10 Things I Learned in my First Year in Sweden

SHOEHORNS.
I love Sweden so much, but I still have a lot of questions about how things work around here...
After years of studying the language and previously living in Stockholm, I still experienced culture shock when moving to Sweden in 2019. I've learned a lot of Swedish cultural differences during the past year and a half that you won't find in the books. This is not a list about Fika and Midsommar, but rather the nuances of everyday life abroad.
The list:
1. Customer service is not the same
2. No cash / cashless society
3. Queues for everything
4. No water fountains
5. Drinking songs at during holidays, Helan Går
6. Swedish mile, Scandinavian mile, Svensk mil
7. Padel, racquet sports
8. Everyone has a shoehorn
9. Weird Robot voices on Swedish reality tv shows
10. Packages are picked up, rarely delivered to your door
Like and subscribe (pretty please!)
----
På svenska
SKOHORNAR.
Jag älskar Sverige så mycket, men jag har fortfarande många frågor om hur saker fungerar här ...
Efter år av att ha studerat språket och tidigare bott i Stockholm upplevde jag fortfarande kulturchock när jag flyttade till Sverige i 2019. Jag har lärt mig en hel del svenska skillnader under det sista året som man kan inte hitta i böckerna. Den här listan handlar inte om Fika och Midsommar, utan snarare nyanserna i vardagen utomlands.
Listan:
1. Kundtjänst är inte liknande som USA
2. Inget kontant / kontantfritt samhälle
3. Köer för allt
4. Inga fontäner
5. Dricklåtar på semester, Helan Går
6. Svensk mil, skandinavisk mil
7. Padel, racketsporter
8. Alla har skohorn
9. Robotröster i reality-tv-program
10. Paket hämtas, sällan levereras till din dörr
Gilla och prenumerera (snälla tack!)

[@anicabroer3705]

10 Millimeters makes 1 Centimeter 10 cm makes 1 decimeter 10 decimeters makes one meter 1000 meters makes one km 10 km makes a mil Is this not an easier way to measure a distance than an imperial way? And we will not even go into Fahrenheit. Hope you enjoy your stay here. We are a strange but lovely people

[@CriticalRoleHighlights]

Indeed. Divide or multiply by ten. It can't get easier than that. And also, metric is the standardized system of measurement in industry which means that even if spanners and other tools are in inches, that measurement is still based on the millimeter system, so they may just as well switch to metric.

[@vonnikon]

The only problem here is that the 10km mil is not actually a part of the international metric system. It makes sense to YOU only because YOU are used to it. The proper internationally recognized metric term is 10km. If you wish to use fewer digits, the next prefix up in the metric system is megameter (Mm). 20mil = 200km = 0.2Mm

[@flonnblad]

The Swedish mile or Scandinavian mile was a standard from the medieval era and was used to mark the distance between natural breaks, at that time it was based on feet and was different in the different Scandinavian countries. With the introduction of the metric system, it was redefined to 10 km, as that was the closest even large number based on meters. I definitely agree it’s weird, but also a part of our history, you can still see some old road signs in stone on the country side.

[@kronop8884]

@@flonnblad And one mil is defiinately better than the alternative myriameter which I have seen in old teaching materials, one Myriameter is 10,000 meters. Which also means that there is a strict definition of how much a Myriad is :-)

[@SwedenTheHedgehog]

@@flonnblad @Timmy Brolin It is partly history for sure, but it's also about convenience in language. If I say: Between Örebro and Stockholm there is (and then) "två hundra kilometer.", that is 7 syllables. If I get to say "tjugo mil" at the end of that sentence instead, that's only 3. It conveys something just as precise in more than half the amount of effort, and I think that's the real appeal of "mil".

[@mallearoundtheworld6932]

”Mil” actually make perfect sense. Why dont you just say 200 kilometer? Well, why dont you just say 200 000 meter? I understand the confusion regarding the ”name” mil. So your issue should actually be the name of the measurment, and not the logic in use of the measurment.

[@mogstad88]

Its also a Norwegian thing. 10 km is "1 mil" just like 10 mm is 1 cm - and its useful :) I guess its just confusing cus it sounds the same as "mile". Maybe the offence is we didn't call it 1 desi kilometre or something like that..?

[@johan.ohgren]

The "problem" is that we scandinavians translate mil as miles. Mil and miles are not the same. So, in an english context, saying 200 kilometers would be better.

[@mallearoundtheworld6932]

@@johan.ohgren In an english context, absolutely!

[@mogstad88]

@@johan.ohgren Yeah, I agree!

[@robinviden9148]

Mile actually is the English translation of Swedish mil, so it’s not a translation error but a conversion error. Different countries have, both today and historically, different miles: Roman mile (romersk mil) at about 1,479 m Nautical mile (nautisk mil a.k.a ”sjömil”) at 1,852 m Chinese mile (li) at 500 m English (/American) mile (engelsk mil) at 1,609.344 m Scandinavian mile (Norway, Sweden and occasionally Finland) at 10,000 m

[@bullfidde]

If americans could actually bother to take their shoes off when entering a house or apartment they would soon realise the benefits of a skohorn 😂

[@mariaberg8756]

@Josh Yates If you have shoes that are kind of tight you use a shoehorn. Even our young people. Not strange at all.

[@TullaRask]

@Josh Yates Not everyone does. Many places you have carpets and walks in with shoes regardless. That is a fact. It depends on where you live probably. Social media is full of discussions and facts about this issue.

[@henriettanovember4733]

@Josh Yates The DO NOT COME TO SWEDEN. WE SURE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE.

[@KattReen]

@Josh Yates That is such an unnecessary remark, to use disabled and elderly as an insult to throw at people. Just because of the tamest joking jab about Americans not getting why people like using shoehorns. You obviously don't need to be using shoe horns, I live in Sweden and don't really use them, it's not a big deal, but if you're going to visit another country I hope you leave this attitude and disrespect at home. We don't represent all the people in our country, and other people in your country should be very thankful we don't consider you a representative of them.

