unfoldscandinavia-blog

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Hi, I am a university student living in Australia, and am looking to study abroad in either Denmark (University of Copenhagen) or Sweden (Lund) next year. I am of Asian descent, and I was wondering how diverse the student population of both universities is. Is racism at all present in these student communities? English is my first language, and I have always had a very diverse friendship circle growing up in Australia. Thank you!

Hello, anonymos! We study in Lund, that is Swedish city, and in our course threre are over 25 different nationalities. Sweden itself is the country with high level of tolerance, therefore I would say that you have nothing to worry about. As for Denmark, I can't tell you anything particular as haven't lived there, but may assume that the situation does not differ dramatically

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Hello, my name Dorsan Demaeght. I recently started working and I now have the opportunity to move to one of the Nordic countries. I am a big fond of working abroad (I myself am Belgian) so I am doing some research on the different cities I might start in. I was curious to know if you could give me soms ideas of how life in the following cities is: Helsinki, Copenhagen, Malmö, Stockholm, .. ? I'm reading your blog and it's already pretty cool. Curious to find out more to make a good choice :) ty

I would say that from career perspectives and companies variety, Copenhagen and Stockholm are the best options. But as I do not know your background, I can't answer precisely:)

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Gym traditions in Sweden

As I am a sort of a sports geek, right after I arrived in Sweden, I explored all the gyms in the city and bought the subscription. Going to the gym regularly allowed me making some observations that are quite different from my previous experience. Here are the most remarkable

1. There are plenty of elderly people in the gyms that I find cool!      They go regularly, do some exercises with the machines, do their light cardio sessions and swim. Here is one of the prominent examples: 80- year lady in the gym of Stockholm  

2. Personal trainers are super expensive, and finding a real professional is a challenge.

Back at home, I used to exercise with the personal trainer two times a week, being just a white-collar worker as the price was around 10 EUR per each 1-hour session with a TOP professional. Here one session costs around 70 EUR, and I have noticed several times already inadequate qualification of trainers who guide people with gross blunders. I think even this guy is better!

3. I experienced cultural shock when seen that people tend not to wear shoes when doing exercises like squats, deadlifts and other basic exercises.

4. Going to the swimming pool - forget about flip-flops!

It is not that in the place where I am from is a total unsanitariness. People just play safe. Here in Sweden, it is more common to walk barefoot and forget about safety.

sources: http://www.ryot.org/un-study-reveals-world-not-prepared-support-aging-population/392881, 

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Best events to expect in Scandinavia in Spring-Summer

If you think that the life in Scandinavian countries is boring, you probably have never been here during Spring - Summer period. Holidays, rock festivals, art events - here just a small list of what to expect. And for sure, we won’t leave you without a list of best events  that will make you want to come to this fabulous region 

1. 30/04,  Walpurgis celebration

It is the day when Swedes officially welcome spring. Buy plenty of alcohol, grab some food to make barbecue, take warm plaid and a good company and go to the nearest park. Be sure that you will have loads of fun because of concerts during the day to symbolic fires at night. Generally, nobody sleeps during Walpurgis. So get prepared to party hard!

2. 1/06-5/06, DISTORTION MUSIC FESTIVAL Copenhagen, Denmark

As providers tell,  the fest is simple: Distortion turns the lovely city of Copenhagen into party heaven. A week of massive daytime street parties, underground night club events and a grand two-day finale at Refshaleøen and the Copenhagen harbor. Wanna party with more than 80 thousand people under techno and electro music? Then click the link to know more and buy tickets.

3. 25/06-02/07  Roskilde Festival, Denmark

Is claimed to be the biggest North European music and culture festival and is held since 1971.  Want to dance with rhythms of RHCP, ODEZA, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM- then immediately follow the link to know more and to buy tickets. Great to know that this fest is non-profit, so all the raised funds will be donated to support various projects all over the World.

4. 9/08-13/08 øyafestivale, Norway, Oslo

If you end up in Oslo in August then you simply can’t miss this one. Great combination of great music and perfect weather will make the experience unforgettable. Click here to buy tickets

5. 3/05 Adele, Copenhagen, Denmark 

“Hello from the other side” of the bridge Adele will be singing to us in May. Sold out from the very first moment, sorry guys! 

6. 18/05, Ludovico Einaudi, Copenhagen, Denmark

An exceptional pianist and composer who will make us travelling through his unique melodies. You can find tickets here. 

