Perhaps one of the first things you may have noticed when moving to (or visiting) beautiful Sweden is how  expensive things seem compared to your home country. (Readers from Norway, Japan and Denmark can maybe disregard this!) The reasons for this are a strong Swedish krona compared to other currencies, a 25% Moms tax and import tariffs incurred. Also, there are relatively few discount or wholesale shops in Sweden compared to those in other nations. But not everyone is prepared to pay through the nose.  And this is where a site like Tradera comes in handy!

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So what exactly IS Tradera, you ask?

Tradera is basically Swedish eBay. It is a popular auction site where people sell both used and new items. The difference from Blocket, another popular Swedish resale site, is that Tradera is more regulated and therefore you as both a shopper and a seller are a bit more protected from scams. Tradera is a wonderful place to find high-quality low-price items (some new, even!) and to sell your stuff that you no longer use. After all, one man’s trash is another’s treasure! It is also tremendously good for the environment and economy to both buy and sell secondhand.

Ok, so how do you use the site?

Well, we’ve put together  a how-to guide in Plain English about unlocking some of the best bargains to be found in Sweden. Please note though, there is very limited English available on the site. While registration is available in English, the adverts and site navigation (mostly) exist in Swedish. If this is a problem, perhaps the idea of a shopping bargain might motivate you to practice your Swedish? If not, get a Swedish-reading friend to help you.

1) Go to Tradera.se and register. Bli Medlem is an option up top. You fill in your personal information such as your name, personal number, address and email. You also choose an alias in order to protect your identity whilst shopping. From this account you can both buy and sell.

2) To buy, browse the categories (kategorier). If you have something specific in mind, you can search for it in the Tradera search engine. Results are displayed with an image of the item, the starting price (or buy-now price) and the options for payment/postage/pick-up. You will also see the seller’s feedback. Be wary of a seller with low feedback points (out of 5). Bad feedback points will be lower than 4.5. Perhaps this seller is not describing the items’ condition or does not send items quickly or sends them packed inappropriately.

3) Once you find your item, check to see if it is an auction or if it is a buy-now item. If it is a buy-now item and the price is right, check to see what the payment options are. Some sellers only mail items. Others allow for in-person pick-up. Payment can vary from PayPal to Plus Giro and bank transfers (all are much easier to do than they sound!). That is a very big difference from cash-payment/in-person pick-up Blocket (and perhaps a bit safer too).

4) If it is an auction, place a bid.  You can also choose an automatic bid (the highest price you are willing to pay for the item). You can input that manually. This way you needn’t sit at the computer placing 1 bid increments. If an auction is ending, there is often a flurry of bids for popular items in the last minutes. So be vigilant!

5) When you win an item (Or buy an item outright), you will often (but not always) receive a Winner Mail (vinnarmail) automatically from the seller. This mail will contain information on how to pay them (PayPal or Bank Transfer etc) and also any rules or notes that they might have. It will also contain their contact information if you have any questions to ask them or have any problems transferring money.

6) After receiving the item (note: Swedish post is quick and when you’ve got the combo of a quick shipper and the fast post you’ll get your item soon. Yay for quick gratifcation!), most sellers appreciate your leaving feedback on the site. Many sellers build their “brand” reputation based on feedback. If you are pleased with how things were conducted, leave positive feedback as a testament. If not, it’s probably best to contact the seller first to let them know of your dissatisfaction. See if you can sort it out. Sometimes a longer wait for an item has to do with the post office. Sometimes there was a simple error and an earnest seller will correct it for you.

However, it does happen that an item arrives and it is nothing like how  it was pictured or described. This happened to me. I emailed the seller, giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had perhaps sent me the wrong item. She had not. She was simply dishonest. I learned my lesson there. And I left feedback accordingly. I then wished that I had read her feedback first, as many other buyers had unfortunately had similar experiences with this seller.

Generally though, Tradera is a well-regulated site, with excellent and quick customer service. There is a chat option, emails are answered promptly and there is an option to phone in. The reason you do leave your personal information upon registration is so that the transparency and honesty is maintained as well as it possibly can be.

Happy bargain-hunting, YLC readers!

Amy Johansson

Amy moved to Sweden in July 2011 with 1 child, 1 Swedish husband, 2 large suitcases and no idea what she was going to do with her new life in Swedish subtitles. Two years and two more children later, she is starting up a retro­-modern children’s resale store.