[@northstar2839]

I cannot imagine how you can possibly put on your shoes without a shoehorn. That must be extremely difficult. This is absolutely no swedish thing, it's an absolute necessity for me.

[@heddamalm]

Ok, but the shoehorn is the best thing EVER

[@fizzlefrizz]

Omg yes I literally DIES without ‘em

[@naimagardner7128]

I agree! I couldnt survive without a shoehorn! Its the best 😁

[@corneliaedman]

Min skor skulle gå sönder så ofta om inte det fanns skohorn

[@Asa...S]

Agree, I don´t get why anyone would want to untie the laces of their sneakers everytime they´re putting them on. I actually have some friends who didn´t have shoehorns. Now they do have shoehorns.

[@KattReen]

It's a good thing to have at home. I don't use it as often as I should, it really reduces wear and tear on both your shoes and your heels lol

[@SabakuNoSimone]

As a swede I always get really shocked when i can hear peoples real voice on shows like cops, or like in "To catch a predator" where they show their voice, face and name! I can't get used to it. The robot voice is epic. You can't live without it, that's illegal! Ring åklagarn!

[@raccsn4271]

MACKE

[@maximalsakerhet7930]

I actually love the sound of the distorted voice, I think it makes the whole thing funnier and makes the drunk person sound even more stupid

[@thecourageousorange]

I think it's good that they protect peoples privacy.

[@zorrzoor]

Not guilty until proven guilty by the court of law, that’s why

[@OldVikingSchool]

I'll just say this once and for all regarding shoehorns. Sweden like the rest of Northern Europe has a no shoe indoors policy, combined with very small hallways in apartments and harsh winters the shoehorns are a gift from above. Because when you put on your double or maybe ever triple layer pants, comfy scarf, warm hat, and heavy winter's coat you are not in position to bend knees down to put on boots in the very small hallway. So the shoehorn solves the issue of not having to risk tripping over and like a turtle on its back recover. Plus it eliminates tearing on the back end of the shoe from the repeated friction motion, so it makes shoes last longer.

[@hannie1301]

So good to see this comment! In a country where you don't wear shoes indoors (at home at least) it shouldn't be hard to understand the use of shoehorns. 😂 Also, if you read the instructions on how to care for your shoes, using shoehorns reduces wear and tear on the inside of the heal.

[@cribz99]

I always get so frustrated when I visit someone and they don’t have a shoehorn :/

[@lindatisue733]

Where do you buy a shoe horn in Sweden? Live at Farsta, and can't find one at any of the shops at centrum.

[@Amanda-gv4zg]

@@lindatisue733 look at Ikea

[@rulta]

@@lindatisue733 you can buy them at like Ica maxi, rusta, shoe stores etc

[@katarinastrom4193]

@@lindatisue733 in Farsta centrum, you can find it in Clas Ohlson

[@douglasdalini4932]

@@lindatisue733 really? Should be in your nearest big grocery store. if you can't find it just ask the staff.

[@jenniferlerhman4377]

We actually don't really like Amazon and not many Swedes are buying from them now that they're in Sweden. The reason is the poor conditions for the workers. In Sweden worker's rights are really important and we have strong trade unions. So the launch of Amazon in Sweden was not really something most of us liked.

[@beaaabeaaa]

I didn't even know until this video lol

[@katarinawikholm5873]

And their translations are so bad they’re almost insulting, on top of the workers’ situation

[@vivalabraga]

Jesus, imagine thinking we Swedes do not like Amazon because of working conditions. Biggest double standards ever. We do not like Amazon because it is crap in general. Expensive asf, their site is catastrophic etc.

[@jenniferlerhman4377]

@@vivalabraga How is it double standards? It's true for very many of us that we completely boycott it because of poor working conditions.

[@Stefan-]

@@vivalabraga Yeah, the Amazon site is awful especially when they try to translate to Swedish, i like buying online, but if it is one site that almost makes me not want to buy things its Amazon.

[@LoungeCorp]

we use shoehorns in whole Europe. it makes it easier to put your shoes on. I'm french and we have always used shoehorns in France. And living in Sweden i use it several times daily. Especially since i never untie my shoes.

[@andreasakesson9518]

Shout out to you and the beautiful france

[@farkengudstuf]

I think it may have to do with Americans having their shoes on at home as well.

[@handsomebear.]

Agreed. Why would you tie your shoes more than like twice a year, when you pretend you're gonna start running again :v

[@zynius]

Never seen anyone in the Netherlands use a shoehorn, but then again they have their shoes on all the time.

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

I'm 62 years old I have lived in USA all my life. I use a Shoe horn every time I put on shoes.

[@SqueamishNerd]

The "Swedish Mile" (which is also used in Finland and Norway) is from the 17th century, so it's basically older than the USA, but it wasn't standardised until the 19th century when SI units were introduced in Sweden. There are still super old mile stones standing here and there along old roads all around Sweden.

[@johnnyrosenberg9522]

About Amazon, I really hope we kick them out as soon as possible.

[@lindatisue733]

From Amazon's Swedish launch, I think there are employees that want that too. #cat toys

[@assarstromblad3280]

Så jäkla kul att alla svenskar undermedvetet bestämt sig för att amazon är jordens avskum och ska utrotas. Och jag är inget undantag och vet inte varför lol

[@andreasakesson9518]

@@assarstromblad3280 hahahahaha SANT

[@Sharpclaw2000]

@@assarstromblad3280 well de sålde vapen och knark på sin sajt vid öppnandet så.... jag såg också en kattkoja, likt ett krypin i fleece, som såldes som reptilgrotta, den skulle "hjälpa min ödla att fälla sin päls"...... pinsamt dåligt.

[@assarstromblad3280]

@@Sharpclaw2000 Lol jag hoppas det var översättningen som var kass

[@Schmorgus]

It's really important to understand, that things happening in Stockholm, most likely isn't normal anywhere else in Sweden.

