Step-by-step in Sweden: U-turn

Oh how I despise U-turns.  My passengers find it even more irritating and end up blaming me for making such a stubborn choice which caused me to make such a sharp U-turn in the first place.  The worst part is when you end up being in the same place, realizing you have been wasting your critical time going around circles. 

Looking at my previous post “Step-by-step in Sweden: Checklist”, it seems as if I am getting absolutely nowhere.  I had 4 goals listed: 1, get a job, 2, get educated in Swedish, 3, get a Swedish driver’s license, and 4 get a permanent residence permit.   Among the 4, I checked #4.  So that’s deleted off my list.  Now I will add a new #4, and I will get back to that later.  Next, I half-checked #1 and #2 because, apparently, they were “in progress.”  Let’s not forget #3.  Something that will remain unchecked for a while.  Almost two months have passed and I will tell you all about my sudden U-turn which caused #1 through #3 to be fully unchecked. 

Never got the job

I thought I got hired by Lycamobile after that super short interview I had with the quiet Sri Lankan guys.  They sure did give me the date to start working, so I thought everything was final.  What I didn’t know that they had to get this “approval” from Lycamobile’s main office, which is in London, to get me started as an employee.  Weird.  If they didn’t get the approval to let someone work as marketing assistant, why post the position on Arbetsförmedlingen and many other job search engines in the first place?  So as the time approached for me to start working I called to check up on the whole approval status.  Every time I called, I would get the same reply: “We’re sorry, we can’t really say much about your schedule before getting the approval.  We have to wait for the approval.  We will let you know as soon as we get it.”  So my last try was just emailing them saying whenever they get the approval to let me know.  They said ok.  They didn’t know “oh, we’re sorry, the position is no longer available,” instead they just left me hanging.  I got the point.  It wasn’t going to happen.  I was not going to get the job. 

Never got the course

Yea remember I had big plans for starting this 5-month long receptionist course packet?  Well I didn’t get in.  I was qualified.  I just never got in.  Vuxenutbildningen are in charge of handling all the paper  works.  I despise them because they are so lazy and lack service.  They are actually kind of rude.  I called them a few times to know about the status of my application.  The one that was just sitting there for months.  Instead of patiently listening to my simple problem, they interrupt me and treat me like some illiterate naïve stranger who has no idea about how the system works.  All I know is there system sucks.  I get infuriated after getting a letter by mail the day before my course starts, letting me know that I never got in because there were too many people who applied for the same course.  Even though I did apply early, and I did have all the requirements, I did not get in.  Thanks for letting me know about that the day before class starts. 

Driver’s license

I heard driving tests outside of the main city are not as tough.  Whenever I decide to take the test (which will NOT be this year) I will definitely take it outside of the city.  Meanwhile I’ll stick to walking.  It’s better for me anyway. 

My new #4  Changing my last name

I’m married but my name is still the same.  I was waiting for my permanent residency which I got.  I need to contact Skatteverket to get my last name as the same as my husband’s.  I was thinking more about the future when we have kids.  I need to do that before this year ends.

Refreshing the to-do list

1.       Get a Job

I got in contact with a job coach.  She helped me with my CV and personal letter in Swedish.  Now she’s going to help me look for jobs.  Very helpful.

Also, I have this interview on Sunday afternoon to work at the post office.  I told them I was interested in working as a seasonal employee.  Christmas is coming, who knows, maybe ill be lucky enough to finally work in this country.

2.       Get an education

I applied to a few universities to begin the nursing program starting spring semester 2013.  They are extremely selective, and they will definitely take the smart swedes here first.  I am still praying to get in.  It’s a 3-year program which I really want to do.  I’m waiting for the result.

3.       Get a Swedish driver’s license

4.       Change my last name

I've been sick lately.  That’s just the cherry on top.  No, wait.  The cherry on top is ….winter is around the corner.  Here I am sitting by the window typing, and at times, glancing outside.  The strong cold wind is separating the vibrant autumn leaves from their twigs.  Grey clouds spread like a thick blanket on top of freezing cold Sweden.  It’s 3pm, but it feels more like 7pm.  Darkness is taking over once again.  So depressing.

