Monday - my first day in Stockholm and many things to do!
Yesterday, as I arrived at my new room I was kind of - maybe, sad that it was the ways I thought it would be - when this makes sense?
But I tried to keep myself positive and not to judge the environment or the people who are living here - and, it turned out to be a good thing, because my new roommate Maryam-Fateme is a really nice and kind person and we spent a few hours just talking while eating here welcome Muffins she baked for me the night I couldn't make it to Stockholm because of the plane delay.
Maryam is living in Sweden for about 30years and has a daughter which is studying at the University Stockholm. Maryam herself worked as an Assistant teacher for migrant children in primary school before she turned completely to the fine arts. She has lots of (artist) friends all over Europe and India and she meets them regularly. Next trip to Holland at the End of the month/ early July. Then at the end of August she will go to Barcelona because she worked there for a while and has friends there too. She told me, that even after 30+ years in Stockholm she tries to escape the long, dark and way too cold winter here but she said 'you will be fine, you are from Austria' *lovely*
The first problem we discovered is, that I sent all my cloth via EMS Australian Post to her address but put my name on it! Stupid thing, I know. We try the option to just put a note on the house switchboard next to Maryams name, hope this works. Otherwise I have to track my parcel and find out where they put them when they cannot deliver them!
As I already know from my first days in Tassi - you first need to get a tel.no and a bank account, or some cash to pay your bills. Second thing is to buy you all the things again you have to leave behind in your old flat. And in Stockholm I've done the same thing again, just after 4mo living in Hobart I have to start a new little household again, never expected that! So, this is what I've done on my first day in Stockholm:
1. Getting a 30d Tunnelbana Metro/ Bus/ Commuter Train Card
2. Going to the Tourist office and 'abusing' their kind help to get a free map and information about SIM cards, bank accounts and the upcoming events which are a 'must see'
3. Going to the Kiosk and buying myself a Lycamobile Startpaket and tel. credits. As I should have known it, at the Kiosk I was in the queue where an older lady was serving the customers, and as I found out very quickly - she could not speak English! I was sweating because now I had to try to talk in Swedish to a Swede and all the customers behind me will listen - this must end in an embarrassing situation for me! First sentence was that I cannot speak Swedish, which didn't change a thing on the whole situation but I just wanted to make that point! I just built a row of the vocab I could remember without caring for the correct grammar. I haven't seen the funny faces of the other customers but I'm sure they had a good laugh about my language skills. But, finally I got the cheapest option to make calls in whole Scandinavia (at least I understood her that way).
4. Heading to the Swedebank to find out that you have to draw a number and wait for ages to see your bank clerk! I arrived at the bank and customer number 644 was in service, then I draw my number and I could not believe it as I saw number 684! There were a lot of people but not that much, so I guess the people go away and do the grocery or something else and come back to their bank appointment. Finally, I made it to the bank clerk but all she could tell me was that I have to see the school where I do my language courses and they will give me a certificate which I need to get my tax file number which I need to get my Swedish personal ID card and THEN I can open a bank account - easy!
5. Managing to get the deposit and first month of rent without a Swedish bank account. *Done* And trying to make sure that I get a proper receipt for my deposit money when I will move out in 4mo *mostly done*. I'm really trying to find a better and warmer accommodation from October on because spending the Swedish winter with my broken window would not be fun.
6. Buying some household items to make myself feel more like home - this means going to the biggest IKEA in whole Scandinavia which is just 2 Metro stations away from my place! Forget Chickenfeed - IKEA rules! Bought three pots, two frying pans, 8piece set of cutlery, towels, glasses, pillow, 20piece set of storage containers, set of knives, bathroom storage things, and much more for around 45 Euro.
7. Buying some food to cook myself dinner - After 4mo in Tassi I was wandering around in the Supermarket, mouth open, and could not believe how cheap and good the food was. Australians may think Tassi is the 'foodi destination' but I say whole Europe is a foodi destination and way cheaper too!
Last thing on that day - sit down and enjoy the sunlight and the people around me :-)
Yesterday, as I arrived at my new room I was kind of - maybe, sad that it was the ways I thought it would be - when this makes sense?
