need to meet extremely burning deadlines. For example, a common 2-pages essay in the United States might require to be delivered in two days, while the deadline for the same assignment in Sweden will be about two weeks. You have an opportunity to do more advanced research, pay attention to details, and dive into the chosen topic much deeper if you don’t need to hurry up. In Sweden, the learners have more time to complete their projects.

Tuition fee’s and aid

Sweden famously provides free education up to the postgraduate level. Swedish students even receive a monthly allowance from the government in order to keep studying.

The United States is famous for its high tuition fees. Students are expected to take loans in order to afford their tuition fee’s and many are forced to work on the side of their studies.

How to Effortlessly Master Scandinavian Minimalism

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Swedes in the States
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0

Scandinavian minimalist fashion and design have been on the rise for years now, and finally, we are getting a taste of everything here in the US about how to master minimalism. The key is to not make things too complicated for yourself, wear clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable but that will also allow you to move easily. If you embrace this mentality towards fashion, you are already well on your way to embracing Scandinavian Minimalism.

Here are a few ways you can master it:  

Identify your basics

Scandinavian fashion primarily incorporates basic pieces that are high-quality and look effortless. Whether you are pulling Scandinavian-inspired items from your own wardrobe or shopping for some new pieces, search for basic t-shirts and other basic pieces that you can use on repeat and that will last. Since these pieces are basic yet central to your looks, you’ll want to make sure that they fit you well and you feel confident in them! Investing in these basics so that they wear well and fit you well can make all the difference.

Get a high quality, long-lasting yet minimal design handbag
Along the same lines for those quality basics that look great, get a high-quality minimal handbag to pair with it all! While there are always new trends for handbags and it can be fun to incorporate these here and there, the Scandinavian design really focuses on the minimal handbags that will also last you years to come and match with everything. For quality that’ll last forever, look for a leather bag. For example, a super chic woven leather bag is beautiful and classic, also easily accessible via sites like Mirta that offer this style as well as many other made-in Italy high-quality styles to choose from. Of course, when it comes to leather pieces, look no further than Italian leather! 

Go vintage shopping for a coat (it’s sustainable too!)
Coats are an essential piece in Scandinavian fashion, and since they are also more expensive, they are great to shop vintage! You can find great classics vintage shopping as well as statement coats that suit your personal style. Plus, vintage shopping is also sustainable which gives a nod to Scandinavian fashion as well.

Have a good pair of light and darker wash jeans
Jeans are easily one of the most versatile, yet comfortable pant options out there. They are casual but you can also elevate them depending on how you style them, particularly with a type of shoe. For your minimalistic look, have a pair of light and dark wash jeans in your collection that you can swap out as needed. 

Opt for sneakers or loafers, don’t even bother with other shoes that you know will be uncomfortable
Comfort is a huge part of Scandinavian minimalism, and that means that those uncomfortable shoes are just not going to be a part of the looks. Instead, opt for sneakers or loafers. These two can be dressed up and down, and when you want a particularly chic look, the classic loafer will elevate any outfit. 

Minimalist fashion may have been invented by the Scandinavians, but it’s been quickly spreading to everybody all over the world and it’s time to give American fashion a bit of a Nordic twist!

The Happiness Museum in Denmark wants to inspire happiness around the world

By
Swedes in the States
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1

The Nordic countries consistently top the list as the happiest countries in the world. For the last couple of years, the Finns have held the top spot as the world’s happiest people, closely followed by the Danes who were crowned the happiest population for multiple years before that.

The secret to happiness is of course highly individual, but some of the criteria used in the World Happiness Report are GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption.

Denmark, who has a stellar reputation as being one of the happiest countries in the world, now wants to inspire others to achieve happiness, and they are doing it through a museum.

The Happiness Museum, Lykkemuseet, was established in the center of Copenhagen earlier this year by the Happiness Research Institute, and with everything going on in the world right now, the timing couldn’t have been better.

According to their website, the mission of the museum is to educate their visitor in the why’s and how’s of happiness.

“We all seem to be looking for happiness – but perhaps we are looking in the wrong places. We have gotten richer as societies but often failed to become happier. Therefore, the Happiness Research Institute decided to create a museum where we can bring happiness to life.”, they write on the website.

The Happiness Research Institute is an independant think tank that studies happiness, the science behind it and why some societies and countries are happier than others. According to CNN, the objective of the think tank is to inspire societal and political change by simply suggesting that global policymakers include the wellbeing and happiness of their citizens as an essential part of the public policy debate.

Danish psychologist Marie Helweg-Larsen, a professor at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, told CNN: “I think foreigners find the Nordic countries to be kind of a conundrum. They seem to do things that others have decided couldn’t possibly be associated with happiness, like pay high taxes, live with cold weather and experience long periods of darkness.”

And she might be on to something – although the Nordic region is well-known for their long winters, dark days and high taxes, the countries also boasts being some of the least corrupt countries in the world and best countries to be a parent. All factors that point to a happier population. On top of that, Finland managed to erradicate street homelessness altogether by providing housing support, pointing to the Nordic governments commitment to care for their most vulnerable citizens.

READ: There are no homeless people on the streets of Helsinki – here’s why

The 2,585 sq ft museum takes their visitors along on a journey to learn more about the history of happiness, exploring what generates happiness through exhibits and displays and also allows the visitors to self-reflect on what truly makes them happy.

In times where many people feel hopeless, sad or isolated, the work of the Happiness Institute is more important than ever. Be sure to check out more information about the organisation on their website.

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Swedes in the States is a community created by Swedes living in the States for Swedes living in the States, and everyone else who is interested in Scandinavian culture, businesses and projects. All our editors and contributors are strongly connected to Scandinavia while living their dream in the United States. The parallels between our countries are astonishing and exciting, and you are invited to read all about it is politics, fashion, design or food. Välkommen!
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