7. Mariah Carey, Copenhagen - 29/03, Oslo - 31/03, Stockholm - 2/04

Mariah Carey is a great artist with a great voice and all of the three Scandinavian capitals will host her amazing concerts. Find your tickets here. 

varmlandsdraget.se , http://www.cphdistortion.dk/,  www.thesoundclique.com , http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/,  www.dagbladet.no

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

How to get an apartment in Sweden? Here are our tips!

When you are standing in the Housing Service's queue for an apartment in Stockholm you can feel completely hopeless. In central Stockholm it takes about a decade of waiting to get a place to live. Unfortunately, the situation is quite similar in the bigger cities of Sweden, such as Malmö, Gutenberg or Lund.

The waiting time has increased in most areas in recent years. In Södermalm, the average waiting time for a home through Stockholm's Housing 2010 average of 14 years… and it is not just the inner city that has seen sharp increases. In Rinkeby the waiting times doubled since 2010 - from 4 to 8.4 years for example. And even if you manage to get a place somehow – the prices are jaw dropping!

A one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs can cost SEK 10,000 per month. The same in the town is SEK 15,000. If you move here, you can expect to live innate, live in the suburbs and put most of your salary or your contribution on the rent. But you may be lucky.

So what are your options?

1.       First of all, you have to register in the “Bostadskö” – which is basically the que. Usually you collect one point per each day..The more points you get the better chances you have to get a place!

2.       It is possible to find housing much faster  - if you can accept longer journey times to the city. For example, someone might consider staying in Uppsala, as you can get from there to Stockholm in 55 minutes by train. In Uppsala, the average queuing time last year for a tenancy is “only” 3.2 years. The good news is that Swedish companies usually pay your expenses when it comes to commuting!

3.       The other option is: private landlords!  You can find a of private ads on www.blocket.se and www.bostadsportal.se. Look for “andrahand” (second hand)! These are usually legal; you write a contract about the subletting.

4.       Renting black (“svart”). Basically you can find the same options at the same sites, but your landlord would not sign a contract… I admit I lived once in a place like that and it was a pain in the ass…. You are completely at their mercy as they know they will find another renter in a minute…. So my advice is to look for the second option! 

5.       Or: ask your company for help! I have never done this but rumor has it its very effective!

 Good luck with the apartment hunt, and if you know you are coming to Sweden apply for apartments as soon as you can!

If you want to read more about Swedish lifestyle click here!

Sources: http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/har-far-du-lagenhet-snabbast-i-stockholm/

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Our favourite places in Scandinavia

Nora

Smultronstället/ Söderköping

One of my favourite places is this small ice cream bar (Glassrestaurang) in Söderköping. The place is called Smultronstället and opened in 1979. They have 60 different ice creams on the menu and you have to get there early if you don`t want to spend hours in the que. After consuming a huge amount of ice cream I can recommend to take a nice walk along the Göta canal.

Stendörren

Although I spend a lot of time here during the summers I am still amazed by the beauty of this natural reserve. It`s only one hour drive from Stockholm, and offers a great opportunity for hiking, sailing, fishing, barbequing and for the brave ones even swimming. If you find yourself in front of a gate which leads to a field with full of sheeps, don't hesitate: you are allowed to walk through, even if it is a private property!

Anna

Nørrebro, Copenhagen

Feel like missing Berlin and want to feel a real hipster vibe? Then Nørrebro district in Copenhagen is a perfect place to go. Not only it is the place where more than 50 nationalities live or used to live, but also, it is a  one of Copenhagen’s hippest neighborhoods, with many gourmet cafés, vintage boutiques, and wine bars.

Just several years ago, Nørrebro was a district of ghettos, gang warfare, and failed integration projects. Nowadays, it a is a hidden gem of Copenhagen with newly created Superkilen park, urban gardens, and cool places to eat and go out. Worth visiting during sunny and warm spring or summer days.

Ale’s Stenar, Skåne, Sweden

If you want to see a Swedish version of Stonehenge, then you definitely should visit this marvelous place in Kåseberga, where you can see Viking- era ship monument. There are still the debates going around the real age of it - 1000, or 2500 years. No matter what, this place is a real treasure. Come there, grab some food and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, breathe fresh sea air, and just take your time. As Kåseberga is a fishing port, just in 10-minute distance from the monument you can find several stores with freshly - caught fishes that can be grilled or fried and served right away.

Piotr

Food, food and food - in the end that’s all that matters to me! So I’ll be really short with my two favorite places in Scandinavia ;)

The best place for delicious fish and seafood in Lund, Malmstens Fisk & Kök

The most delicious meat in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District, War Pigs

Fay

Helsingør- Denmark

A couple of months after having moved to Sweden, we decided with a group of classmates to visit Helsingør in Denmark. So, we took the train from Lund to Helsingborg and then within half an hour we reached Helsingør by ferry.