Story of Aryan 9

Aryan loves his weirdly out-dated, annoying, american-desi family.  He can't imagine living without them.  Especially since his mom still cleans after his mess and feeds him new meals every damn day.  But for the past couple of weeks he has been thinking, "i need a break from these guys"....

He finally paid off his college loans and was ready to chill..

So he was thinking, why not travel and try new things?

He decided to plan the first trip with his old buddy Sam. 

Now Sam's real name is Sammiuddin Shah but he likes keeping things short and sweet.  He's also a bangali-american but he hates bangalies....with the exception of Aryan..his childhood buddy.

Sam does not like Desis, or so he says.  "I don't understand bangali girls."  He likes everything BUT bangali...he's got a big thing for blonds...

So that's Sam.  The Desi who hates all Desis....with the exception of Aryan.

So Sam suggests a place in the world where he thinks the hottest babes are found.

Oh how many times do you have to be told Aryan! 

Aryan:  huh?

oh Aryan......

may God help you.

tbc....

Stockholm Hospitals need to get it together - inside story of Sara

"I have so much pain that I faint from pain. Seven times on Friday, two on Saturday and four yesterday. I have also fallen out of the wheelchair once, out of bed three times, most recently this morning at six ... Had been in pain from hell, the one and a half hours ..."

Today I want to share the story of an unfortunate patient who is currently suffering day and night in the Huddinge Hospital of Stockholm.  As we sit here, with our sane minds, all healthy and normal, carrying out our every-day duties in life, Sara, a single mother of 3, is fighting for her life, and the medical staff is not trying hard enough to look back at her even twice.  

About a year ago, Sara had a failed gastric bypass surgery which resulted in massive internal bleeding, leading to excessive weight loss.  She lost about 80kg within  a year which puts her to barely 40kg now; a 38-year-old mother of 3.  

Furthermore, she suffers from constant cluster migraines.  For those who are not familiar with this, these are the worst types of headaches a human being can experience.  Imagine, it is said to be worse than getting burnt, having bones broken, or childbirth.  Just think of the pain.  And to add on to that, neurologists in Huddinge Hospital classified Sara's scenario as the worst case of cluster migraines in Swedish history.  

Her failed bypass surgery and cluster migraines resulted in major neurological damage which led to memory loss and also made her develop anorexia.  So now she can hardly eat or drink anything unless it's in very small amounts.

Sara has been in the Huddinge Hospital for several weeks now, and during the past weeks she hasn't been re-hydrated or fed properly.  Her body is undergoing severe dehydration and she will soon be skin and bones.  She needs a special mattress, which had been promised to her but never came, just to lie on because her vertebrae sticks out  and hits the base of the ordinary mattresses giving her stinging pain while laying down.  

The most unbearable of all, Sara has been put off of all pain relievers so she has no hope of having her pain reduced at all.  

Sara was initially on Morphine but she was cut off from that because the pain reliever actually triggers headaches, so she was prescribed a weaker painkiller by the drop.  When her attacks came, they gave her sleeping pills and little oxygen which does not seem to help at all.  Everything she takes in are through tubes.  Food, water, pain relievers.  One night she had a seizure and the tube went out, and the only entrance she had to take in the pain reliever got  infected causing the vessel to rupture.  

"There are no more vessels to put a needle in when I'm totally down stung on both arms and feet. Needing a PICC line, but no referral has been sent. Referral to a dietician should have gone away on Sunday, last week ... a week and a half ago...No one has emerged."

"The day before yesterday, I was asked if I wanted something to eat, at half past eight in the evening. It was the first time all day I was offered food ..."

"I have so much pain that I faint from pain. Seven times on Friday, two on Saturday and four yesterday. I have also fallen out of the wheelchair once, out of bed three times, most recently this morning at six ... Had been in pain from hell, the one and a half hours ..."

Medical staffs all over Sweden need to start prioritizing.  This is not the first time we are hearing about making chronic patients wait for nothing. (http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/vantetiderna-skiljer-stort-for-cancervard) 

This is a call for help!

