Sveriges Social System är bra

Jag kommer från ett land där vårt social system är vår familj. Det betyder att vi hjälper varandra så fort man kan. Familj handlar om alla dina mammas ,pappas familj och alla omkring. Ibland ser vi inte på närmarest sätt hur barn växer för att det finns många som kan hjälpa om man behöver hjälp om barnen.
Jag kom till Sverige för att studera men senare träffade jag min vackra fru och sen gifte vi oss och vi fick vår söta dotter. Jag var pappaledig i fem månader och det var en av den bästa tiden i mitt liv. Jag fick se hur ett barn växer på en nära sätt som jag har aldrig sett förut. Det var möjligt att jag kunde stanna hemma för att Sverige har ett bra social system som gör allt det här möjligt.
Man får mycket kärlek från barnen när man ger. Man är där och se hur alla förändringar hände.
Tack för att Sverige finns och tack för att jag har en vacker fru och ett sött barn.

Getting a job In Sweden

It is difficult finding jobs generally in Sweden. Sweden is not a haven for jobs. I would tell anyone coming to Sweden to prepare him or herself with a lot of pocket money for personal support before finding a job here. Sweden has one of the worst intergration policies in Europe when it comes to immigrants having jobs. The article can be read on Dagens nyheter in August 2003.

Work time is strictly 40 hrs a week and you must take vacation for four weeks every year.

Where to find jobs:

Government employment agency (Arbetsförmedlingen)Ams
Arbetsförmedlingen database link platsbanken Job service database(Platsbanken) , but note that there is always a requirement of the Swedish language (svenska) in the majority of cases.

Local and daily newspapers

Daily contacts with people

Ask people

Be open for anything from a start

If you cannot buy local and daily newspapers then go to the nearest public library (Stadsbiblioteket) and read them. You just have to locate it, get it and sit down and start reading.
You can also check on blocket.

Job recruiting sites or databases and register your CV for example manpower, proffice.
In bigger towns such as Stokholm and Göteborg you can be lucky to get English speaking related jobs. Some English related jobbs can be found on thelocal website.
If you can drive and you have a licence it can boost your chances of finding a job. To buy a second hand car you can visit Blocket website
Sweden is amongst the countries with the highest income tax of about 30%. For example if you earn 10000kr as monthly pre-tax income you will finally get about 6500 to7000kr as your income at the bank.

Easy jobs to get are unskilled jobs for example

Distributing newspapers (the local daily newspaper of where you are living)
Distributing advertisement papers or junk mails on weekends (Direkt Reklam)
Cleaning jobs
For Au Pair Work you can register on this site for Au pair service You can register on-line and they are really good and helpful in matching you to a suitable family.
For professional and skilled jobs you have to follow the same procedure and make your self a very good CV. For summer jobs you need to apply early enough as February and if you get a job you can start working between June and August if the company employs you.

You can get the addresses from the yellow pages (Gula sidorna).
For English Speaking jobs go:
Jobs in for those who speak english

Financial aid for studies in Sweden

I have had a couple of comments on a post i made about financial aid for immigrant students studying in Sweden.Let me answer the questions they sent.
When i wrote that post last year on my blog the was actually a way to get it.It was in the form of a loan but with very low interest but you know some immigrant students from Asian and African countries abused it and the institution that gave out that financial support stopped it. Only Swedish student can get it now.
As a student in Sweden if you get a job you can get a small loan from the bank in the form of a credit card.For now there is no available scholarships or aid i know.Free education here is already like a scholarship.It is up to you to work your way out to see about your living cost here.I hope this post answers the questions i received.For more on education you can go to
Education in Sweden

Stop the Critique on Sweden

I am really tied of immigrants who spend their time criticising this beautiful country.We leave our countries because of various personal reasons and when they settle down they start a prejudice about Sweden.
It is clear that Sweden can never be the way you want and will never be. Even Sweden is not the way all Swedish will like to be.So the question is how do you stop criticising Sweden and Swedish people and instead see it as a land of opportunity?I have done and may be you are still doing it.It's time for you think about your judgments and instead see into how can you to connect better with them.

You know i got a good lesson from my wife when she ask me how will i feel if she starts criticising Africans in Sweden and even the continent?I got it that day.The truth is Swedish will have more to criticize about some of us that we have towards them.

