The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

Newbie Guide

How Does Laundry Work in Sweden?

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Written by Ezinne Edet

I know what you’re thinking…why the fuss about laundry? Well, doing laundry in Sweden is a big deal. Apartment living: No washer/dryer? Options: buy or use a communal laundry room.

In sunny countries, garment care isn’t a big plan; abundant sunshine simplifies year-round clothes upkeep. Pack, wash, rinse, line-dry; hours later, clothes crisp and clean—simple routine in sunny weather. Moving to Sweden with my garment care mindset, I wasn’t prepared for the culture shock ahead.

A day after my family and I moved into our apartment in Sweden, I dashed into the laundry room with our dirty clothes and threw them into the washer. I set the timer and rushed upstairs to get myself busy with other chores.

Forty minutes later, I dashed back into the laundry room to get the clothes out of the machine but noticed that something was off. The machines were dead silent, the controls were unresponsive, and strangely, nothing was working. What could have happened?

I later discovered it was beyond laundry hours, so I had to shut down the machines. The bad news is, my clothes were stuck in the washer until the next morning, and the first slot had already been pre-booked by one of my neighbours. Talk about learning how to do laundry the hard way!

How Laundry Works in Sweden

If you do not have a washer and dryer installed in your apartment, you could either buy one and install yourself or, every week, spend at least one day in the laundry room.

The Laundry Room

Most apartments in Sweden have a communal laundry room—tvättstuga—with washers, tumble dryers, drying rooms/cabinets, and instructions on how to use them. This room is usually located at the basement or ground floor of the building and using the laundry room is totally free.

laundry in Sweden

Never ignore the instructions on the wall of the laundry room. Although they are usually written in Swedish, this is one place Google Translate will come in very handy. Different rules apply to different rooms, so it is important you understand the instructions to get a hang of how the machines and the laundry room work.

The Booking System

The laundry room operates on a booking system. There are two types of laundry booking system in Sweden: the manual and digital booking system. With the manual system, you use a laundry lock to book a slot on a board inside the laundry room, while you use an electronic tag to make a booking with the digital system.

The Manual Booking System

The laundry booking system, whether manual or digital, allows you to book a preferred day and time (usually 2 to 6 hours) for your laundry. In Sweden, laundry time is serious business.

Laundry Time

After you have booked a slot, you must do your laundry (washing and drying) at your booked time. As a rule of thumb, if you are about thirty minutes to an hour behind schedule, a neighbour can “steal” your slot without prior notice.

Therefore, you may need to sort and pack dirty laundry beforehand, as well as the detergent and softener. Also, make sure to pack up and leave the laundry room as soon as your time is up. You don’t want to be caught encroaching into your neighbour’s laundry time.

Tidy Up!

Before leaving the laundry room, make sure it is in good shape. Clean the dryer lint trap, sweep the floor, mop up wet surfaces, take out the trash (if necessary). Just make sure the room is tidy enough for the next person to use.

Rinse and Repeat

Once you are done, don’t forget to book your next laundry time, then repeat the process all over again.

So much information just to understand how laundry works. I know, right? But, trust me, it gets easier with time.

It is amazing how something as little as doing laundry can cause a huge culture shock for newcomers. Apart from figuring out how to do laundry, you can read about other basic everyday info that newbies to Sweden need to have at their fingertips.

Did you have any problems doing laundry when you moved to Sweden? Is the method of doing laundry in your home country different from that of Sweden? Leave a comment to let us know.

 

About the Author 

Hej! I am a Nigerian studying a Master of Science in Management at the University of Gothenburg. I have travelled around different countries in Africa, but this is my first time living and studying in another continent. I see living in a new country as an opportunity to learn a new culture, language, and create new networks and experiences. I will be posting about my experiences in Sweden, as a newbie, and sharing information to help you settle in fast. Enjoy!

How to adapt your CV to the Swedish job market

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Welcome to Sweden! If you have applied for international roles before, you will probably find that the recruitment process is very similar in this country. As for your CV, the structure and the content are common to many other nations, but there are a few local subtleties. In this article, I cover the main points to ensure your CV is best adapted to the Swedish job market.

Is your CV clear, easy to read and uncluttered?

In the country of minimalist design, ensure that your CV is pleasing to the eye. Avoid multiple colours and fonts, clearly mark the sections and make good use of the space. Swedes value simplicity and directness. Only keep experiences that provide relevant information for the position. Use bullet points instead of writing whole sentences. Make each word count.

How long should it be? If you have 10 or plus years of work experience, you can stretch it to 2 pages. Otherwise, try to keep it to one.

 

Are your contact details kept to the minimum?

At the top of the page, you need to state:

  • First name, surname (in that order)
  • Phone number (preferably a Swedish phone number to prove that you already live here)
  • Email address
  • Link to your LinkedIn profile
  • Website address, if you have one

Recruiters don’t need to know your nationality, if you are married and have children, your date of birth or age. You can add your residential address if you want to show that you reside in Sweden.

Photo or no photo? There is no rule. I recommend not adding a photo as your look shouldn’t be a criteria for recruitment. If the recruiter really wants to see your face, he/she can check your LinkedIn profile (or invite you for a video interview.)

 

Is your work experience relevant and to-the-point?

Photo credit@Unsplash

Swedes value practical experiences over education. So this section comes before your education (unless you have recently graduated or have little work experience). List your jobs starting with your most recent position. As for any CV, add dates, place and describe your tasks or accomplishments.

