Ten signs that you've 'gone native' in Sweden

What a pile of s**t.

Although I left Sweden more than 25 years ago and I don´t lived in Sweden more than 5 years and I am not blond and blueyed, I become a true swede. That´s to say, I learned and remained with only the best qualities of the swedes. In my native country, that produced me lots of problems.

I totally agree with JulieLou - not worth publishing. Who is the Rebecca sleeping with to get this tripe published????

I think the only one of ten, which can really be considered Swedish, is the alcohol consumption at the weekends and the Systembolaget!

But if there is so much interest to figure out about ten signs that you've "gone native" in Sweden; here I write ten signs:

1) You believe that you are living in the best country in the world (Sweden), even though you aware that you life sucks.

2) You believe that all people around the world are looking forward to come and live in Sweden, and they are just waiting to get their chance to come to Sweden (even though a great number don't even know where Sweden is!).

3) You believe that immigrants and refugees are living in Sweden for welfare and social benefit.

4) You believe that Sweden has the best welfare system in the world, base on some statistics from half a century ago.

5) Ignoring the facts, when it doesn't fit with your interest and mentality.

6) Believing that Sweden has four perfect seasons, comparable with the best weathers in the Europe.

7) Believing that Swedes like to be multicultural, even though all evidence proves the opposite!

8) Believing that all immigrants and refugees have the same rights as equal as Swedes.

9) Looking forward to get in to Systembolaget at Fridays and Saturdays.

10) Thinking forward to Friday from the early Monday, and never to miss pause at job to drink coffee.

Was this compilied by an 18-year-old?! What a waste of space. Easily the stupidest thing I have ever read on The Local!

Further to my comment above, I would add that you know you have gone native in Sweden when: 1) You forget that all Swedes are brainwashed from birth and virtually incapable of independent thought. 2) You realise that Sweden is a police state disguised as a democracy, but accept it. 3) You accept the concepts of Lagom and Bast i varlden. 4) You stop complaining about the rotten/mouldy and out of date food sold in shops. 5) You accept the discrimination against non Swedes meted out by Swedish providers such as phone companies. 5) You realise that the Swedish chef is totally Swedish.

@yractualpatience,

Rebecca Martin is the deputy editor of this publication.

Well she doesn't deserve the job on the basis of her ability to write an interesting/informative article.

You know you are a whiner when:

1. You move to a country and then complain about it every chance you get

2. You accept all the benefits from said country and complain about it every chance you get.

3. You have a chip on your shoulder the size of the Rock of Gibraltar and complain about it every chance you get.

Fire her right away and give Skatty the job, much better done!

Rebbeca to be honest, I can say this article is epitome of naivety. Yet another non sense facts.

On the top of it she left her twitter account to follow bahahaha..! If you old lady smiles in tube means she is planning for murder. What if young lady smiles at me ? big whoop.

Just some rotten facts from blunt head.

i am proud to say i fit none of the criteria in the list in the article or in Skatty's list- Florida cracker, through and through.

Completely disagree about the Systembolaget entry in this list. A "real" Swedish native gets their booze supply duty free on Viking Line cruise to Åland! You know you're a Swede when you leave the boat with 8 cases of beer tied to a luggage rack! :)

A lot of these upbeat articles attempting to 'talk up' Sweden, and living here, are pitiful really.

As soon as such articles appear, folk divide into those that see through the claims - and those who have the 'If you don't like living here, clear off' attitude.

The reality is that most folks living here have committed themselves financially (and in other ways) and it does make it rather difficult to change your mind about living here, and acting accordingly.

This is just total garbage. I have myself lived in 7 countries and move 9 times for my work. You have gone "Native" when you have adapted to the rules and standards of the local society where you live, and been accepted by the local society. Then you are not seen as a stranger or visitor, and you feel at home and at peace, and you don't have to question your own belonging.

