THIS is How Living in Sweden Has CHANGED Me

THIS is How Living in Sweden Has CHANGED Me - Just a Brit Abroad

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2 жыл бұрын

Now that I've lived in Sweden for 2,5 years, I thought it was high time to reflect on how I've changed since moving here. What do I do differently now that I live in Sweden? How has living in Sweden changed my daily life and habits? What is it really like to move to Sweden - and what can you expect when you first arrive in Sweden? I thought I'd try and answer some of these questions in today's video, all about 5 of the ways that living in Sweden has changed me. Watch on to find out how, and let me know in the comments if you can relate!
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Пікірлер: 99

@hannayoung9657 2 жыл бұрын

My husband first winter in Sweden was one of the coldest in a while. He was so happy when it snowed, amazed everything worked and come February, he was done with snow and asked when it would end... we had 1½ month to go before fully snow free.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

hahaha I can totally relate to that Hanna and I'm just a lowly southerner😆I thought it was amazing for a while too - and I still do, but then as the winter begins to lag on, I'm checking my watch wishing the days away😅

@michaelmay5453 2 жыл бұрын

Well, that's just a weakness he'll grow out of as he becomes a Swede.

@callelindstrom4341 2 жыл бұрын

Months? 😮 I’m done with snow as soon as it falls. Luckily it usually melts or rains away within a few days.

@howareyou857 19 күн бұрын

@@michaelmay5453we get months of rain or occasionally sleet in the UK

@michaelmay5453 18 күн бұрын

@@howareyou857 I live above the arctic circle, you have the same weather as Germany... We are not the same. :P

@andreajansen1988 2 жыл бұрын

Haha, I know times it's been -10°C and we still went outside to stand in the small patch of sunlight for ten minutes. We're like sunflowers, turning our faces towards the sun

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried thiss yet, but now I want to haha

@kungsverige1886 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad - 10 its nothing....😁

@familyupgrade 2 жыл бұрын

The sun is the great redeemer. It takes away sorrows and brings joy. Quite litterary, the vitamin D makes us happy!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

you gotta love the sunshine right?! can turn any day around!

@loki76 2 жыл бұрын

Well you certainly do not live in Stockholm if you wait for the light to turn green at crossings. 95% of Swede's in Sthlm do NOT wait, they cross as soon as there is no cars near. It is literally something that some people are shocked about. Like my Canadian wife. I can't speak for other towns in Sweden, but in Sthlm if you wait for green light when there is no cars, YOU are the weird one, lol.

@SinaFarhat 2 жыл бұрын

Buffé måltid är ett trevligt sätt att ta vad man känner för och äta en god måltid!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

Det är verkligen det! men det var något jag fick lära mig när jag flyttade hit! hade aldrig tänkt om det somm en möjlighet innan men nu förstår jag att det är ett bra sätt att behaga alla, utan att kompromissa med kvaliteten🤗 har en trevlig vecka Sina!

@SinaFarhat 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad Tack, ha en fin vecka du också!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

@@SinaFarhat tack Sina!

@Asa...S 2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps that standing and waiting for the lights to change is perhaps more of a city- small town difference than a country difference, because I grew up in Stockholm, and I don´t know anyone who stand around waiting for "grön gubbe". If there is no traffic you just cross the road. Perhaps parents with kids do the waiting to be a good role model, but most people just walk when there's no cars.

@beorlingo 2 жыл бұрын

I'd wait too if there are kids around. Doing a little parent supporting.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

could well be! I live in one of Sweden's top 10 biggest cities but its not a Stockholm by any stretch of the imaginatioon so you could be on to something there!

@mresten 2 жыл бұрын

Speaking for my self I never wait for green light if there are no cars. But if the kids are with me I do, just to do what’s right to do. 😀

@Narnendil 2 жыл бұрын

Uppsala is the same as Stockholm.

@erikstenviken2652 2 жыл бұрын

@@Narnendil yes, why wait if you dont have to.

