TeacherZee Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 President Obama is in Sweden and the news has a feature about what Americans know about Sweden so I thought I would ask: If I say Sweden what is the first thing you think about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookValley. Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Stieg Larsson. I guess I don't know much about Sweden. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leav97 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Abba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Coffee and coffeecake!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Ikea The blue and yellow Swedish flag Ericsson (mobile phone) Pippi Longstocking Scandinavia ABBA Roxette Volvo (car) Carl Linnaeus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Blondes Cold Ace of Base Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Ikea. :D Just kidding. I think of a Swedish friend I had growing up, and her wonderful family. Also, the beautiful landscape (I've never visited - just love the photos I've seen of Sweden). My paternal grandfather was Swedish and I'd love to visit the country someday to learn more about that part of my ancestry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Cold IKEA Socialism (in a good way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 IKEA. (eta: This is only the FIRST thing I think about, not the only thing I know about Sweden.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Stockholm Syndrome. I remember the cases of it in the early 70s including the event in which the term was named - Kreditbanken robbery at Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm. The term was later used (the next year I believe) with the Patty Hearst kidnapping. I watched the news nightly for updates on the events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I've been to Sweden and got married there so I think lots of things all at once. Hmm, intense cold and dark, snow, hearing howling huskies, beautiful design everywhere, home ed ban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Fiords...that my ancestors made bread from lichen, moss and tree bark to avoid starvation...that the area my grandfather's family was from lost over half of their population as the poorest immigrated to the US in the early 1800's because it was that or be homeless and starve...that the area my grandfather's family was from is known for their woodworking/glass making skills...that the rapid immigration prompted changes in the government...my Electrolux mixer... And...for the record, not all Swedes are blondes. I can show you picture after picture of full Swedes who are not blonde, though most of them do have blue eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I think of simple charm, red buildings, water, managed forests, fireworks on New Year's Eve, technology, impudent children, fika, street festivals, crayfish, old hymns, Christmas time... I have a lot of associations. I could go on. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMommy Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Crown Princess Victoria, and her adorable baby, Princess Estelle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Thank you everyone and please keep them coming!! Crown Princess Victoria, and her adorable baby, Princess Estelle! We found out yesterday that Princess Madeleine and her husband are expecting their first child due in March. The baby might very well be born in the US since that is where they live :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Volvo and Swedish meatballs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Wallander. Because that is my Netflix go-to when I can't sleep. Kenneth Branaugh always looks so tired so it helps me sleep. ETA: Add my next-door-neighbor - an energetic Swedish lady in her 70s that makes me look like a broken down old slug. Definitely the archtype hardy Scandinavian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 the geographic shape and location. conifer forests Swedish horses (the decorative ones) midnight sun old wooden buildings Swedish church records (love Scandinavian records) girls with floral wreaths in their hair in spring - and candle lit st. lucia wreaths at Christmas. liv Ullman in the emigrants some Swedish friends I won't say pickled herring - because 1) it's Norwegian, and 2) I loath the stuff - though dh loves it. KRINGLE. yum. though it's Danish . . . maybe it doesn't count . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Landscape: mountains, snow, coast, trees, snow, Volvos in snow, tall blond cool easy-going people. Oh and Henning Mankell's books. Oh, and a Swedish woman I knew in Taiwan who told a very rude story about what happens when the rules for platonic bedsharing between male and female friends are disobeyed. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jen3kids Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Pippi Longstocking!!! And, my sil and her family who live there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzybluecheese Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Henrick who wet his pants at an Elvis Costello Concert that his dad took him to when he was 5. He was a really nice guy, but he never should have told us that story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 In no particular order: --Brrrr! --delicious meatballs --socialism (the good kind) --The freedom to be openly atheist without social repercussions --Ikea (only in recent years - I never heard of Ikea until abut 6-7 years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbeym Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Ice Beautiful scenery ABBA Norway (b/c it's next door and my great-grandma was from Norway) I had no idea Roxette and Ace of Base were from Sweden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soufflegirl Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Ikea. I was on their website today trying to figure out bookshelves. Next would be Wallander. Not that Sweden doesn't have plenty of other awesome aspects - those two happened to have come up in my life this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 My family (maternal great grandparents were Swedish) Ikea Abba Pippi Longstocking How beautiful it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 My daughter leaves in a week to study there for a year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Great Grandma Finland Swedish meatballs and Bulla The Swedish Chef! