Sweden By: Alexander Parker

Climate Southern  Mostly swarm  The temperature for the warmest month, July averages 72F.  But the average temperature is around 50F.  Snow is usually on the ground from December to April. Middle and Northern  Humid, and snowy climate  Averages the same as the southern climate.  February is the coldest month ranging from - 7F to 27F. In northern Sweden it can get down to -22F.  Snow begins in October.  Sweden is known as the “ Land of the Midnight Sun” with daylight 24 hours a day in summer.  Precipitation isn’t heavy in Sweden with the exception of the northern mountainous regions which receive large amounts of snow.

The picture to the left is just a map view of Sweden showing its precipitation. The picture on the Right is showing winter in Stockholm.

Climate/ Appropriate Clothing  - Sweden is known to be a very humid climate. So waterproof clothing is best to always have throughout the year.  For summer months, lightweight clothing and possibly an extra layer during the evening.  For the colder months, layers of medium to heavy weight clothing will work.  Men should be wearing good quality suits with silk ties and shirts, and woman should wear conservative business dresses or suits. It is strongly recommended to wear anything flashy.

Health Care  The Swedish health care system is mainly government-funded.  It is financed through taxes primarily that are levied by county councils and municipalities.  The cost for health and medical care amount to 9 percent of Sweden’s gross domestic product.  The waiting times can be a little extreme. A child with psychiatric problems may often wait up to 18 months for an appointment.

Transportation  Stockhom Metro is the only metro system in Sweden.  There are only 3 cities with light rails  Gothenburg  Norrkoping  Stockholm  The countries that have linked railways with Sweden are: Norway, Finland, and Denmark.  Used to have left-hand traffic, but it got discontinued in  Their total roadways are 572,900km.

Internet and Technology  Sweden entrepreneur Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis created Skype in In 2009, Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls over the internet accounted for 8 percent of global international calling minutes. Making Skype a leading global internet communications company.  Swedish company Chemrec made a unique black liquor gasification technology that can turn biomass into fuel, potentially replace 25 percent of all petrol and diesel consumption in the country.  Gideon Sunback in the 1900’s created the zipper.

Exchange rate Vs U.S.  For 1 US dollar it equals to 7.96 SEK (Swedish Currency)  The official name of the currency in Sweden is called a Swedish Krona.

Education Structure  Education in Sweden is mandatory for all children between age 7 and 16.  The school year is the same as the US. Ranging from mid/late August to early/mid June.  Homeschooling is closely supervised by the government and is very limited.  In 2008, statistics showed that of all Swedes aged 25–64, 15% have completed only compulsory education (as the highest level of attainment), 46% only upper secondary education, 14% only post-secondary education of less than three years, and 22% post-secondary education of three years or more.

Greetings and Courtesies  Maintaining eye contact with a firm handshake.  Make sure when addressing your host you address them with their professional title or their honorific title and their surname.  When invited to a Swede’s home it is suggested you bring some kind of gift, such as flowers, box of chocolates. But for flowers never bring lilies or chrysanthemums because they are typically given at funerals.  If given a gift by a Swede it is custom to open it upon receipt.

Housing/ Cost of Living  Averages for housing:  Rent per month  Apartment 1 bedroom: 7,023kr  Apartment 3 bedroom: 11,652kr  Buying apartment  Price per square meter in city: 60,882.94kr  Outside of city: 34,420.70kr  The average net salary is 510,312. Which equals to 64,111 US Dollars.  The consumer prices in Sweden are percent higher than in the United States.  The Restaurant prices are 22.95% higher but the groceries are 2.34% cheaper than the U.S.

Works cited  World Trade Press. "Sweden: Country Snapshot." Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press, n.d. Web. 2 May  Hadjiyski, Valentin. "Sweden." Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 4: Europe. Detroit: Gale, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May 2016  PALMER, BRIAN C. W. "Sweden." Countries and Their Cultures. Ed. Carol R. Ember and Melvin Ember. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May  Nuwer, Hank. "Sweden." World Education Encyclopedia. Ed. Rebecca Marlow-Ferguson. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May  "Sweden." Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Derek M. Gleason. 13th ed. Vol. 5: Europe. Detroit: Gale, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May 2016.