A fellow Serb here, couldn't agree more, although in Vojvodina (can I emphasize more that I'm from Vojvodina?) we're a little more lagom due to Austro-Hungarian influence XD
Cubans are the same… My dad is Cuban and OMG since I grew up with my Mexican mom (who are reserved in comparison), he and his family are too much for me! They're loud, obnoxious, prying, outrageous, chaotic, dramatic and passionate. They also form very close bonds and show it. They're quite touchy and opinionated. My dad says that Cubans have hot blood running through their veins LOL unlike Mexicans and other people in general, who have ice according to him.
Oh yes, we don't talk with strangers on the bus/subway and we never ever sit close to each other unless we reeeeeally have to. Also when you enter a store, most of the time you are left to your own. Maybe a "Hi, do you need help?" If you say "hi, no" they won't bother you again. ;)
I promise you, it is! People say I'm overly friendly just because I say hi to people I know on the street or in stores when I pay. If I were to meet an old classmate I would probably just look down and walk past fast and act like I didn't notice 😂😂
Born in the Netherlands, but now living in Sweden for the last 3 years, i have to concur with all of your points. I never want to leave anymore, this country has to be one of the greatest on earth.
ik heb bij veel van de punten die ze noemt idd het idee dat het (in mindere mate!) in nederland ook al zo is, maar dat Zweden net wat ver gaander is in alles...klinkt als een droom!
@@sassytbc7923 well... Norway is kind of expensive, never been in Finland, and Denmark either, but i'm kind of biased, because my wife is Swedish, and my bonus kids too :)
@@VASIGTravelingLifeinLondon As i said here, my wife and kids are Swedish, we first lived in the Netherlands for about 5 years, but i could retire early (i'm 45 now, 42 when i retired),so i jumped at that chance, we already owned a house over here, so we moved permanently.
American here. We pay taxes into a system that doesn't seem to support us in any way. Few labor protections, expensive healthcare, expensive education, crumbling infrastructure...y'all know how it is. I love your videos about culture. I found your channel from the collab with Justine about French & Scandi style. I think it would be cool to do a fashion & culture comparison between Sweden, London, and Berlin, and maybe how you've adapted to different aspects of the fashion and culture in each location. Thank you!
I totally agree. It almost made me cry to see what is possible with the right kind of government. It's getting really scary here in the US. I think about moving to a Nordic country all the time. BTW, I also found Jenny's channel through Justine! :-)
Another American - I suspect our taxes do mostly support good things. Social Security and free healthcare (Medicare) for the elderly, disability programs, food programs, there’s actually a lot. Our infrastructure could be better, but is very good compared to most large countries. But our taxes are a lot lower than Sweden, and culturally we’re taught to look down on taxes. So, we fall in line - either people say taxes are too high or don’t do anything or both.
Being born in Canada (& with family from Sweden), I have always said that Sweden and Canada are so very similar in many regards! Similar sort of people, pretty lagom and relaxed, incredible healthcare and social welfare, same weather, even parts of Canada's nature look IDENTICAL to Sweden's! I grew up crayfishing, cross-country skiing, eating risgrynsgröt, and going to a lakefront cottage every summer, so Sweden is like home :)
I'm a Canadian as well with Scandi roots. I agree with your statement Ella! I find most Canadians balance out those positives and negatives within general conversation. Having that great sense of humour to laugh at ourselves is also a common trait share with our Scandinavian kin. I've also noticed since the advent of American cable tv, that we've become much more Americanized since being exposed to their programing.
@@electricpurple4112 Depends on where in Canada you are! And what your background is too. I do not personally relate at all to the British, but I know many people in English-speaking Canada do.
In France, we are definitively anti lagom, we grumble about everything and have no gratitude for our entire system that supports us, free care, school, university and so much more during this pandemic.... Quite between us, I am also one of those who are proud to pay taxes!
True, you can often hear "yes it's nice but it could be better" ^^, however there's sometimes also "we should be happy and grateful for what we have, stop complaining, go somewhere else and your look on your home country will change".
I'm from Italy and I could state the same for my country. We like to complain, instead of being grateful for what we have: it seems like we're always aiming for more. Glad to know we're not the only ones!
I am Italian and I will never forget my first year in Sweden after 5 years spent living in France during the terroristic attacks in Paris. It felt like being on holiday. Everything was calm and neutral, I did not have to defend myself, look around me suspiciously. In Italy I grew up with the mentality that if somebody can take advantage of you he will and you were not smart enough or cautious enough to protect yourself. Like if it was your fault. I love Swedish "lagominess" as I love the French charme and the Italian extravagance. There is no a prefect place, but every each place can teach us something. PLEASE MORE VIDEO ABOUT SWEDEN! :)
Italian minimalist here! Difficult thing to do in Italy... personally I often look at Scandinavian culture for this reason, and to be honest I try to apply these very principles to my life. Sometimes is more difficult (vegan cuisine si super frowned upon)... sometimes I find similarities (we also cook a lot!)... but yeah ultimately I would love to live in Sweden or at least visit... love your videos!
I am learning Swedish now (for no particular reason, just love how it sounds and I have a huge respect for the country) so videos like that really help me in bribing me closer to the Swedish ways and mentality. Please do more of them!
This was such an interesting explanation of "lagom"! I am Serbian. There is a lot of fear and distrust here. It is not important how hard you're working or how smart or talented you are: those that are unfairly advancing in this society mostly have family or political connections. It is a very limiting society even though most people wouldn't admit it. But for a young, educated person it is much more practical to live abroad.
Actually, I would love to love paying taxes. I think it would feel amazing knowing that your hard work actually went towards your society as a whole. In America, it feels quit opposite...we pay a lot but it doesn’t actually fix or help anyone really. It feels sad. Sweden sounds amazing...calm, fair, like going outside after winter, when spring has sprung, and the warmth of the sun is kissing your skin, without making you feel like your melting. It’s the perfect feeling🌞 I’m glad you experienced that when you were younger.That would be lovely. Actually in America there’s a chain of command thing...if something needs to be addressed you get told -did you speak to “so and so”...if not follow the chain of command. Your looked at in a disrespectful way. This topic is very interesting
"Hole and clean" actually is the offical dresscode at my work (swedish governmental work). Atleast pre-covid, now we work from home anyway. We had a discussion on shorts 2 summers ago, but they were ok, as long as we had back up trousers if outside people would arrive at the office. Also smiling at strangers actually exist in smaller towns :) i am an advocate for it. PS enjoying the footage of Malmö!
Swede here too. In our office we actually had to make a rule "wear socks indoors". That's about our only dresscode. (Since we remove our shoes indoor... you gotta use socks man!)
Swedish and Indian culture is slightly similar, I mean I could connect with the 'No Shoes' thing, absolutely cannot wear shoes inside the house. Also the home cooked meals, every Indian household cooks fresh meals everyday, no excuses :) I am so glad to know about your culture, I wish I can go to Sweden someday, it feels like such a beautiful place to live
Are you stupid or what ? India is a country of casteism, gender inequality, hierarchy and corruption..You have to treat your parents and teachers like God, no matter how wrong they are..
@@anushka6559 You can live with your negativity. I prefer to look at the bright side of things. And refrain from using such language with people you don't know!
Thanks, I'm from Sweden so it makes me happy to hear you say that. I would like to visit India (or is it Bharat now?) some day too, you seem to have just started an incredible journey of growth. Would you mind to tell me more about your part of India?
