5 Weird Things I Learned About Sweden in 5 Years

Being an expat in Stockholm is a kaleidoscope of ‘what the hell is going on’ and ‘oh, this actually makes sense.’ There are so many cultural similarities between Sweden and my home country of the U.S., that the smallest weird things send me over the edge.

Cutting in front of baby strollers in the bus lines is taboo

Sweden is a country of standing in lines. As in – if you cut, you die by stare down and potential public humiliation. This is also the case for when waiting for the bus. In the U.S., everyone casually gathers at the bus stop in a little group thing. In Sweden, you stand in a perfect line with about 5 feet between each person.

BUT when there is a MOTHER with a baby cart that enters the bus in the MIDDLE, and not the front, can you cut in front of the mother? Ummm, yes? I do. She isn’t getting in the front of the bus, so why does it matter.

Making last minute plans

Want to invite people over for the weekend? Ah, sorry, you should have sent invites out 1 month ago. Everyone is busy.

Taking 1-month long vacations

As Americans, we are used to getting 1 or 2 weeks of vacation in a row if we beg a little or lie that we are bridesmaids in a destinations wedding. But my Swedish colleagues will actually disappear for 1 month or more in the summer to just enjoy life away from work. That’s because by law, workers are allowed 25 days of consecutive vacation. Awesome!

Believing the country has a drinking problem

The government has a monopoly on the consumption of alcohol. You can only buy beverages with 4% or above in government regulated stores that are open sometimes, and this is promoted because otherwise ‘people would drink themselves to death.’ Really? I find that hard to believe. Especially with all the wine guzzling going down in southern Europe, I feel like the outlook on alcohol is more of a propaganda thing to keep the government taxing high on alcohol.

Awkward TV commercials

We all love funny commercials, but I feel as though some of the commercials in Sweden are trying so hard to be funny, that they just turn out weird. Either that, or they are just so blatantly inappropriate. Take for example, this commercial about cat food, ironically, called Pussi PartyMix by Purina. Couldn’t they think of a better name?