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Moving to Sweden | One month in

9/12/2015

21 Comments

 
A whole month, how did that go so fast?! It feels longer to me, possibly because we’re already quite settled in some ways. We’ve cracked a good amount of admin: tax numbers applied for, SIM acquired, nursery place for Bean firmly in our sticky mitts (HOO to the RAY!). There have been bumpy moments in this ride too, of course - moving is always an emotional rollercoaster and this month has been no different. 
LIFESTYLE
It is still warm(ish) here and whenever we have half a chance we get outdoors. I LOVE this - there is so much to go out for. My heart sings every time I breathe in the fresh air, especially now that the smell of autumn is starting to creep in. We go on adventures, my Bean and I, to the sea or the park or the river. My city kid is turning into a water baby, ever so slowly, and I'm so grateful.
Moving to Sweden | One month in: making the most of the summer's final days, upcycled storage ideas and crochet fika! Now on the Pasta & Patchwork blog
Sea Breeze Crochet hoodie
There are other areas that are more challenging. The fruit and vegetables are too expensive, and we can no longer afford eat out, ooh, three times a week. We were very spoiled in Italy, our convenience-based lifestyle has to change; the come-down is hard.

THE BEAN
… is okay. I think. He’s very challenging, and very Two. I can’t be sure whether the being challenging is down to him being Two or caused by all the changes he’s had to deal with recently, but it’s most likely a heady old mixture of both. On a good day he is funny, inquisitive, chatty, cuddly. On a good day makes me feel like the luckiest mum alive. 

On a bad day he is bossy, contrary, unforgiving and clings to me like a monkey. Those days feel endless, as there can never be enough patience. I know that I’m using the Octonauts+blanket+cereal combo too often as a solution, but often I'm just out of ideas. And then I go to bed feeling guilty, sad, and sorry. 
Crochet chevron blanket
I think we might both be ready for him to start nursery and find his own place in our new little world.
WORK
The Bean and I are still milking the summer holidays for all their worth, but next Tuesday it’ll be all change: he starts at his new nursery! I start work again a week after that, so fingers crossed he settles in well…
For Mr P&P it’s been full steam ahead since our second week here, so he’s pretty booshed at the moment. I think it’s hard for him, after a full day’s work, to come home to me running away for some time alone and the Bean hurtling towards him for some Daddy time. Still, we’re muddling along and hopefully things will continue to settle down (and balance out!) over the coming months.


HOME
In a word: chaotic. Our boxes arrived from Italy, all 22 of them. There is. Stuff. Everywhere. Fortunately this flat has tons of storage. It’s just that I’m not getting the chance to put everything in said storage, what with the Bean still at home with me! It is amazing to have our things back though, and make this cosy little flat feel more like a home.
When I’ve had a spare second I’ve been doing lots of tiny, upcycled DIY projects for it too, like these washi taped tins and some yarn storage made from chopped up cardboard boxes (well I have to do SOMETHING with them!).
Small Storage | Use empty food tins and washi tape to create pretty storage for pens, paint brushes, etc.
Yarn Storage | Yarn dividers for a bookshelf made from cardboard and washi tape
CULTURE SHOCK
We are frowning, puzzling, constantly Trying to Understand. I really don’t understand anything - I can’t even count to ten in Swedish - but even MR P&P, who does understand a little, is struggling to make sense of it all. What are they thinking? What is the norm? Have we breached etiquette, whatever etiquette may be here? I need a crash course in being Swedish.
In the meantime I focus on the small victories, like a new-found addiction to cardamom buns, the fabulous Nordic-ness of the public transport system. Potatoes smothered in dill mayonnaise,
no less than three yarn stores (that I have found) in a town of just over 82K. And what a pretty town it is, too.
Old town in Lund, Sweden | Photo by E Alcocer at Pasta & Patchwork
SOCIAL LIFE
Small victories here too, amid a fair amount of missing our friends in Italy. I organised a playdate via a facebook group and, lo and behold, people turned up. The kids played, the mums chatted, and I felt sort of normal for a while.
Mr P&P played football with his new colleagues last week (and scored a goal, I must add) and I think he is becoming a firm fan of “fika”: a cross between a social get-together and a work meeting that involves lots of coffee, pastries and chatting. I’m so very, very tempted to start my own crochet fika. Would anyone care to join?
Life in Sweden: Crochet

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21 Comments
Carie @ Space for the Butterflies link
9/12/2015 10:27:31 pm

it sounds pretty good on the whole, especially the yarn stores and the wool storage (which I LOVE!!) I know what you mean about feeling all at sea with the language, when we were traveling this summer it felt really strange to move from speaking French to being unable to speak German. It wasn't the vocabulary that I missed so much as the building blocks, all the little in between words that you automatically use as filler I've told myself that I'm going to be a lot better next year!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:27:09 pm

Yes that's precisely it - it's not so much about missing vocab or even nuance; I feel like there is a whole cultural reference I am missing, and I'm losing myself as a person (to the Swedes at least) in the process. It is a huge motivator to start learning, that's for sure!