You can find out more about her experiences at www.expatmompreneur.com.

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Thinking of founding your own startup but feel like you’re lacking the right knowledge and the right connections? You’re in luck – Stockholm offers several different courses and networking opportunities for budding entrepreneurs!

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Courses

If you have thought of founding a startup but you would like to gain some academic grounding first, Stockholm offers you not only independent courses, but also an entire school for this purpose: Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES). The school is a collaboration between Stockholm’s five top universities. If you are already enrolled in one of the five schools (Stockholm School of Economics, Karolinska Institutet, KTH, Stockholm University or Konstfack), you can choose from a wide range of courses that last for a half-semester, usually around 3 hours per day, 2 days per week. Some examples of the courses offered are “Finance for Start-ups”, “Creating a business idea” and “Managing Your Firm”.

If you are planning instead of enrolling in an entire entrepreneurship-focused program, SSES offers four masters-level courses: Bioentrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Experience Design, and the groundbreaking White Label program. This one would be a perfect fit for those seeking a highly practical program which includes project incubation, besides coaching and mentoring.

If you are looking for a shorter but still high quality option, SSES holds weekend workshops that will help you expand your skill sets over a weekend’s time in small groups of 14 people. Another alternative are the Toolbox Fridays, one hour introductions regarding a certain topic, held on Monday morning before school or work start. Topics for workshops and Toolbox Fridays range from leadership development to word-of-mouth marketing and in the case of the weekend workshops they successfully mix some theory with practical exercises besides giving you the possibility of meeting interesting people from all the top Stockholm’s schools.

Events

The Start-up Day and Good Morning are the two main events for entrepreneurs and everyone interested in startups and they are organized by SSES as well.
The Start-up Day is held every year in April, the date for 2014 is not out yet but it is certain that the event will be hosted again. Being one of the major startup events in Scandinavia, you will have the opportunity to assist to inspirational talks by successful entrepreneurs, build your network, pitch your idea and get feedback from investors.
Good Morning is an annual event on future trends, entrepreneurship and innovation held in November. While waiting for the next one, you can have a look at some inspirational video from the past editions here.

Groups

Meetup is a powerful platform when it comes to finding groups of people with the same interests as you in the area where you live. Some suggestions on the most engaged Stockholm meetups for entrepreneurs: Stockholm Startup, Startup Grind Stockholm and Stockholm Entrepreneurs. Look out for new events where you will have the possibility to share knowledge with other entrepreneurs and build a solid network.

If you have not developed an idea for your business yet, and you would like to sparkle your creativity, you can join the Creativity Circle, an interdisciplinary group created by expert in entrepreneurship and innovation Nina Bozic. During the meetings organized by the circle you will be able to share experience with other colleagues and create a community to stimulate creativity and entrepreneurship. The Creativity Circle is run by volunteers and there is no membership fee to join it. Have a look at the Facebook group to keep updated regarding the next meetings.

Article: Pamela Cominetti
Photo Credit: Lethaargic

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The duty of the employment agency is to get people who are looking for work together with the employers who need them. Though their mission is to do this in the most efficient way, it can still be complicated to locate all the resources Arbetsförmedlingen has to offer. YLC has put together a simple guide outlining the programs available through the Swedish Public Employment Service to help both job seekers and employers.

Arbetsförmedlingen’s General Role and Information:

Arbetsförmedlingen provide services to help job seekers find employment. The first step to gaining access to these services is to register yourself online on their website. This can take some time and it is useful to have someone who speaks Swedish to help you. Head to ‘Skriv in Dig’ to begin filling out your details on the website (skapa konto). Once you have done this, you have 2 weeks in which to attend your nearest Arbetsförmedlingen branch to register yourself in person. Make sure you bring all your important documents. You will then be paired with a service representative who specializes in your particular needs. An appointment will be made for you and the employment journey begins from here.

To get you started on your job hunt they will offer tips for writing your Swedish CV and lessons on interview techniques. Through their website you are able to post your CV, search the Platsbanken job postings and access search engines and links to other job sites.

They also hold recruitment meetings and information meetings with employers where you can apply for a job on the spot. You can also attend seminars about choosing the right profession for you. If you need more assistance, a job coach is available and can aid you with setting goals, preparing for interviews and a good deal more. We will expand further on these services in the coming weeks.

