Introduction to Sweden and Swedes

Introduction to Sweden and Swedes
Vanessa Molina Gabinus
SWEDEN
1574 km long
9.7 million
inhabitants
85% live in cities
Aprox 120 000
islands
Aprox. 100 000
lakes
Allmänsrätt (The
right of all men)
GOTHENBURG
Founded in
1621
International
from the
start
Expansion
for the
future
Divided up
into themes
The Law of Lagom?
LAGOM
• LAG (Team/Law)
• OM (About/Around)
Swedes are:
• Avoid standing out
• Silence speaks louder than words
• Humble
FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
At home, at school and at work
• No matter gender, nationality,
religious background or sexual
inclination.
• Sweden has the highest
percentage of working mothers in
the developed world.
• 480 days of parental leave (60 are
reserved for each parent)
• Children’s rights
The Swedish experience
Take a
number
Listen – do
not just speak
Play on words
Be one with
nature
Honest
Consensus
Try different
sports and
activities
They will
listen – and
remember
Equality – not
hierarchy
Studying in Sweden
Group work:
Meet often,
Consensus
37,000
students in
GU
Speak in
weeks
First name
basis
Academic 15
minutes
Socializing with Swedes
Cosy Friday
Dinner Parties
Outdoor eating
Restaurants/Dinner
Shoes off!
More than 8 at the table?
Sitting to the left of the hostess
Look into my eyes
Swedes like to sing
Informal dress
How to behave with Swedes and other
cultures to break boundaries?
Listen more than you speak
Ask questions and be interested in the person in front of you
Try and not to think in stereotypes
Be open-minded and positive to embrase the differences
SWEDISH INVENTIONS
Alfred Nobel
SWEDISH COMPANIES
FAMOUS SWEDES
SWEDISH MUSIC
ROBYN
No. 1 exporter of
music in relation to
GDP
Major holidays and traditions
• In August/September: Crayfish party
• 26-30 October: Höstlov/Autumn break
• 31 October: All Saints Day
• 13 December: Lucia
• 24 December: Christmas eve
• 25 December: Christmas day
• 31 December: Year’s eve
CRAYFISH PARTY
• Wear silly hats
• Sing songs
• Drink snaps
• Sing more songs...
TRADITIONS – LUCIA & CHRISTMAS
Jens Gustavsson/Lena Granefelt/ Goran Assner/Cecilia Larsson/Miriam Preis/imagebank.sweden.se
Places to visit in
Gothenburg and the
surrounding areas
CLOSE TO NATURE:
Delsjön
(canoes/running tracks/swimming/fishing)
Vättlefjäll
(canoes/running tracks/swimming/fishing)
BOHUSLÄN (NORTH)
Tjörn/Orust
Tanum (Rock carvings)
HALLAND(SOUTH)
Varberg (Fort/Spa/beaches)
Saltholmen (Southern archipelago)
Marstrand
Älvsborgs fästning
Göteborg & Co: www.goteborg.com
Visit Sweden: www.visitsweden.com
West Sweden:
www.vastsverige.com/en/
VISITING SWEDEN’S ISLANDS GOTLAND
& ÖLAND
To Gotland you can find
affordable flights from serveral
companies on this website:
www.destinationgotland.se/en/
To Öland, you can find flights and
information using this website:
www.olandsturist.se/en
Buses & Trains to main cities in Sweden &
Europe: An affordable way to travel
BUS:
Nettbuss: travels between larger
cities in Sweden and the capital city
of neighbouring countries Norway
and Denmark
www.nettbuss.se
www.gobybus.se
www.bus4you.se
Swebus: travels to major cities in
Sweden and Europe.
https://www.swebus.se/
TRAINS:
The train service is provided by the
company SJ. To look at destinations
and to plan your itinerary, you can
visit: www.sj.se
Blue Train (Blå tåget)
www.blataget.com
ENJOY!
Vanessa Molina Gabinus