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Alta Nordic Kitchen

By
Amanda Erlandsson
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0

 

A new Scandinavian restaurant has come to Los Angeles. Yes, you read it right and you can find the restaurant Alta Nordic Kitchen right on Melrose Avenue. Go enjoy Swedish Toast Skagen, Pytt i Panna and Skånsk äppelkaka together with a glass of wine.

When I heard the news that Alta Nordic Kitchen had opened, there was no doubt I had to go and try it out. Of course, being a Swede, I crave Scandinavian food once in a while, but instead of heading over to IKEA this time, I wanted to try Alta Nordic Kitchen.

 


 (borrowed from Alta Nordic Kitchen)

Funny story, you might or might not know that Scandinavians are usually very discrete. We’re not the type that would want to show off with let’s say a big flashy sign outside of a restaurant. So, I took an Uber to Alta Nordic Kitchen to meet up with a friend who was waiting for me inside. The Uber driver dropped me off on the other side of the restaurant but I couldn’t see a sign of it anywhere. I decided to enter the address in on Google maps to locate it. Did not help. Finally, I called my friend who was already inside and it turned out I had been walking past the place literally three or four times. It’s not like the restaurant wasn’t visible or hidden in any way, there is a big window that you can clearly see but no sign and I guess being in L.A. for so long that was what I was looking for. 

Anyways, back to the delicious food. We started off with a Toast Skagen as an appetizer.  It was amazing! It tasted just like home and I just wanted more of it.  For you who are unfamiliar with the dish, it’s a mouthwatering combination of shrimp with crème fraiche, whitefish roe, dill on a toasted brioche. It’s a classic Swedish dish, that represents the Swedish tastes perfectly. They did have four other toasts to start of with such as Gravlax (marinated salmon), Sill & Gubbröra(Herring), Tonfisk(Tuna) and Leverpastej (Paté). 

For the main course, I ordered Frikadeller, which is Danish meatballs and it was served with plum compote sauce, bacon, parsnip puree and lingonberries. I had never actually tried it the Danish way before, I have only had Swedish meatballs, with the famous brown sauce, lingonberry compote and mashed potatoes. The Danish meatballs were very similar to Swedish meatballs in taste, the difference would be the shape and size of them and the fact that they are boiled instead of pan fried as the Swedish ones. Anyways, I loved this dish and it all tasted very good.

 

Not sure if the staff working there were mainly Swedes or Scandinavians, but the service was great! Waiters were extremely polite and helpful. Which really does sound more American than European if I’m allowed to generalize a bit. The interior was sleek, modern, stylish and clean. The lighting in the restaurant was perhaps a bit dim, which is perfect for date night. A little bit harder when you are taking pictures for a review. But I got some good looking pics for you guys with some help of the flashlight on my phone. Technology saved us!

To conclude this review; Go! I wanted to try absolutely everything on the menu. Everything! And I will definitely be back for more. Scandinavians missing the food from home? This restaurant is your salvation. Americans just really curious about Swedish cuisine? This is your chance! Alta Nordic Kitchen, thank you for blessing L.A. with your presence. 

Swedish company Natural Cycles has their eyes set on American women

By
Natalie Söderberg
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0

Birth control is an essential aspect of every sexually active woman’s life. Most modern women want to have control over when they get pregnant and some might even wish to avoid pregnancy altogether. Thanks to science, there are a number of medical solutions and procedures that allows you the freedom to choose. The most common methods being contraceptive pills and injections or IUDs, etc.

However, these solutions can cause health problems, especially with regular use. Hormonal birth control pills are known to alter the body’s chemical balance and have an impact on the mood. Some women are more sensitive to hormonal birth control and experience problems like skin concerns, headaches, etc. Some studies have shown that a select number of women also experience depression when they’re on the pill or using the ring.

Fortunately, the Swedish company Natural Cycle wants to make birth control easy and hormone free for all you ladies out there. 

The app was developed by Dr. Elina Berglund and her husband Raoul. It has proven to be very popular with Swedish and European women with approximately 250,000 users to date.

