What our South African friends thought of Sweden - 25 reflections

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What did our South African friends think of Sweden? We have been travelling around together for almost three weeks, first in Stockholm and then south and west. Here are our friends' reflections on Sweden.

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Travelling around Sweden - with South African friends

Our South African friends, Henri and Michelle, have lived all their lives in South Africabut are very well travelled. They have visited some 50 countries around the world, and are used to travelling in various adventurous ways. They've been to Norway before, and they've even dropped in on Stockholm (one day during a cruise).

However, travelling around Sweden in a campervan was a completely new experience, and they had the chance to see everything from nature and sights to everyday life and camping. We first discovered Stockholm together and then travelled Trosa - Kosta, Varberg - Hunnebostrand and Läckö Castle - Sala silver mine. Here you can read about our friends' reflections on Sweden.

1. Where are all the people?

One of the first comments from our South African friends in Sweden was "Where are all the people?". They thought it was empty in Solna, on Kungsholmen and in the metro, and later in many places around the country. But in all honesty, they discovered that there are a lot of people in some places, not least at the Vasa Museum and at Smögen.

2. Swedes are polite

Time and again, our friends commented that they feel Swedes are polite. They think that Swedes are nice, open and helpful, without emphasising themselves.

3. it's so clean!

"It's so clean!" Our friends said this time and again. They compared it to other places in Europe and the world, but found this to be on a level of cleanliness all its own, compared to anything else they had visited.

4. everything works!

They also repeatedly commented on a fascination with how everything works. It could be about parking, payment, vending machines and various technical or digital solutions. "First World Country" they said several times, shaking their heads in fascination. Although our friends are very well travelled, and have visited many parts of Europe, they kept saying that "Sweden is on another level".

5. Swedes are patient and law-abiding

Our friends also found Swedes to be patient and law-abiding. They commented on the way we wait, don't crowd and obey laws and rules, for example in shops and car parks.

6. it's safe - you can leave things in the garden

In most parts of Sweden, it is safe and secure. Our friends took photos of gardens where families had left their children's bikes and toys out to show their friends. They were incredibly fascinated that you don't need to lock such things up.

7. honesty shops work

So-called "honesty shops", i.e. shops without staff, where you take a product yourself and pay with Swish, card or cash in a box - work. We saw a bunch of these shops during our trip and our friends picked up the camera and documented. They realised that this would never work in their country.

8. Such small differences - a large middle class!

They also commented on the small differences in Swedish society, and the large middle class. Of course there are differences, but compared to many other countries, the differences are smaller and many are "in the middle".

9. Even cleaners are eloquent and pleasant

Our friends repeatedly reacted to the fact that cleaners (and street workers) are eloquent and pleasant, just like anyone else. They are used to the fact that many times, in many countries, these jobs are held by migrant workers who don't know the language, or people who haven't been to school, or similar. In Sweden, they found that the cleaners and street workers were both polite and articulate, even in English.

10. everyone is good at English - especially the young!

They thought that Swedes are generally good at English, and we also noticed that very few hesitated to switch to English if necessary. They felt that young people are particularly good at English.

11. So green and beautiful

"So green and beautiful!" They kept saying this as we drove past forests and fields. We had to look a little harder sometimes. Isn't it just an ordinary forest or an ordinary field? But yes, it can be nice of course!

12. so much water

It almost became a joke in the end. "Water ... again!?" We passed Lake Mälaren, the Baltic Sea, Göta Canal, Lake Vättern, the west coast, Lake Vänern and various small lakes. Well, there was probably a lot of water ...

13. More boats than people?

The boats also became a bit of a joke. "Are there more boats than people?", they sometimes asked, a bit in jest and a bit seriously. And we have to admit that we saw many, many pleasure boats during our trip in Sweden.