For those of you who live in Sweden, I kindly request you to participate in the petition for giving Huddinge Sjukhus a wake-up call by taking care of a patient and prioritizing before it is too late.  Simply go to this website, http://namninsamling.se/index.php#.UGwnzE3MhoE, scroll down to the red dotted box and put your name and city you reside in. THAT IS ALL.  

For the rest of you who are reading this, please keep Sara in your prayers.  Thank God for everything we are blessed with and pray for Sara.  That is the least we can do.  

Thank you.

Pär Norling wants to ban Islam in Sweden

Who is Pär Norling?

He is the group leader of the Swedish Democratic party in Bollnäs. 

Why does he want to ban Islam?

Let’s look at this from his point of view shall we?

Comparing modern-day Sweden with the 1970s Sweden, violence has been gradually increasing.  Sweden was once a place where almost no violence existed.  Like you can literally count (1,2 ,3 wise) how many crimes occurred in a year I guess.  There weren’t so many people living here either. Now, however, we are exposed to a totally different scenario. 

Let’s say you live in this country and you are heading out to work in the morning.  Once you’re in the station you grab a copy of the Metro or let’s say “Dagens Nyheter” before getting on the train and the bold title displayed on the cover page captures your attention so you start reading about a young innocent girl who got raped, or an attempted bank-robbery that never really became successful.   In most cases, the victim is a Swede and the criminal/rapist is a “jävla invandrare” (immigrant). 

Norling entirely blames Muslims for the crimes. He even went so far to saying that even citizens who practice Islam should be deported from this country.  He thinks that Islam is ruining the Swedish society. Well Norling you overlooked the thousands of Muslims who are mastering the Swedish language, trying to fit into the Swedish culture (struggling) and becoming successful professionals trying to IMPROVE the society.  How about the hard-working Muslims that do most of the dirty work in Sweden?    

By the way, Sweden’s economy is not so great! No jobs anywhere! You expect crimes to decrease?

Supposedly “Muslims” (hypocrites) who are ruining Islamic image.

Honestly, I think Swedes here are very respectful towards women.

I’ve experienced creepy stalkers within the past years in Stockholm, and look, what a coincident, they happened to be Arabs.  One of them I knew was Muslim, apparently.  Now I think to myself, damn Arab?  Some Arabs I encounter in Stockholm are either rude, aggressive, or uncivilized pervs!  With the exception of my husband’s friends, who are ALSO arabs.  With the exception of the Arabs I met during my sfi and komvux classes.  With the exception of the MAJORITY of Arabs I met in the Masjid during Friday prayers or Eid Prayers.  They are also Arabs living in Sweden. So sincere and with good character. In fact, they are more faithful than those perverts I had encountered. 

The Real Muslim

True faithful Muslims will never commit crimes and be so heartless.  Yet Norling and many others around the world blame Islam for the violence?   A few seconds ago I was blaming Arabs for just a few bad ones?

 Arabs, Somalians, Bangladeshis, Bosnians, Pakistanis, Indians, Americans, Swedes, and so many more races…races of every kind practice Islam.  MashAllah! They don’t practice terrorism, violence, rape, domestic violence, and war.  Jihad has a completely different meaning. I’ll tell you what they DO.  They (the true believers) follow the 5 pillars of Islam:  Having faith, Praying, giving alms/supporting the needy around the world, fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan, and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.  They Read the Quran and practice Islam not by FORCE (forcing is not permitted in Islam) but by free will.  They must repect woman! Be forgiving and humble. They must have good behavior and conduct because on the day of judgement, the first thing that will be judged is how they acted with other people in this world (muslim or not).   They believe that there is one God and he created everything. Laaa ilaha illalah. They love and respect every single one of their prophets and they always say after saying ANY prophets name “May peace and the blessings of God be upon them”. 

That’s called being a true Muslim.  Do not mix personal flaws, tradition and culture, violence,race with Islam. Islam is not a race but it is a religion of Peace.  My Islam.  That’s what the word Islam means, to surrender/submit.   

May God have mercy on us and guide us to the straight path, Ameen.

Step-by-step in Sweden : Checklist

It has been about one and a half months since I wrote my little to-do list and I continuously tried to remind myself that I will be able to achieve all these things through that magic word - patience.

