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The Newbie Guide to Sweden

The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

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  • Moving to Sweden

newbie story

Swedish Sayings I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Sweden

2 October 2019 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Like many other countries, Sweden has plenty of expressions, idioms and sayings rooted in history and tradition. Some of them can be found in other languages, or at least share similar meaning like “Beat around the bush” and “Gå som katten kring het gröt” (English: walks like the cat around hot porridge). Some others are quite exceptional.

Despite its hilarious literal meanings, these sayings are actually relatable to everyday life in Sweden. Personally, I found some sayings are helpful in understanding Swedish values, and for that reason I wish I knew them earlier 😀

Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder

This is probably the most famous Swedish saying. Translated to English as “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes,” you will hear this a lot during autumn and winter, especially when you start to complain about the snow, or rain, or wind in Sweden.

Though it sounds overconfident, it is true that in Sweden you need a jacket that is THE ONE. The jacket that is appropriate to the weather (water proof, wind proof and snow proof if possible) and comfortable, or locals call it “varm och mysig”. Winter in Sweden can be harsh, and autumn rain is not so friendly either, so we need to dress accordingly. If you have a little kid, the general “guidance” to dress them on winter is: long underwear (thermal or long johns), fleece and overall.

When I first arrived in Sweden, it was December and I was just wearing regular winter coat not designed for Swedish winter. As a result, I caught common cold few days later. If only I knew beforehand that Swedish winter was “different” from the winter I had experienced before, I would have bought a better coat.

Jag säger inget, så har jag ingenting sagt

Swedes are generally restrained. They keep things for themselves and prefer not to say anything about anything. This saying explains that character a lot. I was surprised at first, to know that there was no complaint (or even question!) when a bus I was in took a wrong direction. None cursed when the train was late or even cancelled.

Well, my Swedish friend said they cursed actually, only internally 😀

But it is true that Swedes tend to avoid conflict and stay silent.

The same thing happens when you ask them about their opinions. They seem inconvenient to judge or to express what they think about, even when you want to buy their product. There was this moment when I was going to buy something so I asked the shopkeeper if it’s recommended or not and he simply said, “Well, it’s up to you.”

E-learning course: Your Swedish learning options

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about The Swedish stuff? Where can you learn? How does it work? Can you join the different options if you don’t have a Swedish personal number? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just confusing this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to make a good decision. Here you will learn about:  

  • The different study options to learn Swedish in Sweden.
  • The differences between study alternatives.
  • How much Swedish (and other things) you need for other educational paths in Sweden as well as to work in Swedish.

After finishing this course, you will be able to make an educated study choice and you will learn the most important key words and phrases for studying Swedish in Sweden. Hopefully, Swedish will start making sense!   Sign up to your course here

Döm ej allt du ser, Tro ej allt du hör, Gör ej allt du kan, Säg ej allt du vet, Förtär ej allt du har, Låt ingen veta vad du har i hjärtat eller pungen

Do not judge all you see, do not believe all you hear, do not do all you can, do not say all you know, do not eat all you have, let no one know what you have in your heart or in your wallet. This saying, I think, is the extended version of lagom ☺

This describes well how Swedes love to put everything somewhere in the middle: not too much not too little.

Allvar och gamman trives gärna samman

Have you ever been in a working situation where you were in the middle of something? You were almost there, it only needed few things to add but the clock struck 3 pm and everyone left their desk for fika, no matter what, so you’re the only weird one in the room. If your answer is yes, I feel you!

Apparently in Sweden, seriousness and pleasure should thrive together, exactly like the saying. Swedes are moving gracefully between work and fika on regular basis. When it’s time for work, they put every single thing in it. But when it’s time for fika, they do not hesitate to take a break. I find this really interesting because I used to think that I have to work harder and leave the time to rest in the very end. Now I learn that it’s good to have a break every now and then to give you fresher minds and ideas.

Man tar inte emot beröm av vem som helst

If you come from a culture where giving praise is common or even advisable, do not bother to try it in Sweden. Here, there’s a saying that means, “One does not accept praise from anybody.”

During my first months in Sweden, I used to say “thank you”, a lot, as part of appreciation. It’s just a habit I couldn’t help it 😀 . But soon I realised that most people here are not convenient with praise or compliment. A friend of mine once said that it’s simply because they were just doing their job so there’s nothing really special about it.

Having been living in Sweden for almost three years now, there are things I wish I could have done differently. But so far, my experience in Sweden is a nice one. It’s not always smile and rainbow but I wouldn’t want to replace it, inte för allt smör I Småland ☺.

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.

Filed Under: Blog, Swedish Tagged With: everyday life in sweden, language, newbie story, Sweden, Swedish Culture, Swedish Expressions, Swedish Idioms, Swedish Sayings, Swedish values, swedish way of life

Surprising things for Newbies working in Sweden

5 August 2019 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

…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:  
  • Get the salary you deserve
  • Make a good impression at your new job
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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: career, career in sweden, International Managers, Newbie Guide, Newbie in Sweden, newbie story, Sweden, swedish job market, work in sweden

Typical Swedish habits

7 July 2019 By The Newbie Team

Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Living in a new country brings its own excitement and challenges. The first years are usually dubbed as the honeymoon phase. This is the moment when everything seems so bright, fresh and exciting.

Then soon, things become routine and less fascinating than before. In a matter of time, we started to settle and eventually adopted the new habits, including the habits in eating. Either we consciously do it on purpose, or it just comes naturally, we’ll find ourselves embrace the new habit, no matter how strange we thought it was.

