It is currently the beginning of my fifth week here in Stockholm, and I don’t think I could be happier. It was quite easy for me to adapt to living here, although I was a little overwhelmed when I first arrived. On the first day I arrived, I was quite overwhelmed getting myself through customs at the airport, making my way to the train, and to my hotel. Part of it was due to the lack of sleep on the red-eye flight from JFK, and the other part was due to not having had a substantial meal in several hours. I made my way to Central Stockholm using the Arlanda Express from the airport, and my brain was having a difficult time processing what was going on. While many of the signs in the metro stations are written in English, there is still an awful lot of Swedish to sift through when navigating. I remember a message came across the intercom on the train in Swedish and I had no idea what was being said or if there was something that I was supposed to do. I was thinking to myself in that moment, ‘Oh no, what did I get myself into.’ I made my way to my hotel in Radmansgatan and found a Brod & Salt, which is a local cafe chain. I ordered a pizza before passing out at my hotel. With the exception of that first day, there have not been any major problems assimilating to living in Stockholm. What does help is that most of the population speak English as their second language. Usually, most interactions begin in Swedish which can be awkward when asking to speak in English. It has been very enjoyable speaking with locals here in Stockholm. There is a common stereotype with Swedes that they are often cold in terms of socializing and that they usually keep to themselves. I have noticed that it is much quieter in public settings, but I actually think it’s the opposite. Most people will not speak unless given a reason too, but once you enter a conversation, they are very warm and kind. One aspect of communicating in Swedish culture that carries over into the workplace is directness. There is a lot that goes unsaid and sometimes pieces of a conversation seem to be left up to interpretation. For example, I have noticed that it is common to leave out or not mention different aspects of a project if there are no problems or questions with those aspects. The focus of a meeting goes towards whatever the next priority is or asking questions to resolve a problem. This is different from the U.S. as we usually communicate in a very direct manner, and not as much goes unsaid. All aspects of a project are usually discussed, even if there are no questions or concerns. Often times topics are repeated several times over in conversations as well. Both have their pros and cons. In Swedish culture, it is nice because meetings and communication usually move a lot faster. However, the downside is that it can be easy to get lost in the conversation and miss specific details. I have also noticed that when communicating with my coworkers, there can be misunderstandings with the language barrier. I will be attempting to convey an idea, and it can sometimes get lost in translation, which is not their fault, but the fault of the English language. Usually, the misunderstanding comes down to the specific ordering of the words I’m using or preposition usage that can change the meaning of the sentence. Overall, they still understand the general gist of what I’m attempting to convey, but the details can be confusing. I also enjoy the Swedish working culture. It is much more laid-back in comparison to America. Everyone is still very productive, but there is no constant sense of urgency with every task. It is common for Swedes to take time off for a month or two each summer for vacation. As a result, the streets of Stockholm have been slowly emptying over the last few weeks. With the exception of small inconveniences, living in Stockholm has been nothing short of a dream. I love leaving work at the end of the day and have the ability to walk all over the city. The weather here is perfect. It’s warm enough to be able to enjoy the sun without being too hot. The architecture and layout of the city is beautiful to look at. As I head into my fifth week, I am not looking forward to leaving at the end of July.