NIM.mersion - formerly Newcomer's

NIM.mersion - formerly Newcomer's Enjoy your stay in Scandinavia with the help of our fun posts for things to do and some other facts that you need to know!

Expat Success driven company partnering with Global Mobility facilitating Destination Services and Global Immigration. Once on the ground we foster good habits and give Expats the toolkit to excel at work.

Happy weekend to the Nimmersion Teams!The nominations for best IMMIGRATION and DSP for the EMMAs underline great work. T...
27/09/2024

Happy weekend to the Nimmersion Teams!

The nominations for best IMMIGRATION and DSP for the EMMAs underline great work. That so many of our friends and partners are also nominated is exciting and we walk alongside them into the finals and cheering for them too!

Enjoy the weekend!

What inventions a country creates tell you something about its people – so here comes a list of the most famous Swedish ...
16/08/2024

What inventions a country creates tell you something about its people – so here comes a list of the most famous Swedish ones!

Perhaps the coolest invention is the invisible bicycle helmet – literally a stylish airbag for your head, worn around your neck; yours for 250 euros.

A contender for the wealthiest inventor is the creator of Tetra Pak, best known for modern milk cartons. - it is now the world 3rd largest packaging company.

The most famous Swedish inventor (and another contender for the wealthiest) is Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and the founder of the Nobel Prize. He was a prolific inventor in the 19th century with 355 patents and is probably the one Swedes are proudest of.

Stockholm, in particular, has the highest concentration of billion-dollar startups per capita in the world outside of Silicon Valley. Spotify, Skype, Minecraft, and the Battlefield game series are some examples of Swedish tech innovations.

Other worthy trivia entries on this list are the classic Coca-Cola bottle shape, the pacemaker, the wrench tool, spherical ball bearings (think rollerblades), the zipper, the modern car seatbelt, backwards-facing child seats, modern matches, the Celsius temperature scale, and the naming convention for species.

Hockey, government-run liquor stores, and a strong passion for fitness—there is much that connects Sweden and Canada. He...
09/08/2024

Hockey, government-run liquor stores, and a strong passion for fitness—there is much that connects Sweden and Canada. Here’s a rundown of the relationship.

There are actually over 350,000 Canadians of Swedish descent. There used to be a plethora of Swedish newspapers that catered to them (and to Swedish-Americans), and one has even survived to today—“Swedish Press” in Vancouver.

Disproportionately many came from Stockholm, and the distinctive four seasons made them feel right at home. Sweden is actually further north than where a vast majority of Canadians live, but the Gulf Stream keeps Sweden significantly more temperate than would be expected.

Health is serious business in both nations: Canada has the most fitness clubs per capita in the world, and Sweden is ranked as the most active country in Europe. Furthermore, Sweden and Canada are both in the top three for the most hockey players per capita, with their national teams often competing for the number one and number two spots.

Both countries also have plenty of legroom. Sweden takes up 10% of the EU's land area but only 1.8% of its population, while Canada is slightly larger than the US but has closer to one-tenth of its population. Both can also enjoy the famous midnight sun in regions above the Arctic Circle.

Canada and the Nordic countries are also the only places (outside of the Middle East) where the state is the main player in selling liquor. But few complain—in Sweden, you can even have one of the 2,500 products delivered directly to your door.

Did you know that Sweden and the Nordic countries consistently occupy 5 of the top 10 places in the World Happiness Repo...
02/08/2024

Did you know that Sweden and the Nordic countries consistently occupy 5 of the top 10 places in the World Happiness Report, claiming the number one spot 4 out of the last 5 years? Here is some context as to why.

The colder climate is actually given as a reason for increased happiness, with communities binding together for mutual support.

It is also often mentioned that Nordic countries have high social cohesion, meaning people trust each other and their government. In practice, this means giving help to others, but also knowing that you will receive help if you ever need it.

Minimizing unhappiness also helps in raising the ranking. Healthcare (including dental) is essentially free in Sweden, and so is education at all levels (foreigners are sometimes surprised that Swedish students get paid for university studies). This is part of what is sometimes called the Nordic model (also sometimes called “cuddly capitalism”).

Another reason that is sometimes mentioned is the beloved fika culture – an informal (and cake-heavy) take on British tea-time. The workplaces are also described as laid back, managing to be at the top in both productivity and the least amounts of overtime.

Low levels of inequality is another commonly mentioned factor. This is taken one step further in Sweden, with the unofficial “Jantelagen” [Law of Jante]; it basically means that you should always avoid making anyone feel less worthy than yourself, no matter who they are. It is essentially a rule against bragging.

Perhaps you know more Swedish brands than you thought - here comes a rundown of some of Sweden’s most recognizable compa...
26/07/2024

Perhaps you know more Swedish brands than you thought - here comes a rundown of some of Sweden’s most recognizable companies.

