Imponerade Stefan, du har verkligen gjort hela resan! Det märks hur mycket din vistelse här har påverkat dig och du har förstått kulturen/tankesättet här och blivit lika mycket svensk som amerikan - pretty much! Glad att du är här och trivs! ❤
I will write this in English even though I know you are fluent in Swedish, but I guess you've got American followers also. You have truly spotted things that are very Swedish, but most impressively you understand the underlying causes. Welcome as a citizen. You have earned it.
I have many times tried to explain this combination of individualism and collectivism, but mostly failed. Your explanation is superb, and I'll try to memorize it! Thanks!
As someone who is born and has lived in Sweden my entire life, i think one of the most underrated effects of our collectivism mindset is the sense of security and relaxation one can attain t hat is simply not possible in other countries where the constant competitive push is always looming at the back of your mind, never allowing you to just be fully stress free. But of course there are pro's to the competitive nature of the American lifestyle as well. Competitiveness promotes people to constantly improve on themselves and to always seek more to push for more or a better situation. And as such it is more likely that this type of lifestyle can drastically change how a person are able to handle things going the wrong way. Because they are used to it by the nature of constant competition, so their stress tolerance are usually much higher than that of the Swedish people.
I am American and I compete w myself not others, trying to realize my own potential and really just enjoy my life, be comfortable, travel the world and savor the experiences.
@@luvslogistics1725 Ye there are people of all walks of life, but the vast majority of American people to the the public sphere reflects a highly competitive society at least to an outsider like me.
Stress avoidance seems to be a principle motivator in modern Sweden. Is that true? There is more to living than avoiding the fight or flight symptoms ...
@@paulalb-n2f I think a lot of it has to do with how our society is structured. Because we as individuals are formed by our society to a great degree as we're growing up into adults. We life such a sheltered life in Sweden in pretty much all aspects. No real dangerous / venomous animals we need to worry about. No real pest plaguing homes etc. Our average living standard in Sweden is quite high compared to the rest of the world. Our kids get to go to school pretty much for free, regular checkups at hospitals costs little to nothing compared to the rest of the world. All of these quality of life things in Sweden contribute to our privileged position of not having to stress about most things. I'm sure many swedes will disagree with my take on it, but i would assume those people have never actually tried living in another country outside of Scandinavia. Yes there is more to life that trying to avoid stress, i 100% agree. Stress in the right dose is actually very healthy for us, but too much on the other hand is actually deadly. All things in moderation :)
Really impressive summary! One reason many swedes don’t mind paying taxes and have a high regard for authorities is that we can actually see the benefits for the taxes. And where the tax money goes is transparent. You can literally track down the expenses in your city and for example see what contractors where involved in the bidding process when renovations is needed. That process is by law public. I think that kind of openness from the authorities shines through the whole society, and trust is gained.
I moved to America from Sweden two years ago and not a day has gone by without me longing to be back at Sweden!! It’s like two extremes with Sweden being the better of the two!
I'm from indonesia and I just saw you on yt, and I started watching your vidios and I have been learning swedish since 2022 and I also learnt german in 2021 but I stopped halfway but after seeing Your vidio and younger brother I decided to learn german again, och jag lärde mig svenska själv hemma utan lärare. Tack så mycket.
Jag älskar hur nyfiken du är på Sverige som kultur och folket! Det är så spännande att höra reflektioner från någon som inte är från landet och vad de lägger märke till osv. Grymma videos :)
Intressant att se hur dina videos har utvecklats, du har ett helt annat djup i din analys jämfört med hur det var i början(de var absolut inte dåliga men nu ger dem mycket mer) Keep going!!
Wow, your analyzes of Swedish society has really advanced and developed over the years. Not sure if I'll be able to explain my thoughts smart enough. But I think your levels of analyzes reach beyond the basic tropes about Sweden. Really feel like your next step is to analyze and grasp this country from a historical + present political context - which is something maybe a minority of people tend to do. It's complex to understand and see how Sweden is both an individual and collective country at the same time - which I believe you do. Sweden is loud and quiet, humble but also..proud? Thank you for this vid.
I totally agree! It's very complex to fulle understand the nordic culture, specifically the swedish. You can´t almost explaine it to someone living elsewhere. You have to live here for a long while. Often frustrating to hear (for example) journalists far away talking about sweden as they know and understand things, living 2000km away.
You have discovered the exact differences that I, too, learned albeit 50 years before you. The only difference is our take on Swedish weather. Being from Minnesota, I found winter on the Småland highland in Jönköping where I went to gymnasium very familiar. And winter in Uppsala where I went to university to be rather wimpy. Stockholm was even milder. But that is just my opinion. Bra fortsättning!
@@SvengelskaBlondie there's also a fairly well-known Portland in Maine, the largest city in that state in fact. On top of this, there's some 20 or so other places of the same name in the US alone, and then a few in Canada, a couple in Australia, one in New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, etc. In this context, my guess would be the one in Oregon as well since that's where Stefan is from, and because it's the largest one by quite a margin, but still...
Jag har givetvis tänkt på svensk kollektivism och individualism tidigare, men du uttrycker det på ett sätt som gjorde det roligt att tänka vidare på denna paradox.
Excellent overview of Sweden. I was skeptical at first, I suspected it would be another American telling us all he knows about Sweden - I was wrong! You revealed a very positive attitude, I came to Sweden before you were born and I'm still learning!
No, that was my point, he's very positive. My point was that TH-cam is full of uploads telling us "What Americans think of......" - I'm not interested.@@jacktorrance9688
00:00 🌞 The extreme variations in daylight hours, from long summer days to short winter ones, continue to surprise the speaker even after years of living in Sweden. 01:19 🏡 "Logom" lifestyle in Sweden emphasizes moderation and contentment, contrasting with the competitive culture often found in the US. 03:37 🤝 Swedish society values collectivism, evident in social policies, work culture, and trust among citizens. 05:37 💰 Despite high taxes, Swedish citizens express satisfaction with contributing to common goods, reflecting a societal emphasis on social trust and cohesion. 06:59 👩👦 Swedish individuals value independence and self-sufficiency, seen in early household independence and egalitarian social norms. 08:30 🗣 Swedish proficiency in English is widespread, though learning Swedish enhances cultural integration, prompting the speaker to create a language learning platform to address the language barrier.
