In one way you have changed is that you are more open to your feelings and you are no longer afraid of offending people with your honest feelings. You are a much more relatable person now. Great job!
1: I had a summer job in London in the mid-90s, working for a London-based Swedish woman. One of my English co-workers pointed out that they were quite amazed at how quietly we could speak in Swedish and still understand each other at long-ish distances. Which makes me suspect that there might be something about the Swedish language that makes it better than English at carrying a message at low sound levels. Also, we both noticed that speking English nearly all day made us slightly hoarse, which suggests that speaking English put more stress on our voice coils than speaking Swedish. 2: Awkward, sure. I'm currently debating myself if I want to get a few t-shirts with Ukrainaian flags and "Slava Ukraini" on them, because I don't know how comfortable I will be walking around with such a bold statement on me. 4: I recently saw a discussion online about a pregnant woman who had had to get an ambulance to the hospital because of some pregnancy-related emergency, and she argued that her husband should pay half the ambulance bill since he was the one who made her pregnant. My reaction: AMBULANCE FEE? What kind of backwards country makes people pay an ambulance fee? I'm Swedish , by the way. 🙂
@@RobertClaeson Americans and the word 'socialism' is like Russians and the words 'nazism' and 'fascism'. They have been taught it's something bad, but not what it actually is. In America it causes a groundless fear, that can be overcome. In Russia however, they have no idea that they are taught from early age to be exactly what they also are taught to hate, because no one taught them what those words stand for.
One basic difference: Scandinavians are aware that other people exist. So they are considerate. That explains a lot of differences, including most of what you brought up.
I'm a Swede that talks to all people around me, most people will be very nice and start to talk back as if we have known each other for a time. Mostly you need to break the ice and start talking and then people will follow you and you can have a good chat when you wait in the line in the store.. Would love to meet you some time and take a chat in the line in Coop or Ica :-)
The one about noise crops up a lot and boils down to the fact that USA is focussed on freedoms of the individual whereas Europe is more focussed on collective responsibility. People talk more quietly so they are not causing a nuisance to strangers. The same applies to universal health care, most Europeans accept that some of their taxes will go toward providing health care to those who can't contribute for whatever reason.
You have definitely changed! From my Swedish perspective you seem calmer, more collected. And more satisfied with yourself. But, of course, years have gone by, you haven't only lived in Sweden, you have become older too. (I know! It's awful, and the older one become, the faster it goes 😒) I guess your ageing progress has been highly affected by the Swedish culture and way of living. Anyway, it's good to see you thrive here, and being an interpreter of what Sweden actually is, to your fellow Americans, so they don't have to fear your fellow Swedes 😂! Seriously speaking 😅, sometimes it takes someone with one foot on each side to explain things.
As a swede, i once ride the bus in norway, it was empty and another passenger got on, and he picked the seat right next to me and said "hi". Why here? Theres 100 other available seats... I thought he was going to kill me! Because it was so awkward to me.
The "American dream" is a concept that all Americans know and believe in as something unique. But isn't it exactly the opposite for the most part. That it is in Sweden and Europe that you can reach your dreams much more easily. The schools are free here and pretty much anyone can be anything. Otherwise, the golf courses are more and better in the USA.
I can relate to most of these. I'm still loud to the point I get accused of yelling often. But the one I relate the most with is being more socially awkward. Some of my reasons differ like there are a lot of unspoken Swedish rules. They're like land mines and stepping on one can cause irreparable damage. I've learned this hard way to the point it's still affecting my life here today. I tread so lightly now it's unhealthy in a lot of ways. I compare it too the "angry black women" stereotype. There are black women who are afraid of getting upset because of that stereotype. Swedes and a lot of Europeans have similar stereotypes about Americans. Loud, violent, dumb etc... If I sense myself getting upset, no matter how justified, I quickly shut down almost like an abused wife scared to speak up. This also goes back to me being naturally loud. My grandmother was hard of hearing and as a result I had to ALWAYS speak loud for her to hear me. I was basically taught this from a VERY young age and it's ingrained. But that's just the tip of the ice berg. I could go on about other reasons.
Universal healthcare is cheaper then the crap my family have to deal with in the U.S. Insurance company's do not have your welfare as a priority, it is a business.
Swedes don't even pay a single krona in taxes for any of our social services, the employer does; 100% of it. It's called arbetsgivaravgifter. Even some Swedes don't know that. 😁
As a Swede who's lived 15 years abroad (in 2 different countries and cultures) I can absolutely confirm that the sovial awkwardness is the absolutely worst aspect of Swedish culture, because it affevts so much of your life here. Ive never properly understood it, and sometimes it even seems contrived.
You can be better at something, and you can own that, you just dont boast it, if someone say you are/did good at something just say thank you, even more swedish say thank you and then admit you are not good at something else or you still have room for improvement. And translation is more that you are not worth more because you are better. We are equal as people, no matter if you are the king or work at MCDonalds.
