Tung148

In Kalmar you will find that every season has its characteristics. In wintertime there is normally snow. The length, though, of each period of snow may vary from a few hours to several weeks. In January and February the temperature may drop well below the freezing point and the weather can also be somewhat rainy and windy. Therefore it is advisable to bring warm and windproof clothing for the winter. During spring and autumn the average temperature is 12-16° C. The summer weather tends to vary enormously from a spring-like climate to temperatures reaching those in the Mediterranean.

If payments from your country need to be continued during your stay in Sweden (you can) make enquires as to how to authorize your family or friend to arrange this for you. This will prevent problems when you are far away from home.

Transportation
Kalmar can easily be reached by plane, train, bus or car. There is an airport in Kalmar with daily flights to/from Stockholm. The flight time to Stockholm takes about 50 minutes. From www.lfv.se <airports> you find your way to the airport in Kalmar. At this site you can then find flight schedules. www.sj.se is the site for Sweden’s national train company.

If you want to travel by bus, visit the following sites to find appropriate destinations and times.

www.swebusexpress.se

www.silverlinjen.se

www.svenskabuss.se

As soon as you know when and how you will arrive; notify your mentor so that you will be picked up on arrival.

Your basic needs in Kalmar..

www.klt.se – the regional bus company in Kalmar.

www.sj.se – national state train company

www.bktag.se – operating the route Kalmar/Hultsfred

Approximate cost of living

The calculated cost of living/month for students in Sweden is 6300 SEK. Below you can find examples of prices for various goods.

Accommodation 3000 SEK/month

Student Union Fee 150 SEK/semester

Cinema 70 SEK

Cigarettes 40 SEK/pack

Beer (33cl*) 15 SEK

Beer (50cl at a pub) 40 SEK

Wine (75cl*) 50 SEK

Wine (1 glass at a pub) 40 SEK

Lunch at a restaurant 60 SEK

Pizza 40–60 SEK

Menu at Mc Donald’s 50 SEK

Milk 10 SEK

Bread 10–20 SEK

Butter (500g) 15–25 SEK Cheese (per kilo) 60–150 SEK

Beef (per kilo) 70–170 SEK

Pork (per kilo) 40–150 SEK

* at Systembolaget

Shops

Shops are usually open from 9 am until 6 pm. If you want to go shopping the town centre is the place. Supermarkets are located outside the centre. ICA, Maxi, Netto and Coop Forum are open from 9 am until 9 pm. Food prices vary a great deal from shop to shop. In Kalmar the supermarkets mentioned above have the lowest prices.

Bank and Post Office

The Student Union in Kalmar recommend the Bank SEB. As an exchange student you get a special card from the student union, which allows you to open a Swedish bank account. The card also gives you free exchange from your country’s currency to Swedish kronor. When you leave Sweden, after your exchange program is finished, it is very important that you inform the bank so they can close your account.

The post office in Sweden is today divided into two parts. To send mail, parcels or to buy stamps you go to a supermarket with a post sign. To pay bills, buy stamps etc. you go to “Kassaservice”. You also find these offices in some supermarkets. There is also a bigger office downtown in Kalmar. Your mentor will help you to find it.

In case of illness

If you become ill or have a minor accident you should contact a local medical centre, “Vårdcentralen”. Their addresses and telephone numbers are listed in the blue pages of the telephone book. At most medical centres you should make an appointment by telephone, but there may also be an open reception part of the day. You are free to choose which medical centre you prefer to go to. There are public as well as private and the price is more or less the same. The normal patient fee for a doctor appointment is SEK 150-350 (paid by both Swedish and foreign citizens). If you do not have the E128 or EU-card you need to pay full medical fees, which can be very expensive.

The Swedish name for Pharmacy is Apotek. In Kalmar you find one in the city centre on Västra Sjögatan 22, one at the shopping centre Giraffen and one at the hospital. During weekdays Apoteket is open from 9.30 am to 6 pm. During weekends the opening hours are 10 am to 2 pm.

If you need to see a dentist (tandläkare) you can either contact the District Dental Clinic, “Folktandvården”, or a private dentist. You should call in advance to make an appointment.. Please note that dental treatment is relatively expensive in Sweden and that most insurance policies do not include dental care.

Emergency assistance

In case of emergency, dial 112 for assistance. On calling you are expected to give exact information about what happened and where help should go, your name and address, what kind of accident it is and how many persons that need help. Based on that information, they determine what kind of assistance you need (ambulance, police, fire department). Emergency calls from public telephone booths are free of charge. Push the emergency button and dial 112. Swedish hospitals are not allowed to deny anyone emergency care.

Did you know that…

• Sweden is the only country where the dominant colour of countryside houses is red.
• Swedes consume approximately 2,000 tons of fresh water crayfish each year.
• Crown Princess Victoria (born 1977) is Europe’s only female heir to a throne.
• The Swedish market is considered so trend-sensitive that it has come to be widely used as a test ground by major multinationals in the development of new products and services.
• Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of worldwide corporation IKEA, started his business career with a small mail-order firm at the age of 17.
• In Sweden, more food books are published per capita than in any other country in the world, more than 300 annually for the last few years.
• Sweden’s Annika Sörenstam is the women’s golf equivalent of Tiger Woods, with a record-breaking 50 LPGA victories.
• In theory, each Swede has an average of no less than 50,000 square meters of land at his/her “disposal”.
• Lapland has 100 days a year of midnight sun.
• More than one third of the moose in Europe are in Sweden.
• After the 2002 election, 45% of Members of Parliament are women, which is a world record.
• The Swedish ”principle of publicity” also includes e-mail. This means that every citizen is entitled to request to read the entire electronic correspondence of politicians and public officials.

Drivers license: 18

Vote: 18

Get into a bar: 18 (but many nightclubs have their own higher age limits)

Buy alcohol in the Liquor store: 20

The only store in Sweden that is allowed to sell alcohol. Liquor in Sweden is very expensive due to the high taxes on alcohol.

Are not allowed. If the University finds out that you have been taking drugs you will be sent home immediately. That also goes for marijuana.

The Swedish word for having a coffee/tea and maybe a cookie with friends. This is very important in Sweden and almost every company in the country has at least two “fika”-breaks per day.

Is a word that only exists in the Swedish language. It means: not too much and not too little, but perfect.

The “every mans right” gives everyone in Sweden freedom to walk around on everyone’s properties – but not right in the garden of course.

• Familiarized myself with Sweden and the University
• Established contact with my mentor
• Necessary equipment for my accommodation
• Complete insurance cover
• Valid passport
• Letter of Acceptance from the University
• Confirmation on Accommodation
• Signed learning agreement
• Student visa/Residence Permit if you are not from an EU/EEA country
• Map of the University

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