[@kingwacky184]

That is not true one bit. I live in Stockholm and have my entire life and everything I see here is common everywhere i have been in Sweden. Most parts do it the same from what I have seen.

[@lmao2351]

@@kingwacky184 i altso live in stockholm, stockholm is very different in many aspects. Every are if sweden is different from the rest. Sweden is a big country and the culture is different everywhere you go, ofcourse the difference isnt huge but there is a difference. For example saying hi to a stranger in stockholm would be weird. But if you live more in the country side it wouldnt be weird at all.

[@prageruwu69]

exactly

[@hannie1301]

@@kingwacky184 it is common for Stockholmers to be a little more ignorant of the rest of sweden than people from the rest of Sweden. I've lived 18 years in Stockholm, but was raised in the countryside, and am now living in a small town in Småland. Many friends born and raised in sthlm are less knowledgeable when it comes to other regions. Maybe because when you live in sthlm everything is available and there's not much need to travel outside of Stockholm and it's vicinity.

[@Gwendly]

As a Swede that live in Canada I'm surprised that you didn't mention how Swedes love to form organizations, I think there is an old joke about when three Swedes get together they elect a President, treasurer and a secretary - and I think that's pretty true lol

[@MeaganNouis]

I haven’t noticed this myself! This makes me laugh though... I’ll see if I notice it now that you’ve mentioned it :)

[@martenhjelm4484]

As a former board member of one of these organizations, I can concur. We love it!

[@UmeastudentTV]

Yup! Me and a friend even had talks about forming an organization just to discuss issues 😋.

[@andreasgeorgsson7304]

Or a study circle. When you find two friends whit a common interest, you form a study circle.

[@TullaRask]

That is true about Norway as well. That's often how we gain influence in this country. Bigger the organisation the more influense. If you are the only one with a certain issue you're likely to have very little influence.

[@KreeZafi]

I hear foreigners comment on Swedish queuing and I'm just like... how the hell do you function without it? Wouldn't it be terribly chaotic to not wait in line?

[@TheHellis]

I have heard of a system in a different country where you take off your shoes and they que for you. When a "person" comes to the que this person moves everyone's shoes forward and places his shoes at the end of the que.

[@zynius]

People wait in line in other countries too, but it's natural lines, you don't need a machine for it. You stand in line, even if it takes 30 minutes, no taking a number and having a seat.

[@KreeZafi]

@@zynius Oh really? Because most places here don't have machines, you just physically stand in line, and I've heard lots of foreigners say that's a distinctly Swedish phenomenon. Which I took for granted was the truth (particularly after seeing videos of Americans practically creating a stampede on Black Friday lol)

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Englishman looks puzzled at the very notion ...

[@coole6825]

@@TheHellis Do they use shoehorns?

[@neuroleptika]

Packages can be home delivered often, any time you order something online you get several shipping options on checkout. We dont like delivery men ringing our door and giving us social anxiety, better to pick it up at nearest store (which you will be at anyway regurarly)

[@michaeltempsch5282]

And some services like Earlybird, Morgontidig leverans (early morning delivery), etc will, if the item does not fit into you mailbox/slot, place it by the door, bag on the door knob or hook it to your mailbox. Then there's the locker services where you can have the package deliver to a locker in a store/mall you frequent/often pass etc. and you get a code by SMS to unlock.

[@enemixius]

Also, since most of us don't really like to wait for one of these companies to pretend to make a delivery attempt and then leave it a store a day later, we rather just have it sent there immediately.

[@viktor5918]

Well, when we do get the packages "to the door" many times you will just get a text from PostNord (PostMord) saying that they tried delivering it and that it is now at a post office. EVEN WHEN YOU WHERE HOME WHEN THEY SUPPOSEDLY TRIED TO DELIVER IT! I'm not mad...

[@secularnevrosis]

@@viktor5918 Haha. I do hate that. 'We will deliver you package sometime between 8:00 and 20:00, please be avaiable.' Sod that!

[@Merecir]

The problem is that Posten outright lies about trying to deliver the packages.

[@juholaitakari1305]

Why on earth you would not use shoe horns? Makes life that much easier.

[@neuroleptika]

Because americans never take off their shoes

[@3freeri]

Was just gonna say, americans don’t need shoehorns because you never take off your shoes?? If you are constantly putting your shoes on after taking them off you don’t wanna unlace them every time? So the shoehorn saves time

[@corneliaedman]

@@3freeri aaand it saves shoe. ;)

[@88marome]

If the American keeps messing up the floors with dirt then they won't get invited.

[@KattReen]

@@88marome I think most people will be understanding of people from other countries not knowing or forgetting to take shoes off at the door, and just politely remind them that we usually do that here. If someone burns bridges over things like these, that are virtually never in bad faith(more like honest ignorance or force of habit) I don't know if people are missing out when their invites get revoked lol

[@Coteoki]

I never bother with untying my shoes, so I use shoehorns all the time

[@ErikStarck]

So say we all.

[@aska221]

5:00 this is also because swedes hates situations like these we would rather take the queue number to ensure this wont happen

[@emanuelbratt9132]

20 mil: 3 syllables 200 kilometer: 7 syllables Think that’s the biggest reason, except for collective habit of course😊

[@davidhansson7041]

The Scandinavian mile is technically a remnant of the old Swedish imperial measurements. It was originally 18,000 alnar (cubits). And that was almost exactly 10 km so it stuck around.

[@Tavic1]

Kolla in hjärnan på den här snubben

[@PennyAfNorberg]

Är inte orginalmilen kvar i vissa kontexter?

[@anna-lenameijer9942]

Didn't we adopt the French revolutionary metric system??

[@newperspective5918]

Paddel is kind of new in Sweden, came a couple of years ago. For the last 10-20 years different sportactivities have been trending, much like fashion. Before paddel it was climbing, before that it was bicycling and before that squash and so on.