Sweden has a for me the best democratic and social system in the world and they make sure that the base of a societal growth education and health is free for them.If you have lived here you will know how clean and organise this country is.
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Many of us immigrants did not grow up here and sometimes we do not even take the time to earn about the culture and language but you want your hopes and expectations to be fullfilled. What is Sweden expecting from you?I will end this by saying that no land and person is perfect but Sweden is a wonderful nation and if you wanna say something negative about it first look into yourself and where you came from. It`s a land of opportunity and you can become what ever you want if you set realistic goals with passion.
Here are some real helpful websites
Swedish dictionay
Living in Sweden

Prices of groceries in Sweden

This is just a follow up of an article i wrote in 2007 about groceries(check out my archive).
My tip to every one who will like to move to Sweden or has just arrived in Sweden is that, stop converting prices to your local currency while in Sweden and instead seek advise by asking your neighbours the location of low- priced glocery shops. Do not expect much for there is no really big difference between them. Nothing is really cheap in Sweden and it is an expensive country to live in. Buy what you need and avoid subscribing for unnecesarry things that will not help you.You can ask people around you to tell you the cheapest shops in town for groceries and other articles you want. They are also second hand shops and you can visit blocket or your local newspaper pages to buy or look for furniture or whatever you might need for housing equipment. You just need to somebody to be shown them. There are also many shopping centers in the bigger towns and you can be lucky to make good deals that suit you. Here are estimated prices of certain basic items you will need:-(1 Euro = approx. 9 SEK )or ( I dollar =approx 6 SEK:)
Milk-(Mjölk) SEK 8/litre
Bread- (Bröd) SEK 10-20/loaf
Cornflakes box: SEK10- 30
Margarine/Butter: SEK 20 /500g tub
Cheese – (Ost) 30 to 50SEK 30-50/kg
Lamb: SEK 60-90/kg
Beef: SEK 70-140/kg
Pork: SEK 50-100/kg
Chicken:(Kyckling) SEK 30-50/kg
Chicken Legs(Kyckling klubbor)SEK 20-30/kg
Eggs: SEK 2 each
Rice: SEK 30-35/kg
Pasta: SEK 12/kg
Soda: SEK 5/33 cl
Cigarettes: SEK 35.50/packet
Beer: SEK 6-10/33 cl, 2.8 to 3% alcohol at a Grocery shopBeer: SEK 10-20/33 cl , 5.2 to 7% alcohol at Systembolaget - The Swedish alcohol retailing monopoly(Opens Mondays to Satudays) The cheapest beer is 33cl, 5.2%alcohol and cost 10kr.
Wine: SEK from 55 /75 cl bottle ( Systembolaget - the Swedish alcohol retailing monooly)
Newspaper:15 SEK
Cinema:85 SEK Theatre: SEK 50-200
City-centre bus ticket: 18 to 20 Kr
Dinner with wine or beer:200 to 300kr
Pizza: 55 to 65 kr
McBurger:20 to 58 kr
Bananas:14 to 19kr(kg)
Apples:12 to 16kr (kg)
Dinner is an average resturant with wine cost about 250 kr . Anyway there are cheaper restuarants in everytown depending on what you wanna eat. You might get good tips from a local.
I hope you do not buy cat food mistakenly like i did or get items and because you read the prices wrongly and be forced to give it back to the cashier because you cannot afford for it. Take all your time in the world if you have it to look for the best deals.Finally it is very expensive to get drunk in Sweden.

Passport prolongation for Cameroonians

After living in Sweden for over three years my passport was to expire this year. I had thought of travelling to UK or to France where there is are Cameroonian embassies respectively. After inquiring for a while i finally got information that prolonging my passport in UK or France will just be as difficult and bureaucratic like trying to prolong it in Cameroon. I ask myself what are this guys at the embassy thinking? Should´t this be just a simple process? Anyway it is Cameroon and everything requires bribe or an extra unaccountable charge.

I finally got reliable information and instead prolonged my passport in Denmark . I did not even travel to Denmark. I sent all the requirements by mail and got back my passport after 5 days prolonged by four more years .

If you are a Cameroonian living in Sweden and you want to prolong your passport, contact the Cameroonian consulate in Denmark. If you want an address and telephone number you can leave a comment with your email at the end of this message and i will send you an attachment with information on everything you need to do. I hope this information help you guys.

Life and opportunities after studying in Sweden

Sweden offers free education and when you come to Sweden as a student it is good to study and get your degree. It is always good to have a degree and increase your intellectual capacity. It will always help you some where someday. Having a degree from a European university opens many doors of opportunities in Europe, USA, Africa and Asia for those who search for them.

After studying in Sweden you can apply for jobs in Sweden or other European countries such as England, Germany, or may be Canada ,USA etc.. depending on what you studied and what languages you can express your self in. The more languages you know the better for your chances.

I always recommend to people that ,if you want to get a chance in Sweden then you have to learn Swedish .They are no two ways here. If you are an engineer you can get job without knowledge of the Swedish language.If you do not want to learn Swedish but you want a career job the you have to apply for jobs in other countries. They are European scholarships that foreign students can get when you are enrolled in one of their universities.