This is actually a good sign as you’ve had become part of another culture, and it has changed the way you look at people, life, and even yourself.

After living in Sweden for almost three years, here are the things that I found unusual at the beginning but now I got used to them:

Eating boiled egg with caviar (in a tube) for breakfast

Most of the newbies would probably think that tube was only used for toothpaste or acrylic paint. But here in Sweden, a tube is also associated with the smörgåskaviar, a fish roe spread that you use as a topping for a boiled egg. Whenever you go to grocery shops in Sweden, you will see these distinctive tubes and will notice that almost every customer grab at least one of them :D. The most famous brand among all is the blue and yellow tube called Kalles Kaviar.

Eating meatball (and pancake, porridge and anything but bread) with lingonberry sauce

If you’ve been to IKEA and try their meatballs, you definitely had tasted the iconic lingonberry sauce. This sweet and sour dip is widely used in Sweden. Though it looks like a jam, it’s rarely used as a spread for bread. Instead, you will find it on your dinner plate when you’re eating kåldolmar or stuffed cabbage rolls. This was my daily menu when I stayed at the hospital after giving birth to my second daughter. No wonder I got used to the taste now.

Choosing crispbread over loaf

I’m a huge fan of the fresh-baked loaf. But since I moved to Sweden, my other favourite breakfast menu is the classic crispbread (knäckebröd) with avocado as a topping. At first, I just tried it out of curiosity because there’s always a lane dedicated only for knäckebröd in a Swedish supermarket. But then I like its crispiness and I read that it’s actually healthier so more reason to eat it regularly. I haven’t tried eating knäckebröd with pickled herring though. I think I need more time for that!

Eating Smörgåstårta on birthday party

In my life before Sweden, when I heard the word “tart” I never picture shrimp or salmon as part of it. But that what Smörgåstårta is. This savoury cake is like a mix between a sandwich and layered cream cake and you will find shrimp, salmon, cucumber, tomato and mayonnaise in it. I had my first Smörgåstårta on my friend’s birthday party and despite my lack of enthusiasm at first, now I find this cake as refreshing and tasty.

Eating candies (a lot!) on Saturdays

Lördagsgodis, that’s the Swedish word for this Saturday’s ritual. This Swedish tradition of stocking up on sweets at the weekend has a dark history as it involved people with mental health experiment. However, it now becomes a joyful moment for young and old and actually a good way to manage your kids’ sweets intake. For me, as I have a sweet tooth, this particular habit has been the easiest to adopt.

So, what about you? Which typically Swedish habits are you starting to embrace?

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: food culture, living in sweden, newbie story, Swedish Culture, Swedish food, swedish habit, swedish tradition, swedish way of life, The Newbie Guide, this is sweden, typically swedish

Where to shop second-hand stuff in Lund?

14 April 2019 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Newbie Guide, newbie story, second hand shops, shopping guide, shopping in Sweden, sustainability

Giving Birth in Sweden: A Personal Story

3 January 2019 By The Newbie Team

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: giving birth in sweden, giving birth journey, Newbie Guide, Newbie in Sweden, newbie mom, newbie story, pregnancy and delivery, swedish life, swedish system

Dealing with cancer in Sweden – Betül’s story

4 December 2018 By The Newbie Team 2 Comments

Written by Sara Costa

Betül is the most generous, positive and wonderful person that I have ever crossed paths with and I consider myself lucky for having met her. She is a proud scientist at Chalmers and she loves Sweden and her life in Gothenburg. She is also a Newbie like many of us. 

Imagine you just moved to a new country. That shouldn’t be difficult as most of you are – or have been – a Newbie. Remember how hard it is/was sometimes to be alone in a new city, new home, new job, maybe even a new language? It feels like being reborn, requires a lot of effort to just go through the most mundane daily routines. It takes a while to build up your comfort zones again. We have all been there, one way or another, and we know or have at least an idea of how it feels.

 Now imagine that right in the middle of the adaptation process you were diagnosed with cancer. In a foreign country. Far away from home. That is exactly what happened to Betül, and this is her story.

 

Betül during the "interview"
Betül during the interview (Photo: Sara Costa)

Moving to Sweden

Betül moved from Turkey to Gothenburg in February 2017, after having been accepted for a postdoctoral position at Chalmers. “I had no idea how beautiful and peaceful Sweden is, so I consider myself lucky for having ended up here,” said Betül during our nice talk over a cup of tea. A few months later she noticed something on her neck. At first, she didn’t pay too much attention to it, especially because she didn’t have any other symptoms, but when it started growing and became visible, she decided to check it up at the closest vårdcentral.

The diagnosis

The first thing she was asked was if she had other symptoms. When she replied no and saw the doctor’s reaction, she understood for the first time that it could be serious. She did a blood test immediately and was told the results would take 3 days. However, she got a phone call from the doctor the day after. The results had not been conclusive, and she was advised to go to the emergency room at Sahlgrenska. Immediately. She had a second biopsy and once again, the results would take some time: 10 to 15 days. That was a Thursday. The Monday after, Betül got call back again and she understood that it was bad.

She was told she had lymphoma and it was big. It was malignant and spreading on the upper body. It was scary.

“I was in shock and went back to work because I just couldn’t think about it. I needed some time to process what was happening to me.” Later, she talked to her colleagues and friends, and asked one of them, Elin, to be her contact person at the hospital. “It was better to have a contact person that could speak Swedish because even though most people at the hospital speaks English, some of the nurses could have difficulties in explaining some things.” However, when she had a small surgery, she was offered a Turkish translator, in case she didn’t feel comfortable enough speaking English. “I refused, but I thought it was nice that they offered. It made me feel safer.”

