5 Weird Things That Swedes Do Reaction | Stefan Thyron Vlogs About Being An American In Sweden!

[@StefanThyron]

What a pleasant surprise coming across this video. Fun to see your reactions and you guys are so positive, great stuff! PS- The red cheeks were probably from the cold weather 😉

[@ReactToTheWorld]

What a pleasant surprise to discover your vids for the first them, then react to it, then hear how you were pleasantly surprised to watch it 😂 Your fans been recommending you for a while so glad we finally checked you out. You made it so fun exploring Sweden with you.

[@somethingnew1322]

That's exactly what I said! That it´s because of the weather. 😄 I always had rosy cheeks as a child due to the cold weather and being a crazy kid wanting to be outside in the winter. Now, as an adult, if I can avoid going outside during the winter I´m very happy. 😂

[@KimOfDrac]

Ketchup is at least from my perspective a kid's thing. For some reason ketchup is introduced to children on just about any food but most adults I have known haven't had ketchup on their pasta since they got out of college... it's like cheap student food. It's only posh or old people who eat pizza and hamburger with knife and fork in Sweden xD at least on the west coast. Some people use scissors to cut the pizza (I do) but if you asked for it to be sliced when you order they'll do it for you :) the thing is that home delivery is kind of a new thing in Sweden and it's also expensive so most people who don't want to eat at the pizzeria goes to pick up their food and then go home. If it's already sliced it will cool down much quicker. From this year everybody is forced to pay the TV/Newspaper taxes weither you own a tv/subscribe to a newspaper or not. Sucks for those of us who don't have those things but we don't have to be harassed by "Radiotjänst" no more. They even lied many many times claiming people had TV even though they didn't.

[@anderspersson7084]

There is a very big difference in property tax if you own your home house or apartment its absolut maximum is arround 800$ for a whole year, even If you own a 10 + miljon home, so it's not as hard to continue owning a big home after you payed for it or inherited it and there is no inheritance tax either. And yes ketchup on most food is gross, it's for french fries and hot dogs mostly.

[@hugoakerlund5114]

Cold.....

[@HildingSports]

It was really not a TV tax. It was a fee to fund the public service TV that its provided by the state. A commercial free TV.

[@coolzredz]

HildingSports it like that in Ireland too

[@Cindanela]

And now it is a tax that everyone pay.

[@ExbotHero]

Well, the fact is this... The device doesn't matter. The "tax" is for any device that you can see "tv" on. A pad, computers and yes the tv. (One fee for all - A small fee.) Nobody comes to your home anymore. They just send you the bill if you have bought a device and doesn't pay the tax already. (Big brother see everything you do in Sweden) The reason is simple. This pay for the free unbiased television network,something we see as vital for a working democracy. To compare... The "big brother thing is why we doesn't need to guess the number of voter we have in our country (or need to have people count them in the way you do in USA - That is a REALLY weird system you have!) In Sweden everybody automatically are registered. That also makes it simple to vote (Of course everybody have an identification card.) And yes, the people in prison also have right to vote NOBODY is excluded! (You need to be 18 years old that´s all.) The funny thing is that your country actually have this stats (EXACTLY who lives in the country) heard of NSA anyone?) but for some reason you don´t use it?! Instead you create hurdles for people to vote to get rid of some groups some of the people in power think wont vote for them. That is CRAZY! Other things we do to boast the democracy. We vote on a Sunday so regular workers can vote and we also have a system where you can vote beforehand (weeks before) in the post office and town halls and so on. (Every vote are on paper, no touch screen a.k.a. a very safe system) And 60-90 % of the voters cast their vote every election. The higher numbers are on our national elections. (That´s a REAL democracy.)

[@ESPirits87]

Well Swedish Television still have commercials, they're just just served differently.

[@swedfilms]

@@ESPirits87 The two channels that belong to Public service does not have commercials. (SVT1 and SVT2) But it's sadly very biased to the left.

[@arvid4409]

I think it's weird that americans don't have ketchup on ther pasta

[@ReactToTheWorld]

It's only weird because we put ketchup on just about everything else 😂

[@arvid4409]

@@ReactToTheWorld are you guys puting ketchup on a sandwich!?

[@ReactToTheWorld]

@@arvid4409 Guess it depends on the type of sandwich. Lulu loves mixing it with Mayo and slathering it on a sandwich!

[@arvid4409]

@@ReactToTheWorld sure why not😥

[@arvid4409]

@@ReactToTheWorld i have to say ketchup is good on pizza

[@elincarlsson6388]

As a Swedish person, I can say that the avoiding your neighbour thing is more about where you live and what type of housing, like apartments, sure, I say hi to my neighbours if I see them outside we all try to be friendly, but we don't seek each other out, we respect privacy. But then you go somewhere where there are family houses and everyone tries to have connections and do neighbourhood watch things and BBQ, etc. I've lived in both types of housing, a big difference between the two.

