Bonjour people!
It’s Tuesday morning, it’s raining but today I’m not bothered by those tiny drops on my window. This morning my coffee tastes better and the music is mellower. It’s my final week in Linköping before flying back home. It still feels surreal that I have managed to buy a plane ticket, considering the crazy political situation in my country, and that I am going home. Yet the most tedious part of the whole traveling process is just in front of me – packing! Even though I have moved more than 15 times in my life, mostly alone or with my best friend, packing is always the worst part and the most boring one for me.
Speaking of which – today’s post is about moving and packing. What to take from your home country and what to eventually buy in Sweden (and where).
As a student in a new country or city, knowing that an empty room or a half-empty room is waiting for you, you will probably have the feeling that you need everything. And that’s true in a way, but let’s be rational – you don’t. I think we all, in general, co-exist and live surrounded by too many unnecessary objects. Two questions I always ask myself before I (buy) pack something is how much do I really need this? and does this fit my current lifestyle, trip?
Following is my list of things I brought with me when I first moved to Sweden (generally speaking – but you will get an idea):
to take
😀 electronics (laptop, tablet, phone, speakers, chargers, etc.)
😀 clothes (be super smart with this one, since you can buy almost everything in Sweden)
😀 medications (analgesics, antipyretics, vitamin supplements, etc.; in Sweden they are expensive)
😀 cosmetics&toiletries (in Sweden the offer is a bit different than in the rest of Europe and definitely more expensive than e.g in Austria)
😀 documents+money
😀 favorite coffee or spices
to buy (in Sweden)
🙁 bedsheets and blankets
🙁 towels
🙁 books (in a paper form)
🙁 cutlery
🙁 extension cords
🙁 artsy stuff
🙁 stationery things
🙁 winter clothes
The good thing is that all non-essentials you can buy in Linköping as a second-hand! From your bicycle ’till sofa and whatnot. FB group ”ESN Linköping Flea Market” offers daily various things for funny prices! It is very common that students who are leaving Sweden, after their semester is over, sell all their belongings on this FB page. Therefore join the group and buy/sell according to your needs. And if you don’t like second hand, there is always IKEA or ÅHLENS.
If you need some stuff like batteries, extension cords, wall paint or bicycle accessorize a good place is Clas Ohlson.
If you want to play a room decorator and save some money go to the Dollarstore (close to IKEA) 🙂 On this address you can buy various hobby accessories, candles, cosmetics, and even some weird tasty snacks.
Another very good store for almost everything is located in the city center and its called Öob. Here you can buy stuff for the kitchen, bathroom, stationary things, travel essentials, candies, coffee, etc.
One thing that you should have probably in mind is that all of this is just transitory. Most likely you will not live more than 1 or 2 years at your Swedish address and everything you bought and put in your room, you will have to sell or give to someone.
Every time I had an opportunity to change my living space and surrounding I felt like a painter in front of the white, empty canvas with a thought > another opportunity to play and to create something new, fresh. Moving to a new country, city or even just a new room is a beautiful opportunity to re-invent yourself and your personal space, to try something new or to upgrade existing. Don’t hesitate to play 🙂

These days only Sonder is making my company. I love it when you accidentally discover one song and that song brings you on the plate the whole new musical cosmos.
Permanent Record by E.Snowden is something I am listening during my walks and I am almost at the end of the audiobook. I think this book should be read by everyone and if not the podcast episode hosted by J.Rogan w/ Snowden is a nice starting point; to warm you up for the whole surveillance topic.
Enjoy the summertime 🙂
Until next post!
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