> You might receive a lot of well-intended advice that does not take into account the social context of Scandinavia, which is a particularly hard nut to crack when it comes to casual conversations with people you don't know.
preach -- agreed!
> One I have found is sports, this winter I've had casual chats with about 80% of the people I come across at my local ski trails. But it's mostly at the starting point or at the car park, not while you're training. Another one is regular organised activities, e.g. check out your local friluftsfrämjandet, or activities around specific interests and hobbies, and show up somewhat consistently. Every kommun will typically have a registry of local clubs on their website, it's called a föreningsregister, read through it and see if something strikes your fancy.
thanks, this is great advice! i will make sure to check it out. i actually tried something similar recently. the thing is, i often end up doing these kinds of activities with my current friends, which naturally reduces my incentive to approach new people. that is not a bad thing, of course, but it does mean i am not really meeting anyone new. maybe i should try going to some activities on my own and see what happens.
> Luckily, as foreigners, we typically get a bit of a pass for not being entirely up to snuff with the social rules, but knowing some Swedish will help you.
i actually speak Swedish fluently, it is my first language, so it is not really the issue. it is more about figuring out how to approach people without feeling like i am bothering them or coming across as annoying, and finding new ways to start those interactions.