[@Bogus666.]

throwback to that one time tunnelbanan blurred a pigeons face LMFAO 😂😂

[@pip_rake]

Really?

[@veraekberg]

Tip! You can also use the shoehorn as a backscratcher😁 Especially the ones from Ikea with the snakelike handle😌

[@benktlofgren4710]

That one is also great for a spanking if you are into that kind of stuff o_0 :)

[@johanjacobsen393]

I mean, 20 “Swedish miles” makes perfect sense. It’s just like using “kilometer” instead of “meter”. So you saying that you can just say 200 kilometers and that the “Swedish mile” makes no sense, is the same as me saying that kilometers makes no sense because you can just say “1000 meters”, or that kilograms is illogical and you should just use 1000g.

[@lichiboy7695]

I am so shooketh that mil is specific to Sweden (and norway). Like what?!? It's convenient tho so more countries should using it

[@BovinaSancta79]

It is a very easy system to use. Fits with the metric system actually. Same logic

[@NaJk93]

It's called a "Scandinavian Mile". Yeah it's confusing for everyone.

[@lichiboy7695]

@@NaJk93 Nej asså jag är svensk, jag tycker det är väldigt användbart och hade ingen aning om att vi var de enda som använde mil.

[@NaJk93]

@@lichiboy7695 Jag tror Norge, Sverige, Danmark och Finland som använder det. Ingen annan.

[@sigridpettersson4764]

@@NaJk93 Lite sen men jag är från Finland och mil används inte här. Vi vet att det finns och vad det står för men jag blir alltid förvirrad i Sverige när sträckor anges i mil. Måste tänka en extra gång! Samma sak med hekto. Används inte i Finland.

[@SailorYuki]

It's still the metric system. 10km is 1 metric mile. It's the same mile in France and Germany or even Japan. It's easier to say 20 miles than 200 km. Same way you say 1 foot instead of 12 inches. Edit: I stand corrected. Apparently Scandinavians are the only ones that use mil. You learn something new every day.

[@TullaRask]

That's mil not miles. Different things, but I agree mil is the metric system. Why say 300 km when you can say 30 mil?

[@SailorYuki]

@@TullaRask mil på svenska, miles på engelska

[@TullaRask]

@@SailorYuki No that's not the same. In english miles is a different unit, and translating mil to miles causes confusion among english speakers who are used to imperials.

[@LoungeCorp]

yeah, but we french people just use km. we would never say 1 mil instead of 10km: i've been living in sweden for almost 18 years and this swedish mile thing still disturbs me. LOL

[@robinviden9148]

@@TullaRask Mile is the correct English translation for Swedish mil. It’s not a translation error, it’s a conversion error. The Scandinavian mile (10 km) is a uniquely Swedish and Norwegian thing.

[@gunlindblad799]

Sjorhorns are extremly good for keeping your shoes nice. If you take them of snd put them on all the time withput shoehorn you either have to untie and then tie them. If you use a shoehorn the back of the shoe stays fresh and doesn’t brake and you don’t have to keep undoing them all the time. It is actually so much faster!

[@citizenkane4831]

We don´t use the imperial system. We use the metric system. That is what a swedis mil is based on

[@matildas3177]

@Vincent Ernisa Lundkvist FNA2 Filbornaskolan ort?

[@TullaRask]

@Vincent Ernisa Lundkvist FNA2 Filbornaskolan He said it's based on. It follows the same logic.

[@daarco2]

You didnt take a Queue number? That made my heartrate go up, and not in a good way. Yes, im Swedish.

[@Romancelovemii]

Same haha 😂

[@BovinaSancta79]

*queue number xD

[@NaJk93]

@@BovinaSancta79 Queue number*. You don't forge new words in english in the same way you do swedish for everything.

[@anna-lenameijer9942]

And you didn't say "Tack? Oh, my God!

[@leftyme4568]

When everyone else get`s service before her, she will eventually learn to pick up a queue number......

[@vadskamanta]

Getting this in my recommended 1 month after posting, obviously going to the comments to see if my fellow Swedes had done their job in explaining Mil and Shoehorns. I am very proud of their work! There are probably already comments about the blurring and robotic voice, but I couldn't see any of them explaining it so here goes (with a bit of added fun): It's actually illegal to not protect their identity, and even things like their voice - that in some cases can be very specific for a person - isn't allowed to be in the shows since that might be used to reveal their identity. If a person isn't convicted of a crime you're not allowed to show anything that can reveal their identity basically. These rules has been eased up the last couple of years, but when I was younger even pictures in newspapers like "Have you seen this person?" were pixelated to the point of no recognition. Which made it virtually impossible to know if you had seen the person they suspected of a crime because the picture could resemble both your grandfather and your dog at the same time. Oh well, enough of this mini-rant. Hope you all have a great day!

[@elisborggren8740]

The robot voice makes the show at least 50% funnier

[@AlexKall]

Makes it too annoying to watch. Pretty much everyone sounds alike and makes it a lot harder to hear.

[@davidmartensson273]

But the main reason is to completely hide the identity of people involved due to much stricter privacy laws. Any time law enforcement is involved, the identity of others is to be protected.