@prepperinireland2240 2 жыл бұрын

We aren't moving to Sweden til early Spring (aiming for Vasterbottens/Vasternorrlands Lan) but being from northern Scotland I absolutely get the sun thing, especially having lived a couple decades on a tiny Orkney island (any Orcs reading this? "Simmer Dim", right? :D ) so I know I'm fine with long dark winters and act like an eejit the minute the sun comes out! It might be a bit of a culture shock for my Belgian husband though.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

how exciting that you're hoping to head over so soon! unfortunately I've not really had the opportunityto explore so much of northern Scotland (the furthest I've made it so far is Inverness, and that was during the summer!!) so I'd never really thought about this as being something that folk on "the British Isles" could relate to in such a way too. So interesting to read about!! That said, Orkney is high on my list to visit when the opportunity comes around! but sounds like you'll be well set for the dark times here in Sweden! More than me at least, who stared at the sun dumfounded for a good 15 minutes when it came back after a 2 month absence😱😆

@prepperinireland2240 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad I hope you make it to Orkney, I think you'd love it. So much to see and do, unsure if it's still going with the restrictions, but normally each summer there's the St Magnus music festival where performers come from all over the world. It's an incredible experience and atmosphere. :) Go to Orkney in winter though (if you can manage the ferries as the seas get a wee bit rough then) and you stand a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights too, but living in Sweden you're probably used to them by now. :) I lived on the Isle of Sanday where in summer at midnight you could play golf on the tiny 9 hole course because it never got dark.

@krokuspokus2403 2 жыл бұрын

There's roughly 2.5 hours less daylight per day during December in e.g. Umeå than you'll find in northern Scotland. You'll be surprised how dark it can be. I recommend plenty of good indoor lamps and maybe light a fire every now and then (and don't forget the vitamin D supplements).

@prepperinireland2240 2 жыл бұрын

@@krokuspokus2403 I've taken high dose D3 for years, we get a lot of cloud and rainy weather in Scotland. :) I don't mind the dark winter months at all. I'm probably weird. Most of all, I'm looking forward to snow...I grew up with real snowy winters in Scotland til a couple of decades ago when the snow began to vanish and now we're lucky if snow lies for more than a week, and it's almost always just a dusting of it. This is in my native Highlands.

@onomatopoetisk 2 жыл бұрын

@@prepperinireland2240 Sounds like you’ll do great over here with that background. ☺️

@freemangriffin4953 2 жыл бұрын

How did I miss this one? Love the swimming in lakes!!!

@draug7966 2 жыл бұрын

I think the fact that swedes as a group is quite active has a lot to do with the allemansrätten. I grew up right next to a big nature reserve with lots of hiking/running trails and later a mountainbike trail too, in the winter they made ski trails if it was enough snow. So if you don´t like the gym you can always go running or take a fast walk or smth if that´s more your thing. Also there is a strong emphasis on public health, it´s kind of an unspoken rule that you make at least some effort to stay healthy.

@peartree8338 2 жыл бұрын

Swimming: My mates said they heard of a bloke that swam in the Thames once. Unknown if he survived. 🤣👍

@AnnaKaunitz 2 жыл бұрын

Stockholm; waiting to cross the street? Eh well it depends lol If there are no cars, or few cars passing, most of us cross the street because it can take ages otherwise or we’re just impatient. Always common sense and safety first however. I’ve noticed, we also frequently raise our arm/hand to thank a driver that stops. Or we signal that we prefer the driver to pass. The bike and certainly the escooter people are completely nuts though. Buffets; they’re quite ok, but I think they’re more a thing outside Stockholm because the market is so competitive. Love that you inserted a clip from Riga, it’s one of my favourite cities.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

ahhh good point! since I'm not based in Stockholm, my impressions of Sweden and the traffic situation are perhaps a little bit biased😆😅 funnily enough, the raising the arm/hand is one thing that I feel like we do in England more than you guys out here! I'm not saying people don't do it here, but its very normal to do it in England, nearly everyone does funnily enough! and I'm glad you spotted the Riga shot!! I've still never been, but its high on my list!