A huge fish is the first thing we came across when walking in the harbour. No idea what it represents but could easily stand for eco reasons. Then, we headed to the city center, which constitutes of picturesque streets with beautiful art on them. There are many nice restaurants and kafes that can even accept payment in Swedish crowns or Euro.

What made me fall in love with this place though was the Kronborg Castle. This is the castle where William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” took place and it is one of the most famous in the Nordics. It is very majestic and you feel like you’re in a different time.

I strongly recommend you to visit this fairytale place and enjoy some of its magic :

Sources:

http://www.malmstensfisk.se/#_=_

http://warpigs.dk

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Sportlov or… Love for sports!

One of the facts that impressed me the most when I first came to Sweden was the passion, almost addiction I would say, that Swedes have with sports. For me, it was quite surprising seeing people going everywhere and doing all their activities by bicycles, waking up at 6 or earlier to go jogging and being that gymaholic. Thus, in order to have a period exclusively for their favorite winter sports, Swedes have established “Sportlov”, which means “Winter holidays”.

Sportlov takes place for one week during February or March, between weeks 7-10 according to the Swedish calendar. Originally it started so as to have the expenses of one week’s heating at school saved.  Afterwards, it was considered to give students the opportunity to have a school break, to leave big cities and visit the countryside. 

It soon evolved into a sport event, where families across Sweden grab the chance to move to the mountains and practice winter sports. Among the most common ones are considered to be skiing, dog- sledding, snowboarding and skating. Swedes are so keen on skiing that they almost start practicing it in the same time with walking. Can’t mess with that! 

Here’s a list with some of the best ranked Swedish ski resorts:

1) Åre 

Åre is located in central Sweden, has 32 lifts and 91 klm of slopes available. It has the best ranking in Sweden and a cosmopolitan vibe and is famous among international visitors as well. Every night, by middle February, there is night skiing and it hosts World Cup.

2) Idre

It is located in the Dalarna County in Sweden and its top is 890 meters higher than the sea level. It is open by April and by then it is quite reliable for the snow conditions.

3) Sälen

This is one of the largest skiing resorts in Sweden and one of the largest in Northern Europe. It has four different destinations, Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjälllet. It is highly recommended for beginners and children. Activities such as dog-sledding and ice karting are included, as well as facilities such as restaurants etc.

Take a look at how Swedes enjoy this active week of the year:

If you are interested not only in skiing but spotting the Northern lights as well check out our previous post Where to spot Northern lights

Sources:  https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportlov_i_Sverige , http://skid-resor.se/sverige/ , http://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/aare/ , http://skid-resor.se/hogfjallet/ , https://www.skistar.com/en/Salen/About-Salen/ , https://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Sweden/Salen.html 

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Cinderella Phenomenon In Scandinavia!

* The Swedish royal family photo

Are you obsessed with royal romance? You won't be disappointed if you live in Scandinavia! The Scandinavian countries are all constitutional monarchies with a king or queen whose role as head of state is mostly symbolic. Since their power comes from their people, it is not surprising to see marriages between the royal family members and commoners. Marrying to a prince or princess is not so difficult in Scandinavia, as long as you are hot, independent and humorous!

IT ALL STARTED WITH...

Silvia Sommerlath became the Queen of Sweden

  * Majesty The Queen Silvia of Sweden

Silvia met King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the 1972 Summer Olympics where she was working as an interpreter and host for the games. They later said in interviews that it just "clicked." In order to marry her, the king said he would choose Silvia over his crown when their relationship was not welcomed by the general public. To overcome all the difficulties, they got married on June 19, 1976 and have three children. Their long lasting marriage has set a excellent example for other royalty-commoner marriages we are going to mention later on.

Daniel Westling became a Swedish Duke

* Daniel and the princess at their wedding

Daniel became the personal trainer of Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. They fell in love, and were married on June 19, 2010, and have one daughter. Daniel was not really appreciated by his father-in-law, King Carl XVI Gustav, in the beginning of their relationship, but after going through "prince school" and learning royal etiquette, he was finally accepted.

Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby became a Norwegian Princess

* Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Norway

Mette-Marit met Prince Haakon during a garden party at the Quart Festival, Norway's largest rock festival.  They started to date each other soon after the party, and married on August 25th, 2001. They have two children together and Mette-Marit also has another son from a previous relationship before marrying the Prince.