I love learning about cultural quarks :) I live in the U.S (in Florida) the most un-lagom country ever. Culturally it’s ingrained in us to be individualistic and strive to be the best. We are way too competitive and are always competing to try to live up to our neighbors and friends. The expression, keeping up with the Joneses is ever so present in American culture. Personally I think it creates a huge gap in what people can do and afford which brings a great sense of unhappiness because people always feel like they don’t have enough. There is always someone that has more so one always feels a sense of not having enough even when realistically they have plenty. Obviously this is just my opinion but I think most Americans strive for that bigger office, newer car, fancier job title, and regularly compare what they have to those around them. Culturally we also like to brag about our individual accomplishments (and our kids’ accomplishments! Lol) everyone has a kid who is advanced in school or sports. Americans in general also hate taxes because we tend to believe that each person is responsible for him or her her own self. Obviously I’m making a generalization but this is a majority. Going to university costs a fortune and puts most people in debt. Going to the doctor is also expensive and many people can’t afford insurance. We talk about equality and say we strive for it but people love their titles, especially when they hold a prominent position in a business or in society. Here it’s all about Mr., Mrs., Dr., Professor, Lieutenant, Sir, ma’am etc., when it comes to any business, schools., etc. I know that in Sweden first names are used exclusively even with your boss. I actually think the Swedish approach promotes a greater sense of quality than the American approach. It’s quite ironic we equate these titles with respect. Anyway, I really enjoyed the video.
I'm Irish born and raised, and I still live and work here. Sweden has always appealed to me as somewhere I could see myself living/raising a family. Ireland is gradually becoming more and more like the US.
Hello from Australia! The things you describe - eating at home, not being braggy, having a sense of a flat society without heirarchy and especially 'lagom' - this is what life was like here too as I grew up. It is in my bones to always balance the things I say between positive and negative, I am suspicious if people are too demonstrative, too positive, or too extreme about anything!! Haha! But as elsewhere things have changed. I may have just been lucky to grow up in a rural community, and at a time when university was free. We do still have great free education and health care but things have become more profit driven and privatised. I can never understand people's aversion to paying tax for a better kinder society!
Thank you Jenny for all this great insight. I am doing an assignment in which we have to research a culture we don't know about and I've chosen Sweden, your videos have helped me fill up 3 pages in my notebook to help me with my assignment!
Hi ! Great video, I learned a lot :) as a french person I relate to being raised in a society with free schools and healthcare. Most people in France also do the "cook from scratch at home". However France is not as lagom and clean as Sweden. I really enjoyed this video !
In Bulgaria braging is a form of survival. Everyone “has contats”, claims their children are the best of their class and thinks that it is ok for them to benefit, even if that implies sabotaging other’s interests . At the same time it is common to assume that a complete stranger is incompetent at their work or has bad intentions. This sums up to a hopelessly dysfunctional society built on mistrust and selfishness. I am extremely grateful to my parents for emigrating when I was a kid and thus allowing me to grow up elsewhere.
I’ve been living in Sweden for three years now and i have to agree with everything you’ve said. Especially the lagom part. Where i love the relaxed environment here in social life or work but i do think it lacks the pursuit for creativity specifically in the art sectors. As an immigrant i keep finding myself pushing for opportunities and chances to collaborate with the locals but no luck unfortunately :/
When I knew uni was free in Sweden, that blew my mind. My last online master's degree cost me 5,000 euros! If you want it cheaper, it's very difficult to be admitted. And it was necessary for me to apply for public examinations. Spain is crazy. I wish I could live in Spain during the winter and in Sweden during the summer, I wouldn't mind paying high taxes if everyone's quality of life is so good
Yeah I wish I could do the same. I want to study computer programming so that I can work remotely and do exactly that. But if you are English or American, you could teach English in a fun way online too. There are quite a lot of channels trying to make learning English fun.
I love this comment section! I'm from Belgium and I can relate to lagom, especially when it comes to bragging and job interviews. People often say in job interviews how 'flexible' they are. We often talk about why we love the company instead of why the company should love us :) I just realized that this is a major characteristic of our culture. Being someone who fits in and how well you can adjust yourself.
I’m from Canada and would love it if we adopted some (many) of the ways of life that you describe. I agree that taxes are important because I want to live in a safe and caring society. Thank you for your videos
I spend a lot of time in Gothenburg for work (I live in Canada) and I have to say Sweden fascinates me especially the lagom aspect. I am a pretty extroverted person (some people say I am intense) and I have to modify my behaviour when in Sweden lol
Lol me too ... it can sometime get borring to not meet people as us..extroverted i mean! Lagom aspect is nice but it can be frustrating if you weren't from Sweden.
Yup. As a Swede I can't tell you how true this is. When I was on vacation in Japan I had a really easy time to slip in to the "correct" way to behave. (though Japanese job-heiarcys would make most swedes cringe.)
@@MrAtoni Yes, hence I'm now living in the US instead of being near my parents and old friends I miss so much in Japan. Staying away from all of that hierarchal BS and too much niceness lol.
Hello from Norway! Very similar to Sweden in a sense, but despite this I feel like here in Norway we are a anti-lagom, or at least becoming more so. It might be a new money thing, but so many people in Norway are so flashy and are not afraid to boast about how much they have. Though perhaps I'm not being fair as Norwegians also find joy in the smaller things in life, but I feel like the balance has been lost over the years. Also, definitely more vids like this please! :)
I'm from Chile, and even the water is privatized, so nothing is free. Buying a house is narly impossible, because they are so expensive that is ridiculous. Groceries are even more expensive that in London or Berlin, being the cradle of capitalism really screw us up like society.
I would like to thank you for such a wonderful video! I was truly surprised on the cultural attitude of the Swedish. Thanks and I would love to see more videos like this one! Great one and keep it up!! You might laugh but watching this video have me thinking of moving there!! LMAO!!
Everytime I see one of your videos about Swedish/Scandi life and culture, it always makes me want to get in touch with and embrace my Norwegian roots! My great-great grandparents immigrated to America, and my personality is very much more aligned with how you describe the Scandinavian way of life! The vast individualism here, where it's a sort of "everyone for themselves, trust no one, you've got to move out at 18 and forge your own way in this world" mentality is exhausting. I really crave a community, where everyone supports the greater good. However I don't think I could vibe with no small talk-- I always want to get to know my neighbors and give compliments to random people I pass on the street!
This was so funny for me watch, I’m from Bulgaria and Eastern Europe is exactly the opposite of Sweden 😂 we love bragging, showing off, hate paying taxes and always try to find a cheeky way of avoiding work. And I never realized this until I moved to the UK 😅
In Australia, we are very classist. It’s our dirty little secret but the divide between the rich and the poor is extreme and getting more vast everyday.
@Spread Joy there are the halves and the have nets in Australia. Our convict beginnings are long gone. Our wealth gap is widening, our homelessness is growing. House prices are insane. And people make fun of working class people in a way people used to about gays and racism. It's no longer a caring, progressive society striving for equality. Don't be fooled by our easy going image - everything is not alright mate.
I like that you are sincere. I wouldn't have a problem with saying what's good and bad in my country also. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. This is true when you encounter any foreign country at first and your'e forgetting about the cons.
