I just joined a new group on Facebook called "You know you are from Sweden when...", and then they had a list of things that is typical swedish. I really recognized a lot of things on their list. For example:
13. Whenever discussing international problems you always, without exception state that "why don't you do it like we do it in Sweden?"
I am sooo guilty on this one. I am unsure how many times I have actually said it out loud, but quite often when discussing problems in other countries this exact sentence has crossed my mind. For example, a couple of weeks back there was a discussion of the US health care system in the feminist community and I was just sitting there, reading while shaking my head thinking to myself "Why don't you do it like we do it in Sweden. If it works for us then it should work for you". The latter part of this statement is probably NOT true. And then, to be honest (this is tough for me :) ) maybe our health care system isn't the best there is either.
Other things I recognized:
23. You consider the question "how are you?" as a question that when posed, needs to be answered with a honest and thorough explanation of your mental health.
But of course! Why else would they ask?! :) To be honest, this have been sort of a problem for me lately. Where I am working now, we have a girl from the US (I think). When she arrives in the morning she says "Hi, how are you" and then walk away without waiting for an answer. Which leaves me just "What?! Am I supposed to ignore the question she just asked? Or?"
13. Whenever discussing international problems you always, without exception state that "why don't you do it like we do it in Sweden?"
I am sooo guilty on this one. I am unsure how many times I have actually said it out loud, but quite often when discussing problems in other countries this exact sentence has crossed my mind. For example, a couple of weeks back there was a discussion of the US health care system in the feminist community and I was just sitting there, reading while shaking my head thinking to myself "Why don't you do it like we do it in Sweden. If it works for us then it should work for you". The latter part of this statement is probably NOT true. And then, to be honest (this is tough for me :) ) maybe our health care system isn't the best there is either.
Other things I recognized:
23. You consider the question "how are you?" as a question that when posed, needs to be answered with a honest and thorough explanation of your mental health.
But of course! Why else would they ask?! :) To be honest, this have been sort of a problem for me lately. Where I am working now, we have a girl from the US (I think). When she arrives in the morning she says "Hi, how are you" and then walk away without waiting for an answer. Which leaves me just "What?! Am I supposed to ignore the question she just asked? Or?"