I’ve always wanted to visit Sweden. The country is beautiful, socially progressive, and whether it’s just a stereotype or not — I have it in my head that the people there are generally very friendly. The Swedish Number, a new project where you can call and speak to a random Swede about anything, just reinforces that stereotype.
Let me be clear, I’m not one to pick up the phone and call anyone if the option to text or email is available, but the idea of being able to place a call, albeit at international calling rates, and have some stranger answer any question I have about their country and culture genuinely appeals to me.
I’m trying to imagine what it would be like if someone from another country were to be able to do the same with random Americans — it would be crazy, right?
But whether it’s to talk about what it’s like to live in a country where environmental issues are taken so seriously (only 1% of their solid waste ends up in landfills), where openness and equality are taken so seriously, where automotive safety first got real (hello, Volvo and their invention of the three-point safety belt), where healthcare is largely government-funded and decentralized (How long do they really have to wait before seeing a doctor? And what is the quality of care really like?), or even just to talk about local customs (Fika?), Sweden is interesting!
And all it takes to find out what living there is really like is a simple call to a random Swede.
via NPR/ and a heads-up from Talya