If you add up what you have to pay in the US to get the same service as the taxes cover here I think you will be surprised to find that you have to pay more in the US. US property tax for instance is extreme. Healthcare, state pension for all etc. So you can not just compare income tax. Another tax that does not exist in Europe in the same way is lottery winning tax. In the US the state grabs 50-60% of your winnings right away. If you win 100 milion euro on the EuroJackpot or EuroMillions, you keep all.
Well, partly true. I won a Volvo and a luxury weekend in Madrid, Spain, many years ago, on Swedish TV. Since it was a quiz show, my winnings were put on top of my income resulting in me moving up one tax bracket. I had to pay ca 95% of my winnings as taxes. A lottery is different. You win by chance. A quiz is based on knowledge and therefore equates with earning an income. Blows your mind? Right!
We are all created equal, Swedish people dont feel superior, that is what real democracy is made of, equality. Language, we dont dub movies, we read subtitles when we dont understand. And yes, we prefer to pay taxes for the benefit of our freedom. Glad that you are enjoying our system. Welcome! //Magnus
Your comparison with Berlin. and Swedes' English skills. Germany has always dubbed all films/TV shows that were not in German. In Sweden, they have never dubbed anything related to film/TV, perhaps children's programs for those between the ages of 3-7. So we in Sweden are very used to hearing English, with subtitles, so you make the connection with the words quite easily.
And that is the reason my first english teacher almost had a mental breakdown. As a kid i watched A LOT of videos with swedish subtitles. The result? A mishmash of british english and american english. As well as accents from all over the place. So while i could hold a conversation with my teacher, it was the "wrong" kind of english. Unfortunally the damage was already done, and all tries to "correct" it was futile :)
@@Gremalkin1979 Yes, everywhere in Europe children are taught British English at school but the main influence comes through media from American English. I personally use AE vocabulary with BE spelling and pronunciation. So a mixed up variety which probably looks and sounds weird to both British and Americans.
@@blueeyedbaerI think it depends on the teacher. My middle school English teacher in Sweden was American and we only spoke American English and learned American vocabulary (with just a few disclaimers here and there that the Brits sometimes use different words)
2:32 the Midnight Sun it trippy as hell up there. But also in the middle of the country during summers, 3 in the morning can feel like early evening aswell
I can’t believe it’s been six years…! 😅 I have followed your videos with great interest almost since the beginning. And I drove past you once in Sthlm. 😄 You have the rare ability to point out differences with both curiosity and respect. And never in a judgemental tone. Very Intersting to hear your thoughts this time as well. Well spotted about the perhaps contradictory group mentality vs the indpendent way of living in Sweden. Never thought of it that way before. 🙃 And may I add about the taxes: I have seen statistics showing that average to low salary families in the US pay a larger percent of the salary for insurances and school fees etc than Swedes and people from other northern european countries pay in taxes. So I really prefer our system, in so many ways. But most of all since I do believe in contributing to the community. 😊
Very happy to hear that you appreciate leaving in Sweden. I am a Swede who worked a lot in U.S.A and with Americans and I think it is a great country with great people. Never the less you have identified very well some of the noticeable differences between the two countries.
@@herrbonk3635it’s really hard to explain, but when he says some vowels it sounds very Swedish or slightly foreign. Like the way he annunciates some words, he almost sounds like a Swede speaking English
@@melvinherkel det va ju ett jävla pådriv när folk ville hävda att köttbullar ja turkiskt, julen är osvenskt, midsommar och stång är utländskt... osv osv för typ 7 år sen. Det va mode att hänvisa alla svenska traditioner till utländsk bakgrund...
As a born and bred swede I'd say you have an excellent grasp of our culture. And also I'd add that most people in most situations are fine with you asking them to speak Swedish as a way to exercise your skills.
It is as you say, if you are an immigrant who wants to live and work here, you should learn Swedish. You then have a much greater chance of getting a job here. It is difficult to hire someone who does not know Swedish, for example, in a care department for the elderly. The elderly in Sweden do not know English as well as us younger people.
But I said if you want to live hear. You know, getting to know people. Buy stuff in stores. And so on...not every Swede knows english or foreign language. And there is also a change that your compagny will fire you.l, meaning there is also a chance that you will become unemployed,.@@toonsoffun5733
Lagom comes from "laget runt" that can be translated to "for all", so if you are 10 in a room and you take "lagom mycket/much" you take so you are sure no one will be without food.
Even if it is a good and well spread interpretation of the word "lagom", it is said to mean "according to law". "Lagom, you shall not steal" How that became the "lagom" we use today is beyond grasp to me but I like the concept :)
11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3
@@staffanwillen1114 When that word came we did not have the word "lag" as in law, the word for law back then was "balk" that can be translated to beam or pillar and we do still say "lagbalk" for a main law. Lag was the same as team and that is why it is called lagspelare (team player) or lagkamrat (teammate). "Om" is around and can be found in the swedish word "omfång" (to grab around) or omfamna (hold around) and omnejd (the area around you).
I can tell you've been in Sweden for a while because you're starting to get a Swedish accent. ;) It's especially noticable with words like "directly" and "basically".
ThankYou Stefan, "hatten av" as we put it in Swedish for being a proud and shining representant for a new swede 🇸🇪🙌🏼 - this contribution stands out beautifully distinguished towards all the Russian and Baltic 'troll-fabriken'.
Intressant att höra om vår kollektiva anda, något jag som äldre tyckt vi tappat så oerhört för mycket av. Att vi tillsammans hjälps åt som folk. Men du lyckas hitta de sista spåren av det ändå, kul. Intressant video 👍
And again, everything depends on where you live in Sweden. In the south where i live(Skåne) we would be happy to get some snow, and if we are trully lucky we get snow for a day or two. Currently +10 degree celsius 19 december 2024.
One thing that was a little unclear is the following: Yes, we do like to pay taxes. But one of the big reasons is that it is very economical efficient. Countries with tax financing of healthcare and education spend a smaller amount of their GDP on these subjects. Also your observation on how important language is for integration cannot be stated enough
Have you read the book Fishing in Utopia? You nailed it with the individualism vs collectivism, trust and lagom. Impressive insights after only 6 years. 'Lagom' translates as 'ample' by the way- don't know why nobody ever gets that.
