These are the worst culture shocks for foreigners coming to Sweden
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Loading... - Kathy Grant
- 26 Apr 2023
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From the digitised society, to the food and the weather, to small talk and public nakedness, the culture shocks readers reported on arrival in Sweden depended a lot on where they, themselves, came from.
The darkness and the cold
It's perhaps not strictly a culture shock, but several respondents said they had been unprepared for how arduous Sweden's long winters were and how much the darkness affected the locals.
"The long winter is made more depressing by the private nature of Swedes," said one American. "This is a stark contrast to summer and even spring where Swedes become different people - outgoing and fun. This whiplash is strange for me as an American."
"The dark and prolonged winters make Swedes depressed and withdrawn, and I am also starting to feel the same," said a respondent from Southeast Asia.
"The winter is long and despite coming from another northern European country (UK) the difference is significant," said a British respondent. "I write this in mid April and the trees and bushes are still bare. There is also still the possibility of another snowfall before we reach the first week of May."
Nudity
Many people from cultures where nudity is unusual in front of strangers even from the same sex said they had been taken aback by the relaxed attitudes shown in public changing rooms.
"What came as a complete shock was seeing people get completely naked in the changing areas of gyms and swimming pools," one respondent from India said. "That took some getting used to, especially the level to which nudity is normalised and accepted in the Swedish society."
"Nudity in a same-gender area in public places like a bath house or changing room is normal here," said Sylvi from Indonesia. Read More…
