First Day in Sweden

1 June 2017

I arrived in Stockholm at 12.45pm. The weather was 14 degrees. Gosh, that is cold. I met my partner at the arrival hall. He paid the parking fee of SEK90 for 1 hour. That is expensive. SEK90 = RM45. I have been to Sweden 2 years ago, and I know how expensive living here is.

We went to ICA Supermarket and bought grocery – shampoo and laundry detergent. I bought a SIM card – Halebop for SEK49. It was recommended by a fellow Malaysian who has been residing in Sweden for many years. I got a prepaid value (Halebop Rubbet Liten) of SEK169 which includes 100 calls, 1000 messages and 2GB of data plan. I soon got to know the 100 calls does not include international calls. Fortunately, I am still able to make calls via messaging app (for e.g. WhatsApp, Line and Facebook Messenger). I was still able to receive calls and messages from my family.

We went to my rented place, as our initial place of rent backfired. The owner changed her mind. I was fortunate to have found this place online on Housing Anywhere . This place was close to the train station Årstaberg – about 10 minutes walk. It is a short walk and not tiring because the weather here is cold. The nearest bus stop Åmänningevägen is behind the building. The room rent costs SEK5000. I was going to stay with a family of 5. I grew up in a big family and a family of 5 is normal for me. The rental amount shocked me but that is the average rate in the website. It is an apartment building owned by a cooperative (the property industry in Sweden confuses me) which rents out to families.

Can you see a key-shaped logo? That is a key where one has to scan to open the door. On my first day, we looked for their names on the screen. Unfortunately, we did not know the names are linked to their personal mobile phones. We selected the landlady’s name but she was busy at work and did not hear her phone ring. We thought the names will be connected to a telephone in the apartment. This is very fancy technology.

So, we waited (well, I slept due to jetlag as it was 7pm Sweden time and 1am Malaysia time) in the car when my partner noticed 2 little girls and an elderly lady walking to the entrance. The girls looks exactly like their parents. So, my partner went up to them and spoke to the elderly lady who turns out to be the landlord’s mother. Lucky us! We got in and I see my room. Yay. It looks comfy. This is the room where I will stay for the next 2.5 months.

Yes, that is my huge backpack which I brought. I did not bring much clothes. I brought a bag filled with packets of Milo, Roasted Coffee and ginger tea. Altogether my luggage was 30kg only. It is pretty shocking, I know.