Honest thoughts about immigrating to Sweden, showing you our beautiful new home in Solleftea!

In this week's video, we both talk about our first experiences here in Sweden.
I also show you around in our new town, Solleftea And we go on a nice hike in the area.
On this channel I will share my photography stories, as well traveling with a Land Rover and how our way to moving to Sweden evolves!
Feel free to subscribe and follow along :)
Other ways to follow me:
Instagram: / photos_from_a_guy
My photography website: www.guyburgerhout.cc
Music is coming from Epidemicsound: share.epidemicsound.com/ybw9q1

[@larsvarg8502]

Wonderful what you intend to do in Sweden and Sollefteå. You have a positive energy and cool aura. Thank you very much for your commitment. You and your partner are needed in Sweden. Warm welcome

[@lifeof_guy]

Tack Sã mycket! What a kind words 🙏🏼 I really hope we can help out here in the community, that would be so great !!

[@kronop8884]

As a former Expat moving from Sweden to South America I think its good to be aware of something called "The Cultural Adjustment Curve", an emotional roller coaster that everyone moving to a new country experiences to some degree. It good to be prepared and recognize what's going on at times.

[@lifeof_guy]

Oh that’s interesting and yes I guess there is always the up and down feeling and side of moving countries. But I think we will get there 😁

[@marvinjenson2812]

Is your town far away enough from the south where all of the Syrian violence is?

[@francisdec1615]

@@marvinjenson2812 It's probably much better than the cities in southern Sweden.

[@Thebushcraftcouple]

Great video! Beautiful droneshots.

[@lifeof_guy]

Awww thank you! Yes the drone really adds something nice to the videos 🤩

[@stephanie-fh5qv]

Just a little reminder to everyone: Sweden is beautiful in summer, but the tough fall and winters are really difficult. Not because it’s many times -20 for months, but because of the darkness and not seeing the sun for weeks or months at a time. Winter depression is a real thing here. There are so many videos showing the summer, but really people should only consider living here if they can be without natural light for long periods of time. (Perhaps this is perfect for the people in the video, just informing in general since many seems to think it only has to do with the cold.)

[@lifeof_guy]

You are totally right about this! We are aware of the dark period, but that's something we have to experience. We need at least a year before we can really say how it is to life here. That is part of our journey too, so we will see ;)

[@elinlinneabergsman]

So happy for you Guy and Hadassa! And it's lovely to see Sollefteå again in the summer. I understand your struggles, just be kind to yourself during this time and have patience everything's going to work out ❤ much love / Elin

[@lifeof_guy]

@@elinlinneabergsman Tack så mycket Elin 🙏🏼 It looks so different then with all the snow in February! We will be, we know it’s a journey with ups and downs and that is ok 🙏🏼 Are you coming over again for some sunny Sollefteå vibes? 😉

[@elinlinneabergsman]

@@lifeof_guy I'd really want to come to urkult, but unfortunately I can't make it. I'm thinking of doing a roadtrip up north this fall though! Hopefully 😍😍

[@lifeof_guy]

@@elinlinneabergsman Aww that’s a shame! But yeah fall is perfect too! 😁 beautiful colours to photograph 👍🏼

[@LoraStaneva]

I really enjoyed your video ☺ I've been having a bad day and looking at your story unfold so beautifully made my day ❤ I wish Hadassa to get time to recharge and slow down, and for you good luck for the cycling club job opportunity - I think you'd be perfect for it 👏

[@lifeof_guy]

Aww so sweet Lora! Glad I could help you with this video to give you a better mood ❤️ Yes we both will get in the live we want, but both in a different way but still together! Hopefully see you soon 🙏🏼

[@sophiefalke]

Great to see you guys exploring the area in and around Sollefteå 🥰 Adjusting to a new place always takes time - but you’re doing great 👏🏻😇

[@lifeof_guy]

Tack Sophie! Yes there is so much to explore, a whole new world 🤩 and it’s a beautiful one 🥳 Oh yes it does, but that’s ok and will be fine in a couple of weeks I guess 🙏🏼

[@jadwigagraczyk2110]

Congratulations Guy and Hadassa, I am so happy for you and hope you will be very happy in Solleftea. There is an adaptation time needed for sure, that´s normal, in the meantime you can breath fresh air and admire the beautiful and abundant nature. 🙂 Good luck with everything!🧡🍀

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you Jadwiga 😁 Yes we will adapt and enjoy all that is here 🥰 It has been such a good step to do! Hopefully you can be here again too (soon) 😁🙏🏼

[@jadwigagraczyk2110]

