How To Be Swedish

I do my fair share of complaining about ridiculous taxes that we’re forced to pay here in Sweden, and I will most likely continue to do that. So it seems only fair that I tip my hat to a nice benefit that I receive from the system as well. My “Sambo” had to go in to the hospital for surgery and for a few reasons it made life a whole lot easier if I could stay in the hospital with her. This was no problem whatsoever. For 80 crowns per day (a little over 10 bucks) I got my own bed in the same room and 3 meals a day; plus fika, coffee and drinks anytime I wanted. I don’t have too much hospital experience in North America, but I highly doubt I could do that there. We also had TV, internet connection and free newspapers. It was kind of like staying in a crappy hotel for dirt cheap, in fact probably cheaper than living at home.