First Month Done!

——posting later than expected; written March 1, 2022

I can’t believe it myself; I’ve been in Sweden for over a month now! (1 month and 8 days to be exact!). I feel like this journey just begun and yet, here I am, already getting used to my new life.

I feel like I am now an expert commuter on the SL line (also outside of Stockholm, Uppsala for example), also already being able to pick up Swedish words with slight ease (the accent still throws me off from time to time but I know I’ll get better) and most importantly, I think I am adjusting well with the culture and the weather.

THE WEATHER

(So sorry for the formatting of this blog. I will fix it as soon as I get a laptop. For now, just be patient with me, especially the desktop users!)

I’ve arrived the day after it just snowed. Honestly, when I saw it outside the plane window (window seat and the whole aisle just for myself), I was so thrilled to see everything covered by it. I immediately touched it once I successfully got out of the airport (after a tricky immigration checking — more of this on another blog).

Of course, I’ve expected it to be cold in Scandinavia but arriving when the temperature is at -2 C, when you are from a country with a semi permanent 28-35C, I was not prepared from this cold. It was really difficult to sleep on the first nights because it was just too cold for me but later on it gets better. So funny that’s I’ve always sleep with my blanket over my head because I am having headaches with the cold.

The highest temperature so far that I’ve experienced in here is -7C. That was when we’re kinda having a snow storm or something. It was very windy and the snow kept on falling all throughout the night and the morning the day after.

THE FOOD

Since I’ve been watching a lot of H3 podcast with the Swedish Love on it, I’ve been really curious with this donner/shawarma pizza that he keeps on talking about. I haven’t gotten one so far here in Stockholm (he’s from Jonköping and is 4hrs away from my place) but that’s not because of lack of trying. I will of course make a post of it once I’ve tried one because I really want to taste the hyped up sauce.

So far, I’ve only tasted their cinnamon roll (I think it’s called bullefika or something) and the famous Swedish meatball with the lingonberry jam. I will not say anything about these dishes other than it’s okay. Really haven’t been exposed that much to Swedish dishes anyway since my host family is half Asian and we usually eat a lot of Thai and Viet dishes

THE LANDMARKS

I’ve been going on a lot of trips during the weekends and I can honestly say that I’ve visited everything that is FREE and OPEN during the winter time in Stockholm City. I have a list of places to visit but most of them are pretty and manageable after winter so there’s nothing for me to see anymore. Kinda bored already, if I am being honest. That’s why I’m just trying to spend my time in my own city and explore the surroundings. Also got my library card so I would be spending a lot of time in the city library, trust me!

There are a lot to mention in the places I’ve visited so I think I will just make a blog just for it. I would love to share the photos of the places I’ve seen. Not the best photographer though so bear with me.

THE COMMUTING

Bus? Train? Tram? Sweden has it all. They also have multiple ferry lines that you could ride with your SL tix.

Commuting here is very easy and it’s manageable and/or simple even for a tourist. If you can read, you will not get lost in here. 

Also, another useful app is your Google Maps or Maps on your iPhone. I’m using the latter one and it tells you which buses to take with the right platform, which trains to take and even the options on how to reach your destination.

ANG PAMILYA

(written in Filipino because you know why already)

Wala naman akong mako-complain kung di sana may katahimikan o personal space ako. May kwarto naman ako pero open din siya sa mga bata. Alam mo yun? Imbis na makatulog ako ng maayos sa weekends na off ko, need ko pa lumabas talaga para wala akong istorbo. Otherwise, lalapit ng lalapit sa akin yung mga bata. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko yun pero pahinga ko sana yun eh. Kaso ayon, yung pahinga na yun, naggagala pa tuloy ako.

Yung mga alaga ko, 4 at 2 years old sila. Lalaki yung panganay na sobrang spoiled. Minsan ang sarap kutusan pero hindi ko naman anak so okay lang. Di naman ulo ko ang sasakit kapag nagkataon. Yung babae naman, sobrang cute. Grabe. Ang dami na naming picture sa phone sa sobrang cute. Nga lang pakarga ng pakarga kaya masakit din yung likod ko minsan.

Yung mga magulang naman, okay lang din. Pare-parehas kaming medyo mahilig sa personal space kaya chill lang talaga sa bahay. Kanya-kanyang trip, di nagpapansinan minsan. Pero okay lang yun sa akin. Haha. Natatawa lang ako minsan kapag di ako sinasama na bilhan ng coke kapag kakain kami. Kala nila maiinggit ako kapag tinatago nila. In a way, tinutulungan pa nila ako kasi sila lang ang tataba at di ako kasama. Char.

Sa bahay, may Asian. Viet yung nanay kaya may kanin kami. Although ang tagal ko na na di talaga nagra-rice, feels like home pa rin. Ka-stress lang din minsan kasi hilig magluto ni nanay ng Thailandish cuisine. Lagi kami yung ginatan na chicken. Hahaha. Inoorder din sa labas ganun or pad thai. Stress. Lol. 

Si nanay rin yung medyo bida-bida sa mag-asawa. Di papatalo yan sa kwentuhan kaya ako, oo lang ng oo minsan.

Sa bahay naman, wala naman talaga akong masyadong ginagawa. Yung basic lang na linis. Mga gagawin ko rin sa nirerentahan kong kwarto sa Maynila. Linis ng buong bahay, bintana, laba ng damit, ayos ng higaan, imis, hugas tapos linis ng cr. Parang nagbabahay-bahayan lang ako. Easy mode on nga lang kasi lahat high tech na. Madali lahat. May dishwasher, washing machine at vacuum naman. 

Tapos sa pag-aalaga naman ng bata, ang pinaka-easiest tip talaga ay dapat gusto mo ginagawa mo. Otherwise, mahihirapan ka kasi need ng patience, tatag at lakas ng loob at syempre yung love ba. Sa pagiging au pair ko lang na-realize na di pa ako ready na maging nanay. Kaloka, ilang beses ko na sinasama sa pag-ihi yung bunso kasi umiiyak kapag pumapasok ako sa cr. Haha. Kaloka. Yung panganay tinatanong pa ako kung bakit sya bawal sa loob. Dapat daw lahat kami nandun. Omg. Haha

THE COMMUNITY

In my city? No other au pairs. I have to freaking travel to Stockholm to meet up with friends and I am honestly tired of it. It’s also very expensive, trust me (even when I’m not the one paying for my commuter card in here). I am also getting really sick of riding the train. It’s so nauseous. Anyway, going back…

I haven’t met any Filipinos in here so far by chance. Since I am also a very private person, using Facebook for it is defo not a welcome option for me. I hate it when people add me on there. Although that’s the case, of course, if worst comes to worst, I might just use it even if I am so freaking annoyed with it.