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Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely link
9/13/2015 12:34:11 pm

Awww, don't be too hard on yourself. You know the first few months, even year, is so hard. It's exhausting having to find your way around a new country, never mind muddling through in a language you don't understand. It sounds to me like you're doing really, really well x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:28:50 pm

Thank you dear, that's very sweet of you to say. You're right of course - it does take a year, at least. I keep reminding myself of the fact I felt like a fish out of water for a long time in Italy, and didn't really feel at home until the end of the second year. Time and patience (and cake)!

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Sarah link
9/13/2015 02:18:58 pm

It sounds like you are settling in really well - it must be so hard to move to another country where you don't know anyone and don't even speak the language. I'm sure the Bean will get used to things soon too - change is very hard to deal with when you're Two (as we're finding out as Toby gets used to his new brother). I can't wait to hear more about life in Sweden...and yay for yarn stores!!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:30:35 pm

Change is definitely hard when you're two - the Bean is such a little gremlin on occasion I barely recognise him! But he, and we, will all get used to the new status quo, as will Toby I'm sure x

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Huana link
9/14/2015 10:27:49 am

I would like to live north for so manny reasons (fresh air,winter,sun,houses) and now I can add one more : to join your crochet fika.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
9/14/2015 03:32:23 pm

That is just the sweetest thing to say, your comment has made my day! Thank you x

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TinyExpats link
9/21/2015 05:45:12 pm

The town looks lovely! And it seems like you're doing really well at settling in - play dates and all. As for the 2 year old - I have one over here, we haven't moved yet, but she's still such a handful. Terrible two's, right?

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:14:48 am

Yep, the twos are wonderful but definitely also terrible on occasion!

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Phoebe @ Lou Messugo link
10/9/2015 01:42:29 pm

It sounds to me like you're doing really well (and yay for FB groups! That makes finding new friends easier than it used to be!) Get that crocheting fika going, I'm sure lots of other people will be happy that you've made the effort. I started a book group in my locality bringing together a whole bunch of strangers and about 5 years, and some departures and newbies, later the core group are now all such good friends. It's one of the best things I did here. Go for it!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:16:02 am

Thanks for the encouragement, it's really good to hear you did a similar thing and that it was successful. x

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Ersatz Expat link
10/10/2015 03:29:50 pm

You sound as though you are doing really so well and coping brilliantly. I bet your son loves nursery too.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:16:54 am

Not sure about coping "brilliantly" but M thankfully does love his new preschool!

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Seychellesmama link
10/11/2015 06:47:42 pm

Ahh I'm very happy to read this post, it sounds like you guys are settling really well. I've not been able to get over here to check how everything is going as much as I'd have liked as things are a bit crazy here so I'm so happy you've linked up for #myexpatfamily.

Little Bean sounds A LOT like how Arthur is at the moment too, the highs are amazing and the lows are really demanding!!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:18:19 am

Aw thanks for taking the time to comment love, I know you've got your hands full!
I always think Arthur sounds a look like M too - I think they are both just healthy, feisty little boys ;-)

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Keri (BabyGlobetrotters) link
10/19/2015 05:52:36 pm

Sounds like a positive start, good on you for organising a play date and best of luck for Bean starting nursery - that was actually the best and worst part of our experience starting in the UAE; my oldest was 2 and she desperately wanted new friends, but the shock of leaving mummy after several months being home (despite having previously done full-time daycare) was really tough on her, once she settled though she was inseparably with her new friends and I was able to make great connections too - mummy's know where to guide you in your new move! #myexpatfamily

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:21:14 am

That's interesting. M has settled into his new preschool remarkably well, but I don't get the impression he is interested in the other children at all. I'm surprised as he had such close friends in Milan. Perhaps he is not quite ready to let go of them and open up to the possibility of new friends yet. I guess they really do have to take everything at their own pace regardless of what they might have been used to before the move!

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Marionle6tron link
10/20/2015 10:55:43 am

I didn't see this post, don't know why...
Sounds good for only two months in Sweden hope you'll survive this cold, dark winter's coming.
If you find it give us the recipe for cardamom buns ;)

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
10/26/2015 11:23:23 am

Don't remind me - I'm terrified of the darkness especially! And yes, I'll let you know if I find a fool-proof cardamom bun recipe, though for now I'm still busy testing all the local bakeries ;-)

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Rosie @Eco-GItes of Lenault link
11/5/2015 07:36:10 am

I do hope Bean has settled in well to Nursery. Has he gone to a Swedish one? We moved to France when the boys were 4 and 5 and after a few months in French school they were already speaking French better than me! And can you get to 10 is Swedish yet? Good luck, which Google tells me is Lycka till in Swedish :) #MyExpatFamily

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