{"id":110722,"date":"2017-11-30T11:05:51","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T16:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=110722"},"modified":"2024-09-05T09:09:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T13:09:03","slug":"lola-akerstrom-sweden-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/lola-akerstrom-sweden-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Living Lagom in Sweden: An Interview With Lola Akerstrom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Travel
\nPosted<\/strong>: 11\/30\/17<\/p>\n

Back in 2006, during my first trip around the world, I met a Swedish girl. We traveled together for a bit and the following year I went to visit her in Sweden. Though that relationship didn’t last, my love for Sweden did and, in subsequent years, I learned some Swedish and even tried to move to Sweden<\/a>. <\/p>\n

I love everything Swedish. And so does my friend Lola. Lola and I met back in 2008 when travel blogging was in its infancy. Unlike me, she’s had success in making a life in Sweden, where she now lives with her husband and children. She’s one of the favorite people in the industry and I love the imagery in her writing and the beauty in her photography. <\/p>\n

In her new book, Lagom<\/a><\/em>, she discusses life in Sweden and Swedish culture. Today, I jealously interview her about life there.<\/p>\n

Nomadic Matt: Tell everyone a bit about yourself.<\/strong>
\nLola:<\/strong> I\u2019m a Nigerian-born, US-educated, Sweden-based writer and photographer focusing mostly on exploring culture through food, tradition, and lifestyles. My photography is represented by National Geographic Creative, and I was recently awarded the prestigious 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year Bill Muster Award from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).<\/p>\n

I actually took a nontraditional path to this new life, as I worked as a web programmer and GIS system architect for 12+ years before the full career shift into the travel media industry.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been fascinated by the nuances of culture: what makes us different and what our similarities are. And so this curiosity and acknowledgment really underpins pretty much all my work as a travel writer and photographer. <\/p>\n

\"Lola<\/p>\n

How did you end up in Sweden?<\/strong>
\nI met my husband in 2006 while living in the US. After logging thousands upon thousands of air miles, as well as temporary stints in Stockholm<\/a>, I officially moved over in 2009. It really was an intercultural, interracial, and intercontinental union in many ways. <\/p>\n

We now have two kids, so Sweden will be home for a while for many reasons, the prime one being that it\u2019s pretty darn perfect for families.<\/p>\n

How do you find life in Sweden? Good? Bad?<\/strong>
\nLife in Sweden<\/a> is what you make of it, and that\u2019s why I also wrote this book \u2014 as a handy cultural guide that can help you integrate and deeply understand Swedish culture and its nuances. <\/p>\n

Having lived in both Nigeria and the United States<\/a> for extended periods of time, I appreciate living here with a young family. <\/p>\n

Overall, the quality of life is fantastic in terms of stress levels. There is enough time to dedicate to the family, as well as generous benefits, which we all contribute to through our taxes.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your least favorite part about living in Sweden?<\/strong>
\nI often say Sweden is the most open society run by the most private people, and I explain why in the book. Sweden does have its dark sides, and I always say the main difference is this: I can be like Oprah Winfrey if I want to as a black woman in the US, despite all the racial tensions. <\/p>\n

In Sweden, while you\u2019ll be left in a small corner to live your happy life, trying to be a CEO or magnate like Oprah is a gargantuan task. There are people who still don\u2019t get called for job interviews because of the names on their r\u00e9sum\u00e9s. So overall, while I love living here, no society is perfect, and Sweden has a lot of integration issues it needs to work out. <\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Why did you write this book?<\/strong>
\nSo, the Swedish word lagom<\/em> has recently emerged as the lifestyle trend of 2017 and of course, publishers are jumping on it with different lifestyle books \u2014 from recipes to interior decor. <\/p>\n

But I needed to put a book out there that was beyond cinnamon bun recipes because lagom<\/em> is not a word that is warmly embraced or even liked by many Swedes themselves for various reasons, including the fact the ethos has over time morphed to denote average, boring, and middle-of-the-road. <\/p>\n

I detail all this in the book, as well as explain why lagom<\/em> itself is inherently a good ideal as opposed to jante<\/em>, which is the negative parasitic ethos that attaches itself to lagom<\/em> and brings the negativity. But it is the key to understanding the Swedish mindset. <\/p>\n

I have been living in Sweden for eight years, and writing about the country<\/a> and its culture for even longer. I am also married to a Swede and have a unique vantage point of observing the culture both objectively and subjectively. <\/p>\n

So I explain lagom<\/em> in a way that a foreigner fully gets it, as well as holding up a mirror to Swedes so they see how lagom<\/em> is expressed in interactions with other people. It can be very difficult to write about something that\u2019s very intrinsic to you in a way that others can fully understand without coming off as patronizing and condescending.<\/p>\n

It really governs the Swedish psyche, and individual bubbles of lagom<\/em> are definitely changing and morphing with each passing generation.<\/p>\n

I needed to write a well-balanced cultural book that could still stand once the Scandi-trends wave washed over.<\/p>\n

What does lagom<\/em> mean and why is it important?<\/strong>
\nOn the surface, lagom<\/em> is often described as \u201cnot too little, not too much, just right,\u201d but it\u2019s a lot more nuanced than that and lies closer to \u201coptimal.\u201d It is the key to unlocking the Swedish psyche and governs almost all aspects of life and culture in the country. <\/p>\n

