> My answer may not be of great help, but if you are struggling with this I would really encourage you to move to a completely different environment (i.e. Latin America) where the norms are different. In my opinion this is not something an individual can easily solve. It's a cultural issue. Culture can take a lifetime / generation to change and that's if the people collectively decide it's worth changing.

i am not really struggling with it, i am fortunate enough to already have a lot of good friends. but i do see where you are coming from. it might partly be a cultural thing on my end as well. i went to latin america last year, and the way people approach social interaction there felt much closer to what i am looking for. the more introverted scandinavian vibe can also be really nice at times. i think what i am actually trying to figure out is how not to be a “typical swede” socially, rather than simply trying to make more friends. the main reason i posted this was out of curiosity, how other people approach this, and maybe the discussion can help others (and myself) along the way.

> If we get real, the loneliness epidemic is something we foisted on ourselves. Striving to avoid any awkwardness or discomfort is precisely why social life is so sterile these days. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

you might have a point there. maybe we should challenge ourselves more socially and be more open to awkwardness and discomfort. :o)

> 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.

cool idea! :-)