Being Swedish
About Anders Helgeson
Anders Helgeson is a 51-year-old man, from Sweden living in Switzerland and was born in Istanbul, he likes to be calm and have his peace. He is a hard worker and enjoys his time the most with his family. Being Swedish has affected him a lot and his family.
What are some stereotypes of a Swedish person? In which of these stereotypes do you fit?
“If I would characterize a Swedish person he/she is a very calm person and very open-minded person and not so hierarchical driven...I think I would see myself as a calm person who likes to think through very carefully before I do something, but I am also little bit Swedish in that sense that I like to ask for consensus and I also listen to what other people think or would like to do.”
Are Swedish people proud of being Swedish? Are you proud of being Swedish?
“I think most Swedish people are very proud over their country and also over the fact that they are Swedish, at least I am very proud to be a Swedish person.”
How important is being Swedish compared to your other identities?
“I think...being a Swedish person is very important to my identity, but of course there are more important things to me in my current situation like my family...however of course the identities of being calm, being reliable and also respecting other people as the Swedish people do, is very important.”
How does being Swedish impact you on a daily basis?
“I think it impacts me a lot because I live in Switzerland, it is a foreign country and I on a constant basis meet the fact that here in Switzerland you do things differently and you behave differently from what I am used to [being Swedish]. However, it’s also very interesting because you can then get a little bit of feedback or you value and balance your own identities by looking and learning from new identities that you have here in Switzerland.”
You are applying for a Swiss passport, how does that affect you as a Swedish person?
“I think it will not affect my way of being Swedish, I see it the other way around as evidence that Swedish identities and Swiss identities are similar, if it wouldn't be for the fact that I can keep my Swedish passport I would not apply for a Swiss passport, it basically means I have the privilege to keep two identities.”
“Most Swedes are very proud of their country and over the fact that they are Swedish, at least I am very proud to be Swedish.”
-Anders Helgeson
You were born in Istanbul, how does that affect you as a Swedish person?
“I think Turkey is a fascinating country and Istanbul is a very interesting city…I think when I look at what I experienced in Turkey it is quite the opposite to what you have in Sweden…However that makes it quite interesting to see and experience both sides, even though the contrast between the two countries are very big, I think it has been very awarding, something that I have learned to appreciate…I think there are things in Turkey like the great Bazar which are completely different from what I am used to [in Sweden]. Another interesting thing in Turkey are the different cultures they have, half of the country is in Europe and in Asia.”
How have you grown and changed as a Swedish person?
“I think about the fact that I have been born in Turkey and being a Swedish person and then coming to Switzerland. I have taken a lot of influence out of all three of these countries, this has shaped who I am today. Then also my children have been born and grown up in Switzerland and I don't want to force any of my identities on my children, I want them [my children] to discover themselves but I want them to be open-minded.
“I don’t want to force any of my identities on my children, I want them [my children] to discover and identify themselves but I want them to be open-minded.”
-Anders Helgeson
