Living and working in a foreign country

[Dinner]

JM, go and make sure to marry a Swedish chick before you come back.

[Murg]

I went over to england for a few months, lived outside of London and had a great time. It made me see America through a new light and there were a lot of things I came to question about America, and a lot of things that I took for granted that I really love.

So I would strongly urge anyone with the option to take an extended stay working in a reasonable foreign country to take it.

From a professional standpoint Europe is expensive compared to the US. Your money doesn't go nearly as far. And taxes can be tough. The company I worked for hired an accountant to work it all out so I didn't have to deal with it, but if you were going over on your own I would expect that an equal salary between Sweden and the US would lead to a much lower standard of living in Sweden.

[Jon Miller]

On the other hand, there's only 4 hours of darkness in summer, like right now.

Yeah, and those 4 hours aren't really that dark.

JM

[SpencerH]

On the other hand, there's only 4 hours of darkness in summer, like right now.

I'm not sure that makes up for the dreary winters but you're near to Stockholm, one of my favorite cities (in the summer).

[Jon Miller]

I am pretty sure I will do it.

There is a lot of vacation time too.

JM

[SpencerH]

6 weeks legally. I never took that much but I knew grad students who took more than that.

I wouldnt think it'll hurt your career. Certainly the research there is second to none. The only problem is that if you're looking for a position in academia here you've got to get grants here and make the right connections here. Keep in mind, though, that I'm a cellular microbiologist and the process may be quite different for fisicker-cists.

[duke o' york]

Booze costs a fortune in Sweden. Your call....

[Tear of the Komsomol Girl]

Maybe i stupid. But I think you have opportunity to have new experiences and do other things and only for two years and then go back home. Why you need details from peoples about public transport and toalet bumag?

If maybe more americans had passports and did such then there would be less stupid posts on forums like this.

Simple answer, should take opportunity as opportunity not as threat.

[Dinner]

Booze costs a fortune in Sweden. Your call....

But flights to the Baltic states are cheap so take regular weekend trips there to stock up on cut priced booze.

[Jon Miller]

I pretty much wanted to do it from the start. I just wanted to find out more information.

JM

[Provost Harrison]

Give it a go...my life seems to be involving a lot of work in other countries currently, although not quite on as long a term as yours. I am currently in Mexico City doing work...it is quite good, I certainly never expected this distance of travel when I started the job but I am not complaining.

Watch out because it is almost definite that I will be in the US a lot next year!

[SpencerH]

I wanted to mention that if you go you should take the Swedish language classes that are available for foreigners. I didnt go, but have a number of collegues and friends who did, most of whom spoke better swedish than I (despite my having a swedish wife).

[Jon Miller]

Yeah, I accepted this position and will probably try the Swedish language class. I am also thinking about getting Rosetta Stone software..

JM

[DaShi]

Grats Jon! I wouldn't bother with the software. The class will be more than enough. Grab a phrase book and a dictionary and immerse yourself.