#5 was your greatest talking point. I'm an American who has lived in Sweden for nearly 23 years. Nordic Socialism is something on its' own. It works. It cannot be compared to other countries who claim to be the same such as Cuba, Venezuela, Equador etc. Here in Sweden all have health care. Pre-school has a maximum limit of cost for around 1,500 sek or around $165 per month, and this is if you have a high income. Most parents here pay about $100 per month for full time pre-school. University is tuition free, you only have to pay for books/literature. Elder care is highly subsidized so the average elderly person pays $600-700 per month for their own apartment within a building providing full-time care. Yeah, Socialism sucks...
Hi, would you be able to make a video or comment about how you moved out of the US to another country? I’ve wanted to do that but it seems daunting and incredibly expensive. Thoughts?
Andrew you've heard how much you work in the US and how long the days are at work. Since in the US you hardly have a holiday. So I wonder if you also had that when you lived in the USA and how does it feel to you now in Sweden, with not so long working days, so you maybe have more free time here than you had in the USA. As well as the feeling for you when you got your first long holiday here in Sweden. Because that's what you've heard about how it is in the US, that many people have long days, multiple jobs, and hardly any holidays if they even get it.
Hi Andrew , you may remember me , i was so sure that Sweden would never join NATO . Still think it was wrong decision but you were right and i was wrong and was a bit unnuanced in my denial but time changes and i felt i should drop you a line just to apologize. Swedish is a difficult language to lern and takes a long time but you are doing fine.
NOT compared to when he just has been to the US! 😂😂😂! The first video he makes when he's back, that usually is fast and loud. Exclamation marks after every sentence 😆!
@@robertberg1609 That is partly true. But considering how left-wing politics dominated back then, that's only a good thing. Sweden was on the verge of bankruptcy, after many years of the state needing to borrow to pay subsidies.
I would love to meet you and talk a whole lot. Cause i dream about moving to America as a swede. I think you could give me a true picture of how America is and what i could expect
As an American, hearing a Swede say they want to come here sounds like a healthy person saying they want to be a meth addict. It just doesn’t make sense.
I notice you are more comfertable speaking about how you feel about how Sweden functions. I notice when I any spend time in another country you get into this situation where you understand more of what is going on around in your new country, but not really 100 percent part of it, and yet what happens in your own country of oregin, doesn't really pertain to you. Its like it kind of concerns you because your still American, but it doesn't affect you because your not there. Maybe if I spent more time in the country it would shift more as I get more involved with the culture.
hej.. jag kan säga det finns förändringar i din ton ,därför kallar jag dig Austinsson , brukar se då och då dina videos, det finns saker måste man ifråga varför ,hur, har blivit så T.ex ljus i fönstret och så vidare.
@@cynic7049 actually yes those are cars, those are just not able to drive in the common speeds, however if that is what makes it not a car for you, than average cars isnt cars, cause they can’t drive as fast as sportscars. Same principle really, simply because average cars are made after the common roads and speed limits does not make it any more of a car than epa traktorer and epa bilar, just like mopeder is motorcycles even if they are not called such
@@cynic7049 The difference is that Swedish kids doesn't have any real drivers ed. before getting their licence, they'll just learn by doing. In the middle of the road.
@@cynic7049 Ahem... You really should read what Äppleskum wrote more carefully. He wasn't talking about epatraktorer, he was talking about the situation in the US, where 16yo kids can drive a car as fast as he/she likes (within the speed limit of course). The part about the price tag would be a giveaway. 😉
Socialism? That word is not applicable to Sweden. Why do Americans always use that word for Sweden? There are a huge difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy. Sweden has the latter. If you want to talk socialism then talk about North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and China (even though China is more State Capitalism). So please do be afraid of socialism, but don't try to link it to Sweden.
In one way you have changed is that you are more open to your feelings and you are no longer afraid of offending people with your honest feelings. You are a much more relatable person now. Great job!
As a Swede, having the feeling that I'm socially awkward is my normal. So , I don't care too much about it.
1: I had a summer job in London in the mid-90s, working for a London-based Swedish woman. One of my English co-workers pointed out that they were quite amazed at how quietly we could speak in Swedish and still understand each other at long-ish distances. Which makes me suspect that there might be something about the Swedish language that makes it better than English at carrying a message at low sound levels. Also, we both noticed that speking English nearly all day made us slightly hoarse, which suggests that speaking English put more stress on our voice coils than speaking Swedish.
2: Awkward, sure. I'm currently debating myself if I want to get a few t-shirts with Ukrainaian flags and "Slava Ukraini" on them, because I don't know how comfortable I will be walking around with such a bold statement on me.
