Sweden Cultural Profile
1. I am meeting someone for the first time and I want to make a good impression. What would be good discussion topics? Popular literature
(August Strindberg), film or popular Swedish Film makers, functionalist movement.
2. What do I need to know about verbal and non-verbal communications?
•Shaking hands is the most common greeting
•It is considered disrespectful to put your hands in your pocket or fiddle with your hands when talking to the elderly
•Generally stay at least an arm lengths away from eachother
•When men talk to women they often
–Tip their hat
–Shake their hand, but not as firm as with other men
3. Are public displays of affection, anger or other emotions acceptable?
•Generally ironic and very sarcastic
–Strange sense of humor
•Public displays of affection (PDA) are not common
–Makes people embarrassed
4. What should I know about the workplace environment (deadlines, dress, formality, etc.)?
•They have the, Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket)
–Objective is to reduce accidents and improve environment
•Swedish Unions are top ranked world wide
5. Briefly describe the local culture’s attitudes regarding the following: Gender, Class, Religion and Ethnicity. What impact would the above attitudes have on the workplace?
•Multicultural society
•Gender equality is very important and is a must in the workplace
•Swedish laws prohibit discrimination against religion and ethnicity in the workplace
6. When in this country, I want to learn more about the culture(s) and people. What activities can you recommend?
•City tours of:
–Stockholm
–Gothenburg
–Malmö
•Hot air ballooning
•Skiing is very popular
7. Who are this country's national heroes?
•Inventor-Ernst Fredrick Werner Alexanderson
•Inventor-Alfred Bernhard Nobel
–Invented dynamite
•Inventor-Gideon Sundback
–Invented modern prototype of the zipper
8. What is the family life like in this country?
•Relies on the seasons
•Swedish parents are among the most successful
•Generous spending of family benefits
•Flexible leave and working hours for parents with young children
•Lowest rates of child poverty
9. Describe work in this country.
•Best chance of finding jobs is with international company
–Companies generally based in UK
•Many open jobs in teaching
10. What types of sports and recreation activities are popular here?
•Popular sports include:
–Soccer
–Ice hockey
–Bandy
–And Handball
•Boating is a very popular recreational activity
–Many water sports/leisure activities are popular
11. What healthcare is available to the people of this country?
•Emergency care available to everyone
–Must be a citizen
•Fees depending on where you live in the country
•Dental care free until age 20
12. Describe the educational system.
•Starting at age 6, every child has access to free education
•9 year primary school is mandatory
•Minister for Education: Gustav Hedberg
•Taught in Swedish
13. What are the important holidays in this country and explain the purpose of each?
•Nyårsdagen (New Years day)
•första maj (International worker day)
•Sveriges nationaldag (National Day)
•Midsommar (Midsummer)
14. What arts and literature are important in this country?
•Cultural events, heaps of important historical sites, museums, art galleries and concert and theatre venues
–Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo
•Many liberal Libraries
•Arts and Literature have a large effect on culture of Sweden
15. What types of food are popular in this country? What meals do they have and how are they usually served?
•Some Swedish favorites:
–Swedish meatballs, Janssons’s temptation, Raggmunk, Kroppkakor, Gravlax, Toast Skagen, cinnamon buns
•A combination of severe winter climates and summer light foods
•Lunch is the main meal of the day
(August Strindberg), film or popular Swedish Film makers, functionalist movement.
2. What do I need to know about verbal and non-verbal communications?
•Shaking hands is the most common greeting
•It is considered disrespectful to put your hands in your pocket or fiddle with your hands when talking to the elderly
•Generally stay at least an arm lengths away from eachother
•When men talk to women they often
–Tip their hat
–Shake their hand, but not as firm as with other men
3. Are public displays of affection, anger or other emotions acceptable?
•Generally ironic and very sarcastic
–Strange sense of humor
•Public displays of affection (PDA) are not common
–Makes people embarrassed
4. What should I know about the workplace environment (deadlines, dress, formality, etc.)?
•They have the, Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket)
–Objective is to reduce accidents and improve environment
•Swedish Unions are top ranked world wide
5. Briefly describe the local culture’s attitudes regarding the following: Gender, Class, Religion and Ethnicity. What impact would the above attitudes have on the workplace?
