As someone who can call three very different countries home, I can certainly tell you a thing or two about the life and experiences of living in each. But to put it in a shell, I was born in Macedonia, moved to Australia at 4 years old, and ended up slinging my sack over my shoulder and moving to Sweden at the tender age f 23.
There is a drastic change in terms of living conditions and economic resources when one moves from a poor economic country like Macedonia, to a much more wealthy and thriving country like Australia, especially in the 80’s, which was when I moved there. There is a reason why Australia is called ‘the land of plenty’, and in terms of jobs, produce and culture, there is an infinite amount of each. Not to mention nature. We are surrounded by ocean on every corner, and seem to have a never ending amount of desert in the middle. If its nature you’re interested in there’s a never ending supply of forest, coast, desert and fauna to scope out.
But my experience of moving to Sweden, however drastic it may seem to you, at the beginning didn’t feel that way to me. Between Australia and Sweden, for me there was not much of a difference in terms of economic situations, jobs, housing, produce, culture…. Or so I thought. Taking a closer look, you do find major changes, and differences. Not in the same way as it was when I moved from Macedonia to Australia, where the differences where so stark, there was no hiding from the truth. Here the differences only appeared when you are forced into situations that makes you aware of them.
For example the race to find a job, opens your eyes to a one major difference between Australia and Sweden. Australians are inundated with jobs (or so it seems to me who had no trouble finding 4 jobs at the same time when money was tight)… whereas here in Sweden it has been 8 months now of non stop searching, and no job, not one! I didn’t even get to do the ‘Praktik’ (or internship) I was promised in the SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) course that I was studying Swedish in, because there was no Architectural jobs that were available, not even for an unpaid (they call it volunteer) intern. I’m an Architect, but for the last 8 months, mostly because of the world economic collapse, I’ve been applying for jobs for anything. Cleaning, check; baker, check; retail assistant, check; tennis coach, check… everything! But in the end: nothing.
As we continue along, differences pop up everywhere. Some quite obvious, some quite discreet. We have different weather (Australia, warm climate; Sweden, cold climate), different language (which you need to learn to be able to live a fully functioning life here, no matter what everyone says about Swedes and their English!), different culture (yes folks! Even though Sweden prides themselves as a multi-.cultural, ethnically aware country, in reality, this is far from the truth, especially for a multi-cultural Australian), different food (Swedish ‘husmanskost’ is quite boring at times, but there are so many to choose from that are quite delectable), not to mention the difference in transport preference here. Where in Australia every man and his dog owns a car for the sake of getting around that bloody big country of ours, here most people would prefer the joys of public transport, which is far more consistent and better quality than the Australian (sigh!) public transport system, which I must say I hopeless and untrustworthy, and too far away from any home to be of any good really.
But in the midst of finding all these difference between the countries, you do find many things that both Australians and Swedes share. Like the love for nature. Both of the countries share a diverse flora, and are proud of it, and will do anything to enjoy it when they can. The love for water, coasts and water sports is there too. Swedes are just as passionate about their coasts as Australians are.
The differences are all there, whether we want them to be or not and as much as any man rants and raves about situations he’s not quite used to or comfortable in, the best approach is always with open eyes, open heart, and a big smile. We are all very similar after all, nobody likes a bitter pessimist. There is no countryman in Sweden who wouldn’t accept you with open arms if you show him how big your heart is, and win him over with your smile. This always makes life that much easier for all of us, expats, countrymen/women, and everyone else.
There is a drastic change in terms of living conditions and economic resources when one moves from a poor economic country like Macedonia, to a much more wealthy and thriving country like Australia, especially in the 80’s, which was when I moved there. There is a reason why Australia is called ‘the land of plenty’, and in terms of jobs, produce and culture, there is an infinite amount of each. Not to mention nature. We are surrounded by ocean on every corner, and seem to have a never ending amount of desert in the middle. If its nature you’re interested in there’s a never ending supply of forest, coast, desert and fauna to scope out.
But my experience of moving to Sweden, however drastic it may seem to you, at the beginning didn’t feel that way to me. Between Australia and Sweden, for me there was not much of a difference in terms of economic situations, jobs, housing, produce, culture…. Or so I thought. Taking a closer look, you do find major changes, and differences. Not in the same way as it was when I moved from Macedonia to Australia, where the differences where so stark, there was no hiding from the truth. Here the differences only appeared when you are forced into situations that makes you aware of them.
For example the race to find a job, opens your eyes to a one major difference between Australia and Sweden. Australians are inundated with jobs (or so it seems to me who had no trouble finding 4 jobs at the same time when money was tight)… whereas here in Sweden it has been 8 months now of non stop searching, and no job, not one! I didn’t even get to do the ‘Praktik’ (or internship) I was promised in the SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) course that I was studying Swedish in, because there was no Architectural jobs that were available, not even for an unpaid (they call it volunteer) intern. I’m an Architect, but for the last 8 months, mostly because of the world economic collapse, I’ve been applying for jobs for anything. Cleaning, check; baker, check; retail assistant, check; tennis coach, check… everything! But in the end: nothing.
As we continue along, differences pop up everywhere. Some quite obvious, some quite discreet. We have different weather (Australia, warm climate; Sweden, cold climate), different language (which you need to learn to be able to live a fully functioning life here, no matter what everyone says about Swedes and their English!), different culture (yes folks! Even though Sweden prides themselves as a multi-.cultural, ethnically aware country, in reality, this is far from the truth, especially for a multi-cultural Australian), different food (Swedish ‘husmanskost’ is quite boring at times, but there are so many to choose from that are quite delectable), not to mention the difference in transport preference here. Where in Australia every man and his dog owns a car for the sake of getting around that bloody big country of ours, here most people would prefer the joys of public transport, which is far more consistent and better quality than the Australian (sigh!) public transport system, which I must say I hopeless and untrustworthy, and too far away from any home to be of any good really.
But in the midst of finding all these difference between the countries, you do find many things that both Australians and Swedes share. Like the love for nature. Both of the countries share a diverse flora, and are proud of it, and will do anything to enjoy it when they can. The love for water, coasts and water sports is there too. Swedes are just as passionate about their coasts as Australians are.
The differences are all there, whether we want them to be or not and as much as any man rants and raves about situations he’s not quite used to or comfortable in, the best approach is always with open eyes, open heart, and a big smile. We are all very similar after all, nobody likes a bitter pessimist. There is no countryman in Sweden who wouldn’t accept you with open arms if you show him how big your heart is, and win him over with your smile. This always makes life that much easier for all of us, expats, countrymen/women, and everyone else.
As an American of Swedish heritage who has never travelled to Sweden, I found your perspectives very interesting - thank you for sharing them! You have a positive attitude that shines right through. : )
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