Sweden vs Switzerland

Hello my lovely blog-readers!

So... I asked my Facebook friends what they would like to see in my next blogpost and I got this as a suggestion and must say, I love the idea!!

This blogpost is dedicated to Katja Tedmar ♥ Thank you for the inspiration!!! ;)

SWEDEN

VS

SWITZERLAND

....based on what I know so far - here is the comparison ;))

Pros about Sweden

The shopping is sooooo much better +1

People let you mind your own business +1

The archipelago +1

People are open and relaxed +1

There are places where you can go shopping for the latest fashion everyday of the week (in Stockholm at least) until 9pm +1

...and for groceries everyday of the week until at least 10pm +1

SMÅGODIS - candy! +1

You don't have to go far to find your own spot in the grass or by a lake and you can be

ALONE! +1

Even by the sea... +1

The service in restaurants is much better +1

It is sooo easy to be a vegetarian and eat healthy food +1

Tax-declaration is so easy, like it was made for dummies in comparison to the Swiss version, and comes to you in a pre-filled form with all your incomes, savings etc... +1

International movies are shown in their respective languages with subtitles +1

It is only dark for a few hours every night during summer +1

= 14

Cons about Sweden

You pay 27-30% tax up to around 3 000 EUR and anything above 50%! How can you make money?! -1

Jantelagen -1

THE WINTER (unless you are a polarbear or Santa Clause, this is just not pleasant)!!!

Brrrrrrr! -1

Alcohol is monopolized to one single store (Systembolaget) and their opening hours SUCK! -1

The VAT is ridicilously high! -1

You drive for 6 hours and you just got to another swedish town, with almost identical climate....boring... -1

When you go to the doctor, they assume you suffer from hypochondria unless you are visibly dying -1

Winter and fall is reeeeeeaaaally dark and long -1

= -8

Total result Sweden: +6

Pros about Switzerland

The tax-system is awesome (especially for a Swede)!! 7-10%! +1

The nature is u n b e a t a b l e in terms of beauty!! +1

The CHOCOLATE! Mmmmmmm..... +1

The Rhein! Seriously... The river here is turqoise, see-through and sooo beautiful! +1

I can be in Italy in 3-4 hours! +1

I am in Germany in 5 minutes +1

I can go to France in a little more than 1 hour+1

The cheeeeese (this could of course also count as a con, aswell as the chocolate, as the cholesterol level in your blood tends to drastically increase unless you have the self-discipline of a buddhist munk!) +1

The climate (summers are REALLY hot and winters are mild ♥♥♥) +1

Great carreer opportunities (very low unemployment rate) +1

The service that the banks give here make me feel like a millionare!! +1

If your issue is acute, you can get penicillin and antibiotics WITHOUT a prescription from your doctor (the pharmacy staff do quick exams) +1

Swissair +1

The Alps +1

Chiropractors are just as highly considered as "normal" doctors and hence, you pay the same amoumt of money (this pro is very much appreciated right now!!) +1

= 15

Cons about Switzerland

You can only throw away your garbage TWICE every WEEK in my area and every bag needs a stamp....so you can imagine the pain of forgetting to buy the stamps on the day of disposal and then needing to throw away the residuals of your seafood dinner?!?! -1

There are speedcameras everywhere and they ALL work (ppl drive in the pace of turtles!) -1

Swiss-people are like the police! You can not park incorrectly for 3 minutes without someone telling you to immediately move your car or else..... I've even had one elderly man screaming he would call the Polizei when all I wanted was to offload my groceries! -1

There is no sea here and the lakes are soooo crowded! -1

Impossible to find "real" shrimps! -1

It's so difficult to find healthy food, especially good salads (with the dressing on the side) !! -1

The german-lessons I'm taking don't help! Swiss-german is impossible for me to understand and few people speak english (or let's say few ppl are willing to...) -1

The whole freakin' country is closed on Sundays!! -1

Normal sized grocery-stores close at 19 on weekdays -1

Go grocery-shopping in Switzerland and you're ruined in no time!! EXPENSIVE! -1

Crap-coffee! Nespresso?? Seriously? -1

The customs fee's/import duty is suuuch a hassle (not a part of the EU)!! -1

= -12

Total result Switzerland: +2

Overall result: Sweden vs Switzerland: 6 - 2

I have probably forgotten about a million points!! ....and of course I could also add the fact that Switzerland doesn't have my family and my Swedish friends here - but in their defense, they can't really help that! That's the biggest con though ;)

On top of this, in all fareness, I am of course still biased! In all honestly, there are a lot of wonderful things about both of these countries just as there are really bad things and I think this goes for ALL countries.

I love Sweden and miss my home-country so much it hurts sometimes....and allthough this is a fact - I have no plans to move home yet... I get this question all the time: Will I ever?

Well, I'm not the kind of person who likes to plan my life ahead but want to stay open and keep room in my life for spontaneity!

I guess only time will tell ;)

Thanks for reading ♥

xox

Linda

In Switzerland physically (lost) - but still in Sweden mentally??