My name’s Neil Shipley and I have lived in Sweden for over 20 years.
When I’m not writing, I work as a trainer, lecturer and coach in Intercultural competence and communication from my Stockholm-based company.
I have a Master’s degree in Intercultural competence and have worked with many Swedish international corporations and public sector organizations to help them improve the way they work together
From my English perspective, I observe Swedish society and the Swedes – everything from the special to the sublime, the scary to the surprising. This is my blog of my observations.
I can be employed to provide training, lectures, seminars. Check out my company: www.keytraining.se
Watching the Swedes 
Hello Neil,
I have red all your posts chronologically without a break. Your observations are fun and intelligent! I really enjoy reading them. After spending some time in Somaliland I am happy to go back to my Stockholm tomorrow. Your blog reminds me about what I miss from Sweden.
Best, Mikael R.
Thanks for the comments Mikael, I’m glad you like what I write. And welcome back to Sweden! 🙂
Thank you! ; )
I stumbled across this blog on Facebook. Very interesting observations! I lived in Brighton for ten years and still feel like a stranger in Sweden sometimes. I did a project in 2012, comparing English and Swedish culture, you can read about it here: http://swenglish2012.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-swenglish.html Keep up the good blogging 🙂
Hi Neil, I really enjoy your blog! I linked to your post about our different names for snow today. You certainly have an eye for details 🙂
Thank you, Neil!
I have often missed the voice of all the people with cosmopolitan parents. Often a Swedish mother and a father from elsewhere. Sometimes the other way around. “Halfswedes”, so to say. Why are they so silent? And all the adoptees (is that a word?) like yourself. I long to hear much more from all of you!
I also wonder what you think about the word “nysvensk”. I only know “high status” immigrants, such as Americans and Germans. Some of them have acquired Swedish citizenship, others not. But none of them like the word “nysvensk”. They have their original identity although now with a Swedish passport. Like you, they appreciate Sweden a lot while also seeing the problems and backsides. Do you feel like a New Swede?
I saw on Facebook a young man who has made a pin with the text “Welcome New Swede”. He wears it in the same way as the pin “Rör inte min kompis” (Ne touche pas a mon pot). I wonder if the refugees in one go can identify themselves as New Swedes, when they see the pin (written in English…).
I think I would remain Swedish even if I lived in another country for the rest of my life… but who knows? I would appreciate your thoughts about this. 🙂
Sorry if I posted my comment on the wrong page. I have now posted it on “In defense of my adopted country”, but don´t know how to remove the one above.