[@KjellEson]

A little help! As Swedes, we do not laugh at our way of life. We are proud of how we live. Here are the explanations: 2:13 Customer service, I can agree that something is wrong here. 3:44 No cash. This has led to robberies against banks and shops has basically disappeared. But with the help of Bank code, we can transfer money from the accounts we have via cellphone. We can also pay with Swich. We can also use Swish between us privately. If I ask a friend of mine to buy a thing from a store that I do not have time to visit but need the thing XX for the evening. Then I can use Swish and transfer money using that Bank ID to that person's bank account. 4:25 Queue system with number. Swedes love order and Justice. They do not know you have a case. They are used to taking a note with a queue number. 5:49 The reason why there are no fountains is that the pipes to the fountains must be dug down at least 2 meters (6ft) otherwise there is a risk that they will freeze if there is a long cold winter. Fountains can often only be used for four, maybe a maximum of five months. then they must be discharged into water. Risk of them freezing! 6:03 Singing at parties and also for spirits has been a tradition since Viking times. About 1000 years ago. Do not forget that the United States is young! 6:44 Sweden and Norway use miles pronounced "meal". There are in Scandinavia Nautical mil and Sea mil. Sea mil is 1852 meters. Sweden and Norway also had land mil. That were in Norway 11,295 m and in Sweden 10688 meters. Norway and Sweden decided during the Union (which Sweden and Norway had 1814 to 1905) to agree that 10 Km = 1 mil. Sweden and Norway are the only countries in the world that uses 10 x 1Km = 1 mil. 9:42 Shoehorn. In the United States that is not an Arctic country in the United States retains you put on your shoes inside. We do not do that in Sweden. If we did not use shoehorns, we would wear out the shoes. We would need to tie up and tie the shoes many times a day. Shoe horns are not so strange!

[@ebbasandberg1925]

The robot voices and blurred faces is for privacy, it is completely understandable. I would never want my face and voice in a show like that

[@TheRealGuy707]

Swede here. I agree with you with the most parts... But... 1. the queue thing... Just respect the queue. 2. 1 mile is 10 km. It makes sence in all of europe 3. Just like American football, it´s your country only. 4. The shoehorn is more used in Sweden, as we don´t wear our shoes inside and make it easier for people to put them on when leaving.

[@Tatlungttaentoy]

It's only Sweden, Norway and Finland who uses the mile. In the rest of Europe km is the largest unit.

[@Mycenaea]

Shoehorns are great if you can use them to get away from having to tie your shoe laces - which is especially nice for elderly as they often don't want to bend down if they can avoid it because of back pain/ache :P If you're having a bit a trouble getting in your shoes because they're too narrow, they shoehorns help you aswell and you won't have to tug away at the heel/back end of your shoes as that will wear them out a bit quicker :P

[@MichaelEricMenk]

A Swedish/Norwegian mile is 18000 cubits (alnar / alen) long, later reused as 10km due to it's appropriate the same length. Why use it... 5 mil = 2 syllables 50 kilometer = 7 syllables.. An other reason is one less significant number..

[@PeterBuvik]

and then there is the Skogsmil which=about 5km

[@matildas3177]

@@PeterBuvik would you say sjumilaskogen should be interpreted to be measured with skogsmil or mil?

[@secularnevrosis]

A funny thing when you are talking about cars in Sweden vs Norway is that norwegians always say a car has xxxxkm on the odometer while a swede talks about xxxmil.

[@thehasselnotter]

Your list shows stuff that's underrated and that's the cool thing about it. I never would've guessed stuff such as the packages, and in the end, it's info other youtube channels don't tell you about, so thanks ♡

[@MeaganNouis]

Aww thank you so much! That's what I was hoping to achieve with this video. 😊 Thanks for the nice comment!

[@meds8175]

Great video! About the swedish mil. It does make sense, or atleast simplifies a distance. It's easier to use fewer numbers, otherwise you might aswell say 200000m. But I understand that it must be confusing when not used to having used it your whole life. Especially when you're used to the imperial mile! Cheers :)

[@erik....]

Yes usually it doesn't matter if it's 27km or 28km distance.. easier to say 3 mil.

[@kristerforsman2448]

In fact, we've had the mileage for centuries. From the middle of the 17th century, it was standardized and became just over 10.6 km. The mile comes from the Latin mille = the Roman soldier's double step and was then barely 1.5 km.

[@TullaRask]

@@kristerforsman2448 Mil, not Miles.

[@kristerforsman2448]

@@TullaRask Of course. It is easy to completely slip over to English when writing in that language.

[@MeanMachine85]

The "Swedish shuffle" sounds like when I tried to go through customs at LAX. I was sent to stand in so many different cues just to end up in the first one I stood in before being let in the country. It took me about 1,5h. So it seems to be an universal thing.

[@secularnevrosis]

Yes I belive it's a common thing. But most of the times you get an answer in sweden. In Norway you tend to get the "shuffel" and get hung up on.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

One mil is 10km, it fits perfectly into the metric system. And it's useful in making shorter numbers, much the same way one wouldn't use grams for weighing a pesrson. Also, shoehorns are useful for certain types of shoes.

[@MsLaughingRabbit]

Okay this may not be a common sentiment, but I get genuinely flustered any time a package is delivered to my door. For one, you need to be around to sign for it, which can be tricky depending on your schedule, and I personally get very anxious about people seeing me in lounge wear, or catching a glimpse of my disorganised hallway or kitchen or whatever, not to mention having to talk to a stranger. Besides, most of the time the store your package is sent to is your closest grocery store (we rarely have to cover the sort of distance some people in the US may have to), so it's supposed to make it easy to just pick up a package along with a carton of milk or whatever? And, as a final note, environment. Even if I had the option for front-door delivery, I wouldn't take it, because just the thought of adding my name to a list that will contribute unnecessarily to emissions fills me with environmental guilt. Rather just walk or hop on my bike.

[@MsLaughingRabbit]

@@Calypsobubbelgum the nightmare of all nightmares xD

[@davidmartensson273]

Agreed, I prefer to have them to a service center, I go by the shop at least 2-3 times a week anyway, not a big problem to wait a day and if not, its just 10 minutes at foot or 4 by car if its a large one anyway :) Would be a different thing if it was a long way to go. Also, my house is right beside a quite heavily used walking/bicycling path which means there could be a hundred people passing within 10 meters of that package between when its delivered and when I get home, lots of opportunities for theft.