The journey for this groundbreaking app has been difficult but Natural Cycle has proven to be a great success. It was recently approved as a medical device by authorities in Europe. Until then, the app was deemed a fertility computer, which didn’t do justice to its ability and accuracy, which is more helpful when preventing a pregnancy rather than planning one. Although the app works both ways. In 2016, the app was finally allowed to be marketed as a contraception and in the same year, the company received SEK 50 million in venture capital. 

 

So how does Natural Cycles work?

Most women’s bodies undergo fertility cycles every month making her fertile when she ovulates. We can normally only get pregnant up to 6 days in one cycle. Th highest chances being during the ovulation period. After ovulation is complete, the eggs are alive for about a day. If a woman has sexual intercourse with a man before the ovulation period, it is probable that she can fall pregnant since sperm can remain alive and active for up five days inside of her.

The Natural Cycles app uses a carefully created algorithm that tracks the basal temperature of the woman and takes factors like sperm survival, temperature fluctuations, and cycle irregularities, etc, to calculate a woman’s ovulation cycle accurately. It will provide the user with accurate information regarding ovulation, fertility, period, PMS and help them keep track of different stages of their cycle. The app will actually be so courteous that it will send you a message on days you might be feeling a bit down because of your impending period. 

With a two decimal basal thermometer, you can keep track of your ovulation cycle, by measuring their temperature every morning before you get out of bed. The app will tell you which days can be considered safe to have sex and which days you risk falling pregnant, in which safety measures such as condoms should be used. 



 

Will this app work and break successfully into the US market?

While there are fertility tracking apps and systems available on the market today, Clue, Ovia, and Daysy being some of them, none have the accuracy and sophistication of the Natural Cycle app. 

An article published in the Swedish magazine Veckans Affärer claims a study shows that the app is actually so accurate, that it is even more efficient than birth control pills. Wired says in an article that it is 99% effective when used properly.

This app has been immensely successful in Sweden over the past few years. Until recently, their sales consisted of mostly Swedish users but there has been a surge of users from the UK and now an interest from the U.S. as well.
Natural Cycles wants to answer to that interest and are now looking to break into the U.S. market as an FDA Approved contraceptive system by 2018. FDA has never approved an app-based natural contraception solution in the past but Natural Cycles hopes it will make an exception in this case.

While Natural Cycles might face the very difficulties with U.S. authorities that it first did with European authorities, we are crossing our fingers that the app makes its way to the U.S. market, where women are still looking for effective alternatives to hormonal birth control.

This natural, healthy, hormone-free birth control, that doesn’t have an impact on the body’s chemical composition in any way, is the birth control that every woman deserves. 

Natural Cycles website: https://www.naturalcycles.com/en

Guide: How to legally work in the United States

By
Jessica Wright
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0

Moving to the United States and finding a satisfactory employment is not an easy task, but a walk in the park compared to the legal side of it. Whereas it is not impossible to work without being legally allowed to do so, it is not advisable. First of all, if anything happens to you while you work, you will find yourself with no rights to any help at all, if you need urgent care it will cost you more than you can (most likely) afford and you risk being deported for a good amount of time. There are a few different ways to do it legally, but you need time, money and a lot of patience.

Do you already have an American Employer?

The easiest way is if you already have an American employer, in which case the company will file a petition on your behalf. If you work for an international company with branches in the U.S. for example, and you have been transferred to one of these, your employer will most likely take care of the paperwork for you.

Once you find an American Employer

If you find a job with an American employer, there are two different visas to apply for; Temporary (non-immigrant) Worker or Permanent Worker.

Non-immigrant Visas

The first option, the Temporary Worker, will need to be filed by your prospective employer for the most part, another, much smaller part, is reserved for treaty traders and treaty investors. To qualify for either, you have to work for a company that has at least 50% Swedish ownership and where no less than 50% of the trade involved is between Sweden and the U.S.