@AnnaKaunitz 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad I think all videos out there about Sweden really show how different every corner of Sweden is and that’s great to see. It’s such a large country and we tend to think habits/life are the same everywhere. I can barely keep up with the suburbs next door here. Södertälje, Uppsala are less than 1 hour away and entirely different worlds. Omg! Riga! It’s been almost 10 years since my first. I absolutely löööve Riga! I hope you get to experience Riga soon. Everything from the architecture to the food scene is spectacular and one of the best airports I’ve been to, they also have one of the largest food markets across Europe, I can rave about Riga for hours 😁🥂

@jonashansson2320 2 жыл бұрын

@@AnnaKaunitz I was actually about to say that waiting for green light is more of a Stockholm thing before I remembered he isn't in Stockholm. Always when I visit Stockholm (from Gothenburg), it strikes me how many people wait for the green light. In Gothenburg when I start walking against red there are always a bunch of people doing the same, but in Stockholm I'm often the only one crossing while the rest keeps waiting.. But maybe it depends on which roads or what part of Stockholm we are in?

@AnnaKaunitz 2 жыл бұрын

@@jonashansson2320 It might depending on where in the city. The innerstan/innanför tullarna, is insane. There’s to many cars, busses, people, bikes and scooters in the crowded streets, Stockholm is not a dangerous city but you do need to pay attention crossing the streets and you don’t have to long before it’s red. Crossing like Sveavägen or elsewhere downtown in rush hour I’ll wait for green. The nearest suburbs, närförorterna (where I live) are equally crowded. There’s also loads of huge construction projects in the city making the traffic even more insane. I’ve never visited Göteborg properly I have to admit but it’s smaller and that must have an impact? Its interesting with how we experience our country.

@calbackk 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I think the talk of the long dark winters are exaggerated. Maybe up north it is like that. But the dark period passes rather quickly since it largely coincides with the Christmas season. A US friend of mine lived here last winter and said the same thing. And btw it’s not that we don’t have sunshine in months. We do often have sunshine in December, albeit from a very low inclination.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

I guess its a matter of interpretation and what your reference points are Christer. if you came from somewhere like Greece or Brazil where you get over 300 sunshine days a year, or somewhere on the equator where the sun always sets at 6 regardless of the season, I'm sure your answer would be different again!

@torbjornkallstrom2316 2 жыл бұрын

The crossing the street thing before the light turns green I think is very regional. In my experience people from Stockholm will stand and wait, but in Gothenburg people will cross as soon as they see an opening. And when I was in London once I overheard someone who was there with a friend who I assume was from out of town, telling them, "here in London we cross the street when the light is red". Which I thought was a funny parallell...

@Soldrakenn 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'm from a small town and practically never cared abt the lights, but I lived in Malmö for a while and trying to cross a red light during trafic would've been suicidal. I learned to rather press the button and wait than risk it, but if the street was completely empty then why stand around lol

@stellanstellan8708 2 жыл бұрын

It may be illegal to cross the road when the light is red, however, you will not be prosecuted unless you cause an accident or other troubles.

@gonace 2 жыл бұрын

I hit the gym at 05:00 then at lunch with a colleague and my workplace pays for it all!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

Wow twice a day? I'm impressed!! how do you keep it up!!😱 what a good facility though!

@danhanqvist4237 11 ай бұрын

I don't stop for red unless it makes sense. I don't do that when the street is empty. I don't think that's at all normal in a place like Stockholm, or Gothenburg (or probably anywhere, really).

@erik.... 2 жыл бұрын

If no car is close to the lights, I just cross.. it's just stupid to stand there for no reason. Bike is a different thing though, and the risk of getting fined is bigger. But I never take any risks when it comes to crossing the road.

@Kortcubain 2 жыл бұрын

As a swede who lived and worked in Leicested square, can't say the green lights was a problem haha

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

oh right? you always waited? haha

@Bobowiking 2 жыл бұрын

You don't need to wait for green light if you are about to crossing a street. It's not a even a crime to walk against red. The only thing to be keep in mind may be that children are taught to wait for green and if you skip that they might do it as well

@herkcollins4263 2 жыл бұрын

I like Chinese buffet or Sushi buffet, but have given up beef and pork since being with Per. Most Chinese places have a lot of beef and pork hahaha. Per likes Chinese and Sushi, but doesn't really do the buffet type of restaurant. I am looking forward to swimming in the summer, Per is looking forward to going to the beach with me too.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

oh you just wait Herk, Swedish summer is great!