”Lagom” is said to derive from ”laget om” i.e. ”the team around” which ment that the Vikings always shared food equally, no one got to much and no one to little of the food onboard. ( Maybe that applied for the loot as well? ) ;-)
According to the Swedish Academy's Swedish Dictionary, saob.se, the derivation is from lag as in law: Etymologi [eg. dat. pl. av LAG, sbst.1; jfr fsv. laghum, efter lagens föreskrift, lagligen]
Totally agree on the collectiveness of most Swedish people, but it also creates some obstacles for the more outgoing and competative individuals, especially boys in preschool and school. I´ve worked a lot at different preschools as a janitor and you could almost always pick out the (mainly boys) which were in for trouble ahead. When I met these guys in regular school they more often than not had a rough time there. Like boy, you´re in for a tough time in 2-3 years! The funniest most active and curious kids were almost every time the most "troublesome/"trouble"-making kids in second or third class which I think is troublesome and worrying and a testament of how they were treated in preschool.
Very nice comparison, från en halvamerikan till en helamerikan. Growing up with my swedish mom, I have been speaking like you do now for all my life (with a lost accent, but not in a bad way😅). My mom infused her swedish melody on me growing up and my american accent is slightly off. Men det är helt rätt observationer du har gjort. We're very competitive. Men här i Sverige är det verkligen Jante. Nu har jag bott här sedan 2015, emigrerat och tänker ALDRIG åka tillbaka. My friend who visited US, she really turned my eyes wide open.
Elnour😅Jag tycker det är mysigt med mörkret på vintern man får vila. Sedan älskar jag de långa sommardagarna man får så mycket gjort men behöver inte så mycket sömn😊
Taxes are borderline irrelevant. In a two child house hold in the US you pay almost the same, (% of income) but you receive nothing in return... It's something like 40 vs 50 % of your income, US/SE. If nothing has changed in the last few years Swedes pay in total about 50 % of their money (income, VAT etc) on taxes which will cover almost everything in regards of services. In the US it's about 40 % and it will cover more or less nothing.
In those 40% you mention about the US, no school tuition or healthcare is added. Americans actually take home LESS pay than scandinavians, when calculating everything.
@@eidodkYes and no. Federal withholding taxes in the U.S. pay for funding Pell Grants etc for college, and they pay into Medicaid/Medicare. With Obamacare, anyone can get healthcare at a discount (free in many cases; no monthly premium and no copay) if it’s not provided by your employer. . . And a good chunk of that is paying into your federally managed retirement fund: Social Security.
You must be taking out extra and also putting money into a 401k. My bff is a high level accountant, makes well into 6-figures (almost 7 figures) and doesn’t pay more than 25%. And that was before she had her second child.
Yeah but Sweden is moving towards that. Everything is being privatised here and the market principles are dominating the public today. You dont get as much for the taxes as one used to.
Jag skulle inte säga att jag älskar att betala skatt 🙂 Men jag tror inte det blivit billigare att köpa en massa försökringar för Allt. 😞 och efter att ha behövt opereras 4 gånger... Glad! 🙂
Hi, II live in Gtb for several years, had attended SFI class. I had a look at your membership learning Swedish, it is costly not cheap. am I right with this information: 1199 kr/per month, or 899 kr/per month. I can't afford it. I don't know take how long i can speak Swedish?
I remember seeing your vids in the early years and hearing your american accent when you spoke Swedish ... now i hear your Swedish accent whike speaking 'American' English Youve come full circle
Hm, you might be onto something the part where we like to pay taxes. On top of our ~70% there is also the monthly charity where we top the lists each year of amount per capita. And again authority controlled and signed that charity money actually ends up where they say it does. On top of the governmental charity program Sida.
The age thing surprised me but question is what time period it is, if we go back 40 years I might agree, but except the kids going to gymnasiums far from home (they are still financially supported by their parents) which is not the norm I don't know anyone that wasn't living at home at 17, majority are 19-20 when moving out, you are not even kicked out of foster care until you graduate gymnasium. However in my parents generation moving out after högstadiet was quite common if you were not continuing education so 15-16. I would really like to see the data behind those statistics.
Hi, I'm considering moving to Sweden from the US and have a couple of questions. You said that you are a Swedish citizen; do you have dual-citizenship with the US, or did you have to give up US citizenship? Also, you said you're from Portland. I've spent some time there, but I live in SoCal. How do you deal with that darkness in the Winter? I went to Stockholm in High School (it was only for 1 day, en-route to Russia). It was late November, and I remember it got dark at about 3pm and didn't get light until about 9am. I'm Swedish-American and proud of my heritage, but the climate/Northerly Latitude of Sweden is the ONE thing that I don't think I would like. Everything else sounds wonderful; thank you for the video!
I am Belgian and what say about Sweden is the same up here. So let me repeat ; The USA is not the rule, but the exception. One example, 10 % of the people in my village, close to 2.000 are volunteers in some organisation. That paints a society.
I think Swedes with the ability to be in “the now” would agree on your reflections. I believe It’s from there, the now, we will find the power and understanding to solve most of our problems. ❤
I just wish it was easier to make friends. I understand that they are private people but it would help feel more accepted and welcome. I also get that speaking English would be easier for both but that doesn't help me get my pronunciation down and like you I have done Duolingo since 2020 ish and can read and or figure out over 3600 words, phrases and questions... but need someone hopefully a friend to practice with. My boyfriend speaks fluent Swedish as he is native, but prefers to speak English and "sometimes helps me" with pronunciation...tbh it is a bit frustrating.
I like and agree to most points except for the young age moving out, I have no idea where you got these figures from as I have read and experienced very different ones.
Stefan: Re taxes I do not necessarily think that they are that much higher in Sweden than in some parts of the US. I lived for some years in San Francisco and the combined tax rate state + federal was pretty much the same as in Sweden. Housing was otoh much more expensive in S.F (the apartment we paid $1500/mo + utilities is now $3000...)
As you know, a hot climate is experienced depending on the humidity. The same is true in a cold climate. My Thai wife thinks it is colder in southern Sweden, despite higher temperatures in winter than the colder but drier northern Sweden. And consider: We have central heating everywhere indoors and warm clothes.
