Where are you from?

If you know an expat who wants to share inside knowledge of their home away from home, email

with Expat in the subject line. I am originally from Pukekohe, South Auckland.

What inspired your move, and how long have you been there?

My partner of five years is Swedish, so over the years we often talked about moving to Sweden for a new adventure. The two main reasons were so that my partner could complete his Masters of Finance in Stockholm and so I could immerse myself in the Swedish culture and force myself to learn Swedish. We made the big move to Stockholm at the beginning of August last year.

What do you do there?

At the moment I am taking an intensive Swedish course for academic foreigners, which takes up most of my time as it’s Monday to Friday. I also work part time as an assistant to the producer and creative director of a local film production company called Rough Studios.

What are the greatest advantages to living there?

There are so many! One of the greatest advantages is the ability to travel to other countries so easily and without it costing an arm and a leg. It’s a luxury that’s not possible in New Zealand since it’s so isolated. You can literally travel at a fraction of the price that it costs to travel to the South Island from Auckland return.

Disadvantages?

It’s so far away from New Zealand! But the winter is also very dark, which can be rather dreary and depressing. It’s hard to not become a hermit.

How expensive is it compared to New Zealand? How much is a beer?

Some things are more expensive and some are cheaper. For example, going out for dinner is a lot more expensive in Stockholm – a cheap meal costs about $20 and that’s at an upmarket food court not a restaurant. On average, vegetables are a lot cheaper here, which is absurd since New Zealand is such a huge produce grower. The price of beer varies

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