Settling In

It is exactly three week since we moved here. I am not exaggerating when I  say that it feels longer. It has helped to have R here with me. He does the heavy lifting(literally) and has been discovering the country. He has made use of the summer pass and travelled across the length and breadth of southern sweden in two weeks, making the most of the great weather!

Ananya joined us last week. We were seeing her after over two months and were ecstatic to have her over! We made a trip to Stockholm by train and visited a wonderful modern city. However, all of us were relieved to be back at home in Malmo!

Contrary to what my recent Facebook posts may suggest, I am in Sweden to work and not vacation. Its  just that we came to the country at the best time and I can't resist recording the sights.

I want to capture some highlights of the last three weeks.

1. Making it official! Thanks to my US citizenship, I could start work in Sweden before getting my residence permit card. I did the biometric testing the day I arrived and was told at the counter to expect it within a week. A week went by and no signs of it. I also needed to get my tax ID application in for my things to arrive from the US, and this needed the residence permit card. A week later, I called the help desk and was told that the card was probably lost and I should get another biometric screening done, an email response to the same question suggested that I wait till the weekend and then get in touch again. I decided to be doubly sure and took  another long bus ride  to the migration center, only to be told at the counter that it was too early to panic and I should get it within that week. I did get it within two weeks. Yesterday I submitted the form to get my tax ID and with that the last hurdle to get my things from the US has been removed. My things will arrive in Malmo early next week . I really don't have space to store all my clothes (mainly black or blue colors). that will arrive with my shipment.

2. Office and friends

A new place starts feeling more at home when you make friends.  Almost all my new friends will have some connection to work. I met an ex colleague from Dubai after 13 years! She has moved to Sweden for good. I met a new Ukrainian colleague who is a vegetarian and seems to be more of a practicing Hindu than I am! I look forward to bonding with one of the few other vegetarians at work! I also got introduced to two other Indian and Pakistani men at work. Listening to and speaking a mix of  Hindi and Urdu in Malmo was as comforting as eating daal chawal with achaar ( lentil rice with pickle) . I miss listening to English spoken in an American accent, non stop CNN on tv notwithstanding. Then again, only 10% of people have been coming to work. I look forward to the other interesting and comforting people I will meet.

3. Location, location, location!

I couldn't have chosen a better located apartment. It is literally one street off the city center. If my windows are open, I can hear laughter and chatter way into early morning on weekends. I just hope it stays just as lively and animated when winter is here. There are grocery stores a 5 minute walk away in three directions and a beautiful park in the fourth. I am literally living in a romantic comedy, the part where the heroine walks to her New York brownstone carrying groceries in paper bags. The only difference is that I carry my groceries in reusable cloth bags. The movies never showed her climbing 36 steps to the third floor with a computer backpack and two grocery laden bags.

4. Alexander Skarsgaard and the apartment

Yes, most Swedish men do look like him. The building manager certainly does. He came by to review what needed fixing in the apartment and answer dumb questions. He assured us that the dial on top on the  cooktop vent does indeed vent, though it is noiseless. ( I keep a window open though ) the bathroom doesn't have an exhaust fan but does have a vent that lets the steam out. He brought me the much  needed hair dryer ( not that it makes much difference when your hair goes haywire in the wind once you step out). The only flaw in the apartment is the size of the single bathroom. Then again  bathrooms in the US are probably bigger than they need to be.

5. Grooming

I don't do much with my hair except an occasional trim when it looks wild. My street has at least six hair salons. My only concern is that I should not come out with rainbow colored hair which most patrons  steeping out seem to have!

6. Almost home!

I had a feeling of being at home last evening. Is three weeks too early to feel that? I was cooking in the kitchen and Ananya was at the table, working on her laptop and R fixing some photos on his laptop. I had the key ingredients that make me happy, my loves and a kitchen that I love. Being in Sweden does help too!