[@mrolsen6987]

X2 on that comment 👍 I live in Northern Sweden on the country side and here the whole village with around 100 houses are best neighbors, those who not know each other (or maby not come along..) are always nice to each other and say hi. And everybody else often come over on a "fika" (coffe) or dinner or just stop and talking for a while if you come across enyone, all the childrens (around 50) is playing with each other and everybody. We help each other if someone need a hand. We have a little beach with changing room, a pier, a beachvolley ground, and some stuff for the childrens to play with. We have a hockey rink with lights. We have a skitrack/exercise track with lights. And we have a big house or hall where we can have big partys or weddings for example. All this is it our village that have built owns runs and maintenance, we can collect some economic help from the county but it's not much and it's not something you can count on. We make some events now and then to bring in some money for the maintenance and for new things we can think of building. So... Yes it all depend on where you live!

[@roguehart]

As a swede who lived both out in the middle of nowhere and in the middle of a city, I've been way more isolated socially in the city, neighbors in apartments are the annoying sounds coming through your walls floors and ceiling of the concrete bunker you lie in while in the country people seem to be more friendly to eachother. My theory is the amount you actually see your neighbor or their house. In an apartment you usually don't spend time outside of your apartment, this gets even worse if you don't have a balcony or anything like that since there is less interaction between you and you neighbors. In the country you spend time in your yard you see them actually existing and thus feel inclined to actually talk to them.

[@elincarlsson6388]

@@mrolsen6987 Yes, I know! People are so friendly in the north! Some don't even lock their doors, at home or not at home, in case someone they know would think to swing by on impulse, and be tired and in need of a rest or coffee, a habit I'll admit isn't the smartest in these days, but people trust more, it's a nicer environment to live in. Norrland i all ära!

[@mrolsen6987]

@@elincarlsson6388 Yea just a couple of years ago I didn't even take My key out of the car over the night.. If I'am somewhere in the village I don't lock My House, in the summer it happends now and then that I don't lock My back door even if I go to the town 35km away.. sometimes it's wide open😂 But as you say, it is a bad habit.. it have bin a lot of burglers last years so now I try to remember locking everywhere. The Great Norrland 💪

[@bobbybob4665]

Elin Carlsson yeah Im swedish so yeah its true

[@Mortac]

Lots of Swedish couples never get married even though they may live together most of their lives. Sweden is one of the most secular and atheist societies in the world and marriage is seen by many as an unnecessary religious ritual. Regarding the TV license (radio is also included), this is common in most of Western Europe. It's something that has existed for a very long time, and the point of it is for the people to fund a non-partisan media, separate from the influence of state or commercial interests. Basically a completely neutral, objective and non-biased source of news and information. In Sweden, this has historically been paid by each citizen as a separate fee that is paid quarterly (i.e. not taxed). Some people would avoid this fee by saying they have no TV, and this is why home visits may occur randomly to people that claim they have no TV. This is the same in most of Western Europe. In the past 20 years, the coming of the Internet has complicated the issue because many people no longer use their TV or radio and solely rely on the Internet for information. The consequence of this was under discussion for probably over 10 years, until just recently the quarterly fee was instead changed into a mandatory tax, which now automatically charges a fee for TV licensing on your tax returns every year. This public tax cannot be touched or changed by any ruling government and is earmarked for funding the independent national Swedish TV and radio channels. The home visits no longer occur since every citizen now pays this tax no matter if you have a TV or not.

[@sannaolsson9106]

Actually it's not common at all nowadays that they come to your house. You get a bill like with everything else. They came to your home maybe in the 70s or 80s but now, like I said, you get a bill.

[@Mortac]

@@sannaolsson9106: Your post makes no sense and is full of mistakes. First, they didn't only do home visits in the 70's or 80's because I personally had one like 4 years ago. Secondly, you no longer get a bill. Like I said, it's included as a fee on your tax returns now. This was changed in 2019. Thirdly, like I also said, home visits don't occur any longer since the new fee on your tax returns is mandatory for everyone no matter if you have a TV or not.

[@farsan1986]

"Basically a completely neutral, objective and non-biased source of news and information"

[@emelielonnberg.]

I never got a visit to check for a tv in Sweden. But when I lived in Denmark in 2005 I did, 7:30 am! I wasn't too happy about that working nights 😪😲

[@sarahjohansson9811]

Maria C move then?! We don’t want rude ungrateful people here anyways. I hate when people from other contries move here and then they only complain about everything. Don’t live here if you can’t accept our culture!

[@ThePlayNerder]

Ya’ll need to remember that in Sweden we don’t want diabetes so the ketchup isn’t as sweet as in the states. The pizza.... we like cutting it on our own! We can spare those 3 calories, in the states u get everything prepared for u!

[@ReactToTheWorld]

So Swedish ketchup tastes different than US ketchup?! Now I gotta try your ketchup!

[@sagalindhe]

@@ReactToTheWorld yes! Our is better hahaha

[@jemakrol]

@@sagalindhe Now this is a challenge I'd like to be part of. I'm on! Who has the best ketchup?! :D

[@sagalindhe]

@@jemakrol heinz ketchup is the best, then Felix

[@jemakrol]

@@sagalindhe Oh, I know what I like if I have to have ketchup. Heniz all the way but I prefer their spicy one. But I was more thinking like a battle between Swedish ketchup and American, if they are that different at all!

[@zelda_lb]

Just because we're a bit introvert, that doesn't mean we're unfriendly or rude :)

[@elsalarsson1203]

OMG, this is so true!

