Ok I have to agree with you that it's gettin' a little out of hand over here! You're right 'bout that smoke(cigarettes/shag) 'n drink thing... I actually quit smoking almost 7 months ago... and feelin' a whole lot better than I did before!

When there was a little more sunlight in Sweden I would definately consider to move over there! ;) No without kidding... your country seems so much healthier in many ways than the Netherlands! You've got an awesome greenlife/nature as well! I would love to raise my kids there. :D

Wow! We live here in a very very tiiiiiiiiiny country(Netherlands) with almost 16 million people!!!!!! Can you imagine that lollies????

Great picks of Sydney btw! :thumbsup:

Yes, it is. A mother can get 1 and a half year off to take care of her baby and still be payed money. I don't know if a father can do the same thing, but I think a father can take max 1 year off to take care of his baby and still be payed.

We have one of the highest taxes in the world, but we can make this and many other things possible.

Sweden is a pretty big country, we're not even 9,000,000 yet. :wtf:

Wow!! That's so great! Over here it's just about 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the "delivery" (strange word)... much too short!!


:crying: :crying: :crying:

I want to move out of this country!!!!!!!!!

That's somewhat similar to how it is here, Stefanie. Here the mother usually goes out of work about a month before the baby's due date and then is off another 8 weeks after the baby comes. Normally we get 3 months maternity leave, then we may put in for an additional 3 months family leave (unpaid). A father may also put in for family leave, but that is NOT paid.

Unpaid?? Oh Teri that sucks big time doesn't it? I think it's not a fair rule... I think that the swedish people do understand more how enormous important this mother and child bonding is! And besides that... Having a baby has such an impact on your life, body, relationship, social life... I think it's wise to have the opportunity to get settled with all this in about a year and a half! Paid!!! (When you have decided to go to work again after having a beautiful child of your own!)


Same over here! Though that's quite new here (about 6 years)

Thats not nationwide though, that all depends on your state.

Well I currently live in Bowling Green Virginia. It is a small town (kind of Mayberry like) outside of Richmond and Fredericksburg. I am an hour from DC, and Williamsburg. I work in Fredericksburg, very historical town all civil war buffs know this town. I love Virginia, I have the mountains, ocean and Chesapeake Bay right at my finger tips. I love my little quaint town, it is quiet and peaceful but I can get to the city in no time flat. I live in a house that is registered on the historical society for Virginia. I plan to stay here for a long wile. I am originally from Erie, Pa which is where my roots are. It is right on Lake Erie. I grew up snow skiing, skating, sled riding and all the great winter sports that go along with living on a Great Lake. I miss many things about Erie especially my family, but Virgiania call to me. I was born in Virginia in a naval hospital in Norfolk, I guess that may have something to do with it. :D

small town folk, i couldnt live in a small rural town. i love the big city atmosphere! unless its a druglord house, then i want to be by the coast

I LOVE my small town. I am out of the rush and crime but yet close enough to the city when I want to go there. I like to look up a the sky at night and see bright stars, not smog. I can leave my windows open and hear crickets and frogs, not busy cars and sirens and traffic. If you remember the movie "Doc Hollywood" with Michael J Fox. That town reminds me alot of mine and I would not have it any other way :)

I think all these posts are great. Finding out how our cultures and cities are different is really interesting to me. If you post and I don't respond, I'm sorry.

I am not able to post much at this time, so please don't think I am slighting you in any way. The temperatures here in Minnesota are warming, the snow is melting, and we have suddenly have a lake in the lower level of our home. I'm checking back to read the posts, thank you. Wish me luck I may have to swim for my life.

Yikes, whitebird, I hope it doesn't do any damage and that you are safe!

Thanks Dogstar, we are fine. My husband is stressing out a bit, he has taken on the largest portion of the job. I've been checking the Yellow Pages, (phone listings) and am calling for professional help tomarrow.

Good luck with that. I hope it all comes out OK :).