You know, I kept meaning to write a new post once I got back from my most recent trip to Stockholm… but I just didn’t. My third trip in one years time, I was actually in Stockholm to mark the anniversary of my first visit, so that was very cool. I was able to spend a lot of time with many of the friends I’ve made in Stockholm as well as meet a few new people. Everyone is always so friendly, I love it.
After six straight months of working two jobs and going to school, all I wanted to do once I got to Sweden was nothing! And aside from cramming 13+ people into Anna’s tiny apartment, going to Fotografiska, and attending a cd release party for Self Deception, I didn’t do much. Well… I drank a lot, but that should have been expected.
I think the uncertainty of how I’ll exactly get over to Sweden long term, the possibility that it is still years off, and the discouraging perspectives of some of my Swedish friends has me wondering if it’ll ever really happen. Not to say that I don’t want it to, I still do. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, my busy life continues. I already have the next two quarters of school lined up and there’s still no end in sight. I am meeting with a Realtor this week to discuss selling my house… scary!
I guess that’s it for now. Sorry it took me so long to make an entry. Life.
Hej Zoothe, I found your blog many months ago. Your searching for a Swedish life really hit home for me. Throughout the late 80s and early 90s I tried many avenues for visiting and studying in either Norway or Sweden. My need to be there was based on grandparents and the “old” country.
I made it to Sweden twice. The first time was as a gäststudent at Göteborgs universitet. The second time was as a doktorand at Kunliga tekniska högskolan where I finally got a Swedish degree (licentiat i regional planering). I look back at my time in Sweden with a softer view, but while there it was difficult for a 30-something American. I still remember fondly a good Swedish summer in the countryside, watching Allsång from Skansen (to a degree). However, the culture is just so, so reserved, so introverted.
I too thought that I might have a chance to make a life in Sweden. However I felt that I had to give up too much of myself. Then again the opportunities (at the time) felt very limiting, but as I learned later this was not especially Swedish, but actually European. Five or so years ago DN ran a series about people who immigrated or returned to Sweden. It was very illuminating as the profiles were of a German family who and Swedes who had lived abroad most of their working lives.
Enough about my experiences. If you are still in Seattle and want to chat, send me an e-mail.
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