[@gunnarparment5050]

I see that there is already several comments about the Swedish "mil". If you check the "Scandinavian mile" in English Wikipedia you see that the Swedish and Norwegian "mil" was defined as 36,000 feet, but Norway had longer (bigger?) feet than Sweden. Swedish "mil" was 10,688 meter, Norwegian "mil" was 11,295 meter. Despite Norway and Sweden being in a union, the metric system was introduced in Norway 1875 and in Sweden 1879. I don't really know, but I guess the union was a contributing reason to redefine the "mil" to 10 kilometers. Note however that the Danish coordinated "mil" is 7532 meters since 1835, where there previous was different "mil" or "miil". The Finish "peninkulma" is also 10 km nowadays, but literally was "the distance at which you can hear a dog" if I understood it correctly.

[@PorcelaiinRoses]

Shoehorns are a lifesaver! When I hurt my back I seriously couldn’t put on shoes without a shoehorn, they are the greatest. They also help your shoes to live longer because you don’t damage the heel of the shoes as much when using a shoehorn.

[@ollehedstrom3536]

Well, using a shoehorn makes it a lot easier to fit your feet into your shoes! If you get used to this item you cannot manage without it, trust me.

[@Bearodon]

Next time I will say it is 218723 yards away instead of 20 mil got it!

[@hadtopicausername]

I'm Norwegian, and one of my mates gave me one of those long shoehorns as a birthday present once. And I absolutely love it. I use it all the time, and it makes things so much easier. It's awesome.

[@rolandgustafsson5655]

Shoehorns are the best,i use them all the time.

[@thomasstrandberg9364]

The shoehorn, is the best invention since the wheel. :)

[@fnizzelwhoop]

Yeah, this customer service thing is quite frustrating. Sometimes I wonder if they split up responsibilities too much just in order to create more jobs for themselves.

[@DigiMannen]

In many cases your call goes abroad.

[@Jonsson474]

I believe most most large businesses in most nations have a similar system for callcentre support. There are usually several lines of support with different knowledge. The first person you talk to is in the first line support. They are the frontline and have broad knowledge and can handle most everyday cases. If they are unable to solve the problem, they send you the second line support. Second line support handle the time consuming problems or problems that are to technical for the first line. They are likely not the people that interact on social media. Some businesses may even have other lines that are specialists in handling specific technical problems that require specialist training. So when you are redirected to the first line after talking to second line, it’s usually because first line had misinterpreted your initial question or that second line has actually done something behind the scenes that makes it possible for first line to handle the case.

[@Defunkt59]

😂🤣😂

[@guff_tm]

29 year old native swede here, this video is literally the first time I have ever heard of Padel. Also shoehorns are amazing.

[@Selleeify]

It is truly amazing that you have never heard of padel if you are from Sweden, it's everywhere!

[@Kurrzone]

@@Selleeify Isn't padel something quite recent? I think I first heard about it last year.

[@-aleeke-2526]

I learned more about padel here then ever before. And yes jag är Svensk.

[@-logna-8336]

How haven't you? I live in a village in central Dalarna with 2000 inhabitants, and even we have 2 Padel gyms. It's EVERYWHERE. In every city, town and every second village. And people of all ages play together. I'd say the most common age is ~40 to 50 though.

[@NaJk93]

I'm guessing you live up north and it has yet to spread like the plague there yet.

[@dancingpineapple2854]

Please carry on with regular uploads! I love your editing, the graphics, the content and you're also super funny!

[@AmongRocks]

Mil is actually from before the metric system, but it was like 30 meters off of 10 km so when switching to metric they redefined it to 10 000 meters.

[@skaggigocharg06]

As people pointed out you can often get home delivery at a higher price. Since we have minimum wage higher than pocket change and high gas prices, home delivery is often pretty expensive.

[@AlexKall]

We don't have a minimum wage though.

[@skaggigocharg06]

@@AlexKall Not by law. By the Union, kind of. And no, not all companies have kollektivavtal. But you get the point. If you want to be picky it's not pocket change in the US either...

[@leifP5907]

It really sounds like you object to traditions that are different than yours. The service issue is very similar in the US, depending on Business, you are talking to. Shoehorns are used in the US as well, but are more common in Sweden, because it is considered rude to wear your shoes indoors. In the winter months you tend to have very dirty, and rugged shoes, so many people carry slippers when they enter a home. Mil are covered by many others here, so you understand. The queuing systems are made so they can handle volume. It will seem silly when you are alone, but the situation you describe, when the attendant was not in the room, how does he/she know that you did not get a ticket? If this has happened to you countless times, its more a question of learning. The singing at dinners is a tradition, that is mostly around snaps, there are songs that date back hundreds of years, some are bawdy, some are romantic, I suggest learning some of them. A dear friend of mine said that as his grandfather grew deeper into dementia, he did not recognize him, but he recited three “nubbe visor” he had never heard. There are reasons why traditions are created, some may be irritating, but just think what other cultures think of Americans.

[@fulalbatross]

Chill, bruh.

[@andreasakesson9518]

Im a swede and i love all the positivity you and the people are spreading in the comments❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you, thank you so much😊

[@tomfloydhalvarsson2595]

The mile is not specific to sweden, and the logic behind the mile is the same as every other unit of measurement in the metric system?

[@MrKryckan90]

Imported (adopted) Swede here. Loved the vid! Specifically for going for things not usually found on the regular "Top ten differences...." vids about Sweden that you can find. :) No. 3 brought a big smile to my face. Absolutely not saying you are wrong but still made me smile. Same with No 8 :) I think I have at least 3 shoe horns, but almost never use them (like low single digit numbers per year).Regarding our lack of water fountains... If I go out for a walk in the city and have a water bottle that could use a refill (I usually carry an old ½ liter bottle during summer or otherwise warmer days), I just walk into basically any café or store and politely ask if I could refill my bottle, and have yet to be denied :). Really hope you will like your stay and looking forward to future videos :) Ps. If you want/need tips on traversing any cultural barriers, just ask :) d.s.

[@tilltugg]

You're not wrong about the shoehorn situation. I've always used them.. and now that I'm in my 50's.. well.. they are great. Eventually You'll see the light. (Yes, I'm a swede.. well duuh.) ;)

[@PeopleIKnowShow]

That was so fun! Thanks for sharing. Great to see your face and hear your voice.

