Thread: Moving to Stockholm Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Hi all.

I'm wondering if there are any Shippies who live (or have lived) in Sweden, and especially Stockholm. Liberty and I are planning to move there in September, and we were hoping that someone might be able to give us a few tips and pointers.

Thanks all.
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
If memeory serves, Off-Centre View and Frater Frag are/were both based in Sweden, though Frater Frag isn't in Stockholm. And JFH too.

Congratulations though - I loved Stockholm when I visited, and it's a place I would want to go back to sometime.

[ 19. July 2013, 15:18: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Goodness - you two don't half get around! All the best for the next chapter!
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
That is an occupational hazard of my occupation.
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Imaginary Friend:
That is an occupational hazard of my occupation.

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You're a professional refugee? I'm off to Sweden for the first tomorrow. I will observe it closely and report back...
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Hah! Something like that, Firenze, yes.

And thanks kingsfold for your pointers.
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
You do realise you're going to learn to speak Swedish, don't you? My understanding is that you get to go to mandatory Swedish classes...
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Yes, I do realize that. I'm not sure that the classes are mandatory since I know other people who work at the institution I'll be at who don't appear to be forced to attend. But either way - I'd prefer to learn it since it'll make everyday life easier.

(Plus, it's the Right Thing™ to do!)
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
I had a former colleague who post-docced at Karolinska and he had to learn. Mind you, learning Swedish would be my idea of fun so...
I am just a little bit jealous, but the whole instability involved in moving every two or three years is not for me.

There may be a necessity to have a Stockholm meet.
 

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Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
jealous...
 

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Posted by Deputy Verger (# 15876) on :
 
Liberty is a Londoner, isn't she? Do I smell another excuse for a Shipmeet?
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Liberty is a Londoner, yes. We might be passing through London en route from DC to Stockholm, but we haven't finalized our plans yet. We'll add a shipmeet to the list of possibilities.
 

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Posted by Beethoven (# 114) on :
 
So completely jealous! I planned on emigrating after university, but met Mr Beets instead. *sigh*

Beautiful country, wonderful city. Take a boat tour around the archipelago when you need a break from unpacking and moving stress. It's more beautiful than anywhere else I've ever been.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
I participated in a conference there a couple of years ago, and thought it was beautiful. It seemed really chilled out and everyone seemed very friendly. I can imagine it would be a great place to live.

A word of warning though: if you ever get dry eyes, just go to the old town (Gamla Stan) and buy yourself a beer, the prices will soon get them watering again.
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
On the strength of 7 days in Goteborg, I can impart the following...

Yes, it's expensive. But as far as alcohol goes, not differentially so - a beer/glass of wine/shot of aquavit seemed all to cost about the same.

When eating out, it helps if you like pasta/pizza. Of the 15 or so eateries within easy walking distance of our hotel, better than half were Italian.

If you have a thing for roller coasters, the Liseberg is worth a visit.

Queue handling seems to take a lot of time.

Pedestrians rool OK in cities. Cars would slow and stop if you so much as looked as if you might want to cross the road.

The Swedish idea of a lunchtime roll is about a yard of bread filled to capacity. We found one between two was ample.

Flavoured ciders are popular. I liked the cactus and lime.

I would go there again, if there was an opportunity to stay on the coast or in the countryside - but that needs to be planned and booked. You don't seem to be able to wander off on spec as you would in the UK and expect to find accommodation. I suspect that because summer is at best brief, Swedes seize it. It was noticeable how crowded the outdoor seating was at all the restaurants - and how frequent it was to see blankets draped over the chairs.
 

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Posted by kaytee (# 3482) on :
 
My friend lived in Sweden for 18 months. She said that you need an ID card to do anything in Sweden (as I recall, she couldn't even join the library without one). She had to have a permanent job before she could get an ID card. This was a few years ago though, so your experience may be different.

Apart from that, she said it was fairly painless. Most people speak very good English, to the extent that her colleagues would hold their work meetings in English to include her (although she was learning Swedish she didn't know any before she moved there).

Stockholm is beautiful, bon voyage!
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
kaytee, we're moving there because I have a job, and my employers are aware that I need the residence card (or whatever it's called) so I think that won't be a problem.

But thanks for all your information (and Firenze) - most helpful.
 

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Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
+1 for the jealous.
went there for work must be 7 years ago now ( )
Things I can remember:
there was a bar called the glenfiddich where there was a whisky that was £150 a shot.
i bought a book of tickets for the local trains, the leftovers popped up recently when we moved house, i don't expect they would be valid any more
- they liked to use wooden knives to spread things on their bread.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I dated a Swedish-American girl when I was in high school and studied Svenska at university in my first year with an eye to being an exchange student at U of Lund.

Do they have motor racing on tarmac there or only on snow?
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by kingsfold:
You do realise you're going to learn to speak Swedish, don't you? My understanding is that you get to go to mandatory Swedish classes...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sir Kevin:

quote:

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Originally posted by kingsfold:
You do realise you're going to learn to speak Swedish, don't you? My understanding is that you get to go to mandatory Swedish classes...

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No you won't - Swedes learn English at age six!

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