Ten Things You Can Learn From When You Visit Sweden

 For example, Do you know, Swedes were recently ranked fifth happiest in the world, Sweden was named the fourth best travel destination, third best place to be a mother, second best place to be young...

1. English is a very fluffy language

Swedes are not generally known for their linguistic padding. One positive side to this is that they are often very concise. This takes some getting used to at first. Emails in particular can be quite daunting – very to the point, often lacking normal pleasantries or even your name. (The general address of “Hej!” is often used).

2. How to dress for the cold

This was an important one as getting it wrong can be far worse than a fashion faux pas; it can actually mean death. If your car slides off a country road in the middle of deep winter, heels and a short skirt won’t get you far. Adaptation and being prepared are key – which probably explains the Swedish planning gene. Shovelling snow and getting a car up a steep icy hill have also become part of my Swedish-skill set.

3. An appreciation of four distinct seasons

Coming from a country where you often have four seasons in one day and where snow is rare, proper winters and distinct seasons were both a novelty and a challenge. It is hard to beat the simple thrill of walking across frozen water or tobogganing or skiing down a hill at speed for the first time. Understandably, people work accordingly and work more or less grinds to a halt from mid-summer, on June 22nd, to the beginning of August.

4. It’s hard to shake off your upbringing

Some things are just so ingrained that they are very hard to shake off, even when you know they are illogical. I still feel compelled to offer to buy a round of drinks if out with a group, even though the culture here is that everyone pays for themselves. The easiest solution is usually to focus on the positive, of which there is an abundance in Sweden.

5. The art of planning

Swedes are master planners and planning is an integral part of their way of living. Numerous successful Swedish multinationals, and transport systems that work are testimony to this. Many Swedes will be able to tell you exactly what they will be doing on any given day, three or four months ahead. Planning doesn’t just apply on the work front but also socially, where planning meetings for group activities are a way of socialising.

 6. Punctuality

Here is all you need to know about punctuality in Sweden. Coming late to anything = Bad. Coming late to business meetings = Really Bad. Let’s just say I have learned this the hard way.

7. The concept of Lagom

Lagom (pronounced lar-gohm) is a Swedish word meaning just the right amount. It’s also widely translated as in moderation, in balance and perfect-simple. Think of it as the Goldilocks of words – not too hot, not too cold but just right. It’s an important concept to understand as it is applied to just about every aspect of life in Sweden from dress sense to work performance.

8. How to apply Lagom

Understanding the concept and knowing what is considered lagom by Swedes in various different situations are two very different learning curves, the latter requiring years of experience and practice. However, knowing what would be considered appropriate on most subjects, such as participation at office meetings, the amount of planning notice required to get any activity off the ground or what and how much to serve on any particular occasion.

9. How to Fika

Any newbie to Sweden quickly learns that fika (coffee breaks) is an important part of Swedish work culture. This is where you get to socialise with your colleagues and catch up on office news in an informal way. It is a great concept. The real challenge of office fika is gauging what is a “lagom” amount of time to spend at this compulsory activity. 

10. What it means to be truly bilingual
When it comes to being truly bilingual, cultural references are the final frontier. 

 source: irishtimes