[@freemangriffin4953]

I watched this video after watching the second one - this was fun!!!! I really enjoy your videos!!!

[@lullexd4246]

Shoehorn is so practical!! You can stand up and put on shoes so faaast and you dont hurt your finger trying to put on shoes the normal way

[@StefanThyron]

1:30 hey that’s me! 😉

[@MeaganNouis]

Ha! How cool! I've seen your videos before 😁

[@StefanThyron]

@@MeaganNouis Sweet! Don't normally watch content like this since I'm always making it myself... but I really liked this one, good stuff :)

[@MeaganNouis]

Aw thanks!! I appreciate it! :)

[@NichoandAdri]

Interesting video! As you mentioned in the intro you brought up some really specific points that aren't as well known and that we don't always think about.

[@skaervan]

There actually used to be public drinking fountains in Sweden. They became less and less common due to maintainence/sanitary issues. Last one I saw was in Örebro and that was rusty and gross by the mid 1980's.

[@johnnyrosenberg9522]

You can have packages delivered at home, but if you're not at home when they deliver it, they leave you a note (or text message or similar) letting you know where you can get it or what phone number to call to have it delivered again.

[@KerstinMamma]

Well we used amazon UK, US or Germany until we got it and packages do get delivered to your door if you choose that delivery option but yes standard is to the the closest pick up point.

[@Sencess]

Seriously there's nothing better than a long PROPER steel shoehorn. Its so satisfying to use.

[@kattahj]

I have never played padel or even seen it played, but then, I know nothing about sports.

[@whatatypicaltime2412]

Regarding packages: so much dishonest in that piece. It all depends on the site you order from. Most sites let YOU decide wheter or not you want it shipped to your apartment/door or the closest convenience store (that acts as a post office). You can also choose to get notified when the package has arrived, how to get notified and lastly; how fast you want it delivered (usually with a price difference of $1-2). Also a bit dishonest to say "take a trip" to the post office. Most swedes living in a city has a maximum of 10mins walking distance to a convenience store. And if you don't - you usually live in a house. And if you live in a house - just get it delivered to your door. Package thieves aren't as big of an issue in Sweden as in the US. And if you're afraid of it being lost, you can most of the times ask the delivery company, while ordering a product, to ring on your door bell when the package has arrived. If you by some reason don't live close to convenience store, can't get it shipped home (the option might not be available for that certain product or webpage), aren't home during working hours and aren't bothered to get it from a convenience store - you can most of the time get it delivered to your workplace.

[@Ca11mero]

Shoe horns are mainly for tight shoes or shoes that can easily get creases in the back, think about any kind of dress shoe/boots. Most people don't use them that often but has one hanging at the entrance :P. I agree with you on the robot voices though, some of them are so extreme that there is no way you can hear what they are saying lol. But I feel like there are situations where it should be used, for example someone who is being in danger (victim of some sort) or maybe when people can loose their job etc. The country is quite small and has a lot more variety in dialects, so even if you blur their face they can be easily recognized from their voice. Kul video iallafalll, hoppas du laddar upp mera :)

[@watchcraft9428]

Sverige har ju många dialekter. De största (för mig i alla fall) är skånska, göteborgska, stockholmska och lapplänska

[@jannepuhakka79]

I'm loving ur shoehorn anger! Hilarious. Funny how certain things can trigger someone. Thx for sharing.

[@NewstromJulianna]

Funny! I did not know most of these things. I always wondered about the shoehorns at IKEA. 😆 Thanks for the informative and humorous video!

[@Eakhs]

don't mess around with the waiting-lines in sweden or you are going to have a-lot of people stare at you menacingly.

[@lpdude2005]

With the exception of the UK, all cars in Europe are stated in MIL or KM (10Km (1000m) is one MIL. (10,000 meters)

[@svetzy]

Great video! Very entertaining

[@matsuntolahti]

Cool presentation 4 youre words and things in sweden. Funny and information video 👍🙂

[@katiejackson7750]

I love this! You're right, I've heard all about fika like a million times but never any of these things! I would definitely like to hear more weird things you've noticed!! Also lol shoehorns... Icelanders also love them?! no clue why.

[@MeaganNouis]

Aw thanks for the nice comment! Maybe one day I'll learn to love shoehorns, too. 😂

[@KatsuKatsu_don08]

Ok i'm swedish and I don't know what the heck padle is.

[@herrbonk3635]

Same.

[@someoneelse7629]

It's a Stockholm thing, and Stockholm isn't sweden....

[@Utube2Itube]

Love your personality! You’ve got another subscriber 😁

[@natwe]

You remind me so much of Evitel who does WoW videos. You're almost twins lol. Loved this so much thanks for sharing your perspective and great editing :)

[@MeaganNouis]

I'll have to check her out! Thanks so much for the nice comment :)

[@TheJonasbz]

Use th metric system, sins 10 kilometers is eaquel to 1 sw mile makes a lot of sense as 10 deciliter eaquels 1 liter, all the metric mechements works all in the same way

[@JanOlofSvensson]

But that is not a correct comparsion. Sure the swedish mil is based on the metric system, but it is not part of the metric prefix system. It normalized 10 000. You are comparing this to deci (0,1), which is part of the metric prefix system. With that, I still think the Swedish mil makes alot of sence.

[@dennisbuskenstrom9291]

@@JanOlofSvensson the Swedish "mil" is kind of "semi official" in the metric system. It's spelled mil instead of mile to avoid confusion. It's the same thing with the Swiss mile, wich is 500 meter. Many countries still use the "mile" unofficially.

[@JanOlofSvensson]

@@dennisbuskenstrom9291 No, there is nothing "semi official" mil in the metric system. www.bipm.org/en/measurement-units/prefixes.html

[@supertotoro]

Surprised you only mentioned passive aggressiveness once 😂

[@elizabethdoll9902]

Glad the algorithm brought me here! Great video!

