Blogs from Luleå, Norrbotten County, Sweden, Europe - page 5

Allright so food warrants a separate entry. Swedish food is very different from home, though you can always find some standards. A note for those like me: Swedes cook. This means students too. Even guys! So yes, it is the general joke on my floor that I am the only girl and the only one who cannot cook. Imagine the hilarity that goes on. Anyway, so the grocery stores are smaller. They do have some of my favorites like: yogurt, jelly, peanut butter, bread, sandwich stuff, Coke, milk, orange juice, apple juice, frozen lasagna, frozen french fries, frozen pizza, and spaghetti mixes. I get a lot of cereal too. They import fruits like bananas, grapefruits, kiwis, oranges, and grapes. Now, Swedish foods that I have noticed the boys eat alot: meatballs (known as kottbullar), spaghetti with ... read more

This deserves an entry on its own. It's a running joke, but also has been an experience to discover, but it is the truth. Swedish people are, by nature, more reserved. To explain what I mean, I'll use an example. I know a teacher that walks to work everyday. She sees the same people everyday. Yet, she never says hello to them. Usually, Swedish people do not meet your eye or smile if you're a stranger to them. They definitely won't say hello. They go on about their business. Now, if you introduce yourself and keep talking to them in little bits at the time to make them comfortable, they will get better. They'll never be very talkative though, unless in special cases. Northern Swedes are worse about this than Southern Swedes. For the record, though, ... read more