Great video! Please do more like this if anything as a public service for those of us in the US who are suffering from a desperate lack of all the services you described. Many Americans are deluded into thinking that social democracies are either unattainable ideals, impossible, or at worst evil. With the advent of the internet more and more are realizing we don’t have to live under such stressful conditions but there is still a LOT of ground to cover in terms of educating the masses about the reality of such higher standards of living that exist in many other developed countries. Many people here have internalized the notion that life must be filled with endless stress, anxiety, and competition. The majority of us are absolutely not comfortable. We are miserable. Our society is hierarchy in the extreme. Our taxes largely go to the military to support a vast global corporate empire while domestically poverty escalates, infrastructure literally falls apart, and suicides are rising sharply. I can only dream that we too will one day be happy to pay taxes.
I love this video! I am from Spain but live in the US and the differences are striking. Based on your description I would love living in Sweden...the "just enough" and making a little effort to look good and to have a comfortable and clean house is totally my thing...
Thank you for this interesting insightful video! I've been watching your videos (and used to listen to your podcast when I had more time, before having kids...) for many years and I really enjoy them. I don't usually comment, but I just wanted to tell you that I am happy to be subscribed to your channel and I find your view on society spot on.
Very interesting video! I've lived in 4 countries so far (Poland, Germany, Ireland, and now the Netherlands). The Dutch society is probably the closest to lagom from what I've experienced. Sweden sounds like a perfect country for an introvert like me ;)
@@patriciasalem3606 I live in the UK and have to say Sweden sounds like a nicer place to live than UK. Saying that I do like UK, I think my biggest gripe is housing here.
Great video and could not agree more about the second nature of lagom:) I am def lagom to the bone and I could not think about any better place to grow up than sweden. I live very far up in the north so to say and the best thing about sweden is probably the nature and that everyone is free to roam (allemansrätten), and that we (at least here in north) have 4 distinct seasons and not 7 months each year of greyness and rain! I will never leave this country and I am soooo grateful for everything it has given to me. Soon I will have my medical degree and spend my whole life helping people. Plus, I also did military serivce, so I will frikkin defend my country when needed. But, what makes me sad is the growing racism and also that centralization seems so important for the government, people are almost forced to move from the countryside to bigger cities because it is so expensive to fuel your car these days for example. They have closed several small schools where I live and the small towns die - so not everything is good here, but maybe sweden is lagom good at least...
You don’t need to speak Swedish to get by here :) I have a lot of friends that have lived here many years and considers this their permanent home yet don’t speak the language. Everyone except the oldest of old people and little children will speak English.
When you mentioned lagom, it reminded me of my grandma so much, even regarding the colours - gray is the best! :) I used to dislike it as a teenager, but now when I'm 30 I see new depth in it. I am from Latvia.
Born in Chile and raised in the US. In the US we can teachers Mr/Mrs up until high school and then they're called professors in college. I'm Chile we call out teachers aunt's and uncles lol.
HI Jenny. Very interesting description. I am from Nicaragua but lived in Stockholm from age 1-5 and when I went back to Nicaragua I never felt at home. I could never quite understand society there. I live in South Florida -always wanted to go back to Sweden but I don't know anyone there-. Interesting you talk about Logum, in Nicaragua definitely not; however, I find myself being more than not. Good day :-)
Thank you Jenny. I will be conducting a cross cultural collaboration learning program for Indian team with a Sweden client and your video is very informative
Great video! I love Sweden and have visited many places there. My grandparents left and came to Canada, which I also love. I find many similarities between the two countries. ♥️
It's interesting that you have brought up status and classes in the UK. I was talking to my dad about the other day. Poland has classes, but they aren't as defined or even thought about a lot. In the UK, it's a norm...
Australian here! We do have a sense of logom, as there's a very careful balance in social interaction - be friendly, but not needy or desperate. There's a fine art to small talk - it's a great way to find out local news, have a bit of banter and a laugh with people you interact with everyday - I have noticed there's a rhythm to it, and there are definite social cues as to when a conversation ends. Very enjoyable way to communicate.
Great and very interesting video! I can't say I love paying taxes, but I definitely see the benefit and the sense behind it. In Switzerland, the social institutions are not quite as comprehensive as in Sweden, but certainly better and more far-reaching than in other countries. That's what I like to pay taxes for. Unfortunately, there is also a tendency here to privatise public institutions and to reduce free services more and more. I feel similarly about some of the things you say about Sweden. Especially about your childhood and that it is not appropriate to brag about wealth or status
Hello Jenny! I am half Swedish but raised in my other half country. But i was in Sweden for most of my childhood Summer holidays so everything you say sounds extremely familiar to me. I was wondering if you could dedicate a video on how much Sweden has been changing. I am a teen and considering studying in Sweden because i know how Sweden is and works. Or should I say was and worked? Everything i am hearing about how much Sweden has been changing makes me rethink my choices. Thankss
France is for SURE no lagom. French people are always going from an extreme to another: through their mood, beliefs, behaviours, clothing, ... the streets are the cleanest and most beautiful in the rich areas but very dirty and ugly in the poor ones. I don’t have any judgment to formulate about that, I just noticed that as long as you were explaining lagom. However, France is a great country for redistribution too. High taxes for the best opportunities for all (in theory of course). Very interesting to discover new countries and the mindset/ habits of their people 🥰
I agree with your rant of privatization which I have been noticing happening since the airline industry, education, medical care and other shared community services are being privatized as well.
I had the great good fortune to live in Sweden twice, and I still miss it 30 years later. My best way to describe the country to my friends is that it is simply the sanest place I’ve ever been (and I have traveled extensively). I actually have “move back to Sweden” as my game plan if I finally get fed up with the U.S. 😊
We love some scandi-themed videos! As a fellow Scandi from Norway, I recognize a lot of the stuff you listed. A lot of common points here, however, I do feel Norwegians can be a bit more judgy towards each other (ofc this depends on location).
that's so intriguing, i'm Polish, for 4 generations or more, both sides of family and yet my Mom and my Dad inprint in my head all 5 lessons You talk about as well as "death cleaning" , all You say is like music for my ears
I am Malaysian but now feel like I was probably a Swede in my past life. All the Swede quirks you mentioned are things I identify with and they never seem to fit into the Malaysian culture. I often feel very "lonely" or misunderstood by fellow Malaysians. I even like the fact that you have a word like lagom to describe a state of understated abundance. I think I'll probably be happier living in Sweden. (I forgot to mention that I binge-watched Scandi series on Netflix and my friends cannot understand why they get me so hooked!)
I'd still prefer to worry about 17% than 5 more years of having to fight for basic human wrights for women in Poland, because more than 40% of voters gave support to such people
Born in the UK, wish I paid more in tax so that everyone could benefit from those things that you grew up with in Sweden Jenny. I hate when people moan about their taxes, I like paying towards the NHS, I like giving to people who can't work or are carers or disabled etc. These are good things to do.
As an American, I hate paying taxes…but not for the reasons people usually assume. Our taxes pay for militarism, racist police, corporate subsides, and hardly any social programs. Worst of all, the people and companies on top find loopholes and don’t even have to pay theirs! It is ludicrous. America is so backwards and corrupt. The younger generation knows it, but the political infrastructure is completely insulated against real change. The only way to fight it would be civil war. I hope Sweden does not become like us; hearing about privatization happening there made my heart break. 💔
This was fascinating! You clearly love Sweden, but I want to thank you for not trashing other countries that are different from it. I enjoyed hearing about the cultural "quirks."
Love this! I always enjoy your cultural commentaries, especially your take on the differences between the Nordic countries. I've definitely been living my most Lagom life this week here in Iceland, visiting a volcano in heavy snow! Looking forward to balancing a hard work week with a long, relaxing holiday weekend in the countryside. Glad Påsk!
I really adore your videos! It’s fun to hear you talk about these things. I’ve only just learned about the old way names worked, as I’m working on the family tree and it’s maddening.
I’m from the USA, and it’s horrible. Even with insurance my health & dental care are causing me a lot of financial turmoil. My taxes mostly go to the military & the wealthy, but the communities I have lived in my whole life are crime ridden with litter everywhere. Pretty anti-lagom as well (as is my opinions of the USA 😂)
I'm in the USA right now too, and I agree with you %100. I live in California and have not traveled to neighboring states at all. I grew up in an area where crime, litter, and overall lack of personal care for ones own health and others was outstandingly high. I wasn't allowed to play outside with other children at all because of how unsafe it was at times. I yearn to leave the states and live elsewhere...I don't think I'll have a positive future if I stay here until I pass (i.e. if I make it that far given the circumstances this county is facing). All countries have their ups and downs, but the US has had unfortunately more downs (negatives) than ups (positives). :o
@@catalinamaldonado5710 I left California at 19 but grew up there (Stockton/Modesto area) & had a VERY similar experience. I envy people who got to be normal kids & not California kids living in poverty unable to go outside. Makes me wonder if we were neighbors lol I live in Colorado now & the crime in Denver is catching up to how it was in Stockton which is so sad to see. It’s 100% a response to how the financial impact of COVID was poorly handled in the US. I agree though about opportunity. I’m finding success here in CO though, since leaving this country isn’t a possibility for me or anyone really right now. I wish you the best of luck ♥️
Whenever someone tells me they want to move to the US I can never understand why. I'm sure there are good things about it but to me the bad outweighs the good. I'm in the UK and even here going to the dentist is expensive and that's on NHS, private is just ridiculous so I can't even imagine living in the US when you happen to have no health insurance
Lagom...the U.S. obviously the furthest thing from. I spent many summers on the southwest coast of Sweden on my grandparents' farm, and remain close to all my cousins today. In 1983, my cousin Anders came to Chicago to stay with us for a month and after a few days pronounced: "You always say things are 'great!' *Why*?" Yes, why, indeed. Shoes in the house: it has taken me literally YEARS to get my completely American (of Italian extraction) husband to leave his f*cking shoes at the door (and sometimes he *still* cheats!). My father (American with strong ties to Germany) used to comply when my brothers and I were growing up, but when he and my mother moved to a home out in the suburbs, he began walking in the house sometimes with his shoes again. Argh! Don't get me started on the global shift to the right. A surge in selfishness and self-righteousness. *sigh* Fun videos! Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate the information! I am hoping to move to Sweden (Great grandpa was from Sweden before migrating to Illinois, US) and have been doing a ton of research on it. I myself am lagom in nature. I prefer to keep to myself, humble, and want to live just comfortable enough. Currently my country takes 40% taxes, and most of it goes to the military. I would love a system where my tax dollars went to helping others, rebuilding infastructure, and improving our daily lives.
Sweden sounds perfect to all of my personality aspects. In astrology, I'm a Scorpio sun, Pisces moon, Taurus rising. It means that my personality is somewhat intense, looking cold and reserved on the outside but quite warm and profound on the inside, like many of my Scandinavian friends. I don't do well in the cultural environment I live in, Israel, where I was born as well. I'm sensitive enough to feel quite like an alien here, plus the climate is draining me physically (and the place drains me emotionally). As a Scorpio sun I admit I'm fascinated by the mellow and darker things in life, Norway is my go to. But as a Taurus rising, I'm a designer in everything that I do, and I strive for beauty and perfection in their more clean, polished, minimal and practical look. I'm an extroverted introvert, so to speak, with love and appreciation of nature and art and a need to escape to them from my surroundings every now and then. It keeps me sane. So that being said, your video has emphasized to me why I have such attraction/fascination by the Northern countries, and I feel like it's time for me to follow my dream of moving there. I just hope Coronavirus won't get in the way. Thank you for your vid and inspiration.
I love this! Would you consider doing a video on the weird habits/ behavior of other countries that you find bizarre? As always, thank you for your point of view, the way you express yourself and humor!
My great (great?) grandfather Karl immigrated from Sweden to Seattle a long time ago and it's cool how much of this I resonate with. The social support, work/life balance, and the value the Swedes place upon paying taxes are the reasons I want to move there when all my beloved American elders have passed. Gotta learn Swedish first, though!
OMG I just realized I am Swedish on the inside. I lived in Molmo from age 6 to 8 & it has absolutely defined me. & since then, I lived in Canada for 20+ years and now in New York for over 5 years and I just can't seem to fit in these cultures here! & no one gets me.... I miss Sweden SO MUCH!
I’m from Greece and we couldn’t be more NOT lagom. We’re too much! Too much laughter too much food too much passion too much drama! 😂
Im from Puerto Rico , same! I can find things to complain about it but in the end it is my home and i missed it greatly while living in US
I'm from Greece as well and I can totally relate xD
A fellow Serb here, couldn't agree more, although in Vojvodina (can I emphasize more that I'm from Vojvodina?) we're a little more lagom due to Austro-Hungarian influence XD
Cubans are the same… My dad is Cuban and OMG since I grew up with my Mexican mom (who are reserved in comparison), he and his family are too much for me! They're loud, obnoxious, prying, outrageous, chaotic, dramatic and passionate. They also form very close bonds and show it. They're quite touchy and opinionated. My dad says that Cubans have hot blood running through their veins LOL unlike Mexicans and other people in general, who have ice according to him.
@@isidorakovic9354 especially compared to southern parts, you guys are so lagom, even tho I live just in Belgrade, the difference is very prominent :D
Sweden sounds like an introverts dream. I can't wait to visit!
Oh yes, we don't talk with strangers on the bus/subway and we never ever sit close to each other unless we reeeeeally have to. Also when you enter a store, most of the time you are left to your own. Maybe a "Hi, do you need help?" If you say "hi, no" they won't bother you again. ;)
I promise you, it is! People say I'm overly friendly just because I say hi to people I know on the street or in stores when I pay. If I were to meet an old classmate I would probably just look down and walk past fast and act like I didn't notice 😂😂
@@belliih exactly:))
I'm from Finland and I've always been told that Swedes are extroverted and good at small talk...ohhhh man :-D
@@annapalokangas581 same
Born in the Netherlands, but now living in Sweden for the last 3 years, i have to concur with all of your points. I never want to leave anymore, this country has to be one of the greatest on earth.
ik heb bij veel van de punten die ze noemt idd het idee dat het (in mindere mate!) in nederland ook al zo is, maar dat Zweden net wat ver gaander is in alles...klinkt als een droom!
How do you feel Sweden compares with other Scandinavian countries
@@sassytbc7923 well... Norway is kind of expensive, never been in Finland, and Denmark either, but i'm kind of biased, because my wife is Swedish, and my bonus kids too :)
Interesting, how come you decided to move to Sweden if I may ask
@@VASIGTravelingLifeinLondon As i said here, my wife and kids are Swedish, we first lived in the Netherlands for about 5 years, but i could retire early (i'm 45 now, 42 when i retired),so i jumped at that chance, we already owned a house over here, so we moved permanently.
American here. We pay taxes into a system that doesn't seem to support us in any way. Few labor protections, expensive healthcare, expensive education, crumbling infrastructure...y'all know how it is. I love your videos about culture. I found your channel from the collab with Justine about French & Scandi style. I think it would be cool to do a fashion & culture comparison between Sweden, London, and Berlin, and maybe how you've adapted to different aspects of the fashion and culture in each location. Thank you!