@kjejon1 2 жыл бұрын

About the green light crossing, no, no, no. Really? Never, if the light is red and there's no traffic, i'm on my way!

@Bumbledora 2 жыл бұрын

Oh! You have a video about culture clashes! Gonna watch! :) :D After a buffé I feel like I wanna puke! And not eat for the rest of the year! Hahaha! London (sigh of longing). Yes, you have to fight your way to get through all the people and traffic. But, it's the same in Stockholm. I don't stand waiting for green (I should! I know!) because sometimes... it just doesn't make any sense. Especially if's badly synchronised. But, I never did that when having small children with me. My own for most part of course, but even their friends. Then I would absolutely stand there and wait to set a good example. I must say though that my hubby takes way more chances with crossing than I do. I'm not reckless, but I don't wanna stand and wait until I don't know. Like your pic in the video! :DDD We should be more active, yes, even in Sweden. Growing up I took my bicycle or walked everywhere. Of course, getting a driver's license made life much more fun, but I have always loved walking. Especially in the nature. Not a hiker or anything like that, just taking a nice walk. I see on my kids' generations that being active isn't as much as it should be. I think it's because of the internet, games etc. So, Pokemon Go was goddammit very clever! LOL! Swimming in the lakes can be lovely! If not too cold. But it's nice! I'm a coward. Takes me ages just to get into the water if I find it too cold. If you don't already, buy vitamin D for the darker months. To make it more cozy, I'm sure you already know how to cozy up in the sofa, candles, nice TV, music or a book :) Thanks for a great video! Have a nice weekend! :)

@torbjorneriksson9304 Жыл бұрын

Have you ever had a Max burger? That could change your life, too! 🍔

@Quiltfish 2 жыл бұрын

I've spent 36 winters in sweden, it's horrible. Those who downplay it being dark have a job/life where it's okay to go "Right, screw this, I'm leaving for 3 hours in the middle of the workday". I've only ever seen the "Pitch black heading to work, pitch black before you even leave." side and I'm not even up north! And even if you are one of those ponces, it's still dangerous cold at it's warmest. Winter is shite and I won't hear anything else.

@adp6632 2 жыл бұрын

Swedish food standards are actually really high lv. Sounds braggy i know. But I have been on many trips to different countries where our worst restaurants would be a huge improvement. So imagine our great restaurants compared to that

@user-jd9sj1mq2b 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, what passes as food in Sweden is fairly strict. We want to know what we put in the body and put alot of effort on quality.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

maybe you're right - that's why Swedish buffet goes down such a treat since you can rely on what's on your plate perhaps? then again, I'm sure it's also different expectations and different tastes depending on what you're from and what your usual food palette is right? so I'm sureits a mix of both!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

yeah that's a good point! we have fairly similar rules and regulations in place in the UK actually!

@adp6632 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad hehe glömde du kunde svenska. Sant personlig smak spelar roll. Men om vi håller oss till standard mat. Gröna ägg till frukost buffé..... varje dag Sega pommes trots friterat i olja.... också var dag. Många bas grejer som även de sämsta restauranger i Sverige klara som är rena katastrofen i viss länder. Pasta alfrdo på Cypern. Hård Pasta, gryning grädde och så torr så den fastande i halsen 😂

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

@@adp6632 haha japp - eller jag försöker iaf😅 men jag förstår helt och hållet vad du menar. Vissar länder har valdigt annorlunda idéer om de grejerna som vi skulle hävda är typ "frukost essentials"😆

@martinjarenheim7142 2 жыл бұрын

är det stor skillnad mellan Sverige och England i hur långt digitaliseringen av samhället kommit? Som att göra bankärenden online, kontakter med myndigheter osv.?

@Jonsson474 2 жыл бұрын

It’s still a big difference. Most of the world is still behind.

@tomeng9520 2 жыл бұрын

Till och med Tyskland ligger efter Sverige när det gäller digitaliseringen av landets digitala tjänster.

@Jonsson474 2 жыл бұрын

Norway and Finland are the two countries that might be able to compete at a similar level.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

Jag skulle säga att Sverige är längre fram med det jämfört med England! de har gjort ganska mycket framsteg i de senaste åren med online bankärenden och de ändra grejer som du nämnde men det jag märker mest är att England ligger lite bakom när det kommer till t.ex. verifiering av identitet som BankID och allt är så enkelt knuten ihop med din personnummer t.ex.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

@@Jonsson474 It would sure be interesting to see which other countries closely follow the Nordics to be honest, just to get an impression for how closely/long behind different nations are!