Most of the offices are open between Monday and Friday from 10 am until 4 pm (some larger branches until 6pm). On their website, you can chat with an employment officer Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm and weekends at 10am to 4pm.. You may also call 0771-416 416 , to get support from an employment officer seven days a week,  lines are open on weekdays from 8 am to 10 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.

Even more conveniently, there is now also an app for iPhone and Android, which can be downloaded free of charge. Through the app it is possible to access much of the information provided by the agency in either Arabic, English, Russian, French and Spanish.

Introduction activities for refugees:

The Swedish Employment Service provides assistance to asylum seekers who have received a residence permit. They have introduction activities to help you learn Swedish, find employment and begin to support yourself as soon as possible.

To be able to help you find employment they have to know what you are able to do and what you would like to do. This will be done by collecting information from you in a mapping session where you discuss your education, prior employment, goals, interests and abilities. It is important to bring any documentation from previous employment or education certificates you may have. Based on this mapping session, a plan will be made for you to find work or enroll in school.

An introduction plan contains; Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), employment training such as an internship, or validation of work experience, and a social orientation which will give you a basic understanding of Swedish society. To begin with, these activities will occupy 40 hours of your week. You will be assigned an introduction guide who will be responsible for helping you look for work, advising you on social issues, or with choosing your studies or occupation. It is also possible to receive housing help and compensation benefits.

Instegsjobb (Step-in Job):

Instegsjobb is a program offered to immigrants who have been granted a residence permit no more than two years ago. To be eligible you must be taking a course at SFI. Having Instegsjobb means your employer will receive a government grant to offset your earnings. This can be as much as 80% of your wage, but it can not exceed more then 800 Sek per day.

Instegsjobb subsidizes 75-80% of your full-time wage for six months. If you work part-time, you might be eligible for subsidization for up to 2 years.

It is a fantastic opportunity for newcomers to get into the Swedish employment system, and it is a great incentive for employers. Instegsjobb can be a part-time, full-time, until further notice, employment on trial, or for a time based contract position. Your employer has to confirm your wage and work conditions meet the terms of the collective agreements or they are equal to collectively agreed benefits within the industry.

To find out if you can apply for Instegsjobb, ask your Arbetsförmedlingen service representative when you go for your interview.

Nystartsjobb (New Start Job):

The New Start program is similar to Instegsjobb and is aimed at helping employers find new employees promptly while keeping payroll costs low at the same time. If you hire a person who has been unemployed for more than one year, or six months for young people, you can be given financial support of an amount of twice your payroll tax. This scheme helps employees get back into the workforce.

This subsidy is intended for all employers and is valid for perma­nent positions, temporary and part-time positions. The job does not necessarily need to be advertised in the Public Employment Service, but as an employer you are required to apply to the Public Employment Service for a New Start job for the person you wish to hire. The Public Employment Service then has to make a decision before employment begins.

Start-up Grants for new businesses:

The Swedish Employment Service offers support to job seekers with a business concept who would like to start-up their own business. To meet the criteria, you must be unemployed and registered with the Public Employment Service. They will then be able to assist you with a range of services, such as evaluating your business idea or providing direction in how to start up a new business.

The Public Employment Service in some cases is able to provide financial assis­tance for new businesses through the “Start-up Grants” program. Under this program you can get financial assistance for up to six months while working on getting your business off the ground.

The Start-up Grant would be equal to your unemploy­ment insurance and you could still be qualified for it even if you are not eligible for unem­ployment benefits, but the grant would provide less money.

Swedish Construction Sector:

The construction industry in Sweden is divided into many different fields and a lot of the occupations require several years of education at secondary school and / or university. Through the Swedish Public Employment Service it is possible to attend supplementary courses or instruction if you already have experience from your native country.

It is important to register with the Swedish Public Employment Service if you are a job seeker in the construction sector. There you can meet with a consultant who is specialised in this sector and they will be able to assess what knowledge you have, and then they can provide you with the appropriate guidance.

What to bring to an Arbetsförmedlingen interview?

• ID card and personal number
• certificates and references from previous employments and/or trainee jobs
• certificates from studies
• occupational certificates and/or a training books
• licenses and other documents that the job seeker can to refer to
• *Any foreign academic education should be evaluated by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education.

