The Hoveland family moved from Minnesota, USA, to Tibro, Sweden, seeking a life with less stress, more family time, and a mentality where people come before money, according to official sources. Justin Hoveland noted that in the United States, much is driven by money and profits, but in Sweden, he experienced the opposite. One of the first things Justin Hoveland noticed in Sweden was the emergency alarm buttons in public restrooms, which he described as logical and telling, according to SVT Väst.
The family believes there have always been tensions in American society, but the pandemic intensified polarization, according to official sources. According to SVT Väst, Justin Hoveland described that people in the United States became less kind to each other after the pandemic. According to SVT Väst, Cheri Hoveland questioned why people in the United States could not just get along, leading the family to feel they no longer wanted to be part of it.
In the United States, much is driven by money and profits, but when we came here, we experienced the opposite. I want life to be about people, and here people care about each other.
The family is overwhelmed by how quickly they have integrated into Swedish society, attributing much of it to their children's friends and neighbors, according to official sources. According to SVT Väst, Cheri Hoveland described that if one follows the rules, makes an effort, and tries to become part of society, they will be accepted in Sweden. The family is currently in Sweden on student visas, according to official sources.
Cheri Hoveland works as a cleaner, and Justin Hoveland is studying but hopes to find a full-time job soon given his long experience as an IT operator, according to official sources. According to SVT Väst, Justin Hoveland and Cheri Hoveland described that if it becomes as they hope, they want to live in Sweden permanently.
It is such a thing that is just logical, and it says so much.
I love the country and the people, but something changed. People were not as kind to each other anymore.
I felt 'why can't we just get along?'. It made us feel that this might not be something we want to be part of anymore.
If you follow the rules, make an effort, and try to become part of society – then I believe you will be accepted.
If it becomes as we hope, we want to live here forever.