Sweden vs. Me

One thing you gather while traveling is the intricacies of your own culture. Sweden is a lot like Canada in some respects. They have a high minimum wage and cost of living, they appreciate personal space, and they have a designated area where you buy your alcohol - which after 20 years of life still pisses me off.

BUT, one difference is how negatively the Swedes are affected by the winters. I've actually witnessed two breakdowns while being here. Because these winters are so brutally long, the Swedes get really introverted. They don't want to talk, they just want to drink their expensive 3.5% cider and call it a night.

I also didn't realize how eccentric I am and how much this pains people here. For 2 months though I've been completely oblivious to the fact that my bandana is insulting, my hair offends them and my alcoholism is worrisome. It's not that they're totally against individuality here, it just... scares them. Being different is weird, and weird is borderline mentally unstable.

But it's the only form of scarf I have!

One piece of advice I can offer to innocent Canadians like myself is that a smile can go a long way. Despite how rude some people are initially to me, they always feel like shit when I respond with a smile. The best though is when I tell them to have a nice day. They actually don't know how to react to this. One lady, while I was in the Iceland airport, nearly cried with joy. So just be friendly and things will work out. Oh, and sew a Canadian patch on your bag. Trust me.

Thanks mom!

Greetings

Hello Internet. I've decided I will finally start a blog as I've been intending to for some time now. I'll try to keep people updated on my travels without scaring you with large blocks of text. Here, enjoy this picture of my kitty...

Though I cannot update you on 2 months worth of adventures at this very moment, I can compile a list of a few observations I've gathered so far (both about this city and about myself in general).

1. EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE

The rumors are true. Stockholm is as ridiculously expensive as they say it is. Which is a result of 15$/hr minimum wage. With the exchange rate, I find myself coughing up more money than I am aware of. I will often find myself at a bar ordering a beer and they will casually tell me it's 100 kr. Cool, that's like... average right?

Once I get home and have access to a currency converter, I come to the horrible realization that I just spent 15$ on a pint. Oh good God! The thing is, that's the standard for anything in this city. Cover for a bar is average 20$, a beer is around 15$, and that drunken mistake you call a hot dog is approximately 5$. Fuck.

Pictured: 140$ worth of beer.

2. I LOSE SHIT TOO EASILY

I suspect this comes with the territory of being an alcoholic with a low attention span - but it's become crippling in some effects. Within the first two weeks of living in Stockholm I've managed to lose everything vitally important. Including:

• blackberry
• my only purse
• debit card
• winter jacket
• dignity

Either way, I've come to the conclusion that I should duct tape my belongings to me when alcohol is involved.

My first and only blackberry, a short lived affair.

3. TRAVELING IS INEXPENSIVE

Yes, yes... I'm aware I just retold the horrors of Stockholm's 15$ beers. But it seems that getting out of Stockholm is ridiculously cheap.

In my free time I like to dream of all the countries I could visit if I actually had friends and my weekly budget wasn't blown on table wine. A flight to Berlin is about 10$, a round trip to Brussels is just under 20$ and a weekend in Poland (including hostels) would be around 60$. Moral of the story? Visit Stockholm last.

Children's imitation champagne in Spain is still cheaper than Stockholm's real wine...

4. I'M A KLEPTOMANIAC

To compensate for everything I lose on my nights out, I end up stealing something with little to no value to make myself feel better. As a result, my room is full of useless subway posters and street signs.

Oh, and this...


Despite the fact that this post makes my time so far sound like a living nightmare, it is quite the opposite. Everyone is amazing here, the subways run 24 hours on weekends AND you can talk on your cellphone on them. Gamla Stan (the old town) is also probably my favorite place in the world and I've become really good friends with the bartenders at this cave/bar. I'm still standing is the point and I'll keep standing until someone pushes me in the mud. But for now I'm going to go drink beer with the boys on my floor. Toodaloo!