As a free service to all residents, Arbetsformedlingen do provide many services that may be able to help you on your way. More information regarding the Swedish Public Employment Agency can be found here.

Finding work in Sweden isn’t always easy and one tip from established expats is to really put efforts in to learn the language. Also, keep an eye on the YLC job pages for English-speaking jobs in Stockholm.

Rachel Dee

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What I found particularly fun about this stew was the name. In England the same dish is called Scouse, not a far cry from ‘Labskaus’, but so associated with Liverpool that an entire culture has been defined by the dish. And in New York, the heavily Norwegian-populated 8th Avenue is still known today as ‘Lapskaus Boulevard‘. It’s a powerful name!

Ingredients

1 x 200g beef stewing steak
200g pancetta
4 floury potatoes (these wil thicken the gravy)
4 carrots
1 celery stick
2 onions
1 leek
500ml beef stock
pepper, parsley

Directions

1. Fry the beef in a large casserole dish until just cooked. Meanwhile peel and chop the vegetables into bite-sized chunks.
2. Add the garlic and fry for one minute.
3. Add all the rest of the ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Take the beef out and shred it with a fork, then add back into the stew.
4. Eat with Norwegian flat bread – couldn’t be easier!

As most Stockholm street signs are not in English it can be tricky when first starting to navigate your way around. It’s often said by locals ‘that all roads lead to Årsta’, and for those of you who are currently driving the motorways, you may well understand the joke! Unfortunately, this article wont help you with directions, we will outline some of the basic rules you need to know when driving, and especially, parking in the City:

Driving licence:

If you have an EU driving licence and you are staying temporarily you can use your licence from your country just the same. If you are from a country outside of the EU, your licence is only valid in Sweden for one year. After that you will need to apply for a Swedish driving licence to drive here legally.

Basic driving rules to remember:

The legal level for drinking and driving is a maximum of only 0.2 ‰

Buses always have right of way on 30 and 50km/h roads

Pedestrians always have right of way at pedestrian crossings, so watch out!

You must drive with your headlights on at all times (dimmed during the day at least)

Regular inspections are compulsory when your car is 3 years old, 5 years old and then each following year.

It is mandatory to change to winter tyres between December 1 st – March 31st. Studded winter tyres are permitted for use from October 1st –  April 15th  in wintry conditions and un-studded tyres are allowed all year round.  It is also important to learn how to drive on the snow and ice during Swedish winters!

Congestion charge:

There is a congestion charge (or toll) when driving in the inner city of Stockholm.  It only applies to Swedish-registered vehicles on weekdays between 06:30-18:29. Road toll cameras record vehicles entering and leaving the city centre then send an invoice to the vehicle owner at the end of each month. Depending on what time of day your trip is it will cost between 10 and 20 kronor, with a maximum of 60 kronor per day. Foreign-registered vehicles do not pay the congestion charge.

Park-and-ride:

If you are just visiting Stockholm there are options for not having to park in the city centre. You can park just outside the inner city in one of the 25 park-and-ride services that are conveniently close to public transport. Parking your vehicle here is easier than finding parking in the city; it is less expensive and better for the environment.

To park your car in town:

1. You can lease a permanent garage space. There are a number of parking companies and garages can be found in all Stockholm neighbourhoods, although are less easy to find in Östermalm. On average a permanent space costs between 1000 kronor and 1500 kronor per month.

2. If you don’t need a permanent space some garages just charge you as you’re leaving for the time you have parked. The price is normally between 60 kronor and 70 kronor per hour Monday to Friday.

3. Register for a resident permit in the area of the city in which you live (Boendeparkering). That way you just pay a monthly fee of 800 kronor to park anywhere in your district, obviously while still following the general parking rules. Remember to check signs for street cleaning days, “Städdag”, on these days you will have to park in a neighbouring street.

You can also use resident parking to pay per day, up to a maximum of five days.

4. When using designated street parking to park in the city, pay attention to the signs. The areas where you can park on the street have signs that may vary. Street parking metres charge by the hour, you just pay at a machine and display your ticket visibly. If you are parking in an area that has a time limit make sure you display on your dashboard what time you left the vehicle.

The Swedish  transport authorities do have a lot of useful information on their websites, and you will find some of it in English. Head to The Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen). Also the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) where you will find useful information on road conditions and particularly driving licences and driving tests.