No wonder journalists is a profession at the bottom of public trust. They just cook something up they like and think of, never mind reality or truth. At least they could have asked someone who knows and have the experience. B.S.

Of course the article is a pile of junk! But isn't that the whole point? It is called humour!! Well I was laughing and I AM a native Swede...

Don't take yourself too seriously, laugh at yourself (others do ;-))

"laugh at yourself (others do ;-)) "

Yes others do, but more out of "feeling sorry" for those poor Svenssons who actually believe into their bullshit.

#17

"Yes others do, but more out of "feeling sorry" for those poor Svenssons who actually believe into their bullshit."

Do you understand the concept of laughing at yourself? In your case it means HelmiVainikka laughing at HelmiVainikka. It does not mean HelmiVainikka laughing at Svenssons nor does it mean Svenssons laughing at HelmiVainikka.

Of course HelmiVainikka can laugh at Svenssons for as much as HelmiVainikka wants, and I couldn't care less, but that's out of the point, isn't it? :P

11# You're white.

I am not living in Sweden but you will find me out with the BBQ during the cold months where I live. You just bundle up and go for it!!! :o)

#17

Meh, when you have half of your family (Wifes side) being Swedish you learn pretty quickly to have whatever they care or do not care about pass your rear end. ;)

Was this supposed to be funny?! Because it wasn't. I've seen much better examples on "going local" than this one..... Somebody doesn't know what they are talking about, that's for sure.....

#21

I now know you do not understand the concept of laughing at oneself. HelmiVainikka should learn how to laugh at HelmiVainikka. ;)

rise is laughing at rise all the time, it actually makes him happy. :)

Why are people really getting angry over this article? It's only childish. Since I'm a native the article supposedly is describing me as well, which I know for a fact it does not - it's only humour so I laugh instead. It feeds me with energy instead of draining it. Get angry and spend your energy at more important matters instead of this nonsense. It won't fit already being drained of energy when something actually importantly occur.. :P

Skatty should definitely take over for Rebecca.

The only funny one on here was the Swedish chef which everyone knows is true, unless you're from Skåne and don't realize that you're actually speaking Danish lol. ;)

The inability of self-criticism shown in some recurrent comments on TL reminds me of the old Soviet tactic called "Whataboutism": http://www.economist.com/node/10598774

3/10 after 7 years in Sweden. I am not going native I guess. :)

I don't think you need to live in Sweden to go native. I live in Spain with my Swedish wife, and we have dinner at 18:00 in the afternoon, while others here do it at 21. That's going native (swedish native), and like this example I have many others (my house full of Ikea crap, no shoes at home, fikka every day, etc...). But of course she adapted to some other spanish "good" stuff too...

Myself and my wife would give anything to move to Sweden. England is full of people that are here just for the Benefits System and can't even be bothered to work. Evertytime we come to Sweden it seems so clean and people are so respectful. We can't believe how well behaved children are whilst out shopping with their parents. In England they constantly cry and play up.

@weballergy I live in Sweden with my Swedish wife and we usually have dinner between 20:00-22:00. No one here has a set time for when they eat dinner.

@gogigboy If you actually lived in Sweden you'd soon realize there are countless people here just living off the dole and plenty of loud brats running around! Swedish people are not so friendly to you once you live here permanently.

This is brilliant, I found out more and more things that make you Swedish - mostly from the posters who are trying to be serious. I do love lunch at 1130 though, and meatballs and 50 odd ways to eat herring etc etc. Swedes love to tell this stuff among themselves but dont like to hear it from non Swedes - this is so Swedish it is funny too.

Old article but judging by the comments above Sweden is obviously the place were foreign curmudgeons come to die. Lighten up you muppets!

And why must every thread about Swedes be hijacked by someone demanding we all sit around thinking about "poor" immigrants all day?

Just be happy you were let in to Europe at all, if things are so bad here then why not go back to whatever social nightmare you came from and work to makes things better there?.