O-1

Another temporary visa is the O-1 and it is for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement coming to the country to work within their field of expertise for a limited time. If you have extraordinary skills in either sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or if you are a movie star, or TV-star for that matter, the O-1 is the visa for you. But you have to be in the upper echelons of your profession in order to qualify. If your spouse or parent qualify, you may file for an O-3 visa for the same period of time, or if you qualify, you may file for your spouse and child/ren.

Visa Waiver or B-1

If you only intend to visit the country, but in a business manner, you can most likely do so under the visa waiver program, unless your stay will exceed 90 days in length, in which case you may apply for a B-1 visa.



Immigrant Visas

EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5

The second option, the Permanent Worker, can be filed by the person wishing to immigrate, you, in other words. But let’s not get carried away just yet. In order to be considered you have to have something to offer your new country, something that they don’t already have in abundance. The USCIS (the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) defines this as “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers.” (https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers).


Basically, you are applying for an immigrant visa based on your professional skills.
Also, if you hold an advanced degree within your field, or if you are otherwise skilled in ways that the U.S. lack, you may qualify for a permanent visa.
If you have a lot of money, at least $500.000, that you wish to invest in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. that would employ at least 10 American workers full-time, you could also qualify for a permanent visa.

If you qualify under any of these categories, you may file for your spouse and child/ren as well. The job-based visas are divided into five categories, or preferences, titled EB-1, EB-2 and so on.

Residency through marriage

Another way to become a legal alien is through marriage. If you get married in the United States and your spouse is American, you can apply for permanent residency. However, it is vital that your status was already legal before you entered into the holy matrimony, and you may then simply apply for an adjustment of status from whatever visa you had previously to a permanent resident. If you got engaged before entering the states, your fiancé/e may file a K-1 petition on your behalf, a so-called fiancée visa, and you are then to get married within 90 days of entering the country. Once married, you qualify for residency. Once you have your residency, commonly known as a Green Card, you are legally allowed to work.

Green Card Lottery

If you are feeling lucky, you can also try the Green Card lottery. The lottery, called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is open to nationals from countries with a low immigration rate to the U.S. Sweden is one of these countries. There are only a few requirements to enter and the first one is to have a minimum of high school education or two years of work experience and that you are only allowed to enter once per registration period. Each year, approximately 50.000 immigrant visas are obtained this way and they are equally distributed among eligible countries.

To sum up, there are two ways to work legally in the United States, one is temporary, the other is permanent. If you manage to get a permanent visa, you become a legal alien, not a citizen. You may work, you must pay taxes but you are not allowed to vote nor join the armed forces. The status can expire or be revoked, but you may also be eligible to apply for citizenship after a certain amount of time as a legal alien.

 

Visa

 Visa type
What does it allow you to do?
Restrictions
H1B Temporary Work for the US based company sponsoring your H1B visa You may not work for multiple companies nor stay in the country after your employment ends.
O1 – Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement Temporary Conduct business related to your extraordinary ability You must only work within your field of expertise.
B1 Temporary Temporarily represent a foreign company in the US You must not receive a salary from a US company or reside permanently in the United States.
EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5 Permanent Work and live in the United States Highly educated or have at least 500.000 USD to invest in a business based in the U.S.
Green card Permanent Work and live in the United States

Must be renewed every ten years and may be revoked.

 


Sources: https://www.uscis.gov/  –> WORKING IN THE US

 



 

Pennywise is back in town, and this time he is Swedish

By
Sara Rogers
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0

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Stephen King’s famous, dark and dreadful book IT has yet again been made into a movie production. The previous miniseries with the same title premiered in 1990 with Tim Curry portraying Pennywise. For the new featured thriller movie, no one other but the Swedish actor Bill Skarskård is acting as the evil clown. Pennywise is terrorizing seven children in the city of Derry, Maine. Each of the children is being faced with their personal demons, as Pennywise has the ability to know and turning into everyone’s worst fears.

Skarsgård was born in 1990, Stockholm, Sweden and is the son of Stellan Skarsgård, (known from Good Will Hunting, Exorcist: the beginning and Mamma Mia!), naturally making Bill the brother of actors Gustaf, Walter and of course Alexander Skarsgård.

