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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