2. Table of Contents
1. Churches in Sweden
2. Religion in Sweden and Healthcare
3. Swedish Signs
4. Food in Sweden
5. Surprising Aspects of Swedish Life
6. Swedish Lifestyle and Healthcare
7. Swedish People
8. Swedish History and National
Identity
9. Swedish Architecture
3. Churches in Sweden
As seen in the photo on my title slide, Stockholm was
easily navigated by the various towering church spires seen across
the city. The beautiful architecture seen here appeared to be the
norm along with certain universal design aspects such as the
upraised pulpit seen below, the presence of a pipe organ located
in the back balcony, and the traditional spires and arches.
The churches seen here are from the Gamla Uppsala,
the Sophiakyrkan, a local Catholic church in Jonkoping, and
various churches around Stockholm.
4. Religion in Sweden and Healthcare
While there were an abundance of beautiful churches in
Uppsala, Jonkoping, Stockholm, and Gothenburg, I discovered
through conversations with various Swedes and my own
attendance of a service at the Sophiakyrkan that religion is not a
major issue in Swedish life.
During one of the events orchestrated by the Sushis at the
local health park, I had the opportunity to befriend two Swedish
students. We discussed multiple points of differences between
Sweden and the U.S. including religion. They explained that most
people are baptized as infants into the Church of Sweden but that
it has very little influence on daily life. This was confirmed later by
the Sushies Annie and Ida that they too did not care about religion
and that most Swedes are not active in attending church or
incorporating Christianity into their daily life.
When I attended church in Jonkoping, the pews in the
Sophiakyrkan were relatively empty considering the enormity of
the church and those in attendance were mostly middle-aged to
elderly.
From these encounters it seems that Christianity is respected
more for its historical influence on Sweden. Regarding health care,
many charitable health care institutions are ran by faith-based
organizations in the US. These are nonexistent in Sweden since
everyone is covered by the government. From my observations,
Sweden appears to be a post-Christian society and its health care
system is not based off of Christian duty or ideology.
Caption at Gama Uppsala on
Christianity’s role in Sweden
Local Catholic Church in
Jonkoping, Sweden
5. The crown as seen
in the Husqvarna
symbol is
respresentative of
the Swedish three
crowns. They are
seen everywhere.
This sign is for a
baby changing
station in a men’s
restroom. With the
large amount of
time given for
maternity and
paternity leave,
such signs are not
uncommon.
I came to Sweden
with the
misconception that all
Swedes would be
blonde and blue-
eyed. I quickly
realized my mistake,
but Swedish
advertising
consistently illustrates
model Swedes as so.
Just for fun! However,
1.5 million people
Swedes are recent
immigrants out of the
total population of
9.2 million. The
growing diversity of
the Swedish
population is
illustrated in signs like
these.
Swedish Signs
6. This first picture was
taken at the fish
market in Stockholm.
Fish was a very
common plate in
Sweden. Swedes buy
lots of their food fresh
and unprocessed.
Even their cafeteria
food had much more
selection for healthier
unprocessed food.
McDonald’s was on of
the few chain
restaurants in the
entire country. We ate
at the restaurant seen
in the second picture,
Master …., the first
night in Jonkoping.
Most restaurants and
cafes appeared to be
stand-alone locally
owned businesses.
A Vending Machine at
the Stockholm Airport
- Please note that there
is no Dr. Pepper to be
seen. I could not find
any in the entire
country. I don’t think
Swedes realize what
they’re missing!
We ate San Marino’s
pizzeria on our first
Saturday in Jonkoping.
According to Anthony,
it was the best pizza
he’d ever had.
Unfortunately, the
owners would not tell
us how to make the
kebab sauce. The large
number of immigrants
in Sweden has led to
great variety among
restaurants.
FOOD IN SWEDEN
7. Certain aspects of Swedish society surprised me, and these picture are demonstrative of that. Throughout
Jonkoping and Stockholm, we saw many fathers pushing baby carriages or carrying their children without the
presence of the mother. The government of Sweden actually offers monetary incentives if the husband and wife will
split the time allotted for paternity and maternity leave equally, respectively six months each. This emphasis on the
man’s role in child rearing is quite different from societal norms in the U.S.
While walking everywhere in Jonkoping and Stockholm, I noticed all of the outdoor cafes provided blankets with
their chairs. I would be hesitant as a business owner in the U.S. to leave blankets out at my restaurant tables for fear
of them being stolen before the day is out. On the trip, one of the student left their cell phone in one of the subway
stations and then returned half an hour later to find it untouched. I think this speaks of the respect the Swedes have
for each other as well as a more collective mindset.
