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“You Will Very Quickly Get Burned Out And Hate It Here”: Person Shares That Moving To Sweden From The US Is Not As Amazing As People Think
As an American, I’ve always viewed Scandinavia through rose-colored glasses. The home of gorgeous scenery, excellent education and healthcare, and systems that seem to work efficiently and actually benefit taxpayers, who wouldn’t want to move there?
However, there are pros and cons to living anywhere, so one expat who moved to Sweden nearly a decade ago recently detailed on Reddit why the land of pop music and IKEA might not be right for every American. Keep reading to find their thoughts, as well as a conversation we were lucky enough to have with Meagan Nouis, another American who calls Sweden home.
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It’s common for Americans to romanticize the idea of moving to a Nordic country
Image credits: Anete Lūsiņa (not the actual photo)
So this expat has broken down some of the ways moving to Sweden may not be exactly what Americans expect
Image credits: Catalina Johnson (not the actual photo)
Image credits: anon
The expat later shared an update explaining what they love most about living in Sweden
Expats should expect to encounter many cultural differences anywhere they relocate to
To learn more about what it’s like to live in Sweden as an American, we reached out to YouTuber Meagan Nouis, who was kind enough to have a chat with us about her life in this beautiful country. First, Meagan shared what inspired her to make the move to Scandinavia. “When I was studying abroad in Rome, Italy in 2012, I used my free time to travel around Europe,” she told Bored Panda. “I visited Stockholm during this time, and I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. Think ‘Disney movie’ moment where I realized my dream was to live here! Since that one visit, I studied the language and decided the best way to live here was to study for my master’s degree.”
Meagan went on to explain that her experience in Sweden has become much easier over time, as her understanding of the culture has deepened. “You can find plenty of articles and videos talking about ‘what to expect in Sweden,’ which are broader descriptions of the culture, but it’s the small stuff like how to make a doctor’s appointment, doing self-checkout at Pressbyrån, and getting your American phone to work that are much harder to learn until you have to do it for the first time,” she explained.
Meagan also opened up about some of the most challenging aspects of living in Sweden. “Everyone says it, but the winter darkness and the weather are some of the hardest parts,” she shared. “Coming from Minnesota, I thought I’d prefer the Swedish darkness over the freezing cold weather in Minnesota (we’re talking over a month straight below 0° F). I was wrong. The darkness is miserable and really wears you down after months and months of it!”
Image credits:Erik Odiin (not the actual photo)
“Even if Swedes are typically reserved, they are so friendly once you get to know them!”
“Of course, I miss family and friends the most, but I’m grateful that it’s so easy these days to stay in touch with Facetime and family group chats,” Meagan added. “Culturally, I miss the efficiency of customer service [in the United States]. Typically, the first person you talk to will do everything they can to assist! I also miss how easy it is to joke around with complete strangers.”
And as far as Meagan’s favorite parts about living in Sweden, she says there are plenty of them. “The people are incredibly nice. Even if Swedes are typically reserved, they are so friendly once you get to know them!” she told Bored Panda. “I also love the efficiency of paying for things with Swish and using Band ID to make logging into accounts easy. The Swedish summers are beautiful. The coffee is so good and so cheap!”
“In Stockholm, one of my absolute favorite parts is how beautiful the city is,” Meagan added. “I will never get tired of seeing all of the boats on the water and Nordic architecture along the island coasts!”
Meagan also shared that she has learned a lot through her journey of trying to move to Sweden, which included being kicked out by Migrationsverket at one point, and then moving back again. “Here are my tips for Americans who want to move here, and what I wish I had known ahead of time,” she told Bored Panda. “Hands down, the easiest way to initially move here is through studying at a university. If this is what you want to do, save as much money as you can. Not only do you have to pay tuition (which is still MUCH cheaper than tuition in the States), but you need to prove to the migration office that you have enough money saved or that you earn a stable income. It’s easiest when you have the required amount already saved.”
“If you study, do a two-year degree,” Meagan continued. “One of the most essential things you’ll need to even function in daily Swedish society is a personnummer. I found out the hard way that a one-year master’s program was technically only nine months, and the migrations office won’t give you a number if your visa is for less than a year. If you do a two-year program, you’re guaranteed a personnummer right away. Save yourself the headache!”
