Simple Swedish Podcast - #271 - 10 frågor om svenskar (med min mamma)

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

Nivå: B1-B2 Min käre mor (mor = mamma) är och hälsar på mig i Valencia och jag tog tillfället i akt och gjorde ett poddavsnitt med henne. Ämnet är de 10 vanligaste frågorna folk har om svenskar! Det blev ett intressant samtal. I slutet pratar vi lite om Language Lock-in Boot Camp eftersom hon ju faktiskt har varit med på två av dem. Känner du att du verkligen vill tvinga dig själv att tala bara svenska i 9 dagar, samtidigt som du får en fantastiskt rolig upplevelse du kommer minnas hela livet? Då är bootcampet för dig! Klicka här för att läsa mer och anmäla dig.  --- Transkript --- Yes, välkommen till Simple Swedish Podcast och idag blir det faktiskt ett samtal med ingen mindre än min mamma. Hon är tillbaka i podden. Hon har ju varit med flera gånger förut och det brukar vara uppskattat. Så idag har jag haft ett samtal med henne och ämnet var tio frågor som folk ofta ställer om svenskar. Så jag frågade faktiskt ChatGPT efter tio frågor som folk brukar ställa om svenskar, och så ställde jag dem till henne helt enkelt. Så ja, det här avsnittet är såklart lite svårare än de andra avsnitten eftersom det är ett samtal men jag tror också att det är lite lättare än samtal generellt på svenska. Dels för att ni är vana att höra mig men också för att vi båda pratar lite långsammare och tydligare, tror jag. I slutet pratar vi också lite om Bootcampet, för ansökningarna till sommarens Bootcamp är öppna nu och hon var faktiskt med på Bootcampet i somras. Och ja, hon har varit med en sommar och en vinter. Så jag frågade henne lite också om det också på slutet. Ja, Bootcampet, Language Lock-in Boot Camp, det är ju ett nio dagar långt Bootcamp där du måste prata svenska hela tiden. Alla andra språk är förbjudna. Det betyder att du får inte använda något annat språk än svenska. Om du känner att du.. verkligen måste tvinga dig själv att bara prata svenska under en tid och du vill kombinera det med en fantastisk oförglömlig upplevelse i mitten av Sverige i en historisk villa omgiven av vacker natur, skogar, sjöar och tillsammans med en riktigt härlig grupp människor ..då är Bootcampet för dig! Så gå till www.languagelockin.com och anmäl dig till Bootcampet. Och innan vi börjar med det här avsnittet ska jag tacka några nya patrons såklart. Det är Pieter, Bryan, Federica, Nataliya, Flurin, Nerses, Christine, Judit, Mengs och Annika. Tack till er för att ni stödjer den här podden och ni får tillgång till transkript till det här och alla andra avsnitt såklart. Yes, det var det. Då lyssnar vi på dagens avsnitt! ..om du vill läsa hela transkriptet - klicka här!

Yes, welcome to Simple Swedish Podcast. Today it will be a conversation with none other than my mom. She is back in the podcast. She has been with us several times before and that is appreciated. So today I have had a conversation with her and the topic was 10 questions that people usually ask about Swedes and then I asked them to her, basically. So, yes, this episode is of is a bit easier than a conversation in general in Swedish. Partly because you are used to hearing me, but also because we both speak a little slower and more clear I think. In the end we also talked a little about the bootcamp.

Because the summer bootcamp is open now. She was actually with us at the bootcamp this summer. She was with us one summer and one winter. So I asked her a bit about that as well. Yes, the language lock-in bootcamp is a 9 day long bootcamp where you have to speak Swedish all the time. All other languages are forbidden. This means that you can't use yourself to just speak Swedish for a while

and you want to combine that with a fantastic unforgettable experience in the middle of Sweden in a historical villa surrounded by beautiful nature, forests, lakes and together with a really lovely group of people then the bootcamp is for you so go to languagelockin.com and register for the bootcamp and before we start with this episode

I would like to thank some new Patrons It's Peter, Brian, Federica, Natalia, Florin, Nerces, Kristine, Judith, Mengs and Annika Thank you for supporting this podcast and for the transcription of this and all other episodes. That was it, let's listen to today's episode. Thank you. You have been an appreciated guest, so it's nice that you are here and visit me in Valencia. Yes, I like Valencia and I like you too. Yes, that's good. The reason I had this conversation was that I asked Chachipiti which are the most common questions people have about Sweden and Swedes. And then we can discuss them a little. Yes, it's a little fun because I'm not Swedish.