Bill’s acting career started as early as the age of only ten years old when he was assigned a smaller roll in the Swedish movie Järnjänget (2000). But his breakthrough didn’t occur until he portrayed as Simon in I rymden finns inga känslor (2010). The movie gave him a Guldbagge nomination for best male actor in a leading role and the peoples’ prize at Seattle Filmfestival. Two years later, in 2012, Skarsgård was casted for his first big international production, a supporting roll in the movie Anna Karenina (2012) and the next success after that didn’t take more than a year when Bill was portraying the main character Roman Godfrey in the American tv-show Hemlock Grove (2013).

The breathtaking, and gasping thriller/drama had its premiere on September 5th, 2017 in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, during the premiere on the red carpet, Alexander Skarsgård couldn’t let his brother steal all the spotlight. Fans and media can’t stop laughing at Alexander photo bombing every picture, as he was sneaking up next to Bill and making crazy facial expressions. The movie is released in the United States on September 8th, 2017. This is one of the most talked about scary movies for the year. What are you afraid of?

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The Scandinavian favorites that you can get on Amazon now

By
Swedes in the States
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0

 

Candy and snacks

 

Ostbågar or Cheese doodles – $15.25 for 2 packs

Many Swedes favorite snacks. Thankfully – it can be found on Amazon. I say just get two straight away. That’s how much you are going to love them.

 

 

 

 

 

Malaco Djungelvrål – $9.75 for pack of 2

This classic salty licorice, directly translated to Jungle Scream, is a favorite among many Swedes.

The widely popular candy caused a lot of commotion in 2015, when Swedes found out that the candy does in fact not depict monkeys, but all sorts of animals including squirrels. A Swede sadly proclaiming that her life is a lie. You can read the article here

 

 

 

Marabou Digestive – $11.99 for 2 Bars x 100g

Aaaah Marabou! Every Swede has their own favorite. The most famous chocolate in Sweden with more tastes and versions than you can probably count. I recommend giving Digestive a try. Thankfully for                                                       everyone, you can find the best of Marabou’s on Amazon!



Cloetta Kexchoklad – $7.55 for 156g

Go’ och gla’ kexchocklad! (direct translation = yummy and happy wafer chocolate) This chocolate has been around since 1921 in Sweden and has a very special place in many Swedes heart. Pro tip: Terribly hard to eat when it starts melting. Avoid at all costs.

 

 

 

 

OLW Dill & Gräslok – $8.35 for 200g

OLW and Estrella are the two biggest chips companies in the U.S. Obviously, OLW has the upper hand in making themselves available to all the craving Swedes by being on Amazon.
Dill and Chives, two very Swedish flavors, on chips. Doesn’t get any better.

 

 



 

 Books

 

Food Pharmacy: A Guide to Gut Bacteria, Anti-Inflammatory Foods, and Eating for Health

It’s no news to anyone that Sweden has been going through a permanent health craze since probably the beginning of time. So, maybe it’s no surprise that this is one of the best-selling books in Sweden right now? It’s a must have if you want to get to know your gut better, and eat healthier.

 

 

 

The Ice Princess: A Novel

Camilla Läckberg is one of Sweden’s most successful authors. Releasing one chilling crime book after another, the Swedes and the world have come to love her books. If you haven’t already read it, order “The Ice Princess” home today.

 

 

 

The Brothers Lionheart

The Brothers Lionheart, originally Bröderna Lejonhjärta, is an old classic from Sweden’s favorite child-book author, Astrid Lindgren. Astrid Lindgren most famous works in the U.S. is undoubtedly Pippi Longstocking, but this tale about two brothers who follow each other into the afterlife is beautiful and strong, and deserves more attention.

 

 

 

Children’s book – Am I small? Är jag liten? $9.95

This bi-lingual book is perfect for any toddler out there learning how to master the two languages. It can be tricky sometimes, but “Är jag liten?” is the perfect start.

