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Moving to Sweden | 1 week in

8/18/2015

23 Comments

 
It's been a week since we landed in Sweden. It feels very surreal to finally, really be here, after months of preparation and anticipation. Also because in so many ways it feels like the highly manicured, serene and very quiet antithesis of Italy. And finally, because the three of us are still in that just-landed, don't-know-anything bubble. A mostly happy bubble though, I'm pleased to report. Here's what we've been up to so far.

HOME
To our intense relief, the flat we'd not even seen pictures of (and which is rented to us by the university) is pretty nice. Outdated and in need of a good scrub and a big stack of crochet blankets, but I think it'll work well for us. 
Even though it's the same size as the flat we had in Milan (60m2), the layout is better and so it feels bigger. We've even managed to fashion a bedroom for the Bean in a corner of the L-shaped living room. This is a first for him (and us!) so it's very exciting! It's had to be quite makeshift and make-do, but I'll post up some photos when it's all done. 
My favourite bit of the flat is the dining area, as it's so wonderfully light. Especially on a sunny summer's morning when the toddler wants to paint at 7AM!
Moving to Sweden | 1 week in: outdoor life, painting at 7, bureaucracy
My not-so-favourite bit is the electric cooker. Like all electric cookers, it is an abomination that makes me burn everything and then inflict Failed Food Rage upon my family.

WORK
Mr P&P was supposed to start work yesterday, but the first day was taken up with admin and the second with battling man-flu! First impressions of the new office are good though, and the nice thing is that he's only a 15-minute walk away from home. No long commutes, thankfully.
For me, it's all change. We don't yet have a nursery for the Bean, so I guess that officially makes me a Stay-at-Home-Mum for a while! As with everything else in parenting, this is both hard and exhilarating: he makes me laugh and I love going on our daily ad-ven-cha with him, but I do worry about the financial implications of taking so much time off. And, of course, I'm not getting much time to work on all the new patterns that are swirling around in my head! 

LIFESTYLE
Oh, this is a biggie. This is so very, very different to what it was in Milan. Our flat looks out onto nothing but green and just a short walk away there's a small forest. There is a playground every 100 metres. We can walk everywhere, on foot/cycle paths that are often completely separate from the road. The air is clean and smells of the sea. 
I know it's early days, the early days of the shiny new honeymoon period. Before long we will find out what bothers us, what we just can't agree with, and what a Swedish winter is really like. But given that the lack of green and the ever-present smog contributed significantly to our desire to leave Milan, we are just a little in love with our new lifestyle and all its the pretty colours right now.
Swedish manhole cover & flower | Beauty in the ordinary | Photo by E Alcocer
SOCIAL LIFE
Not surprisingly, it's non-existent. As I said, we're in our own little bubble. Which is kind of okay - every day so far has been taken up with admin and unpacking and shopping and walking and discovering. At the same time, however, it is strange not to be able to share it with anyone. We miss our friends, we want to Skype with family as often as possible to fill them in on all the new, all the excitement. And then there's the Bean - he's mostly only had adults to play with for three weeks. Every time he mentions his best pals in Milan, my heart breaks a little. I think that will become our most pressing challenges soon:  we need to put ourselves out there. 

CULTURE SHOCK
Gi-bloody-normous, but we're still at the stage where we can laugh about it. There is sugar in unexpected places (how can smoked fish be sweet?!), everything smells of Christmas spices although it's August. I've got no idea what goes on behind those composed and silent faces. It's bizarre but wonderful to see so many dads on paternity leave, and women wielding gigantic hedge trimmers. I'm desperate for some decent mozzarella, though I am rather pleased with the delicious cakes and smoothies available in the cafes.  I'm thrilled with the cutesy houses, though unsure about the obsession with tumble dryers (as I said, I have yet to encounter a Swedish winter).
HIS BEANNESS
Ah, my little boy. In the past two months he's had to watch us box up his toys, then said goodbye to everyone and everything that was familiar to him, and now after two blissful weeks with his beloved Grandma and Grandma we've plonked him in this perpetually windy country. Unsurprisingly, his behaviour has been erratic and at times downright insufferable. 
But I am still so very proud of him. After only a week here he is already beginning to calm down and take everything in his stride. He talks all day long about the things he sees, loves the playgrounds, and is pleased as punch with his new room. That, in particular, is amazing to me. He has shared a room and often a bed with us since he was born, and yet he is so ready, much more so than I realized, to stand on his own two feet. I have no doubt that before long he will have more friends and speak better Swedish than we do, worldly little man that he his.
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(Apologies for all the grainy phone snaps - I'm still feeling a little too overwhelmed by everything to take the big camera out)