Keep it simple and easy to understand. Don’t use jargons or technical terms. Add details on the positions that are relevant for the role you are applying, and keep the others short, or remove them.

Many Swedish employers are looking for competences, but also for human skills. Personal projects and life experiences are valued in Sweden, a country that views work-life balance as a priority. Feel free to mention if you stayed home to raise your children if you took a break to travel the world if you volunteer or have taken outside work responsibilities.

 

What else?

Should your CV be translated in Swedish?
You should reply to a job ad in the language it’s written in. And you should only apply for roles in Swedish if you can speak it. So, don’t bother with a Swedish-translation if you don’t master the language yourself.

Should you add references?
No, only if it is specifically asked in the job ads. But usually, it is needed later on in the recruitment process.

Other sources of information

Written by Christelle Pottinger
A career coach, always happy to help French and English-speaking Newbies fulfill their professional dreams.

Inkassokrav: A Gym Case

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Written by Joseph Mukama

Autumn is here and soon it will be winter. To several, this is a time to make subscriptions to new services like gym, to compensate for the changing seasons. With subscriptions, of any kind, it is always good to know the exit strategy. I use the gym subscription example because I found it to be counter-intuitive and I found myself chatting with companies I never thought existed.

Paying Bills

There are various ways to pay bills in Sweden. One can pay with cash (less and less preferred option), use the mobile app – swish, use bank cards, direct debit (autogiro), or pay later with invoices (faktura). All is well when you pay bills on time but what happens when you ‘forget’ or ‘miss’ to pay on time?

Unpaid bills

With autogiro, comes great responsibility. If you have bills to pay, it is your responsibility to ensure that your account has enough funds. On the other hand, you may also decide to not pay an invoice for various reasons (some reasons defy logic – read gym membership example later).

With every invoice, there is a due date (förfallodatum) before which you need to pay the bill. If the bill is not paid by the förfallodatum, the company/person you owe the money can ‘sell’ this debt over to a private debt collector.

Inkassokrav

Inkassokrav is a debt collection invoice sent by a private debt collection company (inkassoföretag) that took over the original debt i.e. the receiver of the bill has transferred and this comes with a surcharge in interest and reminders.

Usually, inkassokrav should be payable in a few days – less than a week. Hope you are not in the midst of address moving where the invoice may end up at a wrong address (thanks to the digital mailboxes like kivra).

Inkassokrav (company and addresses edited)

When you receive an inkassokrav, you need to

  • pay up immediately.
  • or if you believe the invoice is wrong, contact the company that sent the invoice.
  • or if you can not pay on time, at least try to call the debt collection company and explain yourself.

If this does not happen, just like before, the inkassokrav company transfers the collection of debt to kronofogden.

Kronofogden

Now, the bailiffs (kronofogden) is the level you do not want to reach. Kronofogden takes over the bill and just like inkassokrav, there is an additional charge to it.

Kronofogden can seize your salary in case you do not pay on time. It can also ‘knock at’ your door and seize your property and auction it off to recover the debt.

If the debt at kronofogden is not paid on time, the credit reporting companies decide on whether you get a debt payment remark (betalningsanmärkning) on your personal number (countrywide profile).

As a private individual, the debt payment mark remains on your profile for three years (five years if you are in a law profession). The payment remark on your profile makes ‘your life difficult’ in Sweden. It becomes very hard to:

  • get a mobile phone subscription.
  • get a rental apartment – remember the credit check when you look for apartments?
  • buy anything in instalments.
  • obtain a bank account.

1000 ways to end up with an inkassokrav

 

It is so easy to have unpaid bills, especially with the autogiro payments. It could be a rent payment, a broadband payment, or even a gym payment. The gym scenario is interesting this time of the year and something to keep in mind.

Photo credit @ Mark Bertulfo/https://unsplash.com/, a gym

Accessing gym

To access a gym, you need to pay for the service and access to facilities at a given gym. With this, you need to pay some charges:

  • Gym subscription: It can be monthly, every 3/6/12 months, or a number of times (klippkort).
  • Gym membership: Some gyms are part of an association (förening) with other gyms. It makes it possible to ‘pay once, access all’. Payable per calendar year.

Pausing / Ending gym

Let us say you want to pause/to end your gym subscription. You would (or I would) think that, if you stop paying the gym subscription, then you will not be allowed access to the gym (which is the case).

On the other hand, if the gym (*not all gyms though) is part of an association, what they think if you stop paying the monthly subscription is that they were expecting that money anyway but they did not get it.

So you receive a reminder to pay up. So you need to brush up your Swedish skills not to miss any information here (and please do not ignore the reminder). Excuses like ‘it was in Swedish and I did not fully understand it’ does not get you off the hook – not even on the trams in Gothenburg.

A 226kr bill can quickly double to 468kr, and this is before the gym informs you that one needs to give one month notice before leaving the gym.

 

Summary

Keep track of your bills and pay on time especially if you are using autogiro. An inkassokrav in itself is not harmful, but it is inconveniencing and it increases the bill. Furthermore, any unpaid bill can end up in inkassokrav and the service can be requested for by both individuals and companies.

About the Author

Kodheyo banna! Joseph here. I moved some years back to Gothenburg for studies from Uganda, the ‘Pearl of Africa’ located in East Africa. I later moved to Lund/Malmö for work. I am married, and I love meeting people, nature, and physical activities. I like to read books and try out new things. My favourite Swedish word is beroendeframkallande. Hoping to share interesting moments with you all.

