Do we have to choose only one???
Posted on 10/22/2007 8:25:22 AM PDT by WesternCulture
When Stockholm's Mayor donned a t-shirt proclaiming the city 'Capital of Scandinavia', the reaction from the neighbours was predictably indignant. Dan Boman looks at how Stockholm and Copenhagen are battling to prove who's biggest and best.
For two years Stockholm has busily been marketing itself as the 'Capital of Scandinavia', in a campaign intended to mark the city out as the natural destination for foreign investment in the Nordic region. Yet not everyone has been pleased by this promotional wheeze - particularly not neighbouring Scandinavians. Now Copenhagen has upped the ante, claiming to be the Real Capital of Scandinavia.
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.se ...
It could also be because of Volvo. I'd like to drive mine this evening, but by now I've had a couple of beers (there's an important soccer game this evening, that's a good excuse I reckon..).
I’m not sure either. Things aren’t gonna be Nordic for long at this rate. Wonder how this campaign would go in Malmo
You mean Muslalmö? Heard they are being overtaken there. I’ll check it out this year as we’re coming to København til Jul.
Probably aren’t any freepers in Denmark?
Do we have to choose only one???
No humans there. Only Swedes.
Now there's a contradiction...
If you want real Vikings, the closest thing you’re going to get is Icelanders. They’re language is a direct descendant of the same family of tongues spoken by the likes of Eric the Red. They’re tough, they live on a rocky, icy, island, and they eat things like putrified shark.
No pansy ass ikea furniture there....
- Isn’t baseball considered a ‘male sport’ in the US?
Anyhow, watch here what happened to a certain Swedish player
called Henrik Larsson;
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fdJP6aNQ4VI
Well, he came back to the game and gave Barcelona the 2006 Champions League victory.
Most soccer players probably have more fighting spirit that you do.
It’s soccer...therefore, I shall not sully my eyes with it.
Guess it’s no use trying to inform you the US has a promising national soccer team.
By the way, in my city, Gothenburg, Sweden, American foootball is rather popular.
I’m from the US and have been in both Stockhold and Copenhagen, but a long time ago - 1973, 1974. From a tourist point of view, the people in Copenhagen were more friendly, but in Stockholm I met a man who convinced a relative of his to loan me his apartment for a week. I had the place to myself for a week - an extremely generous gesture.
- That’s a nice story.
The inhabitants of Stockholm might appear trifle reserved and they furthermore often make the impression of being very stressed up, even compared to other city dwellers.
However, the persons from Stockholm I’ve talked to have been very nice and in general also very intelligent and well educated. People on the West Coast of Sweden (where I live) are more easygoing, open and amusing, but I’d say we’re also less civilized!
Anyhow, Welcome back to Scandinavia, Fellow FReeper!
Thank you, but you’re less civilized? I think not!
- Well, that was said a bit tongue-in-cheek, but in general people in the western part of Sweden have less of higher education than ‘average’ inhabitants of Stockholm. Especially Gothenburg/Göteborg (second largest city in Sweden), the place where I live, is associated with a typical working class mentality.
Cities like Stockholm and to some extent neighboring Uppsala (4th largest city in Sweden and home to the most reputable university in Scandinavia, together with The University of Copenhagen, and also to our arch bishop) is traditionally thought of as rather snobbish and inhabited by politicians, academics, bureaucrats, celebrities, successful businessmen, aristocrats etc.
However, I’d say the differences between Gothenburg and Stockholm were greater in the past. For instance, a lot of ordinary workers in Gothenburg of today have university education and one of the largest universities in Europe is located in my city (but it has produced only one Nobel laureate; Arvid Carlsson, Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine, 2000).
Again, welcome back to Scandinavia/Europe!
Based on your English, I would never know that you were not from an English-speaking country, but I suppose you can’t avoid the English language in Sweden.
I was one of those somewhat disreputable backpacking Americans when I was in Sweden in 1973, so I did pass through Gothenburg and Uppsala. (I remember that Gothenburg is pronounced more like Yertaborg in English.) The people in Gothenburg did strike me as being more relaxed and fun-loving than the people in Stockholm. For some reason, in Uppsala there was a police chase when I was there. A young man in a car screeching through the streets was being followed by a police car, but I did not assume that this was typical for Uppsala.
One Nobel laureate is not bad. I live in Richmond, Virginia. We have one Nobel laureate here in chemistry. You get more people like that in the big cities - Stockholm, Boston, places like that.
- That’s more or less correct. If you don’t understand at least the basics of the English language as well as common features of the English and American culture, you can’t function in Sweden. Year by year, the English language and ‘Anglosaxon’ culture are becoming deeper and deeper integrated in all aspects of life here in Sweden. For better or for worse. Personally, I’m not particularly worried. In fact, I wouldn’t say Sweden has become less Swedish during, say, the last 30 years (I was born in 1969) - despite immigration, the EU membership and general globalization. Others might beg to differ though.
“I was one of those somewhat disreputable backpacking Americans when I was in Sweden in 1973, so I did pass through Gothenburg and Uppsala. (I remember that Gothenburg is pronounced more like Yertaborg in English.) The people in Gothenburg did strike me as being more relaxed and fun-loving than the people in Stockholm.”
- I’m familiar with the phenomena of American backpackers, but at least over here in Europe I’d say they have a pretty good reputation. Most of them seem very respectful, eager to learn about European culture, history etc and often appear well educated. Admittedly, there are certain American tourists who seem to annoy especially the French and the Italians, but they don’t belong to the backpacker category. Many Northern Europeans face the same difficulties when visiting the Latin countries.
Like most Scandinavians, I experience that I get along well with Americans although I’ve only been to the US once (in the early 1990’s, visited Florida with my ex-girlfriend - great memory). On the other hand, I’ve met with a lot of Americans over here in Europe and I must say I think it’s marvelous that so many Americans come here, whether they do so for holiday, business, work or to settle down permanently. In my opinion, every European ought to visit America once in his/her lifetime and vice versa. I believe Western Civilization as a whole gains from such personal experiences and mutual exchange.
Richmond is pretty well known in Sweden, at least among well educated people. I know it has played an important role throughout American history and naturally, I also know it’s the capital of Virginia as well as a rather big and important city. I’m not surprised a city like Richmond boasts a Nobel prize laurate. Furthermore, the US has way more Nobel prize winners than any other country - and also a very high ‘per capita score’ in that department. There have been few years without at least one US Nobel prize laurate.
By the way, you’re right about the pronounciation of Göteborg. I’m impressed you remember.
Don’t hesitate to contact me (just freemail me, I often visit Free Republic) if you plan on going to Sweden again. I can always find the time to assist foreigners with all sorts of information etc about Sweden (and Europe in general, I’ve been around much in most parts of the continent).
Best of regards,
WesternCulture
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