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23 Comments
Caroline link
8/18/2015 02:42:21 pm

So glad things are going so well. Seems like only five minutes since you announced your grand plans, look forward to hearing much more, well done Bean:)

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
8/26/2015 12:57:12 pm

Let me tell you, it feels like only five minutes ago to me too! Thanks for following our story x

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Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely link
8/19/2015 02:35:43 pm

I've been wondering how you're getting on!! It sounds like you've had a good start considering the sheer amount of change. Can't wait to read more updates (if you get time - I found the first few months incredibly busy and horrendously draining).

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
8/26/2015 12:59:23 pm

I think we have had a pretty good start, but I admit it is really hard to find time to blog! Especially with a certain little person at home all the time...

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Mary @TheHeartyLife link
8/21/2015 03:31:29 am

Love it! SUCH an adventure, I love reading this and the whole finding your feet and stuff, good luck, can't wait to see how you settle in x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
8/26/2015 01:00:44 pm

An adventure it certainly is! Thanks for following along x

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Becky Brown link
8/21/2015 11:22:09 am

Well done on the move I can imagine how overwhelming it must all feel right now (but a little exciting too!) I hope you enjoy getting to know your new country, I would love to visit Sweden one day.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
8/26/2015 01:05:55 pm

It is definitely overwhelming but am also really looking forward to get to know this corner of the world! It's still all such an unknown to me, so yes, it's exciting too. You're always welcome to visit us ;-)

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Ana Marija link
8/25/2015 07:45:25 am

Oh,I would like so much to have a new home that's in need of a big stack of crochet blankets! I envy you a little bit. And I'm on adventure thru your posts too,so keep writing!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
8/26/2015 02:27:04 pm

Perhaps a home doesn't need to be new to need lots of crochet blankets?? In any case, thank you so much for following along with our adventure.

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Phoebe link
9/10/2015 03:17:27 pm

I'm impressed you've had time to blog about your new life and I'm really pleased for you that it's all going well. I love the things you've picked up on like Christmas spices and sweet smoked fish! I hope everything continues well and only gets better as you make friends and find your feet.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:12:32 pm

Thanks Phoebe. I'm not getting as much time to blog as I'd like, but it's good to get some. Who else is going to complain about the sweet fish, eh.

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Seychellesmama link
9/11/2015 10:53:04 am

Ahh Eline I'm really happy you like your house and that so far your really happy with Sweden!
I'm sure you'll be out meeting people in no time and little bean will have loads of new friends really soon too!
Can't wait to hear more thanks for sharing with #myexpatfamily xx

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:14:05 pm

Thanks for your lovely comment, Chantelle! I hope the Bean especially makes new friends soon too, it'll do him (and me!) the world of good. xxx

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FrenchVillage Jacqui link
9/11/2015 10:51:51 pm

I hope the winters will be kind to you and you enjoy your new adventure.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:16:30 pm

Thank you Jacqui, I especially hope the bit about the winters being kind becomes true too ;-)

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Ruth @ Mummy and the Mexicans link
9/12/2015 05:35:13 pm

Great to read about your first days in Sweden, it must be difficult to start again as a family in a new country, but so exciting too. I admit I'm envious of all your green surroundings and the sea. I need more of that here! Good luck settling in! #MyExpatFamily

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Elline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:18:51 pm

Thank you Ruth! The greenery and the sea really is what keeps us going, and what makes any difficulties (which there definitely are!) that bit easier. We could do with a bit more warmth though ;-)

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Keri link
9/13/2015 08:58:47 am

Its sounding like a pretty promising start all in all, good luck with the coming weeks

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:20:06 pm

Thank you Keri x

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Emma Raphael link
9/14/2015 10:48:41 pm

Great to read your update and how it's all going! You had me hankering after life in Scandinavia again with your mention of the beautiful light. That's something I miss so much... :)

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/21/2015 10:38:14 am

I can completely understand that - the light is so different and lovely here! Well, it is now. I'm bracing myself for winter ;-)

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Ersatz Expat link
9/22/2015 06:31:15 pm

Good luck - it sounds as though all is going well so far.

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