 

 

 

 

Swedish Folk Tales illustrated by John Bauer

We know, this looks like a children’s book as well. Well it kind of is, but it is equally as fun for adults, whether you’re Swedish, American, none of the two, or both. Us Swedes have a lively fantasy and getting lost in our enchanting folk tales with fairies and trolls, is both amusing and a tad bit scary.

 

 

 

Lars Kepler – The Fire Witness

So, Lars Kepler, who’s that? No one actually. Lars Kepler is the pen name of spouses Alexander and Alexandra Ahndoril, that co-author these page turners together. I have so many books by “Lars Kepler” that I would want to recommend to you. But if you haven’t read any of their books yet, start with “The Fire Witness”

 

 

 
 



 

Design 

 


Rörstrand Mon Amie Dinner Plate 10.6″

The Rörstrand Mon Amie collection from 1952 is the created by designer Marianne Westman in collaboration with Rörstrand, a Swedish porcelain company established in 1726, originally in Rörstrands Castle.

 

 

 

Tanssi Cup By Klaus Haapaniemi for Iittala

Personally one of my favorite cups. From Iittala (which is Finnish, I know) I had to include this cup because it is beautiful, and breathes Scandinavia. Iittala might be Finnish but is a very popular brand in Sweden and can be found in many Swedish homes, including my own. Taika and Tanssi is both worth checking out on Amazon. Actually, all of Iittala is worth checking out. Do it. Now.

 

Plättar&Pannkakor – Nordic Ware Scandinavian Silver Dollar Pancake Pan

Any American that’s ever known a Swede, knows that we like our pancakes flat. This pan is perfect for making small Swedish pancakes, also known as “Plättar”.

Buy this and make your own Swedish pancakes from either scratch or buy a mix. You can thank me later.

 

Georg Jensen Bernadotte Steel Thermos Jug

The design collaboration between the Swedish Prince Sigvard Bernadotte and the biggest design houses from Denmark has been nothing short of a success. A welcome addition to our fika traditions, this Georg Jensen Bernadotte thermos can be found in many Swedish homes.

 

 

 

 

Newsletter – September 1st, 2017

By
Natalie Söderberg
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0

 

 

 

 

We are so excited to share our new site with you! 

At Swedes in the States, you will find articles, interviews, a job board, a forum and much more. Our editors will guide you through the latest fashion and beauty hypes in Scandinavia, the best Swedish restaurants in the US and we will be sharing relevant news from Scandinavian organizations.

Take a look below to see what you might have missed since our launch.

 

 

CRAYFISH SEASON IS HERE

    

Have you ever seen a Swede devour a crayfish? Here is your chance. See which SACC organizations will be hosting Crayfish Parties and where here >
Don’t forget your party hat!

 

 

 

SWEDES IN THE STATES GUIDE TO
NEW ORLEANS & LOS ANGELES

            

Where the jazz music never dies and the culture is vibrant and warm. Southern hospitality as its finest and tropical climate. They don’t call it the “Big Easy” without a reason. This is the city of Mardi Gras, Gumbo and jaw-dropping history.

Welcome to New Orleans, baby. Read our guide here >

 

Summer might be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not allowed to plan for your next vacay. We highly recommend Los Angeles for road trips along the coast, stargazing, both in Hollywood and Joshua tree, and of course Universal Studios and Harry Potter world.

Read more about our Los Angeles guide here>

 

 


 

 

SWEDES WE LOVE – ANN-SOFIE SAFA

For our “Swedes We Love” segment, we managed to get a hold of the inspiring Ann-Sofie Safa, the Country Manager at Business Sweden USA. We talked about Unicorns, San Francisco, doing business in the US as a Swede, and her path to becoming one of the most influential Swedes in the US today.

You can read the interview here >

 

 

WE HAVE A NEW AWESOME JOB BOARD

 

 

 

Are you looking for a job or an internship in the US? Check out the Swedes in the States Job Board. We post jobs and internships with Swedish companies and organizations based in the United States.

 

 

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Want to stay up to date with the latest news from us at Swedes in the States?

Sign up here > to stay in the loop.