For me personally i have a masters degree in international marketing but my chances of getting a job here is very minimal because there are no real career jobs for marketers in Sweden except you have had a lot of experience some where else. They are more jobs for computer and electrical engineers.

My advice on this issue is that when you are in Sweden get your degree and look for jobs all over Europe if you want a job out of your home country. If you want a career in Sweden then you must learn the Swedish language and you know it is always free of charge of charge.
Good luck

A small detail about getting a Swedish visa

I have been getting mails about visa issues on Sweden from many of my African brothers and sisters. I thought about writing something about it and giving some details people neglect when they are applying for a visa.

The point i want is that if you are applying from a country which has a poor postal system , you might loose your reply or may never see it. One thing that is true and certain is that after applying for your visa the Swedish authorities will and always send you a decision. There is no argument about that. If you do not receive a reply then you have to check out with the nearest post office or the address you were to receive your reply from, if in case you used somebody else´s address. Maybe the post address you used became inactive.

The number to call for your reply should be active and reliable and easily accessed. i think you should buy a mobile phone and keep it active and wait for your reply. You will always get that call and you will know the immigrations decision.

My advice on this issue is that you should try to get a reliable, stable and active postal address and telephone number that is functional so that you can be sure to get a reply and know their decision. You can use a company´s postal address as your recipients if you have a friend or family member working in that company. The reply address and telephone number is a small detail that is very important and should always be considered. How will it be if you can loose you life´s opportunity just because of a simple postal address or a missed call? The ball is now in your court.
Good luck!!

Discrimination in a simple soccer training game

I did not really understand why nobody passed on the ball to me during my first local soccer practise game in Sweden . I am an ardent lover of soccer and everything about it and has been playing this game from the time I was a kid. I really wanted to join a team and to connect with other soccer lovers here in my home town Västerås.

I had to go through a process like an interview before i was even called for practice. I did not really understand why they had to interview me. I know if somebody says he is good, give him the chance to prove himself. I do not know how to describe how good I am to control the ball or run with the ball. Soccer is just a game and let me prove myself i told him.

Finally the big day came and the weather was damn cold. I was almost freezing when i got to the big beautiful football pitch. I was told i will get equipment from them but to my greatest dismay i got just shoes and I had to play with the clothes i had on me. I was not the only African but i was the most African in my ways.

I did not understand any word in Swedish and the trainer did not even look at me but i simply followed what the others were doing. After a couple of physical exercises it was time to play a little game . I was in one group of only Swedish guys and they never passed the ball onto me, no matter the position i was standing or even if i was free in front of the goal. They shouted at me when i had the ball and when i missed it they became really angry. I also stopped passing the ball to them and the trainer warned me. When i tackled somebody i was bullied at by that stupid trainer. I did not know what to do. Before the end of the game and after running after the ball and being shouted at, i bowed out of the game. I moved toward our trainer and tanked him for encouraging bulling and discrimination towards me. He wanted to defend himself but i just left.

With my wet, soaked and sweaty clothes i took my old bicycle and started riding about 2km back home. I fell abused, bullied, disappointed and my body was freezing because of my wet clothes on that day. I asked myself if this is really a developed society? How can somebody be discriminated in a simple training session of soccer? Is this really how Sweden is?What a beautiful game!!!

I think a developed society should also have developed morals regarding sociability and acquaintance of human behavior and not only industrial development. I also think that those who discriminate against others because of their sex, age, colour, race etc are all cowards, frustrated, low self-esteem and miss the joy of living and knowing other people.

Shopping for Groceries and basic items in Sweden

The first day i went to a glocery shop in Sweden i got scared of prices and ran out of the shop,took a deep breath and went back inside. You might think i saw something scary but that was not the case. After looking at prices of various items in the shop, I immediately converted them to my local currency . I could not believe those were the prices because they were, way to expensive for me and i did not think of gloceries as being so expensive in Sweden. I ask myself if i was at the wrong place.I kept on multiplying all prices of articles by seventy(exchange rate of my Cameroonian currency to the Swedish kronor). After my mathematical calculations and brain storming in the shop i got tired and ran out.

You might guess what happened next. I told some guy we lived in the same corridor and he advised me not to convert anything to my local currency and he kindly took me to a cheaper shop in town. I did not do any more brain storming that day and bought the things i needed. I mistakenly got cat food that day, thinking i wanted to try somethng new and because it was cheap.

