A foreigner in Sweden?

I'm that foreigner! In the culture where I grew up, people are curious about foreigners. I became a foreigner in Sweden since(in is better here - you can write "have been .. since, because it is ongoing, but to become is a finished action, so you have to use in) Aug 2010. And I keep(remain is better) curious about the world around me, even though I've been here more than one year, it's always(still) new to me.

There are several interesting things (which) I don't understand about Sweden :D It is interesting to (try to) explain why, I'm trying to, but (at the same time) avoid to give(giving) a 'right' answer.

1. People become very glad(happy. Glad = a little old-fashioned and mostly used to thank people "I am glad you came") to talk to you when they are with(have) a glass of beer or wine...and I used to ask(once asked) a Swedish friend why it is like that, he said "because we feel relaxed"

I was kinda(kind of. Kinda =口语) surprised by his answer. So, (can I speak further=delete), they don't feel relaxed without alcohol?

I cannot understand, totally(absolutely) not, because I felt nervous and my heart beat quite quickly when I was drinking(drank alcohol - past tense is better here because it is a finished action). During my first year in Sweden I had the most chances(ever in my life) to drink, and most of the time I didn't feel comfortable, so I just quit drinking (since=delete) last summer (but the most important reason(for that) is (the=delete) Buddhism)

So, I suppose have no chance(opportunity) to figure out why Swedes feel relaxed when they drink (anymore) :P



2. Yes, most Swedes I've ever talked with, if I'm right, I think they are quite shy (这个句子没有什么问题，但是它有一点口语感). But on average girls are easier to talk with than boys. Maybe I'm even shier(more shy) than them,so they behave(are) very polite and gentle when they are talking with a nervous Chinese girl, hahaha. That's not natural, indeed! (我不理解你的意思。。什么是not natural?) However, what makes me happy is that I have some awesome Swedish friends, they are not like the "traditional" Swedes who look(are) shy and nervous, even without any drinks!

One thing is, I think the most important reason I feel (that it is) hard to communicate with some people is, maybe, language skills. I always want to speak more than that I actually speak out(do). The second important reason is the difference. Notably, it is not cultural difference here, because I do have some good friends (who=delete) from different backgrounds, and some 'hi-bye' Chinese friends though we are from a common culture. Maybe the value(s) you believe (in), the things you focus on are all factors which have influence, and I think they overcome the so-called culture difference, the difference between individuals are more significant between(than) the difference between cultures.


That's all for today! More stories are going to be discussed soon!

Eva: I like your last point, that the individual values are perhaps more significant than the so-called cultural differences. Although generally speaking cultural differences can be hard to overcome, there are lovely people everywhere :-)