The last half a year has been mostly about hard work and little sleep, less partying more studying, but I can now proudly say that it was worth it:
in Jan I had my Swedish level B2 Swedex Test and last month level C1 Tisus Test which I passed in reading and writing. Yeeey! How cool is that?! :-)
In case you´re not European, here is the link to the European framework for languages
I have 1000 new projects on my mind, but the next big step now is moving to Sweden.
I´ve been dreaming about this for such a long time and now, being less then three months away from fulfilling my dream kind of scares me. Of course I am sure this is what I want, it´s just that I´m worried about the little things related to any new start in life: new home, new friends, new job... and on top of all going to school again. It´s a mixed feeling of a lot of excitement and a bit of worry. But it is not like it´s the first time I´m going through this, so I guess I´m worrying over nothing, right?!
Since I wrote the first part of my "Why Swedish" post before ever being in Sweden, I think I can somehow rewrite the story from a totally new perspective now. It´s like "before" and "after" going to Sweden.
If you didn´t read the first part yet, now it´s the time: http://whyswedish.blogspot.ch/2011/10/why-swedish.html
Well, before going there I only knew whatever I had read in books and heard on the radio.
I knew Swedes are tall, blond and good-looking people who enjoy quiet moments, good coffee and sweets, (loads of sweets!!!). I knew that Sweden is one of the best countries when it comes to equality between men and women (at least I was really hoping to be that way), I knew people are pretty equal in general, that they usually don´t like to show off or be different in any way, that they by all means avoid conflicts, that they rarely make new friends and that as a foreigner it is quite difficult to enter their circle. I had, of course, read about the high taxes and the high alcohol prices, the high rate of immigration, the good health care system, high standard free education and so on.
But before going there it was difficult to imagine how all of that can actually work together in a harmonious way.
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| Sergels Torg - nov 2011 |
My first trip to Stockholm was probably in the worst time of the year: end of November.
It was cold and dark (daylight only till about 2-3 pm) - not many tall and blond people on the streets.
But for me it was magical. The light from the candles in the windows of cafés and the Christmas street lightning made the cold feel less cold and the dark felt just cozy and nice.
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| Kanelbulle & coffee @ Akademibokhandel |
But my favorite thing of all was to find a cozy café, take a big cup of steamy coffee and a kanelbulle and sit there for a while and observe people; the way they talk, how they are dressed (Swedes are btw very stylish), they way they interact with each other and all of those little gestures.
In my mind I had already decided then and there that I want to move to Sweden. I think I knew it even before the trip, but after that week in Sthlm I was sure that this is what I wanted to do. It just felt "home" somehow, I felt like it was a place where I could be myself.
It´s funny, I thought many times about this: how can it be, to be born in a place and not be able to identify yourself too much with the culture of your country. I´m basically a mix of latin and balcanic blood, but I don´t feel like I have many of the characteristics defining my people. I love Romania because it´s the place I grew up in, I have a part of my family and a lost of friends there, but I honestly don´t think I would ever move back.
Is Sweden the country I will end up living the rest of my life in? I don´t know. Maybe, who knows...
Stort Tack !
Of course I could not have come so far with my Swedish without the help of crazy and wonderful people who supported me along the way. I feel like I have to thank them in a way or another, so even if I don´t get to do this personally...here we go:
A big big hug & stort tack till Ann. You had the patience to listen to my terrible pronunciation and to correct all my grammar mistakes... it has been of really great help. You were the first one I felt confident enough to actually speak Swedish to and thanks to you I improved as quickly as I did!
Tack till Claudio. You went through the same thing I did with learning Swedish and you were somehow the living proof that it is possible to learn it! Thanks for all the good music and movies.
Big big hug to my friends Flavia and Corina. I feel so happy to have you beside me. Thanks for understanding and supporting me even in my craziest moments. You rock!! :-)
Lots of hugs and thank you to Vanessa (muchissimas gracias amiguis!) to Shrikant (miss youuuuu so much!) and to my dear friend Indro. Thanks!! :-)
And very important to me: lots of love to my Mom & Sorin and to Mara - the best sister in the world. Thanks guys, I know I can be impossible sometimes and I am so grateful that you understand me and support me no matter what. I´m really luck to have you in my life! <3
And the list can continue: thank you to: Erik, Verena, Dan, Tiina, Sheena, Margaret, Tina... I´m sure I forgot some people (sorry for that).. anyway thank you all so much!!
