Archive for 'Culture'
Fun facts about Sweden Posted by jennie on Apr 19, 2011
If you use Google.se and type in “Weird facts about…”, weird facts about Sweden comes up as the third suggestion, after weird facts about animals and weird facts about humans. Inspired by this discovery, I decided to gather a few fun facts about our beloved Sweden. Weird or not, here goes: * Sweden has the longest…
The new faces of the Swedish Krona Posted by jennie on Apr 14, 2011
Yesterday, Katja wrote about iconic Swedes… Let’s stay with that topic for a bit! The Swedish Krona is getting a whole new redesign and a new note is being introduced, the 200 SEK note. And not only that, we will have new faces on all our notes as well. The criteria for the selection of…
Give us your most inspiring Swede! Posted by Katja on Apr 12, 2011
When you think of Swedish figures, famous people or characters from books, who is most important to you? Of course there are a lot of internationally known characters like the author Astrid Lindgren, and in her stories Pippi Långstrump (Longstocking) but then again does that mean anything to you? Has any person in Swedish history…
What part does society play in the raising of our children? Posted by Katja on Apr 8, 2011
To be able to explain a bit of a culture difference I am going to have to use a personal experience. Since I am now living in Japan I see my own culture from a completely different perspective sometimes. In Japan I was together with my school, visiting a day care, playing with kids between…
Today’s expression: Att bära hundhuvudet Posted by jennie on Apr 5, 2011
Sometimes it works absolutely fine to directly translate Swedish expressions and idioms into English. But other times… well, let’s just say it doesn’t work at all. Att bära hundhuvet – to carry the dog’s head – is one who didn’t work, I tried it the other day and got a few raised eyebrows in response… Anyway…
Varning för aprilskämt! Posted by jennie on Mar 31, 2011
The last day of March means the first day of April tomorrow – and we all know what that day holds. April fools’ day is upon us and you better beware of everything, everyone – especially the media. There will be plenty of April fools’ (Aprilskämt) hidden away in the papers tomorrow, some very obviuos, some…
Have you ever been to Sweden? Posted by Katja on Mar 23, 2011
If you have been to Sweden, what were your first impressions? From the first moment you stepped on the airplane, were there Swedish flight attendants? Did they speak Swedish to you? If you only went for a holiday then when was the first time you tried speaking Swedish? Was it a “Tack”, or a “Hej”?…