If you are currently driving in Stockholm and have some important tips to share with our readers please comment below. And for the rest of us who feel the hassle of driving and parking is too much, then we are lucky in Stockholm to also have a great public transport system.

Your Living City

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4H is a youth organisation, originally started in the United States and now thriving in Sweden. The goal of 4H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills through experiential learning programs. The name represents four personal development areas of focus for the organization: head, heart, hands, and health. There are over 40 4H gårdar or farms in Sweden, where your child can learn how to care for animals by interactive experience.

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Recipe of the Week: Fårikål
Recipe of the Week: Pannekaker

A Brief History of the Constitution

Norway was on Boney’s side in the Napoleonic wars, which meant, when the wars were over, it was handed over to Sweden by the Danes. Nothing daunted and bent on forging their own destiny, the Norwegians (headed by crown-prince Christian Frederik) declared themselves an independent nation and Europe’s oldest single-document national constitution was signed on May 17th, 1814. Norway was no longer to be treated as a Swedish conquest but rather as an equal party in a union of two independent states. Both the principle and substance of the Norwegian Constitution were accepted, and Norway retained its own parliament and separate institutions, except for the common king and foreign service. This was considered radically democratic in its day, taking its inspiration from the French revolution and the United States’ Declaration of Independence.

Nasjonaldagen (National Day), or more simply, syttende mai (May 17th), therefore marks a momentous day in the Norwegian calendar. It is markedly non-military, usually involving parades of children. The longest parade is obviously held in Oslo, where some 100,000 people travel to the city centre to participate in the main festivities and to hopefully get a wave from the royal family, who observe the spectacle from the main balcony. It is also common for Norwegians living abroad to gather and celebrate, particularly in Stockholm, where some 10,000 people participate every year. This is your chance to join in the fun in 2013!

Norwegian Day Programme in Stockholm

09:30 Music in Kungsträdgården from Stockholm’s Police band

10.00 Official opening by Norwegian Ambassador Anne K. Lund, greetings from the mayor and a speech from Norway’s Prime Minister. Sing-along to “Ja, vi elsker“ and ”Du gamla, du fria“. A message from His Majesty, King Harald V. 

11:00 The parade runs from Kungsträdgården to open air museum Skansen on the island of Djurgården (free entry to Skansen for all those in the parade)

12:15 Games for both children and adults at Tingsvallen,  Skansen. Opportunity to eat laks and pølse i lompe.

13.00 Folk dance with dancers from the Norwegian Folk Museum

14.00 The program ends, but the fun doesn’t! Go to Naprapathögskolan* (Take bus 40 or 70 to Albano) at 10pm for a whopping 17 May celebration!

*Register in advance here.

Article: Farrah Gillani

Lena Granefelt/imagebank.sweden.se

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In the previous article, I described how raising international children demands more of you as parents, in terms of time and awareness. In this essay, I want to take up some of the questions I am often asked by cross-cultural parents; the issue of multiple languages, choosing a local or an international school, dealing with mono-cultural friends and finally, some typical personality traits that might or might not mask a deeper need for being a ‘normal’ child.

‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCKs) is a term that has been used since the 1950s to describe children that do not grow up in their parents’ home culture. The idea is that the ‘third culture’ is neither the home, nor the host culture, but a parallel culture, shared by other ‘global nomads’, who carry home in their heart, rather than linking it to a geographical place.

Bi-lingual or even tri-lingual?

According to Christina Bosemark, founder of the Multilingual Children’s Association, a child needs to be exposed to a language for at least 30% of the time to begin to master it fluently. We thought we would give our son the best start in life linguistically, teaching him Dutch, Swedish and English. The confusion started when both my husband and I (not speaking one another’s languages), would have to translate the latest communication with our son for the benefit of each other. I soon found myself doing the double-language act at the doctor’s surgery and playgroups too, just in case people thought I’d told my son to beat their little Johnny over the head, instead of telling him to share nicely. All in all, it became rather tiresome, and when our son chose to speak his first words in English, we eventually dropped our ambitious plan and turned English into our ‘family language’ (the second most common approach). When we moved to Sweden, he quickly adopted their language as his second, becoming fluent in both. British psychologist Penelope Leach won my heart when she repeatedly told nervous mums and dads; “if it works for you, it will work for the baby”. And I truly believe this applies to multilingualism as well.