4: I recently saw a discussion online about a pregnant woman who had had to get an ambulance to the hospital because of some pregnancy-related emergency, and she argued that her husband should pay half the ambulance bill since he was the one who made her pregnant. My reaction: AMBULANCE FEE? What kind of backwards country makes people pay an ambulance fee? I'm Swedish , by the way. 🙂
Healthcare is definitely a human right brother!
🤣 I like the idea, that you are assimilating and melding into the Swedish way of life...even 'socialism' 🤣
hello from Denmark 🌸
The US has lots of socialism - Medicare (if you're old enough), the police, the military etc. They just don't recognise it as such.
@@RobertClaeson
I know! Which makes it doubly dumb, to not recognize it! 🤣
@@RobertClaeson Americans and the word 'socialism' is like Russians and the words 'nazism' and 'fascism'. They have been taught it's something bad, but not what it actually is.
In America it causes a groundless fear, that can be overcome.
In Russia however, they have no idea that they are taught from early age to be exactly what they also are taught to hate, because no one taught them what those words stand for.
@@Zandain They don't know what 'socialism' is. And definitely not 'social democracy'. (NOT meaning a certain party, only the idea i general!!)
@@annabackman3028
Absolutely true...they run in the opposite direction, just at the word 🤣
Fools!
One basic difference: Scandinavians are aware that other people exist. So they are considerate. That explains a lot of differences, including most of what you brought up.
I'm a Swede that talks to all people around me, most people will be very nice and start to talk back as if we have known each other for a time. Mostly you need to break the ice and start talking and then people will follow you and you can have a good chat when you wait in the line in the store.. Would love to meet you some time and take a chat in the line in Coop or Ica :-)
Yes, Andrew should have a lottery, where the winner got to meet up with him for a fika :)
The one about noise crops up a lot and boils down to the fact that USA is focussed on freedoms of the individual whereas Europe is more focussed on collective responsibility. People talk more quietly so they are not causing a nuisance to strangers. The same applies to universal health care, most Europeans accept that some of their taxes will go toward providing health care to those who can't contribute for whatever reason.
You have definitely changed!
From my Swedish perspective you seem calmer, more collected. And more satisfied with yourself.
But, of course, years have gone by, you haven't only lived in Sweden, you have become older too. (I know! It's awful, and the older one become, the faster it goes 😒)
I guess your ageing progress has been highly affected by the Swedish culture and way of living.
Anyway, it's good to see you thrive here, and being an interpreter of what Sweden actually is, to your fellow Americans, so they don't have to fear your fellow Swedes 😂!
Seriously speaking 😅, sometimes it takes someone with one foot on each side to explain things.
Well spoken and good thoughts about youreself and our country. Keep up the good videos. Cause you surely brings them everytime...
"..one of us.. one of us.. one of us.."
As a swede, i once ride the bus in norway, it was empty and another passenger got on, and he picked the seat right next to me and said "hi".
Why here? Theres 100 other available seats... I thought he was going to kill me! Because it was so awkward to me.
True, dogs don't bark here
The "American dream" is a concept that all Americans know and believe in as something unique. But isn't it exactly the opposite for the most part. That it is in Sweden and Europe that you can reach your dreams much more easily. The schools are free here and pretty much anyone can be anything. Otherwise, the golf courses are more and better in the USA.
I can relate to most of these. I'm still loud to the point I get accused of yelling often. But the one I relate the most with is being more socially awkward. Some of my reasons differ like there are a lot of unspoken Swedish rules. They're like land mines and stepping on one can cause irreparable damage. I've learned this hard way to the point it's still affecting my life here today. I tread so lightly now it's unhealthy in a lot of ways. I compare it too the "angry black women" stereotype. There are black women who are afraid of getting upset because of that stereotype. Swedes and a lot of Europeans have similar stereotypes about Americans. Loud, violent, dumb etc... If I sense myself getting upset, no matter how justified, I quickly shut down almost like an abused wife scared to speak up. This also goes back to me being naturally loud. My grandmother was hard of hearing and as a result I had to ALWAYS speak loud for her to hear me. I was basically taught this from a VERY young age and it's ingrained. But that's just the tip of the ice berg. I could go on about other reasons.
Universal healthcare is cheaper then the crap my family have to deal with in the U.S. Insurance company's do not have your welfare as a priority, it is a business.
Swedes don't even pay a single krona in taxes for any of our social services, the employer does; 100% of it. It's called arbetsgivaravgifter. Even some Swedes don't know that. 😁
As a Swede who's lived 15 years abroad (in 2 different countries and cultures) I can absolutely confirm that the sovial awkwardness is the absolutely worst aspect of Swedish culture, because it affevts so much of your life here.
Ive never properly understood it, and sometimes it even seems contrived.
