After one month in Sweden, today I managed to apply for the Swedish personal number. Because I'm gonna stay here more than one year I have the right to register at the Tax Office, so they know how long I'll remain in Sweden and where I will be staying, the purpose, and as a fact I will be treated as a Swedish citizen regarding health emergencies. Let's hope that this wont be the case. So, as every human being, I looked out for the address on internet and went there. I thought the Tax Office opens at 8, but actually it opens at 10, so being there  with one hour earlier I managed to read a book borrowed a week ago. Anyway, I applied for the Swedish personal number, and the whole thing took less than one hour. Pretty fast, for me, but faster for you if you have the form already completed. As a citizen of EU, I needed an ID, the European health insurance card and the confirmation from University that I was accepted to studies. And that was all. :) Now I have to wait for the letter to come home.

I like the people here, but that doesn't mean they are perfect. Some of my colleagues were talking, they've been here for a long long time, how Swedes in general don't apologize. Personally, I haven't met one yet who doesn't say sorry. But I did meet a person which behaviour was hard to understand. I was climbing the stairs on the right side, already engaged in  the climbing, and at the half at the stairs a big Swedish lady, climbing down the stairs on my side,  says to me with a low voice "Move". I was a bit shocked, for me it's normal to go up on the right, and down on the left (right), I wasn't doing something wrong, but still she could have asked me nicer. In the same day, one colleague went to a meeting at a restaurant, and even the restaurant was empty, one family decides to stay right next to her. Their chairs were so close, obviously they had not enough space. So the lady who came last, tells my colleague to move, without saying please, even if she couldn't move. Difficult people are everywhere, it doesn't matter the colour, the country, only the education counts. But not everything in the garden is rosy.

Hi! :) I'm Esther and I've just moved to Sweden to continue my master studies. I'm introvert, so I think a lot and talk less, that's why I'm gonna share here my thoughts, experienceses and write about what catches my attention.

First time in Sweden was a bit shocking,  I knew it's a multicultural country, but I guess I've seen more arabs and other immigrants than Swedes. And they were speaking Swedish, meaning they were born here and have been living for generations. That's cool actually, it's like you've been born already poliglot, you know Swedish, English and your native language. Aweseome! And the funny thing is to see an asian family selling in a swedish souvenir shop. :)

A few things really impressed me like many bus drivers are women, the buses lays down near the pavement for the elderly and disabled to get on, people are jogging no matter what time of day, bikes are parked almost everywhere, drivers drive their cars in a very calm and relaxed way almost asking you nicely to cross the street, people dress very casual and the elders  keep their natural hair colour. The last one is quietly surprising, because in my country in the cities the elder women are very neat and their hair is lightly purple, blue, blonde, red, and they wear makeup for a walk in the park, but here is different.

The weather is sneaky, now is sunny, and after a few minutes is rainning. But until now it was warm with strong wind. People are friendly, almost all speaks English, willing to help you if you are in need and they smile a lot at their job. For example, in the bus, the driver welcomes you with a smile and after you pay thanks you. How cool is that! Of course this friendly attitude is in my country too, but it's not a lifestyle. Here it's like they are thought to treat all the customers well and tha's a rule which can not be broken. Services are for people, so people are the most important.

Yeahp....so these were my first thoughts about Sweden and more to come...  Cheers! :)