I totally agree. It almost made me cry to see what is possible with the right kind of government. It's getting really scary here in the US. I think about moving to a Nordic country all the time. BTW, I also found Jenny's channel through Justine! :-)
@@patriciasalem3606 same... as far as almost crying
Yes, I'd love to pay taxes if it was actually being put to support disadvantaged people, education, and city infrastructures.
Another American - I suspect our taxes do mostly support good things. Social Security and free healthcare (Medicare) for the elderly, disability programs, food programs, there’s actually a lot. Our infrastructure could be better, but is very good compared to most large countries.
But our taxes are a lot lower than Sweden, and culturally we’re taught to look down on taxes. So, we fall in line - either people say taxes are too high or don’t do anything or both.
You really don"t pay enough taxes, especially people that earn over $100000!
At my university everyone calls the teacher “professor” or “mr/mrs”, except at the Swedish department, where I work (and I love it!)
Being born in Canada (& with family from Sweden), I have always said that Sweden and Canada are so very similar in many regards! Similar sort of people, pretty lagom and relaxed, incredible healthcare and social welfare, same weather, even parts of Canada's nature look IDENTICAL to Sweden's! I grew up crayfishing, cross-country skiing, eating risgrynsgröt, and going to a lakefront cottage every summer, so Sweden is like home :)
Canadian here! I visited Sweden a few times and this is very true 💙
@@mab3900 Yes!! ❤️
I'm a Canadian as well with Scandi roots. I agree with your statement Ella! I find most Canadians balance out those positives and negatives within general conversation. Having that great sense of humour to laugh at ourselves is also a common trait share with our Scandinavian kin. I've also noticed since the advent of American cable tv, that we've become much more Americanized since being exposed to their programing.
In Canada we are a bit closer to being like the British, to be honest.
@@electricpurple4112 Depends on where in Canada you are! And what your background is too. I do not personally relate at all to the British, but I know many people in English-speaking Canada do.
In France, we are definitively anti lagom, we grumble about everything and have no gratitude for our entire system that supports us, free care, school, university and so much more during this pandemic.... Quite between us, I am also one of those who are proud to pay taxes!
True, you can often hear "yes it's nice but it could be better" ^^, however there's sometimes also "we should be happy and grateful for what we have, stop complaining, go somewhere else and your look on your home country will change".
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one 😂 I think all countries in Southern Europe are like that as well
Sounds like Germany. Germans like to grumble. :D I know it - I'm german.
I'm from Italy and I could state the same for my country. We like to complain, instead of being grateful for what we have: it seems like we're always aiming for more.
Glad to know we're not the only ones!
please do more Sweden related videos, i loved this!🇸🇪
I am Italian and I will never forget my first year in Sweden after 5 years spent living in France during the terroristic attacks in Paris. It felt like being on holiday. Everything was calm and neutral, I did not have to defend myself, look around me suspiciously. In Italy I grew up with the mentality that if somebody can take advantage of you he will and you were not smart enough or cautious enough to protect yourself. Like if it was your fault. I love Swedish "lagominess" as I love the French charme and the Italian extravagance. There is no a prefect place, but every each place can teach us something. PLEASE MORE VIDEO ABOUT SWEDEN! :)
Italian minimalist here! Difficult thing to do in Italy... personally I often look at Scandinavian culture for this reason, and to be honest I try to apply these very principles to my life. Sometimes is more difficult (vegan cuisine si super frowned upon)... sometimes I find similarities (we also cook a lot!)... but yeah ultimately I would love to live in Sweden or at least visit... love your videos!
Love this! “Whole and clean” is a sense of dressing that I can imagine would definitely boost people’s productivity day to day :)
In The Netherlands the most popular saying goes like this: “To be normal is crazy enough “. I think that pretty much sums up our attitude 😂
"logam" and "whole and clean" resonates with me. so unlike most of the US
I am learning Swedish now (for no particular reason, just love how it sounds and I have a huge respect for the country) so videos like that really help me in bribing me closer to the Swedish ways and mentality. Please do more of them!
This was such an interesting explanation of "lagom"! I am Serbian. There is a lot of fear and distrust here. It is not important how hard you're working or how smart or talented you are: those that are unfairly advancing in this society mostly have family or political connections. It is a very limiting society even though most people wouldn't admit it. But for a young, educated person it is much more practical to live abroad.
Actually, I would love to love paying taxes. I think it would feel amazing knowing that your hard work actually went towards your society as a whole. In America, it feels quit opposite...we pay a lot but it doesn’t actually fix or help anyone really. It feels sad. Sweden sounds amazing...calm, fair, like going outside after winter, when spring has sprung, and the warmth of the sun is kissing your skin, without making you feel like your melting. It’s the perfect feeling🌞 I’m glad you experienced that when you were younger.That would be lovely.
Actually in America there’s a chain of command thing...if something needs to be addressed you get told -did you speak to “so and so”...if not follow the chain of command. Your looked at in a disrespectful way. This topic is very interesting
"Hole and clean" actually is the offical dresscode at my work (swedish governmental work). Atleast pre-covid, now we work from home anyway. We had a discussion on shorts 2 summers ago, but they were ok, as long as we had back up trousers if outside people would arrive at the office. Also smiling at strangers actually exist in smaller towns :) i am an advocate for it. PS enjoying the footage of Malmö!
Swede here too. In our office we actually had to make a rule "wear socks indoors". That's about our only dresscode. (Since we remove our shoes indoor... you gotta use socks man!)
Swedish and Indian culture is slightly similar, I mean I could connect with the 'No Shoes' thing, absolutely cannot wear shoes inside the house. Also the home cooked meals, every Indian household cooks fresh meals everyday, no excuses :) I am so glad to know about your culture, I wish I can go to Sweden someday, it feels like such a beautiful place to live
Are you stupid or what ? India is a country of casteism, gender inequality, hierarchy and corruption..You have to treat your parents and teachers like God, no matter how wrong they are..
@@anushka6559 You can live with your negativity. I prefer to look at the bright side of things. And refrain from using such language with people you don't know!
Thanks, I'm from Sweden so it makes me happy to hear you say that. I would like to visit India (or is it Bharat now?) some day too, you seem to have just started an incredible journey of growth. Would you mind to tell me more about your part of India?
I love learning about cultural quarks :)
I live in the U.S (in Florida) the most un-lagom country ever. Culturally it’s ingrained in us to be individualistic and strive to be the best. We are way too competitive and are always competing to try to live up to our neighbors and friends. The expression, keeping up with the Joneses is ever so present in American culture. Personally I think it creates a huge gap in what people can do and afford which brings a great sense of unhappiness because people always feel like they don’t have enough. There is always someone that has more so one always feels a sense of not having enough even when realistically they have plenty. Obviously this is just my opinion but I think most Americans strive for that bigger office, newer car, fancier job title, and regularly compare what they have to those around them. Culturally we also like to brag about our individual accomplishments (and our kids’ accomplishments! Lol) everyone has a kid who is advanced in school or sports. Americans in general also hate taxes because we tend to believe that each person is responsible for him or her her own self.
Obviously I’m making a generalization but this is a majority. Going to university costs a fortune and puts most people in debt. Going to the doctor is also expensive and many people can’t afford insurance. We talk about equality and say we strive for it but people love their titles, especially when they hold a prominent position in a business or in society. Here it’s all about Mr., Mrs., Dr., Professor, Lieutenant, Sir, ma’am etc., when it comes to any business, schools., etc. I know that in Sweden first names are used exclusively even with your boss. I actually think the Swedish approach promotes a greater sense of quality than the American approach. It’s quite ironic we equate these titles with respect. Anyway, I really enjoyed the video.
