Canadian Woman Shares The 27 Times She Got Culture Shocked After Relocating to Sweden
Sweden's quirky and distinct practices left this Canadian woman culture-shocked.
When you think about Sweden, what comes to mind is a Nordic country with blonde citizens, unique Stockholm street styles, and the rare Midsummer tradition. Likewise, statistics indicate that Swedes are among the happiest people on earth, thanks to their esteemed social equality and work-life balance.
With all the perks that this country offers, it's no wonder that foreigners who move to this land are astonished and culture-shocked. This has precisely happened to Madeline Robson, a 30-year-old Canadian who moved to Sweden two years ago.
Robson, who fell in love with the country, shares her daily "romanticized" life in Sweden via TikTok. Her channel has 155.6K followers as of this writing. Now, let's look at the cultural differences she has encountered.
Madeline Robson
Getting paid extra on vacation days.
madelineraeawaySwedes get paid to care for their sick children.
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Parental leaves can take 8 months.
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Fair wages for restaurant staff.
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The free lunch at school.
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They have cars for kids to drive.
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Green urban cemeteries also serve as parks.
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Barcodes facing up at the checkout.
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Babies sleeping outside during winter is normal.
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Student loans are almost free.
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Swedes don't own air conditioning.
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Some baby names are banned in Sweden.
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The horse high school
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Alcohol buying rules
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Calling teachers by their first names
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Swedes speak English fluently.
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Five-week vacation.
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Swedes are tall.
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Swedes are the second highest coffee consumers in the world.
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How Swedes dress casually.
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Swedes are not into small talk.
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A breath in means "Yes" in Sweden.
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Ice baths are common.
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Laundry machine bookings
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Skånska is the most difficult dialect in Sweden.
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Swedes have different kinds of sauces.
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Swedes eat candy on Saturdays only.
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