[@patrik7816]

True! But plz don't talk to us! :)

[@erikdahl7946]

Introvert has nothing to do with not beeing social. I am the biggest introvert but I love talking to people, especially my neighbours. I even worked with kids. The diffrence is that I just tend to want quality over quantity and recharge my batteries in spacious envoirments without any energy thieves. The clip showed with Amy Pohler in Stefans video is quite accurate of how we think and act in Sweden but that is more about fear of confrontation and beeing lazy than beeing introvert. We find this phenomenon at bus stops or on the bus aswell. It is not about beeing introvert.

[@zelda_lb]

@@erikdahl7946 Well i didn't think too far writing that comment, i just looked for a word that could easily explain that we maybe sometimes prefer having our own space, but you're correct.

[@vincentsproffsigatoutubech5239]

I’m from sweden so säg hej och glöm inte att prenumerera och lika så hejdå

[@Nipponing]

4:50 Who does that wth!? Having pizza pre-sliced would be horrible. I wanna decide how big my piece is.

[@Beaah]

Alla pizzor i usa kommer färdigskurna.. ☹☹

[@Dabluekitten]

@@Beaah :O

[@Nipponing]

@@Beaah Va fan... =/ Kan man ju inte göra något roligt med och alla får samma storlek fast de inte vill ha det...

[@Snickyization]

Hahahaha fyfan vad svenskt att säga så.

[@SysterYster]

I'd say Swedes are generally nice and friendly, but also fairly private.

[@MandylovesGames]

Yes, very true. They're just reserved but very nice when you get to know them on a personal level ^^"

[@MsAmannnda]

True you just need your personal space 😂

[@olajegreus8945]

Men tackar

[@spoopythings]

That’s the best way to describe it! Good job!

[@elite_rock_god2292]

I mean damn near every swede you Will ever meet are social and Nice and all, we just dont feel like bullshitting each with fake kindness and oretending to be friends 😂 we just have our bubble and If their is no need to breach each others bubble, then we dont.

[@MewDenise]

Avoiding people doesn't mean we are mean. I just don't want to talk to strangers or get in the elevator with some weird guy.

[@dannilsson4459]

Feel like often its more easy to handle life if one shut up on bad day

[@jari2018]

Yes everyone is wierd and if they say one wrong word then you avoid them forever -thats swedes

[@ellazetterberg7977]

if I don't put ketchup on pasta , what else would I use ketchup for? Also, fika is the best

[@thatdude034]

Hamburgers and hot dogs?

[@lindaakesson8403]

@@thatdude034 ketchup on hamburgers!?

[@Cookie_moonlove]

Of course we aren't all the same but: Basically we are like introverts, we're not unfriendly or shy but we don't like to be fake and want a reason to talk to someone. If we ask someone how they are doing it doesn't mean hi it means how are you feeling and how is your day going and we care. Also we are really respectful about peoples personal space so we keep our distans and that can look and feel like we are unfriendly or hard to get to know before you get used to it. We keep our distans at bus stops and on buses we sit as far apart as possible until you have to sit beside someone and then we don't usually talk because we don't want to intrude. On the street I grew up we knew our neighbours and had BBQ's in the summer etc. and if someone went on holiday we took care of their house, watering flowers, shoveling snow in the winter etc. Now living in an apartment I say hi to my neighbours but we don't stop to talk very often, but I'm sure if I were to ask someone to water my plats or something they would gladly do so. I don't think any swedish person would act like the lady in the clip from the movie but would be a bit surprised and weirded out by him coming up like that and probably not really know how to act but try to be really nice. I have never seen someone using knife and fork for hamburgers and pizza, or maby??? but it's not a thing here. We do have fikabreaks at work and get time to eat or have a fika so we don't have to eat on the run. Scissors for pizza is a great idea!!!! It makes it so easy!!! Marriage is not a thing or goal here in sweden (for most people). We get the same benefits just being sambos, we don't feel the need to prove our love like that and also in sweden we aren't really religious, I thik I only know 3 people who belive in a god or something and one of them is my 90 year old grandmother. I have never paid tv tax so I have had someone call me about that but since I don't have and never had one I just told them that and I have not heard of anyone I know having someone coming to check for a tv. Come to sweden and vlog!!!

[@strongbear88]

Pritty much this ^

[@Umla80]

was about to write about the personal space and being a bit introverted but friendly but you summed it up so good!

[@sannaolsson9106]

Using a knife and a fork on pizza I'd say is very common, but not with hamburgers.

[@shar3066]

They came to check me and if i had a tv. Felt so damn uncomfortable to be monitered like that. I was under 18 so didn't have to pay. I have avoided it ever since lol in many creative ways. Swedes are introverts but i dont know why. I live in a rural area so I wave and say hi to ppl but in bigger cities it's not the same. I think you would be considered a freak if you said hi and waved to a stranger in stockholm.

[@gojojyrking1996]

swedes are nice, they may not want to talk but if you would go and ask them something they would be super friendly

[@angellindstrom5779]

You should see the series "welcome to sweden" Its about a Swedish woman and her American husband and when they come to Sweden to visit her family and so on. Really funny! 👍🙂

[@eliotsalgado9908]

Terrible serie

[@annab8887]

That was the serie he show in they video :P

[@Ela1337]

No it's great!