Sofia Hellqvist became Duchess of Värmland

* Sofia and her prince

Sofia was a former glamour model and reality television contestant before married to Prince Carl Philip. The couple married at Slottskyrkan in Stockholm on June 13th 2015, and they are expecting their first child in April 2016.

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson became a Princess in Denmark

* Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark

Mary met Prince Frederik of Denmark at the Slip Inn during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney without knowing her date was actually a prince. They were married on May 14, 2004, and have four children together.

Alexandra Manley became Princess Alexandra of Denmark

* Alexandra at her wedding

Of English, Chinese, Czech, and Austrian ancestry, Alexandra Manley was born in Hong Kong. Alexandra met Prince Joachim at a party in Hong Kong, where he was working for a Danish shipping company. After a whirlwind courtship, they were engaged. Their engagement took both her family and Danish royal family by surprise. They were wed on November 18th 1995 and have two children together. She spoke nearly native Danish in a few months after the wedding, and engaged in numerous philanthropic pursuits, including the Children's Red Cross, the Danish Society for the Blind, UNICEF, and single mothers' advocacy group Mother Help. However, their marriage did not last like a fariytale, Alexandra and Joachim announced their separation and eventual intention to end their 9-year marriage, on September 16th 2004. She remarried Martin Jørgensen 2 years after and became Countess of Frederiksborg and Joachim later married Marie Cavallier.

Sources:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sheridanwatson/where-was-my-invite?utm_term=.csj9XymJj&sub=3806229_5978460#.avaBWnG4Q

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra,_Countess_of_Frederiksborg

http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily.4.396160511584257f21800060.html

http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.dk/2012/11/wedding-wednesday-princess-alexandra-of.html

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/241998179949553199/

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

how much money i need to live there for 15 days from greece in august 2016?(tickets,hotel etc).Iam Speech therapist 38 yold and i am interested about special education in scandinavia.

Hi! It really depends... from Athens you can book retur tickets to Stockholm for about 140 Eur. If you cook for yourself while you are here food would cost around 100-150 Eur/ 2 weeks, if you plan to eat out it can easily go up to 300 Eur or even more. Hotels in Stockholm are quite expensive, you can find the prices at: booking.com, or you can try renting an apartment/ room from airbnb...

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Eurovision. It’s a big thing in Scandinavia!

I believe that the popularity of that European song contest differs from year to year when it comes to individual European countries. For example in Poland, where I’m from, I don’t think the contest has ever been extremely popular. Maybe apart from those two little times when we finished number two in 1994 and number seven in 2003. At the same time, Sweden has participated in the contest 55 times with total of six victories, making it one of the most successful nations in the Eurovision.

 In Sweden the actual contest is only a cherry on the top of all the battles the singers need to fight before being selected for the countrywide representative. It all starts by Melodifestivalen Tour that comprises of six shows. Each of them takes place in a different Swedish city. This year, the road to Eurovision for 28 Swedish singers looks like that:

4 Semi-finals:

- the first one in Gothenburg on 6th February

- the second in Malmö on 13th February

- the third in Norrköping on 20th February

- the last one, fourth, in Gävle on 27th February (yes, you can still make it!)

Then, there will be a second chance round in Halmstad on 5th March, and in the end, on the 12th March in Stockholm, the country representative will be selected during the finals. The actual Europe wide contest will be held from 10th to 14th May in Stockholm.

Personally, I think it’s extremely nice that the process of the country representative selection is long and Swedes are so much eager to follow it. I actually find it even more interesting than the actual contest in itself. Thanks to the structure of the Swedish selections, more cities get the chance to host the event.

 And finally take a look at the Sweden’s first Eurovision victory in 1974. If it weren’t for that one, probably Abba would spend a little longer to get the international recognition it has now.

If you need guidelines on how to get to Scandinavia check it out here on our blog!

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest; http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=sweden_who_will_compete_in_melodifestivalen_2016; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

What to expect when you are invited to a party in Sweden?

Are you new in Sweden and just got invited to a Swedish party? Here are some guidelines to blend in perfectly!

 1.     Be on time

Punctuality is important when you move to the cold Scandinavia. If a party starts at 20.00 pm then you`d better arrive at 20.00 pm!

 2.     Shoes off & Greeting

You just entered your friend`s place, and you are noticing that everyone is taking off their shoes? I know, it is a weird habit… but that`s how it is done here- Swedes just don't wear shoes indoors! So just make sure your sock doesn`t have a hole! :D Be also prepared that it is quite common to hug your host in Sweden, actually, it is more common than shaking hands.

