November, 2017 - VICKING LIFE

Find an appartement

Nov 26, 2017

I WOULD SAY : GOOD LUCK

It is really COMPLICATED to find a rental apartment in Sweden (it is not a joke). But everything is possible!

Before I moved to Sweden, I read a lot about how complicated it is and I was not convince.. How hard can it be.. Well, when I arrived I realised how hard it actually is!

Sweden has a nice system to rent apartments:

you need to register yourself through different “real estate companies” that own all the apartment
You will queue: One day = one point.
Apartments are online and you choose which one you want. If someone has 300 points and take it you can’t access to the apartment. Usually, people have between 1500points to 2000points. I had 3…

Tips for HSB. You are allowed to “save money” every month (up to 500kr) to buy an apartment with them, in this case, you are in the top list to rent apartment. After you get a contract, you are allowed to have the money back. It usually takes 3 months to get an apartment.

WHEN I READ THIS, I IMAGINED SWEDISH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN QUEUING FOR 15 YEARS, SO I ACTUALLY DON’T HAVE ANY CHANCE.

So Next chance, is to rent “second hand” (andrahandskontrakt lägenhet in Swedish). It means that you will not have a contract to your name but you do a second rental. So you have to trust the person, I don’t really know if it is legal or not, but lots of people are doing it today and it works really great.

Here is a list of where you can look for apartments :

Blocket : it is the “people-to-people” website, if you want an apartment, you need to stay 24/7 on it (Bostad>uthyres>östergötland>Linköping)
Hyrenbostad : Rental website
HSB : Rental website

VOCABULARY:

Bostad : accommodation
Lägenhet : apartment
Hyra : rent
Köpa : buy

Advices for Students who want to live in Linköping:

As soon as you know, you are admitted to Linköping Uni, spend time to registrer yourself to different websites. LIU will provide emergency beds at the beginning of the year and you can also book a room through Airbnb or Youth hotel.

There are also lots of Facebook groups to find accommodations:

AREAS IN LINKÖPING :

Ryd: Students area; super close to LIU
Lambohov/Mjärdevi: Mainly families are living there
Valla: really close to LIU
Skäggetorp: it is not the first area recommended in Linköping, but I have never lived there, so I have not much to say about it.

Get a bankaccount

Nov 26, 2017

I WOULD SAY, IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK

If you are living in big cities like Stockholm, Göteborg, you might have the chance to go to SEB or Handelsbanken and be able to open a bank account only with your passeport. They are used to deal with foreigners. But that’s is not the case for smaller cities like Linköping, Norrköping, Karlstad… you might go through difficulties.

To be able to open a bank account in Sweden, you need to have a personal number (The GOLDEN key to be Swedish). In order to have a personal number, you need to have a job! BUT, in order to have a job, you need to have a personal number. (Don’t be afraid, you can do it! I am laughing just thinking about how strange it is)

So, Basically, it seems Mission Impossible. But, you can do it! Swedish people know how complicated it is, so you can get a job without a personal number and then apply for it.

As soon as you get a temporary personal number (just to be able to pay taxes), you can go to the bank and push to open a bank account. Then, they will give a strange calculator. It is a security to connect to your bank account, you will need it every time you want to pay online (ahaha I love Swedish Invention)

If you get a personal number, you need to apply for an “ID kort” (identity card) (it costs 400kr) and then, you can go to the bank, and it will be super easy.

I don’t have any preference for bank, here is a list of the majors banks in Sweden

SEB
Nordea
Handelsbanken
ICA Banken
Skandia Banken

Get a personal Number

Nov 26, 2017

THE GOLDEN TICKET

This little number is how you will survive in Sweden.

But What is a Personal Number? The personnal number is your social security number. When you actually get it, it is FOREVER.

With this number, you will also be able to :

Pay taxes
Get a subscription for a phone
Queue for an apartment (More info there how to get an appartement?)
Have Swish
Visit social cares
Have a bank account (check here how)
Have fidelity cards
…. You will be a Swedish Resident (if you come from Europe)

To get it, you have 2 options: You are studying or working more than a year in Sweden.

When you have a one year contract or a certificate from the University, you can go to Skatteverket and they will help you with all papers you have to give

Mentality of Swedish people

Nov 26, 2017

HOW IS THE SWEDISH CULTURE? RESPECTFUL

Every single thing is so different compare to France.

First of all, to me, French culture is full with criticsm, complains but also irrespect. We were having a dinner over French friends and someone asked “What will you risk if you don’t respect a red light?” all the French people answered “4 points on my driving licence! ” – The only swedish one answered ” I will risk my life or someone else life”. That resumes extremely good the difference between the 2 cultures.

Swedish people are VERY respectful. If there is a rules, there is a reason and I am going to respect it. You are not going to cross the road if it is a red light, even if there are no cars! You are not going to try to cut the queue, because it is not respectful. They respect everything but also your private space. If you wait for the bus, you may have one or two meters between every one.

Everyone does his own life, no one cares about what you are doing and no one will EVER judge you. Lots of people have colorful hair (purple, rainbow, green, blue, pink…) and no one will judge it!

Sweden is extremely equal when it comes to Women rights. The stereotype of “women in the kitchen” does not exist and it has really bad reputation! Compare to France where it is still present (even if it is becoming better), it has been a pretty huge change for me!

The respect, no judgment way of life brings also some downsides to the culture. I am really talkative as I already mentionned and it has been tricky at the beginning to get contact with Swedish people. Because they actually don’t really want to open or be your friend. At the beginning of my first work, every one was so friendly but it took a couple of weeks before they asked me to do something with them. So it can be difficult to find real friends. But when you actually do, it is for life.

Road trip – Morocco

Nov 24, 2017

A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

Beginning of 2015, I did a pretty awesome trip! I went 2 weeks in my Morocco with a… OLD 4L!

For those who have no idea what it looks like, I will show you:

So, the concept is that students from Europe travel to Morocco and bring humanitarian ressources (books, food..) for children and the goal is to drive there ONLY with a old 4L. It’s pretty big because we were about 1500 cars to start this adventure (and it is 2 people per car)

Here is the itinerary we have done:

It was pretty amazing to sleep in a tent in the middle of nowhere, or ride a camel in the desert!

My best memories:

Merzouga and the camel Ride
The “zouk” (market) in Marrakesh
Swim in a lake in Essaouira
Stop in the desert, with NO ONE around and 5 mins later, someone arrives on a little bike. I still wonder where does he come from.
Eat couscous or tagine EVERY DAY. It is a special dish from Morocco with some couscous, chicken, sausages, vegetables and sauce.