@@lifeof_guy I'm so happy to hear that! Your story is really inspiring! I'd love to go and see you guys again soon! 🥰

[@lifeof_guy]

@@jadwigagraczyk2110 Thanks so much! Hopefully a nice inspiration for you too then 😉 yes that would be awesome 😁🤩

[@jadwigagraczyk2110]

@@lifeof_guy It really is!!! 😊😊😊

[@bernardopros1736]

My favorite video in the channel! Probably because it was longer hahaha. Hadassa, you will adapt, relax! Thanks for sharing Guy 🙌❤️

[@lifeof_guy]

Thanks so much mate! 🙏🏼 Haha we had to laugh about your relax comment 🤣🤣 Maybe I need to make longer videos then? 🤔haha

[@bernardopros1736]

@@lifeof_guy 😂🧘‍♂️, yes definitely!

[@lifeof_guy]

@@bernardopros1736 I will make a poll for this 😉🤣

[@CC-Pi]

Really impressed with Hadassa starting work right away after moving as well... that's a lot to adjust to so quickly, think that's totally fine to be feeling that, shows real strength of character which also makes me feel that you will be fine very quickly... great example you have set for others hoping to do the same... nice one 👍😀❤

[@lifeof_guy]

Thanks a lot mate! 💪🏼 We do our best and yes I think it’s normal to struggle beter now and then. Let’s see how all evolves 🙏🏼

[@liannehartog462]

Ik vind dit zo leuk om te zien!, Ik geniet er van, zo gaaf om alles te volgen en te zien.

[@lifeof_guy]

Aww dank je wel! 😁

[@Petyr.Vandrar]

Cool video and good advice at the end! Will take that to heart.

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you buddy! Yeah i think it is so important to do! I feel that even more now I have done this 🙏🏼

[@DaniellavanAmsterdam]

Such a lovely shots of Solleftea, I was there a few days before you. Nice to see the places I visited. Thank you for the advice, hope I will have the guts some day to take the big step. Take care and thank you for the honest messages.

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you! 😁 Yes it’s really lovely here in the area 🤩 I hope you have the guts for that too! I think it’s something special to do, makes you grow and happier 🙏🏼 Go for it 😉😁 Your welcome but the thank you is all mine for your comment 🙏🏼

[@larsvarg8502]

I feel that both of you will succeed fantastically with your life in Sollefteå. I hope that you will inspire many to follow your life and dare to make important changes in their lives. I have subscribed to your channel and I look forward to your upcoming videos

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you!! Yes I think we will make it haha, we definitely feel it is a better vibe here 😁 Hopefully indeed we can inspire others to follow their dreams too 🙏🏼

[@Rob-sailingchasingrainbows]

So glad your both settling and your less snoty 😂 can’t wait to visit and catch up and visit more of these amazing locations … I loved it in the snow and I love what I’m seeing. Thanks and see you soon x

[@lifeof_guy]

Thanks a lot mate! 🙏🏼 Would be so great to explore together 😁😁 yes the snotty part is actually good but also interesting, how much crap do we breathe in every day?! 🤔 see you soon 🙏🏼

[@Rob-sailingchasingrainbows]

I get a sore throat from London and breathe so much better at home in the countryside, in fact if you blow your nose after a long London tube journey you have black snoty nose yuk 🤢

[@lawyerLoke]

I lived abroad for 3 years and it was hard! So many things need to fall in place for things to feel okay, and I missed my family so much so eventually I moved back to my hometown xD I wish you good luck and all the best, I don’t live very far from sollefteå so I hope I can go check out jonnas shop when it opens! :D

[@lifeof_guy]

Maybe it’s not the right thing for everyone, but if you have the feeling of doing it and give it a try at least you know! There is always a way back if you are not happy 🙏🏼 So I guess it’s a good thing you tried it, that’s also growing in life even if it was not what you hoped for 😊 Yes it will be an exciting opening I assume 😀

[@RenayEmond]

🎉CONGRATULATIONS ❤ Sending ❤🧡💛💚💜💖 Great STRENGTH & Big Blessings, BRAVERY & LOVE, Many Mercies & JOYFUL experiences, All the COURAGE, Compassion & Luck🍀🙏✊🏽❤

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you so much for all these sweet words 🙏🏼 Wishing you all of them too 😁

[@NordicLight365]

Gorgeous views in this video, especially the drone ones! Interesting to listen to your reflections of your first weeks here. I was very surprised when Hadassa mentioned only about ~50% speaks English... There must be a huge influx from other countries in Sollefteå then? I can't see any other explanation as English is a compulsory school subject in all Swedish elementary schools, since 1952. Best of luck in your new surroundings, hope you get some nice summer weather and good luck on the job hunt!! /Katarina

