Nice response! I grew up in a Central Valley town (CA) with many Swedish farmers from midwest. Many were dairy people and my father was their Veterinarian (we're of British American descent). Needless to say, many of my friends growing up were Swedish American. I read "Lake Wobegon Days" by Keillor (he being very popular on Minnesota "Prairie Home Companion" radio show) and it seemed to nail the Scandinavian American farm life, plus hilarious. He said that they never went to restaurants, and when they did once and the waitress said "can I take your order" the Mom had a look like the waitress had offered to strip (familiar, farm Moms quite vested in cooking, almost no restaurants when we were kids). Next, his Lutheran parents said "never marry outside your sect", yet the Lutherans were always splitting into subsects. Finally he told his Mom "if I can't marry outside my sect I might have to marry my sister" (also funny, because the Lutheran churches are rather diffuse). My cousin lived in Denmark and married a Danish woman. He said Keillor also married a Dane, but then got tired of living there, got divorced, left. My cousin said his parting speech was hilarious, but the Danes listening didn't laugh at all (which explains Keillor's "American" spin on Scandinavian life). A month ago I went to a Swedish friend's Mom's funeral, and told the joke about how "Life of Brian" was banned in Norway, thus the Swedes marketed it as "The movie that is so funny it is banned in Norway". The Swedes perhaps joking about Norwegian humor, but I'm not sure their's is better? My Swedish American friends don't read Keillor, but it seems to me he's developed an understanding of Scandinavian life in America, much of which was also MY LIFE (understandable since we Brits were ruled by Scandinavians for many years) plus strict religious stuff for those on farms!

PS-I learned also the Swedes HATE the Germans! I never quite understood that one.