After 2 years of constant (but absolutely justified) complaining about and criticizing of my current host country Sweden, I feel it is time to give something back. Sure, Swedes neither know how to bake proper bread, nor are they capable of driving a car or let alone customer service, but I should not forget that this country also gave me some really great things - kanelbullar, kebab pizza, godis...and my boyfriend.
Don't get me wrong, I totally think I complained for the right reasons and to a decent level (I could have written alone 10.000 entries more complaining about Swedish bread e.g.). But I fear that now after all those complaints I have left 8 million poor Swedes (who thanks to me suddenly became aware of their country's deficits) helpless in front of their crushed image of their home country, looking with their big blue eyes full of expectancy at me, not knowing what to do next. So instead of solely nagging about what goes wrong in Sweden, I decided that it is time for a change of strategy - it is time for con- and not destructive criticism. Therefore I will start a program today called 'Improving Sweden' in which I will give Sweden tips on how to become a better country. Yes, you may call me Mother Teresa.
Don't get me wrong, I totally think I complained for the right reasons and to a decent level (I could have written alone 10.000 entries more complaining about Swedish bread e.g.). But I fear that now after all those complaints I have left 8 million poor Swedes (who thanks to me suddenly became aware of their country's deficits) helpless in front of their crushed image of their home country, looking with their big blue eyes full of expectancy at me, not knowing what to do next. So instead of solely nagging about what goes wrong in Sweden, I decided that it is time for a change of strategy - it is time for con- and not destructive criticism. Therefore I will start a program today called 'Improving Sweden' in which I will give Sweden tips on how to become a better country. Yes, you may call me Mother Teresa.
So, the first thing we have to fix in Sweden is the huge problem with the supply of basically any product you can imagine. In large parts of the world, the supply/demand curve looks as following:
Meaning there is actually a point where demand and supply reach a point of complete balance. Not so in Sweden. Since here the concept of supply is not very established, the curve looks like this:
Yes, supply of products is very limited, meaning demand is unusual high and can never be fully satisfied. If you want proof for this, just try to get a package of not-yet-expired bread in a Swedish supermarket on Sunday. Or try to get a proper winter jacket later than September. Or, if you are especially naive, go and buy the alcohol you need for Saturday night on Saturday morning. Muhahaha. Good luck. This is what you will find:
Meaning there is actually a point where demand and supply reach a point of complete balance. Not so in Sweden. Since here the concept of supply is not very established, the curve looks like this:
Yes, supply of products is very limited, meaning demand is unusual high and can never be fully satisfied. If you want proof for this, just try to get a package of not-yet-expired bread in a Swedish supermarket on Sunday. Or try to get a proper winter jacket later than September. Or, if you are especially naive, go and buy the alcohol you need for Saturday night on Saturday morning. Muhahaha. Good luck. This is what you will find:
And these examples are no exception, they are the rule. The Swedish version of 'The early bird catches the worm' would be 'The early bird is already too late and the worm is out of stock till next month'. Sometimes one can almost wonder if Sweden maybe after all is still a little bit of a developing country. With its product scarcity and problematically low supply flow it almost resembles a prettier version of the former DDR (German Democratic Republic).Therefore my request to Sweden: Produce and buy more products! Build more warehouses to store them in! And distribute them in time and not 2 months later. Thank you and happy shopping!
2 reacties:
I just love the way you write:) Good old Britta-style!
Thank you for giving back to Sweden....and I think I love you.
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