 3.     BYOB - Bring your own booze

It is quite common – especially among students – to organise a BYOB party (this way the host won`t go bankrupt due to the high alcohol prices). As the liquor store – known as Systembolaget - closes at 3 pm even on Saturday, and there is nowhere else to buy alcohol after this time you`d better plan ahead and purchase your drink.

Don`t forget your ID: until u look like someone over 30, the employees are obligated to ask for it. It is legal to drink when you are over 18, but to buy alcohol is only allowed over the age of 20.

4.     Pre-drinking party

As I just mentioned, alcohol prices are very high in Scandinavia. That`s why it is quite common to drink some alcohol at one of your friend`s places before hitting the clubs. Prices in Systembolaget are expensive but it`s even more expensive to buy alcohol in the clubs!

5.     The snack issue

There is one rule when it comes to the food - don't touch the last piece of snack! Swedes are polite and they don`t want to be seen to be greedy… Therefore, that last piece of cookie might lay on that plate for hours without anyone even thinking about eating it!

 6.     Clubs

Here is one tip to save money: often when you sign up for a guest list you can get a free or discounted entrance – so make sure to do that, otherwise, it get’s a lot more expensive (easily 100 to 300 Sek). When you are already inside, make sure you behave. Clubs in Sweden always have guards (Ordningsväkt) who will kick you out if you cause any trouble.  

7. Party Boats

Another way to save money is to go on a party cruise and consume some duty-free alcohol. This is quite common in Sweden, there is even a story about a man who actually moved into one of the cabins permanently. He slept there, ate in the restaurants and had the time of his life... He made money on selling the duty-free alcohols in the ports (illegally) during the embarking.

Tickets for a one night cruise are usually available from 100 SEK at Vikingline or Birka Cruises.

8.     Closing time

And here is something I find pretty weird about the Swedish nightlife – clubs and pubs close around 2 – 3 am. This is pretty weird, considering that the party usually doesn`t start until midnight.

 Did you notice anything else what you consider weird when it comes to partying? What are your experiences?

If you want to find out what kind of music the clubs play in Sweden, click here!

Sources:

https://www.kth.se/blogs/johanna/2015/02/guide-to-nightlife-in-stockholm/

http://www.thelocal.se/20141210/ten-things-to-know-before-you-party-with-swedes

http://granbycentrum.se/butik/systembolaget-3

http://koponen.photoshelter.com/image/I0000y.ENn3FfG_Y

http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1488142/teen-house-party.jpg

http://www.dotoday.com/pics/stockholm-sturecompagniet-sturecompagniet--100826974672_n.jpg

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Unfold SwediMen... Literally!

What is the main topic of discussion among women? Of course men, men, men... The other day, we met our SwediMen friends at Lund University’s cafeteria and together we decided to “Unfold” Swedish guys. Since they are experts, we asked for their opinion about dating a Swede. Here’s their answer...

#6 Advantages of Dating Swedish Men

Giving you six reasons why you should find yourself a man from Sweden

1. Let me start with the main advantage of dating a Swedish man: a parental leave of 480 days . The Swedish government entitles each new parent to 240 of the 480 days of paid parental leave, which can be exchanged between him and her (except two months exclusively reserved for him or her). And it gets better: if you are expecting, the government offers free prenatal care and additional pregnancy benefits by taking time off work earlier for certain kind of jobs. I tell you, Sweden is likely the best country to give birth to children.

2. Swedish men are gorgeous. Living in Sweden now for half a year, I can say that in general Swedes are extremely good-looking. Walking around in Sweden is as if you are in men-heaven. First thing you will notice is how well-dressed these Swedish men are. Next to that, you will notice that Swedish men are in good shape, have amazing cheek-bone structures, long hair, an incredible smile and beautiful eyes. No wonder Swedes are chosen as the most attractive population in the world! The more reason to get one for yourself and make some handsome children.

3. Gender-equality and Swedish men go hand-in-hand. Swedes are very proud of the fact that man and woman are seen as equals. In fact, housefathers are very common in Sweden and Swedish men are pleased to take over household duties. Women are able to make careers. In IKEA fathers can even change the diapers of their kids in the men’s toilet! Bravo Sweden for gender equality!

4. Swedish men live in Sweden, one of the most beautiful countries to end up in. First of all because of its amazing sceneries to see and visit. Next to this, does Sweden rank in the top lists of health care, education and quality of life.

5. If you want to date abroad, the odds are in your favour when choosing a Swedish man: their English is great!

6. The sex is gooood, from what I have heard. Swedes are very liberal when it comes to sex. They are very open about one-night-stands and you know what they say: “the more practice the better!