Autumn Best Spots in Lund

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Every season has its own charm but for me there’s something about autumn that enchanting like no other season.

The crisp breeze. The sweetness in the air. The amazing colours when every leaf is a flower as Albert Camus puts it.

Maybe that’s just because I’m a hopeless romantic by nature. But regardless of your personality type, autumn is definitely one of the most beautiful times in Lund. It is when the old buildings in the city are covered in red vines and every lane turns into a yellow carpet.

So, if you’re new in Lund and wondering where to get instagrammable autumn pictures, here are my suggestions:

Lund University Library

This building at Helgonabacken has been the main library for Lund University (LU) since 1907 and is one of the most iconic buildings in Lund. When the season changes, it changes its appearance too due to the vines that cover most part of it. The look of it becomes brown or sometimes white on winter, green on spring and summer, and red in autumn.

The famous university library building. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu

With such a beauty, the picture of this building is probably the most used picture in every LU student’s desktop wallpaper 😀

The area around the library also offers a beautiful view of autumn as shady trees surround the building; some of them even create canopies above the streets.

Oh that yellow carpet. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu

Lundagård

As the heart of the city, Lundagård is where many old buildings in Lund are located, such as Kunghuset, Palaestra et Odeum, AF-borgen or Akademiska Föreningens, to name a few. During autumn, these buildings and the trees in the park are dressed in autumn colours, which really give the area a character.

The majestic king’s house. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu

Norra Kyrkogården

This is probably an unusual place to take pictures, as Norra Kyrkogården is actually the biggest cemetery in Lund. Located at the opposite of Lund’s University Hospital, Norra Kyrkogården is claimed as a lung in the city due to its 25 hectares total green space. Therefore, this place is really pretty during autumn. If you’re not too afraid to stroll in between tombs, you should visit this place.

the yellow forest sweden

Journey to the yellow forest. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu

Lund’s Stadsparken

As a park that was inaugurated more than 100 years ago, Lund’s city park is still a favourite for many Lundensians, including me. It’s an important green space for young and old: to relax, to play, to exercise, to party and even to preserve tradition. With its rich vegetation, this park is one of the best places to enjoy autumn colours in Lund.

There are, of course, many other places to get a lovely autumn pictures in Lund. Basically, any park and building with vines would turn into scenic spots during this season. But, if you don’t know where to start your autumn stroll this year, the places I mentioned above are definitely worth visiting. And this is my impression of autumn in Lund in a poem, which I wrote two years ago:

The leaves turned red,
On those days of October,
When fall was here and,
Winter was near

Could you taste,
The sweetness in the air?
The taste of life,
Free from despair?

I pictured us,
Walking hand in hand
Along the way,
Where everywhere was a yellow lane

I remembered,
How I would have waited for you,
On that old wet bench in Lundagård,
Around 1 pm or two

Our love grew strong,
Despite the wind,
Flourishing like mushrooms,
Under the autumn rain

I became gold,
You were getting brown
To the colours of heaven,
We did all belong.

About the author

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Little Asia in Lund

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

What do you miss the most when you’re living far from home? For me, it’s 3Fs: Families, Friends and Food!

Coming from a country known for its distinctive and rich-in-flavour foods, there are times when I crave for a little taste of home in Sweden. Lucky for me, there are some Asian speciality shops and restaurants in Lund where I can find remedy whenever homesickness strikes.

Of course it’s not apple to apple if we compare them with the shops and restaurants back home, in terms of stock and variety. But it’s still good to have them here. Especially now, when travelling overseas is not recommended and visiting your family back home is not a reasonable option.

These places can help you bring a bit of taste of Asia to your kitchen:

Lokchan

Little Asia, food sanctuary, heaven on Earth, you name it. This place is by far the most complete Asian shop in Lund. In addition to Indonesian foods which are rare in Sweden, they also have Thai, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian and plenty more.

Visit their shop on Klostergatan 14 K, and there you can find various gems ranging from Okonomiyaki sauce and Gochujang to instant noodle and seasoning for Rendang, an Indonesian beef stew, normally served in a meal set called Nasi Padang. Nasi Padang is one of the most loved comfort foods in Indonesia. It’s so popular and tasty, a Norwegian singer even made a song about it (check it here).

Kött & Spices

Located in Stora Södergatan 8, this shop sells foods mostly from South Asia. So, if you’ve been wondering where to get samosa or Red Label Tea for an Indian style milk tea, this is the right place to get them in Lund.
They also sell fresh vegetables and fresh meats, but the highlight, for me, is their South Asian collection.

Fengsson Dumpling

This tiny restaurant is very well-reviewed in Trip Advisor despite its secluded location on Winstrupsgatan 1. It’s actually not too far from Lund Central station but since it’s located in a kind of basement, the diner is not too noticeable.

However, if you pass by the area during lunch time, the queue outside is usually quite long so you will hardly miss it. In terms of taste, I’m not a food expert but I think this place sells the best dumplings in town!

Mui Gong

Photo credit @Hayu Hamemayu

On their website, this Chinese restaurant writes: “What we are doing is to change your impression about Chinese food in Sweden.”
I don’t know what they mean by that, but personally, I think the Asian foods sold outside their original countries are often adjusted to a certain level for marketing purposes. Most of the times, Asian foods are reduced to merely wok and fritters.

That’s not the case with Mui Gong.

