new comer!!

[mykfin]

Sweden rocks

I will second that Bosse_s, for me Sweden has always been magic.Ive travelled quite a bit,mainly in Europe, but nowhere for me has that sense of excitement and belonging as Sweden does!

I think i must have been a viking in my other life.

Originally posted by mykfin2003


I think i must have been a viking in my other life.

You too!

[mykfin]

Yeh! its a bit like being in limbo living in England.

[Tatiyana]

u know the more i think about it the more i realize that i'm in love with a place that i never been too, but hopefully when i go visit my husband finally! actaualy i'm leaving NY for a month this friday, to got to see him, at St. Petersburg, i'm going to try going to Sweden
and now with me failing most of my classes in college in my second year, i think its a good thing for me to leave US and explore Sweden

[mykfin]

Tatiyana, have a safe journey, and if you do get to Sweden im sure you will love it

[pedick]

I loved my visit to Sweden, but I feel compelled to reply to a comment about the cost of the US. A statement was made that kindergarten cost $1000 a year. NOT SO. Kindergarten thru 12th grade in the US is FREE thoughout the US. Our tax rate is about 30%. The health insurance cost depends on you education level. Usually if you have a 4 year degree you will pay little to nothing for insurance. You company will pick up the cost. Peter

[Didac]

Originally posted by pedick
I loved my visit to Sweden, but I feel compelled to reply to a comment about the cost of the US. A statement was made that kindergarten cost $1000 a year. NOT SO. Kindergarten thru 12th grade in the US is FREE thoughout the US. Our tax rate is about 30%. The health insurance cost depends on you education level. Usually if you have a 4 year degree you will pay little to nothing for insurance. You company will pick up the cost. Peter

Interesting. But kindergarten, child day-care for children before they start school, is that really free in US? For children between, say, 1 and 6 years old.

/David

[pedick]

David,
It occured to me that you were referring to daycare or preschool and using the word kindergarten. I believe that is the case.

Kindergarten

The initial grade that US children are required to attend public school. They enter Kindergarten at the age of 5 years old. Kindergarten is free through out the US.

Preschool

Prior to kindergarten, US parents highly tend to send their children to preschool. US children go to preschool during the year preceeding Kindergarten. $1000 is probably low and would more likely cost $2500 to $3500 a year. The government subsidizes the cost for those of low income choosing to send their kids to preschool. Preschool is usually 3 to 4 times a week, and a true preschool will not keep the children for the entire day. Preschools unusually run a daycare along with Preschool, but that varies from preschool to preschool.

Daycare

Daycare and preschool cost about the same amount on a weekly basis. $65 a week for the first child and maybe an additional $35 for the second child. The main difference between daycare and preschool is that daycare is for any age 0 thru 12 year of age. Daycare also runs about 9 hours a day, 5 days a week.

One last thing - I have never had children. I am a high school math teacher and I believe my numbers are correct. But if an American with more experience than myself supplies more accurate numbers, please except my errors as an honest attempt. Peter Edick

[Marmaduke]

Hi Peter,

as a Maths teacher (and as you replied to David's post and I know he would agree)- don't you think we should have a Science forum here ?

I think we should start a campaign for a Science thread- even though it will probably attact 3 posts next year...what do you guys say ?

Originally posted by bosse_s
Somehow, Swedes like me seem to manage quite well in this, as some would say, "socialistic country". We have larger amounts of freedom compared to the U.S (carryin´guns are not allowed however), we got plenty of vacation (5 weeks minimum by law), and we happen to be one of the best citizens of the world when it comes to travelling foreign countries (somehow, we can afford that). People are quite good looking and well educated.

Good damn, the more I think about it, the more this country rocks!

Unless you happen to be a drunk!

[pedick]

I was reviewing the CIA faq page for Sweden. It stated that you received your independence in 1523. From whom did you win your freedom.

I was of the understanding that you had been independent of other nations for hundreds of years before 1523. Peter

[mykfin]

pedick! I dont know anything about Swedish history,but i have found this site which may be of interest to you.The date of 1523 is mentioned so it could be the info you are looking for.

http://members.tripod.com/Strv102r/w...the_dacke_.htm

[Didac]

Yes, it had to do with Sweden finally leaving the Kalmar Union (Sweden had been in and out a couple of times), the Nordic Union with Denmark, Norway and Sweden-Finland.

The term "Independence" for Sweden in 1523 is perhaps misleading as it wasn't an indepedence in same way as the United States got Independence from England. Sweden was never a peovince or colony of Denmark.

I believe there's a whole thread about the Kalmar Union somewhere on these boards.


Jaspar, a science and math forum isn't a bad idea!

Cheers! (with a large cup of plain water today)

[Marmaduke]

Not too bad a hangover I hope

Yes...we need a science forum....perhaps a little later, when my brain is in better condition

[Tatiyana]

well i'm back from ST. Petersburg, and i feel bad, cause i didn't get to go to Sweden, but thats because i only went for 4 weeks, and the visa for my husband, since he isn't a US citizen was 40 euros, so we put it off till summer,
about the idea that companies cover your insurance if you have a 4 year degree, thats true but not everybody could get the college degree. i'm getting it for free because of my financial status, but in Russia, for example, it is free, if it is government run,not private, and ofcourse if you want prestige, you go to the private colleges, i go to Brooklyn college, which is part of the CUNY system, city university of new york, and the tuition is the cheapest, and the education is not in any way worse i believe then NY university or columbia university. anyways, after i finish college in 2 years, with my bussiness management and finance degree i'm looking foward to living in sweden.
question: do people, natives of Sweden, not like the imigrants coming in? cause i know in NY its not a problem cause of the diversity, but in a place like Sweden do people look down on others who speak a different language and do not know Swedish?