Australian expat Nicole has been living so long in Sweden that she now feels very much at home there. In her interview, she describes what she likes most - and least - about living and working in Sweden. She also offers practical and useful information for would-be expats in Sweden, such as the cost of living there, as well as tips on what to expect when it comes to local attitudes and culture.	Nicole

-Where were you born?

Melbourne, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?

Stockholm, Sweden

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my Canadian partner and two children.

-How long have you been living in Sweden?

Since 1995, but I was also here in 91-92 for about 15 months.

-What is your age?

40 - (Feb 09)

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Sweden?

I met a Swede when I was just 20 years old. A few weeks earlier I had been looking out over the lights of Perth on NYE and was struck by some sort of realisation that I probably would not spend the rest of my life in Australia. The thought had never occurred to me before that - although I was planning to go to Asia and teach English - just for fun.

Once my relationship with my Swede ended I had a great job and a great set of friends - it wasn't the time to go home. Then I met someone else - a Canadian, and we both appreciate being in a neutral country.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Not after first living with my Swede in Australia for a year.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I was classified as an immigrant and had full coverage. There is also a mutual agreement between Sweden and Australia so if you come from one country and are in the other you get the same coverage as the locals.

-How do you make your living in Sweden? Do you have any type of income generated?

I got my first job through contacts - working in a shop, it really helped my Swedish. My second by responding to an ad in the paper and my third by approaching the company directly. Approaching companies directly has been most successful for me. It is a difficult job market to break into and is based a lot on contacts - if not a direct approach.

I have a marketing background but was tired of working exclusively in Swedish so I went into and have more experience in corporate training - cross-cultural communication, rhetoric, presentation skills etc. I've done a lot of translation and teaching business English too. I have freelanced a lot too and have now for the second time my own business and am building a portal for people moving to Sweden - www.liveinsweden.se

-Do you speak Swedish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

I think the reality is that it is a global community and the old concept of integration is somewhat fading. We move around because we want to, not because we need to and we naturally take some of our customs and culture with us. There is a strong expat community in Sweden and all my friends have a link to some other country - in fact when it comes to Swedes many have some sort of link to the outside world - that is one of the things I like about being here.

Saying that, I do speak the language and did from very early on. You cannot live a "normal" life until you do - you will always be an outsider otherwise. It also gives you a whole new dimension and enriches your life in a way you would otherwise not have thought possible. And you don't really know a person until you speak their language, that also goes for the country and culture as a whole.

The Swedes have really rewarded me and continue to do so when it comes to my Swedish. I have always been commended for my efforts - I think they are impressed that an English speaker can speak Swedish. It is the pronunciation and intonation that are most important - you will always be forgiven for your grammatical mistakes - as long as you sound something like a Swede.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I miss my family, friends, the way of life and the weather. I have also changed over the years and become more Swedish, I find many of the values and ways of life compatible with my own values. I love being outside, being in the forest, ice-skating, being able to swim everywhere in the summer, the seasons, the traditions and customs - they are all very pagan in origin - very connected to the seasons, to nature and to old ways.

Things become most difficult when something happens to someone back home - it is difficult to be so far away.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Not sure - my partner is Canadian so we have several options. I really don't know where we will be in 10 years time. Mostly it depends on our work.

We do travel as much as we can afford to - to Australia, to Canada and anywhere else we can, including around Sweden.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought a small (2 bedroom) apartment close to town. It is tough to buy a place under 2-3 million kronor and an apartment also incurs monthly fees of at least 3,000 kronor.

-What is the cost of living in Sweden?

High, but it is becoming more and more on par with Australia - there are some obvious costs like payroll (30%) and income taxes (30%) as well as VAT (25%) but there are many advantages in financial terms as well - sickness  benefits, maternity/paternity leave, unemployment benefits, etc. etc.

Once I get my website up and running I will be able to give more specific information about the cost of housing and living expenses - www.liveinsweden.se.

-What do you think about the Swedes? 

A complex question - they love to speak English, they are generally interested in and welcoming of expats in particular. As I said many have some sort of connection to another country - a parent who comes from another country, family who have moved, studies abroad, etc. It is however good to know that they will rarely take the initiative to social contact - they will not invite you over or out until they have known you quite a while and they will not ask a lot of questions. So volunteer information, ask them questions and invite them out or over - they will respond well in most instances. There is a great respect for personal privacy in this sense, and they will not want to put you on the spot.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Sweden?

It is a beautiful place but the weather leaves a lot to be desired. It is relatively expensive but there are lots of things you can do that don't cost a lot of money.

It is difficult to get to know the Swedes but once you do you have loyal, life-long friends. The worst thing in my mind is the lack of communication out on the street - not a smile, not a hello, rarely a sorry or an excuse me. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Sweden?

As with going to any country - try and be open minded. Remember people are not as they are at home and they have their reasons for being that way - even if you never understand those reasons. Sweden is often judged harshly, as are the Swedes - but this place is a diamond in the rough.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Sweden?

My personal blog – Nic's News www.nicsnewest.blogspot.com
My business website - (live Feb-March 2009) www.liveinsweden.se
A fantastic resource for mums - www.mumsinsweden.com