@TextiX887 2 жыл бұрын

I knew you lied when you said "Sauna with my neighbours"

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha yes!! I said that on purpose and have just been waiting for someone to notice haha

@jiansonz 2 жыл бұрын

About the London traffic: can't you cross when the light turns green? Or is it just that the light rotations take a very long time?

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

you can cross, if you're lucky! but there's always so much traffic that people pull across the lights and all sorts. its impossible!

@howareyou857 19 күн бұрын

Buffet food ..we fear the potential of a bad stomach. Too much choice etc etc

@PennyAfNorberg 2 жыл бұрын

Once I met two police officers in a crossing, all where walking on red.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

in Sweden?! :O never!! haha

@MrMike6643 2 жыл бұрын

The sun...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

@carlerikgherardi5608 2 жыл бұрын

My mother was Swedish (from Linkoping) and I have over 80 relatives in Sweden. I was born in America....my father Italian and (as said) mother Swedish. I have lived in America, Sweden, and UNFORTUNATELY in Italy. I must put Sweden as my favorite country, then America then Italy. After so many years in Sweden how do you feel?

@kristiangranstrom9158 2 жыл бұрын

Well, I don’t think theese things changed u. They are more or less habits or new experiences.

@bosse1998 2 жыл бұрын

Swedish people believe that England is as in television series? Nope! The huge shock to me was the living standard! What counts as normal in Sweden is luxury in England.

@andrewthomas6200 2 жыл бұрын

In some parts of England it is bordering on third world and others far superior to what Sweden can offer. The class system still applies to some degree whereas you have a kind of flat tiered society in Sweden. Also in large parts of the country such as the Dorset and West Country it is the England you see on the television. London is not England in my opinion - if that is where you were. Be careful about making generalisations!

@annicaesplund6613 2 жыл бұрын

@@andrewthomas6200 also about Sweden (the generalisation).

@Asa...S 2 жыл бұрын

If I were to make a generalisation would be that poor Swedes care a little bit more about interiour design and renovations than poor Brits do. British working class homes tends to look more old and run down. I think it´s because Swedes spend more time at home, while Brits rather hang out at the pub. It can also have something do do with renting laws, the tenants association ("Hyresgästföreningen") in Sweden is quite strong, like the landlords have a obligation to renovate, like tenants have the right to get a new wallpaper if it´s been 10-15 years since the last time. I have no idea what the laws in the UK says. Yes, it´s generalisations. But it´s hard to discuss things - in general - without making any generalisations.

@andrewthomas6200 2 жыл бұрын

@@Asa...S I think the implication is that they are spending too much time drunk down the pub, rather than pick up a paintbrush. But yes, housing for poorer people in Sweden 'can' be better, although you will find new builds meet the same standards as in Sweden. The English like to keep 'Victoriana', whereas Swedish builds are more utilitarian and uniform. I've lived in both countries. Pros and Cons!

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

hmm interesting opinion Bosse! I'd agree with Andrew that it very much depends where you are and what your reference points are! There's certainly parts of England that are on par with Swedish living standards! and then again, it also depends what your reference points are, as people in different countries of course prioritise different matters!

@pskoglund 2 жыл бұрын

Äre buffe? :O

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

Äre?

@onomatopoetisk 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaBritAbroad ”Är det” can be said like ”Äre” when with an accent. The D and T just ”falls off” det. ☺️ Or worse: ”Äre dä?” ~~ ”Är det det?”

@michaelmay5453 2 жыл бұрын

Yup, you wait for the green light and you stop for people at a crossing. These are the rules and if you break them I'll break you.

@JustaBritAbroad 2 жыл бұрын

haha hard feelings Michael haha

@D-ragon-S 2 жыл бұрын

Correction.... UK might still be a part of Europe...but it's no longer a partner with other countries in the EU. So, say goodbye to your former country and just feel welcome to stay here amongst us non radicals. Much Love 💙💛💙