[@lifeof_guy]

Thank you! I think it is mainly the older customers that are not speaking English that good, the rest is just fine. I don’t know about the influx actually 🤔 We have super weather now this week so that’s very nice! Hopefully you too?! ☀️ The job hunt, it will be fine 🤞🏼😁

[@NordicLight365]

@@lifeof_guy Oh yes, it's 22℃ at the moment here in Göteborg!☀I'm indoors though, final packing stage, moving day is 1/7.... can't see the sun for all the boxes 😁

[@lifeof_guy]

@NordicLight365 Oh we have even warmer weather here! Like 30! Ohh good luck with the packing 🙏🏼

[@pc1asd]

Maby a good idea to start a new Picasa group? Great Guy. Whe wiss you Both a GREAT TIME. Nu mag ji raden wie dit heeft gerschreven. ;) Greetings: L & K.

[@lifeof_guy]

@@pc1asd Haha ja laten we dat doen! Komen jullie ook 😉 Dank jullie wel ❤️

[@andreasnorlin5501]

I'm from the High Coast and Örnsköldsvik. Great video, Guy. I was in the military service there in Sollefteå. Great time of my life. There was a pizza war in the town around this time. The price was down to 24 SEK. Happy times! ;-)

[@lifeof_guy]

Tack så mycket! That’s a beautiful area 🤩 Yes the military gives something special that adds to your life 🙏🏼 I have been in the service in the Netherlands 😊 Oh that’s super cheap! Haha how can they even make a pizza for that price?? 🙈

[@andreasnorlin5501]

@@lifeof_guy Remember, it was a pizza war. I was recently to Harleem outside of Amsterdam. Amazing town. Ahh, the beers tasted so good in the sun!

[@lifeof_guy]

@@andreasnorlin5501 Ahh cool! So we changed countries for a while 😉 maybe you understand why I moved to Sweden now haha 🤣

[@DonidorBackup]

This kinda begs the question; as a soldier at the time, did you fight on the front line of the pizza war? I guess everyone except the pizza places won? 😂

[@andreasnorlin5501]

@@DonidorBackup Both sides won! Peace talks around the most cheap kebab pizza in the city 🙂

[@TheresaLawrence-wx4mq]

Thank you Guy ! I'm trying to learn everything I can about Solleftea and it was magic to find this tonight, so meaningful . Is there a juicebar or an organic food store in town ? ❤😊

[@lifeof_guy]

Hey Theresa, oh do you want to come over to? 😉 No we haven’t seen a juice bar (maybe start one 😉) organic food you can find in the supermarkets, but not as much as we could in the Netherlands.. but maybe there are other ways to get that with more investigation 🤔

[@TheresaLawrence-wx4mq]

@@lifeof_guy Thank you ! Yes , I am trying to get there very soon , I imagine there's local farmers who sell things fresh . I wonder if there is a farmer's market ? Thank you so much for answering my comment and I wish you guys really good luck with your new life, you are really off to a good start ! 😊 ❤

[@joeptroep1201]

Yessss I will understand your girlfriend... What's exactly her name? Many many things on her heat, too much in a short time. Everything comes now together..... But yes respect girl... Superrrrr... So nice to here that you love it there.. Thnks for your story... And the beautiful pictures. I say it again respect❤.. For both. I'll hope you will understand my English... Duolingo makes me a little bit clever? Is that the right word? 😂 Bey bey see you next week🎉 Groetjes van Christiene

[@lifeof_guy]

Hadassa is doing great with all the new things she is dealing with at work. But luckily she feels good besides that 🙏🏼 Thank you auntie 😁 Haha Duolingo we also use for Swedish 😉 Thanks for your kind words 🥰

[@factsy7042]

I think even most Swedes don't understand how long Sweden is😀Sweden is as long as from Dusseldorf Germany to Tunis in Tunisia😲

[@lifeof_guy]

It is super big!! Huge amounts of nature 😁🤩

[@Sancto58]

"The name Hadassah (Heb. הדסה) was one of the names of Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story, and is now given to Jewish girls." I rest my case.

[@lifeof_guy]

A beautiful name 😁

[@Sancto58]

@@lifeof_guy Varför jag reagerade på att hon tillhör "Guds utvalda folk" vilket väl kanske även du gör, är för att det är de som ligger bakom massinvasionen till Europa och Sverige och med den "den berikande mångkulturen", bara för att nämna George Soros, Barbara Lerner Spectre, Klaus Schwab, Ursula von der Leyen.

