I really like your comments, also as an old Swede and teacher, I feel a bit proud. As to the door opening I would say it is an age thing. I am 70+ and I still open doors (anywhere) to ladies. I have never had that answer you had, maybe because I am old, and maybe because I most often open doors to ladies my age or just under who appreciate courtesy. :)
You should be proud! Sweden really opened my eyes on many aspects. I learned more about myself and about Italy in the first year in Sweden than in 21 years in Italy 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I think that holding a door open for someone, no matter the gender, is common courtesy, but having a (stranger) opening a car door for me would definitely feel weird. We're not used to that, and it can be seen as a bit infantilising since Swedish women are very independent, just as you said. I usually hold open the door for the people behind me when I walk into a building or something similar, and people wouldn't really see this as offensive, but more as a common courtesy. But yeah, some people are rude no matter what. :P
@@joannawentworth9519 It's different if you walk through a door and would otherwise smash the door in their face. If you get out of a cab or something and make an extra effort holding up the door would just be wierd.
I'm dutch and the Netherlands is not a scandinavian or nordic country, but it seems to that our culture is very similar that the swedish one. Everything from wanting to be independent --this is what's behind splitting the bill thing--, calling bosses or superiors by their first name, lack of buraucracy and even the birthday song same melody.
So true! I actually believe that the Netherlands is the European country that's closest to the Scandinavian ones. The only difference is that you have the same population as the whole Scandinavia but in the size of the a shoe box 😂 (I really love the Netherlands and you Dutch people!) Doei Doei! 😊
@@xbr1238 Yeah, I can imagine that things don't go as smoothly for foreigners as for nationals. Probably I would have to "configure myself" at the municipalities and other instituations in your country in the same way as you in the Netherlands. Anyway I can arrange everything via internet from making appointments to fetch documents such as passports, driving licences..etc without having to wait in long queues, taxes, as for asking a proof of good behaviour which is needed for some specific jobs.
@@gaborrab4785 I mean I don't know what you are used to. But I've dealt with UK, US, Spanish, French and Portuguese bureacracy and omg will I never complain about Swedish bureaucracy again. As long as you have BankId and a personal number it is so easy to do most things wether it is banking, insurance, taxes, managing school/kindergarten schedules for your children etc. And very rarely do you ever need to go to the actual office and deal with any papers.
Currently studying at a university and right from the start, all teachers have been clear that they are there for us to learn and succeed. If we do not manage a task, they have failed as teachers / professors. In general, a large part is devoted to the didactics of teaching. So a demand from them is that we ask for an explanation if we do not understand, because their goal is to pass on as much of their knowledge as they can to us. Maybe that’s why the professor came and supported you and gave you that part of time, if you succeed they will succeed.
I think most Swedes, as I'm myself culpable of, fall into the trap of circlejerking about how great we are and overlook the bad sides. Seeings as this comment is 6 months old, and since I had my own ups and downs in uni in Sweden, the system is really built in such a way that researchers are forced to teach as a part of their career. This means that you might luck out on teachers in uni that really want to teach you stuff, but you will inevitably also meet the people who don't give a flying duck about their students and just want to get back to what they consider their actual job, purpose and hobby. While it's a nice sentiment, and I've certainly met those kinds of teachers too, you'll also get the people reciting a script from the 1980s with a powerpoint presentation from the early 2000s to just get back to their science. Imo that's perfectly understandable, but with the current "either it's heaven or it's shit" I just wanted to add some gray scale to the topic - but by no means diminishing your experience.
@@addemanns Yeah I see that circlejerking quite a bit in some nordic countries. In the end as "culturally advanced" of them are....they are still humans in 2023...and I'm sure swedes haven't evolved into actually being this super heart centered evolved human en masse with incredibly noble aspirations lol :D As a portuguese I do admire your ability to create a fairly equal society in many ways. You are definately the world model for many things concerning such matters for the future. But like with Netherlands and others....there's this hint of elitism I perceive that prevents these logical social changes to actually come from an earnest desire to live in a better world for all. I think like the japanese you are great at making social rules stick.
As a swedish person, the biggest culture shock that i experience in other countries is the forced selling style. People really stand outside of stores and try to grab you in. Once when i visited turkey I went to a jewelry store and i was alone inside, and the man LOCKED ME INSIDE while I was buying stuff 😳
Oh crap! That sounds like a horror story! Yes, that's a weird thing. I also now react on how "pushing" some Italian sellers are, and my spontaneous reaction is to drop everything and walk out the door...even if I really needed what I was going to buy 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 the funniest thing when visiting turkey was that everyone seemed to know each other. You couldn't really choose what store you went to. The taxi driver said we should visit his friends restaurant, and the child of the owner took us to the jewelry store, and the jewelry store man took us to his friends store, and he took us to his friends friends store 😂
@@mariaandersson3013 Hahaha Well, it's a full service! 😂 Oh my god, that's probably a Swedish nightmare! I had a similar experience in Tunisia but I could easily get out of the loop being used to Italy 😅
When me and my studymate wrote a big essay for our degree at the university, we needed help calculating the statistics. We emailed our professor that was our mentor and expert in statistics. A bit later he called, from his vacation in another country just to help us. That was very kind.
I grew up in a religious home (which is fairly uncommon in Sweden) and the boys in my church were taught to be courteous to us girls and I really appreciate the extra niceness. It doesn’t even have to be between a man and a woman. I hold doors for people all the time because it’s nice and makes them happy. Honestly, telling someone “You know I can open the door myself” is needlessly rude and confrontational and therefore kind of unswedish because we usually don’t like confrontation and telling people off.
My professor at Stockholms Universitet brought fika to our exam today, we got both Polly and Gifflar❣️ and the rest of them (at least at the archeological institution) are very helpful and answers emails immediately to make sure the students learn in the best way.
About the first thing with the door, you explained why she probably reacted ;) You said that you open the door, "especially if it's a girl". Not many girls in Sweden wants to be treated a special way just because they're girls. If you open the door to everyone just to be nice, ok, or if you help everybody, but if you only help the girls it's like a signal that you think she can't do anything by herself or that you want something in return that she's not want to give.
The Scandinavian girls' attitude of "I'm an independent Viking, so don't do me any favours !", is a typical sign of immaturity. A selfassured Scandinavian woman will not refuse politeness to be offered. She'll accept it with grace, knowing fully well that the guy isn't coming on to her. She'll know good manners and proper upbringing from ignorance.
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 What om earth are you on about? Holding the door for a woman in that context just reflects perpetuates gender roles that are far gone and that we don’t need to dig up.
Ahh yes, that last piece of cake 🙂 Too funny. In my office, all the non-Swedes joke and then someone quickly grabs that last piece which we jokingly call the "non Swedish piece".
One of my professors at KTH in Stockholm brings us coffee and tea for our classes every week and we love her for it! I really like that you can just ask your professor and they take the time to answer, feels like you're treated more like a potential future colleague than a kid.
The car door thing, it´s not really so much about independence, it's more because it's kinda patronizing, like they were a very young child unable figuring out to get out of a car without help. What should I compare it too... it´s like if someone would grab your hand when you were about to cross the street, cut up the food for you on your plate when you´re in a restaurant, or tie your shoe for you, do something like you would do for a little child (or someone who is uncapable), it feels like being talked down to.
So interesting to see it from this perspective! I understand this now, after many years in Sweden, but it really was a cultural shock for a young Italian like me to see that. In Italy girls would get mad at you for not opening the door. It's seen as a given thing to do so, and coming to the exact opposite was to say the least surprising 😅 Also, all I tell reveals probably more about the Italian culture than the Swedish culture 😁
@@lokis7230 Yes, she should probably been aware that he's from another culture and have other traditions and just nodded and said thanks. When someone makes a little mistake, the best thing is to act like it didn´t happen, not point it out to the person in the situation, because then it becomes an awkward situation in front of everyone. It´s better to pretend like it´s fine, and then point it out in private later.
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Yeah, I think it´s interesting that it´s the opposite. I think that if you were able to travel in time, and go back to like the 40s or 50s, the car door opening thing would be the same in Sweden as it is in Italy now.
if your reaction to someone being polite is "dont look down on me" that's a you problem. Opening the door for people, helping them lift stuff or carry stuff. Isnt done to patronize someone. Unless the person you are with is a douchebag and always does stuff like that to patronize. If that's your problem, then get new friends or dump the toxic person you are with. It's the same as if someone comes to your place with cookies they made at home "What the F is this?!?! I can bake my own cookies!!" and throw them in the trash. -"no that's not the same thing" Yeah it is. Someone is doing something nice. And you think they are patronizing your baking skills. It's not them looking down on you, it's you having a toxic mentality. How about starting off with the mentality that people are just being nice. And then judge them after they have shown you that they are not. Are there a-holes who do this thing because they are patronizing/toxic? Sure. But the majority isn't. Most people regardless of skin color or gender, do these things to be polite, friendly and/or helpful. Not even thinking about that you couldn't do these things yourself. How about just saying "thanks" and go on with your life? If they start flirting with you or doing something actually patronizing. "oh, you can't carry that. you are a weak girl" then tell them to fuck off. all that would happen if it was me in that situation would be me thinking "wow, this bitch is rude. Last time I help her with anything unless she specifically asks me"
It's funny, Swedes complain about bureaucracy all the time. But maybe that's why it's been reduced in certain areas. As for the girl in the car, I think it's more of a gender equality thing in this case (even though your remark on independency is sound), it's an act you traditionally wouldn't see between two men for example. As for the birthday song it's actually older than the American one, but was originally a student song. Birthday celebrations didn't become common until the 20th century, before then name days were more important. Is it similar in Italy?
Hej Tom! I don't think Italy has another birthday song. We sing the "tanti auguri a te", which comes from the English song. It could also be because the birthday was not as important as the name day, but that's not the case today. Name days are often forgotten and are more of a religious tradition than a cultural thing nowadays.
Lite irriterande är att många studenter som lägger upp en V-log sitter och ironiserar och skrattar åt svenskar och svenska samhället. Dom säger också ofta "weird". Skulle vi göra samma sak? Jag tror inte det. Svenska skiter ofta i hur man gör i andra länder. Vi är ofta skolade att inte arbeta ensamma utan snackar ofta ihop oss. Det är en svensk styrka som har betalat sig. En annan sak kan vara att svenskar ofta är ganska pålästa och tycker därför inte saker och ting i andra länder är så "weird" Rätta mig om jag har fel 🤪🥸🥱
Jag har aldrig träffat en mer ödmjuk befolkning som i sverige. Det första en svensk gör är att försöka förstå andras perspektiv och få den att känna sig hemma. Svenskarna gör det så mycket att det ofta beskrivs av Sverige själv som konflikträdsla, men jag kan inte låta bli att gilla den ödmjukheten och att bli inspirerad. Det är såklart en egenskap som finns i andra länder, men Sverige är så öppet till andra idéer och tankar på ett sätt jag aldrig har upplevt förut. Så, tack Sverige och svenskar 😊
But we often continue to sing the song like this: Och när du har levat, och när du har levat, och när du har levat uti hundrade år, ja, då ska du skjutas, ja, då ska du skjutas ja, då ska du skjutas på en skottkärra fram. Do you understand the double meaning of this? I think you know Swedish 😎.