My tip to every one who will like to move to Sweden or has just arrived in Sweden is that, stop converting prices to your local currency while in Sweden and instead seek advise by asking your neighbours the location of low- priced glocery shops. Do not expect much for there is no really big difference between them. Nothing is really cheap in Sweden and it is an expensive country to live in. Buy what you need and avoid subscribing for unnecesarry things that will not help you.

You can ask people around you to tell you the cheapest shops in town for groceries and other articles you want. They are also second hand shops and you can visit blocket or your local newspaper pages to buy or look for furniture or whatever you might need for housing equipment. You just need to somebody to be shown them. There are also many shopping centers in the bigger towns and you can be lucky to make good deals that suit you. Here are estimated prices of certain basic items you will need:-
(1 Euro = approx. 9 SEK )or ( I dollar =approx 6 SEK:)

• Milk-(Mjölk) SEK 8/litre
• Bread- (Bröd) SEK 10-20/loaf
• Cornflakes box: SEK10- 30
• Margarine/Butter: SEK 20 /500g tub
• Cheese – (Ost) 30 to 50SEK 30-50/kg
• Lamb: SEK 60-90/kg
• Beef: SEK 70-140/kg
• Pork: SEK 50-100/kg
• Chicken:(Kyckling) SEK 30-50/kg
• Chicken Legs(Kyckling klubbor)SEK 20-30/kg
• Eggs: SEK 2 each
• Rice: SEK 30-35/kg
• Pasta: SEK 12/kg
• Soda: SEK 5/33 cl
• Cigarettes: SEK 35.50/packet
• Beer: SEK 6-10/33 cl, 2.8 to 3% alcohol at a Grocery shop
  Beer: SEK 10-20/33 cl , 5.2 to 7% alcohol at Systembolaget - the Swedish alcohol retailing monopoly(Opens Mondays to Satudays) The cheapest beer is 33cl, 5.2%alcohol and cost 9kr.
  Wine: SEK from 55 /75 cl bottle ( Systembolaget - the Swedish alcohol retailing monooly)
• Newspaper: SEK 12Cinema: SEK 85Theatre: SEK 50-200
• City-centre bus ticket: 16 to 20 Kr
• Dinner with wine or beer:200 to 300kr
• Pizza: 55 to 65 kr
• McBurger:20 to 58 kr
• Bananas:14 to 19kr(kg)
• Apples:12 to 16kr (kg)
• Dinner is an average resturant with wine cost about 250 kr

I hope you do not buy cat food mistakenly like i did or get items and because you read the prices wrongly and be forced to give it back to the cashier because you cannot afford for it. Take all your time in the world if you have it to look for the best deals.Finally it is very expensive to get drunk in Sweden.

When you have lived in Sweden for a long time

After living in Sweden for about a year, i noticed that i had changed in certain ways of looking at various aspects of life, doing things and reacting to people. It is quite interesting when one thinks about it. I collected a couple of this Swedish behavioral patterns of thinking , doing things and also got some of them from friends.

Here are some of the behavioral patterns that will be linked to you after living in Sweden for a certain period of time. It is part of the culture here. It is subjective and there are common things one sees everyday. Here are some of them :-

• You get extremely annoyed when the bus is two minutes late.
• You become a punctuality freak and dump your friends for being late more than once.
• When offered a bottle of beer the first thing you look at is the alcoholic percentage .
• You use the alcohol percentage-per-kroner standard for measuring the quality of beer and wine.
• You get extremely annoyed when somebody is five to ten minutes minutes late.
• The first thing you do upon entering a bank/post office/chemist etc. is to look for the queue number machine.
• You think it is normal EVERYTHING is regulated and you obey the rules voluntarily.
• When a stranger on the street smiles at you, you assume that he is either drunk, insane or is he's an American .
• When someone asks you for "sex" you assume they mean half-a-dozen.
• You no longer fold your paper money. You always put your money in your wallet
• Silence is fun.
• You think that riding a bicycle in the snow is a perfectly sensible thing to do
• You become extremely skilled at assembling prepackaged furniture kits
• You always thinking about of changing ques in a grocery store.
• Your idea of unforgivable behaviour now includes walking across the street when the light is red and there is no WALK symbol, even though there are no cars in sight.
• It no longer seems excessive to spend 1,000kr or 100 euro on alcohol in a single night
• You regard it as sensible to eat ice cream when it is –15C.
• Paying $6 for a cup of coffee seems reasonable.
• You start to differentiate between types of snow.
• You accept you must walk 2 kilometres to collect your book/tape from the Post Office, because they don't deliver small packages (or large ones)
• You own a pocket calendar.
• You start avoiding your neighbour.
• It's normal to have an entire pizza just for yourself.