However, even though the SwediMen team persuaded us that it totally worths to give a try and hang out with a Swede, the question now is: how to make a Swede asking you on a date? And that’s the tough part...

If you are like me, waiting for the Swedish guy to say “Hey, what are you up to tonight? Let’s go for a drink” then go to Greece or... just change country! Swedish men are a little shy from their nature and will ask you on a date only if they are 10000% sure about your willingness and positive answer. Besides, they don’t want to violate your comfort zone and make you feel uncomfortable.

Tinder is thus the new way to flirt in Sweden. It is easy to use and guarantees you at least a couple of dates. I would never replace face-to-face flirting but I guess it’s just a personal point of view... If you don’t go for Tinder though, don’t give up ladies! Just drink some shots and go start the conversation with your SwediTarget. They’re tall, blonde and wait out there for you!

Sources: http://pswnio.gr/archives/14649 , http://swedimen.tumblr.com/ 

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Northern lights- where to spot it?

When you hear the word “Scandinavia” one of the most remarkable images that appear in your imagination is probably the Northern Lights, or 'Aurora borealis' to be a keener. As experts say, there is no  “best place” to see the Northern Lights. Ok, there might be one, the is an island in the Arctic ocean,  but I dare to assume that not so many folks are eager to reach tat place. 

The general truth says the following – the more north you go, the more chances you have to see this natural phenomenon. The rest will only depend on the size of your wallet and the desire to travel long distance. And definitely, the best time to enjoy the lights is during the  winter, when the days are short, and the sun is not so bright and active. However, if you’re lucky – you can spot them up to late March or early April.  The fans of the Northern Lights created an online tool where you can observe the activeness of the lights in a real time: http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/

Sure enough, we can’t leave you without giving you some tips on where to see this natural beauty.

1. SWEDEN

Best Place to view: Kiruna, Abisko, Swedish Lapland

As was proven by experienced scientists, an area around Abisko in Swedish Lapland can be called an ideal place thanks to special microclimate. Specifically, we recommend watching it in Abisko National Park, where the 70 meters long Torneträsk lake helps to make the famous "blue hole of Abisko," where the sky stays clear nevertheless weather conditions around.

Getting there shouldn’t be a problem. For only about 150 EUR the plane will take you from Stockholm to Kiruna before you know it. Some travellers managed to visit the place for moderate 270 pounds, you can read their story here.

2. FINLAND

Best Place to view: Luosto, Nellim, Utsjoki, Ivalo, Kakslauttanen

If you go to Luosto in Northern Finland, you can find a Hotel Aurora where you can even get an "Aurora Alarm" that will beep whenever the lights become visible. The signal is getting delivered from the Northern Lights Research Centre that located just in the nearby town. The plane from Copenhagen may reach you to Rovaniemi for 260 EUR, whereas route from Helsinki will cost you 150 EUR

3. NORWAY

Best Place to view: Tromsø, Alta, Svalbard, Finnmark 

The northern town of Tromsø located above the Arctic Circle and is among top places in the World to see this astonishing natural beauty. The city is also known as a place with the most northerly university in the world, the northeast brewery, and planetarium. You can get to this location either by plane (the amount of daily flights from Oslo won’t disappoint you) and the flight takes only 2 hours or you can even choose to take an adventurous 30-hour car drive lasting 1600 km. If booking one month in advance, both way tickets will cost you around 180 EUR. 

4. DENMARK

Best Place to view: Faroe Islands

Denmark’s Faroe Islands is a bit isolated archipelago located between Iceland and Norway, but it may give you a perfect opportunity to explore the amazingly beautiful natural phenomenon.  Plane tickets will be not that cheap – two-way ticket from Copenhagen at the end of March may cost you around 270 EUR, but in return you will get wild nature, marvellous sceneries, clear, unpolluted sky and Auroras. Have a look at what to expect. 

Here is a life hack: if you finally will get a chance to observe Northern Lights, do not dare to whistle. As mentioned in Sámi mythology, it can bring bad luck.

Hope our ideas were useful for you! Stay tuned!

Sources:www.kirunalapland.se,  www.aito.com, www.nordnorge.com, www.vogue.co

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Biking every day and being stylish: to be or not to be?

As I visited Denmark for the first time, I was totally surprised by the number of bikes on the streets. More importantly, it was nice to observe that people use their bikes not only on the weekends when going outdoors but also as the essential mean of transportation. As I learned later, this is quite common in Scandinavian countries, especially in the capitals. The local government continuously works on the infrastructure development, and usually, also workplaces provide shower facilities so you can easily bike to work and shower/ change into your business outfit - it`s not a problem.

