So, just checking, how are your vocal cords doing? Did they manage to fully recover from the whole screaming, cheering, and singing? How are the joints of your knees? Did they have their well-deserved rest after the intense jumping, running, and dancing? And how many times a week do you find yourself in shock thinking that TWO MONTHS already passed since Kick-Off?!
And if you are one of the 1145 international newbies who arrived from all around the world, this means that it has been at least two months since you first shyly moved your first steps in town! Give yourself a pat on the back, that is an achievement that needs to be celebrated!
But hey, let’s be honest and speak the truth: moving abroad is not all puppy dogs and rainbows – unlikely what our Instagram stories and photo galleries spammed in the family groups might show to our beloved one at home. Moving abroad is challenging, rewarding, as much as exhausting. Not only emotionally, as we deal with homesickness or loneliness – but also culturally. Landing in a new country is like stepping on an unknown planet: there is a new land to discover, new people to interact with, new social norms, unspoken rules, habits, traditions. It is a daily battle, a constant struggle, and instructions manuals are missing: experiencing it on your skin is the only way out.
My friends, culture shocks are real, and Sweden is no exception! Let me guide you through the must-known concepts of this mysterious culture you now find yourself in!
Fika
Starting with the basics: every time is fika o’clock. It is probably not an exaggeration to call it a national institution. In companies, schools, and in every household: the sacred ritual of the coffee break will always be celebrated. The extent of the length is debatable – will it last ten minutes or an hour? That is part of the fun! Cinnamon, cardamom and sugar often find their way to your plate, but they are not the main protagonists! What can be served is always a gamble – but whatever you’re having it must be spiced up with companionship, socialisation, and chats. Do not even dare to ask for a justification or a reason! There is no rule behind fika, except that it can not be skipped! Take a break from whatever you are doing, grab a cup (coffee, tea, something strong if you feel the need) and allow yourself to recharge your batteries.
As someone before me said: “Fika is a concept, a state of mind, an attitude”, and I couldn’t summarise it any better.
Lagom
Or just in case your Swedish vocabulary does not go that far (yet! Keep going to the Language Caffe! You will master this), it can be translated with “just the right amount”.
It infiltrates many (every?) aspects of Swedish society and it lies at the fundament of the common lifestyle. It is the proud opposition to excess and it sets balance as the true goal. It sits in the intersection between harmony and moderation in all things. Applying lagom to daily life is all about mastering the art of standing in the middle. Setting “just enough” as your new guiding mantra can revolutionise your mindfulness journey, while embracing the principle of not too much, not too little, but just right.
How to quantify what “just right” is? Well, no answer has been provided yet.
Skatteverket
– aka the new pen-pal you never asked for.
You can’t truly claim to have fully experienced Swedish culture without a delightful pile of letters from Sweden’s Tax Authority on your desk, alongside a tally of the countless visits you’ve made to their offices. Personal numbers, coordination numbers – navigating Swedish bureaucracy is an adventure you never knew you signed up for and whose unsubscribing bottom is very well hidden. And while the rest of the world find postcards to be obsolete, Skatteverket proudly serves as a nostalgia ambassador and stepping back in time with its old-fashioned mail system. Don’t worry – that crucial answer, document, or paper you’ve been waiting weeks for is surely on its way via carrier pigeon! So, stretch your wrist, warm up your fingers: a mountain of forms to compile is waiting for you, probably next to an even bigger pile of documents to personally hand to their employees. Google Lens will quickly become your new best friend as you decipher the content of the two-pages long letters. But fear not – there is light at the end of every tunnel (hopefully). Once you navigate the labyrinth of Skatteverket, you’ll emerge with a newfound appreciation for Swedish efficiency (eventually). Take a deep breath and train your patience, you are going to need it!
Pant
Forget the days when throwing house parties meant the hassle of dealing with a mountain of empty beer cans! In Sweden, those cans can quickly turn into little treasures! Suddenly, you’re faced with a reverse vending machine that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, demanding your cans like a picky robot. While back home you might have tossed your empties into the trash without a second thought, here you’re rewarded for your efforts: a precious voucher to proudly show at the checkout! And if your bag of cans and plastic bottles is big enough, that extra bar of chocolate won’t even dent your wallet – that is basic “girl maths”! Otherwise, if you feel extra generous that day, the affiliated charity foundation will be happy to take your contribution to their cause.
Allemansrätten
It’s no secret that Swedish landscapes are breathtaking. Perhaps because of this beauty, the Swedish people felt compelled to establish the right for everyone to enjoy it, institutionalising the freedom to roam! At the heart of Sweden’s “Everyone’s Right” policy, known as allemansrätten, lies a profound respect for nature and a commitment to shared freedoms. This unique law allows anyone to roam freely across the countryside, including private land, as long as they respect the environment and the rights of landowners. Pick berries, camp, and enjoy the great outdoors without a second thought: just remember to leave no trace, or you might find yourself addressed by a very disapproving glance from a local who treasures their slice of paradise. So, lace up your hiking boots and your sense of adventure; in Sweden, the great outdoors is truly everyone’s playground—just try not to crash any private parties along the way!
Writer: Silvia Dal Sasso