The spiciness in their food is authentic and they have more than just protein coated in fried batter. My favourite dish in the restaurant is the homemade tofu.

Changs Kök

Photo credit @Hayu Hamemayu

Another tiny diner in Lund specialised in Sichuan foods. Only open during lunchtime (11.30-14.00) and mostly serves to take away. As many other dining places in Lund, they have a vegetarian option as well. This place is quite famous among students due to its tasty flavour and affordable price.

In addition to the list above, supermarket chain like ICA and Willys also have an Asian section. However, the choices are much less and they are mostly home brand or western versions, not Asian brands.

So, if you want to explore a bit more and experience a glimpse of Asia in Lund, those places are definitely the must go.

About the author

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Basic Everyday Info for Recently Moved Newbie

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Lately, I’ve been receiving questions from some people who are going to move to Sweden, either for work or study in my website and Instagram. And some of the questions are actually really simple, about everyday info, which I didn’t consider important before. At least I used to take it for granted.

But I think that was just because I’m lucky. My husband moved to Sweden eight months earlier than I did so he’s kind of paves the path for me. But not all people have the same experience. So here I compile the basic information of everyday life in Sweden for recently moved newbie.

Post & Delivery

If you come from a country where you receive your post (no matter big or small) in your front door, I can assure you that it’s not going to happen in Sweden. Unless, you select the home delivery option when ordering something but this is not always available.

Most of the times, you will receive your post in the mailbox. Or if it’s too big, you will need to retrieve it from the closest pick up point based on your postcode. They will send notification to your phone, email, or sometimes leave a note in your mailbox, when the package is ready to be picked up. This pick up point is normally grocery store like ICA, Willys or other shops, depending on the courier service you choose.

The main operator in Sweden is PostNord, the other common delivery services are DHL and DB Schenker. For home delivery, there are Budbee, Best Transport, Airmee to name a few.

What if the package is really big?

Still, you need to pick it up by yourself. Therefore, it’s a good idea to download the PostNord app as it can help you to track the delivery process as well as give you the measurement so you’ll know the best way to bring your order home.

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Laundry

Most housing in Sweden use communal laundry room. It is very rare to have a personal washing machine if you live in apartment. The laundry room in Sweden is usually located in the basement and is not using coin.

Instead, it’s using key and booking system, either manual or online, which means, only those who live in the housing complex have access to it.

If the system is manual, you book the time slot (around 4-6 hours) in the board near the laundry room. You move the key with your apartment number to the day and time you prefer on the board. For the online system, you can book via the housing provider websites.

In the laundry room you will find washing machine, tumble dryer, drying room, and sometimes a passive aggressive note to those who don’t clean the room afterwards 😀 .

Again, it’s a communal laundry room so every user is expected to take a good care of it. And apparently, it’s very Swedish to leave an anonymous letter in the laundry room if you’re not happy with your fellow neighbour’s behaviour.

You will need to bring your own detergent but some housings use automatic machines so the detergent has already in it. Just check the information from the housing caretaker (bovärd).

Room & furniture

In Sweden, 3 rooms apartment means an apartment with 2 bedrooms. Unless it’s specifically stated, the word “room” apply for living room as well so make sure you check out the number of bedrooms before renting or buying an apartment. As for the kitchen, even if it says unfurnished, it has already a stove and a fridge. But, don’t forget to buy lamps because they are not included in unfurnished apartment.

Money & Payment

Sweden is a cashless country so the most commonly used payment methods here are card, Swish and Klarna. As far as I know, any credit card with Visa or MasterCard logo can be used here. Swish is an app connected to your bank account and phone number. You will need another app called Bank ID to be able to use Swish (contact your bank provider to help you with the set up). Klarna is an online payment option that gives you flexibility to pay. You can get the item first and pay later (within 14 days with no extra charge), pay the next month with extra charge or pay with instalments.

If you really need cash, you can withdraw money from the ATM or better known here as Bankomat. It’s jointly owned by the five largest banks in Sweden – Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB, Swedbank and offer services to all card issuers, either as a customer or via the VISA and MasterCard networks.

Food

Thanks to globalisation, we have quite plenty option here in Sweden: Jasmine rice, Indian spices, Middle East herbs, Chinese tea, Japanese noodle, and so on. They may not taste exactly the same (due to a long storage in the cargo I assume) and most definitely not cost the same 😀 , but it’s still good if you’re missing a bit flavour of home.

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Social Ideas for Newbie Parents

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

I often say to myself, when you’re a parent, life is what happened between fresh brewed coffee in the morning and reheated coffee in the afternoon: you barely have time to enjoy your coffee, decently 😀 Especially when you live away from home, far from the supporting system called family, the struggle is real.

Luckily in Sweden, there are some hang out places that are designed and dedicated for parents so parenting can still be fun. Here are the highlights:

Local library

If you’re new in Sweden and not sure where to go for a day-out with your baby, a library could be a good starting point. The state library in Lund has special section for kids of all ages. There’s this small play area where you can read books with your children and also meet other fellow parents.

 

The library also has baby café and book-reading events for kid in various languages (read more about the events here). The book reading is held in the reading “closet” which is set up nicely and comfy for the parents and the kids.

Open Preschool

In Sweden, due to its generous parental leave, kids are not going to preschool or day care until they turn 1 year old. But, they can join open preschool without registration (just pop up when you feel like it) and it’s free of charge.