17 år gammal är genomsnittet för att flytta hemifrån?? Det låter skumt....flyttar man in med kompisar då? Hur har man annars pengar till hyra eller köpa eget hem? Jag flyttade hemifrån när jag var 21 år gammal när jag hade haft ett stadigt jobb/lön i ca 1½ år och visste att jag skulle klara av hyra och andra levnadskostnader.
I spent a week in Sweden and I didn’t want to leave. I often think about living there but I’m not sure it’s attainable for a US citizen who does permanent makeup and lash extensions and only speaks English
5:35 I don't know if I'm happy with the high taxes ... We used to get a lot for it, but now the quality of healthcare etc. has gone down so much ... :-/
Pretty good discussion around the interesting balance between the "collective" and the need for personal "independence". It really is quite a dynamic between two items that aren't always aligned with each other. Sometimes the independence is overwhelming such as the point you made about young Swedes moving out and wanting to strike out on their own. On the other hand, opinions are often based on the "flock mentality" where there is no room for public independence. Quite interesting indeed.
Hur är din förståelse för det tyska språket efter att han tillbringat en tid där? Har du glömt allt, eller förstår du fortfarande ord och fraser på tyska?
I guess Swedish people have always had English as a second language and that’s why most of us speak English on a higer level then in EU. Both my kidds of 9 and 12 years has chosen to speak English at home as a first language after learning English from TH-cam. But most movies and music is in English and we have never dubbed movies with Swedish language besides small kid movies. And that makes it a big difference. I remember it was very strange to go too Italy, France,Spain or Germany then everything was dubbed in the 90th and early 2000 there every thing was dubbed.
I have met several people that have lived in sweden for at least 20 years and have not learned swedish real good. Do you really have to? They seeme fine with it. What are the benefits of learning swedish?
LAGOM Fits well in several contexts, BUT, can also be inhibiting in others. So if it sounds appealing, implement it lagom :-) THE CLIMATE Anything but lagom :-) But the older I get, the more I appreciate it. Having almost the same mild climate all year round is a bit like being rich and never having been poor. When the sun and heat comes back, you become almost Europhoric.
The only thing that really suprised me about Sweden was the social issues - some areas are really bad, high crime etc. Ive lived in a lot of countries, but none that had that high level of problem in so many specific areas and really cant (or wont) control it.
True - and with the risk of getting accused of racism I'd say that recent years' high crime rate (shootings, riots etc) is basically related to immigrant gangs fighting each other. This topic was "forbidden" to discuss just a few years ago, but now most political parties are (finally) acknowledging facts.
15 years ago things like gangs, gangbangrapings and clans did not existed in sweden. But thanks to our politicians, who made many stupid mistakes and welcomed thousands of immigrants from countries where you dont even go to school. In sweden everyone are well educated, you dont even get a simple job if you dont have an education, and if you dont speak swedish or english noone will employ you. The only things thats left are move to another country or start selling drugs and become a criminal.
A thing that´s mostly common in the outer parts of the bigger cities. Many swedes can afford to buy them self away from that. By big parts of the "working class" people can´t sadly afford that.
Swedens murder rate is still lower than Finland, the Baltic countries, Belgium, most of Eastern Europe and France. So globally it’s still a extremely safe country and violence is to 99% affecting other criminals in isolated neighborhoods.
Imponerade Stefan, du har verkligen gjort hela resan! Det märks hur mycket din vistelse här har påverkat dig och du har förstått kulturen/tankesättet här och blivit lika mycket svensk som amerikan - pretty much! Glad att du är här och trivs! ❤
I will write this in English even though I know you are fluent in Swedish, but I guess you've got American followers also.
You have truly spotted things that are very Swedish, but most impressively you understand the underlying causes. Welcome as a citizen. You have earned it.
Jättesnäll och samtidigt träffsäker beskrivning av oss och vårt samhälle, man tackar😊❤
I have many times tried to explain this combination of individualism and collectivism, but mostly failed. Your explanation is superb, and I'll try to memorize it!
Thanks!
As someone who is born and has lived in Sweden my entire life, i think one of the most underrated effects of our collectivism mindset is the sense of security and relaxation one can attain t hat is simply not possible in other countries where the constant competitive push is always looming at the back of your mind, never allowing you to just be fully stress free.
But of course there are pro's to the competitive nature of the American lifestyle as well.
Competitiveness promotes people to constantly improve on themselves and to always seek more to push for more or a better situation.
And as such it is more likely that this type of lifestyle can drastically change how a person are able to handle things going the wrong way.
Because they are used to it by the nature of constant competition, so their stress tolerance are usually much higher than that of the Swedish people.
I am American and I compete w myself not others, trying to realize my own potential and really just enjoy my life, be comfortable, travel the world and savor the experiences.
@@luvslogistics1725 Ye there are people of all walks of life, but the vast majority of American people to the the public sphere reflects a highly competitive society at least to an outsider like me.
Stress avoidance seems to be a principle motivator in modern Sweden. Is that true? There is more to living than avoiding the fight or flight symptoms ...
@@paulalb-n2f I think a lot of it has to do with how our society is structured.
Because we as individuals are formed by our society to a great degree as we're growing up into adults.
We life such a sheltered life in Sweden in pretty much all aspects.
No real dangerous / venomous animals we need to worry about.
No real pest plaguing homes etc.
Our average living standard in Sweden is quite high compared to the rest of the world.
Our kids get to go to school pretty much for free, regular checkups at hospitals costs little to nothing compared to the rest of the world.
All of these quality of life things in Sweden contribute to our privileged position of not having to stress about most things.
I'm sure many swedes will disagree with my take on it, but i would assume those people have never actually tried living in another country outside of Scandinavia.
Yes there is more to life that trying to avoid stress, i 100% agree.
Stress in the right dose is actually very healthy for us, but too much on the other hand is actually deadly.
All things in moderation :)
@@paulalb-n2f Boring peaceful life vs worrying about medical bankruptcy and violence?
Really impressive summary! One reason many swedes don’t mind paying taxes and have a high regard for authorities is that we can actually see the benefits for the taxes. And where the tax money goes is transparent. You can literally track down the expenses in your city and for example see what contractors where involved in the bidding process when renovations is needed. That process is by law public. I think that kind of openness from the authorities shines through the whole society, and trust is gained.
