Student blogs

Moving to a new country is always going to come with culture shocks. Having lived in Sweden for around three months now (which side note– is crazy, time moves so fast), I’ve come across my fair share of them. I’m from Venezuela and Spain, but I grew up in three different countries, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Oman (the typical international kid story). So, I’m used to the initial culture shock that comes with moving somewhere new, and am always excited to discover all the small and big differences between countries. Before I begin, it is important to note that these are culture shocks relative to my own experiences and that they can look different for everyone!

Here is my list of my main culture shocks as an international student in Sweden:  

1) The Fika culture

One of my favorite (and more expensive) culture shocks I’ve ever had. Feeling down? An excuse to get fika. Taking a break from studying? It’s time for fika. Going to a lecture hosted by KI or virtually any event, the chance is that there will probably be fika. In case you haven’t heard of it, fika is essentially a coffee break along with a baked good (often a kanelbulle or cinnamon roll) in which it is common to socialize with coworkers or friends. It is so ingrained into Swedish culture that it is the first Swedish word I learned, two days into being here. I love the concept and I hadn’t come across it in other countries.

On the topic of coffee, I’ve never seen so much bryggkaffe (filter coffee) ever. It is definitely the cheaper option in cafes, could that be the reason why it’s so popular? I myself still haven’t made the shift from my cappuccinos to bryggkaffe but maybe in a couple months it will be a different story. It would certainly save me some money, which leads me to the next culture shock. 

2)  How expensive it is 

I knew that Scandinavia was going to be expensive. But I don’t think I really realized how expensive until three months into living here. My lifestyle compared to the Netherlands (which is also a relatively expensive country) has not changed much, but when I reluctantly look through my bank account the difference in money spent is crazy. 

I attribute this to two things: the price of fika and the price of groceries. I have recently had to switch over my go-to-cafe drink from a latte to cappuccino, because unfortunately lattes are more expensive. Even still, I recently had a 60 SEK cappuccino (around 5.7 euros) . And don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I buy coffee everyday but a coffee bought at a cafe once or twice a week adds up! And not suprisingly, groceries here are much more expensive than in other countries.

3) Reserved nature

Another big one would have to be the Swede’s reserved nature. Even for Northern Europe, I have found that people are especially quiet here. Taking the metro every morning and evening, I watch as people put their headphones on and keep to themselves, and if they do talk to someone, they do so quietly. It’s basically a right of passage to be talking to your friend on a bus, and then have a Swedish grandma come up to you and ask you to lower your voice. I have found that this silence is not reserved to just public transport, but to any public space. It’s a humbling experience when you are at a restaurant, and realize that it is you and your group of friends who are making more noise than the tables around you combined. 

Additionally, I have found it to be a rather indirect and polite culture. Having completed my bachelor’s in the Netherlands, I am used to very direct communication. But in Sweden, I’ve experienced the opposite. I rarely hear arguments or bickering on the street, and annoyance at strangers is seldom openly expressed– only in the occasional side-eye. 

4) The weather (in a good way)

Of course, now that winter is coming, the sun is setting at unspeakable times (aka before 15:00, which is a challenge for a person that grew up in a constantly sunny country on the equator). However, Stockholm is surprisingly sunny. I expected similar weather to the Netherlands (a layer of gray skies, and only really seeing the sun every two weeks), but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this city. Even though it is currently freezing outside and there is a max of six hours of light, at least during those hours of light you will get to experience the sun on your face. 

In all fairness, I have heard that the weather this year has been surprisingly better compared to others, so maybe this is me getting my hopes up. But overall, I’ve really appreciated being able to see a blue sky more than one time every two weeks. 

5) Accessibility to nature

Last but not least, accessibility to nature is something I really love about Stockholm, and Sweden in general. Stockholm is a rather large and bustling city (at least compared to what I’m used to), but take a 45 minute metro away from the city center in virtually any direction, and you’ll come across a variety of national parks. The easy access to nature and the multitude of green and blue spaces located in every vicinity is something that definitely has surprised me about Sweden, as big cities and nature don’t usually go together. 

When it was still relatively warm outside, I would go on hikes with friends, swim in the beach and for long walks and runs in the park. I still try to go for walks and runs, but the swimming will be put on hold until we’re above 15 degrees again. 

I’m really enjoying my time here in Stockholm, and appreciate every little culture shock that being new to Sweden entails, including the good and not so good. I’m excited for what’s to come!