@@bennygustafsson9580 oh när du har skjutits, oh när du har skjutits, oh när du har skjutits på en skottkärra fram, ja då ska du hängas, ja då ska du hängas, ja då ska du hängas på en häst bakåfram. Jag kan hela låten
Yeah, the cake thing is a bit funny. But it´s like you don´t want to make the host feel like they baked/bought too little fika, that you still have room for more. To bring too little fika is an immortal sin that you don´t wish to accuse someone of or even insinuate. Usually we don´t even ask if someone wants to share the last piece, we just divide it and take half. And then the next person will divide that little piece, and the next until there is almost nothing left. Also, you never take the marzipan rose of the prinsess cake, at least not until the whole cake has been sliced. Then the person who is like dividing the last piece could be like "I can take this, if no one else wants it..?"
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I think you will be excused for some years, being new here, not knowing any better, no shame will fall on you. But on your poor Swedish family members for not teaching you the basic rules of fika. 😁
When buying/selling vehicles now, you can do it w/o any paper form, instantly, either on the web or in a phone app, using Electronic ID to identify the parties, and that the seller is the actual owner. If you don't arrange insurance (or register the car as 'avställd", ie not to be used on public roads) it will be automatically assigned an insurance that is VERY much more expensive than any normal insurance. IIRC this in part funds coverage in accidents with uninsured/'avställda' vehicles involved.
Good that this didn't happen to me 10 years ago. I would have had a heart attack compared to Italy 😅 but yes, knowing Sweden, it makes sense that's doable with the electronic ID. You can do basically everything with it. I love it!
With the birthday songs, I have heard "Ja, må han/hon leva" as I'm norwegian with swedish family ancestry. However we have our own birthday song in Norway too. It's kind of a thing at a birthday party to chose between English, Swedish and Norwegian. Norwegian one is called "Hurra for deg som fyller" I think. So yeah, we all have our own birthday songs xD. Goes: Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år, ja deg vil vi gratulere. Alle i ring omkring deg vi sår å ser, når vi vil marsjere Bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss i ring Danse for deg med hopp og sprett og spring. Ønske deg med hjertet alle gode ting, og si meg så, hva vil du mere? Gratulere.
Here in Sweden we don’t really do “han/hon” but rather “du”. That’s because “du” is second person, while “han/hon” is third person, and it’s kinda weird to refer to someone you’re “talking to” in third person. I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone use third person, though maybe that’s more of a thing in middle/north Sweden?
@@anitalianinsweden8868 In Finland we just sing the Finnish version of Happy birthday to you, so we don't have our own different song. Swedish is our second official language, but I don't know any Finnish Swedes, and now I'm wondering what version they would sing 🤔
@@Siilikeiju very good question actually. At Swedish song or a translated version of the Finnish version? Have no idea but would love to learn. So you Finns use the happy birthday melody?
In Germany the last piece of the cake is called "Anstandsstück" (lit. "decency piece") which is usually left over because everyone is hesistant to take it. Also in Germany a German version of Swedish birthday song exists a long with "Happy Birthday to you" - and a German version of the later "Zum Geburtstag viel Glück" plus a another a few other German birthday songs: he will be even more confused.
Hahaha very funny, yet educative, we in Mexico also have our own version of “Happy Birthday” and if you are celebrating at a traditional restaurant, you will get the Mariachis band performing…Hahaha!
As a Canadian of Swedish descent (2 grandfathers) I just love this video! I'm currently learning Swedish because I didn't learn it as a child....I LOVE the 'Birthday Song", I'll be singing that song from now on in addition to the traditional 'Happy Birthday' song...Tack!!
I've helped a ton of my swedish friends to move. I think it's maybe more of an age thing. In your late teens and 20's your friends are like a second family and aksing for help to move is almost more of a social thing, like come hang out, help me move and I'll buy or make you lunch and diner and you get to see my new apartment or whatever and you save some money doing it yourself.. When you´re in your 40's everyone has their work to do and kids that need to be driven to that soccer tournament at 7 in the morning on saturday. Oh and Björn or whoevery blew his back out playing Paddel last week soo.. So you kind of stop asking and pay for professionals.
That's actually quite sad.Human beings have had to rely on each other since time began and a country full of people who just want to be on their own island all the time would be very draining.
I think you misunderstood the girl, swedish girls do like to be independent but we dont like "classic" gestures from men because we are afraid that something is then expected back from us. And we do ask friends to help us move, quite a lot :)
@@golden.lights.twinkle2329 it's not insulting if the man thinks he's gonna be able to do whatever he wants just because he was polite. You dont need an award to be polite, you just are.
@@fridawahlsten4220 As a swedish man, why do you assume that a man thinks he's gonna be able to do whatever he wants after holding a door for you? That's your paranoia to deal with. Let's agree to treat you in an unpolite way so that you feel nobody cares about you, is that alright?
In Denmark we have 2 classical birthday songs and they are nothing alike to the "happy birthday" english song. You will probably ask the birthday person, or the party, "Are we singing the one with instruments or the one without?". Both of them are fairly long, and the one with the instruments has three verses, which before you sing it you will have to agree on two instruments you are going to mimic for each chorus (because NO it's not real instruments, just mouth sounds and hands movements, which you "play" in the song melody). Last verse you just sing the chorus with "Hurra hurra hurra" = "Hurray hurray hurray". Both song include the birthday person name!
Moving is usually kind of like a party in Sweden, you get together with a bunch of friends and help move all your stuff, and then drink and eat. The cake thing is true though, the rule of thumb is to not take more than half of what's left, which can become a bit ridiculous.
I really wish that we would strive to be a little less independent, the reason being how lonely and unhappy so many people are due to the lack of community. Asking for help, or just being comfortable doing things together, is a skill one builds, and we don't get better at that if we never practice it. There is this attitude here that we don't want to "bother" other people, and what I see is that it can be detrimental to people's mental health. I also really appreciate cultural values like men opening doors for women (not necessarily just in that very traditional sense), since what I see is that there are slight differences between what makes people feel good about themselves and their relationships, and when I let men do things like that for me I have noticed that it becomes this positive spiral of respect and appreciation. Men in my life feel proud, honored and happy to do things for me, it feels like a gift for them, and I feel honored and like I shine brighter when I get the gift of receiving. It's pretty darn beautiful. ☺️ Anyhow, these are clearly my opinions, and I am likely a cultural anomaly here in Sweden.
I'm an Italian university student in the UK, and here I had the same culture shock as for the student-teacher relationship. I was literally shocked when my classmates started calling teachers by their first names. Also, I don't really know if it's actually the same in Sweden too, but I was constantly calling my teachers "professors", cause that's how you're taught to call 'em starting from middle school on in Italy, and they eventually asked me not to call them that cause they're "not that clever." That still makes me laugh, but I do love and deeply appreciate this kind of humility teachers seem to have abroad, in Italy you basically treat and see them as unapproachable celebrities or deities
In Denmark, we have two very common different birthday songs that we sing. Completely different tunes. One is “Ole har fødselsdag, for det har han jo, og det er i dag!” and then goes on to pretend different musical instruments. And the other one is “Idag er det Oles fødselsdag, hurra hurra hurra”, which is more about all the nice things awaiting the birthday person.
Watching you from the Netherlands and getting a cultural shock of you being shocked by the most natural things you're describing. In the Netherlands we have it almost the same as you say, we even have a special birthday song with the same words and melody, only in dutch. Perhaps, only the never take the last piece of cake rule isn't that strict here, you don't have to share it all the time, just ask if everybody is sure they don't want it.
I agree with you. The Netherlands are like Sweden crammed in a very tiny space. Maybe that's also why I've met so many Dutch people in Sweden, especially enjoying nature. Two very beautiful countries!
There is a Swedish version of the Happy Birthday song which goes “Ha den äran i dag x2 ha den äran käre *insert name here* but we’ve never sung it, however we have actually sung the English version sometimes!
Every now and then we see someone here sighing and saying in a disapointed voice: "Oh, that's the swedish bureaucracy." Every time I hear that I feel like asking what other countries bureaucracys they have tried. Southern european? Eastern european? :) Sometimes we make a sport of the cake thing. Who can divide the smallest piece. :) The professor/student relationship. Don't you think that is the same as in the rest of the society? When I heard you describe it I immediately thought "Of course, nobody is above anyone else." Just a few days ago I saw a clip here of Nils van der Poel who had just won the olympic gold in speed skating. In the middle of a victory interview, someone comes with a phone and it was the swedish prime minister, they started chatting and Nils started it with "Hey, it's Nils", ended it with something like "Thanks for the call Magdalena." and somewhere in the middle the swedish prime minister apologized for disturbing. That's how it is in Sweden, the prime minister isn't above an athlete and a professor isn't above a student. :) And you have heard the extended version of the birthday song when he/she should get shot after living those 100 years? :)
So true! About every point you discuss, really! Especially the equality between swedes, and I love it! The professor story has been the first situation that happened to me, but it has then happened over and over again to the point that I find it weird now not behaving that way. What I find even more fascinating is how this is perceived as welcoming rather than lac of respect. I really love it! 😁
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Why would it be a lack of respect? I assume you respect your professor, and I assume he respects you. So why should there be a difference in how we treat eachother? For me it's rather the opposite, placing people above others means that there must also be someone below. And that's a lack of respect. And I think everyone who have tried our system loves it. It brings people together. :)
It’s all about the so called “Jantelagen”, the Law of Jante. It which means in’s short that nobody is special/everyone is special, so don’t make a fuzz and think you’re special! This isn’t just a Swedish thing, all the Nordic countries has this unwritten law. It’s about equality and not to be a pompous a$$. That’s why we seldom are self promoting or bragging, because that’s rude and cheap. It’s through your deeds you show your worth. Being humble is a virtue, just look on Swedish athletes like Ingmar Stenmark, he’s never bragged about his success. On the other hand we have Zlatan, and even that he’s been one of the best Swedish footballers, he’s been frown upon by many because he’s been a bit full of himself and Jantelagen says that’s not ok. But in Italy and France that’s totally fine to do. Sorry for the ranting! I hope I made myself clear, Jantelagen is in our genes I guess and hard to put words on!
The first one... I haven't given it much thought, but man it makes sense! I am a Swede and I live in Germany, married to a German woman - one thing that actually annoys me is that people kinda "takes advantage of you" (what it feels like to me at times). I mean, I am a helpful guy and like to help out, doing at the very least 'my share of the work', but there are so many (small to medium-sized) tasks that I would never ask anyone to help me with, here, people don't do those tasks alone but request help with it.