[@ThomasVanhala]

The show was created by Amy Poehler's brother Greg Poehler and is loosely based on his experiences moving and living in Sweden. A few cast members might be known in the states like Lena Olin, Amy Poehler, Audrey Plaza, Patrick Duffy and Illeana Douglas. Illeana Douglas created and stared in a web serie with a slight Sweden connection called Easy to Assemble where she plays a version of herself that quits acting and start working in a IKEA store in Burbank in California.

[@MikaelMurstam]

The TV tax is now included for everyone regardless if you have a TV or not. This is in order to finance the state-owned channels. (And yes state-owned channels is a good thing in order to fight corporate corruption bias)

[@LordXanathar]

As a Swede i think state-owned channels are a terrible thing. We are being fed state manufactured propaganda daily, and paying for it.

[@Zandman26]

I would say that it is like with everything else, a greyzone. I think it's good that we have state owned channels, as long as we also have independent channels. And if you watch both I hope that your developed the skill to critique the information yourself and form an opinion.

[@sanningentv2374]

I completely agree. Better news sources, imagine if fox news were our source of information

[@stalis6919]

wait what everyone in the world doesnt put ketchup on pasta... im very shocked lmao (from a fellow swede)

[@oliviabengtsson4688]

Leon Autism jag med lol whaaat

[@stalis6919]

@@oliviabengtsson4688 haha troode alla hade ketchup på pasta

[@purpleroseB]

I would like to turn that arund a bit.. My dad put pasta on his ketchup.. 😎 That means he used a looooot of ketchup. 🙈😂

[@VikkiBT]

Yeah I’m Swedish and I’m 15 and I have 2 younger sister, and my parents are still not married and they don’t plan on getting married ether. But they’re happy anyways.

[@kiras2053]

I'm from Sweden and when I saw that thing about ketchup and pasta I was like: What I thought everyone had ketchup on their pasta its super yummy

[@stockholmsbo]

I am from Stockholm/Sweden, once I met a guy from USA and he compared us Swedes to a coconut, very hard on the outside but when you get to know the person he is very soft and sweet on the inside.

[@Galllex]

i gotta say you guys work together really well enjoy your bloggs keep it up ! happy swede

[@Destinyslotus]

We have the TV thing here in the UK. The TV Licence. It funds the BBC. If you have a TV and you don't have a tv licence, then you can be prosecuted. TV detector vans come round now and again and when they do, people alert each other so they can unplug the TV if they don't have a licence!

[@Internation-VC]

What he says about TV tax (TV license fee) was before. Then radio service controllers could contact households and companies that were not registered with them, by telephone, letter or home visit. These inspectors had none and never had the right to enter anyone's home, even if they were invited. However, they could use a bearing device that shows where and if there was a radio receiver in the home. At that time, you only paid if you had a radio receiver in your television set. Nowadays, all persons, with or without television (radio receivers), who have reached the age of 18 and who have a taxable income, pay a public service fee.

[@annarehbinder7540]

Thing is We are a nation of mostly introverts, some fairly extroverted but still introverts that means that When We are done theatrically socialising in school and at work (sometimes even enjoying ourselves) We really just to go home shut the door ! And just not interact . We make exceptions for friends but energy saving for a swede is not only an environmental issue. At least in the cities where you see a lot of people doing the day.

[@edvins8863]

I live in a small town/suburb in sweden and we have a pretty close relationship with our neighbors, especially one family that we hang out with sometimes for example we have dinner/bbq with them and sometimes their kids just walk into our house and hang out here lol.

[@bloodstone3769]

Don’t judge ketchup on pasta before you’ve try it. When you order pizza you can ask them to slice the pizza

[@GalaxyAngelGacha]

For the “no talking to neighbours” thing: It can easily come to the awkward silence, the other person is tressed, and it’s because on the internet it much more easier to talk to people because you have time to think how you will respond and not see each other face to face.

[@Greksallad]

The TV thing was not a tax, it was a fee to fund the public service networks. Nowadays it's just part of the regular income tax that everyone pays, regardless if you have a TV or not. And they didn't enter your home to check for TVs either like some kind of TV police, they used a device to see if you had a radio receiver.

[@Mckalmelid]

He first moved to Norrköping Sweden with his swedish girlfriend. When they broke up he went to Stockholm were he currently resides

[@TheJocke08swe]

You just got a new follower and a like from a Swede. I’ve been truly LOL’ing throughout the video. I am an. Attorney with an LL.M and attended UoM Law School in Minneapolis and just like you mentioned, the Midwest is VERY friendly; in particular if it comes up that you’re a Swede. I was sorta shocked in the beginning over there because this thing about greeting people, being friendly to strangers et c. is pretty much the COMPLETE opposite to Stockholm, my hometown. I am ACTIVELY striving towards changing things here to the Midwest culture. / 🇸🇪

[@andrease9903]

i think you might get a wrong picture of some things that comes up in this video, not sure but feels a bit like it

[@fredrikanehall7309]

Swedish Television and Radio tax is 130 dollars/year... That is for the license of these AD-free TV channels: SVT1, SVT2, SVT24, SVT Barn And Kunskapskanalen (Three kind of "lefties" channels, one for children and one like a light "Discovery channel"). It is also for several Radio-stations AD-free: P1, P2 and P3 and P4. P4 transmits local county channels during the day so theres 25 different shows during the day and on the evening its 1 transmission nation wide. Further more we also get AD-free streaming services from all those i mentioned above, both radio and TV channels. (Although we have to pay for the ISP seperate). The tax is for sustaining and keeping our wires,cables, radio and TV-masts and all the gear in good condition. And of course to pay the AD-free channels.