Image credits: Quintin Gellar (not the actual photo)
Moving to Sweden certainly comes with challenges, but assimilation is possible with an open mind and determination
Meagan also warns readers to be prepared for lots of frustration trying to settle in and adjust to Swedish life. “The biggest thing that will help is getting a personnummer,” she says. “From there, I recommend getting a Swedish/European phone that can use a Swedish SIM card since you’ll be using apps for everything! Also getting a Swedish bank account (but you’ll need the personnummer first).”
Despite all of the frustration Meagan has faced, however, she loves living in Sweden. “Sweden is amazing, and the more you learn about the intricacies of the culture, the more you’ll appreciate it! You’ll be frustrated with some of the differences, but that’s true no matter where you go in the world,” she told Bored Panda, adding a few recommendations for those who visit or move to Sweden. “Make sure to try pizzasallad. Drink lots of coffee (with milk, not creamer!). Go berry and mushroom picking. Swedish ‘miles’ are 10 kilometers and not the same as US miles. Never forget to take a queue ticket at the post office, pharmacy, and doctor’s office!” If you’d like to learn more about Meagan’s adventures in Sweden and check out some of her informative and hilarious videos, be sure to visit her YouTube channel right here!
We would love to hear your thoughts on this post in the comments, pandas. Have you ever lived in Sweden? Have you ever wanted to? Feel free to share about your own experiences in the birthplace of IKEA and countless pop songs, and then if you’re interested in reading another Bored Panda article discussing cultural differences an American mother noticed after moving to Denmark, you can find that story right here!
Image credits: Jon Flobrant (not the actual photo)
Many people joined in on the conversation, discussing the importance of having reasonable expectations when relocating to another country
What do you think ?
Sonja 2 years ago
I think that people in general really overestimate what it takes to emigrate anywhere. They just have no concept how different things AND people are elsewhere. They totally ignore the fact that the difference isn't just a different language and a few cultural quirks. It's going deeper. Between countries with different languages it's an often vastly different way of thinking, different values and different preferences far above regional differences. I'm not saying this in a judgemental way. I'm not judging other cultures. I'm just saying expect huge differences and prepare to be open for new ideas that are going much deeper than you expect.
XenoMurph 2 years ago (edited)
I think the problem with this example is that he would be well paid in the US, which covers a lot of his complaints. The costs, the wage, the tax, the housing. But if he was a POOR person in the US vs a poor person in Sweden, that would be an interesting comparison. Not many people would argue againt the fact that being rich in the US would be awesome.
Load More Replies...
Susie Elle 2 years ago
Lesson no. 1 when moving abroad: you're not in your home country anymore, so don't expect to be able to live like you are. That said, it's fully valid to dislike the way of living in another country.
Anne 2 years ago
I also emigrated to Sweden (from another EU country, but a more southern one). I absolutely love it here. I made a lot of friends, get invited over a lot (for lunch, dinner, fika) and can't see the reserved people comment. That said, I learned to speak Swedish and try my best. It isn't fluent, but I try real hard. I also plunged myself into everything this town has to offer. Football club, folketshus (village home), I help at the church, museum and am a member of the sports club. I jumped in. I have little contact with other immigrants from my country. So the stereotype? That's on you. They are awesome friendly humans and very willing to meet new people. Just leave your home country at the border, where it belongs.
Kip Kip 2 years ago
I have lived in 3 different counties and studied in a fourth. When i say lived, I thus mean for an extended period (>5 years) and not a 6 month exchange or a few years as expat. The reality is that moving counties is great, it can give you new opportunities and new insights and experiences. However it is also hard, it is learning a new language (if you don't want to learn the language, better don't bother moving), it is learning a new culture, a new bureaucracy and building up a whole new social network from scratch and all those things at the same time of a new job, the actual move etc. It is always extremely demanding and tiring and it can be extremely rewarding if done well. It is not just rainbows and sunshine. A lot of people get stuck though. Either they are not ready or prepared or they get stuck in what I like to call "the blues". The blues is that all the effort you have to put in, which tires you to the bone (at least for a while), combined with the lack of a social
Kip Kip 2 years ago
life, some (small) setbacks and some home sickness you get down. The worst thing to do in such a case is to spend your time with other people that are also down and you'll just pull each other further down and you start putting posts like the above on reddit. Every country has advantages and disadvantages. Expectations are always better than reality.