My daughter and son in law are living in Sweden for five years now. I'm a brazilian (old) guy and I really think so funny the way that they say "cheers" in a pub or drinking beverages at home. The word used is "Skål", but is necessary to concentrate your eyes at to the other people when you say the word....it's so formal and funny at the same time...😄
One thing I know baffles people from other countries is how easy it is to buy a property. You can literally view it, then sign the papers and walk out the bank with your new keys the next day.
I had another birthday song that I grew up with, as a Swede. Same melody as the 'Ja må du leva', but the lyrics were, "Vi gratulerar, vi gratulerar, vi gratulerar våran *name* idag. Med blommor och med blader vi gör honom/henne glader vi gratulerar våran *name* idag."
I spent sime time by my cousin in my late teens to help her with her cildren in Perugia. One cultural chock for me was that I had to let the same guy that took me to a gathering with friends drive me home and not a guy I had spent the evening with...
The melody of the birthday song, is the same in German. "Hoch sollst du leben.." I think it's a version of an originally German birthday song. In Denmark we also have a song; "I dag er det XX fødselsdag, hurra, hurra, hurra. Han/Hun sikkert sig en gave for..." and so on. But i haven't heard another version of the danish song anywhere yet?!
Excellent video! I moved from Britain to the USA and also had many culture shocks even though we speak the same language (more or less). When you go to a restaurant for your birthday, do the servers sing the birthday song? They do this in the USA.
@@anitalianinsweden8868 only when drunk or at a "Kräftskiva", then they can sing a lot. Btw, there are more choirs per capita in Sweden than any other country.
Actually, I heard being a teacher in the Nordic countries is very prestigious, a lot of hard work to become one, and a lot of competition but they get nice perks if you get in from what, I heard and read.
For what I hear in Sweden, I don't know if it's considered prestigious, but it's definitely considered a very important job and it's very well payed compared to most European countries. The requirements are very high and you need many years of studies for it. Strangely enough there are not enough teachers in Sweden so if anyone is qualified and wants to come here and give it a try, learn Swedish and give it a shot! 😁
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I am perpetual student, I have been going to college on and off for over a decade but, I love it because, I like so many things and get to help other students/people which, I have. I am on break though. I lost my grandpa a few months ago so, I am not ready yet like, I thought, I was. hope by Fall, I can try college courses again but for now, I am learning Swedish and Russian most of my days for now.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon. I love University so much that I went all the way through to a PhD. I have been lucky enough to study in several countries and met fantastic people, and if I have learned anything from my experience is that learning is not a race. I could have finished my PhD almost a decade before if I had done everything right, but for many reasons, some of them being very similar to yours, it took many years longer. Everything turned for me when I started to do things for fun and not for duty. I've loved every second of it then, but it came many years in. Do what you love and keep your fantastic mood up. You will go long! I mean it! 😊 Also, fantastic with Swedish and Russian! Languages are way more important than skills!
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Tack! Well, my perception has changed over the years as, I would rather keep doing what, I am doing but not just a job to help others. I have taken other courses through colleges in Ontario not countries though. Maybe someday. Swedish, French, and Russian borrow from each other so, I find one language enhances the other at times. It was difficult for me to stick to 2 target languages but it is for the best. Maybe in a couple years, when, I am confident with Swedish, I will ease up slightly and try French again.
No its not prestigious anymore, it used to be back in the days. Now anyone could be a teacher and you just need atleast an E for grades to be accepted to university. Nowdays I would say doctors, pilots and lawyer are the prestigious profession (like everywhere else around the world) in Sweden /A swede :)
A parte che mi è comparso questo video nella home molto a caso e niente, a questo punto seguo le tue avventure HAHAHHA🤣🤣la parte dell'inesistente burocrazia mi è piaciuta tantissimo, in Italia effettivamente crepiamo tra file e ansia🤦🏻♀️poi per il rapporto tra professori e studenti confermo, è totalmente diverso... anzi, più che altro credo che varia tra le università, ad esempio io studio in Calabria e non so se sia il fatto che l'ateneo sia "più piccolo" rispetto agli altri, ma il rapporto tra studenti e la maggior parte dei professori è molto alla mano e li trovo molto disponibili per quanto riguarda l'aiuto con gli argomenti da studiare e con gli esami, poi anche quello dipende dalle facoltà e insomma non si finisce più. Una cosa carina che mi è accaduta di recente, a proposito di esami, è stata proprio col professore di informatica: mancavano circa 5 giorni all'esame ed ero abbastanza in panico poiché era il mio ultimo, gli ho mandato una mail chiedendo se poteva ricevermi e a parte che ha risposto subito, credo entro l'ora in cui avevo mandato la mail, e niente mi ha tranquillizzata, abbiamo fatto un bel po' di esercizi e ne abbiamo fatti fin quando non era sicuro che avessi capito tutto. Davvero un santo, l'ho ringraziato non so quante volte ma lui tipo "ma figurati, questo è il mio lavoro", è stato davvero un culture shock pur essendo in italia e poi avevo paura che non accettasse poiché mancavano pochi giorni al... gran giorno🤣🤣🤣per inciso, alla fine l'esame è andato benissimo🤣🤣🤣 Riguardo la canzoncina svedese del compleanno... MA COOOOSA🤣🤣🤣sembra mia nonna che mi dice in dialetto "tanti auguri per 100 anni" (traduzione letterale), comunque davvero carina! Ah già, l'ultimo pezzo di torta, vero che noi ci scanniamo per averlo🤣è molto carina anche questa cosa di condividerlo con chi lo vuole (a proposito di ultimo pezzo, stamattina mi sono svegliata tutta contenta di trovare l'ultima fetta perché pensavo che nessuno sarebbe andato all'attacco... niente non l'ho trovata🤣🤣🤣) Spero tu faccia altri video di questo tipo, sono davvero interessanti! Ciao!👋🏻
You know, everybody will LOVE you for taking that last piece of the cake! ;o) We've learned not to take it but you don't want to have one single piece of cake left. And you don't want to waste it. Somebody grabs it - perfect! Btw, it is quite common to gather friends when moving. And the classic food you buy for your friends when the move is done is - pizza! (And beer)
Funny thing about the cake, i often describe myself as a Swede who dares to take the last cake. Im not that modest either. So many point out that it's very uncharacteristic of a Swede to take the last slice. This is defenitely spot on
I'm a Swedish woman who likes to open doors for people. I actually had a stand off in Poland with a man, as I got to the door first I opened it, he refused and I said I insist and then he insisted even more that I should not take his manly duties from him so I eventually gave him the door and walked in. It used to be a thing here too but we lost it for some reason and now we see it as a sign that someone is hitting on you and they want something in return. Silly, I like chivalry so don't mind if I do even though I'm a woman.
I believe that we should never stop being nice to each other. If I open the door to a person who takes it as an offense, I'll just explain myself and hopefully she/he will understand 😊
@@anitalianinsweden8868 yeah I guess we are just hardier people. I lived in Ireland for 9 years in my 20s and could not understand the over politeness. People apologies to people that walk into their airspace….and say thanks a million several times for the most nonsensical things. It was not until I’m moved back that I noticed how rude we can seem without trying, it’s just a culture thing. We are cuddly once you get to know us, promise ;-)
Everything is very digitalized over here and people actually know how to work the systems they use on their jobs (for the most part). I remember the first time I told some American friends I was checking my bank account, transferring money to my savings account and a bunch of other stuff by just using the Bank ID on my phone to log in on the bank's website. They did NOT understand. :'D They also still believe I'm trolling when I tell them how we do taxes...
Italy doesn't have it's own version of happy birthday? Greece does. Maybe Italy doesn't have the tradition of singing to the birthday person. I'm glad Sweden has its own song.
Omg this is sooo intressting!! I'm a Swedish girl..... in ITALY! hahahah I think the weirdest thing here was the process of getting something al bar. Like do i pay first????? Do i sit down first???? Do i pick up my pizzetta first and then pay??? or then eat??????
The thing about opening the door and some girls take it the wrong way. It is mostly feminists who act in this way. Most girls still appreciate such kindness.
Sweden is one of the most convenient countries in the world, and I think that we complain about the most after perhaps the weather are how things aren’t convenient! And so naturally we’ve made a lot of things more and more convenient!
The difference between Italy that demands up front payments versus a country like Sweden that's richer, is the main reason why Swedish co's have simple administration processes. Any middle to poor country expect up front payments to ensure the finality of the transaction.
On the first point - I am fine with people opening doors for me, but I hate with a passion when other people portion up food for me at home! It really rubs me the wrong way xD Having moved to England it was a culture clash with my partner as here they serve up food for guests to be polite, but I associate serving up food for someone else as something that is done for children. It caused us plenty of frustration the first couple of years! And as someone who loves to bake and share with people I love Italians! I work in a very multicultural office (well, pre-pandemic I did) and Italians were the largest group. If I baked anything and put it in the break room, most other nationalities would be too shy, but I could always count on the Italians and some of the French to finish what was left :D It makes you feel very appreciated as a baker :)
So interesting! Thanks for sharing this! I never stop learning about those behaviors I always took for granted but that can have totally different meaning for other people with other backgrounds! Also, you can always count on italians to finish your cakes 😋
Living abroad and culture shocks teach you about yourself stuff you would never have to face or think about. Some of it night be unpleasant. Becoming a parent also does that.
Where I grew up it has a second verse that goes: Och när han har levat, ja när han har levat ut i ett hundrade år, ja då ska han skjutas, då ska han skjutas, ja då ska han skjutas i en skottkärra fram. Ja de öööööönskar vi, ja de öööööööönskar vi, jaaaa deeee ööööööööönskaaaaaaaar viiiiiiiii. Trefaldigt hipp hipp, HURRA, HURRA HURRA!
Vi sjunger 4 verser. 1) Ja må han/hon leva uti hundrade år… 2) då ska han skjutas på en skottkärra fram…. 3) Ja då ska han doppas i en tunna med champagne… 4) då ska han flyga dit där änglarna bor… Sen självklart ett fyrfaldigt leve och till sist folkets jubel. Nån skrev här att det finns 8 verser, ganska morbida sådana…
You actually don't even need to fill in papers, you can do the transfer online on your phone... though probably you need bankid to sign and I have no idea if/how foreigners can get bankid.
Not only last cake, like last everything, worked in a resturant on breakfast and nothing was never empty, Always One thing of everything instead of empty. A few asked if there is more comming and we say Yes and even Then People don't take last until refilled xD
The same song exists in German, but it just co-exists with Häppi Börsdai, as we like to write it. It is not the main song, Germans would also rather sing Happy Birthday in the first place. Now I am curious if there is also a Swedish version of "Heute kann es regnen oder schneien, denn du strahlst ja selber wie der Sonnenschein".
There are 2 cultural shock for me when I visited Sweden for the first time, 1st: breads and 2nd no toilet bidets in both hotels and someone else’s place 😭.
Last piece of cake-problem: My son did this, as a prank at his workplace. They are 10 co-workers and he bought 11 icecream sticks and put in the freezer for everyone to take. Imagine the rest :-)
You are one of the lucky ones. Everything I have done when purchasing the car meant at least 2-3 calls every day for a week.... Don't make me start with the child wellfare, wifey visa (8 months and counting) insurance... And what not ...
