Hong Mingjun-AboutTheSweden

ABOUT THE SWEDE A Swedish Life Style Magazine

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Feature Story Men in Sweden

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CONTENT

Editor’s Words ISSUE NO. 1 2015/NOV./08

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ey guys, this is Hong from China. This magazine is about the life style of Swede that I want to promote to the rest of the world and it will be in both English and Chinese at the same time, can’t wait to show you guys the life in Sweden with my point of view!

What am I studying?

Journalism Connected in Örebro University but before I studied chemistry for my bachelor degree, how bizarre isn’t it?

ABOUT THE SWEDE Publisher Vera Schmies Marketing Director Mikaela Ramos Chef Editor Mingjun Hong Intern Editor Veronika Thomsson Graphic Design Mingjun Hong

For sports: Tennis and volleyball is my passion, whoever happens to study in Örebro, keen to join me?

Creative Director Celia Berlemont Cover Story ( Feature Story)

Travel and fashion freak, by this, you will probably get a lot of blogs of these two aspects from me. :) My email address is: hong.ambassador.SI@gmail.com, feel free to contact me if you have any question about studying in Sweden.

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Tells the symbolic charcters of Swedish guys, yes especially hot guys! See more on p10

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Swedish Celebrities

Swedish Celebrities

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Student life

Student Life in Sweden

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Feature Story

Men of Sweden

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Fashion

Swedish Fashion Talents

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Equality

Equal Rights for LGBT

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION OF SWEDEN

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n Lindsborg you every year celebrate “Svensk hyllningsfest”! That is interesting! What you focus is the Swedish heritage and you celebrate these days “to honor the Swedish pioneers who settled in the Smoky Valley in 1868-69”. On http://www. svenskhyllningsfest.org you can find more information. At an earlier visit to Washington DC I found a statue in Friendship Heights, Washington DC, with an inscription telling “Madonna of the Trail. Memorial to the Pioneer Mothers of the Covered Wagon Days”, a statue honoring all women who followed their husbands westworth.

Yes, they are well worth to be honored!

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weden is today one of the most wealthy, prosperous and attractive countries in the world, but that has not always been the case. Between 1850 and 1930 (as mentioned above) there was a huge wave of emigration from Sweden and to USA. Sweden at that time couldn’t feed its population and approximately one million Swedes emigrated, “a very high figure considering the fact that the country had only three and a half million inhabitants in 1850”, to seek a better future for themselves and for their families. A well known series of four novels, called The Emigrants Series by the Swedish Author Vilhelm Moberg has described this. Mobergs novels also gives the story to Bjorn Alveus and Benny Anderssons musical “Kristina from Dufvemala”.

Sweden – where?

On a map you’ll find Sweden in the northern part of Europe, in what also is called Scandinavia.

Because of the Gulfstream the climate is yet mild. The closest neighbours are Norway, Denmark and Finland and outside this group of countries You find Germany, Estonia-Lathvia-Lithuania, Poland and Russia, During the Cold War Sweden was a country strategically located between the two “competing” polarized blocs of states, NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Sweden – what?

Sweden is still, and in spite of the EU membership, an independent country! It is also a wealthy

Author: Mikaela Ramos Editor: Ming Hong

country, small or middlesized, with important raw material and resources as iron ore, timber, and with forest and paper industry as well as world class engineering and manufacturing industry.

Sweden is divided in 25 lands/ provinces (“landskap”) and 21 counties. There are controversial proposals to divide the country into larger regions. The Region Värmland with Karlstad as its biggest city hosts Karlstad university and also the small municipality of Munkfors, which as a “twin town” is close connected to Lindsborg.

Sweden has today a population of approx. 9,35 million inhabitants, it is today a multicultural and a secular country which means new challenges and new opportunities.

We are also proud of the many Swedes whose names are well known over the world, from Dag Hammarskjold to ABBA and Ace of Base.