Load More Replies...
Nicole 2 years ago
This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion but this person sounds so negative and exhausting. It sounds like they have went there not expecting to compromise on anything. I mean how do you manage to turn free or very cheap healthcare into a negative? Surely even having to wait a bit to see your regular physician is still better than not being able to afford to get treatment at all ?
BoredMe 2 years ago
"It's not quite as good of healthcare as you would get if you're a skilled worker" That's great. What about the other 80 percent of the planet?
Load More Replies...
Nenya 2 years ago
I know several ex-pats really struggeling with the weather/dark hours here. Yes, in winter daylight is only around 7 hours - and less the further north you are, but remember, complaining about the weather is a national sport here and that helps a lot, you can always find someone to complain with😊
Rocco MZ 2 years ago
I love how people think all Americans assume everything is better here than in other countries. That's a pretty big generalization to make especially with the way Europe is glamorized to us to make it seem like it's so much better than America. Different countries have different cultures. Not all of us here in American are condescending a holes. I've traveled the world, I can appreciate what they have to offer. I've lived in Europe and I didn't find it all that much different than living in the states.
Roman Hans 2 years ago
I moved from New York City to Berlin. The health care point is weird: yes, care would be better in America. Here, though, there's very little deductible. I paid maybe $200 for a week in the hospital. In big cities, it's difficult to have a car. Same with NYC. The public transport, though, can be excellent & cheap ($55 a month for a pass in Berlin). And yes, German is a difficult language. For me, it might come down to politics. The political system is broken & far too much of America is controlled by idiots (see the David statue controversy). Europe values intelligence, and for that reason alone there's no way I could go back.
Vermontah 2 years ago
It must be a huge letdown that the locals don't want to include you. It seems another problem is loneliness exacerbated by darkness.
ChingoChango 2 years ago
It depends, I never had a problem in Sweden. Im Australian though
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Georg E 2 years ago
An interesting read. To me, this article says a lot more about the problems of American mindset than those of the people of the Nordic countries. Being a Nordic person myself (but trying to limit my bias), I agree on the darkness and the cold climate, the hard-to-get-to-know locals and other things being issues for people trying to settle here. But what I also see is Americans are just too spoilt, too materialistic, too entitled, too whiney, too demanding and unable or unwilling to comprehend and accept thr "hygge/lagom" concept necessary to survive in this part of the world. The author of the article does, in a way, admit to this by saying "the few Americans who managed to thrive over here are curious, adventureous and open-minded". So it's the typical American mindset, without generalising too much, that is the issue here, after all.
the quickening 2 years ago
What got me was the "my salary isn't high enough!" Really? Not high enough for... what exactly? Comfortable, safe life isn't good enough, not only for them but also for their kids? They enjoy earning the big $$$ just to spend it on basics like health, safety and education? What else even is there to spend money on? Of importance, I mean. So if those three things are taken care of by the society you live in, why would you need to make insane amounts of money to be happy?!
Load More Replies... Sonja 2 years ago
I think that people in general really overestimate what it takes to emigrate anywhere. They just have no concept how different things AND people are elsewhere. They totally ignore the fact that the difference isn't just a different language and a few cultural quirks. It's going deeper. Between countries with different languages it's an often vastly different way of thinking, different values and different preferences far above regional differences. I'm not saying this in a judgemental way. I'm not judging other cultures. I'm just saying expect huge differences and prepare to be open for new ideas that are going much deeper than you expect.
XenoMurph 2 years ago (edited)
I think the problem with this example is that he would be well paid in the US, which covers a lot of his complaints. The costs, the wage, the tax, the housing. But if he was a POOR person in the US vs a poor person in Sweden, that would be an interesting comparison. Not many people would argue againt the fact that being rich in the US would be awesome.
Load More Replies... Susie Elle 2 years ago
Lesson no. 1 when moving abroad: you're not in your home country anymore, so don't expect to be able to live like you are. That said, it's fully valid to dislike the way of living in another country.
Anne 2 years ago
I also emigrated to Sweden (from another EU country, but a more southern one). I absolutely love it here. I made a lot of friends, get invited over a lot (for lunch, dinner, fika) and can't see the reserved people comment. That said, I learned to speak Swedish and try my best. It isn't fluent, but I try real hard. I also plunged myself into everything this town has to offer. Football club, folketshus (village home), I help at the church, museum and am a member of the sports club. I jumped in. I have little contact with other immigrants from my country. So the stereotype? That's on you. They are awesome friendly humans and very willing to meet new people. Just leave your home country at the border, where it belongs.