First of all, I want to compliment you on not having an Italian accent, which I cannot stand. I also happen to be Italian, live in Stockholm and speak English fluently, with no accents so I am picky about it. If you're interested, I would like to give you my point of view regarding what you described: 1) I also open doors for myself, but when someone else does it for me, I smile as an impolite reaction does not mean independence but rudeness. 2) Yes, quick , but insurance is useless here. 3) I don't know where you come from, but even in Italy, taking the last slice of something is considered rude, so it always stays there. There was even a TV commercial about it. My ex-boyfriend is Swedish, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, from a well-off family in Östermalm, and he almost always took the last slice ( maybe that's why I left him) 4) I studied medicine, psychology, and LMS at Sapienza + London, and something at KI. I always had a close relationship with professors, perhaps because I always received top marks and have an impressive personality despite my height of 165cm. Having said that, I like your video, although I am usually annoyed by this kind of video. At least you said something different and spoke perfect English.
I have only been to one college mine in Canada. However, I found out “most “ of the professors are on par- with the students to an extent. When, I first started going, “don’t call me sir.” And “don’t call me ma’am.” Most, I find will help students but like the Italian teachers, they have scheduled blocks of time to help students.
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I actually, have a lot of Italian ancestors back in Italy whom, I never met. My grandpa was from Northern Italy, my grandma's father was from Central Italy, but her grandmother was from Southern Italy. I am of mixed decent but mostly, of Italian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish though.
This is what I find fascinating about North America. Every person has a fascinating family history! Now I also understand your will to learn Russian, but why Swedish? 🤔
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Thanks! Well long story short, my great grandfather was running away from the Russian Revolution because he was a baron. He ended up in France but eventually, had to leave because the French government, thought he was conspiring with Adolf's men which is part of the reason, I am here. He knew, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, picked up French, German, and Serbian. His son my, grandfather knows, French, English, Polish, and Ukrainian. While my other grandfather knew Italian, Frulian, English, Spanish, and some French from what, I understand. I was always kind of fascinated with Swedish/Viking culture. Back in the day, MySpace was big before Facebook. One of the first people, I ever connected to he is Swedish. After high school though we did not talk for a few years. He left to work and live with family in the USA and I was busy getting my diploma. We just got busy with life. He liked a picture of me on Facebook and gradually started talking again. He asked how my Swedish was, I said not good but, I could start learning again as a way to re-connect. He has since moved back to Sweden and I got my diploma and than some so, I am limiting the amount of courses, I am taking from now on to 2-3 per-semester. It was pretty much a mix of things. I already had interest in Swedish language anyway and he was the first person, I ever connected with on Myspace so, he is special. Also, I have my degree and then some so, I thought why not learn Swedish again. Also, back then, in my country when, I was in high school, there was not as many resources to learn Swedish like now.
So fascinating with your family history! Also I really believe there is no bad rain to learn a language. Learning a language is the first step towards learning a culture. Thanks for sharing all this! 😊
I have been Living in 5 countries in europe and Sweden was always the wierdest and the most uniqe of them, both in good and bad ways. Its a very different country 😂
Nah, we’re the norm, you others are the weird ones! 😉 Of course am I kidding, but there’s a ounce of truth in it, because we, like the English is a bit condescending against other cultures. We really think our is the best and often look down on other countries. For a long time we had one of the highest standards in living, education, healthcare, social security etc. Nowadays much of that has been partly dismantled due to cut fundings or privatization. But we still think we’re the best, but as we also is brought up and shaped by the Law of Jante, we can really brag about it. So yes, we’re the odd ones. Maybe that’s why our neighbors don’t like us so much as we think? Sorry a Nordic neighbors!😬😘
@@Hiznogood I think that condescending bent is something that is present in countries with monarchies, if I'm honest. At least that's a theory I have. I always found it cognitively dissonant how nordic countries are so keen on equal rights amongst its citizens and then still hold on to this werid thing called monarchy :P
Thank you. It's a generation issue. I open door for elderly people and I say thank you when someone opens the door for me. Courtesy is something that was a normal thing when I was a child and still is. But I think it's different in other parts of Sweden. In Stockholm you can get a door in your face, thank you! But in smaller citys it's more politeness, I think. That's what I have noticed. Have a wonderful day!
Men opening a car door for men would be seen as a sarcastic joke, men opening a car door for a woman would be seen as flirting sarcastically, women opening a car door for anyone would be seen as just strange
Oh yes, the "Happy Birthday" song hahaha. The long version goes on for a while about how you shall not die, but live for a hundred years and so on LOL. WHAT? hahahaha It was very shocking for me an American used to the simple Happy Birthday song lol.
@@jonashansson2320 "Å när han har levat å när han har levat å när han har levat uti hundrade år, ja då ska han skjutas ja då ska han skjutas ja då ska han skjutas på en skottkärra fram!"
There are alot of swedish women that expect the man to open doors like it is nice if a man does that :) but of course i will hold the door by myself also
7:00 ... weeeell.. you are not really suppose to do that. Yea, the professor will come. But it also depends a bit on the university and what stage you are. If you are studying a masters, its generally much more accepted. First year.. then its a no no I had a lector from Italy at my university (in Sweden) and it was pretty clear that the Swedish professors generally thought the Italian was full of it.
Well, it was in my first year of bachelor's, but we were also 20 people in total and this professor is a very kind person, so it might have been an outlier, but I never really felt I was disturbing anyone in Sweden when asking questions, while it was constantly the opposite in Italy. I understand why Swedish professors thought like that about the Italian one... I can easily see that 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 There are exceptions, but typically from the professors side if someone call they are pretty much bound to help you in Sweden. When i studied we where the first class around, and they university board actually put extra time aside for all teaching staff becasue we didn´t have any older students to lean on. At the same token, when you are a master, you wouldn´t have any older student to help you anyway, and also the classes are general smaller. But most commonly that would fall on the PhD students to do that work, well if there is any, that is not always the case
As a retired swedish ww2 hero I want to add to the story: We should be thankful and grateful to Norway since most of the nature in the form of scenery, soil / stones and wildlife etc has drifted from the Norwegian hills and mountains to form what today is called sweden. Not many mention this fact - but we should do more to show gratitude toward Norway and the norwegian people. And we should also finally admit that the vikings originally came from Norway (and later spread to sweden and denmark).
I love the fact that there are exactly zero Swedish ww2 heroes, so from the first sentence all swedes know you're trolling and everyone else can just enjoy the ride
In italy we also have the Italian version of happy birthday.... why was this a shock? You nean because the words are different? I live un the Netherlands and the words are similar to the Swedish but the song tune is the same everywhere...
If you want the last piece of cake it’s mandatory to make a self deprecating/ sarcastic joke about how your going to selfishly grab it for yourself. That way you can lessen the blow to your face.
Swede here. You don't want that last piece of cake? Great, the better for me. I have no qualms about it. :) but sure, I will ask you first. And I'll ask everyone around the table. But if everyone says no, it's MINE! ;)
I'm pretty sure most countries has their own happy birthday song?? Do Italians really sing happy birthday to you?? Why would non native English speaking countries sing it in English?? lol
Hej there! What I mean is that in most of the other countries in Europe you have a birthday song that has the same melody as the English "happy birthday to you", but with other words in the countries language of course. The difference with Sweden is that the actual melody is totally different. Both Italy and Spain have the same melody as the English one (although Spain also has an older version but for what I know it's not as common, but I might be wrong here. I'm not Spanish :P)
@@anitalianinsweden8868 In Norway you can sing the variant in Norwegian with the same melody, but mostly we sing another birthday song which is written by Margrethe Munthe sung in a Norwegian folk tune. It is called "Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!"
I went to sweden, and it was during summer so ive tanned a lot and im also italian american so when I was at sweden everyone thought i was middle eastern lmao
I really like your comments, also as an old Swede and teacher, I feel a bit proud. As to the door opening I would say it is an age thing. I am 70+ and I still open doors (anywhere) to ladies. I have never had that answer you had, maybe because I am old, and maybe because I most often open doors to ladies my age or just under who appreciate courtesy. :)
You should be proud! Sweden really opened my eyes on many aspects. I learned more about myself and about Italy in the first year in Sweden than in 21 years in Italy 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I think that holding a door open for someone, no matter the gender, is common courtesy, but having a (stranger) opening a car door for me would definitely feel weird. We're not used to that, and it can be seen as a bit infantilising since Swedish women are very independent, just as you said.
I usually hold open the door for the people behind me when I walk into a building or something similar, and people wouldn't really see this as offensive, but more as a common courtesy. But yeah, some people are rude no matter what. :P
I usually open or hold open doors too 😆 but not to cabs
@@joannawentworth9519 It's different if you walk through a door and would otherwise smash the door in their face. If you get out of a cab or something and make an extra effort holding up the door would just be wierd.
legit for a 55 yr old aswell
I'm dutch and the Netherlands is not a scandinavian or nordic country, but it seems to that our culture is very similar that the swedish one. Everything from wanting to be independent --this is what's behind splitting the bill thing--, calling bosses or superiors by their first name, lack of buraucracy and even the birthday song same melody.
So true! I actually believe that the Netherlands is the European country that's closest to the Scandinavian ones. The only difference is that you have the same population as the whole Scandinavia but in the size of the a shoe box 😂 (I really love the Netherlands and you Dutch people!)
Doei Doei! 😊
“Lack of bureaucracy” in Sweden, really? :D
@@xbr1238 Yeah, I can imagine that things don't go as smoothly for foreigners as for nationals. Probably I would have to "configure myself" at the municipalities and other instituations in your country in the same way as you in the Netherlands. Anyway I can arrange everything via internet from making appointments to fetch documents such as passports, driving licences..etc without having to wait in long queues, taxes, as for asking a proof of good behaviour which is needed for some specific jobs.
@@gaborrab4785 I mean I don't know what you are used to. But I've dealt with UK, US, Spanish, French and Portuguese bureacracy and omg will I never complain about Swedish bureaucracy again. As long as you have BankId and a personal number it is so easy to do most things wether it is banking, insurance, taxes, managing school/kindergarten schedules for your children etc. And very rarely do you ever need to go to the actual office and deal with any papers.
@@antioch4019 yeah, but getting bankID as an EU citizen is a nightmare in north korean levels. Also, non-bankid related bureaucracy is also horrid.
Currently studying at a university and right from the start, all teachers have been clear that they are there for us to learn and succeed. If we do not manage a task, they have failed as teachers / professors. In general, a large part is devoted to the didactics of teaching. So a demand from them is that we ask for an explanation if we do not understand, because their goal is to pass on as much of their knowledge as they can to us. Maybe that’s why the professor came and supported you and gave you that part of time, if you succeed they will succeed.