 

 

 

Why you should follow Sweden’s official Twitter account

By
Swedes in the States
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0

From having visitSweden add the entire country on Airbnb to having The Swedish Tourist Association set up a number making it possible for anyone in the world to call the number and talk to a random Swede. Getting to know Sweden has never been easier and more fun.

This twitter account, managed by the Sweden.se team and a moose at the Swedish Institute (kudos to SI for not discriminating against moose when hiring) is a must-follow for not only Swedes but anyone who wants to scroll through beautiful pictures, read informative posts, and indulge in some very Swedish humor.

 

 

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Swedes like the weekend. And so does Swedish moose.

 

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We’re actually asked to jump into a frozen lake through a carved up hole in the ice, and crawl our way up in middle-school. Not nice.

 

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Did this British expat get it right?

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Sweden’s very own beyond-the-wall (it get’s really cold) is also one of the most beautiful places in the country.

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Okay, Sweden, don’t act like your mail isn’t set on vacation mode 3 months a year.

 

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But maybe that’s a good thing?

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This is true.

 

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SACC Crayfish Parties all over the US!

By
Swedes in the States
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1
Kerstin Florian

The Swedes have been eating crayfish since the 1500’s and today our crayfish parties are one of our most beloved traditions. From our schnapps songs and silly party hats, to the way we eat our crayfish. Attending a crayfish party at least once in your life is a must! Don’t believe me? Take a look at this video from Nordstjernan. Big thanks to all the SACC organizations for keeping our fun traditions alive so far away from home!

 

SACC New York

Slået op af The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York i Fredag den 4. august 2017


When: September 14th, 2017 – starting 7pm
Where: Hudson Terrace, 621 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036
Cost: 295 USD

For more info & tickets: http://www.saccny.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Crayfish-Invitation.pdf

SACC Chicago

Slået op af Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce Chicago i Onsdag den 5. juli 2017


When: September 16th, 2017 – starting 6pm
Where: Wilmette Harbor Club (Old Sheridan Shore Yacht Club), 20 Harbor Dr. Wilmette, IL
Cost: 90 USD

For more info & tickets: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/You-re-invited-for-the-Crayfish-Party-2017-.html?soid=1102731551453&aid=_1-GJ5jl39o

SACC San Francisco

Save the date for our annual Crayfish Party on September 8th! This year we arrange our traditional feast at the…

Slået op af The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley i Onsdag den 2. august 2017


When: September 8th, 2017
Where: Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street

For more info & tickets: To be announced.

SACC Seattle

When: September 9th, 2017 – starting 6pm
Where: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N. Seattle
Cost: 75 USD

For more info & tickets: http://sacc-seattle.org/events/kraftskiva-crayfish-party/

 

SACC DALLAS

 

https://www.facebook.com/SACCDallas/photos/gm.404748986585947/1239153826195621/?type=3&theater


When: September 23rd, 2017 – starting at 6:30 pm
Where: Church of the Holy Cross, 4053 Herschel Ave, Dallas, TX

For more info & tickets: SACC and SWEA are co-hosting this event, so there will be plenty of opportunities to meet new and old friends of the Swedish-American community! Adults only on this event please.

More information TBA

SACC WASHINGTON D.C

 

Get your tickets here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eegdqyw0148eeb2a&oseq=&c=&ch=

Slået op af Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Washington DC, Inc. i Mandag den 14. august 2017


When: September 6th, 2017 – starting at 6:30pm
Where: House of Sweden, 2900 K St NW, Washington, D.C
Cost: 60 USD (75 USD for non-members)

For more info & tickets: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eegdqyw0148eeb2a&oseq&c&ch

 

Want to know more about the tradition? Here are some useful links:

The crayfish party

http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/traditions/1638/

 

 

 

Ann-Sofie Safa – Business Sweden’s new Commander in Chief

By
Natalie Söderberg
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2

 

From Stockholm to Sao Paolo and Africa to San Francisco, Ann-Sofie Safa truly knows the meaning of International Business. After being a part of Business Sweden’s team in San Francisco for six years, she officially steps up as the new Country Manager for Business Sweden. Being one of the most influential Swedes in the America today, Swedes in the States, of course, wanted a piece of her mind.