 Another busy day in Copenhagen 

After moving to Sweden, where biking is also popular, I decided to integrate into society by becoming a bike girl. However, I posed a question: is it possible to be stylish and bike every day, under any circumstances? I will show you my personal observation.

First I thought that it will be possible to bike with the umbrella. But as you may see from my face, that was pretty stupid idea, unless you do not want to fall on the nearest crossroad or cause an accident.

Then I somehow realized, that it’s possible to bike even if it is raining cats and dogs, and the wind is blowing you down from your precious bike. The only rule I have is: have a proper waterproof and windproof jacket and get fully closed with a good hood. And a hint! waterproof mascara has to become your best friend! 

If you’re into casual wear- here is one of the Scandinavian street style looks.

I discovered only here in Sweden that bike is not a hinder for wearing a skirt or even high heels.

You can always stay stylish and businesslike - even if you bike!

Even if you’re feeling like going out – do not back off! Be bold and put on your lovely clothes and go! 

To sum up, I must admit, that biking is cool! It helps you staying fit, saves the planet, money and time. And you can still be stylish and beautiful! 

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Denmark`s little Amsterdam – welcome to Christiania

Did you know that not only in Amsterdam you can “enjoy” a smoke or two, but also in one of the Scandinavian countries - Denmark? You just have to visit this special place called Christiania in the heart of Copenhagen. 

The gates of Christiania opened in 1971 after a bunch of hippies decided to occupy the area and moved into the empty houses - and since then nothing has changed. It was an opportunity to build up a society from the scratch so most of the Danish people consider this autonomous city as a social experiment. 

When I first entered to this self-proclaimed hippie-town in the middle of Copenhagen I felt like I`m in a movie or rather in an alternative reality. The first things you bump into are the graffiti-covered walls and the gate of the “Freetown”.

So what is it like to visit Christiania?

Well, after you passed the entrance, you can walk down on the “main street”: the Pusher Street, where hash and weed are sold openly in stands in military camouflage nets. Since selling weed is still illegal (although tolerated by the authorities) you will never see the face of the dealer and you are not allowed to take photos. If you are actually hoping to buy something do not even reach for your mobile phone, cause you simply won’t get served. Oh, and bring cash! Obviously, your Mastercard won`t work here. The dealers even keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour so it is important to behave as normal as possible. Keep a low profile, and try not to attract any unwanted attention. 

You can also hang out with some cool guys at ALIS in Wonderland. It is a skate ramp - crafted by local skaters who were invited to build whatever they wanted to. It is decorated with Hawaiian paintings and hammocks. The outside 'Wonderland' drawing from the fairytale is an attraction in its own right.  

When the weather is good I would also recommend taking a walk around the lake (a lot of tourists miss the opportunity to discover it). Here you can see a number of wooden houses situated in a nature conservation area (the historic naval fortress of Copenhagen). Some of them are quite unusual/ funny, have a look:

I really recommend visiting Christiania, it is truly something Danish that cannot be found anywhere else in the world!

If you want to read more about interesting facts about Sweden, click here!

Sources:

www.wikipedia.com,  http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmyf/why-you-need-to-visit-christiania-before-you-die#.hgpLnKNrz http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/christiania-tiny-houses/ http://wikitravel.org/en/Copenhagen/Christiania   http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g189541-d523766-i119561443-Pusher_Street-Copenhagen_Zealand.html http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmyf/why-you-need-to-visit-christiania-before-you-die   https://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/travel-photo-of-the-day-july-31-2/

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Fika time!

To be honest, I have never heard about Fika until I started studying in Sweden. The countries that I could quite easily associate with coffee drinking traditions were naturally Italy and France. But just like England is crazy about tea, Scandinavia is crazy about coffee. Surprisingly, Scandinavian countries are the leaders when it comes to the world coffee consumption per capita. Finns drink almost as much coffee as Americans, Australians and French together. Sweden and Denmark are not away from that figure either!

But, but, but… let’s get back to the business, namely Fika business. Writing this article has given me a lot of excuses to run around Malmö’s and Lund’s cafés and spend money on coffee as well as Kanelbullar. 

P.S. Right after posting that text, I’m off to gym!

The Swedish word “Fika” in itself comes from the “kaffi” word meaning “coffee” in the 19th century. Fika is described as a coffee consumption in a company of friends or family. Just as I’ve managed to discover myself, the coffee is usually accompanied by some traditional Swedish treat. The latter obviously in “Lagom” (“just enough”) quantities, unless you’re an international sweets greedy guy just like me ;P In fact “Lagom” is another very important word, describing Scandinavian soul. It’s a balance, “just enough”, not too much, not too little, and applies literally to every aspect of life.

