Thanks so much for this! I was wondering if you could speak a bit about localisation when it comes to being an immigrant. Like you, I left my home country to work at a foreign university. Do you experience any challenges (linguistically, culturally, etc.) in being able to localise? I admit I am always scared to step out of my bubble and use my language skills!
Hi Abigail, so glad you brought this up, it's definitely a challenge localizing away from your first home! For me, getting to know the plants, birds, and seasons in Sweden has been important to my sense of belonging. It's knowledge I take for granted in California, but I had to invest some effort to gain here. Gardening has helped as has getting more into birdwatching (love the app Merlin to identify birds by song). It's amazing how much I've missed just from not paying attention before.
Of course there are language and cultural barriers to understand how things work, norms, bureaucracies, expectations... after 15 years here I've mostly made my peace with it. I did invest a few years of language study, what really got me motivated was an opportunity I was really excited about, to do a radio show on climate politics when I first became eligible to vote in Sweden. So then I listened to Swedish radio, made Swedish friends speak Swedish with me, kind of forced myself to use it more fully. I am very functional in Swedish now but it does take more effort for me (like it's more tiring or harder to understand in a noisy environment). When getting started, it's very helpful to have a friend who will set a timer and is willing to speak the new language with you for 15 minutes even though you're both having less fun (thank you Amanda!!). It does just take gumption and being willing to fail and have to work harder to use a new language (as I'm re-discovering trying to learn French... day 72 of a Duolingo steak whoohoo, but I can't bring up the courage to speak to a native speaker!).
So yes long story short: I do think there are challenges to localizing as an immigrant, and I've accepted I will always be an immigrant in Sweden, and I try to focus my localization where I feel rewarded (neighbors, nature, cultural events).
Thanks so much for your reply Kimberly! I am in the Netherlands so my experience is likely similar given people's generally quite good English skills and willingness to use it when I struggle with Dutch. I really liked that you started with getting to know the plants, birds and seasons. It's not something I thought about much except in Summer when I am harvesting berries from my garden for all my jams. Being from the Mediterranean this was a newly discovered joy. I'll try to pay more attention and try to appreciate my natural surroundings more.
Another point that really struck me is just accepting being an immigrant. I think I only realised I even am one until later (being an EU citizen I underestimated the challenges) and I am only now starting to realise there won't be a magical point at which I am fully integrated as much as someone born here.
Thanks for your suggestion to find things I am more motivated by...I think it's already slowly being reflected in my Dutch skills since I know more words around agriculture and climate then I do about other topics!
Coming from a Mediterranean climate can be a challenge to find local foods that shine... it's a sad comparison between January farmers' markets in California (bursting with citrus, greens, ...) and limp carrots in Swedish supermarkets! But berries are a real star, I met gooseberries for the first time here in our garden and have fallen in love! We make apple cider in the fall (wine has not been a success haha). Good luck with your journey, integration is definitely an ongoing process! Not sure if this applies for your situation/interests, but I got divorced shortly after I moved to Sweden- dating locals was definitely a good method of integration haha! One date has turned into a lifelong friend and brought me into his circle of friends (further motivation/opportunity to speak Swedish in an established social group of all Swedes).
Thank you, Kim! This is yet another newsletter from you that feels so uplifting! I can't say how invaluable that is in times like these - in Germany, "climate change" was no issue at all in our recent elections. And those who care about the most important issue we all face can feel really alone. Thanks again!
Thank you Uta for your kind words, this is so nice to hear! We do need bright spots in dark days and to know we are not alone. Thank you for holding the candle in Germany! x
Thanks so much for this! I was wondering if you could speak a bit about localisation when it comes to being an immigrant. Like you, I left my home country to work at a foreign university. Do you experience any challenges (linguistically, culturally, etc.) in being able to localise? I admit I am always scared to step out of my bubble and use my language skills!
Hi Abigail, so glad you brought this up, it's definitely a challenge localizing away from your first home! For me, getting to know the plants, birds, and seasons in Sweden has been important to my sense of belonging. It's knowledge I take for granted in California, but I had to invest some effort to gain here. Gardening has helped as has getting more into birdwatching (love the app Merlin to identify birds by song). It's amazing how much I've missed just from not paying attention before.
Of course there are language and cultural barriers to understand how things work, norms, bureaucracies, expectations... after 15 years here I've mostly made my peace with it. I did invest a few years of language study, what really got me motivated was an opportunity I was really excited about, to do a radio show on climate politics when I first became eligible to vote in Sweden. So then I listened to Swedish radio, made Swedish friends speak Swedish with me, kind of forced myself to use it more fully. I am very functional in Swedish now but it does take more effort for me (like it's more tiring or harder to understand in a noisy environment). When getting started, it's very helpful to have a friend who will set a timer and is willing to speak the new language with you for 15 minutes even though you're both having less fun (thank you Amanda!!). It does just take gumption and being willing to fail and have to work harder to use a new language (as I'm re-discovering trying to learn French... day 72 of a Duolingo steak whoohoo, but I can't bring up the courage to speak to a native speaker!).
So yes long story short: I do think there are challenges to localizing as an immigrant, and I've accepted I will always be an immigrant in Sweden, and I try to focus my localization where I feel rewarded (neighbors, nature, cultural events).
What about you??
Thanks so much for your reply Kimberly! I am in the Netherlands so my experience is likely similar given people's generally quite good English skills and willingness to use it when I struggle with Dutch. I really liked that you started with getting to know the plants, birds and seasons. It's not something I thought about much except in Summer when I am harvesting berries from my garden for all my jams. Being from the Mediterranean this was a newly discovered joy. I'll try to pay more attention and try to appreciate my natural surroundings more.
Another point that really struck me is just accepting being an immigrant. I think I only realised I even am one until later (being an EU citizen I underestimated the challenges) and I am only now starting to realise there won't be a magical point at which I am fully integrated as much as someone born here.
Thanks for your suggestion to find things I am more motivated by...I think it's already slowly being reflected in my Dutch skills since I know more words around agriculture and climate then I do about other topics!
Coming from a Mediterranean climate can be a challenge to find local foods that shine... it's a sad comparison between January farmers' markets in California (bursting with citrus, greens, ...) and limp carrots in Swedish supermarkets! But berries are a real star, I met gooseberries for the first time here in our garden and have fallen in love! We make apple cider in the fall (wine has not been a success haha). Good luck with your journey, integration is definitely an ongoing process! Not sure if this applies for your situation/interests, but I got divorced shortly after I moved to Sweden- dating locals was definitely a good method of integration haha! One date has turned into a lifelong friend and brought me into his circle of friends (further motivation/opportunity to speak Swedish in an established social group of all Swedes).
Thank you, Kim! This is yet another newsletter from you that feels so uplifting! I can't say how invaluable that is in times like these - in Germany, "climate change" was no issue at all in our recent elections. And those who care about the most important issue we all face can feel really alone. Thanks again!
Thank you Uta for your kind words, this is so nice to hear! We do need bright spots in dark days and to know we are not alone. Thank you for holding the candle in Germany! x
All best to you, Kim!! I use your book at intro to my Climate Change 101 lectures!!! -Jim
That’s so great to hear, thank you Jim!