Written by Ravindu
04 Nov 2025
My wallet seems to have developed this personality of its own ever since I moved to Sweden. Twice now, it has tried to run away from me, and the consequences if I had lost it, with all the IDs, bank cards and drivers licenses I’d have to re-make, are things I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy (not that I have one). But each time, Sweden’s quiet superpower came to the rescue and saved me: honesty!
Throughout my time here, I’ve personally found Sweden to be incredibly safe, despite what some recent headlines might suggest. Maybe it’s because I live in a smaller city, but I’ve never once felt uneasy walking around at night or leaving my bag or laptop unattended for a moment. Honesty seems deeply rooted in the culture here. It’s like an unspoken social code that Swedes just live by. Plus, Swedes just have this habit of minding their own business, which sometimes might appear cold in social situations, but beneficial from the aspect of trust.
And that brings me to the Two Great Adventures of my runaway wallet. These stories perfectly capture not just my general forgetfulness and lack of responsibility sometimes, but also the everyday honesty that seems to quietly define life in Sweden.
One: The Great Nature-Reserve Escape!
This first incident happened about a month after I arrived in Sweden last year. I had joined an Erasmus group hike to our local nature reserve. It was one of those perfect Swedish evenings: fresh air, a calm lake, new friends with crazy stories and trails surrounded by lush green trees. My mind was off school-work, a much needed break!
Th Realization
After the hike, we took the bus back to the city centre, chatting and laughing, and got off the bus and started walking home. That was when I reached for my wallet… and it wasn’t there. My heart sank instantly. I had only just moved to Sweden, and my wallet still held everything: my ID, residence permit, my Sri Lankan driver’s license, my bank cards. The idea of losing it all was terrifying.
I quickly messaged a group chat we had, explaining what had happened and the appearance of my wallet, and asking if anyone still up at the nature reserve could keep an eye out. Honestly, I had given up hope—there were so many possible places it could have fallen, out there or even in the bus, not to mention the slight chance of it being stolen.
The Community Comes to the Rescue
But within minutes, messages started pouring in. People I barely knew offered to help. They retraced the route, called others, and even organized a small “search party” for my wallet! I was incredibly touched. It’s not every day that people stop what they’re doing to help someone they’ve just met.
As I hopped on the next bus to join the search, I got a message: “We found it!”
Apparently, I had dropped it last moment while running for the bus back, and a local man walking with his dog had picked it up. When I arrived, he greeted me with a smile and handed it back. I couldn’t thank him enough. That was my first real taste of Swedish honesty… and kindness.
Two: The Rogue Wallet Returns, A Stockholm Mystery
The second time was even more dramatic, and honestly… I almost lost it (pun intended).
The Premise
I visited Stockholm to see my friend Joshua, a former ambassador of Study in Sweden. Before catching my train back to Skövde, we decided to explore Gamla Stan in daylight. I had only seen it at night and wanted to experience the old cobblestone streets under the sun. At the end of our walk, we grabbed some fika at a cozy café, wandered around a bit more, and then said our goodbyes at T-Centralen.
I took the 2.5-hour train home, went to bed, and woke up the next morning with that dreadful realization again: my wallet had gone missing (not again!).
Panic set in. I had no idea where I could have left it. It could have fallen on the train, somewhere in Stockholm, or even during my walk home. I hadn’t learned from my first adventure and still carried all my important documents in it. I retraced my steps from the train station to my apartment but couldn’t find it. I messaged my parents in Sri Lanka, who understandably worried, emailed the train company, which told me that all lost items go to Finland (which only increased my stress), and even filed a police report in Stockholm. I also let Joshua know what happened.
A miracle
Just when I had given up all hope, Joshua texted me: “I’m heading back to Gamla Stan to check the café.” I felt genuinely touched. He didn’t have to do that. It wasn’t his responsibility. Yet he still took the time to go back and look. A few hours later, he sent another message that made me smile from ear to ear: “They found it. It was still there!”
He even mailed it back to me, with everything still inside. Every card, every document—nothing had been touched. That’s when I truly realized how deeply honesty runs through Swedish society.
A Little Reflection
After those two close calls, I finally learned my lesson. These days, I carry only the essentials, keep all my important documents safely at home, and even bought an Apple AirTag for my wallet, because clearly, it has a mind of its own. Looking back, I realize that both of those stressful moments turned into something unexpectedly heartwarming.
BBoth times, strangers amazed me with their honesty and their willingness to help. Friends formed search parties in the woods, and someone mailed my wallet back across cities. Those experiences showed me that, beyond the beautiful scenery and endless cups of coffee, people in Sweden often act with honesty without being asked. They just do the right thing. And for someone as forgetful as me, that reassures me more than I can put into words.
