Destination: Eskilstuna, Sweden

It is gradually sinking in: I am moving to Sweden.

I've had one and a half months to get used to this curious thought and I have another month and a half to go before this rather unexpected move becomes reality. Indeed a generous transition,  and much needed, considering that I must leave Helsinki - Finland's charming capital and my beloved hometown of some 23 years - and settle into the industrial town of Eskilstuna, to start a new chapter in my life and professional career at the Swedish Energy Agency (STEM).

Eskilstuna is roughly 100 kilometers south and inland from Stockholm, Sweden's elegant capital. It is a smallish industrial town with around 100 000 inhabitants, known for its Volvo factories and a large population of migrant Finns who work in these factories. It also hosts a regional office of STEM, whose climate team I'll soon join to promote greenhouse gas emission reductions worldwide on behalf of the Swedish government.

I am moving for good, for now. I shall enter this uncharted territory of Finland's dearest rival with a curious and open mind, ready to bust myths and challenge the stereotypes and even prejudices that Swedes might have of Finns, and vice versa. I expect to find my own mind riddled with preconceptions, too, and am curious to discover how I'll manage them and what I might learn about myself in the process. Besides self-awareness, I hope to develop my rusty Swedish skills and my professionalism in international climate change policy and projects.

Through this blog, I wish to kill two, even three birds with one stone. I enjoy photography and writing, and this blog offers me an opportunity to practice both. I also hope that this blog offers a non-invasive way to keep in touch with friends around the world, and perhaps even peer support to other expats.