IKEA: The success story that started as a shop in the tiny Swedish town of Älmhult in 1943 has evolved into a global phenomenon – the world's largest furniture chain with 2,000 new products each year. Swedes, on average, visit it 17 times a year, and it is a great place to try Swedish food.

Volvo: The inventor of modern seatbelts for cars (they selflessly made the patent available for everyone) is actually the second largest employer in Sweden after the post office. This company led the way when Swedish industry moved away from shipbuilding in the 1970s.

H&M: Another example of humble beginnings – it is the largest store chain for clothes with almost 5,000 stores, ahead of competitors Zara and Gap. Originally called Hennes and then Hennes & Mauritz after an acquisition.

Minecraft: A prime representative of the Swedish gaming industry (did you know that about 0.13% of the world are Swedes, but 13% of all computer games played in the world are Swedish?)

Skype: The company that made IP calls (think WhatsApp and Zoom) mainstream. It was the most Microsoft had ever paid to buy a company.

Klarna: The second most valuable fintech company in the world. Yet another success story from humble beginnings – the CEO and founder give much credit to the government-sponsored computer that his family was thus able to afford. The word means “clear” as in “the weather is starting to clear.”

ABBA: This band has been given as one of the main reasons why Sweden is the third largest music exporter in the world – helping to inspire generations. They have earned an impressive total of over 2 billion dollars according to Forbes.

Some other worthy mentions are Spotify, Ericsson, and Electrolux.

It is easy to think of countries as uniform, but every country has its internal divisions. Accents provide great insight...
19/07/2024

It is easy to think of countries as uniform, but every country has its internal divisions. Accents provide great insight into this, so here are the most prevalent Swedish ones!

The most distinctive accent is that of the southern Skåne region. It is heavily influenced by neighboring Danish, and while most of Sweden’s accents are being replaced by “rikssvenska” (which you will hear on Swedish TV) - but not the deeply rooted “Skånska”. a tendency to elongate some words, so “två” (meaning "two", where “å” is pronounced like the “o” in “poor”) becomes “tväå”.

Finland Swedish is the dialect spoken by about 260,000 Finns. This is due to the fact that Sweden and Finland were the same country for almost 700 years. About half of Finns also speak Swedish as a second language, although the number is swiftly decreasing.

Another contender for the most distinctive accent is the dialect spoken on Sweden’s largest island, Gotland – “Gotländska”, with a very distinctive melody.

The remaining two major accents can be found in the far north – “Norrländska”, – and in Sweden’s second city of Gothenburg. However, you will have a hard time finding the latter one, since it has almost entirely been replaced by the accent-less national version of Swedish.

There were also Swedish communities in Estonia and Ukraine until the 20th century. You can still hear a Swedish dialect in some northern Ukrainian communities, where they also observe Swedish holidays. The other Scandinavian languages are also similar – they split about 800 years ago from each other and split from German about 2500 years ago.

Did you know that the Swedish national anthem has the line “I want to live, I want to die, in the Nordics” – a fact that...
28/06/2024

Did you know that the Swedish national anthem has the line “I want to live, I want to die, in the Nordics” – a fact that often surprises the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland). Here comes more on Nordic relations.

We were even the same country for over a hundred year, in the 14th century Kalmar union. Even today there is some talk about creating a true “Nordic federation” – but it is still considered a fringe opinion.

The languages have been called dialects of each other, and there was very little difference between them prior to the creation of the state-like kingdoms about 700 years ago. Finland is very close culturally, but the language comes from a different language family.

There is a strong political alignment between the Nordic countries, with a strong emphasis on the “Nordic model” (sometimes called “cuddly capitalism”). It includes welfare safety nets, free education, healthcare, and generous pensions. It was developed during the 1930s and remains strong to this day. Norway, Denmark, and Sweden are also all constitutional monarchies.

Things were not always so peaceful, and Denmark and Sweden actually hold the world “record” for the two countries that have fought the most wars against each other. But today, only a friendly sports rivalry endures – the saying goes, “winning is not the important part; finishing before the other Nordic countries is.”

The world's largest political folk fest? Surprisingly, it's a lot of fun! Between the 25th and 28th of June, a whopping ...
25/06/2024

The world's largest political folk fest? Surprisingly, it's a lot of fun! Between the 25th and 28th of June, a whopping 1000+ different organizations organize over 2000 events in the charming little medieval UNESCO World Heritage city of Visby – located on Sweden’s largest island, Gotland (the Goths, as in Gothic architecture, originated in Sweden). Relaxed, informal, free, and mainly outdoors in the warm summer air, it has even inspired several similar events in other countries.

It is named Almedalsveckan [the Almedal Week] after the Visby park where Sweden’s most famous politician of all time – Olof Palme (whose murder is one of the most famous events in Swedish history) – started it. It’s the largest event of the political year, and the main focus is still on the large parties, offering a great chance to mingle with the party leaders, although you can also find pretty much every single Swedish organization here.