No, you're not... actually not Swedish. Where are you from? I'm from Norway. You're from Norway, yes. But now I actually have Swedish citizenship too. You got... well, it's better late than never, as they say. Right, you've been a Norwegian citizen... Or still. ...until... when? Two years ago, I think. I have been a Norwegian citizen. Still? Until...

When? Two years ago I think. It's starting to sound... I hope it's quieting down or that it's not heard that much. And that's the computer. The computer, the fan started. So, I'm going to ask you questions and then we'll see what kind of questions we'll have. Because these are just questions that I asked Ketchibiti.

But these are questions that people often ask about Swedes and Sweden. And number one is, are Swedes really reserved and quiet? Yes, it's very individual. But I think Swedes have become more social and talkative over the years, since all countries are internationalized. There are new people coming to Sweden and influence in some way. So I think Swedes have become better at being open and social. So you mean that before they were less open and social? Yes, I think they were more thoughtful towards people.

And now there are so many who travel to other fantastic countries, like Spain. And there people are much more open and social. So it's still the case that if you compare it with Spanish words, the Swedes might reserve it and keep quiet. Yes, I would say so. And then it might also be about a generation. An older generation in Sweden might not be as open and social as the younger generations. Okay, interesting.

I think so. Everything is subjective, as we say here, of course. So, number two. How do you become friends with Swedes? That's actually a question I've heard many times. How do you become friends with Swedes if you're not yourself? Even for Swedes it can be difficult to find friends. How? Yes, this with beautiful weather today, I don't think it works anymore. You mean to talk about the weather with strangers?

It doesn't work. I don't know, I don't think so. It's such an old, cringy question. How? What I believe a lot is that either you go to a course, maybe take a training session somewhere and start a conversation. And then maybe you should move in a context where you have an interest. And then you meet people with the same interest. Then you have something to like yoga, so you sign up for a yoga course and you talk to people there. But then it's still quite difficult to go from a conversation to becoming friends with someone.

So how do you take that step? You can ask a person you are interested in, if you have any other interests. I think that the interest area is a very good topic. Everyone has different interests. You can ask what countries they have been to, have you been there, what do you know about that? If I am in Sweden, can you tell me what things you go from being friends, going out and drinking and partying together, and I invite you home for dinner and we're friends. How do you get there?

Well, that's exactly what you're saying. You might ask them if they've ever tasted this food. Would you like to come over and eat it? But can you... If you talk to someone on a course, can you just... You have to have a... It's a step-by-step course, of course. Yes.

So you have to take it step by step. Because I think that can be a difference with other cultures. Here, for example, people become friends pretty easily. Or you're almost friends with people already, but it's pretty hard to become close friends. But it's probably not that hard to invite someone. But in Sweden, inviting someone is a big step. Yes, it's a big step.

Then you need to go to that class and talk many times before you can invite that person. I can imagine without knowing that if you're not Swedish speaking from the beginning, but you want to train, then you can speak it, be honest and straightforward. I come from this country and I want to learn Swedish so much, and maybe you can tell me why you want to learn Swedish. It would be great to meet you one day and talk and conversate. So you can use this, that you want to get into society and become part of the Swedish society, you can use it as a tool for getting in touch with people. I think that most people would like to help, if it doesn't cost them too much.

No, but it's also a bit... Going from helping to becoming friends is also not... It's completely... Complicated. No, but then I think it helps to be very social. And then this with the interest, I think that's right. You don't wait for other people to take initiative. You have to take initiative yourself.

Because other people often have their own lives. But that doesn't mean that they are not open to new people, but maybe you have to take initiative. Then it could be that I have some skill or knowledge that makes the other person I want to be social with, maybe need it. For example, I'm good at creating things, then maybe that person is not as good either. If you would like to, then maybe you can exchange experiences and knowledge. You mean like, I am good at what can it be? For example, I am a tailor. If that person has a clothes rack that is too big or too small, I can help them to fix it. You are good at sewing. For example.

