A Swedish woman recently discovered a surprising connection between her homeland and Australia, and the revelation has left many confused.
A traveler recently asked Australians how they make friends as adults in Australia, after noticing that Australian expats struggle to find a partner in Sweden.
He described the “Swedish social mentality” as an unwelcoming sphere where people find it difficult to form new circles of friends outside of school and university.
‘How do people make friends in Australia?’ he asked on Reddit. “I’ve read several threads from Australians moving to Sweden, and others who live or have lived here don’t recommend it because it’s hard to make (non-expat) friends.”
Australians and expats alike have complained about how difficult it is to expand their social circles, with one calling Perth a “lonely city” and another traveler criticizing all Australians as “flaky” and unreliable.
Australians and expats have complained about how difficult it is to expand their social circles.
“Most people (in Sweden) form their circles during school, at the latest during the university years, and if you don’t manage to form a circle of friends during those years, then tough luck.”
She added: “I can understand, I myself belong to the category that largely missed that opportunity.” It’s not impossible to make friends if you miss out, but it is much, much harder.
‘I’m curious how people make friends in Australia. Are people largely open to making new friends throughout their lives, after their formative years, or how does it work? How is it different?’
Some shared their thoughts on the matter and one offered insight into the situation.
“Starting from scratch can be difficult, no matter where you are,” said one. “And the contrast would be especially visible if you already have a decent social network in the place you left.”
Others claimed that there were specific “phases” in which it is easier to make friends.
‘There are different stages in your life when it is easy to expand your circle of friends. I’m in my mid-60s and I can identify them: school, college, work, parents at their child’s school and club social groups.’
Many Perth residents agree they tend to be “insular” and “cliquey” (file image)
Another advised: “The best thing to do is with other foreigners or people who have recently moved cities.”
“I think the job you have makes a difference,” one woman said. ‘I’m a doctor and I’ve worked with so many different people in hospitals that I’ve made some lasting friendships as an adult that way. We are also united by shared difficult experiences.”
One offered a bleak view of Australians and their friends.
‘Honestly, we don’t (make friends). We are not friendly people, we cancel plans at any time and we do not invite anyone into our circles beyond the age of 20. We’ll say “hi, how are you” to the cashier, but we’ll never ask our friends if they’re happy?
“Then we let each friend walk away until it was just us, our spouse, and our dog. Our social life then involves dreaded family events and a strong desire to live as isolated as possible in the middle.’