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But I also got a confession to make: there are times when I embrace it. I'm not even American so I don't really know what that says. But sometimes it's nice. Real nice.
Sweden is a prime example. I've only been here a little over a month but there's no question it's the most Americanized of anywhere I've been to/lived in Europe so far (with the exception of the UK which doesn't really count anyway). And sometimes I love it.
By the way, before anyone gets their panties in a twist - I'm allowed to say this without being the first to blow their cover; apparently Sweden's America-envy is already recognized as kind of a sore spot in some circles. Anyways. A couple examples:
+ NFL regular season games are on live TV. And the highlights on regular sports shows, sandwiched between handball and hockey news. It's bizarre. Yes, games may be on at like 11 PM but it's still truly mind blowing. Worlds collide on regular everyman's cable TV on a weekly basis. The best part is the half-time talking heads are Swedish cats who, according to my sources, actually sort of maybe know what they're talkin about:
All I know is it will be a cold day in hell before you see an NFL commentator on NBC wearing a cardigan...
+ MLB caps aplenty. Worn on Swedish heads. I've never seen anybody in Europe wearing a Sox/Cardinals/Tigers/whoever hat unless they are a) foreign or b) wait, nope. Just a).
For whatever reason I find this Swedish hat observation vaguely comforting... I don't know why. Maybe it's the fact that it proves it's not just an American phenomenon - there are idiots worldwide willing to wear 59Fifty hats with the sticker still on the brim.
+ A good 75% of TV is American and Swedes claim the reason their English is so good is because it's all only subtitled in Swedish instead of dubbed like elsewhere in Europe. Whatever the reason, it means I can watch anything from CSI to Inside the Actor's Studio from the comfort of my living room couch. The fact that I've never actually I've never seen either of those on here but that's beside the point.
+ This is a stretch but since they were originally popularized by an American MC, I say it counts. Plus it's hilarious. Excuse the crap picture quality but I had to capture these incognito on my phone at the gym... it does them no justice but HAMMER PANTS LIVE!
4 comments:
You just shattered the picture of Sweden I had in my mind.
You are totally right! Here in Copenhagen people are very against anything being Americanized. It is really nice because I continue to feel so foreign here, even after living here for a year and a half. When we go to Sweden we feel much more at home. The grocery stores are one of the biggest examples of the American influence. We love going to Coop in Malmo because it is like going to Frys or Albertsons in the US. So much selection and the store is huge! I love Denmark but going to Sweden gets me my US fix, as needed.
hahaha I love it! I can tick a few of those things off the list over here, but am still waiting for tivas and socks to blow down under.
Remind me why we want to go there again, then?? Oh yea, YOU guys live there.
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