So, you can offer your skills. I think that there is always the area of interest that you have together with almost all people. But you are very good at finding common memories with people. Maybe because I am very curious about people. Yes, you always find common memories. Things you have in common. Common interests, common experiences, common friends, common something. You might ask yourself, how would I want this person to contact me? And then you can try from that perspective. You have to be active. I had the strategy here, what you said,

to find things that I was interested in and do things that I was interested in and find people in those activities. And that was how I started building my friendship here in Valencia. That's right. When I moved from Karlstad to Alingsås, I moved home to your dad. Right, a long time ago. We were already a couple. I thought, how am I going to get friends here? Because I had heard that it's hard for a girl to get into the town of Alingsås.

It's a small town. And you are very careful with keeping your groups. And I, as a girl from another town, came to Alingsås to take their boys. That was not popular. So I thought I must do something that doesn't have to do with your dad. So I went to a course and I got friends who were my friends for my sake, who didn't have anything to do with him. What kind of course did you go to?

I went to a French course. I went to a writing machine course. I don't know what that is now. French course. I took a writing machine course. I don't know what it is now. A writing machine. When you write... Now we write on a computer, but before that it wasn't... ...digital, but on a tongue-tongue. A writing machine.

So, I got friends. Yes, and I have to say that when you learn a language, there is nothing better than learning new things through that language. Exactly. To get good at that language. So if you study Swedish and you have reached a high level, go to Swedish courses, then you will both learn Swedish very well and get in touch with new people. People who have dogs, dog owners, they are very good at socializing with other dogs. Yes, dog drinking. Or some sport, an activity. Yes, what activity you are interested in. Yes, but those were useful tips here.

So I don't know if we will get through all these 20 questions, but we can see how far we get. So number 3 is, is it true that Swedes love cows and follow the rules in a Slavic way? Truth with modification. I can imagine it was more like that before, but now we've been so influenced by the actions of other countries. But I don't think it's popular if a Swede in a queue stands in front of someone else. No, no, no. If you stand in a queue, you stand in a queue. Then you have to stand. But yes, Swedes are very good at standing in a queue.

Yes, but we respect that. But I can't say that we love standing in line. No, we don't. I think that here in Spain they are more ok with standing in line because they are very un-stressed. They are ok with waiting for a long time. Maybe Swed's not as good for Swedes to wait and have patience. That's possible. But they do it. But we don't stand in queue because we like to wait, we stand in queue because we respect the system. Yes, we have respect for the system. So we also have respect for rules. And you can also take that as an example during the Covid period. We listened to the government and the faculties that knew what it was about

and trusted that they knew what they gave to restrictions. There is trust in the authorities. People often follow the recommendations that come. Number four. Why do almost all Swedes speak so good English? Yes, I think that has to do with the breath of time. We love to travel the world because we like the warmth. Scandinavia is not very warm, especially not in the winter half of the year. And that has contributed to the need to know other languages, especially English. It's so easy to learn English.

And we think it's fun to understand. And there's a lot of music in English, a lot of English films. We don't have a lot of dubbing in Sweden. I think we've never had that. No, we have subtitles, except for children's movies. But generally we never dub movies. I can't do dubbing. Here in Spain everything is dubbed to Spanish. I think it's a shame, because then you're robbing the people of a language. Yes, you... You... Yes, exactly. You lose a chance.

You lose a chance to... To hear and learn other languages. Yes. So if English... If English films hadn't been dubbed in Spanish, the Spaniards would have had much easier to get the language. Probably. Yes. So I in that language. Probably.

Yes. So I think that's a pity. But it's a lot of the reasons that we have English around us a lot and that we love being out in the world. We Swedes have a lot of focus outwards, from the outside world. Number 5. Are Swedes as equal as it is said? Yes, I would probably think so. At least, out of Swedes, they are quite equal. Out of Scandinavians, you could even say.

