Ex-Expat Day 12

It’s been almost 2 weeks now since I completely rebooted my life. Yes, rebooted—that’s how it feels. Virtually every aspect of my life has been reset. I’m on a different continent and in a different country, some 6 time zones to the east. Different language. Different culture. Different weather. Different everything.

Sure, I grew up here. But now, some 35 years later, everything is very different. Familiar, yes. But still very different. So many things have changed. So many things are new. I don’t feel like a foreigner, but I also do not feel like a native. I don’t blend in, but I’m also not out of place.

Things are moving relatively quickly. Two weeks in, and I’ve been able to resolve or at least initiate a few essential aspects of life in modern Sweden. Mobile phone, bank account, and, most importantly, a bank ID. Life in modern Sweden is almost entirely digital, and it’s quite challenging to function without those three things. Worse, they go hand in hand.

So I’m slowly clearing one hurdle after another, and while there are still a few more to go, I can feel the progress. Now I have to wait … patiently. Some things simply take time. However, patience is not (yet?) one of my superpowers. I’ll have to work on that.

Overall, the process of moving here has been fairly smooth, and I’m excited about this new phase in my life. And no, I have no idea how anything will turn out or even what will happen next. In fact, I don’t even know what will happen next week. Maybe nothing. Perhaps something important. Who knows?

One thing is certain: this has been one hell of a ride so far 😉