I'm Irish born and raised, and I still live and work here. Sweden has always appealed to me as somewhere I could see myself living/raising a family. Ireland is gradually becoming more and more like the US.
The Real Estate Religion is so anti-lagom
Hello from Australia! The things you describe - eating at home, not being braggy, having a sense of a flat society without heirarchy and especially 'lagom' - this is what life was like here too as I grew up. It is in my bones to always balance the things I say between positive and negative, I am suspicious if people are too demonstrative, too positive, or too extreme about anything!! Haha! But as elsewhere things have changed. I may have just been lucky to grow up in a rural community, and at a time when university was free. We do still have great free education and health care but things have become more profit driven and privatised. I can never understand people's aversion to paying tax for a better kinder society!
As a Dane I loooove paying (high) taxes too and all the benefits that comes with it. And would say we are def pretty lagom too 😃
Thank you Jenny for all this great insight. I am doing an assignment in which we have to research a culture we don't know about and I've chosen Sweden, your videos have helped me fill up 3 pages in my notebook to help me with my assignment!
Hi ! Great video, I learned a lot :) as a french person I relate to being raised in a society with free schools and healthcare. Most people in France also do the "cook from scratch at home". However France is not as lagom and clean as Sweden. I really enjoyed this video !
In Bulgaria braging is a form of survival. Everyone “has contats”, claims their children are the best of their class and thinks that it is ok for them to benefit, even if that implies sabotaging other’s interests . At the same time it is common to assume that a complete stranger is incompetent at their work or has bad intentions. This sums up to a hopelessly dysfunctional society built on mistrust and selfishness. I am extremely grateful to my parents for emigrating when I was a kid and thus allowing me to grow up elsewhere.
I’ve been living in Sweden for three years now and i have to agree with everything you’ve said. Especially the lagom part. Where i love the relaxed environment here in social life or work but i do think it lacks the pursuit for creativity specifically in the art sectors. As an immigrant i keep finding myself pushing for opportunities and chances to collaborate with the locals but no luck unfortunately :/
When I knew uni was free in Sweden, that blew my mind. My last online master's degree cost me 5,000 euros! If you want it cheaper, it's very difficult to be admitted. And it was necessary for me to apply for public examinations. Spain is crazy. I wish I could live in Spain during the winter and in Sweden during the summer, I wouldn't mind paying high taxes if everyone's quality of life is so good
In the U.S., 5 thousand euros wouldn't even cover one term of a master's program.
University education is no more free in Sweden I? I think?
Yeah I wish I could do the same. I want to study computer programming so that I can work remotely and do exactly that. But if you are English or American, you could teach English in a fun way online too. There are quite a lot of channels trying to make learning English fun.
@@zainulabdin1720No, I think they were just comparing their own experience to studying in Sweden.
@@june.w.1288 ok ❤️🇸🇪
I love this comment section! I'm from Belgium and I can relate to lagom, especially when it comes to bragging and job interviews. People often say in job interviews how 'flexible' they are. We often talk about why we love the company instead of why the company should love us :) I just realized that this is a major characteristic of our culture. Being someone who fits in and how well you can adjust yourself.
I know looks aren't everything but I really like your earrings and I'm a big fan of your orange/bronze eyeshadow.
me too! Do you know what kind of shadow she is wearing?
@@PuuuPiii I wish I did...
it is wonderful to see so many shots and images from Malmö!
I’m from Canada and would love it if we adopted some (many) of the ways of life that you describe.
I agree that taxes are important because I want to live in a safe and caring society. Thank you for your videos
Älskade den här videon. Stämmer så bra och får mig att uppskatta dessa delar av Sverige ännu mer
Jag håller med dig!♡
I spend a lot of time in Gothenburg for work (I live in Canada) and I have to say Sweden fascinates me especially the lagom aspect. I am a pretty extroverted person (some people say I am intense) and I have to modify my behaviour when in Sweden lol
Lol me too ... it can sometime get borring to not meet people as us..extroverted i mean! Lagom aspect is nice but it can be frustrating if you weren't from Sweden.
Now I know why the Japanese and Swedes get along so well! 😜
Yup. As a Swede I can't tell you how true this is. When I was on vacation in Japan I had a really easy time to slip in to the "correct" way to behave. (though Japanese job-heiarcys would make most swedes cringe.)
@@MrAtoni Yes, hence I'm now living in the US instead of being near my parents and old friends I miss so much in Japan. Staying away from all of that hierarchal BS and too much niceness lol.
@@MrAtoni Try Indian hiercarchy =)
I can resume latín América in a word: chaos
@@m.m8555 i don't know any person happy in here
@@m.m8555 I literally don't know anyone happy of all the injustice and poverty we live in
We're not naturally happy. We just have to learn to be content despite of.
colonization
Definitivamente.
Hello from Norway! Very similar to Sweden in a sense, but despite this I feel like here in Norway we are a anti-lagom, or at least becoming more so. It might be a new money thing, but so many people in Norway are so flashy and are not afraid to boast about how much they have. Though perhaps I'm not being fair as Norwegians also find joy in the smaller things in life, but I feel like the balance has been lost over the years. Also, definitely more vids like this please! :)
I'm from Chile, and even the water is privatized, so nothing is free. Buying a house is narly impossible, because they are so expensive that is ridiculous. Groceries are even more expensive that in London or Berlin, being the cradle of capitalism really screw us up like society.
y ustedes son el experimento que se quiere implementar en el resto del mundo💔
groceries in Berlin are not expensive :D food in Germany is pretty cheap, we invented discounters like Aldi and Lidl 🤷🏼♀️
Welcome to Costa Rica! The Switzerland of Central America, in where we don’t know how we are surviving and things are going more far than hell...
You can always come to Argentina 😂
@@ninianinja jajajajajajaa
I would like to thank you for such a wonderful video! I was truly surprised on the cultural attitude of the Swedish. Thanks and I would love to see more videos like this one! Great one and keep it up!! You might laugh but watching this video have me thinking of moving there!! LMAO!!
Absolutely agree about the contribution taxes make to society, well done Jenny for saying it.
Everytime I see one of your videos about Swedish/Scandi life and culture, it always makes me want to get in touch with and embrace my Norwegian roots! My great-great grandparents immigrated to America, and my personality is very much more aligned with how you describe the Scandinavian way of life! The vast individualism here, where it's a sort of "everyone for themselves, trust no one, you've got to move out at 18 and forge your own way in this world" mentality is exhausting. I really crave a community, where everyone supports the greater good. However I don't think I could vibe with no small talk-- I always want to get to know my neighbors and give compliments to random people I pass on the street!
This was so funny for me watch, I’m from Bulgaria and Eastern Europe is exactly the opposite of Sweden 😂 we love bragging, showing off, hate paying taxes and always try to find a cheeky way of avoiding work.
And I never realized this until I moved to the UK 😅
I'm from Eastern Europe too (Czechia) And i feel completely opposite to you in everything, except the taxes 😅
In Australia, we are very classist. It’s our dirty little secret but the divide between the rich and the poor is extreme and getting more vast everyday.
@Spread Joy there are the halves and the have nets in Australia.
Our convict beginnings are long gone.
Our wealth gap is widening, our homelessness is growing. House prices are insane. And people make fun of working class people in a way people used to about gays and racism.