It has even been called the world's largest democratic meeting place – so now can be a good time to book your place to stay for next year's Almedalsveckan!"

Did you know that well over half of all Swedish students study Spanish for four years? Sweden and Spain – an ancient rel...
21/06/2024

Did you know that well over half of all Swedish students study Spanish for four years? Sweden and Spain – an ancient relationship.

The Visigoths/Goths of Spain are a famous part of European history – they have been called the oldest state in Europe. Recent research indicates that they originated in Sweden, being remembered in Swedish regional names such as Gothenburg (Sweden’s second city and the capital of the western Götaland region) and Gotland (Sweden’s largest island).

Peaceful coexistence also has a long history. The first free trade agreement between the two countries was signed back in 1651. Then, as now, Swedish metals were a hot commodity (Sweden has about 60% of Europe's iron reserves and 90% of the extraction) – although these days the trade is dominated by high tech. Spain is also the country outside of Scandinavia that Swedes travel to the most.

The most famous Swede with Spanish heritage is most likely the actress Noomi Rapace, who is best known for her lead role in the movie Prometheus alongside Michael Fassbender.

And of course, there is a healthy dose of competition between Swedish H&M and Spanish Zara. The two companies are actually almost exactly the same size when it comes to European apparel, and they switched places just last year.

What trait do Swedes most associate with their king? According to a recent survey – relatability (by far). The fact that...
14/06/2024

What trait do Swedes most associate with their king? According to a recent survey – relatability (by far). The fact that the twelve-year-old Swedish princess, who is third in line, has been called the "Princess of Potato Chips" is another fun fact. Here comes more on Sweden's beloved royal family.

The Swedish constitution had to be rewritten in 1977 to allow for a female regent after the much-beloved Crown Princess Victoria was born. The princess actually suffers from face blindness (prosopagnosia – which affects about 1 in 40 people). Why "Potato Chips Princess"? The daughter of Victoria is named Estelle, and Sweden's largest chip brand is Estrella.

Sweden's (often goofy) king is actually the longest-serving monarch in Europe, and there are a whopping six times more people who want to keep the monarchy than get rid of it. Even those who want a republic generally like Crown Princess Victoria.

The cost to Swedish taxpayers for the royal family hovers around 15 million dollars per year. Undeniably a lot of money, but it is actually about one-tenth of what the Brits spend on their royals. Pictured are the king, the crown princess, and her daughter, Estelle.

Impress Swedes by knowing some of the most popular Swedish proverbs! These proverbs tell a lot about the country that us...
07/06/2024

Impress Swedes by knowing some of the most popular Swedish proverbs! These proverbs tell a lot about the country that uses them.

“Tillfället gör tjuven” [The moment makes the thief]: This conveys the beautiful thought that nobody is a thief by inclination—that it is merely circumstance that brings out the worst in a person. This is a very popular saying and perhaps the reason why entrapment is illegal in Sweden.

“Gratis är gott” [Free is tasty]: It may seem like a negative proverb to have, but the saying is more about being efficient and not getting tricked than about being stingy.

”Som man bäddar får man ligga” [You've made your bed, now lie in it]: Possibly the most popular of Swedish sayings. It's a succinct way of saying that the present depends on the past and that actions have consequences. Similar to the English "you reap what you sow," but more general and usable in pretty much any situation.

"Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder" [There is no bad weather, only bad clothes]: This one is perhaps more suitable for the colder north (89% of Swedes live in the warmer south).

Some sound a bit less charming. Every Swede will know the meaning of “there’s a dog buried here,” roughly equivalent to the English “something smells fishy.” Others sound odd: “Don’t walk around hot porridge like a cat” (be straightforward) or “morning hours have gold in their mouth”—popular sayings but perhaps less reasonable.

Others can be questioned for their lessons, such as “talking is silver, but being silent is gold” or “alike children play best (with each other).”

You will also find plenty that are identical to English proverbs, such as “don’t cry over spilled milk,” “the grass is always greener on the other side,” and “too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Today is the National Day of Sweden! The most interesting thing about it is what it celebrates: the 16th-century day whe...
06/06/2024

Today is the National Day of Sweden! The most interesting thing about it is what it celebrates: the 16th-century day when Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland stopped being the same country. Yes – that was a thing!

It was over twice the size of the next-largest kingdom in Europe and even included the Scottish Orkney Islands. The name was “the Kalmar Union” (a Swedish city but with lots of Danish regents) – and it was a reaction against a strong Germany.

Full disclosure: this day is nowhere near as popular as, say, the 4th of July. The day is a national holiday (although a relatively recent one), and you can expect to see lots of Swedish flags – it was actually until recently called “the Swedish Flags’ Day”.

But Sweden still shows its appreciation for the fellow Nordic countries by having the line “I want to live, I want to die, in the Nordics” in the national song. A fact that often surprises the other Nordic nations.

Pictured is the family of the next-in-line princess, Victoria - she is very popular in Sweden, far more than the reigning king.

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