[@liorean]

To be fair, the Swedish mile (which is based on a merger of several (at least four, though two main ones) different miles that pervaded the Nordic countries since far before the metric system was invented) fits very nicely into the metric system since it's 10 kilometres, and decakilometre or whatever it would be called using the standard prefixes doesn't quite sound as good, and it's very much more practical to talk about car travel distances with it. It's also sometimes called a metric mile, though that can be confused with a metrification of the English mile to 1 500 metres that sometimes gets used.

[@michaeltempsch5282]

When the mil comes up as a topic, about mile users getting confused, I tend to point to the US use of mil (pronounced like mill) for a thousand of an inch, and how that might be confused for (a shortened/abbreviated) millimetre by someone accustomed to the metric system...

[@dancingpineapple2854]

I AM SHOCKEDTHHHH you did not mention the everlasting SOCIAL DISTANCING?! Swedes just hate speaking to anyone outside of their friendship bubble, never mind confronting someone! 😂😂😂 We had a joke here that Swedes were socially distancing before COVID was a thing!!!

[@joshuarodriguez5986]

yes hahahaha

[@joshuarodriguez5986]

didn't it also surprise you how it is almost impossible for a foreigner to speak Swedish to another Swede?

[@viktorandersson8848]

Ya I use to have 4meter distance but know I need to have 2meter distance

[@secularnevrosis]

@@joshuarodriguez5986 Yes. It's true. Most swedes automatically see it as a chance to improve their english instead. More efficient we think, and extremly frustrating if you want to learn swedish.

[@Mirvra]

@@secularnevrosis That's when you simply tell us in English ''I'm sorry, is it okay if I practice my Swedish with you?'' Because a lot of us switch over to English either because we're short on time, or because we believe you need help with something and thus decide to switch to the method of communication that is easiest...

[@jenshammarstrom697]

can you now do a list of 10 things you learned in your first year in sweden that you like? :)

[@simobam]

Love your video! You are so funny! 🤣

[@Oneofakind123]

Shoe horns are a absolutely essential accessory.

[@Magic0Motion]

I can say i love my shoehorns, have 5 of them xD

[@juliusssg6134]

The packaging one isn’t really true. You usually get to choose if you want it delivered to your home or your closest post office. It will usually take one more day tho, that’s why many people choose to get their packages one day earlier and go pick it up instead

[@davidmartensson273]

Apart from the risk of theft you also have Swedish weather and laws. For example, if there is no signed delivery, prof of delivery is all up to the delivery company and in Sweden its much easier to raise a complaint and we have a government agency specifically to protect customers so historically delivery companies did not want to deliver unless someone was at home to receive the package. Its only the last 3-4 years I have seen home delivery to the door without the need to receive it in person. But its starting to be more common.

[@beorlingo]

Regarding ques: Went to the Systembolaget this afternoon. No one was queing outside, but the store was full (no one was allowed to enter). There was this attendant outside telling me so, and hence I tried to figure out were the Line was supposed to start (from left of the entrance, of from the right). While thinking 🤔, this local came up and stood to the left, upon which one customer left the store, and enters she, nonchalantly allthough I was the first one there. Had to just suck it up, not having managed to figure out where the que was at since there were no physical entities forming it. 1 minute of my life went wasted. So it goes; it is what it is, and all that jazz. Trevlig helg!

[@lindatisue733]

The lack of directional signs and maps is annoying. For example Singapore, S. Korea, Japan etc, have maps of for stations with numbered exits and street names. I always get lost at the New Stockholm Central and Fridhems plan.

[@FefferoniDadadel]

Most places have option for home delivery when you checkout your order.

[@GXNicko]

Well, I am new in Sweden and I was waiting for a package delivery these days for some shoes I bought online. It was a little weird when the company sent me a message that the package is ready to be picked up from the nearby gas station (OKQ8). Also, another thing that is new to me is the use of weeks as a time unit instead of days, i.e. for subscriptions.

[@watchcraft9428]

In like every Ica there is a post office where you pick it up

[@80012453]

Virtually all online shops have the option to get delivery to the door and most have free shipping as well (some with a minimum purchase though)

[@DigiMannen]

Me and most of the people I know use e-mail for customer service, just provide your phone n0 so they can call you if needed.

[@Amy0Ame1]

I love this about Sweden. I don't have to have a weird awkward phone call. Just email/SMS and issue resolved.

[@thecourageousorange]

@@Amy0Ame1 yes. and it's easier to remember everything you wanna have said when it's done by mail. I always forget to say stuff when I'm on call with doctors. it's quite a problem for me.

[@erik9830]

Shoehorns are used to easily put your foot in the shoe, great for older people that csn't bend down to their shoes. It also prevents the back part of the shoe getting destroyed by your heel if you just force your foot in. God tier accessory.

[@katietaylor7393]

loved this video!!

[@sofianilsson9994]

I am a swedish student in Uppsala and we have a whole book for our drinking songs, it's called a "sångbok" and is really fun! :) Also, paddel is a cult in sweden. Everybody plays paddel and it's very popular.

[@elisaa9981]

I don't play padel .

[@HeleneSoulstar]

@@elisaa9981 🤣🤣 Not me either.

[@Goddybag4Lee]

Go a few weeks or months with pain in the knees and you would scream out loud for anyone to bring you the shoe horn.

[@schatzeemilien625]

Hi Meagan, I’m an American (in NYC) researching on if it makes sense to move to Sweden and came across your channel! Great video that had me laughing! Not sure if you have a video that explains how you moved and how you’re liking it so far compared to the US? :)

[@Blixthand]

Even if you untie your shoes every time you take them off (I don't), showhors does make it easier to put on your shoes, especially if you aren't very flexible bending down to guide your heel in, like older people might be, and it might actually prolong the life of your shoes if you tend to otherwise pull on or bend the heel of your shoe when putting it on.