Some Generalizations and Observations (maybe unfair, but TRUE!)

Okay, so I've been in Stockholm for three weeks now. Is that enough time for me to report some over-simplified generalizations? Perfect.

1. Legs -- I walk around subway stations here (Oops! Pardon me! I mean tunnelbana. Wow, my Svenska is getting so good) and all I see is long, skinny legs. EVERYWHERE. It's almost jawdropping. It's as if the Swedish government has genetically altered everyone here to have a pair of these (I wouldn't put it past a bunch of socialists..). And I'm not just talking about girls -- guys got 'em too! Guys walk around in these tight, neon jeans and it throws me off big time. I guess I'm just an American girl, but I like to believe the illusion that my legs are skinnier than most guys... not true! New rule: all potential Swedish beaus must have thicker legs than me. You wonder how they stay warm in the winter...

My roommate, Dani, is practicing her svenska vowels and I would like to take this opportunity to embarass her and post this. Okay, well that's that.

2. Swedish Dads -- I would like to quote Julia here, "Swedish dads are the best invention ever!" She says this all the time. 'Why?' you ask yourself. Swedish dads are everywhere -- pushing strollers, riding on bikes with toddler seats, and buying their kids tons of candy (the kids here are always doped up on candy it seems). Stockholm natives are pretty fashionable and it's funny to see a man decked out in designer threads who looks like he might be a rockstar or a Dior model and he's pushing along his mini-me who is also decked out in punk clothes. I've also seen some ganster-type dads with strollers. It's something I don't recall seeing a lot of in the US. There isn't any shame in it here and it would never be thought of as emasculating which has a lot to do with the near-perfect gender equality in Sweden (men and women are both equal breadwinners in the family). Another factor is that both men and women get ridiculously long maternity/paternity leaves. I'm learn about this is my 'Women' class :)

3. Staring -- If you're me, right now you're thinking "Stare-ing? Star-ing?" I'm talking about the looking one. People stare here. It probably doesn't help that my peers and I reek of America, but I feel like when I pass people, they really stare at me. It's something I've adjusted to and some of my friends have felt the same way. I think a lot of the guys on my trip thought they were doing pretty well with the ladies based on this. The truth is (sorry, guys) staring here isn't as rude or suggestive as it is in the US. It's much more innocent and locking eyes isn't something Swedes are ashamed to do or even very aware of. So, rather than embarassingly glancing away when you make eye contact with someone, Swedes feel no problem reciprocating the glance.

4. Smiley Faces -- Swedes completely abuse the emoticons you can use in text messages. Even guys use them. For example, a typical text message might contain 2 or 3 of these. That's too much! It stops here, Sweden. Got it?

5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde -- As I may have mentioned before, Swedes are somewhat reserved, in general. I'm still trying to coax the old lady who lives on my floor to return the "Hej! God dag!" I send her way every morning before she makes the long trek from her walker to the stairchair thing she uses. These reservations change once alcohol is involved... I'm not talking about the old woman anymore... I've never drank with her, but I'm sure she's a hoot. Stockholm is a pretty formal place and suddenly once the clock strikes midnight these proper Europeans suddenly turn to wild huligans (you got a glimpse of that with the soccer game). Suddenly everyone wants an American friend to show around the city and cook a traditional Swedish meal. It's kind of hysterical, actually. And did I mention there is alcohol everywhere? Oh, I didn't? Well there is. My parents will be happy to know that I haven't really been hitting the bottle while I've been here (I can hardly figure out which tunnelbana to get on sober) but I haven't forgotten Paul Nolan pulling my aside in New Hampshire this summer and telling me to write a blog "Completely smashed!"

6. Everyone Speaks English -- Okay, this one is just true. Everyone over the age of 12 is fluent in english, which is good for me and bad for my Svenska prof, Eva. At this rate I'll never get past learning tunnelbana. Even people who work at McDonald's here speak perfect english... (I'm going to save myself from saying something minorly politically incorrect here).

But don't think everything is all hunky-doory because everyone speaks fluent english! It's not! Some of the other students and I have been out with Swedes and let me tell you, ALL HUMOR IS LOST. Seriously. It's somewhat miserable. Also, Swedes are not afraid of long silences. Ye have been warned! All those wary of awkward date situations turn back now! It's obviously not just a language barrier, but also a cultural one. George put it very nicely, (paraphrasing!)"It's not that I don't have a good time [one-on-one with a Swede], but it's nothing great or special. It's hard to find a connection that can survive the language and cultural barrier". Well put, George! I think Joey (who lives a few floors up) would agree. Joey got sick of a Swedish girl after 3 dates and she was a professional Swedish ballerina! I hope people give him a hard time for that. And while I'm giving Joey a shout-out I might add that you should check out his awesome blog at apfeltunovers.blogspot.com

That's it for now! I'm up to Julia's apartment to enjoy an ice cream sundae binge-sesh with the other girls in my program.