My time as a digital ambassador for Study in Sweden

Getting accepted to study in Sweden felt surreal. I was excited, of course, but also terrified. Moving abroad sounded like a dream, until the reality of logistics and unknowns hit me. In my search for answers, I found the Study in Sweden website, and it quickly became my go-to for everything. Funny enough, a few months later, I’d be writing for that very blog as its digital ambassador. But let me start from the beginning…

The beginning – becoming a digital ambassador

It all started with moving to Sweden for my studies. I was so excited but also stressed when I received my application results.

Yes, I am moving to Sweden!

But omg, I am moving to Sweden.

When searching for the answers to my endless list of questions, I ran across this wonderful resource called Study in Sweden. One website somehow had everything I was looking to find. So I spent months reading and learning to simply make sure I do this ‘moving abroad’ thing right.

Finally, the day has come. My boyfriend and I landed at the Landvetter airport. It was 1 am. Our plane landed too late. We missed our bus to the city, and there was no train to Skövde this late at night. We tried to rent a car, but no car rental was open. So we had to take the bus and book a last-minute room at a hotel. A chaotic start to the most wonderful adventure.

The next day, we finally managed to figure out how Västtrafik TO GO works and take the correct train to the small city 95 km north of Gothenburg. As I was sitting in the Airbnb (temporary accommodation), I opened this website again and found a job offer. For the job application, I was supposed to write a blog post. So I was thinking: “Oh, I’ll give you a blog post that I’ve been missing,” and I used my first experience in Sweden to write a blog post about how to get to Skövde from Landvetter airport. The guide that I later wrote for the website.

The first year

To be honest, I forgot I had applied right after I sent the application. I had no hope to get a job right after I’ve just landed to this foreign country. I had never had a job before, so what are the chances lol. I just wanted to give them some inspiration. About two weeks later, I received an email – an invite to a job interview. My boyfriend moved here as a job seeker, and I moved as a student and yet I was the one with a job interview. Talk about making a good impression, Sweden.

I was so nervous, but with the thought of “just be yourself” in mind, I aced the interview. They told me that my application was probably the best that year, and they were really impressed. Out of those almost 100 applications, my little, simple blog post stood out. I got the job and became a Study in Sweden digital ambassador.

Meetups

My priorities changed for a bit, school was on second place because I got the job and I was getting ready for my first meetup in Stockholm. They have booked the train and the hotel, and so I went. I’ve met so many wonderful people over the short weekend, not only the other ambassadors, but also the ‘bosses’ who, thanks to the Swedish flat hierarchy, became friends too.

Then we had two more meetups. One during Christmas outside of Uppsala and another during the summer in June. Those memories kept me going throughout the first year in Sweden. I have never felt alone, thanks to this wonderful group of people and this mission to help other students moving to Sweden.

My first blog posts

With my first blog posts, I was just trying to find my voice and figure out what I wanted to say. I was exploring topics like Safety in Sweden, Volunteering in Sweden, or Surviving the cold and dark winter. I hoped my posts would be informative, right on point, but also somewhat quirky, like Why are there no cats in Sweden?. The first year helped me to discover who I am in Sweden.

The second year

Saying goodbye to the fellow ambassador and welcoming a new group has been a different experience. It’s a strange feeling when you are the one left behind. But I knew this year could be even better than the one before. I already knew what I was doing, and I was there to help the others embrace this role in the same way. That group honestly didn’t need my help at all. The most wonderful mix.

This year, I focused on my content, especially creating useful guides. The most notable were Living in Sweden with diabetes, Guide to hunting the Northern Lights, Guide to the public transport, and Winter clothing that you need in Sweden. But I also tried to document my experiences, like my first year in Sweden.

The third year

I was graduating finally. This is when school became a priority again, as I had to graduate and choose what to do next. The group of ambassadors has slightly changed, and the blog team has finally received more attention. It was exciting to brainstorm new content at the meetup and hear the new, fresh ideas.

I decided to move to Gothenburg for my bachelor’s thesis and later also for my master’s degree. I made the hard but brave decision and chose to study communication at the University of Gothenburg over continuing my education in biomedicine.

This year, I focused more on Swedish culture. I was trying to understand why Fika is so important, what does Lagom mean, and what’s the obsession with kebab pizza about. I have finally celebrated Swedish midsummer and fallen in love with Sweden. I have grown not only as an ambassador but also as a person, and for that I am very grateful. 3 years in Sweden changed me.

The fourth year

No wonder I’ve been told by someone, “The only stable thing in my life is that you are the Study in Sweden digital ambassador.” That’s how it was for me, too. I’ve been enjoying the benefits of being a Study in Sweden digital ambassador and never pictured my life without it.

I thought I should focus the content on documenting my experience of living in Sweden. The writing became more authentically mine. I also knew it would be my last year. The longest-lasting Study in Sweden’s digital ambassador journey is coming to an end. The job remained the same, but I changed. It gave me so much, but I’ve outgrown it. From that confused girl at Landvetter airport at 1 am to someone who calls Sweden their second home…

I’m grateful for all the experiences and connections I have made. I hope we’ll be able to follow each other’s exciting journeys. Of course, there are things I would have done differently. It wouldn’t be a good life without mistakes in it. But I am truly happy that I got the job in the first month I came to Sweden. Without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. If you’d like to check out all of my past blog posts and learn more about Sweden, continue reading.