It's no longer a caring, progressive society striving for equality. Don't be fooled by our easy going image - everything is not alright mate.
I love ALLLLL of your videos, and want you to make more of EACH of them!!😘 Thank you for always being so willing to let us all in. You're AMAZAZING!!❤
I like that you are sincere. I wouldn't have a problem with saying what's good and bad in my country also. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. This is true when you encounter any foreign country at first and your'e forgetting about the cons.
Great video! Please do more like this if anything as a public service for those of us in the US who are suffering from a desperate lack of all the services you described. Many Americans are deluded into thinking that social democracies are either unattainable ideals, impossible, or at worst evil. With the advent of the internet more and more are realizing we don’t have to live under such stressful conditions but there is still a LOT of ground to cover in terms of educating the masses about the reality of such higher standards of living that exist in many other developed countries. Many people here have internalized the notion that life must be filled with endless stress, anxiety, and competition. The majority of us are absolutely not comfortable. We are miserable. Our society is hierarchy in the extreme. Our taxes largely go to the military to support a vast global corporate empire while domestically poverty escalates, infrastructure literally falls apart, and suicides are rising sharply. I can only dream that we too will one day be happy to pay taxes.
I love this video! I am from Spain but live in the US and the differences are striking. Based on your description I would love living in Sweden...the "just enough" and making a little effort to look good and to have a comfortable and clean house is totally my thing...
Thank you for this interesting insightful video!
I've been watching your videos (and used to listen to your podcast when I had more time, before having kids...) for many years and I really enjoy them. I don't usually comment, but I just wanted to tell you that I am happy to be subscribed to your channel and I find your view on society spot on.
Visited Stockholm about a decade ago. A wonderful city. And the Vasa Museum is so frikkin' cool!
Very interesting video! I've lived in 4 countries so far (Poland, Germany, Ireland, and now the Netherlands). The Dutch society is probably the closest to lagom from what I've experienced. Sweden sounds like a perfect country for an introvert like me ;)
Oh Iove your culture-based videos :))!! "Please, madame, I want some more."
Me too! I'd love one like this on UK living.
@@patriciasalem3606 I live in the UK and have to say Sweden sounds like a nicer place to live than UK. Saying that I do like UK, I think my biggest gripe is housing here.
Great video and could not agree more about the second nature of lagom:) I am def lagom to the bone and I could not think about any better place to grow up than sweden. I live very far up in the north so to say and the best thing about sweden is probably the nature and that everyone is free to roam (allemansrätten), and that we (at least here in north) have 4 distinct seasons and not 7 months each year of greyness and rain! I will never leave this country and I am soooo grateful for everything it has given to me. Soon I will have my medical degree and spend my whole life helping people. Plus, I also did military serivce, so I will frikkin defend my country when needed. But, what makes me sad is the growing racism and also that centralization seems so important for the government, people are almost forced to move from the countryside to bigger cities because it is so expensive to fuel your car these days for example. They have closed several small schools where I live and the small towns die - so not everything is good here, but maybe sweden is lagom good at least...
It's nice to hear about Sweden! I'm from France and I'm very unknowledgeable about Swedish culture. I'd love to learn more. ^^
It sounds perfect to me. If I spoke Swedish and the weather was warmer I would want to live there.
You don’t need to speak Swedish to get by here :) I have a lot of friends that have lived here many years and considers this their permanent home yet don’t speak the language. Everyone except the oldest of old people and little children will speak English.
same but I'm not leaving Canada to go somewhere just as cold hahaha
When you mentioned lagom, it reminded me of my grandma so much, even regarding the colours - gray is the best! :) I used to dislike it as a teenager, but now when I'm 30 I see new depth in it. I am from Latvia.
I love hearing about Scandi culture and lifestyle!
Born in Chile and raised in the US. In the US we can teachers Mr/Mrs up until high school and then they're called professors in college. I'm Chile we call out teachers aunt's and uncles lol.
HI Jenny. Very interesting description. I am from Nicaragua but lived in Stockholm from age 1-5 and when I went back to Nicaragua I never felt at home. I could never quite understand society there. I live in South Florida -always wanted to go back to Sweden but I don't know anyone there-. Interesting you talk about Logum, in Nicaragua definitely not; however, I find myself being more than not. Good day :-)
Thank you Jenny. I will be conducting a cross cultural collaboration learning program for Indian team with a Sweden client and your video is very informative
Lovely video! I’m half Swedish and going in September, trying to learn as much as possible.
I’m convinced Sweden is the best country
Great video! I love Sweden and have visited many places there. My grandparents left and came to Canada, which I also love. I find many similarities between the two countries. ♥️
A lot of Swedes immigrated to Canada in the 20th century. I see a lot of cultural similarities here in Canada.
It's interesting that you have brought up status and classes in the UK. I was talking to my dad about the other day. Poland has classes, but they aren't as defined or even thought about a lot. In the UK, it's a norm...
Australian here! We do have a sense of logom, as there's a very careful balance in social interaction - be friendly, but not needy or desperate. There's a fine art to small talk - it's a great way to find out local news, have a bit of banter and a laugh with people you interact with everyday - I have noticed there's a rhythm to it, and there are definite social cues as to when a conversation ends. Very enjoyable way to communicate.
Great and very interesting video! I can't say I love paying taxes, but I definitely see the benefit and the sense behind it. In Switzerland, the social institutions are not quite as comprehensive as in Sweden, but certainly better and more far-reaching than in other countries. That's what I like to pay taxes for. Unfortunately, there is also a tendency here to privatise public institutions and to reduce free services more and more. I feel similarly about some of the things you say about Sweden. Especially about your childhood and that it is not appropriate to brag about wealth or status
I love the LAGOM lifestyle. This lifestyle has made such a tremendous difference in my mental health.
I'd love to see more videos like this!
Loved this. Would love more videos like this one :)
Hello Jenny! I am half Swedish but raised in my other half country. But i was in Sweden for most of my childhood Summer holidays so everything you say sounds extremely familiar to me. I was wondering if you could dedicate a video on how much Sweden has been changing.
I am a teen and considering studying in Sweden because i know how Sweden is and works. Or should I say was and worked?
Everything i am hearing about how much Sweden has been changing makes me rethink my choices. Thankss
I'm so excited to visit Sweden!! I really love how they live
France is for SURE no lagom. French people are always going from an extreme to another: through their mood, beliefs, behaviours, clothing, ... the streets are the cleanest and most beautiful in the rich areas but very dirty and ugly in the poor ones. I don’t have any judgment to formulate about that, I just noticed that as long as you were explaining lagom.
However, France is a great country for redistribution too. High taxes for the best opportunities for all (in theory of course).
Very interesting to discover new countries and the mindset/ habits of their people 🥰
I agree with your rant of privatization which I have been noticing happening since the airline industry, education, medical care and other shared community services are being privatized as well.
i would love a similar video on Berlin/Germany...!
I had the great good fortune to live in Sweden twice, and I still miss it 30 years later. My best way to describe the country to my friends is that it is simply the sanest place I’ve ever been (and I have traveled extensively). I actually have “move back to Sweden” as my game plan if I finally get fed up with the U.S. 😊
Would love to visit Sweden! Great video - more are always welcome :D
I am from Italy but I live in London, I thought I was a mellow person in Italy, but here in London I realized I am not at all! lol
We love some scandi-themed videos!