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SWEDISH CELEBRITIES

Swedish Celebrities Author: Mingjun Hong Editor: Veronika Thomsson

Alexander Skarsgård Now, you’ve probably heard of the True Blood star (he plays vampire Eric Northman in the lust-filled HBO series), but what else is there to know about the Swedish hunk?He is the epitome of Scandi-cool, having grown up in Stockholm in the now-popular SoFo (south of Folkungagatan) neighbourhood.

Talking about his childhood, Skarsgard has said: ‘The doors were always open. On any given night, there would be 10 to 15 people around the dinner table. It was very loud, very crazy, there was a lot of food, a lot of alcohol, but it was also very loving.’Acting runs in his blood. While his mum is a doctor, his dad is Stellan Skarsgard, an actor who’s done a tonne of Swedish theatre, art-house movies and… Mamma Mia!. Alexander and his dad even starred alongside each other in 2011’s Melancholia with writer/director Lars von Trier casting Stellan as the ‘douchebag’ best man of Alexander’s character. And Skargard just loved it. ‘We’re more like brothers than father and son,’ he said of his old man. ‘We hang out. I’ll take him out with my buddies in LA or in Stockholm, and it’s never awkward or anything. He’s 60, but he likes to party.’

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Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Ferguson grew up in the Vasastaden district in central Stockholm. Her mother, Rosemary, is British, and moved to Sweden from England at the age of 25. As a student, she attended the Adolf Fredrik’s Music School in Stockholm. Ferguson has said she wanted to get away from city life and the public spotlight following her soap opera success. Swedish director Richard Hobert spotted her at the town market in 2011.

Robyn Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist.

Robyn became known in the late 1990s.

Her single “Dancing on My Own” became a hit single worldwide and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for the category of Best Dance Recording in 2010.

SWEDISH CELEBRITIES

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Björn Borg (Swedish pronunciation; born 6 June 1956) is a former world No. 1 tennis player from Sweden widely considered to be one of the greatest in tennis history.

Between 1974 and 1981 he became the first male professional to win 11 Grand Slam singles titles: six at the French Open and five consecutive at Wimbledon. He also won three year-end championships. Borg set numerous Open Era records that still stand, including winning 41% of the Grand Slam singles tournaments he entered and 90% of those matches, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon for three consecutive years, and winning three Grand Slams without losing a set. Also, his total career match win rate of 82.7% remains the second best of the era.

Björn Borg

ABBA ABBA were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972. With members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1975 to 1982.

They won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 at the Dome in Brighton, UK, giving Sweden its first triumph in the contest, and were the most successful group ever to take part in the competition. ABBA were honoured at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005, when their hit “Waterloo” was chosen as the best song in the competition’s history.

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 15 March 2010.

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (born Ericsson; Swedish); 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays.

She is best known for her children’s book series featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga, Karlssonon-the-Roof, and the Six Bullerby Children, as well as her children’s fantasy novels Mio min Mio, Ronia the Robber’s Daughter and The Brothers Lionheart.

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren 5

Student Life in Sweden Author: Sandra Hjortsberg Editor: Mingjun Hong

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STUDENT LIFE

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tudent life at Swedish universities is as varied as the universities and cities themselves. Whether you’ve chosen to study in an urban centre or a traditional university town, you’ll have a host of activities at your disposal. The hub of student activity is each university’s student union, which organises social events for students. However, you’ll also find many ways to get involved in your local community and in outdoor and sporting events.

either through participating in activities or becoming involved in running the union itself.

Students at older Swedish universities are organised into nationer, or nations, representing the different regions of Sweden and often dating back several centuries. If your university has nations, these will usually be the focus of student social life in your town and a great place to enjoy a cheap meal or drink, club night or formal dinner.

Student unions and nationer Student unions, formed to represent the social and academic interests of their members, are found at every university and university college in Sweden.

Membership is voluntary; students pay a membership fee of SEK 50-350 (depending on where they’re studying) at the start of each term.