You can be better at something, and you can own that, you just dont boast it, if someone say you are/did good at something just say thank you, even more swedish say thank you and then admit you are not good at something else or you still have room for improvement. And translation is more that you are not worth more because you are better. We are equal as people, no matter if you are the king or work at MCDonalds.
#5 was your greatest talking point.
I'm an American who has lived in Sweden for nearly 23 years.
Nordic Socialism is something on its' own. It works. It cannot be compared to other countries who claim to be the same such as Cuba, Venezuela, Equador etc.
Here in Sweden all have health care. Pre-school has a maximum limit of cost for around 1,500 sek or around $165 per month, and this is if you have a high income. Most parents here pay about $100 per month for full time pre-school. University is tuition free, you only have to pay for books/literature. Elder care is highly subsidized so the average elderly person pays $600-700 per month for their own apartment within a building providing full-time care.
Yeah, Socialism sucks...
Hi, would you be able to make a video or comment about how you moved out of the US to another country? I’ve wanted to do that but it seems daunting and incredibly expensive. Thoughts?
Andrew you've heard how much you work in the US and how long the days are at work. Since in the US you hardly have a holiday. So I wonder if you also had that when you lived in the USA and how does it feel to you now in Sweden, with not so long working days, so you maybe have more free time here than you had in the USA. As well as the feeling for you when you got your first long holiday here in Sweden.
Because that's what you've heard about how it is in the US, that many people have long days, multiple jobs, and hardly any holidays if they even get it.
Hi Andrew , you may remember me , i was so sure that Sweden would never join NATO . Still think it was wrong decision but you were right and i was wrong and was a bit unnuanced in my denial but time changes and i felt i should drop you a line just to apologize. Swedish is a difficult language to lern and takes a long time but you are doing fine.
You still speak fast and loud. But I do Iike your channel !
Best regards. Piéro Mengarelli. Stockholm Sweden.
😊
NOT compared to when he just has been to the US! 😂😂😂!
The first video he makes when he's back, that usually is fast and loud. Exclamation marks after every sentence 😆!
I live in Germany since 5 years. I dont know how it has changed me but I do see Sweden with a more critical eye now. Sweden has gone to far right.
I can see it from here too
In a functioning democracy, you can only stretch things that far, or the sentiments of the people will put an en to it. And it goes both ways.
Too far left*
@@hencytjoe We,ve been on a trajectory to the right since the mid seventy's
@@robertberg1609 That is partly true. But considering how left-wing politics dominated back then, that's only a good thing. Sweden was on the verge of bankruptcy, after many years of the state needing to borrow to pay subsidies.
If you actually stop and think about what politics is and does, you realise that there are two options: Slavery and Freedom
I would love to meet you and talk a whole lot. Cause i dream about moving to America as a swede. I think you could give me a true picture of how America is and what i could expect
As an American, hearing a Swede say they want to come here sounds like a healthy person saying they want to be a meth addict. It just doesn’t make sense.
skulle du kunna prata mer om din musik du har gjort? (:
I notice you are more comfertable speaking about how you feel about how Sweden functions. I notice when I any spend time in another country you get into this situation where you understand more of what is going on around in your new country, but not really 100 percent part of it, and yet what happens in your own country of oregin, doesn't really pertain to you. Its like it kind of concerns you because your still American, but it doesn't affect you because your not there. Maybe if I spent more time in the country it would shift more as I get more involved with the culture.
Socialism is not comunism comunism is socialism taken to the extreme
hej..
jag kan säga det finns förändringar i din ton ,därför kallar jag dig Austinsson , brukar se då och då dina videos, det finns saker måste man ifråga varför ,hur, har blivit så T.ex ljus i fönstret
och så vidare.
Hi*
Expect to never pay whatever the pricetag is saying and 16year old kids driving cars, and not like here
Yes, the thing 16year old kids are driving in Sweden are not technically cars even if they look like cars.
@@cynic7049 actually yes those are cars, those are just not able to drive in the common speeds, however if that is what makes it not a car for you, than average cars isnt cars, cause they can’t drive as fast as sportscars. Same principle really, simply because average cars are made after the common roads and speed limits does not make it any more of a car than epa traktorer and epa bilar, just like mopeder is motorcycles even if they are not called such
@@cynic7049 The difference is that Swedish kids doesn't have any real drivers ed. before getting their licence, they'll just learn by doing. In the middle of the road.
@@cynic7049 Ahem... You really should read what Äppleskum wrote more carefully. He wasn't talking about epatraktorer, he was talking about the situation in the US, where 16yo kids can drive a car as fast as he/she likes (within the speed limit of course). The part about the price tag would be a giveaway. 😉
Socialism? That word is not applicable to Sweden. Why do Americans always use that word for Sweden? There are a huge difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy. Sweden has the latter. If you want to talk socialism then talk about North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and China (even though China is more State Capitalism).
So please do be afraid of socialism, but don't try to link it to Sweden.
You're like them now :(