[@EnderCrypt]

just a note on the TV part its only considered a TV if the device has or used to have a TV receiver module (not sure on the technical name) other things dont count as tv, internet, monitors etc, aslong as they dont have a tv reciever built in, you are good

[@juliajohansson3590]

I have seen alot of Stefan Thyron videos and he moved to Sweden because he met a swedish girl. So they moved here together. :) Really liked the video guys, it's so fun to see what you think of Sweden! Keep up the great job! :)

[@Robert-xv7io]

So fun to listen to you two 🙂 I live in Stockholm so its exiting to se what other people say about us. Hope you get the chans to visit Sweden some time.

[@erikrusso9808]

I can clear up some things about the "TV tax". It's the fee for state television SVT which everyone with a TV can watch. And sometimes a public worker of some kind can visit you and see if you have a TV, but the have no rights what so ever to enter your home or to question you in anyway. However that fee has now been replaced with tax instead

[@ReelMeurik]

Regarding "TV Tax" @React To The World That has since changed, and is now definitely a separate tax that everyone pays. Noone comes to your door to check on you if you own a tv. The tax is intended to fund the Swedish "Public Broadcasting" channels (SVT1/SVT2)

[@shar3066]

They did that before. So freaky and rude. Dont wanna be controlled by the state like that coming to my door. Pay too damn much anyway for my tv.

[@truenorth365]

10:22 Yeah TV-tax is pretty weird for us swedes to. Insane really.

[@elincarlsson6388]

The TV tax has changed since his video, it's added to the regular taxes, it's not separate anymore.

[@ReactToTheWorld]

We all got our cultural quirks, which what makes it so much fun meeting new people! Any other fun ones about Sweden? Check out our Best of Sweden playlist! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKG8nn-ZfMmFadU Don't miss our reaction to things Americans say that Non-Americans find annoying! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoStqYiHapWSm6M

[@male_5174]

Please react this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYTaYX9_jd2EoZY

[@jemakrol]

Interesting. I'm a Swede. I know about his vlog, have lived in the same towns that he did so I think I know what he talks about. Now. No 1. Don't confuse nice with not making contact or socialize with neighbours. There are a couple of things that spring into my mind, one which you guys reflected on: it depend on area. Not only part of the country but also what part of the town or even part of the block. Goes for Sweden as well as for the US. In general - Stockholm, allthough a completely different city, would be comparable to NY - as you mentioned. Swedes might be known as "shy" or withdrawn. That depends, but in general, we do have like loads of darkness and rain/snow half a year or so and that really makes you wanna skip anything outdoors and just get inside. I think that matter. If you visit Sweden in summertime versus in the wintertime I bet my money on that you will have completely different experience. Not only weather wise but how Swedes act and behave to neighbours and people around in general :) Third, the clip is from a comedy. While it is pretty spot on, it is rather... well, you know comedies... a bit... added... to it? Finally - I've lived in areas (in Sweden) where it is more like Stefan described his hometown is. And places where his reflection on Swedes are spot on. It varies. :) No 2. I hate ketchup on pasta. What's up with that?! I'm not a Swede now? :D I'm on Stefan on this one. If I have to pour something on the pasta quick and easy ketchup is like on the bottom of my list. Do we do this all the time? Hmm, dunno. :) No 3. Nah. That's not true. Go in to any fast food restaurant in Sweden and you'll see people eating with whatever is suitable. McDonals? Hands. Def hands. Sushi? Sticks, of course! Pizzaslizer vs scissors... ha, I have to challenge you guys back. What's more logical, to use a tool specifically designed to part thin things into two pieces (scissors) or to have a rather ineffiecent tool just for a specific dish (pizza...slicer)? I think it's wierd to have a pizza slicer when you (most likely) already have scissors at home. They try to sell pizza slicers in Sweden too, and I believe the only reason they don't sell is because they don't add value. Seriously :) 4. That's really interesting. I believe many Swedes think American people are old fashioned. I do, at least if what I hear and see about their / your idea of marriage and children is true. I think it's more odd to have this... stigma around not being married before children. The idea about being married before raising children is good and boils down to make sure any kids brought to the world is taken good care of. The marriage is an assertion that this will happen. I get that. But why on earth get so stuck on this that it prevent you from living your live, using common sense? Kids being born outside a marriage but with two (or one, for that matter) caring parent is not going to have less chances in life - not if we speak what marriage would add. Kids get beaten or mistreated within marriage, and vice versa. The marriage is something beautiful by itself and it is a legal arrangement and - if done within church - a commitment not only to God but to family. But if you speak commitment and legal matters, that comes without marriage as well. Getting married can be both beautiful and wonderful. But it's not hasted just to make sure any... babies comes within marriage. It's a confirmation of love. And getting married later would be to do this confirmation based on... well, experience and confidence rather than assumptions on future ;) 5. That IS a controversal issue here. Most people in Sweden (I think) is AGAINST this extra fee. Put it on the tax. Agreed. It is an arrengement that I cannot really understand we stick to. A comment. I believe Stefan Thyron is very good in analyzing and putting word into his reflections. He seems to be an open minded, nice and curious. That's why I believe many Swedes like to watch him. However, it still is his opinions. They might be applicable to most of Swedes, but then again, it's also a matter of context. And what you relate to. I loved to watch you react to his video. :) All the best, to you and to Stefan too. /Jens from Sweden

[@ReactToTheWorld]

@@jemakrol Thx for sharing your thoughts Jens! Always really interesting to hear from Swedes about their culture, and what you think of thoughts from us Americans about it!

