Welcome /r/Latvia! Today we are hosting /r/Latvia for a little cultural and question exchange session!

[u/lynxlynxlynx-]

Welcome Latvian friends! Please select the "Latvian Friend" flair and ask away!

Today we our hosting our friends from /r/latvia! Please come and join us and answer their questions about Sweden and the Swedish way of life! Please leave top comments for /r/latvia users coming over with a question or comment and please refrain from trolling, rudeness and personal attacks etc. Moderation out side of the rules may take place as to not spoil this friendly exchange. The reddiquette applies and will be moderated after in this thread.

At the same time /r/latvia is having us over as guests! Stop by in this thread and ask a question, drop a comment or just say hello!

Enjoy!

/The moderators of /r/sweden & /r/latvia

^{For previous exchanges please see the wiki.}

---

En liten tur över sjön och vi har hamnat i Lettland! Ett land som genom historien bytt händer ett flertal gånger och Sverige var även där en gång i tiden och nosade. Som alltid är topkommentarerna i denna tråd reserverade till personer från /r/Latvia och vi ber er att rapportera opassande kommentarer. Då denna subreddit är lite mindre så ha tålamod med aktivitieten på deras sida. Ha så kul!

[u/RazorLV]

Is Snus popular in Sweden?

My colleges from Norway introduced it in our office long time ago but i never had seen it before in Latvia.

I'm asking because all of Snus they brought was made in Sweden.

[u/Boltspot → u/RazorLV]

Snus is the national pasttime here in Sweden, since we are only one of two countries in EU that are allowed to sell it in stores, you can count on finding a large variety of snus in almost any shop.

Personally I'm an avid snus user and find it am excellent replacement to smoking.

[u/[deleted] → u/Boltspot]

Which is the other country? Denmark? I thought only Sweden was allowed to sell it

[u/LowSociety → u/RazorLV]

If I remember correctly, Sweden is the only country in the EU where women smoke to a greater extent than men. Although I haven't seen any studies suggesting it, I've always suspected it has to do with snus being as popular as it is.

[u/VinylAndOctavia]

According to Reddit stereotypes , Sweden is a paradise for gay rights, gender equality and social justice for minorities.

Is this image true? Are minorities as accepted as Reddit wants me to believe? Does the general population agree with these views or are these policies made only to please a certain group of people?

Because if it that's true, then Sweden really looks like a progressive society that I'd like to see here in Latvia one day as well.

Also, I visited Stockholm last November. It was awesome.

[u/[deleted] → u/VinylAndOctavia]

[u/VinylAndOctavia]

I have a weird question. Does Sweden have an active mechanical keyboard community? The reason I'm asking is because I was looking for keyboard vendors in Northen Europe (of which Latvia is a part of, ^{thankyouverymuch :>} ), and I came across Teraset.fi, and Webhallen, which is a Swedish store.

Speaking of Webhallen, I love Swedish Battlefield 3/4 servers. And Battlefield itself. Thank you for that!

[u/Skalpaddan → u/VinylAndOctavia]

I think it might be a bit bigger per capita than many other countries but that's just because we really do like our computers here.

Webhallen is also great! They are one of the few non-international stores that are releasing a Steam Machine as well. They also seem to create and sponsor large international e-sport championships as well.

[u/Attackhelikopter → u/VinylAndOctavia]

(of which Latvia is a part of, thankyouverymuch :> )

^{I will allow it.}

[u/RazorLV]

I always wondered if locals go to IKEA to eat meatballs really that often and if they see IKEA in other countries do they go to check it out?

[u/Smurf4 → u/RazorLV]

Yes and yes. But I'm from Småland. :)

[u/Nigran → u/RazorLV]

I spent 9 months traveling around the world, and visiting an IKEA store in Sydney and eating some meatballs (with a tiny Swedish flag stuck in them nonetheless!) was almost a religious experience!

[u/[deleted] → u/RazorLV]

If you live in another country you can go to ikea and buy swedish food like swedish mustard and lingonberry jam and stuff like that.

When i visit ikea I usually take a burger on some random burgerplace nearby.

[u/Skalpaddan → u/RazorLV]

We have meatballs in every food store here so we don't specifically go to IKEA just to eat them. IKEA is absolutely the most common place to shop stuff for your home though.

[u/jippmokk]

Hey r/latvia what do you like more: mashed potatoes or raggmunkar? (http://www.ica.se/recept/raggmunk-med-flask-717418/)

[u/RazorLV → u/jippmokk]

I like Potatoes pancakes more. But i would suggest to ask it in our r/Latvia subreddit for more answers.

[u/Risiki]

I remember in some translated Swedish children's books I read when I was little, they suggested that you take coffee with salt not sugar. Really? What's up with that?

Secondly I came accross this Swedish recipe on Wikipedia by chance yesterday. What does that taste like?

[u/Coldi33 → u/Risiki]

took me a moment to realize what dish that was, never actually had it but ive heard it tastes good!

[u/ColinZealSE → u/Risiki]

Salt? No, sugar is the popular choice. Never heard of anyone having coffee with salt.

And yes, that dish is tasty. :)

[u/MonkeyWithMachete]

I'm leaving the United states. Can i find a friend in Sweden. I have a lot of things going on here and I have to leave. I do not slack. I have a strong back and I work hard.

[u/MonkeyWithMachete]

I'm serious. I'm fleeing a lot of despair. I am an American, but don't hold that against me. I am leaving the United states but I don't know where to. Hopefully it's to you.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Smurf4 → u/[deleted]]

Way too seldom. But at least people nowadays know very well that you exist as independent nations. There was a very awkward silence from official Sweden during the Soviet occupation. To many people, there was just "Russia" on the other side of the Baltic. :(

[u/[deleted]]

[u/[deleted]]