I've been back for two months officially now. I figured it would be appropriate to post about what I've been thinking about lately, and about what I've learned in the past two months. I have had so many positive experiences, and learned so many new things, and had to adjust my way of thinking more than once. I feel that now is the time to look back and share all those things with everyone else!
Its a bit interesting being able to officially say that I live here now. When I was here before I could only say that I was visiting. I actually am proud to say that I live here, and that I am not just visiting. Its been a bit of a journey, but since I made it back I can say that I am very happy.
I would say that I have definitely had to make some adjustments in the way that I live, even from when I was visiting here. I know that when I was visiting I had to make a LOT of adjustments, because things are VERY different here, but I also have learned that it is quite different visiting here as opposed to living here.
Its still strange to me that I have been here for two months. This time has gone by so fast. Sometimes it feels like I never went home and I've just been here for a long time. Other times it feels like I just got here yesterday.
Its been a long journey for me to get this far. I have to say that its not easy being away from family and all those back home. I miss everyone each and every day. Its taking some getting used to not to be able to call them whenever I want, or not to be able to see their face all the time. I would love to see everyone more often, but I would never give up being here. This is where I am meant to be. This is home for me.
I think that being here has taught me a lot about life. I have learned how to be a calmer person. I am not nearly as loud as I was back home, and I can't talk nearly as fast. I have learned to get over my pride and just speak! Sometimes I will make mistakes, but if I don't speak in Swedish, I won't learn how to. Its been tough, because I have been so self conscious of my skills. I am used to being able to speak English fluently, and people understanding, obviously, and if I needed to fall back on my Spanish skills, I was able to. Here Spanish doesn't do me much good, I can speak English here, but it limits me. There are a lots of people here who understand English, but won't speak it. (I used to do the same thing with Swedish. I was able to understand, but unable to speak.) Now I am able to speak, and I am pretty proud of my skills. I will probably upload a video in Swedish sometime this weekend so that everyone can see how much I have improved. (I will of course add subtitles to it in English) I like speaking Swedish, especially when I go out! I have managed to impress quite a few people. Especially when out shopping. I have learned how to let people know that I don't speak much Swedish and then go on to try to explain in Swedish what I need help with. Sometimes it is a bit easier to explain in English, sometimes if they don't understand what I am asking for, they ask if I speak English, but usually they just listen and then help me with what I need, and then compliment me on my Swedish. Especially when I tell them that I just moved here two months ago, and haven't started SFI yet.
On the note of SFI, I actually got the letter on my anniversary of being here for two months (October 2nd) that said that I am to report to class on Monday morning! So FINALLY I am able to start SFI. I am SO excited! IT will be fantastic. I am so excited for that. It will be a LOT of work, but it will be worth it in the end. After I get done with SFI then I have to take two more Swedish classes (Svenska A and Svenska B) at komvux... (Komvux is sort of like a community college equivalent.) Then I will be able to take any classes that didnt transfer from back home, and then I can start university here. It will take me a while, and I so plan on taking more Swedish even when I get into university, but I will definitely be able to get a job after I get done with SFI. It definitely doesnt hurt that I will get a nice paycheck after SFI either. I get paid about 2,000 to learn the language! I was planning to learn it anyways, this is just a nice bonus.
I think that soon I will make more friends, and get a job. I want to get a job, but it is definitely not easy when I don't speak enough Swedish to have a good conversation. I know that soon after I start SFI my skills will improve though, so I am not too worried about anything. I know that I already have improved since the beginning of my journey in January. I will continue to get better the longer that I am here.
I am already able to read most of the instructions for the dishes from our "mat kasse," and able to have a simple conversation to open a phone call. Usually it goes something like this: "Hej, jag har just flyttat till Malmö från USA för två månader sedan, och min svenska är inte så bra. Kan du prata Engelska?" (Translation: Hey! I jsut moved to Malmö from USA two months ago, and my Swedish is not so great. Can you speak English?" Its actually very helpful, because then you basically don't wind up talking to someone who doesn't understand English. Its pretty tough to communicate with someone who doesn't understand much English, when I dont understand much Swedish.
I think I should separate this into more than one post, otherwise I am afraid this will just be a giant wall of text. I will end this post here, and then type up the next one. Hopefully I will have that one up later tonight. Although I cant make any promises.. I am also trying to get everything done around the house tonight so that way tomorrow we can go to Växjö and we can come back on Sunday and just relax and be ready to go to class on Monday morning!
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