Okay, so I’ve been thinking long and hard as to what to talk about in this post, but I think I got it. After being super busy and traveling around this past month, I think I can give a decent explanation of the basic cultural differences that I have experienced here in Sweden so far.
So to begin with this country, there are a lot of rules that Swedes abide by. First off, almost always keep to yourself. You are never supposed to talk to people you don’t know, and you should not even make eye contact as you walk by someone. Initially, it was a little hard to get used to this because back home it’s such a common practice to look at someone and smile hello. This rule especially applies when taking public transit. When on the tunnelbanan you don’t dare to talk, especially in the mornings. Swedes are very much to themselves when transiting to work, and when it’s obvious that Americans are loudly talking on the train, we get death stares from the locals ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Another big thing here is fashion. Everyone here has an awesome sense of style, which I can only aspire to obtain. Swedes often wear dark clothing which I believe it’s mostly to keep warm, but it makes everyone look very well polished. I myself have tried to look as Swedish as possible by purchasing a pair of black boots that are used for everyday wear. I learned very quickly that sneakers don’t cut it here.
Additionally, I learned from friends that my sense of style looks pretty Swedish, but that my backpack is a dead giveaway that I’m American. Upon learning this, that same day I went out to buy a Fjällräven Kånken bookbag (if you don’t know the name just google it because I know you’ve seen it before lol). These backpacks originated in Sweden and they are everywhere. I think that making an effort to adjust to the cultural norms and trends in a different country can go long ways, and at least I can take these momentums back home with me.
When comparing Sweden to different countries, it is very apparent how different things are over here. Last month when I visited Copenhagen, all I’m going to say is that the Danes are the wild childs of Scandinavia. I would say a drastic difference between the two countries they each approach nightlife.
First off, alcohol here in Sweden is highly regulated, where you can only purchase liquor at the Systembolaget, which is the government-owned chain of liquor stores that are only open for certain hours during the week and even less on the weekends. On the other hand, Denmark has access to whatever they want wherever and whenever! There are 7-Elevens literally everywhere in Copenhagen, and you can just roll up and buy whatever you want at any time of day. It’s a pretty stark contrast from what I’ve seen in Sweden.
It was a great experience visiting the country for the weekend, from taking a boat tour to walking around the city at night, but when it was time to leave, I was ready to head home to the less hectic Nordic country.
Another place I visited last week was Paris, France! Right off the bat, I will say that Paris is a beautiful place, but I think that my experience there was stimulation overload, with one thing just happening after another.
From the very beginning, all 17 of us from our Affective Neuroscience class were supposed to depart Sunday morning. Hearing from our group chat that our flight was completely canceled the night before, we were unsure of how exactly we were getting to Paris. Long story short, communication was terrible on all ends, and we were all booked on multiple flights that day. And unbeknownst to the rest of the class and me, I was in the group who was supposed to fly out earlier that day, causing us to miss our flight completely. Had to do a night layover in Copenhagen (lol was just there not too long prior), and then flew out to Paris Monday morning.
So that was just the start of the weeklong adventure. The purpose of Travel Week with our core course is to get hands-on experience with our topic, and we get the opportunity to do this in another country. My class’s central theme throughout the week was how sensory input and perception could affect our emotions. We did activities that included eating in the dark, spending time in a sensory deprivation tank, watching a ballet, and even touching artwork in the Louve while blindfolded (there are sections designed for people with disabilities where they can feel the art and gain tactile stimulation). All in all these activities were really unique and exciting, but I think I was just so overwhelmed by everyone in my class that it was just difficult to appreciate and take everything in. Traveling in such a large group really makes everything difficult, and traveling as 17 Americans can make it even harder. I hate sticking out like a sore thumb, but when I had the chance to venture off and explore on my own, I feel a lot more relaxed (within reason).
Of course, you always have to be on high alert when traveling, but when you do it on your own, especially in another country, you have to be on top of your game. Paris is definitely not like Scandinavia. People do stare. And I know to stare back until it makes them uncomfortable. Lol. With this in mind, I am always aware of my surroundings, and I know to look out for my friends and to make sure that they are okay.
Paris is beautiful, but definitely not as clean as Sweden! I didn’t get the chance to experience everything while there, but it’s not going away anytime soon so I will be back someday 🙂
I just hope that my time here in Europe doesn’t get cut off sooner than expected. As everyone is very much aware of the Coronavirus epidemic that is currently going on, I am under the constant fear that my school will force me to go home before May. I’ve had my mind set to study abroad in Sweden for years, and with all the opportunities that have fallen into place for me to actually come here, it would break my heart to have to say goodbye to this place and everyone here abruptly. It’s a constant stress to keep googling the news, but I hope this passes soon enough. I won’t be traveling round in the near future as both a safety precaution, and over the idea that I may be forced to quarantine myself in a place that may not be my room here in Sweden.
I’ll end this post by saying this: stay safe and please wash your hands!
Julie's Adventures Abroad 