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!