[@coconutcookie7102]

I’m from Sweden and I don’t like ketchup, but everyone I know loves ketchup. So I don’t have ketchup on my pasta. 😆

[@laluba3603]

About swedes being "shy" or introverts - I think that is a cultural thing; And I have a theory about it. It's all about the light. In the fall we all flee inside from darkness, rain and cold autumn winds. During the darkest time of the year we hang the Christmas lights in our windows and the festival of Winter Solstice is the most beautiful feast of all when the saint of light - Lucia enter our homes as a promise of warmth and light. During this long period we are a bit reserved because we don't want risking to be "stuck” in a long conversation and freeze our toes off. When finally spring and light returns with warmth, longer days, and the spring greenery allures the birds to sing, we occupy our beloved "fika"-places and do all we can to make ends meet again. Maybe that is why it's easier to have "deep" conversations with Swedes..

[@ReactToTheWorld]

That is one creative theory!

[@Cookie_moonlove]

@@ReactToTheWorld I think it's more or less a fact that warmer climate = more social people. Thats how I always thought about it and ofcourse how close people live to eachother also factors in. You don't want to be/stay outside now here (unles you are skiing or something active) until like in april or may because of the cold, if you go visit someone you tend to stay for a while and you often get in to deeper conversations, in the summer when it's warm and sunny even at night we are outside as much as we can and are much more social. Almost every coffeshop/fika place and restaurant have outdoor seating in the summer and even though we have crazy amounts of fika places they are full of people when the sun is out. La Luba I don't think swedes are introverts (I am one though) but as I wrote we are _like_ introvets in the way that we are in general not as much for smalltalk as people in the US and not because we are shy, or unfriendly that was my point.

[@jonatankarlsson6439]

Hi! I'm a 20year old guy from mid Sweden! And I can say that everything on that list the he talked about are true for us Swedes, but everyone is different so those things can differ for each and everyone! The thing I know about us are that us Swedes are really friendly when u get to know us! We have our own bubble so to speak, we are like a personal bubble society 😂 if u got some questions for me I would love to answer them! Take care!😋

[@nizze6855]

From the 1 januari 2019 was a new law created about the taxes on public service TV in sweden the day you turn 18 (adult) in sweden you have too pay that tax. It dosen matter if you have a tv or not anny more.

[@feliciaa1087]

In Sweden not all couples get married. My parents aren't, idk if I want to

[@sagajonsson8753]

In Sweden we have public service channels owned by the state which are meant to educate and entertain people without commercials and influence. The money from the tv tax goes to those channels.

[@puttepalt6336]

In Sweden we have several publik channels of TV and radio that are commercial free.

[@xXxmasenxXx]

the first one is truse for big citys. Where i live its not like that

[@Brienna82]

Another swede in the comments here. I hate having my pizza sliced by anyone else. 1. Though i don't have any pizza related food allergies myself a do have a sister very allergic to seafood. So if a pizza place would slice the pizza with a pizzacutter at the restaurant there's a very high probability of cross contamination resulting in an allergic reaction as i doubt they wash the cutter between every single pizza. 2. I dislike the traditional slices, they're just a bother to try to eat imo. I cut my slices more rectangular and usually more narrow in width compared to the crust part of a traditional slice. I find it more maneuverable and I get an even amount of pizza in every bite.

[@frida507]

He's a teacher, mabyby that's why he's well spoken.

[@ReactToTheWorld]

Ah that does explain a lot. He'd def would be a great teacher!

[@cotten629]

It’s not really tax on the tv it’s more that we pay for certain channels that are not already free. We have about 5 at max that are free, if we want more tv channels then we have to pay for more

[@emmalenndelius423]

The tv tax is for public service, both radio and TV have channels that are free and without commercials. Those channels are owned by the government and the tax is for supporting the public service system.

[@samuelrudfeldt4101]

About Sweden having tv taxes, they've made those taxes obligatoty for everyone. But I think that's wrong as the money goes to the state driven tv productions. These are very often biosed and formed to fit a certain political sgenda. Which tends to happen with aesthetic bureaucracies . But it is a threat against free speech and democracy

[@insertnamehere1792]

The thing with the neighbours and stuff is only cuz thats our culture... it was even ”worse” before. And being nice has nothing to do with it, you can still be nice even if you are reserved

[@elite_rock_god2292]

I mean the avoid your neighboors part, is more depending on where you live and how you live. If you live in a apartment building, then ye we dont get overly social al to often with each other, but If you live in a house or outside/outskirts of the city then its completely diffrent. When i was a kid we had BBQ with our neighboors, played with each others kids ofc, babysitting each other kids, having dinners and smaller party and such all The time! It was great! But now when i am a adult and live in The heart of the city in a apartment building, its very diffrent, we say hi and might small talk a bit with our neighboors but thats Kinda it.

