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Nudity & Swedish people

Nudity & Swedish people

Mar 12, 2018

Today is a really really funny article that I am going to write, I still laugh about it!

When I arrive to Sweden, I had no idea how Swedish people are! It was actually really interesting to discover everything! But I want to explain you the first time I went to the Swimming pool!

So, I went to the public swimming pool, I did not expect that this story will follow me a long time. I assume that ALL the public pools in the world have private booth to change! but hey, you discover new things everyday. My boyfriend told me that it was separate changing room and we meet on the other side. Yes that’s fine I thought. I enter and I discover that it was a big room and every one was naked, I was a bit confused – looking after my private booth, I look around – NOTHING. And then I realised, that everyone is naked – take a shower – and after put the bikini on. And it is FINE.

Well, fine, fine, I don’t know! I was absolutely not prepared for that, I took a deep breath and I changed, hiding my body the best I could, take my shower WITH my bikini (ahah I am still French, don’t worry!) and I met my boy friend outside, he instantly saw at my face that something was wrong and he was wondering why it took me 20 minutes to change! I explain him all my story and I saw all these naked women, and I was still looking for my private booth!

He laughed a lot. After almost 3 years, I am still a bit uncomfortable and now I have a trick! I put my bikini before we arrived! Ahaha.

Swedish people are not prude at all. A body is a body. In France, we learn super young that this is your body and you have to keep it secrete, we have our private booth at the pool, and I had never seen this before! It is super interesting to see the difference between 2 countries that are not so far away, but still so different!

PS. I still did not go naked to the sauna with friends! I will keep my bikini for now! 🙂

France – Lyon

France – Lyon

Dec 6, 2017

Lyon is a wonderful city! One of my favorite in France to be honest.

Lyon is located in the south east of France. Buildings and architecture are wonderful, the city is peaceful!

You definitely should visit this:

  • Le parc de la tête d’or. This parc is WONDERFUL. It has even animals inside, it is huge and it has so much to see! As I lived not so far away from this parc, I enjoyed so much to just relax and spend afternoons there. It is super peacefull
  • Musée Confluence: Wonderful museum
  • Les quais de Lyon.
  • Vieux Lyon and “les traboules”: The old city has so many small streets but also between the buildings, you are able to cross one street to another inside building. It is really impressive – you need to know a little bit Lyon to find it 🙂
  • Fourvière. Wonderful basilica with a special feeling inside. Worth to visit and you have a wonderful view from all the city.
  • Place Bellecour.

Don’t forget to try L’institut Paul bocuse. It is a restaurant where students practise to become chef! It is one of the best experience in my life foodwise! BUT you need to book at least 2 months in advance!

 

Is Sweden an expansive country?

Is Sweden an expansive country?

Dec 6, 2017

Before I move to Sweden, I heard a lot of things about “Sweden is an expansive country”.

The answer to this question is “IT DEPENDS”.

  • Haircut: min. 60€ long hair for a girl – 45€ short cut for boys
  • Restaurant for lunch 10€ for one person
  • Restaurant for dinner 30€ for one person
  • Beer at the bar (50cl) 8€
  • Clothes/fashion: same as France
  • Grocery store: 80€ for 2 people for a week
  • Cinema: 16€

Services are more expansive than France, especially for hair dressers. The reason is that they have taxes and they need to have of course everything is counted by hourly rate.

Salaries are higher than in France, that’s why the life does not seem as expensive as it is.

Buy Alcohol in Sweden

Buy Alcohol in Sweden

Dec 6, 2017

This article may seem strange but it is actually a different system than in France.

Sweden has a clever way to sell alcohol, it is controlled by the government. The only way to get alcohol is to go to a shop called “Systembolaget” (and you need to be +20yo) where you find only alcohol. You will pay around 20€ for a good bottle of wine and 30€ for a normal bottle of vodka.

Why is Alcohol only sold there? The reason is the control. The government knows how much Swedish people consume alcohol and it is high taxes on it. If one day, the consumption is higher, the prices will increase. Thanks to this, the cost of buying alcohol does not encourage people to drink a lot.

The pourcentage of alcohol addicted is way lower than in France for example.

What is a FIKA?

What is a FIKA?

Dec 4, 2017

Fika is a pretty big deal in Sweden.

According to Wikipedia, Fika is a concept in Swedish culture with the basic meaning “to have coffee”, often accompanied with pastries, cookies or pie.

When I arrive in Sweden, I had no idea what Fika means and it is not so big in France. The paradox is that Sweden people don’t eat pastries, cookies expect for the fika! As a true Swedish, you have to Fika (yes it is getting so big that we use it as a verb) at least every week!

Companies do a fika once a week – usually on fridays but some companies do it EVERY DAY – Even 2 times per day! In this case, you don’t have cookies or pastries every time – unfortunately – but you will take a cup of coffee with your colleagues during 15 mins, talking about everything and nothing. Especially the weather and what is going on today in the city! But I have to say it is cozy and it is a big part of the Swedish life.

Just for your information, Sweden is one of the top country for biggest coffee drinker. It is around 150l (need to double check this information) per person per year! And the coffee is SUPER DARK. So you need to like strong coffee! Personally, I am used soft coffee with Vanilla arome, so I really don’t like Swedish coffee!

Some cookies or pastries for the fika:

  • Kanelbullar : Cinnamon rolls! It’s delicious!
  • Choklad bullar: Chocolate balls
  • Dammsugare: Almond chocolate balls
  • Kladkakka: Chocolate cake!