Sportlov isn't what it sounds like

So it turns out I was visiting during Swedish school's Sportlov break. Sport+love=sportlov, right? Nope. "Lov" means vacation... So, the Swedish equivalent of Spring break, where they watch 63,200 ordinary Swedes participate in Vasaloppet (vaguely related to Sweden's odd independence story from the early 1500s), trekking 90km on cross country skis.

Let's move on to what you actually want to know!
Bright and early Monday (12pm) went to the Migrationsverket office (Swedish Immigration Board). They are only open 12pm-3pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Logically. Waited in a gigantic line there for just under 3 hours (nearly their full opening hours). Took 2 minutes at the desk to have my photo taken, my passport scanned, and my fingerprints stored. The purpose of this was to have an accepted card which states I am accepted as a two-year temporary resident in Sweden.

Friday, this little pink card arrived in the mail (whew). Took it directly to Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) who thankfully have longer operating hours (10a-4pm Monday to Friday) but unfortunately who are no more efficient than the Migrationsverket office. Waited there for two and a half hours. Again, spent two minutes at the desk, to only have my passport and my newly minted pink residence permit card scanned, and got a reply of "you will get a number in the mail in some weeks". OK. Just what I expected and hoped for, actually.

And, those were the highlights of the week. Had nice visits with some old friends, and filled up the storage area in the apartment with another few dozen kilos of stuff. And now, it's time to get back to work catching up on two weeks worth of emails, readings, assignments, and all the rest... hopefully at least I'll be adjusted quickly! Woke up at 6am today which is not too far off from where I need to be, jet-lag wise.

So, if you're wondering what the next steps are, in brief...
1. When the "personnummer" (aka Tax Number) comes in the mail, I:
- send a letter to those in charge of health services to 'sign up for'/'activate' health coverage
- go online on March 15 to check out available courses for 2013/14 school year, and pick a selection within a month's time
2. Pack up my room and my bags and head home to North Van in mid-April
3. Re-pack and head down to Seattle for my IcelandAir flight on April 25th
4. When I get there... I:
- go to a bank with my shiny new tax number and permit card, and get an online bank account
- head over to the official Swedish Employment Office, who will help me find a job, and may accept me into their "Shortcut" Swedish training & paid job placement program for new immigrants with university degrees
- head BACK to the tax agency to wait in more lines, and get my "official" photo and fingerprings made into an "official" ID card.

So, that's my process. I don't expect to have any issues, and I've got the tax number coming, which was the big reason for my trip! Success overall. Now I just have to find somewhere in the apartment to keep my shoes...


Here's a link to the photos on facebook
And a selection below.

Meeting Vickan / Victoria

our table

Fredrik looking like Dexter sharpening a knife

little Vickan chillaxing on our couch

some shots of Uppsala

fika :)

early morning view from apartment window

family visit :)