Student unions are students’ official voice on campus and are often the focal point of student social life at a university. In addition to helping international students get settled during the first weeks of every semester, they operate restaurants, cafés and bars; arrange parties with live bands; run sport programmes; and organise orchestras and student theatre groups.

Getting involved with your student union is a great way to meet friends and broaden your social circle,

Societies and interest groups Most Swedish universities are home to societies for students sharing a similar interest. Your student union will have listings of societies, and you can also keep an eye out around campus for flyers advertising societies and events.

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STUDENT LIFE

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Nightlife Many universities offer pubs and clubs on and around campus, and university towns and larger cities offer an array of bars and clubs. The legal age for drinking in Sweden is 18, though some establishments – mainly in the bigger cities – may only admit people over 20 or 23 years of age. Outside of bars and restaurants, alcoholic drinks including wine, beer and liquor are only sold at Systembolaget, the Swedish state’s alcohol monopoly; you must be at It’s no surprise that big cities like Stockholm, Goleast 20 years of age to purchase alcohol there. Beer thenburg and Malmö offer an active cultural scene, with restaurants to enjoy, concerts to attend and museums to discover. However, even smaller cities in Sweden have lots to offer off-campus. Discovering all your city and region has to offer and getting involved in your community can be a great way to meet Swedish friends.

Sport and outdoor activities Students at Swedish universities tend to be very active, and there are many ways to get involved in sport as well as to explore Sweden’s beautiful nature. Most universities offer sport or fitness centres, and many organise intramural teams for sports like football, handball, hockey or bandy. You can also

with an alcohol content of 3.5 per cent or lower can also be found at grocery stores, and is sold to people aged 18 and over.

A lot of people go out for a drink at the weekend, and there can be long queues from early on outside the more popular places. Some nightclubs charge an entrance fee, usually ranging from SEK 50 to 150.

City life

get involved in local community teams through the organisation Korpen (link in Swedish) or through your municipality‘s listings.

Hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, and orienteering are popular outdoor sports in Sweden.

STF (the Swedish Tourist Association) offers advice on outdoor adventures across the country, and your university may also have advice on local activities.

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FEATURE STORY

Men in Sweden

Author: Mingjun Hong Editor: Veronika Thomsson

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ailing from one of the most beautiful countries in Scandinavia, Swedish men embody the best of this technologically advanced and socially equitable society. However some aspects of their dating culture may seem inscrutable to partners from other countries. So here is a brief guide to what Swedish men are like and how to make the best of a relationship with your Nordic hero.

They are different. “That’s what people say ay ay, that’s what people say~ay!”

in terms of words and gestures, you may find Swedish men rather formal and emotionally distant.

Incredibly in popular western culture, this is even attributed to the cold and austere Swedish climate which supposedly makes people unfriendly and humorless.

However this is not really a sign of their unresponsive nature but a way of keeping their emotions in control. Swedish men are rather shy of demonstrating how they They like keeping their emo- feel and would much rather keep their emotions to themselves. tions in check When dating Swedish guys be If you belong to a culture where it prepared for some formality in the is alright to express your emotions beginning. This is only his way of being polite and showing respect

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to you, which can hardly be said for men of many other cultures who are overly familiar on the very first date and overly eager to get in the woman’s pants.

They would rather listen than talk If you are dating a Swedish man, you may find yourself doing most of the talking in the relationship.

And even after you have asked him three questions in a row, he may still not send one your way.

Don’t construe this as a sign of his disinterest in you; in fact Swede males much prefer to do the lis-

FEATURE STORY tening rather than talking themselves. And indeed if you come from a part of the world where women are expected only to be seen and not heard, this can be a refreshing change. At the same time, this is yet another symptom of the slow measured natures of the Swedes; but don’t be fooled by his relative silence – all the while that you are chatting about your work and family, your date is actually evaluating you as a potential partner. It is his way of turning things over in his head and deciding whether to move forward with this relationship.

