When I first moved from the United States to Sweden, I thought I had Swedish people figured out.

Like many Americans, I had heard the stereotypes. Swedes were often described as quiet, reserved, difficult to get to know, and not particularly interested in talking to strangers. Coming from a culture where casual conversations happen almost everywhere—from grocery stores to coffee shops—I assumed I knew what to expect.

As it turns out, I was wrong.

After spending several years living in Northern Sweden, I’ve discovered that many of the assumptions I had about Swedish people couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Watch the Full Video

I’ve also created a YouTube video where I share my personal experiences and the lessons I’ve learned living in Sweden as an American.

👉 Watch the full video here:

My First Impression of Swedish People

One of the first things I noticed after arriving in Sweden was how different social interactions felt compared to the United States.

People generally don’t engage in as much small talk with strangers. On public transportation, people tend to respect personal space. In stores, interactions are often brief and efficient.

At first, I interpreted this as being cold or unfriendly.

Looking back, I realize that I was judging Swedish culture through an American lens.

The truth is that Swedish people weren’t being unfriendly at all. They were simply expressing respect in a different way.

In the United States, friendliness is often demonstrated through conversation and outward enthusiasm.

In Sweden, respect is often demonstrated by giving others space and privacy.

Once I understood this difference, my perspective began to change.

Friendship Works Differently in Sweden

Another assumption I had was that Swedish people weren’t interested in forming friendships.

Again, I was mistaken.

What I discovered is that friendships in Sweden often develop more slowly than they do in America.

While Americans may quickly call someone a friend after a few conversations, Swedes often take more time getting to know people before forming close relationships.

However, once those relationships are established, they can be incredibly genuine and long-lasting.

Over time, I came to appreciate this approach. Friendships here often feel intentional, authentic, and built on trust rather than convenience.

The Biggest Surprise About Living in Sweden

The biggest surprise wasn’t that Swedish people were different.

It was discovering how kind they could be.

Throughout my time living in Sweden, I’ve experienced countless moments of generosity, support, and kindness from people in my local community.

Whether it was neighbors offering assistance, locals answering questions, or viewers from Sweden reaching out with encouraging messages, these experiences challenged many of the stereotypes I once believed.

What changed wasn’t Swedish people.

What changed was my understanding of how kindness can be expressed differently across cultures.

Sometimes kindness isn’t loud.

Sometimes it’s quiet.

And that’s something I’ve learned to appreciate.

What Americans Often Get Wrong About Sweden

I think one of the biggest mistakes Americans make when visiting or moving to Sweden is expecting Swedish culture to operate according to American social norms.

When people behave differently than we’re used to, it’s easy to assume something negative.

But cultural differences don’t mean one approach is better than the other.

They’re simply different ways of interacting with the world.

Living abroad has taught me that many of our assumptions are based on our own experiences rather than objective reality.

The more we travel and experience different cultures, the more we realize how much there is to learn.

What I’ve Learned Living in Sweden

If there’s one lesson I’ve taken away from my time in Sweden, it’s this:

Many of my assumptions about Swedish people came from viewing the world through an American perspective.

I expected friendliness to look a certain way.

I expected relationships to develop a certain way.

I expected community to feel a certain way.

But Sweden taught me that there are many different ways to express respect, kindness, friendship, and belonging.

Once I stopped comparing Sweden to what I already knew, I began appreciating it for what it actually is.

And that’s when my experience here truly changed.

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If you enjoy my content about life in Sweden, expat life, travel, and cultural differences, there are several ways you can help support the channel:

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If you’d like to help support future videos and adventures, you can contribute here:
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Your support helps cover equipment, travel expenses, and the time required to create content.

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I regularly share behind-the-scenes moments, daily life in Sweden, travel experiences, and updates that don’t always make it into my videos.

Thank you for following along on this journey as I continue discovering what life is really like in Sweden.

Have you ever realized you were completely wrong about another country or culture? Let me know in the comments below!