(edit title) Should I move to Sweden, and how hard will it be? I am a Canadian student thinking about moving HELP Options

[mikebail]

The title says it all, but here is my current situation, and i`m not going to put this vaguely!
I am a Canadian high school student at the age of 16 and going into my last year of high school (secondary). I have always loved Swedish (even though every one speaks English in Sweden), even so much i changed every thing i use into the language (my iphone, computer, facebook and any other thing i can change into it) to help me learn it more, i also do flash cards

but the main reason why i want to move to Sweden is Canada SUCKS! My perents knew i would move to europe after high school its all in a matter of time and where i want to go, and i had 2 options england or the uk in general or sweden.
and i am not 100% what i want to go to college for, but i think it will be cooking or video game development maybe even photography or filmography (any thing with audio video). so if any one can give me tips and how this works and what is the cheapest way to do it, i would be so greatfull! but i just need to know is this going to be the smartest thing or am i going to be back on my return flight about 20 years too early? so here are my questions

• Will i need to be fluent in sweden, if so is it going to be very hard to be fluent?
• what schools are there for any of the for mentioned jobs?
• is there any benifits of living in sweden other then the euro setting
• how much does rent usually cost a student and how hard is it to find part time jobs
• any other tips that will help me?

so if you guys could discuss this a little and spark some ideas i would be super appreciative!

Michael Scime

[redblue]

Futuregames is a 90 week Advanced Vocational Education in 3D Graphics and Game Design in Stockholm. Futuregames are carried out with close ties to the computer games industry (e.g. EA games), which are present both in the form of teaching as well as on the board of education.

futuregames.se

[zalman123]

but the main reason why i want to move to Sweden is Canada SUCKS! My parents knew i would move to Europe after high school its all in a matter of time

Canada is the country that many people dream to live in, and many try their best to immigrate to Canada...
So why Canada sucks?
What are the amazing things that you expect to see in Sweden and they are not available in Canada?

[axiom]

Maybe you want to try this for a year, see if you like it in Sweden:

http://www.migrationsverket.se/info/163_en.html

[NyDag]

I made my mind up after reading the second sentence here.

1 Do not presume that everyone in Sweden "just speaks English". While it is true that we are very good at the English language, do not presume that you can come here without a good knowledge of Swedish and expect to get by.

2. Canada sucks ... for what reason exactly? Canada is one of the best countries in the world by almost any measurement of a "good country", so you're talking bull.shi.t again.

3. You won't get any regular job in Sweden without Swedish, the same way you wouldn't get a regular job in Canada without English or French. What happens if you can't serve a Swedish person in a restaurant or a shop because they don't speak English?

4. What euro setting? I hope you're aware that Europe is in tatters at the moment.


Plus, at 16 years old, I wouldn't even think about trying.

[NyDag]

.Double post

[Puffin]

I know several people and families that have moved to Sweden from Canada - and like most places there are good points and bad points of moving country and there are many frustrations along the way of moving to a different culture

•Will i need to be fluent in sweden, if so is it going to be very hard to be fluent?

Most jobs and study courses require fluency in Swedish. On average it takes between 1½ and 4 years to become fluent

•what schools are there for any of the for mentioned jobs?

You can check out educational requirements at afbetsförmedlings site
Many people will have degrees of vocational qualifcations

•is there any benifits of living in sweden other then the euro setting

Not sure what you mean by this

•how much does rent usually cost a student and how hard is it to find part time jobs

If you come to Sweden on a student visa/permit then you are going to need around 150,000-200,000 SEK for each year of study. Migrationsverket (immigration) will want to see the money in your account for the whole course prior to granting the visa - you cannot just come here an hope to work your way through college

Student part time jobs are very tough to find as unemployment is high here and many students who are fluent in Swedish are chasing these jobs

•any other tips that will help me?

Do your homework

Why do you want to come here

What do you REALLY know about living in Sweden - is it just a dream?

[mikebail]

ok i see many of you asked why do i hate canada i should correct my self, i hate north america! i hate the people, the attitudes and every little thing about the government that believe it or not it affects a 16 year old greatly!

[mikebail]

ok puffin the reason why i want to move to sweden is as i said ever since grade 8 i wanted to go to europe and then i played games with a lot of my swed friends and i was just thinking that a majority of people there do speak english.so then i was looking into an exchange then i thought that would be a waste of time for me and a waste of money as canadians get 102254 sek a year to do schooling and theres other ways of getting money through the government, as well i am eligible for a few scholarships, and i have some money stored away around 30,000 sek so i dont know why sweden other then ive been to the uk and lived there for a bit so its just not really for me but its a last resort.

[Emerentia]

Why don't you go earlier, when you are still in high school, as an exchange student. Then you'll go to a Gymnasium (the Swedish equivalent to high school) and have class mates and live with a Swedish family. I think that would be a lot easier than to go on your own later. It's easier to learn Swedish if you live with a family and hang out with friends from school.

Just a suggestion.

[byke]

I think the levels of education are different between Sweden and Canada based on his age.
Where he may be at a disadvantage academically if he was to transfer before he had finished high school.

[VargasGray]

Yes, the best way before moving to Sweden, for studying or whatever, is to search for a family to live with. Back your trip up with a fall back plan and with a substantial amount of money, just to be on the safe side that is. Do a thorough inquiry about Sweden and Swedes, not to forget our difficult ways of socialization - we're really terrible sometimes.

But other then that I can't really understand that Canada would be that much different from Sweden. We're quite similar to each others and I myself, when talking to Canadians, can't really find that much of a difference in between our cultures.

I wish you good luck.

[mikebail]

so i can exchange without going through a company and paying the 13 thousand canadian dollars and doing it privately? if so how do i do this?

[Mediaman]

. Do a thorough inquiry about Sweden and Swedes, not to forget our difficult ways of socialization - we're really terrible sometimes.

Is it a pretty hard place to become socialized? How are Swedes as far as welcoming foreigners, more specifically, Canadians into their social activities and relationships? Are they inviting, helpful and willing to accept someone new? What little research I've done, it seems as though they are...but what the hell do I know? Would love to see some comments on that!

Geoff

[VargasGray]

If you don't have thick skin then it will be hard to befriend a Swede - that is if you're doing it wrong and misinterpret out ways. My own experience tells me this:

A Swede is quick to befriend someone if the opportunity is right. If you isn't trying to force it on them then they will accept you and then befriending a Swede will become a lot easier. Of course the way to present it should be congenial and not seen as a forced move because you might come out as desperate. Swedes, my own experience, are susceptible to body language something scary. Swedes doesn't always talk or feel the need to and therefore body language has become an important way for us to communicate. Therefore if you uses the wrong body language it will shine through and tell what you really are feeling. Swedes on the other hand are quite terrible at hiding their body language, my own experience of course, and you will notice that quickly.

They will bring your origin up. Perhaps too many times, something I've almost never experienced, but it's because they might actually be trying to know you better and uses your appearance as a social icebreaker.

Swedes will behave sometimes very oddly, myself included, and not acknowledge your presence. This will be seen a very rude to many foreigners that doesn't really understand the reasons behind that behaviour. It's because we might outright not want to get caught in a talk because we're occupied with something else. It might also be because we don't want to be a hassle to that person. It also might be because we just don't feel to be socializing exactly that moment and avoids it. We still consider you as our friend but we just don't feel that we have to acknowledge it every day - true friends doesn't have to confirm it everyday, my own experience of course.

This post could go on for quite awhile so why don't you ask specific questions instead and have peoples answer them directly instead?