Tack för att du gör mig så stolt över oss svenskar och jag blir så stolt över dig som pratar så bra svenska och förstår vårt samhälle så väl! 🥰
Det är ett fint porträtt av oss du målar upp! Det gjorde mig glad! :)
I moved to America from Sweden two years ago and not a day has gone by without me longing to be back at Sweden!! It’s like two extremes with Sweden being the better of the two!
You are welcome home any time ❤
I'm from indonesia and I just saw you on yt, and I started watching your vidios and I have been learning swedish since 2022 and I also learnt german in 2021 but I stopped halfway but after seeing
Your vidio and younger brother I decided to learn german again, och jag lärde mig svenska själv hemma utan lärare. Tack så mycket.
wow, imponerande ;D
Hope you find a swedish partner as we have schools to learn swedish here that is payed by taxes
Wow du är bra redan bror fortsätt!!
Va roligt att någon ör intresserad av svenska språket. Hoppas du får chansen att åka hit.
@@AndersJohansson-w9b Whoa!
Jag älskar hur nyfiken du är på Sverige som kultur och folket! Det är så spännande att höra reflektioner från någon som inte är från landet och vad de lägger märke till osv. Grymma videos :)
Intressant att se hur dina videos har utvecklats, du har ett helt annat djup i din analys jämfört med hur det var i början(de var absolut inte dåliga men nu ger dem mycket mer) Keep going!!
Du gör mig ju stolt över att vara svensk. Bra gjort!
Wow, your analyzes of Swedish society has really advanced and developed over the years. Not sure if I'll be able to explain my thoughts smart enough. But I think your levels of analyzes reach beyond the basic tropes about Sweden. Really feel like your next step is to analyze and grasp this country from a historical + present political context - which is something maybe a minority of people tend to do. It's complex to understand and see how Sweden is both an individual and collective country at the same time - which I believe you do. Sweden is loud and quiet, humble but also..proud?
Thank you for this vid.
I totally agree! It's very complex to fulle understand the nordic culture, specifically the swedish.
You can´t almost explaine it to someone living elsewhere. You have to live here for a long while.
Often frustrating to hear (for example) journalists far away talking about sweden as they know and understand things, living 2000km away.
dualistic
You have discovered the exact differences that I, too, learned albeit 50 years before you. The only difference is our take on Swedish weather. Being from Minnesota, I found winter on the Småland highland in Jönköping where I went to gymnasium very familiar. And winter in Uppsala where I went to university to be rather wimpy. Stockholm was even milder. But that is just my opinion. Bra fortsättning!
I’m from Portland and really want to visit Sweden. Love your videos
What country is Portland?
@@BooleanDisorder Burgerland, portland is a city in Oregon
@@SvengelskaBlondie there's also a fairly well-known Portland in Maine, the largest city in that state in fact.
On top of this, there's some 20 or so other places of the same name in the US alone, and then a few in Canada, a couple in Australia, one in New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, etc.
In this context, my guess would be the one in Oregon as well since that's where Stefan is from, and because it's the largest one by quite a margin, but still...
@@Thaerii I blame google 🤣
Even Donald Trump loves Sweden 😆
Jag har givetvis tänkt på svensk kollektivism och individualism tidigare, men du uttrycker det på ett sätt som gjorde det roligt att tänka vidare på denna paradox.
Det är nog bara en mänsklig paradox. Vi är icke flockdjur samtidigt som vi mycket nog är det
Excellent overview of Sweden. I was skeptical at first, I suspected it would be another American telling us all he knows about Sweden - I was wrong! You revealed a very positive attitude, I came to Sweden before you were born and I'm still learning!
As long as he only says positive things about Sweden, it's not an American telling us all he knows about Sweden?
No, that was my point, he's very positive. My point was that TH-cam is full of uploads telling us "What Americans think of......" - I'm not interested.@@jacktorrance9688
I think you explained our culture perfectly. Well done.
00:00 🌞 The extreme variations in daylight hours, from long summer days to short winter ones, continue to surprise the speaker even after years of living in Sweden.
01:19 🏡 "Logom" lifestyle in Sweden emphasizes moderation and contentment, contrasting with the competitive culture often found in the US.
03:37 🤝 Swedish society values collectivism, evident in social policies, work culture, and trust among citizens.
05:37 💰 Despite high taxes, Swedish citizens express satisfaction with contributing to common goods, reflecting a societal emphasis on social trust and cohesion.
06:59 👩👦 Swedish individuals value independence and self-sufficiency, seen in early household independence and egalitarian social norms.
08:30 🗣 Swedish proficiency in English is widespread, though learning Swedish enhances cultural integration, prompting the speaker to create a language learning platform to address the language barrier.
Seriously, who would not want to move to Sweden? The world needs more Sweden.
If you add up what you have to pay in the US to get the same service as the taxes cover here I think you will be surprised to find that you have to pay more in the US. US property tax for instance is extreme. Healthcare, state pension for all etc. So you can not just compare income tax. Another tax that does not exist in Europe in the same way is lottery winning tax. In the US the state grabs 50-60% of your winnings right away. If you win 100 milion euro on the EuroJackpot or EuroMillions, you keep all.
Well, partly true. I won a Volvo and a luxury weekend in Madrid, Spain, many years ago, on Swedish TV. Since it was a quiz show, my winnings were put on top of my income resulting in me moving up one tax bracket. I had to pay ca 95% of my winnings as taxes. A lottery is different. You win by chance. A quiz is based on knowledge and therefore equates with earning an income. Blows your mind? Right!
You are really describing us well. And now ure really one if us. - Love that !
Been following you since the start of ure chanel.
Love ure chanel.
/ J
We are all created equal, Swedish people dont feel superior, that is what real democracy is made of, equality. Language, we dont dub movies, we read subtitles when we dont understand. And yes, we prefer to pay taxes for the benefit of our freedom. Glad that you are enjoying our system. Welcome! //Magnus
I usually describe the word "lagom" as "good, with moderation". The word is more positive than "sufficient".
