I emigrated to Sweden AMA

[FatCatThinCat]

For @SquirrelFan and anyone else with an interest in my very boring life.

On an AMA for someone who loved to Iceland, she mentioned that every Friday night was like a national pizza night. Shops all made sure they had lots of pizzas in stock and if you weren't having pizza, well, it was a bit weird! I found that fascinating.

Are there any little cultural traditions or small things like that in Sweden?

I guess in the UK Friday is usually a fish supper kind of thing

@LuvMyBubbles

You've got me wanting to emigrate too! Im in oz so won't happen but is immigration easy to do?

It harder now than it used to be.

@Woodswoman

Do you know (or maybe someone else does!) what the immigration restrictions are like, especially after Brexit, for Brits? Can we move, buy and own a house, work without a visa, open a bank account?

I'm not sure but I think post brexit you'd need a visa.

Love this thred. So interesting, it's been my dream to emigrate somewhere an Sweden sounds perfect

@dreamsofacres

On an AMA for someone who loved to Iceland, she mentioned that every Friday night was like a national pizza night. Shops all made sure they had lots of pizzas in stock and if you weren't having pizza, well, it was a bit weird! I found that fascinating.

Are there any little cultural traditions or small things like that in Sweden?

I guess in the UK Friday is usually a fish supper kind of thing

Yes. Thursday is traditionally pea soup day which has the bonus of always being followed by pancakes with cream and jam. Friday's it's 'fredags mys' Friday comfort. So Friday evenings is always a bit of treat night, usually tacos, icecream or pizza. Saturday is sweets. Kids do not get sweets on any other day but Saturdays they go nuts. We have whole supermarket sized pick'n'mix shops.

This is so interesting OP, reading about Sweden from an immigrants point of view! I’m Swedish (half something else but I’m born here and have lived here all my life), so if there’s any questions the OP can’t answer I might be able to - but now I’ve lost track so please ask again 🙃

Love this thread!

Thanks for the thread, it's really interesting!

How do average work hours compare to the UK?

What do you think about the “sill” (pickled herring) and do you have a favourite type?

Have you learned any ”snaps visor” (songs before vodka shots) and if so which?

Sweden sounds wonderful. Thank you for starting this thread it's made me feel all warm and cozy inside thinking of life in Sweden!

Also...are the women (and men) as beautiful as the stereotype?

@RiaOverTheRainbow

Thanks for the thread, it's really interesting!

How do average work hours compare to the UK?

Salaries usually have to cover basic living standards. There aren't in work benefits and the unions wouldn't stand for it. As a result people don't need to work themselves to death. The culture is you do your 40 hours and then you go home and enjoy your family and time outdoors.

@HooverIsAlwaysBroken

What do you think about the “sill” (pickled herring) and do you have a favourite type?

Have you learned any ”snaps visor” (songs before vodka shots) and if so which?

I was very suspicious of it at first but it's actually really nice. I like the one that looks slightly red with onions and peppercorns, but I can't think what it's called.

I've only been to one snapps type midsommar. We're not drinkers and the level of pissed was off the scale. So no I haven't learnt any of the songs.

@icelolly12

Sweden sounds wonderful. Thank you for starting this thread it's made me feel all warm and cozy inside thinking of life in Sweden!

Also...are the women (and men) as beautiful as the stereotype?

My German friend keeps ''accidentily' triggering my house alarm just so she can chat to the Swedish men in uniform who attend. There are a lot of very beautiful people here, and tall too. At 5 ft 3 I have to buy cropped jeans if I want them to stop at my ankles.

This is so good! I want to mive to Sweden!!

@FatCatThinCat Oh wow! Absolutely mad but good to know. DP's family are a 4 hour direct train journey from Copenhagen so fingers crossed we'll be able to go see them 🤞🏻

Are animals well protected there?

What kind of wildlife do you have?

I watched a very interesting documentary about a teacher swap from Sweden to UK, the Swedish teacher was horrified that the primary school children had a 'voice' and were forthcoming in offering their opinions. She said in Sweden that would be considered rude and disrespectful to the teacher. She was always shocked that she had to give her instructions more than once at times, Swedish children are a lot more obedient apparently!