The treatment

One of the nodules was close to the heart, therefore Betül was not fit for radiotherapy. She was told she would have chemotherapy for 6 months. Her first chemo day was less than a month after the diagnosis. The hospital provided her with all the necessary information and support. “They told me to never google it and gave me a phone line that I could call at any time with questions or if I got any new symptom. They could also call my doctor if needed. Having that support made me feel comfortable and safe. I never felt like I was bothering them with my silly questions and worries. One does get a lot of thoughts and doubts about everything”.

The treatment was not easy. Each session took five hours, during which five liters of liquids (4L of chemicals + 1L salt water) were administrated on the arm. “That sounds awful, but at that time I was not feeling sick. I could read and do other things.” After a while, the doctors changed the method and used a vessel on her chest, which shortened each session to 3h. “The most difficult was the days after the chemo sessions, but with the medication, which took a few weeks to get right, I could usually work a couple of days later.”

Life and work during the treatment

The most striking memory I have of Betül during this whole period was how calm and positive she was. Constantly! At first, I thought it was a defense mechanism to avoid thinking about her treatments. Soon I realized that it was just who she was. Still, upon her diagnosis, a flow of questions hit Betül. Could she stay in Sweden for the treatment? Would she be able to keep her job? What would her boss say? Her contract had barely started and she could be gone for months.

“It was July and most people were on vacation or attending conferences. I emailed my two closest managers and immediately got a reply full of support. My boss even offered to interrupt his holiday and come here, but I said that was not necessary.”

The doctors advised her to not work during the treatment. According to her medical certificate, Betül was entitled to full sick leave. She had, however, a different opinion. “I really didn’t want to just be at home. I asked them to please, please, let me work. Three doctors discussed this and after a while, two of them approved as long as I took certain precautions.”

Betül ended up applying for flexible sick leave. This meant that she could determine how many hours a day she wanted to work. All she had to do was to count the working hours so that her salary and sick leave remuneration would be correctly adjusted. After the treatment, she went back to working full time and her contract was extended to compensate for the time she was on sick leave.

“Everything worked very smoothly and not only did I not lose my job, but I had the freedom of choosing when to work.”

Light at the end of the tunnel

After three months she did more tests, revealing that the treatment was working. However, she would have to do the three remaining months of chemotherapy. “After the second session, I could actually see that it was working, because the nodule in my neck was much smaller.”

At the end of the treatment, new tests revealed that the nodules had disappeared and Betül was cancer-free. She still does regular checks, but so far everything is alright. “The best thing is that I never have to take care of anything, the doctors or nurses always call me to tell me about my appointments. I never have to worry about anything. I don’t even have to think about it.”

Costs

Betül had medical insurance from Chalmers and ended up never paying much for the treatments. She paid for some medicines and hospital visits but quickly reached the 1100kr and 2000kr top margins. This meant she didn’t have to pay for anything else. “Chemotherapy is really expensive! I remember that three little pills that I had to take before sessions, cost about 3000 SEK. The hospital provided everything. I didn’t even have to go to the pharmacy myself, the nurses just took care of everything.”

Relationships in Sweden and back home

Betül ended up developing a close relationship with all the doctors and nurses from vårdcentral and at the hospital. “I know them all by name and I felt that they really took care of me, like family.”

When I asked her about her friends, here in Sweden, mentioning how some people have difficulties making Swedish friends. Her answer came fast, as she immediately said no, that it was not difficult at all. Everyone at work, Swedish or not, had always been helpful and supportive. “My closest friend, who also became my contact at the hospital, is Swedish and she did everything she could to make me feel good.” Betül had to change apartments during the treatment. The sessions were on Fridays and she was supposed to move and mount the new Ikea furniture during one of the weekends.

“I felt so much nausea after that session, that my friend Elin booked me a hotel so that I could stay in peace to recover from chemo. In the meantime, she and other friends from work moved my things to my new apartment, built the new furniture and took care of everything. I only had to move in and Elin and her boyfriend even drove me from the hotel to the apartment.”

When asked if it would have been easier to deal with cancer at home, Betül quickly said “No”. She added with confidence: “I’m quite sure that it was better to be treated here. The hospitals have better conditions, are cleaner and much more organized.” She talked a lot with her parents during the diagnosis and treatment, but she always told them to not come and visit her. “My parents are very emotional, and I always felt sad after talking to them. I felt weakened and it was the only time I felt really sick.” She continues by saying that otherwise, and despite nausea and side effects, she never really felt she was a sick person. “I had my friends from work and I felt supported by all nurses and doctors, so it was ok.”

A message from the heart

Betül would also like to leave a message for all of those going through something similar: “I would like to tell them that they don’t need to worry about their diseases and treatment. Sweden’s health care system is the best for taking care of the patients (especially in urgent cases). Swedish doctors have great knowledge and they are always up to date with new improvements in medical science. They recommend the treatments accordingly. Most side effects from chemotherapy are predictable. Doctors can help to minimize them with medication. The most important I would say is to keep the mood up. I found that very easy in Sweden with all the kind and helpful people around”.

Betül has also made herself available to be contacted. If you would like to know more about her experience or simply would like to talk to her, all you have to do is leave a comment below.

I have learned a lot myself while talking with Betül. The biggest lesson might have been that I won’t complain again when I have to wait for my turn at the vårdcentral. Now I know that they are probably taking care of a more important case.

Thank you Betül for sharing your story with us!

Remember that you can learn more about the Swedish health care system here.

