It’s not too good to sweat the small things. Moving to a different country for a few months is difficult, and there are a lot of large reasons for that. But today I want to dedicate a blog post to the little things. The small things that are different.
1. Lots of elevators are tiny, or at the very least, rather thin. It can be difficult to fit a large group of people inside. And by large, I mean 4 people. Add to that stuffed backpacks and puffy winter coats, and you’ve got a padded tetris going on.
2. Many doors are automatic. That’s not to say that they have sensors though. There have been many times I’ve walked to a door, pushed on it, and looked like a fool because the door won’t budge.
3. The dairy. Oh, the dairy. There’s one major dairy producer in Sweden: Arla. But the sheer amount of products they put out can be overwhelming when you go to your local ICA for the first time. There’s an entire spectrum of milk, milk-yogurt, yogurt, butter, sour cream, cream, cream cheese, and cheese. And of course they all come with different fat contents, from 0.5% to 1.5% to 3%.
4. Here, we have a nuisance common to the study abroad experience. Adaptors. Large, clunky, easy to forget. Because every country must have a different outlet. Don’t forget them.
5. Where are the veggies?! Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been eating meat. Vegetables do exist here; they’re just tougher and more expensive. Because Sweden is a cold country. And lots of things don’t grow in cold, icy ground. Including vegetables. Animals, though, don’t grow out of the ground.
So in other words, take note when in Sweden.