Yes, what do you mean by that? Maybe you don't have any family, any mom or dad, or grandparents who come from another country. You have your traditions, you have grown up with... What was the question? I mean, if Swedes are so equal, as people say. Yes, but I think we are. Very equal. We women often know, if we know that we have rights, then we also tend to demand our rights. We are not very stubborn. I know that as women in Sweden we have understood that we have to

relate to a lot of different things that men do not need, but perhaps not as serious as in other countries. But I think that many countries have come to Kapell and actually even passed by. But we are equal. Number 6. Do all Swedes have a summer cottage? No. No. And if they don't have a summer cottage, maybe they have a caravan, or a caravan, or a tent. Or a tent. Maybe everyone has a tent.

Or a boat. A boat, yes. So there are different ways to get out into nature wild and get home than to own a cabin. But many have cabins. Yes. You can also have colony lots. Right, a colony lot, a small piece of land where you can grow things and have a small cabin.

Yes. If you don't have your own garden, you might have a colony lot. But many people do have a summer cabin. Number seven. Are Swedes really obsessed with fika? Well, maybe. When you meet, you often want to have a coffee. Yes.

Where you grew up, the cafe town of Alingsås. There were 31 or 32 cafes in that small town of 40 000 inhabitants. But Swedes are very fond of fika. Yes, we like fika. But I think that Spanish people are more or less the same when they are out in the cafes. Yes, that's right. You live a lot out here, on outdoor servings and so on. But the thing with fika, to have a that it's a good idea to have a coffee and a cake. Or a cake. Or a bun.

Yes, but Swedes are very picky nerds. Number 8. Do all Swedes drink so much alcohol? Answer, no. You could also say that there are periods, there are occasions when tradition makes you drink more. Would you say, I think it feels like Swedes don't drink alcohol that often, but when they do, they do drink quite a lot. Yes, some do. Yes but you can say that.

But I also think that we have been influenced by southern countries, actually even there, with the use of wine as a topping or beer as a topping. And in the summer, consumption of alcohol increases. Because then we are more free and we want to enjoy the weather and the heat. Then the alcohol drinks come out. But one thing I've been thinking about is that people often take... For example, here people can take an beer for lunch and then go to work, continue working. But you absolutely don't do that in Sweden.

No, and I've been inspired by that. So I can drink a glass of wine almost anytime. Both of us have moved away from Sweden. But in Sweden it would never happen that you took lunch and took an beer. Maybe an easy beer in that case. Yes, that's true. Without alcohol. But I think that those who have been abroad a lot, they take it with them, because I can drink wine even in Sweden.

Yes. When I come home for lunch. Not so often, but I can do it. You get a little freer when you have been abroad a lot. You get more free in your habits. True. But if we are talking about Swedes in general... No, that doesn't happen that often. But I see that people get more drunk, especially young people in Sweden. Here.

Of course young people get drunk and drink a lot here too, but it's like... It feels like Swedes have a more uncontrolled alcohol intake when you party. Yes. Yes. Yes. So... Number nine. Why is it so hard to speak with Swedes? I don't know.

Do you agree? No. You don't think it's hard to speak with Swedes? No. So what... How do you hard to speak Swedish with small people? No. So what do you do to speak Swedish with small people? I'm myself and curious, that's all.

Yes, but you don't get the impression that many people are a bit uncomfortable with speaking small with strangers? No, I don't want to be small and talk to strangers. No, I don't get that. So would you say that if you are comfortable with that, then Swedes are also okay with that? I think it's more contagious. Yes, I think that you might have to cross a line. Because I think I notice sometimes in Sweden that people are not used to just talking to strangers. So they might be a little suspicious at first, if you start talking about anything.

But after a while, it depends on if they want to talk or not. But if there's someone who likes to talk, then it's not a problem. But it's just not as usual, maybe. No, what I understand is that here in Spain you get very close before you've barely started talking. You don't really get close. The conversation seems to be like that. have started talking, then it's definitely not Sweden. You don't really become close friends, it's just that... The conversation seems like that.

The type of conversation you have here is exactly like you have with a friend. You can have here with a stranger. It's very simple, very open, very friendly from the start. In Sweden you're more... More courteous. You're more open step by step. I think that's interesting. I thought about it when I was at a bar in Sweden. I sat down and there was very little space, so I had to ask if I could sit here and they had to remove their jacket. But then she moved a little, she sat down with her back against the wall to create some kind of boundary.