Your comparison with Berlin. and Swedes' English skills. Germany has always dubbed all films/TV shows that were not in German. In Sweden, they have never dubbed anything related to film/TV, perhaps children's programs for those between the ages of 3-7. So we in Sweden are very used to hearing English, with subtitles, so you make the connection with the words quite easily.
And that is the reason my first english teacher almost had a mental breakdown. As a kid i watched A LOT of videos with swedish subtitles. The result? A mishmash of british english and american english. As well as accents from all over the place. So while i could hold a conversation with my teacher, it was the "wrong" kind of english. Unfortunally the damage was already done, and all tries to "correct" it was futile :)
@@Gremalkin1979 Well.. Still much better than knowing nothing 😆
Dubbing is so stupid! Why would I want to listen to a fake voice?
@@Gremalkin1979 Yes, everywhere in Europe children are taught British English at school but the main influence comes through media from American English. I personally use AE vocabulary with BE spelling and pronunciation. So a mixed up variety which probably looks and sounds weird to both British and Americans.
@@blueeyedbaerI think it depends on the teacher. My middle school English teacher in Sweden was American and we only spoke American English and learned American vocabulary (with just a few disclaimers here and there that the Brits sometimes use different words)
2:32 the Midnight Sun it trippy as hell up there.
But also in the middle of the country during summers, 3 in the morning can feel like early evening aswell
I can’t believe it’s been six years…! 😅 I have followed your videos with great interest almost since the beginning.
And I drove past you once in Sthlm. 😄
You have the rare ability to point out differences with both curiosity and respect. And never in a judgemental tone.
Very Intersting to hear your thoughts this time as well. Well spotted about the perhaps contradictory group mentality vs the indpendent way of living in Sweden. Never thought of it that way before. 🙃
And may I add about the taxes: I have seen statistics showing that average to low salary families in the US pay a larger percent of the salary for insurances and school fees etc than Swedes and people from other northern european countries pay in taxes. So I really prefer our system, in so many ways. But most of all since I do believe in contributing to the community. 😊
Tack, jag gillar verkligen dina betraktelser över Sverige. Intelligent, stort varmt hjärta och en rejäl portion humor. Keep up the good work!
Du är fantastisk Stefan, älskar din kanal och din attityd!
Very happy to hear that you appreciate leaving in Sweden. I am a Swede who worked a lot in U.S.A and with Americans and I think it is a great country with great people. Never the less you have identified very well some of the noticeable differences between the two countries.
And the sun never really goes "up" up wintertime. it just goes up a little bit above the horizon and stays there and then sets.
Lmao, he even speaks English with a Swedish accent nowadays..
Really? Can you give some examples?
Skrattar arslet av mig.....Google it
@@herrbonk3635it’s really hard to explain, but when he says some vowels it sounds very Swedish or slightly foreign. Like the way he annunciates some words, he almost sounds like a Swede speaking English
No not really
it not as obvious but listen to the 'A's thats where i hear alot of swinglish@@hampus23
Det här skulle vissa politiker behöva höra som påstår att vi inte har en kultur i Sverige! Tack snälla för att du lyfter fram det goda här! ❤
Vilken politiker säger att vi inte har en kultur??
@@melvinherkel Mona Sahlin bla sa det
@@melvinherkel det va ju ett jävla pådriv när folk ville hävda att köttbullar ja turkiskt, julen är osvenskt, midsommar och stång är utländskt... osv osv för typ 7 år sen. Det va mode att hänvisa alla svenska traditioner till utländsk bakgrund...
Hela vänsterblocket
@@christianstark9035 Jajjamensan
As a born and bred swede I'd say you have an excellent grasp of our culture. And also I'd add that most people in most situations are fine with you asking them to speak Swedish as a way to exercise your skills.
It is as you say, if you are an immigrant who wants to live and work here, you should learn Swedish. You then have a much greater chance of getting a job here. It is difficult to hire someone who does not know Swedish, for example, in a care department for the elderly. The elderly in Sweden do not know English as well as us younger people.
Depends on the field. Most engineers don’t need to learn Swedish while it’s good to understand the culture better.
But I said if you want to live hear. You know, getting to know people. Buy stuff in stores. And so on...not every Swede knows english or foreign language. And there is also a change that your compagny will fire you.l, meaning there is also a chance that you will become unemployed,.@@toonsoffun5733
Care for the elderly comes up common as working options for immigrants, as if that is all they can do.
...
Sooo in northern Sweden, you have 3 weeks in winter where the sun does not rise over the Horizon, and vise versa in summer...
3, weeks...
Did not expect to see footage from Piteå in a video but nice to see my town being in one.
no it's mine! My town.
Lagom comes from "laget runt" that can be translated to "for all", so if you are 10 in a room and you take "lagom mycket/much" you take so you are sure no one will be without food.
Even if it is a good and well spread interpretation of the word "lagom", it is said to mean "according to law". "Lagom, you shall not steal"
How that became the "lagom" we use today is beyond grasp to me but I like the concept :)
@@staffanwillen1114
When that word came we did not have the word "lag" as in law, the word for law back then was "balk" that can be translated to beam or pillar and we do still say "lagbalk" for a main law. Lag was the same as team and that is why it is called lagspelare (team player) or lagkamrat (teammate).
"Om" is around and can be found in the swedish word "omfång" (to grab around) or omfamna (hold around) and omnejd (the area around you).
I can tell you've been in Sweden for a while because you're starting to get a Swedish accent. ;) It's especially noticable with words like "directly" and "basically".
So happy you are a Swedish citizen, you are an honoured citizen❤️
ThankYou Stefan, "hatten av" as we put it in Swedish for being a proud and shining representant for a new swede 🇸🇪🙌🏼 - this contribution stands out beautifully distinguished towards all the Russian and Baltic 'troll-fabriken'.
Intressant att höra om vår kollektiva anda, något jag som äldre tyckt vi tappat så oerhört för mycket av. Att vi tillsammans hjälps åt som folk.
Men du lyckas hitta de sista spåren av det ändå, kul. Intressant video 👍
And again, everything depends on where you live in Sweden. In the south where i live(Skåne) we would be happy to get some snow, and if we are trully lucky we get snow for a day or two. Currently +10 degree celsius 19 december 2024.