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Headhunters (the movie) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Chocolate. And blonde people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Wallander. Because that is my Netflix go-to when I can't sleep. Kenneth Branaugh always looks so tired so it helps me sleep. ETA: Add my next-door-neighbor - an energetic Swedish lady in her 70s that makes me look like a broken down old slug. Definitely the archtype hardy Scandinavian. Believe it or not the Wallander series that's in Swedish w/ subtitles, is even better! True story. And totally off topic...after you watch that, try The Eagle (Danish w/ subtitles), it's also quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I think of Saabs and salmon. eta: fjords and knitting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Finland! :D But, only because I lived in Finland for several months and it's right next to Sweden, which I never got to visit, but always wanted to because the Swedes I met in Finland were always so expressive and openly joyful. And the Finns... well... kind of aren't so much. (But, I love Finland anyway. It was awesome!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Meatballs the Swedish chef from the Muppets Marcus Samuelsson And the neighbor girl we had when I was a kid--Annette. She was always saying she was half Swedish and half Danish. Can't believe I didn't even think of IKEA until I read through the responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Licorice. When I live in Japan I had a Swedish friend who got the best licorice ever sent from home. I adore licorice, and 20 years later, still think about that stuff he got. For all I know, it wasnt even Swedish, lol. Maybe his mom bought it at am import store there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 TeacherZee, I hope after a while you'll come back and let us know how we did. I'd be curious to find out what's really typical/common and what is just our idea of all things Swedish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Henrik Lundqvist Henrik and Daniel Sedin Nicklas Lidstrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I think of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, the Marshall of France (under Napoleon) who was elected to be the heir to the Swedish throne. The House of Bernadotte has continued to rule Sweden ever since. I once read Desiree, a historical fiction work about his wife's life (Desiree Clary, whose sister was married to Napoleon's brother Joseph), and I was fascinated by his election and how he gave up his French citizenship to become the ruler of another nation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I'm sure these are not exclusively Swedish but it's what I think of. Uff da Smorgasborg lutfisk pepparkakor dala horses St Lucia Some lovely hymns: Children of the Heavenly Father, Day by Day, Savior like a Shepherd Lead us, How Great Thou Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 good schools beautiful fjords windpower they don't need as much vitamin D yam and yelly (My (step) grandmother's family is from Sweden and I love hearing her imitate her father) St Lucia's Day!!!! (HUGE one in our house, nothing to do with my grandma's family) Pippi *amazing* knitting gorgeous needlework Carl Larrson a love of cardamom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I think of the Norwegian exchange student across the street who was so sweet until Sweden was mentioned. Boy does she dislike them! It was comical. I made a point of offering to take her on every trip to Ikea so she could get foods from her homeland. She was SO not amused. I'm from Hatfields and McCoy country myself, so you think I'd be a bit sensitive . . . but NOPE. It was too easy and fun :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 The first thing? Definitely ABBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Thank you everyone, you've all mentioned things we are very proud of here! I think the WTM ladies would be welcome here (and I am very very glad that no one mentioned the Swedish nanny) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 My grandma's Swedish pancakes and Swedish rye bread, yummm. I also think of babies bundled in big blankets in strollers lined up outside of quaint stores, and mom's who get to shop without navigating a stroller between racks of clothes because it's safe to leave your baby outside. Btw, is this true, or an urban myth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 My grandma's Swedish pancakes and Swedish rye bread, yummm. I also think of babies bundled in big blankets in strollers lined up outside of quaint stores, and mom's who get to shop without navigating a stroller between racks of clothes because it's safe to leave your baby outside. Btw, is this true, or an urban myth? Anymore it is a bit of a myth, mostly because most stores can accommodate strollers. In small stores where you can see the stroller outside, sure. Many restaurants have areas to park strollers as well, and some people might leave a sleeping baby in it as long a they were sitting nearby to hear it wake. I actually find Sweden a bit more family friendly simply because it is expected that parents stay home with their kids the first year of life, but we don't take cars the way people do in America, rather people walk or take public transport, therefore coffee shops (for "fika") have spaces for strollers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Ikea Lingonberries Dala horses Beauty Contemporary Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 My friend Andy, he was a fellow exchange student in Japan while I was there years ago. We keep in touch. He is from, and currently lives in Sweden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 My father went there for brain surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planner Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Volvo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jen3kids Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 the Swedish chef from the Muppets My sil's husband does not find the Swedish chef amusing at all. We think he's hilarious, but all he can say is, "We don't talk like that.", with a puzzled look on his face. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Lots of things! I used to live in DK, though, and I can sorta read Swedish. I can sing the Pippi theme too. :) I recently re-read Drottingens juvelsmycke so I was thinking about all things Swedish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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