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Scottish Expat Living in Sweden, Intervew with Claire
| Published: | 28 Oct at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,Sweden
Claire is a writer currently living in Sweden for no particular reason. She first became an ex pat the day before her eighth birthday when her family moved from Glasgow to Paris, and then on to Connecticut in the US. After a couple of years in Canada in her early 20s, Claire got itchy feet again and remembered she is partial to tall men and pickled things, so booked a one way ticket to Sweden. Claire's expat blog is called The Grass is Dancing (see listing here)
Meet Claire - Scottish expat in Stockholm
Where are you originally from?
Glasgow, Scotland
In which country and city are you living now?
Stockholm, Sweden
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
I’ve lived here for two and half years, and will stay until I get bored!
Why did you move and what do you do?
I moved for no particular reason. I’m a freelance writer so can pretty much work where my laptop is. I fancied an adventure and had always been intrigued by Sweden.
Did you bring family with you?
I’m single, though my family are very fond of visiting!
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
I’ve been an ex pat on and off since I was 7 years old when my family moved to Paris, so I’m fairly well used to transitioning to new countries. Sweden has its unique challenges, but it wasn’t especially difficult.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Around half and half. There is a great international community in Stockholm and I’ve made some fantastic friends from all over the world, but I didn’t want to get too caught up in the ex pat bubble. The reputation of Swedish people for being reserved and a little difficult to get to know isn’t entirely unfounded, but they’re worth gritting your teeth and persevering!
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
There are loads of things to do in Stockholm, though I’d particularly recommend the outdoor sports the area offers. Sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding in the summer, and cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter - it’s the best way to experience the city and get to know people.
What do you enjoy most about living here?
I love that there is a great balance between city and country life in Stockholm; it offers the best of both worlds. You can find culture and nightlife - yet a half hour bus ride can get you to the middle of nowhere.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
It’s slightly more expensive than London, where I lived most recently, but not so much that it has made a great difference to me. Eating and drinking out costs a good bit more, but being able to cycle just about every where I want to go cuts down on travel costs.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
The winter does go on a bit long! I love winter sports, so am happy with snow up until March, but when I’m still wearing a hat and gloves well into May, it does get a bit old!
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
I found ex pat blogs and twitters a great resource for advice and shared experiences in those first few lonely months, so I would recommend exploring those even before moving.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Building a social life from scratch can be a daunting prospect in any circumstances, but the added complications of a foreign language and culture can make it feel insurmountable. It takes patience and a thick skin, but you get there in the end!
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
I have my own blog (see link below), where I write about ex pat adventures amongst other things, though my main ex pat blog is in fact fictional: www.lifeisswedeblog.com
During my first few months in Stockholm, at times I felt I was going a bit mad: being constantly surrounded by a language I didn’t understand and struggling to figure people out and make friends was difficult… but great material for fiction. The story of a lonely ex pat who gets caught up in a murder mystery started to form then, and I decided to write it as a blog.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Either through my blog or else via Twitter (see links below)
Claire is a British expat living in Sweden. Blog description: Professional day dreamer living in Sweden for no particular reason.
Meet Claire - Scottish expat in Stockholm
Here's the interview with Claire...
Where are you originally from?
Glasgow, Scotland
In which country and city are you living now?
Stockholm, Sweden
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
I’ve lived here for two and half years, and will stay until I get bored!
Why did you move and what do you do?
I moved for no particular reason. I’m a freelance writer so can pretty much work where my laptop is. I fancied an adventure and had always been intrigued by Sweden.
Did you bring family with you?
I’m single, though my family are very fond of visiting!
I’ve been an ex pat on and off since I was 7 years old when my family moved to Paris, so I’m fairly well used to transitioning to new countries. Sweden has its unique challenges, but it wasn’t especially difficult.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Around half and half. There is a great international community in Stockholm and I’ve made some fantastic friends from all over the world, but I didn’t want to get too caught up in the ex pat bubble. The reputation of Swedish people for being reserved and a little difficult to get to know isn’t entirely unfounded, but they’re worth gritting your teeth and persevering!
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
There are loads of things to do in Stockholm, though I’d particularly recommend the outdoor sports the area offers. Sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding in the summer, and cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter - it’s the best way to experience the city and get to know people.
I love that there is a great balance between city and country life in Stockholm; it offers the best of both worlds. You can find culture and nightlife - yet a half hour bus ride can get you to the middle of nowhere.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
It’s slightly more expensive than London, where I lived most recently, but not so much that it has made a great difference to me. Eating and drinking out costs a good bit more, but being able to cycle just about every where I want to go cuts down on travel costs.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
The winter does go on a bit long! I love winter sports, so am happy with snow up until March, but when I’m still wearing a hat and gloves well into May, it does get a bit old!
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
I found ex pat blogs and twitters a great resource for advice and shared experiences in those first few lonely months, so I would recommend exploring those even before moving.
Building a social life from scratch can be a daunting prospect in any circumstances, but the added complications of a foreign language and culture can make it feel insurmountable. It takes patience and a thick skin, but you get there in the end!
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
- Check out local ex pat groups - meetup.com is a great place to start.
- Blog - I have found writing about and sharing my experiences quite therapeutic, plus networking with other bloggers can be another way to meet new local people.
- Arrange standing Skype dates with friends and family - it can be all too easy for weeks to slip by with little contact when you’re in the first flurry of settling in, so regular dates in the diary can be handy to keep you in the loop.
- Be prepared for the difficulties in finding housing in Stockholm - research as much as you can and try to set up something temporary before you arrive. I was homeless for my first 7 months here, in part because I was unprepared!
- Get on the next plane! Becoming an ex pat is an enriching, unforgettable experience whatever happens, so there’s nothing to lose by taking the plunge.
I have my own blog (see link below), where I write about ex pat adventures amongst other things, though my main ex pat blog is in fact fictional: www.lifeisswedeblog.com
During my first few months in Stockholm, at times I felt I was going a bit mad: being constantly surrounded by a language I didn’t understand and struggling to figure people out and make friends was difficult… but great material for fiction. The story of a lonely ex pat who gets caught up in a murder mystery started to form then, and I decided to write it as a blog.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Either through my blog or else via Twitter (see links below)
About the author
Claire is a British expat living in Sweden. Blog description: Professional day dreamer living in Sweden for no particular reason.
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Evelyne Holingue wrote 11
years ago:
Great interview and gorgeous pics. I follow Claire's blog and was happy to read a little bit more about life in Sweden through Expat Blog. Thansk for sharing.