I'm happy to share to you guys that I am finally having some progress in this country.  After 2 and a half years, that is.

Let me go through my little list that I made on my previous post:

1. I need a job. (in progress)

Any job, really.  Part-time, full-time, temporary.  I don't care! I just need one.

I lost count on how many I applied for! Frustrating. I finally got one last week! Thanks to the help of my wonderful husband.  So hopefully  I will start working as a marketing assistant for this MVNO, full-time.  I'll tell you all the good and bad things about it once I start. After all, it's going to be my first job in Sweden.

2. Need to get educated in SWEDISH. (in progress)

I see available well-paid jobs within healthcare.  Since I studied biology in the US, I'm really interested in getting into Sweden's 3-year nursing program.  I want to start that in the beginning of next year, which leaves me four months of waiting.  What do I do in the meantime?  Work my butt off.

Once I start my new job, which is within the field of administration, reception, and costumer service, I need to still keep looking for similar jobs.  First, because (as much as I want to stay committed in one job) I have no guarantee if I will be a permanent employee, and second, If by any chance this job is an extremely big pain, It wouldn't hurt to send a resume to another company.  Let's hope it's not that bad.

I couldn't apply for nursing this year because my Swedish language grades came a couple of days after the registration deadline, bummer, which is why I have to wait till next spring.  Talk about patience! I did, however, register for a 20-week receptionist program which will start in october. It's a full-time distance-learning program which will give me a certificate in the field of administration, something I will already be working on, but hopefully with this recognition, I might either get a better paying job or a promotion.  Options sound pretty good.

So that's what I do while I hopefully study sjuksköterska utbildning for 3 whole years.

3.  I still need a svenskt körkort.  (no action taken).

Yea. I really need to get that.

4.  I need a permanent residence permit. (CHECK)

And its a huge relief!  I got my permanent residency card from the Migrationsverket last month.  Now i regret making a stupid ID-card for 400sek.  But I am sure Swedes still prefer the typical ID over an alien residency card.

~~~

So that's what's going on!

We are still in the month of Ramadan, where all Muslims fast from dawn  till sunset, and doing that in Sweden at this time of the year is a major test! 20 hours!

I would sit in front of the table filled with delicious food, fresh fruits and refreshments right before sunset and sometimes it seems that the minutes will never move.  I think of how hard it is to be patient and wonder how everything in life is like this.  There is never an easy way out.  If you want something great, you can't just grab it and digest it.  We earn through hardship, and only then do we fully appreciate the value of something so special.  So when the sun suddenly sets, I appreciate that table full of food that some people don't even get a piece of in a day.  All that patience and hardship pays off when Sweden's cool refreshing water goes down my throat. I love Sweden's water!

So that's how I think of it.  Life here is progressing for me.  Working hard will get me to the place I want to be.  

Step-by-step in Sweden

I’m finally done with the basics.  That is to say, I have finally completed the Swedish language.  All those SFI courses, grund courses, and Svenska B lectures are over with.  May those days never come back again, Amen!  I honestly think Svenska B was a waste of time, but hey, it’s required for most qualificaitons.  

The next step is educating myself through Swedish.  I still need all the patience in the world.  I always thought of myself as the patient type.  Whatever happened to that Tani?   I think I had left it in America.  No worries.  My husband and I had recently taken a nice month-long vacation back home in the warm peach state.  I got the chance to find that hidden sack of patience in my old room in Atlanta and took it with me to Sweden.  So what’s my purpose of being so patient?

1

1.  I need a job.
2.  I need a degree that is appropriate for this country.  In other words, I need to get educated in SWEDISH.  Make my karriär you know?  Not career, silly.   
3. I still need a svenskt körkort.  An American driver’s license stays only in America, whether I like it or not.
4.   I need a permanent residence permit.  Because as of now, I am NOT getting any kind of financial aid.

My dad tells me knowledge is power, and that is so true.  He also says to “always follow your dreams” and I am lucky to have parents who would say that.  But if I really want to follow these sayings, there is one thing I need to start doing, despite all the pressure.  And that’s being patient.  

Just wait and watch world!