Not because it's unpleasant, but because it's like, this is our space and I give you your space. But here people wouldn't think like that, they would just sit here and maybe talk a little. Yeah, that can be very appropriate. So you want to give each other space, because that's some kind of norm. But that doesn't mean that you... Some people might not want to talk, but others might be open to it, but since it's not so common, you have to take the initiative yourself if you want to talk. Yes, and then the body language is a very good language. Yes, what do you mean? Yes, that she turns her back to the neighbors, then she shows very clearly with her body language that,

well, there is your place and here we are a bunch. But if she had turned towards you and opened up... I mean, people don't really do that. No, if she had been a little more social and maybe wanted to, then she would have shown you with her body. So the body language also says a lot about people. And we Swedes are not so open with the body language says a lot about people. And we Swedes might not be so open with the body language. We're not so close to each other when we talk. And some people are incredibly close.

And here people take on each other too. If you have body contact. And that's not done in Sweden. Not generally. Not with strangers and... No. Generally. But the physical contact makes it very familiar. It also creates more openness and security.

In most cases, yes. Yes, that was it. Why is it so hard to speak with Swedes? The answer is that it's not really that hard. But because it's not so common, people are not so used to it and people don't take that much initiative. But if you want to do that, it's probably not a problem. Because you are very social with people and you talk to people quite a lot. And I take people. Yes, me too.

So you are not so... Not so Swedish. Yes, me too. You're not that Swedish in that way. But if it works for you, it means it works for others too. I can imagine that if you have eye contact, if you have a smile, and they feel that you're not a threat. And you say something like, then it's an icebreaker. That they become a little safe. Yes, to smile. It's also like this. There are certain countries where it's normal to smile at each other. Even if you are a foreigner.

And in other countries it's strange to smile at each other. Is that so? Yes. Especially in Eastern Europe, you don't smile at each other if you don't know each other. Okay. So. Number 10 then. Are all Swedes long, blonde and blue-eyed? Yes. No. No, really not.

What is a Swedish? We have become... The further you go in history, the more open you become. The more mixed you become, the more mixed you become. Soon there will be few Swedes, norwegians, nor spaniards. We are mixed because we have so much in common and there are fewer and fewer borders. So yes, many Swedes are long and blonde. Yes, but compared to other countries... ...most of the time, absolutely.

Yes, Swedes are pretty long and blonde and blue-eyed. But it's very blended. Very blended. So, let's see how long it has been. It's been about half an hour. That's pretty easy. We got half of it. We got all the questions about Swedes. That was 10 questions about Swedes.

Wow. Has it been half an hour? Yes. We just say that. We do. I want to ask you one last question. We have opened the applications for the bootcamp this summer. And you were actually part of the bootcamp last summer. And you were also part of it... summer bootcamp. You've been there twice.

Yes, once in the winter there, in that house and with those people and that? What struck me was that it was so incredibly familiar and allowing. It was so high up in the ceiling. There was so much security and everyone felt so good after a while. It really became like a family. Yes, after a while you say? Yes, after a day everyone felt like they had known each other for months. Right, because that's something that's very interesting with... Let me just open this. I can say that it was a man and a woman, a couple, where the man didn't want to follow the fight.

But she absolutely wanted him to follow. But he said, okay, I'll follow, but maybe I'll go out said he would go out for a walk or a ride. Because he wasn't interested in me being here. When they got there, he was the one who thought it was the most fun. He was involved in everything and had a couple of marriages back then. The woman wanted to be in the marriage and the man didn't want to. But he was still in the beginning, some people are a bit nervous effort and energy into building this familiar atmosphere and that we feel safe with each other in the group and that it will be a good combination in the group.

And it really became a very nice atmosphere. Yes, you really succeed every time. Fantastic. Really, really good. Yes, and the application is open so just go to languagelockin.com and apply for the bootcamp this summer. You can read more on the website and watch videos from the earlier bootcamp and listen to what the participants have said. But thanks for being here once again.

Thanks for having me. So... We'll see. Next time you're here. Bye!