Sunday, August 11, 2013

Day 3: A Quick Ride to Helsingborg


Malmö --> Helsingborg 

“I always pick up hitchhikers because I used to do it myself,” says Eve sheepishly as we drive down the highway, “but my husband can’t know about it. He doesn’t understand.”

Eve is a social worker for elderly people at a hospital nearby Malmo; she’s on her way to visit her mother in a village near Helsingborg. 

When we express our amazement at how beautiful the country is, she smiles and genuinely says, “Thank you!” as though we are complimenting her daughter. In this way she’s clearly a Swede through and through. She loves her country but is openly willing to talk both about the ups and the downs of it.

While telling us about the crops that are grown and produced in Sweden, she mentions rapeseed oil, on which buses in Malmo actually run. “Swedes care a lot about the “milieu” – the environment,” she says proudly.

She says, however, that socially in Sweden, compared to ten years ago, there’s a lot less equality than one might think. Of course, compared to other countries it’s still very good, but the general trend has been right-leaning. The difference between the rich and the poor is becoming more apparent, and money becoming more and more important. However, a Swedish boss still has not nearly as much power as in other countries.

She also tells us that Swedes will take a really long time to tell you that they dislike you or that they don’t think you’re working hard enough. Whether that’s a tip for our survival in Sweden or a subtle hint that she’s annoyed at all the questions we’ve asked her, it’s a good thing to know as we continue our journey into Sweden.

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