You read more on http://mystayinsweden.googlepages.com/theswedishways

I hope you are enjoying Sweden and i hope you have a good time when you are in Sweden. You will joins us in looking at the percentage content of alcohol of a beer can or bottle when you are offered one.

Sweden is not a dream land

Sweden is not a country you should have a big expectation about making money and having a good job.
When i came to Sweden i thought as usual like others from Africa that it was going to be a wonderful land with so much to explore and acquire.I came here to further my education with help from my country and i knew that i will have a constant flow of income from home. I also knew i will get a job the next day i get up from bed in Sweden if i just looked around.

However things did not turn out the way i thought. In Sweden it was difficult to get a job the next day as i had earlier thought. I got lucky one day to get a job as an advertisement newspaper distributor on weekends known in Swedish as Direktreklam in Swedish. This is a job for kids in Sweden to have pocket money.

I worked my ass in the cold winters on week ends and pushed my trolley for very long distances in the cold winters. I almost thought of going back to Cameroon someday when i had distributed the papers in the wrong district. I had to start all over.

I thought of the sun down there at home , hot spicy food and my family said to myself i have to get my degree and see what life hold for me. I am in Sweden pushing a trolley in winter for more that six hours in a day to be paid 120kr about 12 euro. You cannot imagine that is in Europe but it is even worse in other countries in Europe.

However there are many positive sides of Sweden as well, you need to stay positive about life and know what you want to be in future but do not expect to much when you are in Sweden.

How to obtain a Swedish Driving Licence.

To make things easy for you, here are the answers of some of your major questions on driving in Sweden.

Do I need an International Licence?
No. Anyone driving a motor vehicle in Sweden must hold a valid national (e.g. Cameroonian) driving licence. In other words, an international driving permit is not enough on its own. You can drive 12 months here on your Cameroonian licence.

Can I swap my Cameroonianor any other country's driving licence for a Swedish one?
No. Only those who hold a valid licence from an EEA country (=Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Austria etc) can directly swap their licence.

What if I just drive more than a year on the Cameroonian licence?
I will advice you not try it. It will cost you if you are caught and you may end up paying a huge fine or going to jail. And the phrase “I didn’t know that is was like that here” “i have been here for just a few months” won’t work with the police! Note that it will also annul the car insurance if you are driving and if you have an accident. It’s not worth a try!!

How do I get a Swedish licence?
Well, it’s fairly straightforward, if somewhat expensive. There are three tests that you must pass to obtain a Swedish driving license:

(1) the slippery road test (halkbana),

(2) the written theory test, and

(3) the driving test.

These tests must be taken in the order that they appear and, contrary to what you may have heard, it is possible to pass each test the first time around--even if you don’t speak Swedish!

Details of the forms needed are available here. Visit Vägverkets webpage in English. Forms for application

Körkörtstillstånd (driving permit)
The first step before getting your license is to apply for permission to practice driving. Call Vägverket and ask them to send you an application that will allow you to practice driving with your spouse, partner, or friend. Once you have written permission to practice, you must buy a green “övningskörning” (practice driving) sticker from a petrol station and place it on the back of your car whenever you are driving. In the back of the pamphlet you receive from Vägverket is a card that must be signed by your instructor and stamped by the slippery road test facility. Road test

Do I need a driving school?
You don’t have to attend a driving school, but doing so is highly recommended since getting a Swedish driving license is a very complicated procedure. You are not required to take any courses at a driving school as long as you have someone who can be your "private instructor" (handledare) who has had a Swedish license for more than 5 years, but it is recommended. Why? Well, many driving schools offer theory courses (mostly in Swedish) and textbooks, pre-tests, and driving lessons (in English). Call around to compare costs and to see what they have to offer in English. For a list of all driving schools approved by the National Association of Swedish Driving Schools, see the website at Sveriges Trafikskolors Riksförbund. The school will also prepare you for the slippery road, theory, and driving tests. Here is some information about each test:

Halkbana: (slippery road testing)
This course takes about 4 hours for driving school students and 4½ hours for private students. The training consists of both theory and practical exercises in driving in slippery or hazardous road conditions. You'll receive a booklet in the mail after you've received an appointment, detailing the different exercises. Your task will be to show the driving inspector that you know how to handle your car on an icy road. You will be asked, for example, to step on your brakes going 80-100 kilometres per hour and then regain control of your car. Active participation, following the given instructions, completing the exercises at the required speeds and not abusing the vehicles is basically all that's required to pass the training. Your successfully-completed training will remain valid for two years. You will not receive any certificate or other paperwork; rather, they inform Vägverket that you have completed the training and it is noted in their computers. If you don't understand Swedish well, you'll need to arrange to bring your own interpreter with you.

