Archive by Author
Suicide not so taboo anymore Posted by Katja on Mar 15, 2010
Sorry everybody for my “not-so-positive subject” posts. I have noticed (as well as been reminded) how a lot of my posts don’t show a particularly nice or happy view of Sweden. Only showing negative parts of Sweden and Swedish culture has not been deliberate, I’m just writing about things as they come to mind and…
Sweden invents new ways for unemployment Posted by Katja on Mar 11, 2010
Swedes usually like to pride themselves in being creative and their ability to invent new things. Since we were starving and had a really poor quality of life during the 1800’s and before that when things started turning we were all too happy to embrace (omfamna) change. Therefore change has been a good thing for…
Cream cake for breakfast – Only on your birthday! Posted by Katja on Mar 4, 2010
There are lots of ways to celebrate (fira) birthdays (födelsedagar), but the traditional way that is often used in older films like Astrid Lindgren’s books about Pippi Longstocking and her friends Tommy and Annika, Vi på saltkråkan and many more of her brilliant stories. Swedish birthday song: Ja må hon leva Strawberry-cream-cake (jordgubbstårta) is the…
Dreamers are castrated before they become a threat Posted by Katja on Feb 25, 2010
Imagine: You’re walking down the sidewalk or sitting on the bus maybe even on an airplane, who knows… but you are having a wonderful day and just a couple of seconds ago you thought of something you really want to do. Something just got you inspired and you are already up and far away from…
Banning ‘Jante’ from Åsele Posted by Katja on Feb 19, 2010
Åsele is a little town in the north of Sweden and over a longer period of time Åsele has been getting smaller and smaller. The population (befolkning) has decreased by 11,4% and people between 20-64 have been moving away at an every growing rate. Between 2008 and 2018 the working force will have decreased by…
New Election brings racism to a higher level Posted by Katja on Feb 2, 2010
This autumn there will be an election of parliament in Sweden. (Riksdagsval = election of parliament) The Swedish Democrats (The party’s Swedish name is Sverige Demokraterna) was founded in 1988, but we haven’t noticed it until now, this past year. In 2009 and even 2010 we have been made aware of their radical, right-wing politics…
Dark hours and too many of them Posted by Katja on Jan 31, 2010
Nothern citizens of Sweden are exposed to extreme temperatures (to the colder side of the thermometer) and long, dark winters. The long dark hours often drive a lot of people into a sort of hibernation, of the kind when people’s awareness of happiness, each other and positiveness get dulled. A kind of mutual, understood and…