There are two open preschools in Lund, Kulan and Söderlek. I go to the first one with my baby and we’re having a really good time there. In Kullan, I get the opportunity to meet and socialise with other adults, while my daughter gets to meet and play with other children. So it’s good for both my kids and me. I can have a social life and talk to those who are on the same boat with me and my kid is enjoyed being surrounded by friends, toys and books.

The open preschool also has interesting activities such as painting and foot or hand casting but the most loved one is the singing section. Most parents come around the singing time (10.30 and 13.30 depending on the day) and leave soon after. That’s the thing about open preschool. We decide when to come and how long we want to stay. We are also responsible for our child(ren) during the stay.

Parents’ Group Play Date

I consider myself lucky because the health centre where I’m registered at provides parent’s group for international parents. We met regularly during the first six months of our postnatal period and I found the meetings were really nice and useful. The scheduled meeting at the health centre has concluded last summer but the parents still continue to meet for a play date every now and then.

If you don’t have parents group at your registered health centre, try online parents groups in your area (such as Facebook Group) or you can use this website to search for local parents group. They often have various activities range from fika to book club.

Barnvagns Bio

I received an invitation to a Barnvagns Bio last June and thought that was a smart solution for parents who want to watch movie without leaving their baby at home.

Barnvagns Bio or stroller cinema is a convenient way to watch cinema in an environment where it is okay for babies to cry 😀 . During the show the sound is muted (or down a bit) and the light is dimmed (instead of completely dark) which is perfect for napping. In the middle of the movie, we take a break for any diaper changes and eating times. Microwave and changing table are available and the stroller is parked outside. Some cinemas even offer coffee. In short, it sounds really cozy.

I haven’t tried it myself but a friend of mine went to one and she loved it. The fact that there’s a break in the middle of the movie and that you can stand up, bounce, rock or even breastfeed if needed, are just perfect for her. And I agree. I’ll definitely go to Barnvagns Bio as it’s already in my soon-to-do list ☺ .

For more information about Barnvagns Bio in Lund, check this and this.

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Surprising things for Newbies working in Sweden

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…from an Italian point of view.

My name is Francesca, 100% Italian, living in Stockholm since 2016. Why Stockholm? Good question, I moved for work without thinking how cold and dark it would be during the winter… but hey, that gives me one more excuse to travel.

Long story short – I was born in 1987 in Monza, F1 GP race for those who don’t where it is. 


I studied economics in Italy and moved to Australia for my master degree – the best year of my life. I loved Australia and would love to go back, those were the days when people were hanging out instead of posting pictures … I also missed Uluru and Cairns. 

After Australia, I took my PhD in international management back in Italy. Startups were not invented back then, so I decided to aim for a multinational company. So here I am, working in Online Business Development for ASSA ABLOY, a Swedish multinational company.

Going back a few years, I started my career in Atlas Copco, in the Italian business unit. Working for a Swedish company makes a big difference – more equality and more leaders than managers.

In Italy, unfortunately, there are not so many career opportunities, especially if you are a woman. If there are any, it takes a really long time to take a step ahead. I know it’s a bit old fashion, but that’s the way it is.

E-learning courses for your best job experience

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about finding work in Sweden? Or do you have a job and feel your salary doesn’t match your skills. Or, do you not quite get the unwritten rules at your new job? We’ve got you covered. We know how hard it can be to find a job, get the right pay and feel comfortable in your new Swedish job so we’ve created digital courses with all the information you need:   After finishing these courses, you will be able to navigate your Swedish work situation with skill and comfort.

I started in the customer support team and quite soon I have been involved in developing marketing activities and got more visibility outside the Italian market. Therefore after a couple of years, I had my first trip to the head office in Stockholm to join a Challenger program, designed for young talents. During the program, I got a chance to meet key stakeholders and decision-makers involved in the digital part of the business. Then I applied for a managerial role in the Stockholm HO. After a couple of years, I moved to ASSA ABLOY to my current role.

But what are the main differences between working in Sweden and Italy? I have already mentioned a couple of them, but I would add:

  • Working time flexibility: no need to badge in and out in Sweden but you can pretty much manage your time. Moreover, working from home is allowed.
  • Salary: salaries in Sweden are 30 to 40% higher than in Italy and there are reviews every year, which you basically don’t in Italy; taxes are pretty much the same.
  • Gender diversity: in Sweden, there are much more women with managerial roles comparing to Italy. Employers believe in young talents.
  • Empowerment: in Sweden, you get a mission and then you work to achieve your results. Your manager supports you and gives you some directions, but it’s up to you how you achieve the results. On the contrary, in Italy, almost all your managers tell you exactly what to do. The empowerment is quite low.

What are the differences between working in your country and in Sweden? Share your stories in comments!

Written by Francesca Frigerio
My name is Francesca, 100% Italian, living in Stockholm since 2016.
Why Stockholm? Good question, I moved for work without thinking how cold and dark it would be during winter … but hey, that gives me one more excuse to travel.

Where to shop second-hand stuff in Lund?

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

As a country that is eager to create a zero waste society, second-hand items are highly valued in Sweden. It goes beyond lifestyle and has become an essential part of Swedish everyday life. Swedes have been said to have a deeply rooted habit of selling and donating old things, which means there are plenty of second-hand items to buy throughout the country. Where to find them in Lund?

Erikshjälpen

Erikshjälpen is one of the most popular second-hand shops in Lund. It has two branches: one in Stora Södergatan 25, not too far from Botulfsplatsen bus station and the other one is located in Öresundsvägen 16, a little bit outside the city centrum. Selling almost everything you need for your home, Erikshjälpen is like the second-hand version of IKEA and even better because it sells other brands too.