But I tried to keep myself positive and not to judge the environment or the people who are living here - and, it turned out to be a good thing, because my new roommate Maryam-Fateme is a really nice and kind person and we spent a few hours just talking while eating here welcome Muffins she baked for me the night I couldn't make it to Stockholm because of the plane delay.
Maryam is living in Sweden for about 30years and has a daughter which is studying at the University Stockholm. Maryam herself worked as an Assistant teacher for migrant children in primary school before she turned completely to the fine arts. She has lots of (artist) friends all over Europe and India and she meets them regularly. Next trip to Holland at the End of the month/ early July. Then at the end of August she will go to Barcelona because she worked there for a while and has friends there too. She told me, that even after 30+ years in Stockholm she tries to escape the long, dark and way too cold winter here but she said 'you will be fine, you are from Austria' *lovely*
The first problem we discovered is, that I sent all my cloth via EMS Australian Post to her address but put my name on it! Stupid thing, I know. We try the option to just put a note on the house switchboard next to Maryams name, hope this works. Otherwise I have to track my parcel and find out where they put them when they cannot deliver them!
As I already know from my first days in Tassi - you first need to get a tel.no and a bank account, or some cash to pay your bills. Second thing is to buy you all the things again you have to leave behind in your old flat. And in Stockholm I've done the same thing again, just after 4mo living in Hobart I have to start a new little household again, never expected that! So, this is what I've done on my first day in Stockholm:
1. Getting a 30d Tunnelbana Metro/ Bus/ Commuter Train Card
2. Going to the Tourist office and 'abusing' their kind help to get a free map and information about SIM cards, bank accounts and the upcoming events which are a 'must see'
3. Going to the Kiosk and buying myself a Lycamobile Startpaket and tel. credits. As I should have known it, at the Kiosk I was in the queue where an older lady was serving the customers, and as I found out very quickly - she could not speak English! I was sweating because now I had to try to talk in Swedish to a Swede and all the customers behind me will listen - this must end in an embarrassing situation for me! First sentence was that I cannot speak Swedish, which didn't change a thing on the whole situation but I just wanted to make that point! I just built a row of the vocab I could remember without caring for the correct grammar. I haven't seen the funny faces of the other customers but I'm sure they had a good laugh about my language skills. But, finally I got the cheapest option to make calls in whole Scandinavia (at least I understood her that way).
4. Heading to the Swedebank to find out that you have to draw a number and wait for ages to see your bank clerk! I arrived at the bank and customer number 644 was in service, then I draw my number and I could not believe it as I saw number 684! There were a lot of people but not that much, so I guess the people go away and do the grocery or something else and come back to their bank appointment. Finally, I made it to the bank clerk but all she could tell me was that I have to see the school where I do my language courses and they will give me a certificate which I need to get my tax file number which I need to get my Swedish personal ID card and THEN I can open a bank account - easy!
5. Managing to get the deposit and first month of rent without a Swedish bank account. *Done* And trying to make sure that I get a proper receipt for my deposit money when I will move out in 4mo *mostly done*. I'm really trying to find a better and warmer accommodation from October on because spending the Swedish winter with my broken window would not be fun.
6. Buying some household items to make myself feel more like home - this means going to the biggest IKEA in whole Scandinavia which is just 2 Metro stations away from my place! Forget Chickenfeed - IKEA rules! Bought three pots, two frying pans, 8piece set of cutlery, towels, glasses, pillow, 20piece set of storage containers, set of knives, bathroom storage things, and much more for around 45 Euro.
7. Buying some food to cook myself dinner - After 4mo in Tassi I was wandering around in the Supermarket, mouth open, and could not believe how cheap and good the food was. Australians may think Tassi is the 'foodi destination' but I say whole Europe is a foodi destination and way cheaper too!
Last thing on that day - sit down and enjoy the sunlight and the people around me :-)
very good idea: Enjoy! Have a good start! Big hug, Malu
ReplyDeleteYiehaah! the first comment is mine! It works! *strike*
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