Theory test
The theory test is computerised and consists of 70 questions. Of these, 65 are 'counted' and you must get 52 right. You don’t need to be computer literate to take this test, and you can request it in English. The test focuses on the practical points of driving. In preparing for the theory test, you must purchase a textbook and take about 14 pre-tests. Textbooks in English are available. Most schools are currently translating the new pre-tests into English. After you have passed all the pre-tests, the school will then schedule a time for you to take the theory test at Vägverket. You can obtain "Passing Your Driving Test" from Sveriges Trafikskolors Riksförbund or from your driving school. You can also study online and even take practice tests (which are very similar to the real thing!) at Korkort.com.

Driving test
The driving test takes around 45 minutes. Even if you have many years of driving experience, it is still a good idea to drive with an instructor from a driving school before taking the final driving test. Why? Because Vägverket’s inspectors have high standards, and they will expect you to follow certain rules. The driving instructors know exactly what the inspectors will be looking for during the test and can thus prepare you in advance. The instructors will also teach you how to perform three additional mini-tests relating to your car: an engine check, an inside car check, and a light check (you will be asked to perform one of these three tests before your final driving test begins). After you have driven once or maybe several times with an instructor and have demonstrated that you are ready to take the final driving test, the school will then schedule a test time at Vägverket. Ask your instructor to go with you during the final test to translate if necessary.

What does it cost?
What can I say, it’s EXPENSIVE! There are fees along every step of this process. There are separate costs for your driving permit, the eye examination required for the driving permit, your theory study materials, the theory test, the driving test, the manufacturing of your driver's license, the slippery road training, hire of car for the halkbana test, driving lessons, use of a double-control car for the driving test and the photos for your license. Expect to pay at least 5000 Sek and more (and even more depending on if and how many driving lessons you take) for the whole process.

Where can I find schools etc?
The telephone books list plenty of driving schools under the heading "Trafikskolor". Slippery Road Test locations: Look for "Halkbanor" or "trafikövningsplatser" in the yellow pagesGula sidornaor eniro.se for a slippery road test range nearest you. For a complete list of all of Vägverkets testing locations, see Vägverkets homepage.

Bilprovning
Cars are annually tested for roadworthy at Bilprovning. These tests are compulsory. You can book a time on the internet, but allow plenty of time ahead to make an appointment for the test, which takes around 20 minutes or so to complete. It covers the exhaust system, the braking system, the front and rear suspension, tyres and steering system, and wheel housings to check, headlights, indicators, front and rear lights, wipers, horn and rear view mirrors. The inspection fee for a car is currently 300 SEK. If the car is failed, the re-inspection fee is 200 SEK.

How to care for your car in winter
Be certain to wash your car regularly, including an underneath wash in winter, to minimise rust development. The rust increases in proportion to the amount of salt sprayed on snow/ice covered roads.

When you have washed your car in winter, beware of locking it when the temperature goes down, i.e. do NOT lock it the same night as washed if it is outside. The locks will be sure to freeze!

Carry and use lock oil in winter. If the locks have frozen due to weather changes (wet and warm and suddenly icy cold the same day) you can unfreeze them by using a cigarette lighter to warm the key and/or a plastic bag of hot water on the door lock.

Cars are commonly 'plugged in', during winter to keep the motor warm to start in the morning!

It’s common to change the car tyres over to studded winter ones on Alla helgons(public holiday) weekend and back to summer tyres over Easter weekend. They have to be changed by December 1st and May 1st.

Speed Limits are posted everywhere. They are medium size red circles with a yellow background and black numbers. 50 kph (30 mph) in built-up areas, 70 kph (44 mph) or 90 kph (56 mph) outside built-up areas, and 110 kph (68 mph) on highways (though this is reduced to 90 kph near major towns). Cars towing a trailer are limited to 80 kph (50 mph).
If you speed in Sweden, you risk a heavy fine and maybe even losing your driving license. To see a current scale of fines, check out Trafikjuristen. For serious speed offences, as well as having your licence withdrawn, you will face the prospect of a jail term and/or be subject to a fine that equals 40-60 “dagsböter”. Dagsböter is dependent on your income, with one dagsbot equalling anything from 30 to 100 SEK.
Moose, deer etc Sweden is 54% forest, so there are a lot of "Animal" warning signs posted. These signs must be taken seriously. You should be extra careful when driving around sunset and dawn. Samples of some common road signs can be seen here.

You can see these at the AWC website Important road signs. These road signs are scanned in from the pamphlet "Swedish road signs, signals, road marking and signals by policemen" published by Vägverket. You can also obtain the pamphlet from them or from your nearest driving school or you can view the pdf file at their website.