So true and I think this is the way it should be everywhere! 😊
I think most Swedes, as I'm myself culpable of, fall into the trap of circlejerking about how great we are and overlook the bad sides. Seeings as this comment is 6 months old, and since I had my own ups and downs in uni in Sweden, the system is really built in such a way that researchers are forced to teach as a part of their career. This means that you might luck out on teachers in uni that really want to teach you stuff, but you will inevitably also meet the people who don't give a flying duck about their students and just want to get back to what they consider their actual job, purpose and hobby. While it's a nice sentiment, and I've certainly met those kinds of teachers too, you'll also get the people reciting a script from the 1980s with a powerpoint presentation from the early 2000s to just get back to their science.
Imo that's perfectly understandable, but with the current "either it's heaven or it's shit" I just wanted to add some gray scale to the topic - but by no means diminishing your experience.
Thanks🕊
@@addemanns Yeah I see that circlejerking quite a bit in some nordic countries. In the end as "culturally advanced" of them are....they are still humans in 2023...and I'm sure swedes haven't evolved into actually being this super heart centered evolved human en masse with incredibly noble aspirations lol :D As a portuguese I do admire your ability to create a fairly equal society in many ways. You are definately the world model for many things concerning such matters for the future. But like with Netherlands and others....there's this hint of elitism I perceive that prevents these logical social changes to actually come from an earnest desire to live in a better world for all. I think like the japanese you are great at making social rules stick.
As a swedish person, the biggest culture shock that i experience in other countries is the forced selling style. People really stand outside of stores and try to grab you in. Once when i visited turkey I went to a jewelry store and i was alone inside, and the man LOCKED ME INSIDE while I was buying stuff 😳
Oh crap! That sounds like a horror story! Yes, that's a weird thing. I also now react on how "pushing" some Italian sellers are, and my spontaneous reaction is to drop everything and walk out the door...even if I really needed what I was going to buy 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 the funniest thing when visiting turkey was that everyone seemed to know each other. You couldn't really choose what store you went to. The taxi driver said we should visit his friends restaurant, and the child of the owner took us to the jewelry store, and the jewelry store man took us to his friends store, and he took us to his friends friends store 😂
@@mariaandersson3013 Hahaha Well, it's a full service! 😂 Oh my god, that's probably a Swedish nightmare! I had a similar experience in Tunisia but I could easily get out of the loop being used to Italy 😅
as a Norwegian there is a culture shock in Sweden... the prices!
How did you get out eventually? (Assuming you're not still there)
When me and my studymate wrote a big essay for our degree at the university, we needed help calculating the statistics. We emailed our professor that was our mentor and expert in statistics. A bit later he called, from his vacation in another country just to help us. That was very kind.
I grew up in a religious home (which is fairly uncommon in Sweden) and the boys in my church were taught to be courteous to us girls and I really appreciate the extra niceness. It doesn’t even have to be between a man and a woman. I hold doors for people all the time because it’s nice and makes them happy. Honestly, telling someone “You know I can open the door myself” is needlessly rude and confrontational and therefore kind of unswedish because we usually don’t like confrontation and telling people off.
My professor at Stockholms Universitet brought fika to our exam today, we got both Polly and Gifflar❣️ and the rest of them (at least at the archeological institution) are very helpful and answers emails immediately to make sure the students learn in the best way.
Fantastic! 😀
About the first thing with the door, you explained why she probably reacted ;) You said that you open the door, "especially if it's a girl". Not many girls in Sweden wants to be treated a special way just because they're girls. If you open the door to everyone just to be nice, ok, or if you help everybody, but if you only help the girls it's like a signal that you think she can't do anything by herself or that you want something in return that she's not want to give.
True
Very sad!
The Scandinavian girls' attitude of "I'm an independent Viking, so don't do me any favours !", is a typical sign of immaturity.
A selfassured Scandinavian woman will not refuse politeness to be offered.
She'll accept it with grace, knowing fully well that the guy isn't coming on to her.
She'll know good manners and proper upbringing from ignorance.
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 It feels like you kind of missed my point there...
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 What om earth are you on about? Holding the door for a woman in that context just reflects perpetuates gender roles that are far gone and that we don’t need to dig up.
Ahh yes, that last piece of cake 🙂 Too funny. In my office, all the non-Swedes joke and then someone quickly grabs that last piece which we jokingly call the "non Swedish piece".
😂
One of my professors at KTH in Stockholm brings us coffee and tea for our classes every week and we love her for it! I really like that you can just ask your professor and they take the time to answer, feels like you're treated more like a potential future colleague than a kid.
The car door thing, it´s not really so much about independence, it's more because it's kinda patronizing, like they were a very young child unable figuring out to get out of a car without help.
What should I compare it too... it´s like if someone would grab your hand when you were about to cross the street, cut up the food for you on your plate when you´re in a restaurant, or tie your shoe for you, do something like you would do for a little child (or someone who is uncapable), it feels like being talked down to.
So interesting to see it from this perspective! I understand this now, after many years in Sweden, but it really was a cultural shock for a young Italian like me to see that. In Italy girls would get mad at you for not opening the door. It's seen as a given thing to do so, and coming to the exact opposite was to say the least surprising 😅
Also, all I tell reveals probably more about the Italian culture than the Swedish culture 😁
But still rude to act like she did, I think even as a Swede.
@@lokis7230 Yes, she should probably been aware that he's from another culture and have other traditions and just nodded and said thanks.
When someone makes a little mistake, the best thing is to act like it didn´t happen, not point it out to the person in the situation, because then it becomes an awkward situation in front of everyone. It´s better to pretend like it´s fine, and then point it out in private later.
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Yeah, I think it´s interesting that it´s the opposite.
I think that if you were able to travel in time, and go back to like the 40s or 50s, the car door opening thing would be the same in Sweden as it is in Italy now.
if your reaction to someone being polite is
"dont look down on me"
that's a you problem.
Opening the door for people, helping them lift stuff or carry stuff. Isnt done to patronize someone. Unless the person you are with is a douchebag and always does stuff like that to patronize. If that's your problem, then get new friends or dump the toxic person you are with.
It's the same as if someone comes to your place with cookies they made at home
"What the F is this?!?! I can bake my own cookies!!"
and throw them in the trash.
-"no that's not the same thing"
Yeah it is. Someone is doing something nice. And you think they are patronizing your baking skills.
It's not them looking down on you, it's you having a toxic mentality. How about starting off with the mentality that people are just being nice. And then judge them after they have shown you that they are not.
Are there a-holes who do this thing because they are patronizing/toxic? Sure. But the majority isn't. Most people regardless of skin color or gender, do these things to be polite, friendly and/or helpful. Not even thinking about that you couldn't do these things yourself.
How about just saying "thanks" and go on with your life?
If they start flirting with you or doing something actually patronizing.
"oh, you can't carry that. you are a weak girl"
then tell them to fuck off.
all that would happen if it was me in that situation would be me thinking
"wow, this bitch is rude. Last time I help her with anything unless she specifically asks me"
It's funny, Swedes complain about bureaucracy all the time. But maybe that's why it's been reduced in certain areas. As for the girl in the car, I think it's more of a gender equality thing in this case (even though your remark on independency is sound), it's an act you traditionally wouldn't see between two men for example. As for the birthday song it's actually older than the American one, but was originally a student song. Birthday celebrations didn't become common until the 20th century, before then name days were more important. Is it similar in Italy?
Hej Tom! I don't think Italy has another birthday song. We sing the "tanti auguri a te", which comes from the English song. It could also be because the birthday was not as important as the name day, but that's not the case today. Name days are often forgotten and are more of a religious tradition than a cultural thing nowadays.
Lite irriterande är att många studenter som lägger upp en V-log sitter och ironiserar och skrattar åt
svenskar och svenska samhället. Dom säger också ofta "weird".
Skulle vi göra samma sak?
Jag tror inte det. Svenska skiter ofta i hur man gör i andra länder.
Vi är ofta skolade att inte arbeta ensamma utan snackar ofta ihop oss.
Det är en svensk styrka som har betalat sig.
En annan sak kan vara att svenskar ofta är ganska pålästa och
tycker därför inte saker och ting i andra länder är så "weird"
Rätta mig om jag har fel 🤪🥸🥱
Jag har aldrig träffat en mer ödmjuk befolkning som i sverige. Det första en svensk gör är att försöka förstå andras perspektiv och få den att känna sig hemma. Svenskarna gör det så mycket att det ofta beskrivs av Sverige själv som konflikträdsla, men jag kan inte låta bli att gilla den ödmjukheten och att bli inspirerad. Det är såklart en egenskap som finns i andra länder, men Sverige är så öppet till andra idéer och tankar på ett sätt jag aldrig har upplevt förut. Så, tack Sverige och svenskar 😊
@@KjellEson Om folk i det här landet var så pålästa så skulle inte en markant del av befolkningen rösta på nazisterna.
And there are 8 verses of the swedish birthday song, but we only sing the first 2. the other 6 get's a little morbid.
But we often continue to sing the song like this: Och när du har levat, och när du har levat, och när du har levat uti hundrade år, ja, då ska du skjutas, ja, då ska du skjutas ja, då ska du skjutas på en skottkärra fram. Do you understand the double meaning of this? I think you know Swedish 😎.
@@bennygustafsson9580 oh när du har skjutits, oh när du har skjutits, oh när du har skjutits på en skottkärra fram, ja då ska du hängas, ja då ska du hängas, ja då ska du hängas på en häst bakåfram. Jag kan hela låten
Yeah, the cake thing is a bit funny. But it´s like you don´t want to make the host feel like they baked/bought too little fika, that you still have room for more. To bring too little fika is an immortal sin that you don´t wish to accuse someone of or even insinuate.
Usually we don´t even ask if someone wants to share the last piece, we just divide it and take half. And then the next person will divide that little piece, and the next until there is almost nothing left.
Also, you never take the marzipan rose of the prinsess cake, at least not until the whole cake has been sliced. Then the person who is like dividing the last piece could be like "I can take this, if no one else wants it..?"
Ehm... So I should never take the marzipan rose again?? 😶
I'm thinking back to the tens of times I took it 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I think you will be excused for some years, being new here, not knowing any better, no shame will fall on you.
But on your poor Swedish family members for not teaching you the basic rules of fika. 😁
When buying/selling vehicles now, you can do it w/o any paper form, instantly, either on the web or in a phone app, using Electronic ID to identify the parties, and that the seller is the actual owner. If you don't arrange insurance (or register the car as 'avställd", ie not to be used on public roads) it will be automatically assigned an insurance that is VERY much more expensive than any normal insurance. IIRC this in part funds coverage in accidents with uninsured/'avställda' vehicles involved.
Good that this didn't happen to me 10 years ago. I would have had a heart attack compared to Italy 😅 but yes, knowing Sweden, it makes sense that's doable with the electronic ID. You can do basically everything with it. I love it!
With the birthday songs, I have heard "Ja, må han/hon leva" as I'm norwegian with swedish family ancestry. However we have our own birthday song in Norway too. It's kind of a thing at a birthday party to chose between English, Swedish and Norwegian. Norwegian one is called "Hurra for deg som fyller" I think. So yeah, we all have our own birthday songs xD.