 

About the Author 
Hej! I’m a Portuguese Newbie in Sweden. I have also lived in Brazil, Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s been fun to be a foreigner in so many different countries and I enjoy learning about other cultures. I’m a fan of sports, some to watch and some to practise, my favourite being running. I also love food, reading and blogging. I hope you enjoy my posts!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cancer, chemotherapy, costs, emergency, Friends, health, healthcare, Integration, medical, newbie story, sick leave, treatment, work

Having your baby in Sweden – The final checklist

3 December 2018 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by Hayu Hamemayu

As the clock is ticking and you find yourself trying to embrace the anxiety of facing labour, you might need to know some practical things before The Big Day comes. Here are some tips to be as prepared as possible to welcome your baby.

1. Create a contacts list

It’s always essential to know whom to call when you’re going into labour. Make sure the hospital number is included in your list. Kindly remember that in Sweden you cannot go right away to the hospital even if you’re having so much pain already.

If you live in Lund, call the Kvinnokliniken number and they will assess your condition and decide when you should come to them. They will also tell where you need to go.

In Lund case, it could be to Malmö, Helsingborg or Kristianstad.

2. Don’t forget the hospital bag

Once you’ve been granted to go to the hospital, don’t forget to grab your hospital bag. Make sure you have in it: your ID, blood group card, clothes for you and the baby, snacks, after-labour necessities like sanitary pads and personal toiletries and pregnancy letter (if you want to have one).

3. Figure out how to get to the hospital

Decide in advance how you want to get to the hospital. Are you going to drive? Take public transport? Take a cab? Ask family or friend? Make a list of plan A, B and C.

Don’t forget to check the information from the public transport provider in your area, just in case they have scheduled roadwork or planned to reroute.

4. Prepare the winter gear

It is now winter in Sweden and if your baby’s due date is around the corner, you might need to prepare some winter gears for the baby such as åkpåse, mjuklift and overall. Think also about how you will come home with the baby.

If you travel by public transport, then stroller or baby sling are the best options. But if you drive, then baby car seat is more suitable.

Now that you have everything ready, you can relax a little bit and focus on the moment when you finally meet your little one. All the best wishes:)

Don’t forget to check on more baby advice on my previous posts here.

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: giving birth, newbie story, pregnancy, pregnancy essentials, pregnancy guide, pregnancy in Sweden, pregnant newbie

A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (Part 2)

29 October 2018 By The Newbie Team 18 Comments

Buying an apartment is one of the most serious steps in life. It requires a lot of planning, savings and to be as prepared as possible. On this part two of the series, I will talk about the mortgage and downpayment. To read part 1 click here. 

Know your Purchase Ability.

Before rushing into apartment visits, you should already have the answer to the following two questions:

Do you have sufficient money (savings) in your bank account? How much can I lend (mortgage) from the bank? To know how much can you get from the bank, follow these steps:

  1. Use a calculator and enter your own figures.
  2. Calculate your Downpayment threshold – determine the price of the apartment you can afford in reality.
  3. Calculate your Total Monthly cost – estimate how much it costs monthly at a realistic property price.

Reality Check #1: Calculate your downpayment threshold 

Your actual wealth is comprised of asset and cash

1) Mortgage (‘Bolån’ in Swedish) – Is the loan that you can borrow from a bank which is going to fund 85% of your property purchase

  • You can borrow about 4.5x your annual income (since Jan 2018). Using an average disposable income of 45,000 KR/ month in Stockholm, one can borrow around 2.4m (=45000*12*4.5).
  • Your loan interest is 30% tax deductible! This means that you get 30% off, paying your interest at a very low and discounted price for owning the entire apartment rather than paying for someone else’s and still not owning any parts of it.

2) Savings in your bank for the downpayment – The downpayment (‘Kontantinsats’ in Swedish) is the initial money you are required to pay when the purchase is made. The money is readily available in your Swedish bank to be transferred to the seller.

  • A minimum 15% of the apartment value is required by Swedish law.
  • Note that if you have a lower income level, you may not be able to borrow enough to cover the full amount of 2.4 m. You will then be required to pay >15% depending on your apartment ‘s price. In that case, choose a smaller and cheaper apartment instead.

So, how much do you need for the downpayment?

Always have money readily available, at least 15% of the downpayment. This amount can change and you may end up paying 25%

  • Being a foreigner, you may not be able to borrow as much with less than 3 years of bank records in Sweden.
  • Your loan might still not be able to cover the full apartment price if you have a lower income or if you desire a bigger apartment

Several hundred thousand KR might sound a lot for a young professional. This is one of the reasons why many local parents buy an apartment for their children to give them when they finish university. However, if you have already been working for several years, then you might possibly be able to have the downpayment by yourself with a smart savings plan.

Your Downpayment Calculator  
Max Loan – 5x income (‘000 kr)  
2,430   
    
Mortgage (‘000 kr)Downpayment (%)Downpayment (‘000 kr)Apt price (‘000 kr)
1,27515%2251,500
1,70015%3002,000
2,12515%3752,500
2,430 (max)19%5703,000
2,430 (max)31%1,0703,500
2,430 (max)39%1,5704,000
Bold*: >15% downpayment required 

Here is a calculator for Mortgage loan calculator .

Using the above scenario of 45,000 KR as a monthly income and a 15% downpayment, you can consider buying an apartment worth of 2.5m with a downpayment of 375,000 KR and a loan of 2.1m (<2.4m of what your bank would allow).

For any apartment of 2.86m or above, you will be paying >15% as your max loan offers only to 2.4m. e.g. 31% of downpayment for a 3.5m apartment.

