Svenskar på Irland del V

An additional point I think is worth mentioning; I've lived in Sweden, UK, Belgium, Holland and Germany and I think by far Sweden has been the best so far. Swedes have a great sense of humour and are not violent in anyway. The few Kiwi's I've met over the years have always had a great sense of humour too, I would recommend that your Kiwi male friend buy " Xenophobe's guide to the Swedes " before embarking on his journey! Here is a quote from the section about immigrants: " In the last 100 years Sweden has gone from being a country of emigrants to becoming a haven for immigrants. The drab warp of the ethnic fabric has been iextricably blended with more exotic weft from the farthest corners of the globe. One inhabitant in eight is either a naturalised foreigner or a refugee.
There are inevitale cranks who complain that the immigrants take all the good jobs and the best apartments, but most Swedish citizens show a degree of tolerance towards newcomers. One reason for this is that Swedish supermarkets and restaurants have been compelled to widen the food selection beyond gruel and fermented herring. Another reason os that the incomers provide folklore entertainment previously only available on expensive charter trips.
The immigrants enjoy complainig about Sweden - its climate, taxes and indigenous population - and say they can hardly wait to leave. The Swedes find this attitude coming from foreigners rather uncharitable. But when the Swedes themselves voice exactly the same complaints, everyone nods in full agreement."

I have to confess to being very narrow minded when it comes to sport, I am interested in Motocross only. However, when I first came to Sweden I met an oz guy in the pub who was involved with rugby. Try this link for further information:

www.rugby.se/t4.asp

Swedish rugby is only calling out for people to become involved and I'm sure there are plenty of Svenska Björnar on the pitch every week end just looking to tackle some big Kiwi's!

Irrajk själv, jag undrar om jag vågar komma tillbaka...

Lilla mej, var i Sverige ska ni flytta till? Vi bor ju i en ganska liten stad, Växjö, så det var ju ganska stor omställning från att ha bott centralt i Dublin. Växjö är verkligen inte en nöjesmetropol.... bläää

Min sambo har nu definitivt lämnat denna tråd.

Det var tråkigt att detta hände i tråden. Det var inte det rätta stället för disskusionen. Men det var väl inte endast en ensidig attack...

I vilket fall så vill jag gärna ta del av denna tråden även om jag själv inte är svensk på irland (för tillfället). Så jag hoppas att det är ok.

Irrajks sambo: The moderator says that I can post in either Swedish or English. I choose the latter as I can attempt to express my wit better using it. I'm sorry you felt that you had to report me, I thought my input into the thread was quite entertaining. By the way, I have no interest in being either here nor there, I try to keep a positive perception of my surroundings no matter where I am ( UK, Holland, USA etc. ). I could, as I did earlier, talk about the many negative aspects of Sweden, but I choose not to, I'd prefer to express myself in a more positive way. I do find it annoying when people choose carnage on Irish roads as a soapbox to disregard Ireland as being some kind of third world country. Also I wasn't talking about Geese as such, I was using an Irish proverb " Where there is women there is talk, where there is Geese there is Cackling ". This was a way for Irish men to make fun of women who they might find themselves arguing with. As you may have observed while living in Ireland, Irish people very much enjoy " banter ", in otherwords - good-humored, playful conversation.

Irrajks sambo: It's great to have the tone changed to positive. There are things that I don't miss about Ireland, people thinking they are cool driving while drunk, taking Drugs, criminals arming themselves to the teeth to protect ilegal import of drugs. Personally I want the Irish Government to use the Irish Rangers to stamp these criminal operations out. I would be very supportive of Swedish people in Ireland expressing their concerns about crime or violence in Ireland. There was a time when I could only see the negative side to the world though, for example I don't have time for Nationalists' ( Sinn Fein ) or Loyalist paramilitaries, nor some Britains' " imperialistic " attitudes. I did spend time living in the UK negatively pondering about my hatred of England, but as time progressed I realised that there are many good, decent English Men and Women that deserve my utmost respect. So this brings me back to my reaction to your perception of Irish drivers, I fully accept that there are people in Ireland who use " loopholes " in Irish license laws to not take responsibilty for themselves or their actions, but at the same time there are many Irish people who uphold the law and have similar values to you and I, is it fair that we catagorise them as a bunch of delinquents, roaming around the streets just looking to mow an innocent person down?

