In today’s blog post, I want to speak about how everyday life in Sweden is different from the US. Any readers currently in the United States might get a little envious, because the discoveries that I will soon describe below all attribute to a more relaxed and enjoyable lifestyle.
While there is often a preconception that people in Sweden are shy or antisocial, they are of course always friendly once you get to know them. There is a polite and reserved nature about many people that I meet, but as soon as a conversation gets started I find that the Swedes can be very animated and exciting to talk to. Most people in Sweden are especially enthusiastic to talk with a foreign student such as myself because they really enjoy practicing their English, and they are often curious about what attracts someone to study in their country.
One interesting expression in Swedish that may be heard frequently is the word lagom, which roughly means “just the right amount”. To most Swedes this is more than just a saying, but a way of life, especially in regards to consumption of goods. Think about the products that are sold in Ikea stores for filling up your home- there is a certain mindfulness about designing for all essential purposes without crossing the line towards excessiveness.
Another contrast between Swedish society and American culture is the awareness of Jante’s Law, which can be summarized by saying that no one person should think of themselves as better, smarter, or more important than the next person or the community as a whole. This fosters the modest nature of Swedes, who will often downplay their own accomplishments as “no big deal” or something that “anyone could have achieved in my position.” The presence of Jante’s Law is not always an outright display of modesty, but it certainly exists in the subconscious minds of Swedes from an early age. I also find that Swedes have a strong tendency to avoid conflict of any kind, probably because to seek conflict and assert one’s opinions over someone else’s is a direct violation of Jante’s Law.
Maybe how I’ve described Swedes so far doesn’t make them sound like the most thrilling of people, but that misses the point. The everyday life of people in Sweden is focused around the things they cherish the most- their education (for students) or a fulfilling professional career (for adults), their family and friends, and socializing around food and drink throughout the day. Unlike Northeastern University, all students at Lund have the same lunch hour from 12pm-1pm, so that everyone can enjoy lunch with their chosen company. Likewise, Swedish fika is a break in the afternoon from classes or work to enjoy coffee and pastries, so that you don’t feel too burnt out at the end of the day.
