SwedishFreak

Hilary lived two years in Norrland, Sweden (Northern Sweden) and fell in love with the country. She lives in Prague, Czechia and hopes to one day soon return to Sweden.
midsummer swedish sin

Swedishness Podcast: Midsummer and the Swedish sin (episode #7)

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What does March 22nd and the most famous Swedish holiday, midsummer, have in common? In this Swedishness podcast, Kattis and Phillip interview experts in Swedish tradition, as well as others to dive deeper into Swedes and this sexy holiday of theirs.

As the description says:

This celebration of sunlight and summer is famed for its amorous undertones and is often portrayed as a night of sin and debauchery. After all, what is a Midsummer celebration without flirtation, phallic symbols, a healthy helping of hard liquor and pickled herring?

 

LA to Stockholm $500 or less?

Fly to Stockholm from LA for $500 or less?

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No seriously. I booked my flight already, leaving on the 22nd (yes, this Saturday), and it cost me $550 including carry on luggage, some travel insurance, and a seat selected on the way home. I do have a hotel cost in Iceland on my way there of $70. I’m not crying about it though. So … Read more

Swedes-recycle-under-terrorist-threat

Swedes Recycle Under Full Terrorist Threat

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Again, another reason why I love Sweden. Nothing stops Swedes from recycling. Absolutely nothing. Not even a terrorist attack.

Someone pointed this thread out to me on Reddit with a video of Swedes recycling under the terrorist threat they recently had. A rough translation of the text (please Swedes, if I’m wrong, correct me):

When someone looks up the word “Swedish-head” in the dictionary there is these two that are sorting recycling trash while there is a full terrorist threat.

The thread continues to be hilarious, I will share some of the funniest ones with a few translations for those of you who don’t speak Swedish. Like with this one:

om man slutar kallsoterera sa vinner terroristerna

Rough translation? If one stops trash sorting so win the terrorists.

Or here is another one that doesn’t need any translation that I love.

Environment needs to Fika

And lastly, someone who is freaking out about people writing Swedish and English in the same sentence that cracks me up.

Sick in huvet

For those who don’t know Swedish “helt sjukt i huvudet” is “completely sick in the head”.

Oh Sweden, how I love you so. You are the best place to be green, that is for sure. I can’t wait to see you soon!

Do Swedes Actually Work

Swedishness Podcast: Do Swedes Actually Do Any Work? (episode 5)

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Well yes! I actually find Swedes to be one of the most efficient types of people (think IKEA). But one may question when Swedes actually DO their work, as the Swedishness episode 5 podcast points out:

Employees in Sweden get more paid holiday than nearly any other country in the world – a guaranteed minimum of 25 days a year. Add to that around a dozen public holidays. When the Swedes actually are at work, they’re bound to spend an average of 25 per cent of their time in meetings, aiming for consensus. And let’s not forget, they’re legally entitled to coffee breaks. So, with all these things considered, when do Swedes actually get any work done?

Good question! And as I read this, all I can think is “no wonder I want to live there!”.

Enjoy episode 5 of Swedisness!

 

Where To Look For a Job in Sweden

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After almost 5 years away from Sweden, I can’t stand it anymore! I want to find a job in Sweden. I’m ready to fika, take my shoes off at work, pay high taxes, and get 5 weeks paid vacation. Not only that, I’d love to go back to school and get my master’s. If I … Read more

Worlds Oldest Free Press

Swedishness Podcast: The World’s Oldest Free Press (episode 4)

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So what? Well, I suppose maybe young people may not appreciate free press and being able to say anything, including the truth. It seems that more and more the freedom of the press is being weighed down by untruths and bias that many are struggling to figure out what is real and what isn’t.

I didn’t know Sweden had the world’s oldest freedom of the press, dating back to 1766. In Swedishness podcast #4, Kattis and Phillip interview Ola Larsmo, the president of Sweden’s PEN chapter which promotes and literature and freedom of expression.

Swedish flag mourning

Attack in Sweden: Flags at Half Mass

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Yesterday I was sad to wake up to the news that there was a terrorist attack in Sweden. Another truck attack. While we mourn for the lives lost, let us continue to live our everyday lives not in fear, but in love of one another. The Prime Minister of Sweden released this statement yesterday: Today … Read more

longest Swedish word by Alexander Skarsgård

Longest Swedish Word

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Ok, ok, well, technically, the longest Swedish word is Realisationsvinstbeskattning (28 letters), which means “capital gain taxation” and is usually shortened to Reavinstskatt.  This is according the Svenska Akademiens ordlista, which is technically correct.  This is the longest word in Swedish. Technically.

How boring!

Non technically, Swedish grammar allows us to combine words to make a much longer (and much more interesting) word than Realisationsvinstbeskattning.  For example, spårvagnsaktiebolagsskensmutsskjutarefackföreningspersonalbeklädnadsmagasinsförrådsförvaltarens (94 letters) which means something like “Belonging to the manager of the depot for the supply of uniforms to the personnel of the track cleaners’ union of the tramway company”.

Thank you Swedish grammar.  And thank you Alexander Skarsgård for willing to read another long Swedish word on YouTube for our enjoyment.

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