Growing up, I had the privilege of traveling to Sweden three times because one of my close friends was born there. From all of the experiences, there was a variety of differences many would encounter. There were differences that caught my eye on why I enjoyed the environment of Sweden better than the U.S. But three of the reasons that I believe Sweden is best are the quality of food, the education system and motor vehicles.
In the U.S., a majority of the food that people consume is fast food. The World Health Organization states that 74.1 percent of American people are obese. In the Southern part of the country, most of the food that you eat is fried, and that is just absolutely unhealthy. More than 60 percent of the people don’t pursue the recommended amount of exercise that a human being should. As opposed to Sweden, where there is a population of 800,000 people, only 14 percent of the country’s population is obese. Something that really caught my eye was the difference in prices from the fruits and vegetables in Sweden compared to the U.S. Produce is much cheaper and well grown in Sweden. Visiting restaurants, you will notice that the portion size is much smaller than what you would be served at a restaurant in the U.S. Many of the food options are not covered in seasoning or deeply fried, and it is way better processed and freshly made.
From research, I encountered that the education level in Sweden is much higher than the U.S., especially in mathematics and science. Online you will read that America is below the ranking average of math and science. In the U.S you attend elementary school from age six to eleven, then you go to middle school from age 11 to 14, then you’re in high school from age 14 to 18. In Sweden, you start your preschool classes when you’re between the ages of six and seven, then you would start primary school when you’re between the ages of seven and 16. After that, you start specified secondary school from age 16 to 19. This means that in Sweden you have an extra year to graduate then you would in the U.S. Also, when you start specified secondary school you can choose a subject that you are really interested in for college. When you attend college or a university in the U.S you have to pay for your education. However, in Sweden, you as an individual don’t have to pay for any of it. This makes it possible for anyone to continue and pursue their education without having to go through the process of finance.
Using a vehicle in Sweden is not very common as opposed to the U.S. Since America is such a big country, many have to use their vehicle to go wherever they need, which causes a big negative impact on the environment. The average person in America creates 17.5 thousand tons of carbon emissions, but in Sweden the average person only emissions 5.6 thousand tons. In Sweden, much of the population uses a bus for transportation. Since Sweden is much smaller than the U.S., the possibilities in taking a bus are much larger. Another reason why the people are taking the bus or bike rather than a vehicle is because the gas is so expensive in Sweden. The price for one liter of gasoline in the U.S. averages $0.82, while in Sweden the price average for one liter is $1.73. This has a major impact on why people consider the bus as a better alternative than using the car.
Even though many say that the United States is the best country to live in, my experience in visiting Sweden has made me branch out to discover other differences in many other countries. Every country has their ups and downs, but there is always something special about each and every one of them. Sweden may be a small country, but visiting was a beautiful experience that I encourage many to encounter for themselves.