Try entering your own income level in the calculator now, check the maximum loan you can borrow and the optimal amount of down payment you can handle.

Reality Check #2: Calculate your monthly costs

Your monthly costs for owning an apartment is split into 4 parts:

  1. Mortgage Loan Interest – Varies according to which bank you choose.
  2. Amortization – This is not really a cost. Simply put, this is the money you slowly pay off the total amount you borrowed (principal) through a monthly period. The amount you pay is around 2% of your loan. Note that after your loan-to-apartment price (/loan-to-value) ratio reaches below 50%, you will no longer need to be paying amortization. The general thumb rule is: ‘Borrowers granted mortgage loans after June 1, 2016 must repay 1% of total loan principal yearly if the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is 50-70%. If LTV exceeds 70%, the repayment must be 2% of principal’ (SEB, Dec 2018).
  3. Housing Association fee (‘Avgift’in Swedish) – aka management fee for the association who takes care of the building.
  4. Utility costs: This is a small payment. Heating is free in Sweden according to the law. Some buildings come with free water and cheaper wifi package. Internet, insurance and electricity will usually amount to about 500kr/month per person.

The table below shows the total monthly cost when you move in (i.e. loan-to-apartment price ratio >50%)

Currently, most small apartments in Central Stockholm are priced around 2.5-3.5m. Assume that you buy an apartment worth of 2.5m, with a downpayment of 15%, interest of 1.5% and amortization rate of 2%. Your monthly costs are 7,492 tr in total.

However, you will only receive the 30% tax refund on your loan interests (9,563 tr=31,900*30%) at the END of each fiscal year, so make sure you have enough cash flow to pay 8,289 KR each month.

   Assumptions 
Annual costs(‘000 kr) Downpayment rate15%
Apartment price2,500 loan Interest rate1.5%
Downpayment375 Amortization rate2%
Mortgage/Loan2,125   
Interest32 loan to apartment price/ market price
Amortization43 85% 
———————-    
Interest/month2.7  (million kr)
Amortization/month3.5 Max loan (est. from SBAB)2.6
Housing Association fee/month1.6 Max loan (income x4.5)2.4
Monthly costs7.8 Max loan (est. from Skandia)2.5
     
Internet0.1   
Insurance0.2   
Electricity0.2   
Other monthly costs0.5   
     
Monthly total8,289   
Less tax (30% deductible on interest)    
Monthly total after tax deduction7,492   

The table below shows the total monthly cost when you pay off a good level of loans (i.e. loan-to-apt price ratio <50%)

   Assumptions 
Annual costs(‘000 kr) Downpayment rate15%
Apartment price2,500 loan Interest rate1.5%
Downpayment375 Amortization rate0%
Mortgage/Loan1,225   
Interest18.4 loan to apartment price/ market price
Amortization0 49% 
———————-    
Interest/month1.5   
Amortization/month0   
Housing Association fee/month1.6   
Monthly costs3.1   
     
Internet0.1   
Insurance0.2   
Electricity0.2   
Other monthly costs0.5   
     
Monthly total3,622   
Less tax (30% deductible on interest)    
Monthly total after tax deduction3,163   

As  I mentioned in Part 1, the actual cost of the apartment is only about 3,000 KR/ month. This happens when your loan to apartment price is less than 50%, meaning that you pay off a good level of loans. Then your amortization rate will equate to 0%,  i.e. your monthly amortization amounts to 0.

This way, you are exempted from paying 10,000 KR per year. Your total monthly cost after tax deduction will now be 3,163 KR per month. Now, compare that to your rental costs (12,000 KR/ month)!

If you are still renting, you are basically helping the flat owner repay his/her million KR loan.

After completing this exercise, it’s time to check the market to see if there are apartments in your price range.

Further reading

Want to know more about buying a place to live in Sweden? We’ve got you covered! Check out these blog posts from our newbie bloggers who share their expertise and experiences. 

  • A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (part 1)
  • A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (part 3)
  • A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (part 4)
  • What is the average house price in Stockholm and Sweden?
  • New in Sweden and interested in getting a mortgage?
  • Property tips in Sweden. #1: how to find out the sold price

Read Part 3 here.

The posts on this Blog are distributed for informational and entertainment purposes ONLY.  Forecasts, estimates and certain information contained here should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product.  Past performance is not indicative of future results.  The Author in no way guarantees any specific outcome or profit.  Investments can lose money over short or even long periods of time.  You should consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: accomodation, bolån, buy apartment, costs, downpayment, find housing, housing loan, how to save money, integration projects, job hunt, learn Swedish, living cost, mortgage, Newbie, newbie story, residence permit, stockholm, support for newbies, Swedish

A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (Part 1)

22 October 2018 By The Newbie Team

Written by Teenie Fung

Looking to buying an apartment in Stockholm? Are you browsing on Blocket for rental apartments in Stockholm? Then I highly recommend you to read this article.

In less than 10 months from arriving in Sweden I bought my first apartment in Stockholm at a great bargain. Here are some tips and secrets on how you can also get out of the frantic rental market.

How competitive is the rental market in Stockholm?

  • You are competing with an additional 10,000+ migrants who relocate to Stockholm each year (SCB gov stats, 2017).
  • On 1 single Blocket rental ad, 100+ people are messaging about renting the same flat within a few days of an ad being published.
  • It can take at least 2 months to find a rental apartment in Stockholm. Dealing with scams while using Blocket ads is highly likely.
  • One can easily spend close to/over 40% of your income on rent. It is not uncommon to have to move every 3-6 months to avoid being homeless. It is almost impossible to find a long-term rental contract for more than a year as a foreigner.

