December is almost halfway through, which means that more than half of my project in Sweden has already passed. It’s very difficult to fit all the events of these seven months into one post. Because despite the stereotypes about calm and quiet Swedes, in Örebro—and especially at Komtek, where I work—something is always happening! So I present to you a small digest of the most interesting and memorable moments!
Number 1: The Perfect Swedish Summer
If summer rains make you feel depressed and scorching sun gives you heatstroke and discomfort, then I recommend spending the summer months in Sweden. And it’s not just about the pleasant weather, but also the summer activities! Playing frisbee outdoors, picnics by the lake, the Midsommar national holiday, board games all night long, a trip to a summer house and a forest hike as a team-building activity. The last one may sound unusual, but believe me, spending time together in nature is the best thing you can do with your colleagues. Well, apart from summer work, of course 🙂
Number 2: Learn Swedish Over a Cup of Coffee ☕
It’s hard to count how many foreign languages I’ve tried to learn while traveling to other countries. In that sense, I’m a failed polyglot. Coming to Sweden, I became very motivated to learn Swedish. Actually, the kids at work motivated me—because not all of them speak English. And trying to explain the subtleties of After Effects and Photoshop through body language sounds like something out of science fiction.
Starting from September, I began attending SFI classes. The teachers there are wonderful, and there are many international students who also want to learn Swedish. But even before the classes started, I practiced with the children, colleagues, and at the language café! There are several of them in Örebro—you can choose the location and day that suits you, and chat with native speakers over a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun. Just imagine having this kind of learning approach in your own country—wouldn’t it be amazing?
Number 3: The Perfect Workplace — Komtek
A rather bold statement for the last point. But truly, if you’re looking for the perfect workplace where real professionals work—people passionate about what they do—then this is the place for you! And it doesn’t matter if you’ve never worked with technology before, don’t know how to solder, and can’t tell one microchip from another (that was me at the beginning). The teachers at Komtek will teach you everything, and they’ll make the process fun and engaging!
And if you want to do something creative, then I invite you to my animation course, which became possible thanks to the support of my colleague and mentor Helena. Every Thursday from 6 to 9 we learn how to bring characters to life and turn their stories into reality!
In conclusion, I want to say thank you to everyone who helped and supported my participation in this volunteer project. Especially the sending organization in Warsaw and the hosting organization in Örebro. I am so happy to have met so many wonderful new people, learned new things, and experienced unforgettable moments in Sweden. Thank you, Komtek, for the magical time. You have become a family to me. I already miss you, but I’m not saying goodbye! We will definitely meet again!
post written by volunteer from Sweden – Ulyana Padskalniuk