As a fellow Scandi from Norway, I recognize a lot of the stuff you listed. A lot of common points here, however, I do feel Norwegians can be a bit more judgy towards each other (ofc this depends on location).
that's so intriguing, i'm Polish, for 4 generations or more, both sides of family and yet my Mom and my Dad inprint in my head all 5 lessons You talk about as well as "death cleaning" , all You say is like music for my ears
I am Malaysian but now feel like I was probably a Swede in my past life. All the Swede quirks you mentioned are things I identify with and they never seem to fit into the Malaysian culture. I often feel very "lonely" or misunderstood by fellow Malaysians. I even like the fact that you have a word like lagom to describe a state of understated abundance. I think I'll probably be happier living in Sweden. (I forgot to mention that I binge-watched Scandi series on Netflix and my friends cannot understand why they get me so hooked!)
I'd still prefer to worry about 17% than 5 more years of having to fight for basic human wrights for women in Poland, because more than 40% of voters gave support to such people
Born in the UK, wish I paid more in tax so that everyone could benefit from those things that you grew up with in Sweden Jenny. I hate when people moan about their taxes, I like paying towards the NHS, I like giving to people who can't work or are carers or disabled etc. These are good things to do.
It’s such a joy to watch you videos, i love the way you lay out content!
Love the way you bring your home cooked food! Honestly soooo much better for yourself .
I discovered you today. Love the videos and your talking style. Lots of love from India. :)
As an American, I hate paying taxes…but not for the reasons people usually assume. Our taxes pay for militarism, racist police, corporate subsides, and hardly any social programs. Worst of all, the people and companies on top find loopholes and don’t even have to pay theirs! It is ludicrous.
America is so backwards and corrupt. The younger generation knows it, but the political infrastructure is completely insulated against real change. The only way to fight it would be civil war. I hope Sweden does not become like us; hearing about privatization happening there made my heart break. 💔
This was fascinating! You clearly love Sweden, but I want to thank you for not trashing other countries that are different from it. I enjoyed hearing about the cultural "quirks."
Love this! I always enjoy your cultural commentaries, especially your take on the differences between the Nordic countries. I've definitely been living my most Lagom life this week here in Iceland, visiting a volcano in heavy snow! Looking forward to balancing a hard work week with a long, relaxing holiday weekend in the countryside. Glad Påsk!
I really adore your videos! It’s fun to hear you talk about these things. I’ve only just learned about the old way names worked, as I’m working on the family tree and it’s maddening.
I’m from the USA, and it’s horrible. Even with insurance my health & dental care are causing me a lot of financial turmoil. My taxes mostly go to the military & the wealthy, but the communities I have lived in my whole life are crime ridden with litter everywhere.
Pretty anti-lagom as well (as is my opinions of the USA 😂)
I'm in the USA right now too, and I agree with you %100. I live in California and have not traveled to neighboring states at all. I grew up in an area where crime, litter, and overall lack of personal care for ones own health and others was outstandingly high. I wasn't allowed to play outside with other children at all because of how unsafe it was at times.
I yearn to leave the states and live elsewhere...I don't think I'll have a positive future if I stay here until I pass (i.e. if I make it that far given the circumstances this county is facing).
All countries have their ups and downs, but the US has had unfortunately more downs (negatives) than ups (positives). :o
@@catalinamaldonado5710 I left California at 19 but grew up there (Stockton/Modesto area) & had a VERY similar experience. I envy people who got to be normal kids & not California kids living in poverty unable to go outside.
Makes me wonder if we were neighbors lol
I live in Colorado now & the crime in Denver is catching up to how it was in Stockton which is so sad to see. It’s 100% a response to how the financial impact of COVID was poorly handled in the US.
I agree though about opportunity. I’m finding success here in CO though, since leaving this country isn’t a possibility for me or anyone really right now.
I wish you the best of luck ♥️
Whenever someone tells me they want to move to the US I can never understand why. I'm sure there are good things about it but to me the bad outweighs the good. I'm in the UK and even here going to the dentist is expensive and that's on NHS, private is just ridiculous so I can't even imagine living in the US when you happen to have no health insurance
Unfortunately your new government clearly is not about Americans
@@misshautechip7847 It never was in my opinion/experience
Lagom...the U.S. obviously the furthest thing from. I spent many summers on the southwest coast of Sweden on my grandparents' farm, and remain close to all my cousins today. In 1983, my cousin Anders came to Chicago to stay with us for a month and after a few days pronounced: "You always say things are 'great!' *Why*?" Yes, why, indeed.
Shoes in the house: it has taken me literally YEARS to get my completely American (of Italian extraction) husband to leave his f*cking shoes at the door (and sometimes he *still* cheats!). My father (American with strong ties to Germany) used to comply when my brothers and I were growing up, but when he and my mother moved to a home out in the suburbs, he began walking in the house sometimes with his shoes again. Argh!
Don't get me started on the global shift to the right. A surge in selfishness and self-righteousness. *sigh*
Fun videos! Thanks for sharing!
jeez, as an introvert Sweden really seems my dream country. I'm from Spain and here we are completely opposite hha
I appreciate the information! I am hoping to move to Sweden (Great grandpa was from Sweden before migrating to Illinois, US) and have been doing a ton of research on it. I myself am lagom in nature. I prefer to keep to myself, humble, and want to live just comfortable enough. Currently my country takes 40% taxes, and most of it goes to the military. I would love a system where my tax dollars went to helping others, rebuilding infastructure, and improving our daily lives.
Sweden sounds perfect to all of my personality aspects. In astrology, I'm a Scorpio sun, Pisces moon, Taurus rising. It means that my personality is somewhat intense, looking cold and reserved on the outside but quite warm and profound on the inside, like many of my Scandinavian friends. I don't do well in the cultural environment I live in, Israel, where I was born as well. I'm sensitive enough to feel quite like an alien here, plus the climate is draining me physically (and the place drains me emotionally). As a Scorpio sun I admit I'm fascinated by the mellow and darker things in life, Norway is my go to. But as a Taurus rising, I'm a designer in everything that I do, and I strive for beauty and perfection in their more clean, polished, minimal and practical look. I'm an extroverted introvert, so to speak, with love and appreciation of nature and art and a need to escape to them from my surroundings every now and then. It keeps me sane. So that being said, your video has emphasized to me why I have such attraction/fascination by the Northern countries, and I feel like it's time for me to follow my dream of moving there. I just hope Coronavirus won't get in the way. Thank you for your vid and inspiration.
I love this! Would you consider doing a video on the weird habits/ behavior of other countries that you find bizarre? As always, thank you for your point of view, the way you express yourself and humor!
Recently found your channel and felt in love right away! So classy and inspiring!
Jenny wanted to ask you and David are both from Sweden 🇸🇪?
Thank you for your informative videos, I loved this one, looks like Swedish people got everything right.
My great (great?) grandfather Karl immigrated from Sweden to Seattle a long time ago and it's cool how much of this I resonate with. The social support, work/life balance, and the value the Swedes place upon paying taxes are the reasons I want to move there when all my beloved American elders have passed. Gotta learn Swedish first, though!
I love this kind of content. Please create more videos about Sweden. Like comparing you and David’s childhood. Or maybe a whole video about Lagom. ☺️
I love this kind of videos! Thank you
OMG I just realized I am Swedish on the inside.
I lived in Molmo from age 6 to 8 & it has absolutely defined me. & since then, I lived in Canada for 20+ years and now in New York for over 5 years and I just can't seem to fit in these cultures here! & no one gets me....
I miss Sweden SO MUCH!