Sounds familiar to your current situation? 60-80% of your time is probably spent on merely looking for a place to sleep. The rest of your time and money goes on adapting to the local culture, new work challenges and social life.

However, instead of facing high-costs & a pressure-cooking life-style, it is in fact financially POSSIBLE to buy an apartment in Stockholm. This guide will be split into four parts, providing some insights into how you can settle in like a pro.

Is renting more expensive than buying an apartment?

A 23sqm apartment I rented in Gärdet (Stockholm) for 12,000 SEK/ month in 2017.

The ugly truth is that you, as a foreigner, probably have no idea how much you are currently being overcharged by your landlord.

As an example, let’s say that you are looking for a studio/ 1 bedroom (‘1-2 rum’ in Swedish terms) apartment in Stockholm. Let’s do the math on how much you could have saved each month by buying an apartment:

In reality, it only costs your landlord (the person who lends you the flat) a total of 3,000 kr/ month, including all utility bills and ‘avgift’ (a fee paid to the housing association in English), for a 23sqm apartment. According to the market value on Blocket, you will likely have to pay a monthly rent of around 12,000 kr given the high market demand.

This essentially means that you are paying 4x ( 9000 kr/ month) of what you would have saved if you own the apartment.

Calculation explaining below:

12,000 (Your monthly rent)
-3000 (Your landlord’s total cost)
=9000 kr/month (Amount of money you could have saved by owning the property)

Each year, you are looking at an annual expense of 108,000 kr (=9000*12), extra just in rent alone.

In 3 years, you would lose about 324,000 kr (=9000*12*3) in rent.

In 5 years, your piggy bank would already have half a million extra if you had chosen to buy an apartment instead…and 1 million in 10 years!

Imagine you could have used the 100,000 kr saved each year for travelling, buying another apartment or doing anything else.

You can still be a first-home owner like a Swede.

Who can buy an apartment in Sweden?

Anyone!

  • The rules are the same for Swedish, EU and non-EU. The only difference is that you will, as a foreigner (esp. non-EU), have a 1-2 week longer processing time for your mortgage application and a slightly smaller mortgage if you have been under 3 years in Sweden.

 

  • The buying process is very straight forward. You don’t need to know the Swedish language to buy a house. Google translate is quite useful!

Remember:

  • You must have a full-time job in Sweden and passed your probation for the bank to approve your mortgage

When should I buy an apartment?

Ignore what the media says about a property bubble. All you need is a good location for the apartment and you will be least affected by/shielded from any economic downturn.

You are buying because you need a stable life. That said, research if it’s the right time to buy such as a seasonal offer. Always do your own research before jumping into the market. First, check if the market is likely to bring you a profit or a good bargain if you are to sell in 5 years. Some important indications of a good time to buy now is as shown below.

  • It’s a buyer market:  Property price in Stockholm area fell by 5-10% y-y in Aug 2018, this is a good moment to hunt for bargains. Remember that you are not looking for the deepest plunge, but entering at a good low-mid point from the last price peak is generally good enough. Property prices are most likely to rise in long-term and has been for more than 20 years now (+60%).
Bostadsrätter Prisutveckling in Stockholm
Average Property price per sqm in Stockholm (Svensk maklarstatistik, Oct 2018)
  • Financially viable: Downpayment in Sweden is still historically low at 15%. (e.g. downpayment of a 2.5m flat is 375k). This proportion has increased from 10% to 15% recently, consider that the downpayment is likely to increase followed by a stricter gov policy. Grab a cheaper deal before the next one comes!
  • Easy credit: Sweden has one of the world’s lowest interest rate (1.5%), and longest mortgage repayment period (no rush to pay back) compared to many other modern places such as London and Hong Kong. You can still borrow close to 5x your annual income (reduced to 4.5x from 5x since Jan 2018).
  • Unprecedentedly high demand for a small apartment (<2 rooms) due to migration and immigration: coupled with low construction rate leading to a tight supply. The demand-supply gap is huge (+10,000 migrants vs 3000 newly constructed 1-2 rooms). Prices for small-sized apartments are likely to continue to rise in long-term.
Färdigställda lägenheter i nybyggda hus efter region, hustyp, lägenhetstyp och år
Newly constructed apartments in Stockholm by number of rooms (SCB, Oct 2018)

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you are curious about buying an apartment instead of renting, let’s get down to a step-by-step guide of how you can achieve this in action. Read ‘A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (Part 2)’ to be published in a couple of weeks. 

 

Disclaimer:

The information presented on this Blog series is shared for entertainment purposes ONLY.  Forecasts, estimates and certain information contained here should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation to invest. Past performance is not indicative of future results.  The Author in no way guarantees any specific outcome or profit.  Investments can lose money over short or even long periods of time.  You should consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: accommodation, accomodation, apartment for rent, blocket, buy apartment, costs, expat, first year in sweden, flat find apartment, getting started, Housing, Integration, Living, newbie story, property, rental, room, stockholm, Sweden, work, working

Settle in Sweden within 1 year

14 October 2018 By The Newbie Team 2 Comments

Written by Teenie Fung

Have you considered moving to Sweden alone? Are you worried about the language, culture, job opportunities, cost of living etc? It can be extremely daunting to move from one place to another. However, life is short but remember that preparation is key and adaptation comes next. 

Do your homework, measure the risk and reward. If the risk is too high to lose, have a backup plan or improve your current situation before rushing for relocation. Nothing is impossible! Here’s how I relocated and settled in Sweden within one year. I hope you can find it useful!