You just stepped up as the new Country Manager of Business Sweden. What does that mean, and how does a day look like in the life of Ann-Sofie Safa?

I am responsible for driving revenue and growth within the U.S. region. It also includes building and growing a strong team that can deliver on those revenue targets. Currently, we are located in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

I like to start my days early to collect my thoughts and plan my day before the stream of calls and meetings start. With the 9 hour time difference with Sweden, you need to be an early riser. A large portion of my morning is spent meeting and talking to clients. We work as one team in the U.S. and make sure to keep the communication channel open between the offices throughout the day. No day is the same and I like the challenges that come along with this role.

 


For those who don’t know, what exactly does Business Sweden do?

We help Swedish companies expand internationally. We also drive investments to Sweden. A client may think or know that there is potential for their business in the U.S., but they do not know where to start and how to prioritize in such a large economy and geography. We help them develop that strategy as well as implementation. For instance, we provided Volvo Cars the analysis for the best location for the factory in the U.S. It is planned to open at the end of 2018 in Charleston, North Carolina.

As for driving investments to Sweden, we recently facilitated the establishment of Amazon Web Services’ three data centers near Stockholm. The new data centers will be operational in 2018 and serve customers in the Nordics.


You have been with Business Sweden for more than 6 years, how has Business Sweden changed during the years? Is it noticeable that Sweden has been one of the world’s biggest producer of successful startups (so called “unicorns”)

There have been two major changes; 1) The merger of the former Exportrådet with Invest Sweden, and 2) The establishment of a new CEO and management team. These changes have significantly improved Business Sweden’s chances to deliver on its objectives. Our purpose is clearer now, it is to help companies in Sweden reach their full international potential and help companies abroad to invest and expand in Sweden.

Sweden is on the top list of most innovative countries in the world, which is something we are proud to represent. Klarna, Spotify, and Minecraft are great examples of unicorns coming out of Sweden. It naturally helps in our dialogues with stakeholders in the U.S. I feel that Sweden has a strong brand internationally.


(Business Swedens office in San Francisco)


How is the Scandinavian presence in Silicon Valley and San Francisco?

Our Scandinavian neighbors all have a presence in the region and we have regular talks on topics where it makes sense for us to collaborate. We also have the Nordic Innovation House in Palo Alto where Vinnova is a Swedish partner. The Swedish Consulate is located in San Francisco and they cover a large part of the West coast. Then there are membership organizations like SACC and Silicon Vikings, where both Swedes and Scandinavians are represented.

 

What advice do you have to Swedish entrepreneurs that have dreams of expanding to the US?

I would encourage them to think about Silicon Valley and New York as entry points to the global market. There are also up and becoming innovation hubs like Seattle, Boulder, and Austin. These are sometimes less known to foreigners. The culture here is fast paced and failure is not necessarily considered a bad thing. As the saying goes in the valley ‘Fail fast, fail often’. It is just as important to have the determination, persistence and a clear vision as having the greatest idea.

 

 

Why did you decide to move to the US?

I have lived in the U.S. before and when I finished my MBA back in Brazil in 2011 I started looking for jobs in Brazil and the U.S. After spending about 10 years in management consulting I was intrigued by the work at Business Sweden. Now, I am very happy how it turned out. I met my husband here and we have two young children.

What were your first thoughts on SF?

I love the light here, it is very special. The water and the sun light is different somehow, it has this intense blue, almost turquoise color. Whenever I travel and come back, it is the first thing that strikes me.

What was the hardest part about getting settled in the States?

After living in South America and Africa I found it very easy to get settled in the U.S. I think the hardest part is staying in touch with family and friends in Sweden due to the time difference of 9 hours. When you come home after work they are sleeping and when their work day has ended you have just started yours.

 

(Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco)

How is the corporate culture in the United States comparing to Sweden?

