Parisa Tsang
“Jumping out of your comfort zone is crucial for integrating into a new culture. After the honeymoon phase of finding Swedish culture fascinating, cultural shock sets in. To navigate this, you need to accept and adapt to how things work in Sweden. This process isn’t easy, but with a supportive community, it becomes manageable.”
Is This Really the Place for Me?
It all started with a rejection from Copenhagen Business School (CBS) for a 6-month exchange program. While working on my Bachelor's Degree in Marketing back in Hong Kong, I ended up at Lund University for the exchange program in 2018—my second choice after CBS. At the time, I knew nothing about Sweden beyond IKEA and meatballs.
During the exchange, I met my now Swedish husband. I took a leap of faith, leaving everything behind in Hong Kong to start a new life in Sweden in 2019.
Many times, I've wondered, "Did I make the right decision?" Especially when faced with moments like getting rejected at the local clinic (vårdcentral), sending out 800 job applications without a single interview, or having disagreements with my partner due to cultural differences.
Turning Fear into a Driving Force
Adjusting to life in Sweden wasn’t easy. The cultural differences, rejections, and self-doubts were challenging. But I want you to remember: Just because someone else had a tough time adapting doesn’t mean your journey will be the same.
During my first two years, I heard countless complaints from fellow immigrants: "Swedish healthcare sucks," "The winters are the worst," "It's hard to make friends with Swedes," "The free Swedish For Immigrants (SFI) classes are poorly organized." These stories don’t really help newcomers settle in.
Despite these negative experiences, I was lucky with my integration. My visa and Swedish citizenship applications were processed quickly under two months waiting time. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, I lost my first job in Sweden. After six months of job hunting without any luck, I finally found my current employer through a free mentorship program called Yrkesdörren.
Holding Onto Every Opportunity
Jumping out of your comfort zone is crucial for integrating into a new culture. After the honeymoon phase of finding Swedish culture fascinating, cultural shock sets in. To navigate this, you need to accept and adapt to how things work in Sweden. This process isn’t easy, but with a supportive community, it becomes manageable.
That's how I discovered International Citizen Hub Lund five years ago. They organize various programs and networks to help newcomers settle in more easily. So make sure to utilize and connect with these networks and resources!
Let’s Connect!
After five years in Sweden, I now call it my home and I love this place. Thanks to this move, I've gained perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise. Currently, I work as the COO at Frank Valiant, a communication consultancy in Malmö, while also pursuing my gardener’s dream of selling homegrown flower bouquets. I'm a big cat lover, contemporary dancer, and a master of dad jokes (I promise they're funny).
If you want to grab a coffee or lunch to talk about your challenges, work, gardening, cats, or life in general, let's connect! I'm happy to help where I can.
Wish you luck!
/Parisa Tsang
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