Before relocation

Savings are essential to buffer unforeseen risks of relocation. Once you have a work contract, you will need to apply for a work visa from your home country. The waiting time can go from four months to one year depending on the job/ employer. There are jobs that are prioritized in the application process, be sure to check first with ‘Migrationsverket‘ before applying for any jobs.

1. Learn the culture

  • Think long-term. ‘The sense of belonging’ is crucial when you move to a new country. Do you also have special connection to Sweden?
  • Make some friends from Sweden in the country you are currently residing in. Join activities organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and other Swedish-related organizations/meet-ups. Get to know the Swedish community!
  • Learn the Swedish history and traditions! Sweden is full of heritage and rich culture. You will enjoy more Sweden if you know more about it.
  • Buy a book to learn basic Swedish!
  • Visit Sweden during short holiday breaks and meet up with your Swedish friends!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Teenie Tiny Eenie Meenie (@teeniefung)

E-learning courses

Feel a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to learn and do before, during and after your move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered with some of our great and affordable digital courses:

  • Preparing your move to Sweden. 
  • Your Swedish study options. 
  • Moving to Sweden with pets.
  • Getting the salary you deserve. 
  • Making a good impression at your new job. 

2. Line up job interviews

  • The worst thing when coming to Sweden is to have no income and waiting for a miracle to happen. If you haven’t already done your homework, 70% of the population in Sweden are Swedes. The majority of jobs in Sweden require a very good level of the Swedish language.
  • The best strategy is to prepare for multiple job interviews and be as prepared as possible.
  • Set goals and stay motivated.

How to land job offers in Sweden?

Work out every possibility you can think of. Just do it! Don’t only submit your CV to Arbetsförmedlingen if you are a young professional with work experience and a university degree.

  • Get referrals from your current network, don’t be afraid to ask! Network, network and network. This is how I got my first job in Sweden!
  • Check if your current employers have offices in Sweden. If so, you can try to request a transfer wherever appropriate.
  • Leverage your skill sets: Focus your job search on the industry that you have the longest work experience in (at least 2 years). Think from the employer’s point of view. Why they should hire someone from outside Sweden when they can hire someone close to them with the same skill set? Know your strengths. Apply to jobs where you are in a more advantageous position compared to a local.
  • Apply to companies with international business exposure. They are the ones who are most likely to hire foreigners. Know the hiring season in Sweden. June to Aug and Nov-Jan are holiday seasons in Sweden. Job opportunities during these months are extremely low, hence it’s best that you don’t end up in Sweden without a job especially at this time of the year. The best way is to relocate just before the hiring season. Meeting employers in person will hugely increase your chances of getting hired than a Skype/phone interview.
  • Create a long list of companies you want to work for on excel. Do your research on them and mark down your application status.
  • Find jobs that don’t require Swedish in the job description. Don’t waste time applying for jobs where the Swedish language is a must.
  • Try connecting with employees of the companies you want to work for on Linkedin by sending a short note to express interests and ask constructive questions. Speak to Headhunters if possible.
  • Make international cold calls: Sweden is a very open and transparent country. You will easily find a phone number and email address on many company websites. Be brave and make a call to a decision maker for a job interview. Make sure you prepare before the call! Buy an unlimited monthly plan on Skype for 75 KR/ month (much cheaper than using roaming or calling cards) and get a Swedish phone number  It shows that you have interests in moving to Sweden.
  • Go to Career Fairs in universities (e.g. Stockholm School of Economics) and meet employers in person. Bring your CV. You can do that during your short holiday trip.
    First day of work in Stockholm!
    The first day of work in Stockholm!

Most importantly…

  • Know the visa process from head to toe. Call ‘Migrationsverket‘ and ask all the questions you can think of. The queue on the telephone line is extremely long, but it’s worth it! Consult them about the work visa process and your nationality. Most employers don’t know the process. Knowing the process will get you one step closer to landing an offer.

Understand that Sweden is not as international as big cities like London, Hong Kong, Paris and New York. Yet, Stockholm is one of the most innovative cities in the world. The Swedish economy survives by exporting,  so there will always be jobs here for foreigners. Locals are very welcoming despite the recent immigration problem. You just need to find like-minded people as everywhere else in the world!

Ring the bell with me in Nasdaq Stockholm when you are ready!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Teenie Tiny Eenie Meenie (@teeniefung)

3. Accommodations:

Watch out for scams! There are many scams online if you try to find accommodation before visiting the flat in person.

  • Ask your friends and new colleagues for short term stay accommodation. Stay in a hotel or Airbnb.
  • Find rental apartments on Blocket and visit the apartment.
  • It’s great to experience living in different areas in Stockholm as an expat. Later on, you may want to buy an apartment to cope with the endless moving.

How to identify scams

The so-called ‘landlord’ might pretend to get to know about you. You may have even Skyped with the person. They might create multiple fake ‘flatmates’ to email you and try to ‘get to know you’. But this person can still be fake.

  • Ask the person for a personal number and full name (This is a unique number given to all Swedish citizens). You can search the person’s information online on hitta.se as there’s no secrets in Sweden! If you don’t find a matching name, personal number and address of this person and its property, then it is a fake. If they refuse to provide you with their personal number, they are likely to be scams no matter what excuses they give.
  • They only want you to send money to a bank account outside Sweden e.g. Spain. That’s because they want to cover up their traces in Sweden in case you reach out to the police.
  • The person disregards you right away when you insist to visit the flat first in person. That’s because they don’t really have one!
  • The contract is too simple – google “scam contract” and check if you have the same copy. Google what terms there should be on a normal contract.

