Pacific Northwest (USA)
Huh, I’m American and did not know that. Have lived in Sweden since last year and LOVE the quiet, withdrawn culture - to me, it’s so different from everywhere I’ve ever lived in the US. No loud blah, blah yammering on public transit, people don’t think you’re weird for not talking, etc. If I end up back in the States I might have to consider the Pacific NW.
Go to Thailand, they LOVE Thailand particularly during the winter.
Some cultural differences feel insurmountable, the blasé and critical attitude is difficult for me, I’ve always been very high energy and jokey and have a hard time finding people in everyday life who match that energy. Whenever I go back to the states I feel so fulfilled and like myself and it really makes me question why I’m here.
Wanna switch places? I’m the exact opposite - I HATE how high-energy and loud the US is. Moved to Scandinavia and holy crap it’s so much better, people don’t constantly feel the need to engage in unsolicited small talk or hustle to earn a buck. The whole concept of “lagom” is core here but would never, ever work in the US, Americans are too obsessed with consumerism. And that’s not even touching on the obsession with hyper-individuality - it’s like everyone in the country is suffering from main character syndrome.
Previously lived in Germany and largely felt the same way, there were more little cultural idiosyncrasies in German society that drove me nuts but overall it’s just a far more harmonious, peaceful existence than I’ve ever felt in the US.
Unfortunately I do not have a foreign spouse or EU family ties (nor an easy path to EU citizenship), and it’s pretty hard to break in without any of those. But I always felt like an outsider in the US too, at least here I feel like a better fit and am less stressed out even if I’m not fully integrated to society. Honestly after several years living off and on overseas, the only thing I miss about the US is being close to immediate family. If it wasn’t for them I don’t think I would ever even visit the US.
My wife and I live in Sweden and it is definitely like you describe. I’m a reserved American who usually feels out of place in the US and I absolutely love it here - you can just exist in peace without constantly being bothered or having an assault on the senses. My wife is more outgoing and has just by habit tried to chat up random Swedes a few times - they don’t mind but usually seem a bit weirded out by it lol.
A town in northern Sweden even launched a campaign to get more people to say “hej” to their neighbors - it’s THAT reserved here.