CULTURE

What They Don’t Tell You Before Moving To Scandinavia

Reporting from Stockholm, truly shocked.

Photo by Oscar Nord on Unsplash

So, you’ve watched as Scandinavian countries have continuously ranked highest in the World Happiness Report for nearly a decade, and you want to try it for yourself?

It was only a few months ago, before coming to Sweden, that I too, in my excited state, was scrambling to find videos and articles that will reveal more about my future Scandi life.

I was aware of the obvious: the long and dark winter days, the Swede's obsession with nature, the fact that the majority of the population takes the entire month of July off, and that nobody does a cinnamon roll better than a Kanelbullar.

But a few less shouted-about bombshells stopped me in my tracks…

What in the world is a Systembolaget?

Now, to start with the point that’ll make me sound somewhat like an alcoholic.

For such a liberal area of the world, a communist-like approach to alcohol can come as quite a surprise.

I’m currently living in Sweden, so for me, the enemy is Systembolaget but if you’re thinking of moving to Norway, then it’ll be Vinmonopolet and in Finland; Alko. Interestingly, Denmark remains the most liberal, with…