Here you can find various items, from a set of antique spoons to books in English to bulky furniture.

The Öresundsvägen branch is bigger than the one in Lund city. However, it has limited opening hours. It only opens on Tuesday, Thursday (11.00-18.00) and Saturday (10.00-16.00). Expect a large crowd when you come on Saturday, as it seems to be the favourite day for the customer. Here in the Öresundsvägen branch, you can also treat yourself with fika because it has a mini café inside the store.

BusBraBarn Secondhand

Located in Skolgatan 3a, this second-hand shop sells kid’s specialities in its small but complete basement shop. Here you can find clothes, shoes, toys and other kid’s stuff with bargain prices. A little bit more expensive than other second-hand shops in Lund, but the quality is unbeatable. The items here are in mint condition and are the most famous brands like Polarn O. Pyret, Didriksson, Reima, etc.

Humana

This second-hand shop is located very close to Lund’s main landmark, Lunds Domkyrka. Specializing in retro and funky clothes for men and women, this place is perfect to shop unusual clothes from sports-wear to fancy party dresses. Embrace yourself the retro mood once you’re there as the shop plays oldies tracks over the store sound system.

Ugglan Second hand

Ugglan Second hand is a second hand shop located in Fäladstorget. Owned by Svenska Kyrkan, it sells books, cutlery, and other things except for furniture. This store is not so big but is well organised and easy to locate the items you need.

Loppis or Flea Market

When it’s sunny and warm, you can always find loppis, the Swedish term for a flea market, in Lund. There are at least two places where you can find loppis: Clemenstorget, just a stroll away from Lund C station, and Södra Esplanaden, a long walk lane in the south side of Lund city. There, most of the sellers are Lundensians selling things they no longer need. The items are really varied and the prices can be really cheap. Come early so you’ll be the first to find the gems.

Sell & Buy Groups and online marketplace

The perk of being a student city is having people come and go on a regular basis in Lund. These people usually buy and sell their stuff when they move in or leave the city. This means your chance to get second and preloved items in Lund is big. You can find all kinds of second-hand goods in Facebook groups or the marketplace page, even car and bus ticket. I myself have bought some items from Lund Sell & Buy group on Facebook and got really good deals.

There are actually other second hand shops in Lund like Fyndkällaren or Svalorna, but I haven’t shopped in these shops yet so I couldn’t share my experience. If you’ve been there, feel free to share yours in the comment section. Thank you! ☺

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Learning about Sweden from Popular Culture

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

For many years, Sweden has been frequently represented in popular media, especially in the US. Ranging from typical references such us Swedish blonde girls in American Horror Story: Hotel to the Swedish chef with a thick accent on The Muppets Movie, Sweden is often narrowly depicted as anything that other countries are not.

Media representation can be too stereotypical and misleading sometimes, but as an expat living in Sweden, I found that popular culture about Sweden helps me to understand the country and its culture better. But, I prefer the “local” ones, which contain more “insider perspectives” than Hollywood productions. These are my personal favourites:

1. The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

It’s a novel by Jonas Jonasson, which was adapted into a movie with the same title. The story revolves around a 100-year-old man named Allan Karlsson who climbed out of the window at his retirement house and disappeared. And that’s how his exceptional adventure began. Both the novel and the movie are hilariously funny and witty at the same time. I read the novel before I moved to Sweden then watched the movie during my first week here. These popular platforms somehow made me more familiar with how Swedes behave 😀

2. The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared

It’s the sequel movie of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. Equally funny from its prequel. My favourite scene is when the FBI officers asked the Swedish Police to show them the IP (internet protocol) address and the police drove them to Idrottsplatsen, which is indeed abbreviated as IP in Swedish. Smart joke!

3. Welcome to Sweden

Welcome to Sweden is a Swedish situated comedy (sitcom), based on the real story of Greg Pohler, the creator and the main actor in the series. It tells the story of an American accountant who quits his job to move with his girlfriend to her native country of Sweden and how he struggles to adapt to his new home. Although it received mixed reviews for its strong stereotypical representation of Sweden. However, moving to Sweden for love, I’m sure many people can relate to.

4. Scandinavia and The World

This webcomic is created by Humon Comics and tells the story based on the history, culture and stereotype of mostly Scandinavians countries and sometimes, other countries too. Each country is represented by a character dressed in the flag of their country. The character of Sweden is a guy who is dressed in blue and yellow Nordic cross, wears glasses and is an uptight technology expert. Very Swedish indeed ☺

5. Lost in Stångby

Lost in Stångby is a short film about a businessman with empathy issues who takes a wrong train on his way to Copenhagen Airport and gets lost in Stångby, an outskirt area of Lund. Produced by Tiny Lumberjack, this movie receives several awards and scores high in the online movie database review. I personally like this movie because it’s smart and funny and set in Lund, so the setting is familiar 😀 

6. The Bridge

The Bridge or Bron/Broen is one of the most popular Scandinavian noir crime series. Has been aired in more than 100 countries, the story revolves around murders and crimes in the Öresund area, the border of Sweden and Denmark. It begins with a discovery of a dead body, cut in half, in the middle of the Öresund Bridge. As it’s placed precisely on the border between two countries, the investigation is done by both Swedish and Danish police agencies. From there, the story goes further and darker.

