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I was in Stockholm last weekend.
I like Sweden. Then again, I always look for the best in places. The art museum has 10 Rembrandts; you have petroglyphs, world heritage sites; one of my favorite veggie restaurants in the world...
Sounds like you don't know how to embrace a culture. Too bad for you.
I'm American born and raised in New York who moved to Stockholm, Sweden for two years due to work. I've been here two weeks and already noticed the difference.
Everything is SMALLER and MORE expensive. 5 :- (around 80 cents) for using public bathrooms. Must be a joke! Not a single store except few chain restaurants have bathrooms. Even mall public bathrooms cost money to use!
But that's very common in Europe, if not universal. Free restrooms are very rare. Not a big deal to me because most of them are very clean. I paid 1 Euro today. I did get a 50 cent voucher with it, though. Buy a water bottle for 50 cents or whatever else. You don't have to go to McDonalds to eat.
Meal sizes are OK except that drink sizes are tiny. Using ice on drinks is rare. Large soda in Sweden is medium in the U.S., and it cost 10 :- (around $1.30 for refill). Drinking soda in Sweden is almost like drinking luxury drink in the U.S. McDonald´s only had 5-6 different meal options, while there are 13+ in the U.S.
That's the same in entire Europe. I bought a "large" diet coke, which was the U.S. medium size. I paid 2.50 Euros, which is about 2.25 Dollars for a medium coke without refills. Yes, McDonalds is more popular in the U.S. When I was in France, all they had for breakfast was Egg McMuffin. I don't see what the big deal is, though.
You fail to realize that they serve whatever in demand. We Americans love large meals, but they couldn't sell that in Europe. It's not as popular.
95% of the things are much more expensive in Sweden than the U.S. Sales tax is 25% and 12% on food.
Yes, life's more expensive there. You should have known that.
I liked their public transportation. Road signs and road system stink.
Why? What's wrong with the roads?
Once living here you appreciate more and more America and I cannot wait to move back!
You're from NYC? Well, what can I say. NYC is a very big city. Stockholm is much smaller.
I don't really have any more to say.. But I don't think you've made any valid points. That's just the difference between the U.S. and many other countries.
As a Swede I can't agree with you more. America is the best in every category (except easy women, which of course is a great bonus, but doesn't quite hold up to all of the negatives).
U-S-A! U-S-A! WOOOOO!
Stockholm is an extremely beautiful city though, to me, it's the most beautiful in the world.
But then again, beauty is not only on the looks, beauty comes from inside, and inside Stockholm is an ugly place.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
5,921 posts, read 13,908,408 times
Reputation: 5234
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigSwede
Yes, I can.
Hello OP !!!
Did you get the hint ???
Free toilet use !!!
On the other hand, I do remember pay toilets in the USA a long time ago.
Even the ones at some gas stations had this thingy on the door, and I even had one (stole it ...) and mounted it on the toilet door at home !!!
Dear OP, you have been slapped long enough by posters here, and I can not blame them ...
You need to lighten up, accept the situation, learn Swedish, get out and meet the locals (almost 99% speak very good English !!!) and have a good time. You mention a time of 2 years. So there is an end to your *suffering*.
Stop comparing the costs between your home and the new place. Find out how long you had to work for a loaf of bread at home, and how long do you now work for a similar loaf of bread. I will make a bet that the bread might even taste better in Sweden !! Try some Limpa !!!
Get out and explore. Then figure out how much it would have cost you to do the same exploring if you were still in NYC, and had to pay for your Swedish adventure on your own money !!!
To all other posters. How about showing him/her how to get used to living and working there ? If I was in his/her position (we do not really know why and what the actual situation is, do we ?), I may have acted the same and be very disappointed, but with some well meant guidance, he/she may even get to like it !!!
I think you should enjoy your time in a different country instead of seeking out the negatives..
Scandinavia is a really beautiful place, wanna trade spots?
Wow, if you want to see "smaller", go to Tokyo! Housing there is miniature. And the food is strange. I'm not a fan.
Well, to each his own. I actually liked Tokyo.
The OP has been away from home due to a move through his employment. It isn't like he sought out the move on his own then came on here to complain. Maybe he's homesick.
It's really enlightening to see the posters in here that attacted the OP for stating an opinion. When you're away from home it is sometimes just a nice feeling to walk into a place that feels like home, even if it is McDonalds.
It's easy to see that bullying is alive and well, even among the adult population.
To the OP. Being in a strange place can be lonely. With time you will become more familiar with your surroundings and meet new people. Just give it time. Two years isn't forever although it may seem like it now. And don't let anyone make you feel bad for missing the USA. Some of us appreciate what we have here.
Anyway OP the reason why you hate Sweden is because you chose the wrong country, you should have gone to Denmark instead.
No, in all seriousness. You have to stop Sweden with the US, the culture is completely different, and is build on other values than the ones you're used to. It's like those people who go in to a really good restaurant and complain about the amount of food you get, you don't go there just to get full, you go there to get an experience. Take these two years as an experience, you may not like everything you see. But trust me, If you embrace the values that we have in this region, all your pet peeves will start to make alot more sense.
That things are more expensive should not come as a surprise to you, Scandinavia is notorious for being one of the most expensive regions in the world, so a little homework wouldn't have hurt.
Besides, you have only been there for two week, give it some time and take it as experience to try something new that hopefully will broaden your horizon.
Last edited by Vichel; 05-27-2012 at 01:06 PM..
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McDonald´s only had 5-6 different meal options, while there are 13+ in the U.S.
) and mounted it on the toilet door at home !!!