One thing that was a little unclear is the following: Yes, we do like to pay taxes. But one of the big reasons is that it is very economical efficient. Countries with tax financing of healthcare and education spend a smaller amount of their GDP on these subjects.
Also your observation on how important language is for integration cannot be stated enough
Så intressant att höra dina observationer som inflyttad.
I clicked on this video after watching one from three years ago and... you now speak English with a (slight) Swedish accent! Congratulations!
Oh that's great you are still there. That is awesome.
Have you read the book Fishing in Utopia? You nailed it with the individualism vs collectivism, trust and lagom. Impressive insights after only 6 years.
'Lagom' translates as 'ample' by the way- don't know why nobody ever gets that.
Part of the collectivism comes from the fact that if you weren't a team player in the past then you would die when the winter comes.
”Lagom” is said to derive from ”laget om” i.e. ”the team around” which ment that the Vikings always shared food equally, no one got to much and no one to little of the food onboard. ( Maybe that applied for the loot as well? ) ;-)
According to the Swedish Academy's Swedish Dictionary, saob.se, the derivation is from lag as in law:
Etymologi
[eg. dat. pl. av LAG, sbst.1; jfr fsv. laghum, efter lagens föreskrift, lagligen]
I can't believe you added the famous Swedish weather meme 😂😂
🤣
Its the best 😂
It's like the avengers uniting to see you, Katrin, and Frederik all joining together in something
Totally agree on the collectiveness of most Swedish people, but it also creates some obstacles for the more outgoing and competative individuals, especially boys in preschool and school. I´ve worked a lot at different preschools as a janitor and you could almost always pick out the (mainly boys) which were in for trouble ahead. When I met these guys in regular school they more often than not had a rough time there. Like boy, you´re in for a tough time in 2-3 years! The funniest most active and curious kids were almost every time the most "troublesome/"trouble"-making kids in second or third class which I think is troublesome and worrying and a testament of how they were treated in preschool.
Makes me happy that alot of people there speak English. That's good for my traveling.
Svengelska. Swinglish. Good way to learn swedish children English, as well. Take care stay safe. Greetings from Jonas, Gothenburg Sweden. 😊
Very nice comparison, från en halvamerikan till en helamerikan. Growing up with my swedish mom, I have been speaking like you do now for all my life (with a lost accent, but not in a bad way😅). My mom infused her swedish melody on me growing up and my american accent is slightly off. Men det är helt rätt observationer du har gjort. We're very competitive. Men här i Sverige är det verkligen Jante.
Nu har jag bott här sedan 2015, emigrerat och tänker ALDRIG åka tillbaka. My friend who visited US, she really turned my eyes wide open.
Elnour😅Jag tycker det är mysigt med mörkret på vintern man får vila. Sedan älskar jag de långa sommardagarna man får så mycket gjort men behöver inte så mycket sömn😊
Ja, det är lite som att vårt dygn är 365 dagar :)
Intressant för mig som svensk hur du ger mig ett perspektiv på den svenska kulturen.
Taxes are borderline irrelevant.
In a two child house hold in the US you pay almost the same, (% of income) but you receive nothing in return...
It's something like 40 vs 50 % of your income, US/SE.
If nothing has changed in the last few years Swedes pay in total about 50 % of their money (income, VAT etc) on taxes which will cover almost everything in regards of services.
In the US it's about 40 % and it will cover more or less nothing.
In those 40% you mention about the US, no school tuition or healthcare is added. Americans actually take home LESS pay than scandinavians, when calculating everything.
@@eidodkYes and no. Federal withholding taxes in the U.S. pay for funding Pell Grants etc for college, and they pay into Medicaid/Medicare. With Obamacare, anyone can get healthcare at a discount (free in many cases; no monthly premium and no copay) if it’s not provided by your employer. . . And a good chunk of that is paying into your federally managed retirement fund: Social Security.
You must be taking out extra and also putting money into a 401k. My bff is a high level accountant, makes well into 6-figures (almost 7 figures) and doesn’t pay more than 25%. And that was before she had her second child.
Yeah but Sweden is moving towards that. Everything is being privatised here and the market principles are dominating the public today. You dont get as much for the taxes as one used to.
@JolmarTrask Yes.
Some (most) institutions should never had been allowed to be privatised.
Intelligent och generöst. Dessutom helt sant❤
Jag skulle inte säga att jag älskar att betala skatt 🙂 Men jag tror inte det blivit billigare att köpa en massa försökringar för Allt. 😞
och efter att ha behövt opereras 4 gånger... Glad! 🙂
Hi, II live in Gtb for several years, had attended SFI class. I had a look at your membership learning Swedish, it is costly not cheap. am I right with this information: 1199 kr/per month, or 899 kr/per month. I can't afford it. I don't know take how long i can speak Swedish?
I remember seeing your vids in the early years and hearing your american accent when you spoke Swedish ... now i hear your Swedish accent whike speaking 'American' English
Youve come full circle
2:41 I will soon move above the arctic circle, wish me luck🥶 (Im from Sweden though but I never lived in the north)
Mörkret på vintern och ljuset på sommaren chockar mig fortfarande, fast jag är född och uppväxt här 😂
Hm, you might be onto something the part where we like to pay taxes. On top of our ~70% there is also the monthly charity where we top the lists each year of amount per capita.
And again authority controlled and signed that charity money actually ends up where they say it does. On top of the governmental charity program Sida.
The age thing surprised me but question is what time period it is, if we go back 40 years I might agree, but except the kids going to gymnasiums far from home (they are still financially supported by their parents) which is not the norm I don't know anyone that wasn't living at home at 17, majority are 19-20 when moving out, you are not even kicked out of foster care until you graduate gymnasium. However in my parents generation moving out after högstadiet was quite common if you were not continuing education so 15-16. I would really like to see the data behind those statistics.
Klockrent och som vanligt bara bäst 👍🏻🇸🇪👍🏻🇸🇪👍🏻🇸🇪👍🏻
Hi, I'm considering moving to Sweden from the US and have a couple of questions. You said that you are a Swedish citizen; do you have dual-citizenship with the US, or did you have to give up US citizenship? Also, you said you're from Portland. I've spent some time there, but I live in SoCal. How do you deal with that darkness in the Winter? I went to Stockholm in High School (it was only for 1 day, en-route to Russia). It was late November, and I remember it got dark at about 3pm and didn't get light until about 9am. I'm Swedish-American and proud of my heritage, but the climate/Northerly Latitude of Sweden is the ONE thing that I don't think I would like. Everything else sounds wonderful; thank you for the video!
