What should I know when moving to Sweden?

Would I encounter racism in Sweden?

• So, my mum's half swedish, and this summer she's booked a holiday for us to go to Malmo, Sweden, where I was born and lived in until I was 3, before moving to London where I've lived since then (I'm 18). My Dad (who I don't really have contact with) is Moroccan, but on the lighter side, and my mum is also half south indian guyanese, and as a result she encountered ALOT of racism growing up, I am lighter than my mum, when I'm not particularly tanned I'm around this colour, same skin, hair and eye shade as this: http://static.gigwise.com/gallery/9857737_full_Cheryl_cole_sacked_004.jpg http://howtowritebetter.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HTWB-Cheryl-Cole-1.jpg buttt, before I go to sweden, i'll be going to spain for 2 weeks, and I always get rather tanned when I go around this colour, my body usually becomes darker than my face though: http://www.extremejohn.com/wp-content/gallery/2009-random-blog-pics/adriana-lima-bikini.jpg http://www.celebritiesworld.org/files/image/Adriana-Lima-8.jpg As for my facial features, I don't really have any features on my face which are very prominant of a particular race, if that makes sense. Like, I have a small bump on my nose, simular to Cheryl Cole's, but it's hardly that noticable unless you look from the side and focus. My lips are simular size to Cheryl, slightly smaller/thinner maybe. Some people guess that I'm european spanish, some italian, others say greek, some say latina, others say moroccan, middle eastern, southern french, and some people even guess brittish, as alot of welsh/irish people have naturally dark eyes and hair (catherine zeta jones, colin farrell, victoria beckham, cheryl cole, tom jones, simon cowell, the corrs etc) but I don't have any 'standout' features that point to any particular race (besides not nordic) if you know what I mean. I went to Sweden back in 2006 with my Mum, I didn't get any comments from anyone, my mum did though, a few female friends of my grandma (who is 100% swedish) made little snidey comments like, 'you have black hair, blonde hair is nicer don't you think? It's just my preference' and they also said 'You're quite dark aren't you? Your daughters lighter though' so I dunno if this meant they felt I looked more Swedish or what...but I can speak & understand Swedish 100%. But, when we took the ferry from East Germany to Denmark on our way to Sweden, we got alotttt of stares, but nealy all of the stares where from older women, not men. Since then my skin has gotten a tiny bit darker, my face was quite pale back then, I tend to be out in the sun more now, so my complexion is a bit warmer now. I've never had any racism directed towards me in Britain, the other month I was on holiday in Wales, and everyone was sooo friendly, most people guessed I was british, and even when they found out my background they seemed pleasantly suprised, the place I was staying at was filled with alot of people from Liverpool and Manchester, and I found them to be very warm and chatty people, actually alottt more friendly than southeners from London and Essex, who can be a bit cold and distant at times, and look at you like your a criminal if you start a convo with them. I never actually realised the difference till I went up north. But anywayyyy, that's beside the point, I was just wondering if should expect to recieve any racism when I go to sweden, as I don't have the typical blonde hair/blue eyes?

• Answer:

  As a nationalist scandinavian who wishes for Scandinavia to stay more or less homogeneous, I would guess that the chance of you receiving a racist comment is quite small. And even if you do run into racism, the worst you'd get is a comment. Race motivated violence towards immigrants is unusual. Even more unusual towards girls. Infact, you're even more likely to meet racism from immigrants themselves. Blond hair is not the most typical trait for a swede. Dark blond perhaps. Blue eyes yes. We have all the hair and eye colors ourselves already. So to react on your hair or eyes alone would be silly. Its usually the attitude of immigrants we react to. Noicy, violent, dominant and animalistic behavior is something most of us can't stand and have no tolerance for. But we usually never say anything if we're pissed off. Normally we just keep our mouths shut and live on with the anger, since its not really politically correct to tell MENA immigrants whats right and wrong. So those are the people you are most likely to run into. The pissed off swedes who've kept their mouths shut for too long. I wouldn't worry if I were you. Enjoy your stay. _______________________________________… Edit: The party (Pacific Man) is speaking of is the Sweden Democrats, and it is the party I'm currently voting for every fourth year hoping to bring some logic and sense into this duck pond they call a democracy. Personally I think it is the least racist party in the parliment. They're doing their best to solve all the problems with the mass immigration while the rest of the partys are turning their backs as they say "It's all fine! Nothing negative to report." Compare Sweden to Titanic. Where heading for an iceberg and the captain has turned his back towards the rudder. The Sweden Democrats are yelling at the Captain! "Captain! We're heading for an iceberg! You must take evasive action before it's too late!" Captain answers: "No! Because you sound like Hitler when you yell! ( = ε´=。) And I dont listen to racists!" So there you have it. The easy explaination. Reason that the Sweden Democrats are so strong in Malmö is because it's the city the highest number of immigrants.