The amount of smoking as well as the demographics of smokers vs. non-smokers was unexpected. This glass
smoking room was at the Stockholm airport. Throughout Jonkoping and Stockholm, I observed well-dressed
businessmen and women smoking in public places. It appeared to be more acceptable to smoke in public places
than in the U.S., and more upper class Swedes appear to smoke than their U.S. counterparts. The rise in smoking,
obesity, and other unhealthy practices will lead to increased strain on the healthcare systems of both countries.
I happily adopted the Swedish practice of fika. I loved how breaks were built into the days in Sweden to slow
down the business of the day. I think Americans would benefit greatly in terms of productivity and stress-levels if we
took small breaks for ourselves to fika.
Surprising Aspects of Swedish Life
8. Lifestyle and Healthcare
I chose these three pictures to illustrate how certain
aspects of Swedish lifestyle are conducive for the
workings of their current health care system.
Foremost, Swedes have a great sense of national
identity as well as trust in their national government.
Swedish flags fly everywhere along with the three
crowns. This identity lends itself to the collective society
needed to provide healthcare coverage for everyone.
The second picture is not an abnormal sight
anywhere in Sweden. Swedes bike everywhere and they
illustrate how sedentary Americans are. Since gasoline is
so expensive, cars are not as prevalent. This more
mobile lifestyle lessens the strain on the health care
system. With greater mobility, obesity and other
problems from lack of exercise decrease. This Swedish
norm acts as a form of preventive care by keeping
people healthier longer.
Apartment complexes in Sweden often take on this
uniform almost Soviet-style look. This emphasis on
uniformity and conformity to the norm is found in all
parts of Swedish society. Individual achievement is not
celebrated but actually looked down upon. This
collective viewpoint has enable the country to enact a
healthcare policy that cares for all parts of society.
Conforming to societal norms, many of which promote a
healthy lifestyle, are visibly felt in this society. These and
many other attributes of Swedish culture contribute to
the success of the Swedish healthcare system.
9. Swedish People
From my observations and as depicted in the two top
pictures on the right, elderly Swedes appear to be far more
active and in better physical condition in comparison to their
American counterparts. In most parks, exercise equipment
was found and usually an older man or woman would be
using it. Prolonging healthiness and independence saves
healthcare systems untold billions of dollars each year.
Even though I am not Swedish and neither are the seven
other member of the Health Teams Abroad team depicted
below, this picture does include a Swedish nurse, Ms. Annicka
Koch. While the diversity in Swedish appearance was
surprising to me, blonde hair and blue eyes are two still very
prevalent traits. Ms. Koch’s hairstyle along with her hair and
eye color are common in Sweden.
In the bottom right picture, we are listening to John
Flannigin who holds dual citizenship in Sweden and the U.S.
He and his wife chose to live in Sweden to raise their children.
Mr. Flannigin represents one of the 1.5 million Swedes who
are not native-born but who choose to live in a society that
cares for its own.
10. Swedish History and National Identity
Throughout Sweden, the three crowns and the yellow cross on
the Swedish flag could be seen everywhere. Also, artwork depicting
famous Swedish kings such as the sculpture of King Gustaf II
founding Gothenburg or the painting of King Gustaf at the Vasa
museum seen here are just two examples of the many pieces we
saw. Everywhere, Swedish culture and history was celebrated and it
was obvious talking to Swedes that they were proud of their
heritage. This actually proved a problem when it came to
discussions on health care. For good reason, the Swedes are proud
of their current system; yet they were reluctant to discuss the
problems facing them today. Only in our prosthetics and orthotics
talk with Australian-born Mrs. Ramstrand and our talk at the
Karolinska Institute with U.S.-born Dr. Flannigin did we get to hear
more of the flaws in the Swedish healthcare system.
Pride in the rich history of Sweden as well as displays of national
identity are a huge part of the collective society found in Sweden
today. As a history major, I thoroughly enjoyed learning of the rich
long history of Sweden, and I am able to understand their
healthcare system the better for it.
11. The Royal Palace in
Stockholm
The Lipstick Building in
Gothenburg
17th century Church Bell
Tower in Jonkoping
Swedish Architecture
12. Sweden was a beautiful place that I shall never forget. The proud heritage, collective
mindset, and healthy lifestyle all contribute to a culture that enables one of the best
healthcare systems in the world to thrive.
View from a
boat dock
in
Jonkoping