7. The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Swedes

It is a funny guidebook by Peter Berlin, which is designed to help you understand Sweden through generalisations and observations. It includes details on what to expect and how to cope with it. Very handy.

8. Wallander

The story is based on Henning Mankell’s crime novel. The main character, Kurt Wallander, is an inspector trying to solve crimes in a town called Ystad. This town is a real town located in Skåne, the southern part of Sweden, less than an hour away from Malmö. There are actually three versions of Wallander apart from the novel: the Film Series, the UK TV Series and the Swedish TV Series. The one I watched was the latter starring Krister Henriksson. I watched the series when I was living in Australia not knowing that a couple of years later I would move to Sweden. Maybe that was a sign from the universe 😀

Of course, like many other representations, the depictions of Sweden in these examples is not 100% accurate. There’s a little bit of exaggeration here and there for entertainment purposes. For example, if you go to Ystad, instead of a bleak neighbourhood perfect for a crime scene, you would find beautiful lanes with colourful houses all around you.

And they call this: Lovely town for a murder 😀

However, despite the added drama, it’s still fun and informative to learn about Sweden from popular culture. So, what is the favourite list of yours?

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Giving Birth in Sweden: A Personal Story

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Monday, 3rd of December 2018, I woke up with severe pain in my abdomen and my lower back. ”This is it. Labor had begun,” I thought. But I wasn’t entirely correct. The contractions started but it took two weeks for my baby to arrive. What a journey it was. These are the highlights of my giving birth journey in Sweden:

Hospital visits over and over again

As my first contraction was way before the due date (14 days before, to be precise), I was a bit uncertain about when to go to the hospital. In Lund, the procedure is to call the Kvinnokliniken first, talk to the midwife and they will asses if you need to go to the hospital right away or later.

My first call was on Monday (3/12) afternoon. The midwife said I’m not in active labor yet so it’s unnecessary to go to the hospital at that stage. Besides, the labor ward was full so even if I insisted to come, I would need to go to the hospital in Malmö or Helsingborg. So I agreed to wait at home.

However, in the middle of the night, the pain got stronger so I ringed them again and they allowed me to come. I rushed to the hospital and met the midwife and the nurse. They checked the baby’s heartbeat and my contractions interval and…

I wasn’t in active labour!

The midwife said I was doing great, my body was preparing for the actual labour but the dilation was merely a fingertip despite the pain. So they just gave me painkillers and sent me home.

Wednesday (5/12) morning, the same thing happened. I felt a lot of pain and called the hospital. The midwife did the same procedure and yet, I did not make significant progress. I was soon on my way home again.

At that point, I felt brokenhearted. I was physically and mentally exhausted already. It wasn’t healthy anymore to just wait at home and check the pregnancy app to calculate the contractions. So my husband and I decided to go back to our routine. He went back to work and I went back to my Swedish course.

During the weekend, another sign of labour appeared. I started to have a mucus plug. Having had the previous experiences, I didn’t want to rush this time so I just called the hospital and talked to the midwife for some tips. The midwife emphasized that even though I was having another labor sign, the most important ones to be admitted by the hospital are: strong and persistent contractions every 3-4minutes, water break, excessive bleeding, and 4cm dilation. If none of those exist, just try to relax, take painkillers and practice the breathing technique.

Days passed by without any other labor signs. The contractions were still there and getting stronger but I tried to ignore them. I even took the Nationella Provet to distract myself from the slow labour I was having. It wasn’t easy but luckily I passed!

Due date

Then the due date came. Nothing really different happened except some bleeding. It’s started with a tiny brown clot then it got more and more each day. I talked to the midwife via phone (again) and this time, they let me decide whether I want to go to the hospital or not. They asked me not to be disappointed if they had to send me home again after check up if there’s no sign of active labor. I decided to stay at home and wait for yet another labor sign.

Tuesday (17/12) the contractions were more often and more painful so I called the hospital again and went there right away after they gave me the green light. The midwife did the regular check. I could see in the monitor that the contractions I had were stronger and more frequent than before.

“Maybe this time they will let me stay,” I wished.

But no, the midwife said that dilation was still 2cm and it’s better to wait at home in a familiar environment instead of the hospital. I sighed but had no energy to argue so I just nodded and asked my friend to drive me home.

Two hours after I had arrived back at home, I felt a lot of pain in my abdomen, my pelvic area and my lower back. The contractions were on a different level and I couldn’t bear them anymore. I called the hospital again and tried to explain my condition. I was barely able to even say my personnummer. Realizing that I was in real pain, the midwife only said: “Okay, just go to the hospital now.”

But I was just by myself. My husband was working in a different city so I called my friend and asked her to drive me to the hospital. When I arrived, all I could do was trying to breathe and not scream out loud. My friend was so kind she asked me to squeeze her hand whenever the contractions came, which I did. The midwife did the checkup as usual and this time, I was 4cm dilated.

Finally. They let me in.

My husband made it just in time. He arrived at around 5 pm and one and a half hours later, my baby was born.

They might be “random” people but they’re all there for you

Knowing that the midwife who’s helping you works on defined shifts, so she might be changed anytime, doesn’t really ease the pain. I was a bit annoyed at first with the fact that I had to meet a different midwife every morning and night. I had to repeat the same things over and over again: introduce myself, explain my situation or how I was doing. Back home, a mother is assigned. One can even choose who we want to work with from early in the pregnancy. It’s common to give birth in one particular hospital or clinic where the midwife/obstetrician works. So I wasn’t really prepared for this kind of system.