Goes: Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år, ja deg vil vi gratulere.
Alle i ring omkring deg vi sår å ser, når vi vil marsjere
Bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss i ring
Danse for deg med hopp og sprett og spring.
Ønske deg med hjertet alle gode ting, og si meg så, hva vil du mere? Gratulere.
Haha I like the Norwegian one! But it's too long. I want to get to the cake FAST! 😋
Here in Sweden we don’t really do “han/hon” but rather “du”. That’s because “du” is second person, while “han/hon” is third person, and it’s kinda weird to refer to someone you’re “talking to” in third person. I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone use third person, though maybe that’s more of a thing in middle/north Sweden?
@@anitalianinsweden8868 In Finland we just sing the Finnish version of Happy birthday to you, so we don't have our own different song. Swedish is our second official language, but I don't know any Finnish Swedes, and now I'm wondering what version they would sing 🤔
@@Siilikeiju very good question actually. At Swedish song or a translated version of the Finnish version? Have no idea but would love to learn.
So you Finns use the happy birthday melody?
@@northbreeze0111 Yup. It's the same melody, although the word birthday isn't mentioned. It would be a bit hard to fit "syntymäpäivä" to the melody.
In Germany the last piece of the cake is called "Anstandsstück" (lit. "decency piece") which is usually left over because everyone is hesistant to take it.
Also in Germany a German version of Swedish birthday song exists a long with "Happy Birthday to you" - and a German version of the later "Zum Geburtstag viel Glück" plus a another a few other German birthday songs: he will be even more confused.
We swedes also have two. The one presented here and Vi gratulerar (we congratulate). The second one is not as common
Damn... I have to learn the second Swedish one then. This countries are complicated! 😂
@@anitalianinsweden8868 we actually have a third now when I think about it. Med en enkel tullipan uppå bemärkelsedan 😀
@@andersmalmgren6528 Wasn't one enough 😅 I'm gonna listen to than!
Hahaha very funny, yet educative, we in Mexico also have our own version of “Happy Birthday” and if you are celebrating at a traditional restaurant, you will get the Mariachis band performing…Hahaha!
As a Canadian of Swedish descent (2 grandfathers) I just love this video! I'm currently learning Swedish because I didn't learn it as a child....I LOVE the 'Birthday Song", I'll be singing that song from now on in addition to the traditional 'Happy Birthday' song...Tack!!
What the hell does "tack" mean? 😅
@@RM-ti8nf It means 'Thanks' in Swedish....
@@lindaberg1695 oh cool, thanks for that ❤️❤️
@@RM-ti8nf You're welcome. The phrase comes from 'Tack så mycket' which means 'Thank you so much'....'Tack' is the shortened version.
Yes, I can open the door myself but if someone holds the door for me, I say thank you 🇸🇪
That birthday song bit had my bursting with laughter! That is the most valuable piece of advice in my research of our move to Sverige.
I've helped a ton of my swedish friends to move. I think it's maybe more of an age thing. In your late teens and 20's your friends are like a second family and aksing for help to move is almost more of a social thing, like come hang out, help me move and I'll buy or make you lunch and diner and you get to see my new apartment or whatever and you save some money doing it yourself.. When you´re in your 40's everyone has their work to do and kids that need to be driven to that soccer tournament at 7 in the morning on saturday. Oh and Björn or whoevery blew his back out playing Paddel last week soo.. So you kind of stop asking and pay for professionals.
That's actually quite sad.Human beings have had to rely on each other since time began and a country full of people who just want to be on their own island all the time would be very draining.
I think you misunderstood the girl, swedish girls do like to be independent but we dont like "classic" gestures from men because we are afraid that something is then expected back from us.
And we do ask friends to help us move, quite a lot :)
Thank you Frida! 😊
That is insulting to men, who are just trying to be courteous.
@@golden.lights.twinkle2329 it's not insulting if the man thinks he's gonna be able to do whatever he wants just because he was polite.
You dont need an award to be polite, you just are.
And Sweden is one of the worlds most equal countries. We don't care if the manly ego is butthurt.
@@fridawahlsten4220 As a swedish man, why do you assume that a man thinks he's gonna be able to do whatever he wants after holding a door for you? That's your paranoia to deal with. Let's agree to treat you in an unpolite way so that you feel nobody cares about you, is that alright?
In Denmark we have 2 classical birthday songs and they are nothing alike to the "happy birthday" english song. You will probably ask the birthday person, or the party, "Are we singing the one with instruments or the one without?". Both of them are fairly long, and the one with the instruments has three verses, which before you sing it you will have to agree on two instruments you are going to mimic for each chorus (because NO it's not real instruments, just mouth sounds and hands movements, which you "play" in the song melody). Last verse you just sing the chorus with "Hurra hurra hurra" = "Hurray hurray hurray". Both song include the birthday person name!
LOL - in Denmark we have several danish birthday songs. :)
Moving is usually kind of like a party in Sweden, you get together with a bunch of friends and help move all your stuff, and then drink and eat.
The cake thing is true though, the rule of thumb is to not take more than half of what's left, which can become a bit ridiculous.
I really wish that we would strive to be a little less independent, the reason being how lonely and unhappy so many people are due to the lack of community. Asking for help, or just being comfortable doing things together, is a skill one builds, and we don't get better at that if we never practice it. There is this attitude here that we don't want to "bother" other people, and what I see is that it can be detrimental to people's mental health. I also really appreciate cultural values like men opening doors for women (not necessarily just in that very traditional sense), since what I see is that there are slight differences between what makes people feel good about themselves and their relationships, and when I let men do things like that for me I have noticed that it becomes this positive spiral of respect and appreciation. Men in my life feel proud, honored and happy to do things for me, it feels like a gift for them, and I feel honored and like I shine brighter when I get the gift of receiving. It's pretty darn beautiful. ☺️ Anyhow, these are clearly my opinions, and I am likely a cultural anomaly here in Sweden.
I'm an Italian university student in the UK, and here I had the same culture shock as for the student-teacher relationship. I was literally shocked when my classmates started calling teachers by their first names. Also, I don't really know if it's actually the same in Sweden too, but I was constantly calling my teachers "professors", cause that's how you're taught to call 'em starting from middle school on in Italy, and they eventually asked me not to call them that cause they're "not that clever." That still makes me laugh, but I do love and deeply appreciate this kind of humility teachers seem to have abroad, in Italy you basically treat and see them as unapproachable celebrities or deities
In Denmark, we have two very common different birthday songs that we sing. Completely different tunes. One is “Ole har fødselsdag, for det har han jo, og det er i dag!” and then goes on to pretend different musical instruments. And the other one is “Idag er det Oles fødselsdag, hurra hurra hurra”, which is more about all the nice things awaiting the birthday person.
Watching you from the Netherlands and getting a cultural shock of you being shocked by the most natural things you're describing. In the Netherlands we have it almost the same as you say, we even have a special birthday song with the same words and melody, only in dutch. Perhaps, only the never take the last piece of cake rule isn't that strict here, you don't have to share it all the time, just ask if everybody is sure they don't want it.
I agree with you. The Netherlands are like Sweden crammed in a very tiny space. Maybe that's also why I've met so many Dutch people in Sweden, especially enjoying nature. Two very beautiful countries!
There is a Swedish version of the Happy Birthday song which goes “Ha den äran i dag x2 ha den äran käre *insert name here* but we’ve never sung it, however we have actually sung the English version sometimes!
Every now and then we see someone here sighing and saying in a disapointed voice: "Oh, that's the swedish bureaucracy." Every time I hear that I feel like asking what other countries bureaucracys they have tried. Southern european? Eastern european? :)
Sometimes we make a sport of the cake thing. Who can divide the smallest piece. :)
The professor/student relationship. Don't you think that is the same as in the rest of the society? When I heard you describe it I immediately thought "Of course, nobody is above anyone else."
Just a few days ago I saw a clip here of Nils van der Poel who had just won the olympic gold in speed skating. In the middle of a victory interview, someone comes with a phone and it was the swedish prime minister, they started chatting and Nils started it with "Hey, it's Nils", ended it with something like "Thanks for the call Magdalena." and somewhere in the middle the swedish prime minister apologized for disturbing. That's how it is in Sweden, the prime minister isn't above an athlete and a professor isn't above a student. :)
And you have heard the extended version of the birthday song when he/she should get shot after living those 100 years? :)
So true! About every point you discuss, really! Especially the equality between swedes, and I love it! The professor story has been the first situation that happened to me, but it has then happened over and over again to the point that I find it weird now not behaving that way. What I find even more fascinating is how this is perceived as welcoming rather than lac of respect. I really love it! 😁
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Why would it be a lack of respect? I assume you respect your professor, and I assume he respects you. So why should there be a difference in how we treat eachother?
For me it's rather the opposite, placing people above others means that there must also be someone below. And that's a lack of respect.
And I think everyone who have tried our system loves it. It brings people together. :)
It’s all about the so called “Jantelagen”, the Law of Jante. It which means in’s short that nobody is special/everyone is special, so don’t make a fuzz and think you’re special! This isn’t just a Swedish thing, all the Nordic countries has this unwritten law. It’s about equality and not to be a pompous a$$. That’s why we seldom are self promoting or bragging, because that’s rude and cheap. It’s through your deeds you show your worth. Being humble is a virtue, just look on Swedish athletes like Ingmar Stenmark, he’s never bragged about his success. On the other hand we have Zlatan, and even that he’s been one of the best Swedish footballers, he’s been frown upon by many because he’s been a bit full of himself and Jantelagen says that’s not ok. But in Italy and France that’s totally fine to do.
Sorry for the ranting! I hope I made myself clear, Jantelagen is in our genes I guess and hard to put words on!
The first one... I haven't given it much thought, but man it makes sense!
I am a Swede and I live in Germany, married to a German woman - one thing that actually annoys me is that people kinda "takes advantage of you" (what it feels like to me at times).
I mean, I am a helpful guy and like to help out, doing at the very least 'my share of the work', but there are so many (small to medium-sized) tasks that I would never ask anyone to help me with, here, people don't do those tasks alone but request help with it.
My daughter and son in law are living in Sweden for five years now. I'm a brazilian (old) guy and I really think so funny the way that they say "cheers" in a pub or drinking beverages at home. The word used is "Skål", but is necessary to concentrate your eyes at to the other people when you say the word....it's so formal and funny at the same time...😄
One thing I know baffles people from other countries is how easy it is to buy a property. You can literally view it, then sign the papers and walk out the bank with your new keys the next day.
Please continue opening doors… we need more of that 👌 It would’ve made me happy :)
Come to America people open the doors for anyone man or woman and we all say “Thank you”
I had another birthday song that I grew up with, as a Swede. Same melody as the 'Ja må du leva', but the lyrics were, "Vi gratulerar, vi gratulerar, vi gratulerar våran *name* idag. Med blommor och med blader vi gör honom/henne glader vi gratulerar våran *name* idag."
Finns ju flera olika versioner av verserna, "Gud dig välsigne" används ofta av kristna etc + när hon har levat efterverserna
Good morning from Papua New Guinea.