Vägverket has a great animation page in English that clearly demonstrates rules for things like cyclists, pedestrian traffic, roundabouts, stopping and parking and vehicle lighting. Check it out here.

Sweden's drinking and driving laws are quite strict and the police are able to stop you at any time and give a driver a breathalyser test. Driving with a blood alcohol limit over 0.02% can mean a gaol sentence. So the limit is effectively zero. The bottom line is Do Not Drink and Drive.

Whenever you are sitting in a car, you must use a seat belt. Children under the age of seven must sit in a child safety seat. All other children must use a seatbelt. It is forbidden to use a back facing child safety seat in the front seat of a car that has a passenger side airbag.

It is the law in Sweden that you have to be seen when you are driving. All vehicles must drive with at least dimmed headlights, always day and night.

GOOD LUCK!!

Dating a Swedish Girl

I know many guys who are always complaining that having a date or even contact with a Swedish girl is difficult. As a matter of fact I think it is wrong. Swedish girls are just like any other girls or women in the world who want to meet interesting and charming men. It is the feeling and respect for the girl that really counts and not how much money you got nor how expensive clothes you wear.

A few things though are necessary to consider. As a matter of fact the tips I give below are based on my expereinces here, interviews and vibes from friends. I am going to be straight to the point. If you really want to meet someone here then you have to consider these things.

In short:
Never patronise the girl or put her down. If you do, you are probably sure not see her around again. Why would she put up with that?
Sweden is probably the most clean country in the world, also the people. Basic hygiene is a must .

Be real. Be proud of where you come from and who you are. If that is not good enough for a girl - is she really good enough for you?
There is equality between men and women in Sweden: When you want to meet a girl then always keep that in mind. Men are not superior in Sweden as they might mistakenly be in the social structures of other parts of the world. I personally think women are the most amazing and beautiful creatures in the universe.

Basic hygiene: Hey guys, this is common sense and my mum always told me to smell good when you wanna meet a girl. Smell good, wear clean clothes and good shoes. You should have some fresh clothes and some deodorant. To avoid an embarrasment (and to secure a second date) buy one today and they cost nothing.

Tell no lies: I have had friends who think pretending they are from USA, UK, Jamiaca, France etc will attract a girl to them. Sometimes guys ridicule themselves because they say they are from USA and they cannot even speak basic English or speak with a real accent. It does not work. If you are from China, Cameroon, Nigeria, Indonesia, India just say it and stop constructing stories that will not help you. It does not really matter to a lot of girls here -all they care about is you and what you really stand for. And that you are not a liar. "Good liars should have good memories". Watch out guys and girls.

Be yourself also means relax and do not try to play a comedy of being somone else. Ask your self for how long you can play your comedy. There comes a day that you have to account for all that. Just relax and be yourself. Anybody who loves you should love who you for who you are. One thing you can keep in mind though is that in Sweden people do not really talk loudly to each other in conversations and they usually talk one at the time. Listen as much or more than you talk!

As you respect your own country and culture you should also show respect for hers. If she is Swedish - do not critisize Sweden a lot as a lot of foreigners here do. Maybe you think people are more sociable in your country and so forth, but keep the negative thoughts of Sweden to yourself for a while. What would you think if she would start talking badly about Africa or wherever you come from?

Be a man and be confident. It is normal to have sweaty palms, though. During my first date with my wife I was lucky it was in winter so my hands where cold and the sweat was inside but brothers, was I nervous and took some deep breaths to relax. Remember - women are also nervous when they meet someone for the first time.
Where does one meet a girl in Sweden? Well, where do you meet a girl in your country?
The most usual places here are through friends, at your workplace, in the club or through the internet.
I hope my dating guide helps you to double your dating in Sweden.

Good luck and happy dating!

Must know if you want to study Sweden

Before i came to Sweden , I knew little about the educational system and standards. The only thing i knew about education in Sweden was that it was free for all immigrant students. That really boasted my willingness to further my studies in Sweden .I started asking myself who pays for our education? The answer was simple and it is the tax payers money. Sweden has one of the highest income tax in the world and that is why you as a foreign student can study in Sweden and only buy your books and pay you student association fee.

It is very interesting to see that in many universities in Sweden the programs are professionally oriented and on graduation you know where and what kind of job to look for.
I am saying this because i do not see why one should study a subject like history, geography, literature etc. in a university. Back in my country the single subject programs a very many in the universities and students graduate and cannot answer a simple question of what is your profession?

