We aren’t in Kansas anymore

On the surface, Northern Sweden is very much like Northern Alberta. Beautiful nature, low population density, long summer nights, cold dark winters. But as time goes on, we learn each place has its own distinct way of doing things. These are a few of the things that remind us -to quote Dorothy- we aren’t in Kansas anymore.

:: every grocery store has its own automated bottle depot. and you don’t get cash back, you get a coupon which counts as money in the grocery store.

:: stores close for “summer”.

:: you can’t “spontaneously” go to a movie. you have to book your tickets (and even pick your seats) in advance, and you need a Swedish credit card to do it (discrimination!). Foreign ones won’t work. I don’t think I’ll ever get to see “Harry Potter och Halvblodprinsen”.

:: you can pay for the bus over your mobile phone. then you show the bus driver the receipt you got by text message that says you paid.

:: Bus passes are also electronic and you can recharge online (this is life-changing! I can’t tell you the number of times in Edmonton we had to run around at 11pm the last day of the month to 3 different 7/11s just to find a bus pass)

:: you cannot put cash into an ATM. you can only take out. to deposit cash or cheque you must go to the branch. people thought I was crazy when I wanted to put cash into the machine.

:: since I have to go IN PERSON to put money in my account, I figured I might as well pay my bills while I was there. Bad idea. It costs substantially more to pay bills in person than to do it electronically. 80 SEK surcharge per bill.

:: showers have no shower rod or curtain. water just flies everywhere and there is a drain in the floor. we have to squeegee the floor. I hate it.

:: meat percentage legally must be listed on food. generally it is a good idea to buy meat with a high percentage of meat. hotdogs range from 45%-80% meat.

:: grocery stores sell instant grills that you can take anywhere for a picnic. It is an aluminum foil pan full of charcoal soaked in lighter fluid. They are so popular that there are special “instant grill” garbage cans in public places.

:: wild blueberries are everywhere

:: mushroom hunting is a legitimate hobby here

:: every single day I see more bicycles than cars