[@benjaminjakobssonandren1148]

1. that you do not greet your neighbors and help out, depends a lot on where you live in sweden 3. this depens also very mutch if you are in a nice resturang or not and also it depends on who is eating the pizza / hamburger 4. Fika is somthing you can do 1 - 5 times a day 5. this tv tax is sens like 2018 or somthing included in the normal taxes :)

[@neonsvampen1]

Oh my, ketchup on pasta is a must! Also on lasagna!

[@strongbear88]

and on a point about Stefan moving to Sweden, He met an Swedish girl that studied in the US and he moved with her to Sweden but they have sence broken up, and he did get a job quikly as a gym teacher

[@E33Tpro]

Pizza is usually eaten with knife and fork, that's true.

[@herrfriberger5]

2:49 Good point. New Yorkers (or Parisians, etc) really avoid eye contact. More so than Swedes in Stockholm.

[@annarehbinder7540]

Herr Friberger really don’t agree parisians stare at people including the eyes but they don’t see the person they see clothes and meat not a person ( not good or bad just is ) so When I got back to Sweden I was just staring at everybody because Swedes just don’t look look at other people in the cities. Lived in France mainly Paris for about 6 years.

[@litelfluffboiking8135]

I live in sweden and in big citys u do keep to yourself but in smaller erias u are so frendly

[@timce2]

The Hamburger with fork and knife only happens if its a resturant you really cant fit those burgers in your mouth

[@ThatSwedishGuy]

It's not a TV tax, it's a TV/radio license for the stately ran channels. But what I know now is they have included it in the income tax . The people coming to the house comment, it hardly ever happened.

[@PrettyCrazyperson]

Clarification on the tv tax, we have what we call “ground Chanel’s” that everyone gets to have and they are free from advertising. And yes, WHEN “radiotjänst” thought you had a tv but did not pay, they knocked on your door to do a check. They rarely went inside someone’s home. All they did was ask if you had a TV. Since recently we added it to everyone’s regular tax that’s do every time we get paid.

[@blueeyedbaer]

I live in Sweden. No one has ever been in my home to check if I have a TV. But basically if you had internet at home or you bought a TV, a (tablet) computer or a smartphone with your card (and you buy everything with your card in Sweden) you needed to pay the "TV tax". Now it's just deducted from our salaries with all the other taxes. Also, ketchup on pasta is pretty normal. Ketchup is basically a tomato sauce with some added spices. Tomato sauce goes well with pasta. Americans eat spaghetti with meatbals in a tomato sauce. Basically no difference.

[@CottidaeSEA]

Ketchup on pasta is something that I do, but trust me when I say that my ketchup isn't sweet. No added sugar at all. Sometimes I create a regular tomato sauce with basil though. It depends on how much time I want to invest.

[@peter1745dev]

It should be noted that the TV tax has now been removed, everyone pays it on their normal taxes now which means that you don't end up paying as much. And it's not really a TV tax anymore, it's basically a tax that applies to any screen in your home, and since almost everyone has a phone or a computer everyone pays the tax :)

[@Evelinadahlstrom123]

I’ve never heard about someone who has came to a house for a tv. I think it’s only for people who rent a home. It could be

[@novineux1246]

har du aldrig hört talas om tv-licensen?

[@Evelinadahlstrom123]

Jo men inte att de behöver komma hem till en

[@Cookie_moonlove]

Och de fick ju inte komma in och kolla heller även om de skulle ha kommit och ringt på. Jag har som jag skrev tidigare blivit uppringd om tv-licens men när jag sa att jag inte hade tv var det inte mer med det.

[@LordXanathar]

It used to be a thing. Now everyone pays the tv-tax. The Swedish people used to live under constant threat of having snails applied to their eyes if they didnt register their tv's.

[@Cookie_moonlove]

@@LordXanathar :/ kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3-oeKZ-ndx0oc0

[@techdante5511]

nowadays the tv tax is included in the normal tax in sweden :) wether you own a tv or not

[@astridpinehaven3862]

Lol my parents didn’t get married until 2 years ago😂 and they had both me and my little brother before that. I didn’t realise the rest of the world didn’t do that😂

[@newtz.]

the reason there is a tv tax is cause there are 2 fre channels svt 1 and 2 with no ads, they are tax funded.

[@bloodstone3769]

People who come to your place and asks if you have a tv you don’t have to say that you have one, they doesn’t have the right to come in and check if you have a tv

[@Xevo19]

No tv license for monitors or computers, iphones etc, only for tv’s that can recieve tv (state) channels. But now it’s changed so everyone pays tv licens regardless, taken from your paycheck.

[@discogareth]

We have a TV licence in the UK. If you have a TV or can receive BBC, you pay for it. And people can and do check if you have one!

[@Gnossiene369]

Just because you don't crave social interactions with your neighbors it doesn't mean you aren't sweet or talkative. It's just that they are just as much of a stranger as anyone else to me. But I talk to people who talk to me and I talk to people I want to talk to. Doesn't mean I'm rude when I do. Growing up we were out on the country and I knew all the people there, but it's just so many in the city, better just pick instead of being exhausted.