Kip Kip 2 years ago
I have lived in 3 different counties and studied in a fourth. When i say lived, I thus mean for an extended period (>5 years) and not a 6 month exchange or a few years as expat. The reality is that moving counties is great, it can give you new opportunities and new insights and experiences. However it is also hard, it is learning a new language (if you don't want to learn the language, better don't bother moving), it is learning a new culture, a new bureaucracy and building up a whole new social network from scratch and all those things at the same time of a new job, the actual move etc. It is always extremely demanding and tiring and it can be extremely rewarding if done well. It is not just rainbows and sunshine. A lot of people get stuck though. Either they are not ready or prepared or they get stuck in what I like to call "the blues". The blues is that all the effort you have to put in, which tires you to the bone (at least for a while), combined with the lack of a social
Kip Kip 2 years ago
life, some (small) setbacks and some home sickness you get down. The worst thing to do in such a case is to spend your time with other people that are also down and you'll just pull each other further down and you start putting posts like the above on reddit. Every country has advantages and disadvantages. Expectations are always better than reality.
Load More Replies... Nicole 2 years ago
This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion but this person sounds so negative and exhausting. It sounds like they have went there not expecting to compromise on anything. I mean how do you manage to turn free or very cheap healthcare into a negative? Surely even having to wait a bit to see your regular physician is still better than not being able to afford to get treatment at all ?
BoredMe 2 years ago
"It's not quite as good of healthcare as you would get if you're a skilled worker" That's great. What about the other 80 percent of the planet?
Load More Replies... Nenya 2 years ago
I know several ex-pats really struggeling with the weather/dark hours here. Yes, in winter daylight is only around 7 hours - and less the further north you are, but remember, complaining about the weather is a national sport here and that helps a lot, you can always find someone to complain with😊
Rocco MZ 2 years ago
I love how people think all Americans assume everything is better here than in other countries. That's a pretty big generalization to make especially with the way Europe is glamorized to us to make it seem like it's so much better than America. Different countries have different cultures. Not all of us here in American are condescending a holes. I've traveled the world, I can appreciate what they have to offer. I've lived in Europe and I didn't find it all that much different than living in the states.
Roman Hans 2 years ago
I moved from New York City to Berlin. The health care point is weird: yes, care would be better in America. Here, though, there's very little deductible. I paid maybe $200 for a week in the hospital. In big cities, it's difficult to have a car. Same with NYC. The public transport, though, can be excellent & cheap ($55 a month for a pass in Berlin). And yes, German is a difficult language. For me, it might come down to politics. The political system is broken & far too much of America is controlled by idiots (see the David statue controversy). Europe values intelligence, and for that reason alone there's no way I could go back.
Vermontah 2 years ago
It must be a huge letdown that the locals don't want to include you. It seems another problem is loneliness exacerbated by darkness.
ChingoChango 2 years ago
It depends, I never had a problem in Sweden. Im Australian though
Load More Replies... Georg E 2 years ago
An interesting read. To me, this article says a lot more about the problems of American mindset than those of the people of the Nordic countries. Being a Nordic person myself (but trying to limit my bias), I agree on the darkness and the cold climate, the hard-to-get-to-know locals and other things being issues for people trying to settle here. But what I also see is Americans are just too spoilt, too materialistic, too entitled, too whiney, too demanding and unable or unwilling to comprehend and accept thr "hygge/lagom" concept necessary to survive in this part of the world. The author of the article does, in a way, admit to this by saying "the few Americans who managed to thrive over here are curious, adventureous and open-minded". So it's the typical American mindset, without generalising too much, that is the issue here, after all.
the quickening 2 years ago
What got me was the "my salary isn't high enough!" Really? Not high enough for... what exactly? Comfortable, safe life isn't good enough, not only for them but also for their kids? They enjoy earning the big $$$ just to spend it on basics like health, safety and education? What else even is there to spend money on? Of importance, I mean. So if those three things are taken care of by the society you live in, why would you need to make insane amounts of money to be happy?!
Load More Replies...
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