•Multicultural society
•Gender equality is very important and is a must in the workplace
•Swedish laws prohibit discrimination against religion and ethnicity in the workplace
6. When in this country, I want to learn more about the culture(s) and people. What activities can you recommend?
•City tours of:
–Stockholm
–Gothenburg
–Malmö
•Hot air ballooning
•Skiing is very popular
7. Who are this country's national heroes?
•Inventor-Ernst Fredrick Werner Alexanderson
•Inventor-Alfred Bernhard Nobel
–Invented dynamite
•Inventor-Gideon Sundback
–Invented modern prototype of the zipper
8. What is the family life like in this country?
•Relies on the seasons
•Swedish parents are among the most successful
•Generous spending of family benefits
•Flexible leave and working hours for parents with young children
•Lowest rates of child poverty
9. Describe work in this country.
•Best chance of finding jobs is with international company
–Companies generally based in UK
•Many open jobs in teaching
10. What types of sports and recreation activities are popular here?
•Popular sports include:
–Soccer
–Ice hockey
–Bandy
–And Handball
•Boating is a very popular recreational activity
–Many water sports/leisure activities are popular
11. What healthcare is available to the people of this country?
•Emergency care available to everyone
–Must be a citizen
•Fees depending on where you live in the country
•Dental care free until age 20
12. Describe the educational system.
•Starting at age 6, every child has access to free education
•9 year primary school is mandatory
•Minister for Education: Gustav Hedberg
•Taught in Swedish
13. What are the important holidays in this country and explain the purpose of each?
•Nyårsdagen (New Years day)
•första maj (International worker day)
•Sveriges nationaldag (National Day)
•Midsommar (Midsummer)
14. What arts and literature are important in this country?
•Cultural events, heaps of important historical sites, museums, art galleries and concert and theatre venues
–Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo
•Many liberal Libraries
•Arts and Literature have a large effect on culture of Sweden
15. What types of food are popular in this country? What meals do they have and how are they usually served?
•Some Swedish favorites:
–Swedish meatballs, Janssons’s temptation, Raggmunk, Kroppkakor, Gravlax, Toast Skagen, cinnamon buns
•A combination of severe winter climates and summer light foods
•Lunch is the main meal of the day
Sweden Religion Pie Chart
The largest religion in Sweden is by far Lutheran, a branch of Protestantism. This is because in 1544, the king of the time officially declared Sweden a Lutheran nation, because ties with the Roman church were very weak. It is a universalizing religion, which is fitting for Sweden’s diverse, urban lifestyle. However, according to recent census’s, a large amount of citizens claim to be agnostic or atheist.
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Sweden Language Pie Chart
Basic words translated into Swedish
Hello- Hallå Mother- mor
Goodbye-adjö Father-far
Sun- sol Brother- bror
Water-vatten Sister-syster
Moon- måne
Hello- Hallå Mother- mor
Goodbye-adjö Father-far
Sun- sol Brother- bror
Water-vatten Sister-syster
Moon- måne
Democratic Republic of Congo Cultural Profile
1. I am meeting someone for the first time and I want to make a good impression. What would be good discussion topics?
•Hello Sir/Madam is the proper way to address someone for the first time
•Asking about family is considered polite
•Positive comments about their health
•Humor is appriciated but can be confusing for foreigners
2. What do I need to know about verbal and non-verbal communications?
•Touching is a sign of friendship
•Constant eye contact can be initimidating
•Emotions can be read on peoples faces
•However, there is no set protocol for everything
3. Are public displays of affection, anger or other emotions acceptable?
•Personal displays of affection between lovers or parental love
–Often discreet
–Happiness or anger are often shown in public
•Tend to not show dramatic displays of emotion
4. What should I know about the workplace environment (deadlines, dress, formality, etc.)?
•Being clean is important
•Classic clothing/attire
–Button down shirt tucked into pants
•Colleagues can be addressed informally
•Superiors MUST be addressed formally
•Punctuation is rewarded
5. Briefly describe the local culture’s attitudes regarding the following: Gender, Class, Religion and Ethnicity. What impact would the above attitudes have on the workplace?