I enjoyed watching your contents. Great contents ❤.
I spent sime time by my cousin in my late teens to help her with her cildren in Perugia. One cultural chock for me was that I had to let the same guy that took me to a gathering with friends drive me home and not a guy I had spent the evening with...
in finland they have the "american" happy birthday melody. dont know about norway or denmark though. but ye our birthday song is wierd
As a host, I always start by offering the last bite to anyone before we eat the cake. There is always someone who sacrifices himself. :)
The melody of the birthday song, is the same in German. "Hoch sollst du leben.." I think it's a version of an originally German birthday song. In Denmark we also have a song; "I dag er det XX fødselsdag, hurra, hurra, hurra. Han/Hun sikkert sig en gave for..." and so on. But i haven't heard another version of the danish song anywhere yet?!
Excellent video! I moved from Britain to the USA and also had many culture shocks even though we speak the same language (more or less). When you go to a restaurant for your birthday, do the servers sing the birthday song? They do this in the USA.
I've never been at a restaurant for my birthday but I can't see swedes singing in public, especially in a restaurant 😂
@@anitalianinsweden8868 only when drunk or at a "Kräftskiva", then they can sing a lot. Btw, there are more choirs per capita in Sweden than any other country.
Actually, I heard being a teacher in the Nordic countries is very prestigious, a lot of hard work to become one, and a lot of competition but they get nice perks if you get in from what, I heard and read.
For what I hear in Sweden, I don't know if it's considered prestigious, but it's definitely considered a very important job and it's very well payed compared to most European countries. The requirements are very high and you need many years of studies for it. Strangely enough there are not enough teachers in Sweden so if anyone is qualified and wants to come here and give it a try, learn Swedish and give it a shot! 😁
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I am perpetual student, I have been going to college on and off for over a decade but, I love it because, I like so many things and get to help other students/people which, I have. I am on break though. I lost my grandpa a few months ago so, I am not ready yet like, I thought, I was. hope by Fall, I can try college courses again but for now, I am learning Swedish and Russian most of my days for now.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon. I love University so much that I went all the way through to a PhD. I have been lucky enough to study in several countries and met fantastic people, and if I have learned anything from my experience is that learning is not a race. I could have finished my PhD almost a decade before if I had done everything right, but for many reasons, some of them being very similar to yours, it took many years longer. Everything turned for me when I started to do things for fun and not for duty. I've loved every second of it then, but it came many years in. Do what you love and keep your fantastic mood up. You will go long! I mean it! 😊
Also, fantastic with Swedish and Russian! Languages are way more important than skills!
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Tack! Well, my perception has changed over the years as, I would rather keep doing what, I am doing but not just a job to help others. I have taken other courses through colleges in Ontario not countries though. Maybe someday. Swedish, French, and Russian borrow from each other so, I find one language enhances the other at times. It was difficult for me to stick to 2 target languages but it is for the best. Maybe in a couple years, when, I am confident with Swedish, I will ease up slightly and try French again.
No its not prestigious anymore, it used to be back in the days. Now anyone could be a teacher and you just need atleast an E for grades to be accepted to university. Nowdays I would say doctors, pilots and lawyer are the prestigious profession (like everywhere else around the world) in Sweden /A swede :)
A parte che mi è comparso questo video nella home molto a caso e niente, a questo punto seguo le tue avventure HAHAHHA🤣🤣la parte dell'inesistente burocrazia mi è piaciuta tantissimo, in Italia effettivamente crepiamo tra file e ansia🤦🏻♀️poi per il rapporto tra professori e studenti confermo, è totalmente diverso... anzi, più che altro credo che varia tra le università, ad esempio io studio in Calabria e non so se sia il fatto che l'ateneo sia "più piccolo" rispetto agli altri, ma il rapporto tra studenti e la maggior parte dei professori è molto alla mano e li trovo molto disponibili per quanto riguarda l'aiuto con gli argomenti da studiare e con gli esami, poi anche quello dipende dalle facoltà e insomma non si finisce più. Una cosa carina che mi è accaduta di recente, a proposito di esami, è stata proprio col professore di informatica: mancavano circa 5 giorni all'esame ed ero abbastanza in panico poiché era il mio ultimo, gli ho mandato una mail chiedendo se poteva ricevermi e a parte che ha risposto subito, credo entro l'ora in cui avevo mandato la mail, e niente mi ha tranquillizzata, abbiamo fatto un bel po' di esercizi e ne abbiamo fatti fin quando non era sicuro che avessi capito tutto. Davvero un santo, l'ho ringraziato non so quante volte ma lui tipo "ma figurati, questo è il mio lavoro", è stato davvero un culture shock pur essendo in italia e poi avevo paura che non accettasse poiché mancavano pochi giorni al... gran giorno🤣🤣🤣per inciso, alla fine l'esame è andato benissimo🤣🤣🤣
Riguardo la canzoncina svedese del compleanno... MA COOOOSA🤣🤣🤣sembra mia nonna che mi dice in dialetto "tanti auguri per 100 anni" (traduzione letterale), comunque davvero carina!
Ah già, l'ultimo pezzo di torta, vero che noi ci scanniamo per averlo🤣è molto carina anche questa cosa di condividerlo con chi lo vuole (a proposito di ultimo pezzo, stamattina mi sono svegliata tutta contenta di trovare l'ultima fetta perché pensavo che nessuno sarebbe andato all'attacco... niente non l'ho trovata🤣🤣🤣)
Spero tu faccia altri video di questo tipo, sono davvero interessanti! Ciao!👋🏻
You know, everybody will LOVE you for taking that last piece of the cake! ;o) We've learned not to take it but you don't want to have one single piece of cake left. And you don't want to waste it. Somebody grabs it - perfect! Btw, it is quite common to gather friends when moving. And the classic food you buy for your friends when the move is done is - pizza! (And beer)
The insurance thing isnt a lack of byrocracy, its the sign of an efficient one
True, but people mostly complain about bureaucracy when it gets in the way, not when it's efficient.
Funny thing about the cake, i often describe myself as a Swede who dares to take the last cake. Im not that modest either. So many point out that it's very uncharacteristic of a Swede to take the last slice. This is defenitely spot on
England is similar in this behavior.
I'm a Swedish woman who likes to open doors for people. I actually had a stand off in Poland with a man, as I got to the door first I opened it, he refused and I said I insist and then he insisted even more that I should not take his manly duties from him so I eventually gave him the door and walked in. It used to be a thing here too but we lost it for some reason and now we see it as a sign that someone is hitting on you and they want something in return. Silly, I like chivalry so don't mind if I do even though I'm a woman.
Unfortunately feminism is spreading, killing gentlemen's attitude, resulting in fuckboyculture.
I believe that we should never stop being nice to each other. If I open the door to a person who takes it as an offense, I'll just explain myself and hopefully she/he will understand 😊
@@extraspace8475 I don’t think people know what feminism actually is as people tend to blame everything they don’t like on it.
@@anitalianinsweden8868 yeah I guess we are just hardier people. I lived in Ireland for 9 years in my 20s and could not understand the over politeness. People apologies to people that walk into their airspace….and say thanks a million several times for the most nonsensical things. It was not until I’m moved back that I noticed how rude we can seem without trying, it’s just a culture thing. We are cuddly once you get to know us, promise ;-)
Haha I know, Annica! I love Swedish people and I find them more likable than most italians 😊
haha the moving part is true for me at least, ive moved several times and ive only asked for help from close family members. or do it myself
Everything is very digitalized over here and people actually know how to work the systems they use on their jobs (for the most part). I remember the first time I told some American friends I was checking my bank account, transferring money to my savings account and a bunch of other stuff by just using the Bank ID on my phone to log in on the bank's website. They did NOT understand. :'D They also still believe I'm trolling when I tell them how we do taxes...
Italy doesn't have it's own version of happy birthday? Greece does. Maybe Italy doesn't have the tradition of singing to the birthday person. I'm glad Sweden has its own song.
Nice to see your perspective of Sweden 🙂
Wow, a motorcycle is cheaper in Sweden than Italy? That's really astonishing!
Omg this is sooo intressting!! I'm a Swedish girl..... in ITALY! hahahah I think the weirdest thing here was the process of getting something al bar. Like do i pay first????? Do i sit down first???? Do i pick up my pizzetta first and then pay??? or then eat??????
The thing about opening the door and some girls take it the wrong way. It is mostly feminists who act in this way. Most girls still appreciate such kindness.
Sweden is one of the most convenient countries in the world, and I think that we complain about the most after perhaps the weather are how things aren’t convenient! And so naturally we’ve made a lot of things more and more convenient!
The difference between Italy that demands up front payments versus a country like Sweden that's richer, is the main reason why Swedish co's have simple administration processes. Any middle to poor country expect up front payments to ensure the finality of the transaction.
On the first point - I am fine with people opening doors for me, but I hate with a passion when other people portion up food for me at home! It really rubs me the wrong way xD Having moved to England it was a culture clash with my partner as here they serve up food for guests to be polite, but I associate serving up food for someone else as something that is done for children. It caused us plenty of frustration the first couple of years!
And as someone who loves to bake and share with people I love Italians! I work in a very multicultural office (well, pre-pandemic I did) and Italians were the largest group. If I baked anything and put it in the break room, most other nationalities would be too shy, but I could always count on the Italians and some of the French to finish what was left :D It makes you feel very appreciated as a baker :)
So interesting! Thanks for sharing this! I never stop learning about those behaviors I always took for granted but that can have totally different meaning for other people with other backgrounds!
Also, you can always count on italians to finish your cakes 😋
Living abroad and culture shocks teach you about yourself stuff you would never have to face or think about. Some of it night be unpleasant. Becoming a parent also does that.
So true! Both things 😊
About the last pie part - Kids would call this slumpen anyway can when i was young and yes it was asked for first
Yep. I know. The Swedish happy birthday song is very particoular😂
Have you geared the second verse to Ja Må Du Leva?
It gets real dark real fast 🤣
Haha yes, I heard that. So funny! 😂
IF you take the last piece of cake, it’s not before really making sure no one else wants it and profusely joking about being selfish for taking it
Where I grew up it has a second verse that goes: Och när han har levat, ja när han har levat ut i ett hundrade år, ja då ska han skjutas, då ska han skjutas, ja då ska han skjutas i en skottkärra fram. Ja de öööööönskar vi, ja de öööööööönskar vi, jaaaa deeee ööööööööönskaaaaaaaar viiiiiiiii. Trefaldigt hipp hipp, HURRA, HURRA HURRA!
😂😂😂 I love Swedish irony
Vi sjunger 4 verser. 1) Ja må han/hon leva uti hundrade år… 2) då ska han skjutas på en skottkärra fram…. 3) Ja då ska han doppas i en tunna med champagne… 4) då ska han flyga dit där änglarna bor… Sen självklart ett fyrfaldigt leve och till sist folkets jubel. Nån skrev här att det finns 8 verser, ganska morbida sådana…
You actually don't even need to fill in papers, you can do the transfer online on your phone... though probably you need bankid to sign and I have no idea if/how foreigners can get bankid.