It also transforms its meaning in different contexts \u2014 from \u201cless is more\u201d in terms of d\u00e9cor and \u201cmoderation\u201d in terms of food to \u201charmony and balance\u201d in terms of society and \u201cmindfulness\u201d in terms of well-being.<\/p>\n

If one were to boil down the true essence of lagom<\/em> to its very core, it means striving for the ultimate balance in life that, when applied to all aspects of one\u2019s existence, can help guide you toward operating at your most natural, effortless state.<\/p>\n

The state and measurement of lagom<\/em> mean different things to different folks. My satisfaction may vary from yours, but we can both be satisfied. Lagom<\/em> represents the ultimate sweet spot or golden mean in your own life, and more importantly, it encourages you to fully operate within that sweet spot that\u2019s just right for you.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

For travelers to Sweden, how can they detect lagom<\/em> at work or play?<\/strong>
\nMany people often describe Swedes (in Sweden, not outside of Sweden) as reserved, inaccessible, and maybe even cold and flippant, but it\u2019s often just lagom\u2019s<\/em> mindfulness at play. Locals will give you your space and ensure you\u2019re not inconvenienced by their presence. <\/p>\n

So, Swedes naturally keep their distance from a place of mindfulness, not because they don\u2019t want to be around you. (Outside of Sweden, they are quick to ditch lagom<\/em> in social settings.)<\/p>\n

At work, lagom<\/em> is always looking for the best solution, so there\u2019s a lot of planning, lots of meetings, lots of consensus, lots of teamwork, you get the gist\u2026 to make sure they arrive at the optimal, lagom<\/em> solution to all problems.<\/p>\n

For example: Many foreigners working or doing business in Sweden often lament the amount of time Swedes put into upfront planning and preparation. Agendas are triple-checked, and several meetings are called to plan every single item on said agendas. Plans can take months to put in place before moving to the next step of implementing each item on those plans. <\/p>\n

For a culture that prides itself on efficiency, it could seem these inherent acts of zealous planning are counterproductive, and they can be seen as wasting time and resources. <\/p>\n

However, because lagom<\/em> craves balance by trimming excess around its edges, it requires adequate planning. \u201cAdequate\u201d is measured by whatever it takes to prune irrelevance, regardless of how long it takes. <\/p>\n

To be efficient means to perform and function in the most optimal manner possible with the least waste of time, resources, and energy. This very definition of efficiency mirrors the core of lagom<\/em>. <\/p>\n

So lagom<\/em> says it is perfectly OK to spend as much time as needed to prepare ourselves and strongly develop our plans because that\u2019s the only way we can guarantee efficiency.<\/p>\n

\"an<\/p>\n

How can understanding lagom<\/em> help develo relationships with Swedes?<\/strong>
\nSwedes don\u2019t naturally divulge information or overshare, so sometimes it can be hard to even gauge or assess what\u2019s going on in a relationship. And it\u2019s not a culture that overly gesticulates with hands or uses flattering words, so knowing if a Swede is interested in you can be denoted by their unusually prolonged eye contact.<\/p>\n

So, when out on a date, always have follow-up questions to keep the conversation going and to avoid your date awkwardly ending at \u201cyes or no\u201d answers. Because they will do so, in an effort not to overshare without being asked.<\/p>\n

For someone going on a date expecting to be lavishly wined and dined, Swedes are generally conditioned to split their bills, to always repay favors, and to not be duty-bound to anyone, especially financially, by keeping that scale balanced. So this can come as a nasty surprise at the end of the night if you haven\u2019t discussed it before the waiter brings out the menu.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re in a relationship with a Swede and have issues or questions, just ask straight out because Swedes are very direct. And be prepared for those direct answers!<\/p>\n

Why are people so fascinated with Sweden?<\/strong>
\nI think a lot of the fascination comes from the quality of life and just how progressive the society is. Another more superficial angle has to do with physicality \u2014 from people and landscapes to interior d\u00e9cor and architecture. <\/p>\n

I mean, the city of Stockholm itself is absolutely stunning, and it spreads across 14 islands, which you can view from some nice vantage points<\/a> in town. Sweden consistently ranks in the top 10 happiest countries, so there are clearly things Sweden is getting right. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the one thing you want people to take away from your book?<\/strong>
\nLagom<\/em> is a mindset that fundamentally battles stress. Having too much or too little causes stress, so lagom<\/em> tries to find its balance between both with the optimal solution by reducing excess. Not perfection, but the best solution.<\/p>\n

Think of it as a scale that always needs to be balanced. Too much or too little tips the scale sharply to one side or the other, so lagom<\/em> balances itself (\u201cjust right\u201d) by trimming excess and getting rid of all sources of stress within our control \u2014 from material things to relationships that drain us.<\/p>\n

Lola A. \u00c5kerstr\u00f6m is an award-winning writer, speaker, and photographer with National Geographic Creative. She regularly contributes to high profile publications such as AFAR, the BBC, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic Traveler. Lola is also the editor of Slow Travel Stockholm, an online magazine dedicated to exploring Sweden\u2019s capital city in depth. <\/p>\n

You can pick up a copy of her book on Amazon<\/a>.<\/em> (It’s really interesting and I highly recommend it!)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip to Sweden: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nUse Skyscanner<\/a> to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n