Some facts about Sweden
Model nation, world conscience, the country that protects its citizens from cradle to grave! Sweden carries a list of international labels, some deserved and others less so. Sweden is a small Nordic nation that, in the space of a century has transformed itself from a poor, underdeveloped agrarian country into one of the worlds most modern and sophisticated welfare states and industrial nations.
Its people are friendly, conscientious, well groomed and take great pride in their country. Nearly all Swedes will speak excellent English and are great Anglophiles.
The Country
Sweden is a land of less than nine million inhabitants, less than the population of Belgium and yet physically is one of the largest countries in Europe - nearly the same size as Spain. 90% of the population live in the southern part of the country whilst parts of the north of the country are recognised as being the last wilderness in Western Europe.
In all, more than half of Sweden's area consists of mainly coniferous forest. Nearly 10% is lakes, rivers and wetlands. The Swedes are quite rightly passionate about their country and the beauty of its natural scenery.
Wild animals abound, especially in the wilderness areas with the moose (or elk), brown bear, wolverine, wolves and lynx forming the Swedish equivalent of the African "Big Five".
The Climate
Sweden enjoys intense but often quite short summers. Temperatures in June and July can be almost Mediterranean and the land is bathed in light for almost 24 hours at the peak of midsummer. People swim in the lakes and visitors are sometimes amazed at how warm the water can be. Winters are very cold and snow can often fall in September in the north.
In the County of Dalarna, where the ski resorts are situated, the snows usually start in late October. The ski season starts in early December and finishes the last weekend in April.
Easter is one of the biggest ski season hot spots in Sweden, with visitors from all over Europe coming to take advantage of the late skiing. December and January are dark months, with the sun barely being seen for more than a couple of hours a day. In February and March, the days start to get longer and the bitter weather of January fades into the memory.
You will often see Swedes staring up towards the sky, not looking for flying saucers but feeling the first rays of the warmth of the sun on their faces.
The Government
The country was often portrayed in the 1950s and 60s, especially by the Americans, as being a "half communist" country. Nothing could be further from the truth - Sweden is a thoroughly democratised nation and a solid market economy. The wealth that Sweden enjoyed during the 20th Century was distributed via the tax system into education, health care, child and elderly care and pensions, making it one of the most envied countries in the world. There is little or no evidence of a class system divide in Sweden, and the narrow gaps between these social classes mean that plumbers will live next door to surgeons and enjoy pretty much the same life style.
Equal rights, equal pay and a transparency in government and in their dealings with other nations are the envy of many of its neighbours.
Who said Sweden is expensive?
It is true that the Swedes pay a higher percentage of their personal income in taxes than people do in many other European countries - but look what they get in return! Another persistent myth is that Sweden is an expensive country to live in and visit. This was true for many years but the weakening of the Swedish Krona over the past two decades and its low inflation have put its living costs amongst the lower rungs of European countries.
Eating out on average is cheaper than in the UK, although beer remains slightly more expensive (but not much compared to London). Property prices are amongst the cheapest in Europe and offers some of the best value.
Literature/Art and Film
Foreigners are often amazed at the richness of Swedish cultural heritage. Amongst its most famous writers are August Strindberg, Harry Martinson and Wilhelm Moberg. Sweden also produced Astrid Lindgren, author of the Pippi Longstocking books that have captivated children for generations.
Two of Sweden's most famous painters, Anders Zorn and Carl Larsson are well known throughout the world and interestingly both lived in Dalarna. Zorn is famous for his nudes and Larsson for his paintings of his family and their friends familiar to nearly everyone. Many of his paintings have been used as inspirations for some of the IKEA product range.
Sweden's most famous film maker, Ingmar Bergman often portrayed the dark side of Swedish society. Swedish cinema in the 50's and 60's was the main "villain" behind the still thriving myth of Sweden as a country populated by exquisitely beautiful, vigorously healthy, liberated blondes, who sunbath nude in the white summer night!
Things have changed now that the rest of the world's cinema industry has caught up.
Myths: Blondes, Polar Bears & Suicide
There is a myth that Sweden is in the main a country populated by blondes, Polar Bears and melancholy hard drinking suicides. The best way to get rid of these myths is to face them down one by one:
Swedish Sin - Started with nude scenes in films made in
the 50s and 60s. They have little to do with reality. It is true that Swedes
have a more relaxed attitude towards sex and nakedness than many other peoples.
However, in such matters as teenage pregnancies and STD, Sweden is at the bottom in
international comparisons.
Suicide - A stubborn myth with no background in
reality. The truth is that Sweden
was the first country to keep honest and accurate statistics concerning
suicides and remains well down the list of high suicide rates.
Polar Bears - No, only in zoos!
Beautiful blondes - Yes of both genders.
The Royal Family
Unlike us, the Swedes have a long standing love affair with their Royal family. They are greatly admired and liked by the majority of the population and can often be seen out shopping, cycling the streets of Stockholm, or in the case of the younger Royals behaving and enjoying themselves in nightclubs and discos (unlike our own). The current Swedish Royal family is descended from the French Count Bernadotte, one of Napoleon Bonaparte's Marshals of France" imported" for reasons that seem to be lost in time.
Global Brands
When we think of Sweden we automatically think of Volvo , ABBA, Bjorn Borg, Greta Garbo, IKEA, Absolut Vodka, Ericsson phones, Saab, Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) and Electrolux. Try a similar exercise for say Belgium or Norway. Let me know the results.
Food
There is more to Swedish food than the traditional Smorgasbord and the chef from the Muppets! Many of you will now be familiar with the Swedish meatballs served in most IKEA stores in the UK, although in the last twenty years Sweden has now built up a reputation as one of Euorpe's culinary centres.
Restaurant chains familiar to UK students abound and there are more McDonald outlets per head of population than any other country in Europe. The main meal in Sweden is traditionally taken at midday hence the many splendid "Dagens lunch" (lunch menu) offers for three course lunches with a drink, at prices that are well below that which you would pay in the UK.
In Conclusion
Sweden is one of Europe's best kept secrets. I know, I am Swedish myself! As a centre for skiing, it offers UK schools a safe and secure enviroment for student groups of all ages. The facilities are excellent and it is little wonder that almost every Swede can ski (and well). I hope these background notes are useful and will encourage you to view Sweden as an alternative to the crowded and increasingly more expensive ski resorts further south.
Travelling with Anglia, you know that you will be well looked after from the start, secure in the knowledge that you are in the hands of a company that cares.
