A month has passed since I started working my way through a list of tasks that were designed to culturally qualify me to become Swedish. The idea behind my BecomingSwedish 'hinklista' a bad direct translation of 'bucket list' is to visit famous Swedish places, eat Swedish food — and generally engross myself in a variety of experiences. All these adventures need to take place before I put in my application for Swedish citizenship in autumn I also plan to complete every task on the list with a real life Swede — helping me tackle the difficult task of making friends with Swedes.
I dwelled on this last point in my first article about the project. I realized that for this to be a meaningful discovery and integration experience, it should be less about 'learning about Sweden', and more about 'learning from Swedes about what it means for them to be Swedish'. In this vein, I hoped my article Hon kan bli nasta offer spur on helpful souls to get in touch.
I was not disappointed. My puzzle for the upcoming weeks is to figure out how to make these adventures happen. When I started this project, I had no idea how much logistical planning and frankly, financial cost it would entail.
It was the many emails that filled my inbox from new Swedes or new arrivals in Sweden however, that really warmed my heart.
Unsurprisingly given the time of the year, I have been focusing on the Christmassy items on my list, beginning with Julmust. I found it particularly refreshing to learn about the Roberts family business, that has for seven generations made the original Julmust syrup that all breweries in Sweden now use.
December also brought with it my new favourite Swedish Christmas tradition: What rung most true for me in our conversation is that when celebrating Lucia, as is with many Swedish traditions, the how you celebrate it, is much Hon kan bli nasta offer important than why you celebrate.
That was until the radio station P4 Stockholm a regional public broadcaster got in touch with the idea that I should complete one of my tasks live on air. I hastily said yes, before realizing my radio debut would include me singing the national anthem live on air, during a peak drivetime show.
My personal integration project will continue well into — so if are interested in meeting up for an adventure — please do get in touch!
Tomas Spragg Nilsson is a politics-obsessed communications professional and storyteller, based in Stockholm. In his spare time, he has embarked on an integration project that will have him travel the country in an attempt to understand what it means to become a Swedish citizen. Tag Tag Tag Tag Tag. Nick program. Nick.
torsdag 3 januari; fredag 4 januari. torsdag 3 januari, fredag 4 januari. Tidigare visat. Visas nu. Nästa program. Linn Sömskar var i vanlig ordning först över mållinjen, men hon fick tuff kamp av och sedan inte grejar att komma sig fram för att avancera till nästa omgång.
Tävlingen som har FIS-status kan bli en intressant tävling för många åkare. We are using cookies on this website to provide a better service. Linn Sömskar var i vanlig ordning först över mållinjen, men hon fick tuff kamp av och sedan inte grejar att komma sig fram för att avancera till nästa omgång. Tävlingen som har FIS-status kan bli en intressant tävling för många åkare.
We "Hon kan bli nasta offer" using cookies on this website to provide a better service.