14. Both warmer and colder than expected

We informed in advance that it can be around 17-30 degrees on a Swedish summer day. Just in case, our (South African) friends packed winter clothes... They often thought it was hot ("23 degrees in Sweden feels like 26!") but sometimes they thought it was cold ("Now the Arctic wind is here again!").

15. Swedes wear summer clothes... when it's cold!

Sometimes our South African friends walked in full costume (with the windbreaker buttoned up to the chin and the hood pulled tight around the face). On the way, they met Swedish children ... in summer dresses or shorts and bare-chested! The same with adults. While our friends were putting on everything they had, Swedes were bathing in swimming shorts and bikinis ...

16. Wide choice in supermarkets - and healthy food

Our friends commented time and again that the selection in Swedish supermarkets is amazing. They have good supermarkets back home in their country too, but in Sweden they were fascinated by the variety of shops, even in small towns.

They also found the range unusually healthy, with a wide variety of vegetables, lots of wholegrain products, plenty of fish and seafood, and a little less 'unhealthy' than in many other parts of the world, such as less deep-fried food.

17. How strange that the state owns the liquor store

"Is the liquor store owned by the state? But why? Why not just set up rules for private entrepreneurs?" The Systembolaget issue came up time and again. Our friends certainly got good help in the shops and appreciated the wide range of products, but found the state ownership odd.

18. Fantastic with all you get back on taxes!

Time and time again, we made our friends open their mouths by telling them about the things you get for your tax money in Sweden. They first worried that people living on islands in the archipelago might not be able to get to hospital if they became acutely ill, for example with a heart attack.

When we told them that there would be a helicopter (for which you don't pay hundreds of thousands of dollars), they could hardly believe it. Other things we talked about included school meals, universities, healthcare and car ferries. "At least you get something for your tax money!", they said over and over again.

19. wow, so many vintage cars!

Henri and Michelle took many photos of vintage cars during our trip. They found it incredible that there are so many well-preserved old cars in our country.

20. campsites are so different

The Swedish campsites were perceived as very different. This is of course partly because we took them to very different places, but we could also agree that the places vary a lot. We stayed at everything from 5-star campsites with programme activities to simple forest campsites and pitches on asphalt or gravel.

21. wow, so many robot lawnmowers!

One thing our friends stopped to look at - and to photograph - was robotic lawnmowers. They knew they existed, but had never seen them in action before. One explanation is of course the huge differences between our countries. In South Africa, it's cheap to hire a gardener - and you're also helping a person get a job. There is simply no need for robot lawnmowers.

22. You have to do everything on your own

One big difference between Sweden and South Africa is that Sweden is more equal and it is therefore expensive to hire labour. During our trip to Sweden, it became very clear how much you do yourself, without the help of employees. You often pay in supermarkets at a machine, you check in digitally at some car parks and you pay the parking fee with an app.

Then you have to carry, pack and do all the practical stuff yourself. Our friends were impressed that the gardens are so well kept - even though most of them probably don't have a gardener.

23. sometimes signs in English are missing

Many signs in Sweden are also written in English, but far from all. In fact, there were quite a few times that we came across various forms of information signs, which were only in Swedish. If there was English, it was sometimes an extremely abbreviated version, written in small letters, way down in a corner where it was difficult to see. Here our friends wished for improvement!

24. you live in paradise!

"You live in paradise!" they sometimes said. They thought we didn't really understand how beautiful it is, and how calm, safe, secure and relaxed we are in our country.

25. We may not want to come here in winter ...

When our friends talked about "paradise", we sometimes reminded them that "you haven't seen Sweden in November!". Even though they have skied, and even though we showed them photos of sunny winter days with crisp snow, they find it hard to imagine the long winter, which is sometimes dark and cold.

They were a bit curious about visiting Scandinavia in winter, but at the same time they sometimes thought it was already cold in July and August. Well, maybe they don't want to come in winter anyway ...

Have you also had foreign guests visiting?

Have you also had foreign guests visiting? What did they think of Sweden? Similar, or different?

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