But after meeting several midwives (and nurses) during my recovery time in the hospital, I realized that they are all professionals who try to look after you as an individual based on your personal needs. Even though they hand over to colleagues at specified times, they keep your records. Every midwife who works with you will leave notes so they all know exactly what to do.

There is nothing to worry about, you will be well taken care of.

It is possible to have a natural birth after a c- section (VGAB) in Sweden

My first kid was born via c-section due to fetal distress. And for some reasons, I wanted to have a natural birth for my second child. Mainly because I don’t have the support system here in Sweden as all my family and relatives live in Indonesia. I wanted to recover soon enough to be able to take care of my baby. And from what I know, natural birth takes less time to heal.

Fortunately, it is possible to have one after a c-section (VBAC) in Sweden. In fact, Sweden is pro natural birth as long as there’s no complication or high risk to the mother and the baby. From the very beginning, my midwife had been really supportive of my choice. She gave me some tips and taught me pregnancy yoga to help me have a healthy pregnancy. Even though I live far from home, I found the support and encouragement that I needed from vårdcentralen as well as from the hospital.

What happened in the labour ward?

It’s hard to remember the details to be honest as I was ”pretty occupied” with the contractions. But, as far as I can remember, once I entered the labour ward, the midwife monitored the baby’s heartbeat and my contractions. Then, she took my blood pressure and put an Intravenous Cannula (IV) just in case I needed an injection or transfusion. After a few minutes, she offered me some painkillers. She started with Alvedon (of course! ), then lustgas and morphine injection.

If you can’t bear the pain any longer, she will offer you an epidural. Timing is important for this kind of pain relief. It can’t be given too late. In my case, the midwife asked if I’d like to have an epidural when the cervix has opened 8cm. I decided to go without epidural, but if you want to have this pain relief, it’s generally safe and you can talk to your midwife to understand better the pros and cons of it.

Fika after giving birth. Why not?

Once my baby was born and the midwife checked everything, she left the labor ward to give me some moments with my husband and our newborn. Before she left, she said: “I’ll be back with fika.”

Yes, fika is a must in Sweden. Even after childbirth. It’s actually a symbol of celebration after a baby is born. And it’s really a good thing for the mother (and the partner also). Trust me, you will feel really hungry and tired after labour.

So when the midwife brought us fika with tea, sandwiches, and non-alcohol apple cider (with a Swedish flag as an ornament), I was really excited. It was the best fika I ever had in my whole life.

A happy story

My giving birth journey wasn’t all smiles and rainbows. To give birth far away from home is not that easy, frankly. But, I found that familiarising yourself with the system and believing that you’re in good hands are quite helpful. At least, these will give you some peace of mind. So try to get all the information about giving birth in Sweden before the delivery and whenever you’re in doubt, ask! I’m sure the midwives and the nurses are more than just happy to help.

Anyway, here is my story as a newbie mom in Sweden. For those who are going to give birth, I wish you and your baby the best of luck.

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Budget Shopping for Newborn Essentials

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Shopping for your new baby is an exciting and a fun part of being pregnant. Imagine yourself go to a baby shop and see all those cute Scandinavian designs, how can you resist the temptation?

Wait until you realize that there are only three price categories in Sweden:

  • Expensive
  • Even more expensive, and
  • ”You got to be kidding me” expensive 😀

It goes without saying that as with any other things, baby stuff is not cheap in this country.

Fear not, thanks to its lagom way of life and its relation to the 3Rs: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, there are ways to cut your shopping budget here.

Consider buying (or borrowing) second-hand

The first best sources to get second-hand items are friends and family because you know the person who used them before. Ask them if they have any baby stuff that is no longer in use. If no one around you can help you, shop pre-loved items on Facebook marketplace, Blocket, loppis or any other second-hand shops. This will save you quite a lot of money. Especially for the items that your baby will outgrow soon. If you’re lucky, you can even get unused items there.

Request your baby boxes

Some shops and apoteks in Sweden offer free (or nearly free) boxes for pregnant mothers who are willing to become their member. The boxes contain good items for a starter such as diapers, a bottle, wipes, and so on. Also, you can use them as a tester to figure out which product is better than other for your baby.

All you need to do is sign up for a membership and fill in your baby’s due-date. Then, you will receive unique codes in your email and use them to claim your boxes in the nearest store/apotek.

Here are the links for some baby boxes: Baby Box, Libero Startbox.

Shop online

Shopping online will also give you a cheaper price. Some online shops have really good deals and you can get an extra discount if you become a member. There are also some websites that you can use to compare one store from another such as PriceRunner and Prisjakt. However, be careful when shop things that you need to test first like stroller or car seat. Make sure you research on how to assemble the parts and read about the product guarantee terms and conditions. Some brands won’t cover any faulty if you buy the products online and assemble them by yourself.

Look around before shopping

Give yourself enough time to shop. Don’t buy everything at once. Instead, take a stroll from one store to another. Buy baby items that are currently on sale. If you spot something you love but don’t like the price, look around. This will usually give you good deals.

Stick to your plan

I know that avoiding cute baby stuff is really hard. But, the baby will grow up quickly. There’s no point of stocking on too many items for the first months. Make a list of the items that you really need and stick to it when you shop. Here are some lists you can use as a guide:

Source: https://www.thebump.com/a/checklist-baby-essentials

 

Source: http://www.squawkfox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/newborn-essentials-checklist.pdf

Happy shopping!

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.