Pitfalls to avoid are spousal hurt feelings when one partner feels left out because s/he doesn’t speak the language of the other. Another is getting too ambitious and overburdening the child with more than the 30% rule can handle. Patience is also important, since multilingual children sometimes develop more slowly linguistically. Remember, if you feel you want the support of other mums and children that are speaking your language, then you can either find or set up a mono-lingual mother and toddlers group, using Facebook or meetups. And most of all, keep asking yourself, “is it my need or theirs” when pushing your culture/language on to a reluctant child. People ask me if I mind that the Dutch language was lost in our parenting. And no, I really don’t mind. If and when the time is right, our son can explore some of his Dutch roots, if it works for him.

A Swedish or International School

The drawbacks of international schools are often the advantages of local schools, and vice-versa. While at an international school, your third or cross-culture child will be socialising with like-minded individuals, they will also have to deal with friends coming and going, as families transition from one posting to another. In the local school they are likely to have the same friends for extended periods of time, but come up against the mono-cultural obsession with ‘where are you from?’

Even non-Swedish expat parents consider the ‘local’ school as a viable option to the traditional international school option. And we’re lucky that in Sweden, the land of både/och (and/and), it is even possible to have a combination of both!

The drawbacks of international schools are often the advantages of local schools, and visa versa. While at an international school, your third or cross-culture child will be socialising with like-minded individuals, they will also have to deal with friends coming and going, as families transition from one posting to another. In the local school they are likely to have the same friends for extended periods of time, but come up against the mono-cultural obsession with ‘where are you from?’

Another thing to consider is the Swedish curriculum, which can be very different from other countries. Children don’t start formal school until the age of 7. This gives plenty of ‘growing time’ for social interaction and creative play. You know your child best. If s/he’s a late bloomer, then maybe the Swedish school system will support them better. If academic rigour is important, especially with a view to further moves, then the international curriculum will make more sense.

When it comes to communicating with the local, mono-cultural kids after school, there is often an issue about hanging on to your own cultural values and norms when ‘the locals’ come to play. It’s a generalization, but in my experience Swedish children are not raised as rigorously in the ‘please and thank you’ culture as, for example, English children. In our house I made a link between speaking English and behaving like ‘the English’ (again, another generalization). Approached in a light hearted way, with a sensitivity to teaching them about other cultures, it can be a fun and interesting experience for both parents and children.

Personality characteristics of TCKs

When I teach the TCK workshops, I always put up the ‘typical traits’ of TCKs as a spectrum, or a set of dualisms. For example, being psychologically mature can be a great asset, but if it means your child feels that they can’t ever be decidedly immature, silly and even despairing, then the positive trait has gone too far. In one of the TCK videos that I share, a girl explains how she felt she could never express to her parents that she was finding it really hard to cope at times, “because I know I was supposed to be so grateful for the experience they were giving me, that I didn’t want to disappoint them”. That’s taking psychological maturity to a level where it is damaging to the child’s self-esteem.

…be aware that while many TCKs develop excellent personality traits due to their cross cultural experience, be vigilant that these traits don’t stand in the way of ‘normal’ childlike behaviour

An area of disconnect between multicultural and mono-cultural kids is that the former tend to have a broader world view than the latter, since they have two culturally distinct forces at play in their upbringing. This needn’t be a problem and it’s good to speak to the school about this; wise teachers will make use of this broader experience, rather than feeling threatened by it. Where it gets more serious is with an international child that has had experience of living in countries that suffer from war, famine or natural disasters. They will have a far deeper, emotional connection with the suffering of people there, than mono-cultural kids, for whom it remains more abstract. There have been instances of which I am aware in my role as a councillor, where children have been told by their peers that they are acting ‘over the top’ when new natural disasters or famines hit the headlines. It’s not the fault of either the mono-cultural or the TCKs, but sensitive parenting and teaching can help sort out the feelings of confusion, when TCKs feel made fun of by their local friends.

International kids know how to make the most of their time and tend to relate very quickly at a very deep level. Around issues of identity and even loss, they understand one another better than anyone. Friendships can be formed very quickly and intensively, which is rewarding for your child. However, diving in at the relational deep end with a local kid might not be either culturally or individually ‘right’; before you know it, they’ve run a mile from this ‘intense’ foreign kid. If this is experiencd often enough, it can lead to avoidance of social contact altogether, especially with international children that have experienced multiple moves and upheavals. These TCKs can begin to experience feelings of loneliness and isolation and often need to express their grief at the many losses they have already suffered.