•Women should be working in the house
–Biggest negative impact on work
•Religion is a personal matter, and does not interfere
•The rich and politicians are ‘above the law’
•Special treatment towards people of the same ethnicity
6. When in this country, I want to learn more about the culture(s) and people. What activities can you recommend?
•No tourism office
•No info on activities in the Congo
7. Who are this country's national heroes?
•Patrice Lumumba is the only national hero
•Fought for independence
•Assassinated for nationalism
•Simon Kimbango
–Considered a profit, not hero
8. What is the family life like in this country?
•Women are responsible for day to day tasks
•Women or mother is often bread winner
•Men hunt etc
•Men are head of household
Education usualy continues longer for
10. What types of sports and recreation activities are popular here?
Bokwele (Like capture the flag)
•Ding-Dingo (involves jumping through a maze)
•Soccer is one of the few organized sports
•Basketball’s popularity is growing
11. What healthcare is available to the people of this country?
•Health professionals have not received a wage from the government for years
•Most hospitals are poorly staffed
•Health care system collapsed during conflict years
12. Describe the educational system.
•Male children traditionally go to initiation camp for one year
–They come back as men
•Catholic church has some mission schools
•Many opinions are school is a waste of hours when children could be working
13. What are the important holidays in this country and explain the purpose of each?
•Reconciliation day (Commemoration of the Conference on National Sovereignty)
–Fête de la Commémoration de la Conférence Nationale Souveraine
•Independence day
–Fête Nationale
14. What arts and literature are important in this country?
•Government support is limited
•Many artists also farm to produce income
•Many write about conflicts in the country’s past
•Traditional dances and songs are often heard
–Drums and thumb piano are common instruments
15. What types of food are popular in this country? What meals do they have and how are they usually served?
•National dish: Moambe
•Cassava is a staple
•Palm wine is made in some parts of the country
•Hello Sir/Madam is the proper way to address someone for the first time
•Asking about family is considered polite
•Positive comments about their health
•Humor is appriciated but can be confusing for foreigners
2. What do I need to know about verbal and non-verbal communications?
•Touching is a sign of friendship
•Constant eye contact can be initimidating
•Emotions can be read on peoples faces
•However, there is no set protocol for everything
3. Are public displays of affection, anger or other emotions acceptable?
•Personal displays of affection between lovers or parental love
–Often discreet
–Happiness or anger are often shown in public
•Tend to not show dramatic displays of emotion
4. What should I know about the workplace environment (deadlines, dress, formality, etc.)?
•Being clean is important
•Classic clothing/attire
–Button down shirt tucked into pants
•Colleagues can be addressed informally
•Superiors MUST be addressed formally
•Punctuation is rewarded
5. Briefly describe the local culture’s attitudes regarding the following: Gender, Class, Religion and Ethnicity. What impact would the above attitudes have on the workplace?
•Women should be working in the house
–Biggest negative impact on work
•Religion is a personal matter, and does not interfere
•The rich and politicians are ‘above the law’
•Special treatment towards people of the same ethnicity
6. When in this country, I want to learn more about the culture(s) and people. What activities can you recommend?
•No tourism office
•No info on activities in the Congo
7. Who are this country's national heroes?
•Patrice Lumumba is the only national hero
•Fought for independence
•Assassinated for nationalism
•Simon Kimbango
–Considered a profit, not hero
8. What is the family life like in this country?
•Women are responsible for day to day tasks
•Women or mother is often bread winner
•Men hunt etc
•Men are head of household
Education usualy continues longer for
10. What types of sports and recreation activities are popular here?
Bokwele (Like capture the flag)
•Ding-Dingo (involves jumping through a maze)
•Soccer is one of the few organized sports
•Basketball’s popularity is growing
11. What healthcare is available to the people of this country?
•Health professionals have not received a wage from the government for years
•Most hospitals are poorly staffed
•Health care system collapsed during conflict years
12. Describe the educational system.
•Male children traditionally go to initiation camp for one year
–They come back as men
•Catholic church has some mission schools
•Many opinions are school is a waste of hours when children could be working
13. What are the important holidays in this country and explain the purpose of each?
•Reconciliation day (Commemoration of the Conference on National Sovereignty)
–Fête de la Commémoration de la Conférence Nationale Souveraine
•Independence day
–Fête Nationale
14. What arts and literature are important in this country?
•Government support is limited
•Many artists also farm to produce income
•Many write about conflicts in the country’s past
•Traditional dances and songs are often heard
–Drums and thumb piano are common instruments
15. What types of food are popular in this country? What meals do they have and how are they usually served?
•National dish: Moambe
•Cassava is a staple
•Palm wine is made in some parts of the country
DRC religion pie chart
Religion is very important in the Democratic Republic of Congo, nearly 90% of all people attend a religious service every week. Most of the differentiating religions are distributed far away from each other to avoid conflict. The government recently passed laws prohibiting discrimination towards all religions.
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