undefined | Better HN

0 pointsFundementalBrit4y ago0 comments

What didn't you like in Sweden? I'm a brit looking to buy land out their for the hunting opportunities.

0 comments

9 comments · 1 top-level

Winterflow3r4y ago· 8 in thread

Don't know anything about hunting other than it appears to be a very popular hobby here. There is a really strong brand of Sweden being a "come here, everyone speaks perfect English here" type of country but the reality is something completely different. In my experience, you definitely get treated differently based on how accented your Swedish is or if you speak any at all (and I live in the largest city here in Sweden where there a lot of people with a foreign background).

lillecarl4y ago

There's definitely a difference in people if they hear you have an "English", Indian(?), Arabic, Finnish, "eastern" or others.

As in, some of those accents are treated better, some worse

fsloth4y ago

Can you find a country in Europe, where the majority of population does not treat non-tourist people with a foreign background, if not with hostility, then at least as a strange specimen, not sure what to make of them?

caffeine4y ago

Actually I think that’s true of every country, EU, US, and elsewhere, to varying degrees. I think it’s much better in Western countries than elsewhere though - nobody would treat a foreigner as “normal” in eg Thailand, Turkey, Philippines, etc.

The exception is melting pot cities like London and NYC - where you are likely not interacting with the native population at all.

torbica4y ago

Serbia, Bosnia

Dracophoenix4y ago

In what way are you treated differently?

Winterflow3r4y ago

Maybe I've just been unlucky and come across the wrong people but here are some things that left me a bit disturbed tbh

- medical staff demanding to know if I'm Polish or Ukrainian in the middle of a big medical procedure where I am already in tears and in pain

- easier to get things done at banks and other admin places if you call the customer service number and speak (good) Swedish

- first thing that anyone asks in any social interaction is "Where are you from and what are you doing in Sweden?" Might not be malicious, but it's starting to grate on my nerves. Where I am really from is probably the least interesting thing about me.

And by the way, I am originally from another Nordic country and look Western European. I can only imagine what it's like for someone who looks different.

cosmodisk4y ago

Usually it's very subtle, definitely not in your face. For some it will be the glass ceiling at work they'll never manage to break,no matter how good they are, for others it will be people simply not wanting to interact beyond 'hi, bye' level.

1 more reply

kwhitefoot4y ago

Come to Norway instead. Much less judgemental.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse