Home Is Where The Swedish Heart Is

 

Now that I have been living in Sweden for a while I can see why some Americans perceive Swedes as being kind of "cold". From my experience so far when I am walking down the street and I smile as I pass someone, I no longer expect a smile in return. It's a fact that Swedes do not give as much of themselves as Americans do in public. It can take years to get to know who someone really is here, but once you do get to know them you are glad you made the investment.

It can be a long process, but if you become friends with a Swede they will most likely become some of the most true friends you have had. And if you are lucky enough to be invited to a Swede's home, you will see where their heart has been hiding all along.

Some of the very best hospitality I have been shown in my life has been in Swedish homes. No matter what season it is, when you stand in the doorway to a Swedish Home you walk out from the cold world into a place of warmth and comfort. You are always served coffee or tea with some kind of tasty heartwarming treat, whisked away on to a comfortable chair and into a delightful or interesting conversation. Inside a Swede's house you will find out why some are so guarded outside, they have a lot of pleasant company to offer to those who have patience and a kind heart.

When you are invited in to a Swedish home, don't let the outside of the house fool you. Because of the weather and the innate practicality of Swedish culture and design you will not see a fancy front yard, private gate or ornate decorations welcoming you up the driveway. The typical (and charming) red house with white trim that you see so often in Sweden is popular because of how the type of paint withstands the changing weather, not because it looks cute. During this time of  year in Sweden the only clue that could suggest how warm and wonderful the inside of a Swedish Home is are the lights on display through the double pained windows. The lights in the windows are actually an understated beacon of Scandinavian Hospitality at its finest. When you are outside in the cold looking at those pretty lights in the window sill you can't help but think about how warm it must be inside.

I am planning to do some Swedish interiors tours so you all can see what I am talking about here. Until then, one last word of advice.....#1 most important thing to remember if you are invited into a Swedish home: TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!
Tack!