I am very impressed with the Swedish program anyway that is why they are amongst the top in the world when it comes to literacy and quality of life. I think students from developing countries who do not have the means to study in USA or England should apply to Sweden universities. If you have read this article and you are interested to study in Sweden ,you should consider the following things:-

• The truth is, it is free but it is not really cheap to live in Sweden.
• You have to really prepare yourself financially and do not think you can get a job to support your studies. That is far-fetch in Sweden as a foreign student. You can be lucky to get some shit job that the swedes do not want to do.
• You have the right to work in Sweden when you are a student. If your stay is more than one year you will can get a social security number at the tax office (Skatteverket). Otherwise you will get a temporal number you can use to apply for jobs.
• Scholarships are far fetched for immigrant students and if you are studying for a doctorate program you can get financial aid for your research if you apply
• Student loans and allowance are only for Swedish students and immigrants that have a permanent resident permit in Sweden you fall in this category then, you can have the right to about 7000 to 8000 Swedish kronor a month.
• You will always get a place to stay if you got money . Try to contact somebody from your home country or friend who lives in that town you are to go to.
• The University authorities will always help you and you have to ask the right questions to get the right help.
• Take advantage of open days in the university or company presentation days and make some good contacts and learn more.
• Take the beginners Swedish language course. It is going to be helpful for you.

Here is a follow up of this post on the .Oppptunities after studying in Sweden

Låt oss vara! Jag älskar vinter och mörkret

Jag kan inte bra svenska men jag är bestämt att lära mig för det är ett bra språk.Jag har träffat många svenskar och dem frågar mig alltid ,
När ska du gå tillbaka till dit land?
Varför kom du till Sverige från Afrika?
Jag ska börja att svara dem som vill alltid fråga oss från andra länder när ska vi gå tillbaka till våra hemland. Jag vet inte om dem vill ge mig en ny planering för mitt liv eller resa . Man behöver inte fråga oss när ska ni gå tillbacka.

De som kommer från andra EU länder fick inte den här frågan.För de som vill veta varfor så lång till Sverige , dem kan fråga andra svenska varfor dem vill resa till Thailand som är också lång borta.

Jag kom till Sverige för jag älskade mörkret och lång vinter, Vi har inte vinter i mitt land men jag vill vara med i kallt och snö. Det är inte konstig. Det är någon som älskar mörk och lång vinter och det är någon som älskar solen. Det spelar ingen roll för det är samma värld.

Vi vill alla ha samma sak

Jag kan inte förstå varfor några personer är rasist eller nazist . Jag ha tur att någon ha aldrig varit rasist mot mig men jag vet att det kommer. Några folk tror att de är högre än andra folket från andra länder. De vill bara lägga ner andra folk för att känna sig bra och trygga.De som är rasist är rädd, omogen och vet inte vad liv betyder. Om du är frustrerad med någon ,varfor bara kolla på deras färg? Livet är vacker för att det finns färg i hela världen. Du kan inte springa från en del av livet. Om du är så rädd , kolla på dig själv och tänker vad du behöver i livet för att göra dig glad.
Jag tror att det kosta ingeting att vara snälla mot alla men det kosta mycket för att vara elak mot andra.Det finns ingen högre människor på jorden. Vi vill alla ha samma sak. vi ha karlek, kompisar, förståelse, äter mat, skratta, älskar vår fru och barn och går till jobbet på morgonen.
Alla de här är vad alla folket vill ha eller göra i hela världen. Livet är underbart att leva.
Om du ta din tid att vara rasist mot andra eller misshandla din fru och barnen sluta idag ! och försök ha färg i ditt liv som kan göra dig glad och snäll .Om du inte kan göra dig det är bättre du gå till ett sjukhus idag.

Sugar and Coffee in Sweden(Fika)

Sugar is sweet and coffee is dark because it has been roasted. What is this thing of "Fika" in Sweden where one has to eat a sugary substances with coffee. Is it really necessary to eat all that sugar with coffee? Every time I fika, I feel really bad afterwards because of to much sugar and coffee in my body. Maybe you share my opinion and may be not. I think the Swedish people should start looking to replace their famous fika with something that is healthy and good. Eating sugar and dark coffee. What is the pleasure? I propose a good sandwich and a drink or juice. What everybody does is not always right. Who even started this trend?

Sweet in winter and bitter in summer

I was missing the long dark nights and cold winter. Now is has come again. What a great feeling of the long nights and cold weather outside. Anyway that will not stop me from from eating meatballs with cooked potatoes. I just have to sit indoors and watch the snow fall and say to myself "wow those meatballs are really good." That is why i say Sweden is sweet in winter and bitter in summer. To know the bitter aspect of summer you just have to use your tongue.

Sweden is sweet

Who say sweden is not sweet? I am a invandrare ( immigrant in swedish).Do not sit there and be complaining. Get up and enjoy the best of it.