Son moving to Sweden

Obviously split not slit!!!

I have read an article today about a family who tried to move there but it proved very difficult. If you Google Kerry Hudson it should come up

Thank you. I read the article and really enjoyed it. The last paragraph is so true

Stockholm is a wonderful city, full of surprises. I didn't expect to find a beach and go swimming in the Baltic. Much preferred it to Copenhagen.

Very expensive too.

We heard how expensive it was but we found lots of reasonable places to eat and drink. Transport excellent too.

I used to travel regularly and stay in Stockholm mostly but that was some years ago. I enjoyed it very much, there was a lot of things to do and you could be out and about a lot, but it was always an expensive place to live in, to my recollection.

On the plus side all the places I stayed at whether in chalet style bungalow or block of flats in Stockholm were very well insulated and the triple glazed windows also kept noise down.

I think it will be an exciting time of change for him, but on the cautious side, I would recommend that he saves up enough money to get back to UK if necessary, that he reads up on such things as working permits, whether his qualifications are accepted in his field in Sweden and checks up on things like pension stamps etc. I think when I lived abroad we paid something like class 3 for the national health, which of course we did not use whilst we were abroad but it sort of kept up our entitlement for when we returned to the uk. You might also like to read up more about life in sweden and think of what you might like to do if you visit there.

Whether it turns out to be short or long term, in my view to live in another country for a time gives you a broader view of life, a more clear understanding of not only how life works in another country but makes you aware of how you live in this country and you are then making choices in your life , rather than just going along with the flow. I dont know if it is that people who travel and live abroad become more aware , or travel because they are aware of the very different ways of life that one might choose , but I have always found those who chose to do this , have a broader outlook on life and are less pedantic and determined to see their home way of life as the only correct one. Hope he enjoys his time there and that you also enjoy finding out more about Sweden, its food, customs, and people. Good luck to you both.

Sweden's neighbouring country Norway is absolutely perfect. Beautiful people and beautiful country. People say it is really expensive but it isn't really. Poor Sweden has suffered with a rapid crime rise owing to mass immigration in recent years.

Well, at 38 years of age, he is old enough to make his own decisions surely. Hold him back and lose him for certain.

Thank you so much.

Yes the question is for me really. He has been in Italy for most of his life and I lived there too until 12 years ago so I have an affinity with Italy and Spain but I know nothing about Swedes and Sweden!

My son has been living in Sweden for about 12 years - just north of Stockholm. He moved there from Ireland to join his Swedish girlfriend and is well settled by now, with 2 children.
He learnt Swedish in his first year there - special classes for new immigrants - almost full time for some months. We were surprised that he was able to become fluent as he didn't have an aptitude for languages when in school! And Swedish people are good at English, but his girlfriend's family all spoke Swedish with each other, so he was surrounded by Swedish, which helped him learn.

He worked in a few different jobs, before settling on his current job, which he seems to enjoy. They rented for a while, but then were able to buy a house at a very reasonable price. The small town they live in is quite cheap for housing.

Some prices seem to be high at first, but eating out lunchtime is excellent value. There are lots of buffet style lunch places where you can have a main course, unlimited bread and salad, dessert and coffee for about €12.

It is cold there at the moment, but everywhere indoors is well heated. People wear heavy outdoor clothing, but strip off when they get inside, including shoes. Normal practice to take off shoes inside.

madeleine45 gives good advice. There is some bureaucracy to negotiate, I gather. However, learning language and as much about culture as possible will help.

Feel free to ask me more questions, Lindsey - I can ask my son if I don't know the answer. My username means grandmother - father's mother - in Swedish! It's quite a literal language.

Farmor15 How kind of you. Thank you

Since I started typing my reply, I see you posted again, Lindsey. Having travelled in southern Europe, as well as Germany, Netherlands, Sweden has more in common with Northern Europe. People are more reserved, but also more direct - can be perceived as rudeness.

They really like the outdoors - now there's snow, they'll all be out skiing, sledging, skating. Summers can be quite warm and hiking, canoeing, sailing etc are very popular. If you decide to take a trip, wait till March or April, but then consider taking a mini-cruise across the Baltic to Helsinki or Tallinn. You get on the ship in late afternoon, view the amazing scenery sailing though the archipelago - thousands of islands - have an "all you can eat and drink" buffet. Then some entertainment and wake up in the morning to tour Helsinki or Tallinn. You get back on the ship in the evening and return to Stockholm overnight. Quite reasonably priced - not luxury cruise ships - more like ferries, but a good experience.

My friends daughter and her Swedish partner have lived together there for some years. She is settled and happy there.
My daughter moved abroad too, it’s something many of us have to get used to, but if you have lived abroad too it may be easier for you to understand .
A while ago there was a r4 series about an English man who moved to Sweden where his Swedish wife and her family lived. Not sure what it was called but it was interesting. You might find it on Google.

Just checked and programme is called The cold Swedish winter and is on bbc r 4.

Thank you so much again. Very interesting. Love the idea of “the cruise”. I’ll definitely do that . I’m planning on going in March actually.
I must say i really like this Gransnet site. It’s full of interesting people

Farmor15 I also have a scandi GC and that’s what I am called.

Stockholm is my favourite Scandi City.

Lindsey hopefully your son will be happy there 🤞

One of my nephews met a Swedish girl 20 years ago and moved to her home town Gothenburg. His brother moved to live in Gothenburg about 10 years ago.
It’s a beautiful vibrant city and I feel the Swedes embrace the cold weather, my nephews and families do lots of outdoor activities. I have been in the winter and lots of the cafes and bars are full of people sitting outside with heaters and blankets. They are very social people, Although they don’t get British sense of humour.
In fact my sister in law who is nearing 80 is moving to live with her sons next month, Although she may struggle to learn the language.

I am another Farmor and husband Farfar. Danish DIL. Love being a Farmor. The family live in this country, though, Brighton but we have visited Denmark (they got married there.) Lindsey, do hope all goes well with your son in Sweden. Looks like there are some helpful people on here with useful information. Hope you get to visit and that your son settles and finds happiness.

I personally don’t think it matters where they live as long as they are happy. Every country has ups and downs, good parts bad parts nowhere is perfect, nowhere is all bad. My main concern would be that your son who has recently split from a long term relationship is already involved enough to be moving country to be with a new lady ….a very big move when he doesn’t really know the lady or does he ???

It is absolutely fabulous there -scenic ,beautiful and delightfully underpopulated .
And you'll enjoy your visits ..

That comment about Lindsey trying to hold her 38 yr old son back was out of order she asked about Sweden, nothing else., I did find it expensive but I was a tourist and its different if you live and work there, learning and living in a different environment for a time is never wasted.

Hi Bluebelle. He is moving there so he can get to know her better. His job situation allows him to do so so it’s the best thing. He’d like to get to know Sweden too having lived most of his life in Italy .