Things We Like About Sweden

Last week, we concluded a quick trip across the Southern portion of Denmark by train and ended up in Copenhagen before returning to Malmo, Sweden.  We visited Sweet Surrender Cafe to have lunch with our District Superintendent.  The cafe was busy.  Mothers had gathered there with their babies for their weekly meeting.  Babies played in an area created especially for them.  This is one thing that we like about Sweden.  Most cafes and even restaurants have areas for children.  They preoccupy themselves while parents and friends sip their coffees, eat cinnamon rolls, and talk about occurrences of the day.   We like this about Sweden.

Another thing we like about Sweden is that they "queue" up nicely.  No one pushes or shoves or even cuts in line; well, practically no one.   Not here. Whether there is a number system or not, they enter the business, look around, locate the end of the line and go there to stand. Quietly.  This makes us smile.  We love this system.

Swedes, by their own admission, are very quiet.  They are quiet on the bus, on the train, in the restaurant, in stores...you get the message.  They work very hard at arriving at the right balance and staying there. Lean closer or you will miss that last sentence.

Swedes ride bikes.  Everywhere!  Regardless of the weather, they roll from one place to another.  And, they have very innovative bike designs, too.  Sweden is bike-friendly and they have well-designed cycling routes - really a network of paths that allow bikers to arrive safely  at their destination.  As we sit on the city bus, we imagine we will see someone fall off their bike today.  This has never happened.  They grow up on bikes and stay on them into adulthood - into their 80s!

Swedes are both friendly and polite.  They do not mind "quietly" engaging in conversations and are most helpful in department stores and restaurants.  In the cafe where we volunteer, they do not mind sharing information about their culture and traditions.  Many Swedes have visited the states and like to tell about their experiences.

Swedes are diligent employees and they work hard, but only Monday-Friday, 8-5pm; that is, until October 2015 when Sweden introduced a six-hour working day.  This in an effort to make people happier (the needle is already off the Happy Chart here) and to increase productivity.  You see, they want to get more done in a shorter amount of time in order to have more time and energy to enjoy more coffee and more biking.
This is a good reason to like Sweden.



Swedes love cheese and bread.  As a result, we like the Swedes!




However, they do not have the best toilet paper in the world.  So far, outside of the U.S.A., Finland comes in a strong second.  But this is forgivable because Swedes do not wear outside shoes in their homes, and they are always on time.



Swedes are world-class recyclers!
They recycle correctly when no one is looking!  They say so. Also, statistics prove that 99% of all household waste in Sweden is recycled.  They have color-coded bins for paper, plastic, metal, batteries, and electric gadgets. Even light bulbs have their own bin.





These are just a few of the reasons why this volunteer assignment with Mission Corps has been an incredible adventure.  Traveling is not just about cheese, punctuality, biking and recycling.  It is about leaning into cultures and traditions, which are actually people.  Travel changes us and inspires us.
However, we do not have to leave our country to find change or inspiration.  "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters...in the end." (Ernest Hemingway)

More about our journey...thank you for reading our blog.
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       J:m and L:nda