Slow and steady Yet another aspect of Swedish men which makes for slow dating is their cautious natures. They like to be sure not only of the sincerity of their own emotions but also of their partner before settling down to exclusive dating. Even if the Swedish guy you’re dating is not seeing any other woman, he may still seem to take ages to take things to the next level.

Swedish Men are usually hesitant to make the first move towards a committed relationship but then they don’t like their women to be pushy either. Considering all things, dating a Swedish guy may be a slow business, particularly if you are used to the ardor of the Italian Romeos or the persuasiveness of the French beaus. But what you lose out on tempo and

excitement, you are sure to gain in solidity and equality.

Get him in the outdoors One way you are sure to get your Swedish boyfrien§d excited is to plan a date in the outdoors.

The Swedish people love nature and thus a date that involves hiking, biking or just a walk through the woods will be greatly enjoyed by your partner. The Swedish love for the outdoors may have something to do with the large areas of coniferous forests that their country is blessed with and perhaps the fact that they have to stay indoors for almost the entire winter. Indeed their fascination with the outdoors extends to a kind of passion for fitness and so a date revolving around any physical activity is sure to be a great way to bond with your guy.

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English language Swedish newspaper claimed that Swedish men’s enlightened attitudes toward equality and gender roles make them among the best potential husbands in the developed world.

The report quoted a survey carried out by Oxford University economist Almudena Sevilla-Sanz and published in 2009 in the Journal of Population Economics, which took into account gender roles in twelve developed countries of the world. Such an inference is hardly surprising, considering that Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to replace maternity leave with parental leave in 1974.

In fact, present Swedish laws not only offer a generous, fully-paid thirteen-month parental leave

The right choice if you want marriage While Swedish men may not impress you with their dating skills, their deep-rooted beliefs in the equality of sexes may make them perfect as marital partners. Swedish men are far more likely to take on their share of household chores and domestic responsibilities in a marriage as compared to men of other developed countries like America, Japan and Australia. In fact a news report in The Local, an

upon the birth of children but actually reserve three months of it exclusively for the fathers.

Together with state laws, Swedish men genuinely believe in caring for their homes and families which is why they could make a great choice if you are looking for a partner to settle down with, to content domesticity.

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FASHION

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SWEDISH FASHION

TA L E N T S

Author: Mingjun Hong Editor: Mingjun Hong About Swedish Fashion Talents is a not-for-profit project run by the Swedish Fashion Council to support and promote the establishment of new fashion labels and designers. Each year the Swedish Fashion Talents jury selects maximum twelve designers who are given the opportunity to appear throughout the year in a variety of venues, including showrooms, exhibitions and fashion shows. The objective is to give the label exposure and aid expansion into the market.

MLTV Clothing (Stockholm)

Philosophy MLTV Clothing is a conceptual menswear brand based in Stockholm, Sweden. The collections consist of classic men’s wear items which have been modified into contemporary style. The concept is to experiment with men’s fashion; to challenge traditional cuts and fabric choice and to broaden the classic men´s wear wardrobe.

By working between the boundaries of femininity and masculinity; MLTV Clothing strives to develop new expressions and sensations.

Biography

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Anna Sjunnesson founded MLTV Clothing in spring 2012 with a vision to create clothes for the modern man. Her collections are inspired by opposites, contradictions and preconceptions which she reflects in her concept and working method.

FASHION Freehistoric (Stockholm)

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Introduction The brand is founded by two creatives in Sweden with roots from allover the world, South Korea, Italy and Sweden. After many years of experience in the italian fashion industry the two designers created the clothing label Freehistoric.

Freehistoric is a lifestyle brand with ambition to create a men’s collection with high quality and perfect fit. The excellent mix of old and new craftsmanship and technology. The 50’s and the 60’s sound and culture is a strong inspiration.

Simon Ekrelius (London/Stockholm)

SIMON EKRELIUS, born in Stockholm and based in London, is an award-winning and independent womenswear designer.