Another well-known character development is the growing ability to adapt and adjust. TCKs grow long sensitive antennas that alert them to what is expected and how to behave in each new environment. Adaptability is great, but when you become such a chameleon that you no longer know the core of your own identity, it becomes incredibly difficult to be centred. It is up to us, as parents, to look at what’s below the surface, to be vigilant for the extremes, and to continue to invite our TCKs to be, if they need to be, immature and robustly non-adaptable at times.

In summary

When it comes to languages skills, it has to work for all parties involved: mum, dad and especially the child. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way; there’s just your family’s unique way. When it comes to schooling, think of the academic as well as the social aspects and make use of the ‘golden mean’ that exists in Sweden: a local school with an international flavour. Be aware of the cultural bumps that choosing a local school might add to the mix and solve them creatively and with respect for your own family culture. And finally, be aware that while many TCKs develop excellent personality traits due to their cross cultural experience, be vigilant that these traits don’t stand in the way of ‘normal’ childlike behaviour. Actively encourage your child to express how they experience their cross-cultural adventure, without judgement and without letting your own needs stand in the way of theirs.

Further reading:

Christina Bosemark’s webpage, founder of the Multilingual Children’s Association

A Home for Third Culture Kids

DISCLAIMER
These articles are a composite of my personal, my colleagues’ and
clients’ experiences in order to protect recognition. All therapeutic
meetings are Turning Point are confidential, and specific content would
never be shared in a public forum.

If you have any specific questions about parenting in a foreign land, or indeed other issues that you would like Lysanne to consider in her articles, please contact her here (anonymity will always be preserved). 

Lysanne Sizoo is the founder and director of Turning Point, the only international counselling centre in Stockholm. In 2008 she obtained her psychotherapy license from the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. She has been practising as a counsellor and psychotherapist since 1997, specialising in the field of cross cultural issues, as well as fertility, bereavement, parenting, anxiety and stress management.

Article: Lysanne Sizoo

One of the biggest flea markets in Stockholm and perhaps in Sweden is called Loppmarknaden (The Flea Market in English). It is a permanent type indoor flea market, located in Vårberg. It is an ongoing flea market and is open 7 days a week, between 11 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, and is several thousand square meters in size.

Another good ongoing flea market, takes place on Sundays at Hötorget; there are a variety of vendors, selling items from fresh produce to small trinkets and clothing. It is great place to get a bargain.

From the end of May to the beginning of October, a car-boot sale takes place in the parking lot outside Stockholm’s horse racing tracks Täby Galopp on Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 4pm. Aficionados of the Täby Galopp Drive-in Loppis say there is no better place to get a good bargain!

However, there are also a variety of flea markets, both indoor and outdoor, that occasionally pop up around Stockholm. To find out when and where – check out the following links: 

www.svenskaloppisar.se is a really great place to find different flea markets around Stockholm and all around Sweden. Just plug in whatever area you are looking for, if you want to see if there is a flea market in your area at the time.

Another great site is www.stockholmsmarknader.se which shows a calendar of upcoming and ongoing flea markets and even several drive-in flea markets, as well as courses that you can go to to learn about the flea market and how you can even learn how to find a great bargain.

You can also check out www.gratisistockholm.se for more upcoming flea markets.

A few tips for Stockholm flea markets:

* Get there early to get first pick of the best wears.
* Don’t be afraid to barter.
* Bring cash and your own shopping bags, most tables will not have bags for  you.
* There are usually big crowds, so be prepared for this if taking children.
* If you are planning on setting up a table, reserve a spot in advance. Most flea markets will have a phone number or website where you can do so. Usually you are required to pay a moderate fee for a spot.

Stil feel out of your comfort zone? Never fear, there is help at hand! If you want to learn how to pick out a real bargain (and feel comfortable enough in your Swedish) Stockholmsmarknader have been arranging weekend courses in how to pick out the gems from the tat. For those that want to make a holiday out of it, Loppissafari might be just the ticket. Three hours drive from Stockholm guests are treated to a guided tour of the nearby markets: a total of 2-3 days of loppis-shopping and a stay in a traditional Swedish cottage to boot.

Happy hunting!

Stefanie Lundberg

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