Cool Facts about Sweden which you must be aware of before moving to the country

What are some of the important things you need to know about Sweden?

Sweden is one of the Scandinavian countries, along with Denmark, Finland and Norway. Iceland is often added to them. You probably know very well that the Scandinavian countries are popular for their extremely high standard of living, income, taxes, opportunities, you name it. However, very often what we think and know does not correspond to the reality, we have prepared the most common misconceptions which circulate about life in Sweden. It is highly recommended to get acquainted with them, if you intend to study live in Sweden.

Sweden is mostly associated with the Northern Lights, its unique wildlife, balanced life (Fika and LAGOM). Of course, there is no person who has not heard of IKEA, Skype, Spotify, Avicci, Swedish House Mafia and so on! The capital of Sweden is Stockholm, and the largest and most famous cities in the country are Malmö, Gothenburg, Orebro and perhaps Helsingborg. Sweden has a population of about 10 million, with more than 3.5 million living in Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg together. It is an interesting fact that almost 2 million of the population is not from Sweden, which makes Swedes ethnically tolerant to foreigners. The capital Stockholm concentrates the most residents (and foreigners). Finding an unskilled job without a Swedish language is the easiest there. However, we strongly recommend that you start learning Swedish while still in your own country! We recommend completing at least one level Swedish language! Ask us about the right Swedeish language course and avoid getting disappointed with the mass courses that you will surely enroll in!

Sweden, like Denmark and Norway, is a kingdom. King XVI Gustaf Folke Hubertus has been on the throne since 1973. He recently turned 75. The king and the royal family have representative and ceremonial functions. The country is governed by the Swedish Council of Ministers, the parliament and the government.

The foreigners are not allowed to vote in the parliamentary elections unless they have obtained a Swedish passport. To get one, you will have to live in the country for at least five years and meet several other criteria, one of which is to stay away from crime. So, if you are willing to get a Swedish passport, behave properly and do not break the law (including not riding a bike without lights, not talking on the phone while riding a bike and so on, which can bring you unnecessary problems with Swedish law enforcement). Of course, there are other requirements that you need to be aware of before you can officially become a Swedish citizen. Including having a permanent home and job, as well as knowing Swedish.

Like other Scandinavian countries, Sweden pays attention to the healthy living, green energy and environmental protection. We will only remind you that Greta Thunberg is a Swede from Stockholm and is at the forefront of the fight against the global warming. Be prepared to split your trash into many bins and recycle over 90% of everything you use.

Anywhere in Sweden you will most likely adore a tidy and clean environment, bike lanes with a heavy traffic. Do not be surprised if in the winter months you see the Swedes spend their day running cross-country in the snow in sportswear! Nothing can stop them.

Lifestyle

We have already mentioned a little about the Swedish phenomenon Fika – the culture of coffee, cakes (desserts) and distancing from work during our breaks while working. Such detachment exists not only during work, but whenever the Swedes decide they need it. Thus, their life acquires a slightly different meaning – they enjoy the little joys that they create for themselves. The tradition is so strong that even huge companies stop to recharge their batteries with a break for coffee, cake and, above all, quality time spent with the colleagues. In some companies (such as IKEA), work related conversations  during Fika are completely banned. The idea is to get to know your friend (colleagues) – it makes sense! Thanks to this tradition, working foreigners in Sweden would find it easier to join the community and the whole environment. In fact, the type of food is not very important, but it is important that it is fresh/ The Swedes pay serious attention to the way it is presented. They get to the point where they become passionate pastry cooks and bakers, preparing homemade specialties for their colleagues! Indeed, it is difficult to describe it in words, the feeling is special and there is no way you do not want to integrate it in your country.

Another interesting fact about Sweden is that it is one of the first countries to allow fathers to take full responsibility for raising a child after it is born while the mother goes to work. In the Scandinavian country both parents have the right to share the care of the child equally. Therefore, instead of just the well-known motherhood – there is the so-called fatherhood.

Night life

One of the disadvantages (and maybe not so much) of Sweden is the high prices of alcohol in the country, perhaps much higher than those in your country. The serious problems that the Swedes had many years ago with its consumption have led to a sharp rise in prices, as well as limiting the amount that can be bought in stores. This, of course, cannot stop the Swedes from consuming exactly as much as they want. If you decide to study in Malmö or Gothenburg, it is very likely that you will make a day trip to Denmark – Copenhagen or Frederikshavn to buy 5-6 stacks of Danish beers (Tuborg, Carlsberg) and whatever other alcohol you prefer. This is exactly what hundreds of Swedes do in these cities, due to the significant difference in prices.

Most disco clubs in the cities close at 2-3 am, which usually means that all parties start much earlier. We have no doubt that this detail will not stop you from having fun. Sweden is the homeland of so many world-famous DJs, known to thousands of people, such as Avicii, Swedish House Mafia (Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Axwell, Eric Prydz), and music festivals are one of the most spectacular in the world! In other words, don’t think that you will stay at home (unless you want to).