Ever been to Sweden?

Dan,

When I was in Poland, round about 1997, I didn't even try to speak English, even German was a long shot! True, when I was in Sweden, as I just finished telling Krysia, everybody and his grandmother wanted to practice their English with me!

Honestly, from the point of view of 'practicing' English, I've no problems in speaking English in countries, even where I speak the language fluently, e.g. Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Spain, Poland etc. My problem is in Northern Europe particularly, when people occasionally ignore the distinction between merely 'practicing' vs. actually 'speaking' a language, in this case English!

If a Swede, young or old, responds to my Swedish in English (which never really happened, I must admit), I will respond, "Oh, would you like to practice your English?" For what then is the difference between me 'practicing' my Swedish and a Swede practicing his/her English??

Me again.
So you mean that you can speak swedish, then you think we will respond in english, no I don´t think that gonna happen, sorry, we are really addicted to our own language, so if you speak swedish, we will respond in swedish. That´s not strange is it? But you should try to speak english first, then we will respond in english and there you go, you can be the teacher, hehe. So just tell that you´re trying to speak swedish, and maybe some nice person will learn you the swedish language.

'We are addicted to our language......."

And that's as it should be, Daniel. TACKA VET JAG.....

Swedes addicted to Swedish?

Ever heard the lyrics of Swedish pop groups?
I hear Polish bands singing po polsku, the French rapping en Francais, even Welsh groups singing in Cymraeg, but so many Swedes singing in English. Jens Lekman writes some fantastic English lyrics, and we all love ABBA, don't we?

Do they have a lot of SAABs there? I want a Saab even more than a BMW or Mercedes lol I dont know why.

haha, yes you´re right osiol, in that way we seems to love the english language.
But there is also many bands/artists that has been really big abroad, so I think thats why we are singing in english (at most). In fact for us swedish persons, there is a lot of artists that sing our own language. I think it´s harder to be understood and get many fans etc. if you´re singing swedish. And yes here is a lot of SAAB:s, I´m not that into car:s though. I thought that BMW and Mercedes was more expensive and symbolized more status.

Osiol,

You're doubtless referring to 'Abba' and other 60's rock groups, correct? While that's true, Dan's also right in saying that the Swedish language as a legitimate vehicle for linguistic expression, even in an English-dominated industry such as music, is making a comeback!

I was to Sweden twice in the early 90's, but if I start posting my thoughts and impressions, it may come out too close to Michal's rants about Poland 20 years ago, so I just say I didn't like the country/people at all :(

Krzysztof,

The Swedes, unlike the Poles, take a longer period of 'warming up to'! They are not often given to spontaneous outbursts of either affection or outrage. Witness the old joke about the Finn and the Swede playing chess, sitting for many hours in frozen silence; looking at one another, finally one of them breaks the ice:

Finn: Sven-Aake. It's your move.

Swede: (slamming his fist on the table) Do you want to talk, or play chess!!!

I found Swedish people really cool. I noticed that in Sweden they are more open to new ideas than in Poland, the catholic religion doesn't rule there and they are more open minded with a relaxed sense of feeling. They do not stare at you if you are dressed differently while in Poland some women will stare you down and criticize your clothes, your hair.

That´s completely true I think, we´re not that critic, are we?
It´s most truly because in Sweden people have their own style, (well, at most).
And you can see all different kind of folks, specially in the bigger cities.
So sure thing, we´re open-minded, but here´s jackasses as everywhere else.
But the most people are really nice, and understand some difference between each other.

Kryśiu!

Sorry you 'missed' my message to you yesterday in Polish (our administrators must have deleted it, surprise, surprise -:) LOL ). As far as the Swedes being "cool", perhaps this peceived open mindedness revolves around the stereotype of them as being somehow more sexually liberated than those in Roman Catholic societies, such as Poland or Spain. France though, at least nominally Catholic, would seem the exception to the rule.

I too found and find the Swedes quite open on matters of personal freedom, yet very proscriptive on matters of social behavior, as compared say to the Americans. Swedes definitely don't tolerate unsocial behavior, even among strangers, and speak their minds far more bluntly than the average US-citizen!

I haven't been in Sweden long enough to get to know everything about the country. Didn't dwell deep enough into their sexual enlightments or their stand on abortion, etc. But I noticed like you said they don't tolerate unsocial behaviour.

Krysia!

Me again. A favorite saying of mine sums up the sometimes annoyingly homogeneous character of the Swedes, moreso certainly than the Poles, and even other related Scandinavian neighbors of the Swedes, i.e. the Danes and the Norwegians:

"Because I get dressed at a certain time each morning, means everyone else in the world is putting on their pants!"

So you mean that swedish people are like the centrum of the world in their own mind, or do they just think like this to be accept of other without accepting their self?

No, Dan.

I mean that precisely because Sweden has for centuries been such a homogeneous and closed society, it naturally respects long-established mores (seder) and sees most deviation therefrom as mildly threatening, that's all.

Don't be offended! After all, who loved the Swedes more, while criticizing them more savagely, than their greatest modern muse, Ingmar Bergman??