Helping friends and family move i absolutly a thing. The person moving is supposed to supply pizza end beer/wine at the end.
Not only last cake, like last everything, worked in a resturant on breakfast and nothing was never empty, Always One thing of everything instead of empty. A few asked if there is more comming and we say Yes and even Then People don't take last until refilled xD
Happy birthday song is for english talking countries? In sweden we have our own birthday song of course😅
I had no idea of the not taking the last cake piece 🍰 rule and I'm Swedish. But I suppose it is because no one is brave enough to stand out in Sweden.
The same song exists in German, but it just co-exists with Häppi Börsdai, as we like to write it. It is not the main song, Germans would also rather sing Happy Birthday in the first place. Now I am curious if there is also a Swedish version of "Heute kann es regnen oder schneien, denn du strahlst ja selber wie der Sonnenschein".
There are 2 cultural shock for me when I visited Sweden for the first time, 1st: breads and 2nd no toilet bidets in both hotels and someone else’s place 😭.
Last piece of cake-problem: My son did this, as a prank at his workplace. They are 10 co-workers and he bought 11 icecream sticks and put in the freezer for everyone to take. Imagine the rest :-)
About the song thing. Does this imply that all other countries use the same melody as the english birthday song???
Im Swedish and i get stuck holding the door open as everyone (even the people i dident mean to hold it for) walks in. . .
Very funny and something to be proud over as beeing a swede.❤️😊
You are one of the lucky ones. Everything I have done when purchasing the car meant at least 2-3 calls every day for a week.... Don't make me start with the child wellfare, wifey visa (8 months and counting) insurance... And what not ...
First of all, I want to compliment you on not having an Italian accent, which I cannot stand. I also happen to be Italian, live in Stockholm and speak English fluently, with no accents so I am picky about it. If you're interested, I would like to give you my point of view regarding what you described: 1) I also open doors for myself, but when someone else does it for me, I smile as an impolite reaction does not mean independence but rudeness. 2) Yes, quick , but insurance is useless here. 3) I don't know where you come from, but even in Italy, taking the last slice of something is considered rude, so it always stays there. There was even a TV commercial about it. My ex-boyfriend is Swedish, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, from a well-off family in Östermalm, and he almost always took the last slice ( maybe that's why I left him) 4) I studied medicine, psychology, and LMS at Sapienza + London, and something at KI. I always had a close relationship with professors, perhaps because I always received top marks and have an impressive personality despite my height of 165cm.
Having said that, I like your video, although I am usually annoyed by this kind of video. At least you said something different and spoke perfect English.
I have only been to one college mine in Canada. However, I found out “most “ of the professors are on par- with the students to an extent. When, I first started going, “don’t call me sir.” And “don’t call me ma’am.” Most, I find will help students but like the Italian teachers, they have scheduled blocks of time to help students.
Very interesting! Funny enough, Canada was on the list of possible countries 5o move to, but Sweden won 😎🇸🇪
@@anitalianinsweden8868 I actually, have a lot of Italian ancestors back in Italy whom, I never met. My grandpa was from Northern Italy, my grandma's father was from Central Italy, but her grandmother was from Southern Italy. I am of mixed decent but mostly, of Italian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish though.
This is what I find fascinating about North America. Every person has a fascinating family history! Now I also understand your will to learn Russian, but why Swedish? 🤔
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Thanks! Well long story short, my great grandfather was running away from the Russian Revolution because he was a baron. He ended up in France but eventually, had to leave because the French government, thought he was conspiring with Adolf's men which is part of the reason, I am here. He knew, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, picked up French, German, and Serbian. His son my, grandfather knows, French, English, Polish, and Ukrainian. While my other grandfather knew Italian, Frulian, English, Spanish, and some French from what, I understand.
I was always kind of fascinated with Swedish/Viking culture. Back in the day, MySpace was big before Facebook. One of the first people, I ever connected to he is Swedish. After high school though we did not talk for a few years. He left to work and live with family in the USA and I was busy getting my diploma. We just got busy with life. He liked a picture of me on Facebook and gradually started talking again. He asked how my Swedish was, I said not good but, I could start learning again as a way to re-connect.
He has since moved back to Sweden and I got my diploma and than some so, I am limiting the amount of courses, I am taking from now on to 2-3 per-semester.
It was pretty much a mix of things. I already had interest in Swedish language anyway and he was the first person, I ever connected with on Myspace so, he is special. Also, I have my degree and then some so, I thought why not learn Swedish again.
Also, back then, in my country when, I was in high school, there was not as many resources to learn Swedish like now.
So fascinating with your family history! Also I really believe there is no bad rain to learn a language. Learning a language is the first step towards learning a culture. Thanks for sharing all this! 😊
I have been Living in 5 countries in europe and Sweden was always the wierdest and the most uniqe of them, both in good and bad ways. Its a very different country 😂
Really? Sweden just normal contrie. Thats the Swedish people thinking
Nah, we’re the norm, you others are the weird ones! 😉
Of course am I kidding, but there’s a ounce of truth in it, because we, like the English is a bit condescending against other cultures. We really think our is the best and often look down on other countries. For a long time we had one of the highest standards in living, education, healthcare, social security etc. Nowadays much of that has been partly dismantled due to cut fundings or privatization. But we still think we’re the best, but as we also is brought up and shaped by the Law of Jante, we can really brag about it.
So yes, we’re the odd ones. Maybe that’s why our neighbors don’t like us so much as we think? Sorry a Nordic neighbors!😬😘
@@Hiznogood I think that condescending bent is something that is present in countries with monarchies, if I'm honest. At least that's a theory I have. I always found it cognitively dissonant how nordic countries are so keen on equal rights amongst its citizens and then still hold on to this werid thing called monarchy :P
Thank you. It's a generation issue. I open door for elderly people and I say thank you when someone opens the door for me. Courtesy is something that was a normal thing when I was a child and still is. But I think it's different in other parts of Sweden. In Stockholm you can get a door in your face, thank you! But in smaller citys it's more politeness, I think. That's what I have noticed. Have a wonderful day!
i would think cream on carbonara would be a bigger shock to a italian or kebab on pizza
Men opening a car door for men would be seen as a sarcastic joke, men opening a car door for a woman would be seen as flirting sarcastically, women opening a car door for anyone would be seen as just strange
Oh yes, the "Happy Birthday" song hahaha. The long version goes on for a while about how you shall not die, but live for a hundred years and so on LOL. WHAT? hahahaha It was very shocking for me an American used to the simple Happy Birthday song lol.
The extended version that says you should get shot after those 100 years. :)
@@jonashansson2320 But then it goes on to say you will get a ride in a wheelbarrow instead of being shot ;)
@@emmamemma4162 Details. :)
@@jonashansson2320 "Å när han har levat
å när han har levat
å när han har levat uti hundrade år,
ja då ska han skjutas
ja då ska han skjutas
ja då ska han skjutas på en skottkärra fram!"
@@emmamemma4162 As I said, just details. :)
Okay. Strange with the motorcycle 🏍. Nice to here about the professor. ✨
There are alot of swedish women that expect the man to open doors like it is nice if a man does that :) but of course i will hold the door by myself also
7:00 ... weeeell.. you are not really suppose to do that. Yea, the professor will come.
But it also depends a bit on the university and what stage you are. If you are studying a masters, its generally much more accepted. First year.. then its a no no
I had a lector from Italy at my university (in Sweden) and it was pretty clear that the Swedish professors generally thought the Italian was full of it.
Well, it was in my first year of bachelor's, but we were also 20 people in total and this professor is a very kind person, so it might have been an outlier, but I never really felt I was disturbing anyone in Sweden when asking questions, while it was constantly the opposite in Italy.
I understand why Swedish professors thought like that about the Italian one... I can easily see that 😅
@@anitalianinsweden8868 There are exceptions, but typically from the professors side if someone call they are pretty much bound to help you in Sweden.
When i studied we where the first class around, and they university board actually put extra time aside for all teaching staff becasue we didn´t have any older students to lean on.
At the same token, when you are a master, you wouldn´t have any older student to help you anyway, and also the classes are general smaller. But most commonly that would fall on the PhD students to do that work, well if there is any, that is not always the case
Most interested nice to hear you r experiences‼️‼️‼️
Da quanto anni abita in Svezia? Alcune cose sono nel frattempo cambiate ( ad esrmpio assicurazioni).
As a retired swedish ww2 hero I want to add to the story: We should be thankful and grateful to Norway since most of the nature in the form of scenery, soil / stones and wildlife etc has drifted from the Norwegian hills and mountains to form what today is called sweden. Not many mention this fact - but we should do more to show gratitude toward Norway and the norwegian people. And we should also finally admit that the vikings originally came from Norway (and later spread to sweden and denmark).
I love the fact that there are exactly zero Swedish ww2 heroes, so from the first sentence all swedes know you're trolling and everyone else can just enjoy the ride
@@addemanns No need to attack me. I was attacked enough during ww2. I was just trying to be nice.
@@swedishpsychopath8795 I'm not attacking, I'm just admiring. Keep it up!
In italy we also have the Italian version of happy birthday.... why was this a shock? You nean because the words are different? I live un the Netherlands and the words are similar to the Swedish but the song tune is the same everywhere...
If you want the last piece of cake it’s mandatory to make a self deprecating/ sarcastic joke about how your going to selfishly grab it for yourself.
That way you can lessen the blow to your face.
Swede here. You don't want that last piece of cake? Great, the better for me. I have no qualms about it. :) but sure, I will ask you first. And I'll ask everyone around the table. But if everyone says no, it's MINE! ;)
😂
All of these were a shock for me to hear 😂
I'm pretty sure most countries has their own happy birthday song?? Do Italians really sing happy birthday to you?? Why would non native English speaking countries sing it in English?? lol
Sanna Olsson
True I find that strange as he need to explain himself on this matter. I didn't now the English happy birthday song was universal
Hej there! What I mean is that in most of the other countries in Europe you have a birthday song that has the same melody as the English "happy birthday to you", but with other words in the countries language of course. The difference with Sweden is that the actual melody is totally different. Both Italy and Spain have the same melody as the English one (although Spain also has an older version but for what I know it's not as common, but I might be wrong here. I'm not Spanish :P)
@@anitalianinsweden8868 In Norway you can sing the variant in Norwegian with the same melody, but mostly we sing another birthday song which is written by Margrethe Munthe sung in a Norwegian folk tune. It is called "Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!"
@@anitalianinsweden8868 Have you heard the Venezuela happy birthday song ? It's super long, like it never ends.
Haha I never heard of that before. I just found tens of videos making fun of it though 😂
I am from Colombia and what I found most shocking was the case of the professor and the two students.
Great video.
I went to sweden, and it was during summer so ive tanned a lot and im also italian american so when I was at sweden everyone thought i was middle eastern lmao
Why would we sing happy birthday in english or even a swedish version of the english song?