Are teen obsessed with Instagram, fake tan, nails and fillers like seems to be the norm in the UK?

What do you have for Xmas dinner?

What are DC's birthdays like?

Does everyone own skis??

Can you purchase property there if you're not a resident??

It's sounds idilic. I'm v jealous.

Are they looking for foreign teachers in their high schools there?
Asking for a friend.

@Pokhora

You have inspired me to do a bit of Swedish house hunting OP. This house looks lovely www.hemnet.se/bostad/villa-6rum-falun-falu-kommun-klippudden-9-17828599. Might blow the budget though.

I live near here - that is a huge amount for a house in this area

Last weekend this historical house in a small village not far away sold for 2,000,000 sek (although you will need to put in a bathroom)
historiskahem.se/object/OBJ18440_1867967925

1. What is the swedish chef called in Sweden? In german he is the danish cook (RUDE).
2. What accent does Wandering Oaken have in swedish frozen?
3. Have you seen welcome to sweden and how accurate is it? As a brit in denmark I thought there was a LOT of overlap.
4. Did you see the twitter war between Sweden and Denmark? www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/7/7/12118250/denmark-sweden-twitter-fight-why

@MackenCheese

What is school like for kids with special needs? I work in the UK remotely for a scandinavian company, and I'd love to move there, but my son is autistic.

@mackenCheese Both of my children have been though the Swedish school system - My eldest has ASD and ADHD. I was very impressed by the diagnostic investigations carried out by Child Disability Rehabilitation Services that took over 20 hours with assessments from a paediatrician, psychologist, specialist educational needs teacher, physiotherapist and occupational therapist,

It was a bit of fight to get a her needs met with a combination of terrible headteacher (industry background, only 18 months post teacher training, only actually taught for 9 months in a 16+ school) plus a small rural Local Authority.

We got there in the end with a very individualised programme which worked out very well.

@Ouchiebum

I’m half Swedish, with a family holiday home in Sweden. Your thread has made me so homesick I’m nearly crying. When I was a teen I used to resent 6 weeks every summer in a stuga in the woods. The older I get the more heavenly it is.

The swimming thing is 100% accurate. I am slightly perplexed at the sudden wild swimming phenomenon in the uk. In Sweden it’s just swimming. Is completely normal to swim in rivers / lakes and there’s often a deck to help.

Our house is v rural and fresh food is a challenge. There’s a lot of reliance on frozen veg for example as quality can be hard where there are small populations.

Alcohol even harder. Nearest state run offie is 2 hours drive. Or you can order from the supermarket who will get it for you two days later!

Yes the "wild" Swimming really makes me laugh as everyone here just decamps to the lake to swim. I think that Brits would have a heart attack if their kids did "Isvak" at high school - basically ice safety training to replicate what it feels like to fall through the ice ... by jumping through a hole in the ice and having to climb out.

I live in a very rural area and don't find fresh food a problem at all - farm shops are everywhere at the moment - often self service. A local sourdough bakery has also opened at a farm. Our local "Tempo" also sells local produce

You must be somewhere really rural to have no booze/systembolaget nearby. Or is it a summercottage area only open part year? Or is it one of those areas that has a history of anti-alcohol politics?

In some of the rural areas up near the Norwegian border there is an issue with pharmacies. My daughter had a spinal issue while we were on holiday and needed strong painkillers only to find that the nearest pharmacy was over 75 miles away

@Winecheesesleep

What is the Swedish health care system like? Do you need insurance?

Also, how do you find living in a country so long without being fluent in the language? I'm not great at learning languages so this has always put me off!

@Winecheesesleep

Sweden has decentralised healthcare provided by County Councils and funded by the County income tax that is paid directly to the county council. County tax is around 10-13% depending on where you live.

You have to make a co-pay for services to see the GP, hospital appointments, A&E, physiotherapy, psychology etc - also you pay up to 8 per night to stay in hospital. Again your county council decides the fee - however the max you can pay in any 12 month period is £95 - after this it is free.

Maternity care and visits to the peadiatric nurse are free