Ch-ch-changes

I write to you from a very comfortable new chair in our new apartment. It's been a crazy few weeks. Everything I had hoped for in Sweden happened in one short time, which has been exhausting.

First of all, I have been given an amazing job opportunity. About a week and a half ago I was very suddenly hired as a substitute "personlig assistent," which best translates to a personal care attendant in English. That means that I work one-on-one with a specific person who has physical and/or mental limitations. I help them to meet their basic needs, as well as go to work/school, meet friends, etc. I can't really say more because I've signed a confidentiality agreement, so I can't say who I work with or the exact things that happen. The substitute part means that I don't have set hours, and I'm paid hourly rather than by a salary. It seems as though quite a few of my hours I'll know ahead of time, but that when someone is sick I will also be called to come in. For now, this is really good for me. It could of course be an opportunity for full-time work later if I so choose.

I have been working really hard for this. I've applied for countless jobs, pushed myself in Swedish as fast as I could go. But really this came down to a friend (now boss) who gave me an opportunity. She let me shadow her on the job a couple times since she knew it was in my field; then when they needed someone, she trusted me enough to take the chance. Yeah, my Swedish is on the edge. People do need to speak a little slower with me, because thick accents throw me off. But it's a lot of luck that this happened so quickly, and it feels really good.

The Swedish part has been a blast though. All the training and work is of course in Swedish, and I've been able to understand it all and of course communicate back. After 8 hours of that, the strangest thing happened last week. I came home to Dan and everything I wanted to say to him, I first thought in Swedish. It was bizarre. It was like a little reflex. It only lasted an hour after that, but WOW, what an interesting landmark for my second language journey. I've never come this close with German or Kiswahili.

Already I'm fully trained in. Today, Thursday, is my first day on the job alone.

Tomorrow, more on the move.