If you’re in Lund, we definitely recommend to fika in:

St. Jakobs bakery 

Inkognitio café 

Coffee Break:

If you visit Stockholm, then:

Petite France

If you happen to be in Copenhagen and feel like having fika there too, try:

Democratic Coffee

Coffee Industry

And… that’s enough of talking ! Let the fika pictures speak for themselves:

Pictures taken at: St. Jakobs bakery 

Sources: https://sweden.se/society/20-things-to-know-before-moving-to-sweden/; http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/01/here-are-the-countries-that-drink-the-most-coffee-the-us-isnt-in-the-top-10/283100/; http://food52.com/blog/9499-the-history-of-fika-swedish-coffee-break;

[unfoldscandinavia-blog]

Working conditions in Scandinavia

For every employee Scandinavia is a paradise for working conditions, environment and equality. Promoting a flexible life has become a key issue here by respecting the person and setting rules that other European and non-European countries have not even considered. Here is some quick insight about the working conditions in Scandinavia. So, we totally encourage you to apply, apply and apply!

Norway

In Norway, there are limits in the Working Environment Act for normal working hours which are: 9 hours per 24 hours, 40 hours per week.  If there is a need for overtime work, it also has limit which is 10 hours per week. When someone works overtime, he has the privilege to get paid more than 40% of the hourly pay.

Also, during your holiday leave, if it happens and you are sick, you can move some of the off days later in the year by showing medical certificate.

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority is the responsible for checking working conditions and provides information to both employees and employers. The highest unemployment rate is approximately 4% and the lowest 2% in some cities.

When you work more than 5,5 hours per day, you have to take a break that is counted as working hours, as long as the employee does not leave the working place. Of great interest is the fact that when claiming for parental leave, parents can choose between 100% or 80% coverage and respectively can get either 49 or 59 weeks of leave, which is then distributed.

Visit http://www.lifeinnorway.net/jobs/ or https://anewlifeinnorway.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/norwegian-parental-benefits-vs-british-parental-benefits/ to find out more when you apply for jobs in Norway.

Denmark

The Danish labour market is well known for the flexibility and the security it offers, the “flexicurity” concept. For Danes, it is of vital importance to obtain balance between life and work and family remains always a priority. The below video summarizes the Danish status quo about working life:

Since Denmark is a progressive and liberal country, every employee is encouraged to express his opinion and everyone is equal. Flat structures and informality are the main characteristics in most of the jobs in Denmark. Furthermore, several social activities take place for employees to make them feel relaxed and get to know better with each other.

The working hours are 37 per week, with daily paid lunch breaks of 30 min. As far as parental leave is concerned, it is in total 52 weeks for both of the parents. Denmark is a country where maternity does not hinder the employment of women at all.

Check https://www.workindenmark.dk/ and http://www.jobsincopenhagen.com/ if you apply in Denmark.

Sweden

In Sweden, equality and freedom of speech are as in Denmark vital in the working environment. Working here is a matter of team-spirit and individual responsibility. In many offices there is a flexible timetable, where you can go and leave according to a schedule you choose, depending on your needs. One may have the possibility to work also from home, especially working mothers.

Working hours are set to be 40 per week by legislature and the overtime hours are paid 50%-100% of the normal salary. In 2015, the idea of 6-hour workday was introduced and has been applied to several organizations, with great results. However, it still remains on a teaser level.

Work-life balance is a priority in Sweden as well, as the Swedish working culture wants happy and satisfied employees. Don’t be surprised if your colleagues start leaving earlier to pick up their kids from school!

Parental leaves in Sweden are a great topic, as parents share 480 days off work, accepting 80% of their salary for the 390 of them and for the rest getting paid SEK 180 per day.

Another amazing habit of Swedes is having fika at the workplace. It takes place twice a day and this is the way for employees to socialize and have quick chats amongst them.

Visit EURES – European Job Mobility Portal (https://ec.europa.eu/eures/public/language-selection) , Stepstone.com (http://www.stepstone.com/) to check a list with vacancies at the moment.

Sources: http://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/fakta.html?tid=240065, https://www.nav.no/en/Home/Benefits+and+services/Relatert+informasjon/parental-benefit, https://www.workindenmark.dk/ , https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/Pages/Working-conditions-and-trade-unions-.aspx , http://www.oxfordresearch.dk/media/48201/451880-GuidetilExpats.pdf , http://work.sweden.se/living-in-sweden/swedish-business-culture/