Patriotism

ABBA - the Swedish pride. But I must admit I can't tell who is Björn and who's Benny
H&M the bitter rival of ZARA

IKEA - the non-official second Swedish embassy abroad

When I get a bit homesick, I go to H&M (I don't get REALLY homesick, I just have a longing feeling for Sweden sometimes...). It's like a little piece of Sweden that I can bring home in a plastic bag. Then I can re-use that plastic bag to put my lunch box in... but that's not the point...

IKEA also works for my home sickness. They have Swedish food I can munch on to bring me back to my true spirits. Food I never thought I would crave - I now crave. It is weird. Just because I cannot take Swedish food for granted anymore - I want it - like a child. I even promote it to non Swedes. "Mmm!!! This is very nice!! Try these SWEDISH biscuits!! They are called Havreflarn! Did I mention they are Swedish? Sooooo nice!!". I am even promoting ABBA for crying out loud! I sometimes claim they are living legends... Which might be a bit over the top, but who cares, I am proud of them! Mama Mia!

As a foreigner abroad, you sometimes discover that your mission is to enlighten people about what it is like being Swedish. I have learned so much about Sweden after having moved abroad because people ask me complicated political, geographical, gastronomical, cultural and behavioural questions about Sweden and Swedes so I have had to do some serious studying (hello Wikipedia!!).

I was kind of fed up with some of the Stockholm attitude when I left Sweden and, as people many times do, was only focusing on the negative. Living abroad has really changed that. It's made me more patriotic. Heja Sverige!