8 Different Things About Sweden's Lifestyle

Time in Sweden seems to be slipping away too quickly as I have now passed my four month point here! This means I am officially 1/3 of the way through my exchange. It honestly doesn't seem real. In some aspects of my life here, it still feels foreign and confusing, while other parts have become such a big part of my life that I can't imagine life without it any more. Being my four months here, I would like to quickly talk about the changes in my lifestyle since moving from Australia.

Fika - anyone who knows anything about Sweden should recognise this word. It is the way of life in Sweden. You
cannot have a day without it, in fact, I had it four times just this weekend. What is it? Basically having a break with friends or family to have coffee and cake.

Free school lunches - yes please. With Sweden's high tax rates, this creates equality within the society as everyone receives equal benefits on healthcare, education and other aspects of life. With this includes the free lunches at school which I would love to bring to Australia! 

Don't wear odd socks! - Why? Because as soon as you get inside, chances are you will be taking off your shoes, and there will be no hiding your interesting fashion taste of purple spotted socks on the left and rainbow stripes on the right. It is quite rude to keep shoes on inside in Sweden, and so there are often racks to place shoes and jackets for the winter.

Cycling - Hello Summer! Since the snow melted away, bike riding has become the ultimate form of transportation in life. While this was something I did in Australia, it was moreso as a recreational activity once in a while, so using it as my way of travelling is quite unusual and yet quite nice as it's a small bit of fitness every day, and still faster than walking. Besides, Piteå is a sweet but relatively small town, so nothing is ever too far away!

Max - Say good bye to McDonalds and Hungry Jacks. Max is the ultimate fast food burger store - or at least, for Northern Sweden it definitely is. The food here is great for a quick meal that you can expect to actually fill you up. Also, if you are looking for a small treat, try the pear flavoured lyxshake. (Yes, pear flavoured products seem to be quite populare here)

Independence - this is something I find really interesting here in Sweden. I feel as if independence is a major part of the Swedish culture which can be seen in so many aspects of life. One of the major surprising things was finding people of my age group living in their own apartments, and the average ago of leaving home being 20 years old in comparison to Australia's 25 years. They also seem much more comfortable with being by themselves and do not seem to seek for as much social interaction, being comfortable in silence.

Plastic bags - Just had a shopping spree and came home with a handful of plastic bags? Don't you even think about chucking them out. Firstly, plastic bags cost money at the grocery store, so it can be good for saving money. Also, reusing your bags helps the environment, and Sweden are big on keeping their beautiful land top quality.

Lagom - While not the most common word to be used in Sweden, I would say it's perfect in describing the Swedish society and social life. Never too much, never too little. You should always aim for a perfect balance in everything. Don't overreact about things, but show interest. I believe this is also shown through their major focus of equality for everybody, so no one should ever feel left out or inadequate due to race, sex or any other form of oppression found in many other societies.

So that is a taste of the Swedish lifestyle! There are always so many things I want to point out, but in all honesty, it is just something that one has to see for themselves to truly understand.