It is more hierarchical I would say, and also consists of much more networking. The boss has a stronger say and you do what you are told. There is less of a consensus when decisions are made, which is both good and bad. It is less complicated but not everyone may be on board. The networking part cannot be reinforced enough, especially in sales. It is much more difficult to get a hold of people, especially executives unless you have a connection. Having a connection or referral can make a big difference.


What is your advice to Swedes wanting to work in the US or start a company here?

Starting a company is fairly easy, we do it all the time for our clients. The tricky part is immigration and building a sustainable business. You need to have a strategy and plan long-term, either as an individual or as a company. It can be costly to start and run a business here. As soon as you stick your nose outside the door there is a fee.

Have there been any advantages or disadvantages of being Swedish when moving here/or working here?

It is an advantage because Sweden has a solid economy and a great education system that churns out highly-skilled labor. Almost everyone knows of strong brands like IKEA, H&M, Ericsson etc., but sometimes they don’t know it is Swedish.

Your Swedish smultronställe?

The Stockholm archipelago. My family has had a place in the archipelago, on an island named Singö, which I cherish deeply.


(Stockholm archipelago)


What are your favorite SF spots?

There are so many, this is truly an amazing place. On the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is an area called Marine Headlands. From there you have a breathtaking view of the bridge and the city and if you go further out there is a lonely light house on this beautiful rock. With the fog coming in it can almost feel like a fictional place.

ERDEM X H&M

By
Amanda Erlandsson
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0

The exciting news about Erdem’s collaboration with H&M caught my attention right away. H&M revealed in mid-July, that they are teaming up with the London based label ERDEM. The label is popular among celebrities and has been worn on the red carpet by celebrities like Emma Stone, Ruth Negga, Kiera Knightley and Nicole Kidman. I’m for one, is very much excited to see how the collection will turn out.

ERDEM was established in London 2005 and the brand has come to be classified with versatile yet powerful femininity. The founder of the brand is Erdem Moralioglu who practiced his design at Royal College of Art in London. He is born in Montreal, Canada, to a Turkish father and English mother. Since launching his label, it has grown into becoming one of London’s most successful.

Moralioglu is known for using experimental textiles, vibrant prints, and detailed craftsmanship. If you look at Erdem’s earlier collections you will clearly the recurring use of flower prints, which gives away a romantic feeling to his designs.

In an interview with Moralioglu he says, ‘’I’ve always been fascinated by things that explore femininity’’, ‘’whether it’s lace or flowers or the aesthetics of beauty.’’


Baz Luhrmann brought life to the collaboration ERDEM x H&M with a teaser film. The film gave me a feeling of mysterious romance. Just by watching it my guess is that the collection will have beautiful and very feminine, romantic dresses but in a young and modern way. Which also gave away in an interview saying: ‘’ I’m fascinated with things that you can’t tell if they’re 50 years old or 100 years old or completely new,’’ and also ‘’It’s so interesting to create pieces that look timeless, even if they’re created digitally and are totally new.’’

The Swedish powerhouse also revealed that there will be a men’s collection coming this November. I am almost more excited about this than the ladies collection since this will be the first time Erdem Moralioglu will be designing for men. About the men’s collection, he said: ‘’ It’s really about looking at a wardrobe of pieces and focusing on the exact design details. There has to be an easiness to menswear, and a sense of reality. I’m so happy with it, and I think so many women are going to love the men’s collection too.’’

Is anyone else feeling the Gigi Hadid and Zayn raiding-each-other’s-closet vibes here? Apparently, 2017 is all about mixing wardrobes with your loved one.

Erdem went on to say: ‘’ The menswear informs the women and vice versa; I’m thinking of my sister wearing a tweed jacket over a tea dress and trainers. And what our parents were wearing when they met in the 60s’’.

This collaboration is just GREAT and I’m more than excited to see the collection when it drops in stores on November 2nd. In 66 countries also, might I add. The ERDEM x H&M collection will bring us romantic timeless clothing and the menswear will match perfectly in with the theme. So, guys and girls, mark your calendars for this special collaboration because I’m pretty sure you do not want to miss out on it!

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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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