There are other things that immigrants find difficult to understand about Ireland, only 90 years ago our culture was imperialised by the British crown, so only through rebelion and war did we achieve the free state we know today. Do we carry this rebelious attitude on to authority today? Maybe so, I'm not sure, but maybe this is what you are picking up when you hear the disgruntled Irish people complaining about the State. This is something you must understand about Irish people, we'll spend the whole day slagging each other, but we really don't mean it!

I am delighted to hear your perception of Irish Natal care, one of my children was born in Dublin and the other was born in Sweden. I must confess that the first, my little Boy, was born in Dublin, but I was so concerned that my partner and baby were going to survive the ordeal I didn't even notice the work of the hospital staff. For my Daughter, the birth was at a Swedish Hospital, but I was way more relaxed so I thought it went really smooth. I am always humble when it comes to Birth, I was just standing there, my partner did all the work, I think she should have the comments on care etc.

I am someone who comes from a similar Dublin background, my parents are lovely people, our family could be considered as middle class, dare I use the term. My Mother is probably one of the most positive thinkers I know, I'd love to mention her name as I'm sure many people throughout Ireland would agree, but I don't think I should. I differ from you in the way that I was beaten up, I was locked up in a room, humiliated by my adult teachers who justified this because I wouldn't agree with their opinion ( only 25 years ago ). At times this crosses my mind: " could I really fuckin' expose my children to such treatment, I don't trust that all these wankers are gone out of the educational system in Ireland ". Almost daily I come accross Swedish fools, but at the same time I meet wonderful, gentle, itellegent Swedish people. I fear returning to Ireland sometimes because in the back of my mind I wonder what is waiting for my kids in their future there, but I try to rise above the fools and all the clowns. I try to take inspiration from the positive aspects of my environment, especially those I have experienced in Sweden. If surrounded by hate, dispare, negativity and hopelessness, I always try to think the opposite " positive thought, hope, love... " ( thanks Ma! ).

BTY sorry for steering the thread the opposite way you intended, we will be back in Ireland next year, so I hope we can contribute again.

Lilla mej, ibland blir det mycket reaktion och känsla först...

Det är ju skitbra att ni redan har kontakter och ni vet att rugbyn kommer att finnas där plus att han har en polare med sig. Vilket lyx.

Det tog oss nästan 3 år innan sambon hittade "hem" här. Han började köra motocross och det är som en ny värld för honom när han hittat människor som är som han själv här i Sverige.

Sambon var inte glad idag när han var tvungen att fixa med bilen ute i kylan, (ha ha, ibland är det bra att vara kvinna). Men jag tror att han har kommit över den värsta chocken nu. För nu vet han att det kommer bli svinkallt så han kan förbereda sig.

På tal om husbygge: Jag kommer aldrig glömma det första huset jag bodde i på Irland. När jag duschade läckte det nere i vardagsrummet. Jag visste inte om det och en av killarna i huset stod och knackade på min dörr för att be mig sluta duscha. Jag hörde inget utan tog en härlig lång dusch. Fick sen sitta och skämmas nere i vardagsrummet när det droppade halva kvällen...

För min del har jag inget emot att lämna Sverige. Så har jag kännt sedan vi kom hit. Men det beror mycket på att det skurit sig ganska rejält med min familj. Det var mycket för deras skull som vi kom hit (vilket ju inte är en bra anledning) men de har verkligen inte uppskattat det. Nu är jag inte lika, vad heter det "eager", att flytta för nu har ju min sambo hittat sitt eget och jag börjat komma på att jag inte behöver lyssna på min familjs negativa skit. Så allting fungerar bättre här nu och jag är snart färdig med mitt pluggande och ska börja jobba. Äntligen får jag ett liv. Har blivit mycket ansvar för barn iom att jag varit hemma så mycket som student.

Det är konstigt att de fortfarande bygger som de gör. Men det kommer säkert snart det också. Det mesta verkar ju fortfarande utvecklas och ändras ganska fort.