[@meteerbil2078]

Nowdays we read english in school from year 3. When i went to school it was from 4th grade. (Im 58). "Around 90 percent of the population in Sweden state that they can hold a conversation in English." SVD 2017 (SVD, svenska dagbladet, swedish newspaper). So i would say its hard to find someone that not understand english here.

[@lifeof_guy]

It is especially with the older customers at my girlfriends work, outside of this yes almost every one is speaking really good English 👍🏼

[@erik....]

I don't know where you're from but Sollefteå is out in the middle of nowhere, the 60+ people there has basically never spoken english more than maybe ordered a beer in Mallorca, unless they worked at the gas station or similar.

[@lifeof_guy]

@@erik.... We are from the Netherlands. Yes I think it is mostly with the elderly people. We will get there and will learn Swedish for sure 😁

[@erik....]

@@lifeof_guy yes :) i was thinking about the first comment, that may be true in bigger cities that 90% knows english but not up here, i live pretty close to Sollefteå.

[@lifeof_guy]

@@erik.... Ah cool! Then you know how all is here 👍🏼😉 But hopefully SFI can start soon 🙏🏼

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

A bit of bad luck with the English, in most parts of Sweden everybody speaks it to a fairly good level, I think we're number 3 in the world of fluency in English as a second language. The main problem for immigrant learning Swedish seems to be that we switch to English once we hear that they don't speak good Swedish, so they rarely get to practice.

[@lifeof_guy]

@@matshjalmarsson3008 True! Switching to English happens quickly, but we will learn it soon enough when doing SFI classes 👍🏼 Yes most are really good in English, I think it’s more the elderly people here that doesn’t speak that good English

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

@@lifeof_guy The old, and rurals, or as we'd say "lantisar", they don't get exposed to English as much so they forget it. And as for the elderly, my father for example studied German as his second language and English as his third. Some people of that generation didn't study any foreign languages. So yeah, I can see that speaking English with people in the countryside, and elders in particular could be problematic

[@GeneRauXxX]

please compare both countries netherlands and sweden, when you have enough knowledge.

[@lifeof_guy]

Will do! But that takes a few months or maybe longer to know completely 😉

[@GeneRauXxX]

@@lifeof_guy take your time 😃 I wanted to move to the netherlands or sweden, later decided to move to sweden bc it seemed easier but cold. but still I couldn't manage to do so. I am really wondering difference between two countries and your motivation. thank you for sharing your journey.

[@stephanie-fh5qv]

I would say it takes some years to have a clear picture of another country in order to compare. Beeing through many different situations before it’s possible to give a fair comparation. (Saying this as someone who has also loved and have many friends who have moved countries several times.)

[@lifeof_guy]

@@GeneRauXxX Why couldn't you manage to do it? I think in one year I can say how all feels through all seasons, cause summer is fine almost everywhere haha. But yes the winters here will be different than the ones we know in the Netherlands. We do not really have a winter. But I will keep sharing my experiences and feelings throughout my video's.

[@GeneRauXxX]

@@lifeof_guy I simply couldn't decide where to go thus I didn't learn the languages, in my profession I need to be able to speak the local language (I'm a medical doctor) I am still beginner at Swedish.

[@alexanderwingeskog758]

Even though Sweden is "small" it has latitude... it is "northern" Sweden even though on the map of Sweden it's not that far up north. So English might not (even though they know it well) a language they usually speak. Could easily move there it seems lovely! live in a small "town" on the west coast of Sweden. Still though I like it here... 35 minutes to a big city, walking to the sea in 3 min. But I do like mountains... and there are none where I live... 200m max... just not good enough :-)

[@lifeof_guy]

Oh yes most people do speak English, it’s more the elderly people who do not or maybe are afraid to speak it. Yes mountains do give something special right?! 🤩 not that they are super high here, they are surely higher then 200m. A few hours more north they should be about 1k high.. maybe worth a trip too 😁

[@kristoferhindersson]

As a swede I'm a bit worried regarding this trend(?) of people from other countries moving here and buying "a cabin in the woods" (obviously not the case here). Not that I'm against people moving here in general, I'm just concerned that people are making lifechanging decisions based on some kind of idealized portrayal of how it is to live in Sweden that they've gotten from instagram or some youtube channel. :)

[@lifeof_guy]

I don’t follow any trends only my own dream and heart. Every country has its pluses and minuses, for me the Netherlands has more minuses so I needed a change and follow my dreams 😁