I miss Sweden. I’ll be the first to admit it. The little things, the food, and I only lived in the country for 2 years!
Well, I know Ikea has some awesome Swedish things. But I am not a fan of Ikea. I don’t like the maze they make you walk through, and how you want to go shopping for 2 items but you end up spending 3 hours there. Not cool! Last time I was in Ikea (and I’ve never been to one in Sweden mind you), I even got lost in the parking lot!
Then came the need to buy some furniture, and Ikea definitely had the cheapest. So I decided to bite the bullet and go into the store. I started thinking to myself how awful this was going to be. Then I realized that did not have to be the case.
I decided right then and there to play a game. How quickly could I get in and out of Ikea and purchase the 3 items I needed: two side tables, and a lamp.
I got out of my car at 8pm. Time to play!
Luckily, there was a map, and the people at this Ikea in Arizona were super helpful, directing me where I needed to go to get my items. I was quickly able to pick up my items and check out.
While I have never been at an Ikea in Sweden, it still reminded me of Sweden. The furniture reminded me of all my friends’ homes, and the blue and yellow reminded me of the proud Swedish flags that were readily visible in Sweden. I wanted to say “Tack” so many times and start speaking Swedish!
Instead, I stuck to “Hej!” since it is pretty close to “Hey!” and Americans don’t know the difference 🙂
I was on a major roll with my timing, but I couldn’t skip the Swedish food section at the end. Oh my, the beautiful items! So many Swedish treats, from cakes to sylt to cheese! Vasterbotten ost to be exact!
I was in heaven. But I was also playing a game. So I got the essentials. Cheese and lingonberry sylt. And I left.
Time? 8:22pm. Yep, in and out in 22 minutes, plus I went food shopping.
I rule. So does Ikea.
I used to go to IKEA for the food. Since changing over to IKEA Brands food its just not the same. They have sucked the soul out of the experience of going to IKEA with this change. So sad!
Hej! I love this post and this blog! Just moved to Sweden last week and all the info I can get the better, so I have bookmarked you for research purposes!!
Glad to hear it Regan 🙂 Let me know if you have any questions! What brought you to Sweden?
I agree with you Erik. Without a variety of food brands, IKEA is not the same any more. Actually, they have more lösgodis now. So sad…