I am from NYC and have considered moving there. How difficult was the process? Were you able to keep your american citizenship?
Thank you. Very interesting.
I am Belgian and what say about Sweden is the same up here. So let me repeat ; The USA is not the rule, but the exception. One example, 10 % of the people in my village, close to 2.000 are volunteers in some organisation. That paints a society.
I think Swedes with the ability to be in “the now” would agree on your reflections. I believe It’s from there, the now, we will find the power and understanding to solve most of our problems. ❤
I just wish it was easier to make friends. I understand that they are private people but it would help feel more accepted and welcome. I also get that speaking English would be easier for both but that doesn't help me get my pronunciation down and like you I have done Duolingo since 2020 ish and can read and or figure out over 3600 words, phrases and questions... but need someone hopefully a friend to practice with. My boyfriend speaks fluent Swedish as he is native, but prefers to speak English and "sometimes helps me" with pronunciation...tbh it is a bit frustrating.
about the taxes thing, we are more than happy to pay them when they actually go to the right things, when its used wrongly its horrible tho
I like and agree to most points except for the young age moving out, I have no idea where you got these figures from as I have read and experienced very different ones.
When I describe translation of "lagom" I'd like to say it's balance. no too much not to little, just right dosen't incorporate the feeling of lagom..
The Finns actually drink more coffee than the Swedes. In average 3.5 cups/day vs 3.2 cups/day
Wow, what a difference!
oss Svenskar emellan ...gillar dina videos 🥰
Stefan: Re taxes I do not necessarily think that they are that much higher in Sweden than in some parts of the US.
I lived for some years in San Francisco and the combined tax rate state + federal was pretty much the same as in Sweden. Housing was otoh much more expensive in S.F (the apartment we paid $1500/mo + utilities is now $3000...)
Can you say about the cold during winter. How Indian find it difficult to manage. Is it less cold at Gothenburg compared to other parts of the country
As you know, a hot climate is experienced depending on the humidity. The same is true in a cold climate. My Thai wife thinks it is colder in southern Sweden, despite higher temperatures in winter than the colder but drier northern Sweden. And consider: We have central heating everywhere indoors and warm clothes.
@TheUffeess thanks for the information
17 år gammal är genomsnittet för att flytta hemifrån?? Det låter skumt....flyttar man in med kompisar då? Hur har man annars pengar till hyra eller köpa eget hem? Jag flyttade hemifrån när jag var 21 år gammal när jag hade haft ett stadigt jobb/lön i ca 1½ år och visste att jag skulle klara av hyra och andra levnadskostnader.
There is a concept in the Swedish language for those summer nights when it does not get completely dark: "White nights".
Jätteintressant video 🫶🙂
You should start work in the International School in Enskede, Stockholm
Informative video 😊
I spent a week in Sweden and I didn’t want to leave. I often think about living there but I’m not sure it’s attainable for a US citizen who does permanent makeup and lash extensions and only speaks English
5:35 I don't know if I'm happy with the high taxes ... We used to get a lot for it, but now the quality of healthcare etc. has gone down so much ... :-/
Pretty good discussion around the interesting balance between the "collective" and the need for personal "independence". It really is quite a dynamic between two items that aren't always aligned with each other. Sometimes the independence is overwhelming such as the point you made about young Swedes moving out and wanting to strike out on their own. On the other hand, opinions are often based on the "flock mentality" where there is no room for public independence. Quite interesting indeed.
Hello there. I'm wondering if you're still recruiting international teachers for Swedish international schools? If so, can we connect? Many thanks.
Väldigt insiktsfullt 😊
Hur är din förståelse för det tyska språket efter att han tillbringat en tid där? Har du glömt allt, eller förstår du fortfarande ord och fraser på tyska?
I guess Swedish people have always had English as a second language and that’s why most of us speak English on a higer level then in EU. Both my kidds of 9 and 12 years has chosen to speak English at home as a first language after learning English from TH-cam. But most movies and music is in English and we have never dubbed movies with Swedish language besides small kid movies. And that makes it a big difference. I remember it was very strange to go too Italy, France,Spain or Germany then everything was dubbed in the 90th and early 2000 there every thing was dubbed.
I think Sweden is in second place (global) after Finland in regards to coffee-drinking. :)
Welcome to paradise man =)
I have met several people that have lived in sweden for at least 20 years and have not learned swedish real good. Do you really have to? They seeme fine with it. What are the benefits of learning swedish?
Väldigt intressant !
LAGOM
Fits well in several contexts, BUT, can also be inhibiting in others.
So if it sounds appealing, implement it lagom :-)
THE CLIMATE
Anything but lagom :-)
But the older I get, the more I appreciate it.
Having almost the same mild climate all year round is a bit like being rich and never having been poor. When the sun and heat comes back, you become almost Europhoric.
The only thing that really suprised me about Sweden was the social issues - some areas are really bad, high crime etc. Ive lived in a lot of countries, but none that had that high level of problem in so many specific areas and really cant (or wont) control it.
True - and with the risk of getting accused of racism I'd say that recent years' high crime rate (shootings, riots etc) is basically related to immigrant gangs fighting each other. This topic was "forbidden" to discuss just a few years ago, but now most political parties are (finally) acknowledging facts.
15 years ago things like gangs, gangbangrapings and clans did not existed in sweden. But thanks to our politicians, who made many stupid mistakes and welcomed thousands of immigrants from countries where you dont even go to school.
In sweden everyone are well educated, you dont even get a simple job if you dont have an education, and if you dont speak swedish or english noone will employ you.
The only things thats left are move to another country or start selling drugs and become a criminal.
A thing that´s mostly common in the outer parts of the bigger cities. Many swedes can afford to buy them self away from that. By big parts of the "working class" people can´t sadly afford that.
Swedens murder rate is still lower than Finland, the Baltic countries, Belgium, most of Eastern Europe and France. So globally it’s still a extremely safe country and violence is to 99% affecting other criminals in isolated neighborhoods.
Which countries have you lived in?