Housing? I hear it's very hard to come by and that I would have a better chance of finding something in Malmo. I'm used to a bigger city so I think Malmo might be my first choice anyways. I also hear that it's expensive. I'm also used to expensive so I'm hoping it's not shockingly expensive. Can I expect to find something relatively nice for 2 people and possibly a baby for ~$2000 CAD / USD (~13250 kr)? Less would be better but that's what I pay now. Are there sites like Craigslist to find housing?
Is something like parental leave available to a foreigner? Same goes for healthcare. I'm assuming yes to both since that's how it is in Canada.
Transportation? I currently own a newish car but would be selling it if we moved. I'm assuming public transportation is good but what kind of commute am I looking at? I'm thinking a good couple of bikes will be worthwhile investment.
Language? I hear that English only is OK but I'd like to make an effort to pick up Swedish as well. Especially if we end up staying and having a kid. How would I go about taking a course?
One more, is it as gloriously godless as I hope/hear? Other must know things for someone new to the country?
Oh my goodness, a fellow monster hunter (I assume that's Nargacuga) and living in Umeå as well? Impossibru! Those people only exist in America and Japan!High five!
Thread subscribed. Swedish GAF, I have questions!! I have a job offer in Lund that I am strongly considering. Position would start next year and I'm coming from Toronto.
Housing? I hear it's very hard to come by and that I would have a better chance of finding something in Malmo. I'm used to a bigger city so I think Malmo might be my first choice anyways. I also hear that it's expensive. I'm also used to expensive so I'm hoping it's not shockingly expensive. Can I expect to find something relatively nice for 2 people and possibly a baby for ~$2000 CAD / USD (~13250 kr)? Less would be better but that's what I pay now. Are there sites like Craigslist to find housing?
Is something like parental leave available to a foreigner? Same goes for healthcare. I'm assuming yes to both since that's how it is in Canada.
Transportation? I currently own a newish car but would be selling it if we moved. I'm assuming public transportation is good but what kind of commute am I looking at? I'm thinking a good couple of bikes will be worthwhile investment.
Language? I hear that English only is OK but I'd like to make an effort to pick up Swedish as well. Especially if we end up staying and having a kid. How would I go about taking a course?
I have many more questions but I'll stop for now. One more, is it as gloriously godless as I hope/hear? Other must know things for someone new to the country?
Must know thing: Friday is Taconight. Friday is also important because then we have Fredagsmys.
I don't even know the definition of fika. Random snackbreak?
Wikipedia said:Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffee break, with one's colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word "fika" can serve as both a verb and a noun. Swedes consider having a coffee an important part of the culture. You can fika at work by taking a “coffee break,” fika with someone like a “coffee date,” or just drink a cup of coffee. As such, the word has quite ambiguous connotations, but almost always including something to eat, such as cookies, cakes and even candy, accompanied by a drink. This practice of taking a break, typically with a cinnamon roll or some biscuits or cookies, or sometimes a smörgås or a fruit on the side, is central to Swedish life, and is regularly enjoyed even by the government.
I don't even know the definition of fika. Random snackbreak?
The best type of fika is when you have sex in the company bathrooms.
I'm sure your companies VD appreciates the full service your giving him.
Got my first bill last week, 4000 kr to pay off in november...
30 hp left.
No job.
FML.
Is that quarterly or monthly? Try running out of weeks of CSN in the middle of semester with no job, and them wanting money ASAP. At least it was only 1200 or so per month. I think I paid 3700SEK a month right when I got back from college because they were idiots
If you want to check out Swedish courses and stuff, check out SFI (Svenskundervisning För Invandrare). Should be able to find loads of stuff about it, and in the towns you are going to stay at. Otherwise, our English is good. And to be honest, alot of swedish people find it "cool" to get to speak some english. Just prepare for loads of "shit", "fuck" and "motherfucker".
.
...doesn't stand for the same thing in English as it does in Swedish!
Must know thing: Friday is Taconight. Friday is also important because then we have Fredagsmys.
Another tip for any expats-to-be: if a Swede rapidly draws a breath with their lips pursed, it actually means "yes". It's true.
Another tip for any expats-to-be: if a Swede rapidly draws a breath with their lips pursed, it actually means "yes". It's true.
... Which mainly occurs in the northern parts of Sweden.
"Tjjjjooopp".
And here. In the middle of Sweden. But I guess it's just me and my friends who keep doing it alot.
Holy shit, I'm getting teary-eyed from laughing at this!
Swedish tourists ordering steak in the home of the brave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4jUtWMBJf0
See how natural English comes?
Swedes are truly superior.
Jämtland? Dalarna?
When i was a kid i lived in Jämtland, so that "tjjjjooop" sound has pretty much stuck with me since. Where i live now, in Gothenburg, they make a "ööööh" sound - it pretty much applies to everything. No wonder "göteborgare" get mistaken for drunks.
Pennybridge Pioneer.
Dunno why we do it really. Guess we're just special.
Öjeeebjooo! Awesome. I'm going to Örebro in a couple of weeks actually!
Umeå rpraznt
High five!
That really only applies to people from Norrland, though. Down here people don't do that.
Really? You gonna stay for a few days?
You should get time for a coffee then damnit. So we can chat and speak Battlefield memories. ;P
What did you study?`
Indek at KTH
cool, hoping to finish my civing at chalmers but I'm lacking any and all kinds of motivation right now... just want to take a loooong breakt from studying even though I'm 25 and should probably be done by now.
The winterdepression of 2012 is going to kill me.
Over the weekend. I'm staying at a friends place.
Klart som fan!
I've got a pretty versitile Spotify-playlist, only swedish artists and bands if OP want's to add it.
There's no ABBA though.
http://open.spotify.com/user/waypoetic/playlist/2GWsO4Wtzo7seI0qfJCmWg
It's not completely done yet, fyi.
You should throw some Olle Ljungström into that one. Since his only, oh I don't know, THE BEST Swedish artist.
Anyway I totally subscribed to your list.
High five!You should throw some Olle Ljungström into that one. Since his only, oh I don't know, THE BEST Swedish artist.
Anyway I totally subscribed to your list.
Swedish tourists ordering steak in the home of the brave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4jUtWMBJf0
See how natural English comes?
Swedes are truly superior.