1. Spotify
Subscription music is a wonderful idea and Spotify does it so well.
2. Cheap, reliable and simple telecommunications
Mobile phone plans in Australian are horrible. They use every piece of consumer psychology to obfuscate the real price and force people onto higher and higher plans. And seriously, they expect me to keep a phone for two years? As an example, we were paying 90 SEK (12.50 AUD) for unlimited data on our mobile phone. It was also much faster than anything we’ve experienced here.
3. Reverse number look-up
In Sweden it is possible to do look-up a name based on a phone number. Perfect when deciding how to deal with a missed call. There is even an android app that will do a look-up an unknown number when your phone rings.
4. The personnummer
Having a unique identifier and open data has many advantages. Moving in Sweden is a breeze, as you only need to update your address once. Having moved in Australia I know how much time is wasted telling each and every organisation with which you deal that you have moved.
5. Pick up post from post anytime
While in Sweden opening hours are generally not as generous as in Australia, this is not true when it comes to picking up packages sent by post. In Sweden you aren’t expected to go to the post office closest to your house during the hours in which you work. Some smart Swedes decided that convenience stores should take on this service, meaning it is possible to pick up a package without having to take an hour off work.
6. Self scanning at supermarkets
It is true that the supermarkets in Australia have self-scanning check-outs, but the Swedes do it so much better. In Sweden we used to pick-up a hand scanner as we entered the supermarket. We scanned each item as we walked around the supermarket, packing our bags along the way. On our way out we just swiped our credit card and left.
7. Paying with cards
In my last six months in Sweden I spent less than 100 SEK in cash (13.90 AUD). I paid for everything else with card. But so many shops in Australia don’t accept card, or only if you spend above a certain amount, and even then some want to add a surcharge (10% for a taxi!?!). In our small village in Sweden a number of shops did not accept cash. They worked out that it was cheaper for them to be card only shop fronts – no time wasted counting tills, reconcilations can be automated and there are reduced risks with no cash on the premises. And the processes in Swedish shops are much more streamlined for making card payments than in Australia.
8. Dedicated cycle paths
Melbourne (and Sydney) drivers are much more aggressive than their Kristianstad counterparts. Yet Kristianstad is the city with the extensive cycle path network. And in Kristianstad the cycle lanes are shared with and stolen by cars, but a dedicated cycle lane that is physically separated from cars and the unexpected opening of car doors.
9. The stoic resolve
Australians complain. A lot. I’m even complaining about their complaining. Swedes are much more stoic, even positive where an Australian would be whinging.
10. Recycling
While at the time they were a cause of stress, I now feel guilty when I throw recyclables into landfill. And it’s worse when I see people throwing out bags of recycling into the recycle bins, knowing that these too will go into land fill because people are too stupid/lazy. I miss my dedicated bins for compost, batteries, light bulbs, clear glass, coloured glass, paper, cardboard, soft plastic, hard plastic, metal, garden waste, and e-waste.
11. Ability to travel
There is a reason Australia is referred to as the antipodes. No weekend trips to France, Spain or Germany here. Flying four hours to be in the same country with the same language and the same culture doesn’t evoke the same romantic notions of travel.
12. Marriage and adoption rights
It’s always sad giving up rights that make you a more equal member of society.