He was initially educated at the traditional tailoring school Stockholm’s Tillskärar Academy and at F.I.T Florence. In Stockholm he did an internship with designer Per Engsheden.

Before focusing on his own R-T-W Simon worked with styling and costume for various projects and organisations, including Philip Treacy, Jalouse, British American Tobacco and independent short films.

Simon met his mentor Magdalena Olsson in the 90’s and she kept Simon focused on how to express his obsessions with lines, volume and texture. She was very strict on art and how it was made with true meaning.

Ekrelius presented his first ready-to-wear collection at On|Off / London Fashion Week, followed by a show at Bern’s Salonger during Stockholm Fashion Week. Subsequent collections were exhibited in Paris at On|Off, Zip-Zone and Boon showrooms.

On 24th August 2015 Simon Ekrelius was awarded the title ‘Swedish Fashion Talent 2015’ by the Swedish Fashion Council at Kulturhuset in Stockholm during STFW.

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EQUALITY

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR LGBT

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No room for discrimination Author: Mingjun Hong Editor: Veronika Thomsson

n 2013, the Stockholm Pride parade had an estimated 60,000 participants and 600,000 spectators, one of several signs that LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people are a welcomed part of Swedish society.

The LGBT community is obviously not one homogenous group, and while some are happy and content, others are perhaps less so. Still, laws and regulations have a big impact on everyday life, and over the last decades Sweden has taken important steps to ensure that LGBT people enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Most recently, gender-neutral wedding laws (2009), adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples (2003), insemination rights for lesbians (2005), and a prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation added to the Swedish constitution (2011) are some of the laws that have been passed.

The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) looks at legislation to rank countries in an annual review called Rainbow Europe. Sweden ranked fourth of 49 European countries in 2013.

But it would be smug to say that there is no room for improvement, regardless of rankings. The legal benchmarks are steps, not the final goal, in Sweden’s strive towards equality.

Ulrika Westerlund, chairwoman of RFSL, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights, says: ‘On the legalisation side a lot has happened, but a lot remains to be done.

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EQUALITY Reaching out

sexual orientation and gender.

What makes Sweden one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world is that people continue to fight for further improvements.

Rainbow Mass

In addition to RFSL, there are a number of LGBT organisations ranging from those affiliated with a political party to youth organisations and organisations for a particular occupation, such as the Swedish gay police association.

Most of these organisations work with events, campaigns, information, education and support. Together they build networks, often in solidarity with international LGBT movements. Stockholm Pride also participates, for example through the Stockholm Pride international solidarity fund, which was founded in 2006.

Many organisations in Sweden fight for the right for people who are persecuted in their home countries to get asylum in Sweden, with homosexual acts still outlawed in approximately 80 countries and territories around the world (Sweden legalised it in 1944).

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Religion is often cited as a reason why people object to homosexuality and transgender people. The national Church of Sweden, however, has taken a clear stance for love in all its forms.

Shortly after gender-neutral marriage laws came in effect in 2009, the Church of Sweden permitted same-sex ceremonies.

Individual priests have the right to withstand but it is then up to the parish to find someone who will perform the ceremony.

It is not surprising then that the Church of Sweden is represented at Stockholm Pride or that they arrange Rainbow Mass that mirrors every person’s equal worth, also from an LGBT perspective. Malin Strindberg, Priest at the Rainbow Mass, says: ‘Most priests are wise enough to understand that homosexual love is worth every bit as much as any other kind of love.

‘I work with the Rainbow Mass because people who define themselves as LGBT have lived under oppression for a long time. It has also been a question

within the church for a long time. I do what I believe Jesus wants me to do. I believe Jesus would stand here with me.’

Several Swedish organisations and institutions dedicate resources to intensify co-operation with human rights activists in other countries. Swedish law also states that the Migration Board will give asylum to people who are persecuted in their homeland due to

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Feature Story of Next Issue Women in Sweden