[@MrCitius]

As a swede i think most of us is raised in sort of a way to ”mind your own business”. Sometimes that leads to avoiding taking unnecessary contact or looking at others and sometimes that is perceived as we are a little ”closed”. But if you should stop someone in the streets needing help, in 999 out of a 1000 times, you will get your help and a nice conversation as well. If you will have a ”fika” somewhere, dont be afraid to talk to the ones sitting at the table beside you. They will enjoy the conversation as much as you do and they will be very polite. About the tax on tv, it is since 1 of january, 2019, no longer a separate fee. Its now embedded in the ordinary taxes. The tv channels and some radio channels provided by the state are not allowed to use commercial brakes, so the fee is the way they fund them.

[@nennejoh]

I just have a question, what do you use ketchup for?

[@ReactToTheWorld]

We mostly use it for hamburgers, french fries and hot dogs here in the US.

[@SuperDalton72]

Stefan thyron is realy good and going deep..

[@gabriellanilsson29]

I really like this video😊 Although I would like to say that we (in Sweden) do not have the TV fee anymore. It is included in the taxes now I believe.

[@mikaeleriksson5449]

The clip you se in the vlogg is called Welcome to Sweden a show from 2014-2015.. Several american actors is in the cast, like Patrick Duffy, Will Farell and Jack Black in minor roles. www.imdb.com/title/tt3463606/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

[@filippag6520]

The TV tax thing is changed nowadays. Also, the neighbor thing is so true (when living in apartments). And ketchup is amazing.

[@jossanjosefinek.johansson495]

Haha i’ve never had a person knocking on my door about the public service/ tv taxes

[@annarehbinder7540]

JOSSAN Josefine k. Johansson I have multiple times but Think I’m probably older

[@ghostviggen]

I had a plan of using a projector only to avoid paying for TV tax. But one day the authorities called and asked if we had a TV. And my wife answered and said yes. And she was so proud that she had arranged the administration of our TV tax by herself...

[@MissWeerdo]

Omg you'd looooove to watch the series "Welcome To Sweden", the series which the clip about the neighbours is called. You'd love it haha

[@noerdfarbrorn]

You should really come over here (Sweden) if you can. It would be awesome :D

[@witchfromthenorth5294]

He has a lot of vloggs comparing sweden too america - they are interesting

[@CottonPuffFluffer]

The Tv thing is specific to if you live in a apartment and who it is that owns the apartment

[@Therran91]

Tv/Radio är inräknat i skatten för alla 18+ som har en inkomst över 19.670kr/år, för tjänar man över den summan per år så måste man betala skatt :)

[@CottonPuffFluffer]

@@Therran91 ha lär nå nytt varje dag i guess

[@Therran91]

@@CottonPuffFluffer Heh, ja :)

[@MegaSkullduggery]

Id say the TV tax is a bit over the top. I dont remember anyone looking in my house if I have a TV growing up. Ive lived alone for 3 years now and nobody has looked in my apartment for a TV or anything. There is a TV tax but they dont rly look in ppls houses.

[@stefanpersson3865]

I like your vloggs guys! 👍😀

[@claraemanuelsson3444]

10:58 that is not true!! I have lived in Sweden in my hole life and that has never happen to me or someone else!? he must have misunderstood?🙃

[@Dabluekitten]

Totally agree...no dude have come on by my door and asked if I have a TV :O

[@chalphon4907]

The TV tax is not a thing anymore

[@ClasOlsson495]

Ketchup on pasta is the best! 🍝 like I mean look at the *EMOJI*

[@ReactToTheWorld]

For real? Can't even tell what that emoji is. Looks like a perfume bottle!

[@ClasOlsson495]

React To The World okay haha 😆 buut... a perfume bottle? How

[@leonardpiittinen9946]

It’s actually really good to have ketchup on your pasta and meatballs it’s SOOOOO good and it’s nearly my favorite meal :3

[@officialrakma6972]

He got the TV tax all wrong. Here in Sweden around 2 years ago every person is forced to pay tv-tax for the "basic tv channel pack" and NO they don't come to your home and check if you have TV.

[@dinkitoyare2485]

They wanted to put the TV license on monitors and tablets but that didn't go thru. But the license have been put on the income tax so everyone with an income pays now.

[@mikies3432]

The tv tax that is being talked about here was removed. it is now part of the regulare tax and dosnt matter if you have a tv or not.

[@muratomar3475]

Is it not easier to use a wheel-knife instead of scissors for pizza or i havent understood smth?

[@pinianna]

Sure, but why buy a separate utensil to slice only one thing?

[@pierreblomgren9221]

It is not so common in Italy that they make slices of pizza they only make it when it comes to Americans otherwise it is knife or fork. I saw it myself when I was in Italy so they also use a knife and fork.

[@RockingMarshall]

Check out Andrew Austin who moved to Sweden as well

[@nellys5906]

I remember how blown my mind was when I learned that apparantly a lot of people think it's weird or wrong to have children and stuff before marriage??? My parents never got married, though they're not together anymore and I have a friend who's parents have been living together for over 25 years and they're not married lol. My mom has been in a relationship with her boyfriend for 11 years and they're not married and my dad has lived with my stepmom for over 6 years and they're not married.

[@roahir]

That thing about someone coming to your house and see if you have a TV or not... happened to me when I moved out of my parents house. It's real.