Check for other warnings here on another newbie post.

After relocation: First year in Sweden

1. Welcome to Sweden! Now, get yourself into the happy circle of Sweden!

  • Reconnect with your Swedish friends from the country you previously live in. Make new friends through group hangouts!
  • Go to events organized by Meetup and Eventbrite
  • It’s a modern world. Use different apps on your phone to enlarge your network of friends, but be safe!
  • As everyone says, the fastest way to learn Swedish is to be in contact with a Swedish. And the best way to fall in love with Sweden! I met my boyfriend, John, in Sweden coincidently soon after I started my new life here. He’s a great person with a lovely family!
  • Buy warm clothes! As the Swedish say: “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.” Appreciate the darkness and snow. Get candles and make your home a nice and cozy place.

2. Register for SFI and attend as many classes as possible.

I work full time and I attend Swedish classes every Monday and Wednesday after work from 17.30 to 20.30.

  • You need Swedish to live in Sweden. Everything is in Swedish except the airport and the main train station. Respect local culture and learn the language like you would also want others to respect your own when they are in your country. Eventually, this will open many doors you have never believed possible before. When you finish SFI, you can do this.
  • You will meet like-minded friends with a similar background. They will most likely become your lifelong friends in Sweden.
  • You are more likely to pass SFI exams when you set a goal with your classmates. Study with your friends and help each other even outside the course.

3. Travel to as many places as possible in/near Sweden.

  • Take a trip to Sälen for skiing, Båstad for the beach, Visby for the medieval week, Copenhagen for city exploration and the 10,000 Swedish islands on the archipelago!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Teenie Tiny Eenie Meenie (@teeniefung)

Skiing in Sälen
Skiing in Sälen
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden

 

Parliament in Copenhagen
Parliament in Copenhagen

And here you go! You will settle in in no time! Lycka till! (Good luck)

 

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: accommodation, apartment for rent, culture, find a job, Housing, Integration, job in sweden, job interview sweden, job seeking tools, language, learn Swedish, move to Sweden, networking, newbie story, relocate, sfi, stockholm, Swedish, traditions, welcome to sweden, work

Budget Shopping for Newborn Essentials

2 October 2018 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: baby boxes, baby shopping, baby stuffs, budget cutting, budgeting for baby, Newbie Guide, newbie mom, newbie story, newborn shopping, shopping, shopping in Sweden, shopping tips

Things You Might Want to Know about Lund

24 September 2018 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by Hayu Hamemayu

It’s old, it’s small, yet it’s full of charm: It’s Lund!

Sunrise over Lunds Domkyrka. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu.

Less known than cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö, Lund is actually one of the oldest cities in Sweden. Its roots can be traced back to the Uppåkra settlement from around 100 BC. For this reason, Lund is rich with history and remarkable landmarks. This small city is located in the Skåne province, the southernmost of Sweden, which was once part of Denmark before the Treaty of Roskilde was signed in 1658. Famous as a religious centre in the past, the city is now better known as a centre of education and innovation.

I’ve been a Lundensian for almost two years now and have been to other Swedish cities as well, but Lund is still my favourite. Below, I compile the most frequently asked questions about it.

Isn’t Lund too quiet?

Not really.

With less than 100.000 inhabitants, Lund can be a little bit empty indeed, especially during summer, when students enjoy their summer break and most stores close for sommarstäng. However, the city is also home to numerous interesting events such as Lundakarnevalen, Kulturnatten, and Lund Comedy Festival. So, living in here doesn’t mean you can’t throw a party or have fun like in other cities.

How is life in Lund in general?

In terms of living cost, Lund is cheaper than the capital city Stockholm (thanks to its reputation as a student city!). Everywhere is either walking or biking distance. The winter is also slightly warmer even though the wind can be really harsh just like any other part of Sweden. Here, the university dominates much of the centre. Some museums are part of the university. More than half of the population either work or study in Lund University. The university is also one of the factors that turn Lund into a cosmopolitan city, a melting pot for people from all over the world. That’s why everyone here speaks fluent English.

The White Building of Lund University. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu.
Universitets Biblioteketet (UB) building. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu.

What to do in Lund?

Plenty! You can visit Lunds Domkyrka and see the Horologium mirabile Lundense, an astronomical clock from the 15th century. Spend the day at Kulturen, the second largest open-air museum in Sweden. Have fika at the coffee shops in Klostergatan (do not forget to take away kardemummabullar from Broder Jakobs and the award winning coffee from Love Coffee Roasters). Stroll through Lund’s medieval cobblestones street layout. Bring back home souvenirs from Hökeriet and Gretas Hemslöjd or find out the most recent science invention at MaxIV.

Craving something more vibrant?

Don’t worry. Copenhagen and Malmö are within less than an hour from Lund. So, whenever you feel an urge for a short city escape, just hop on the Öresundtag to get to those bigger cities.

Lund’s cobblestone street. Photo by Hayu Hamemayu.

I know that Lund doesn’t have the character of a metropolitan city, but for me, Lund has a perfect combination of tranquillity and aliveness.

Everything here represents well the idea of lagom. Not too much. Not too little. Just the right amount 🙂 .

Featured Image: bjaglin on Flickr

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.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: about Lund, citylife, life in Lund, Lund, Lund at a glance, newbie blogger, Newbie Guide, Newbie in Lund, Newbie in Sweden, newbie story, Skåne, Swedish city, swedish life, What's in Lund

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