After last Friday’s pick up of my Swedish ID card and missing the bank hours by 15 or so minutes, I was ready to go to the bank today. (No banks are open on the weekends.) I brought all the paperwork that I thought I’d need: my personnummer (tax ID number), my Swedish residency card, my Swedish ID card, my work contract, my housing contract, and my passport (things I had seen on another bank’s application). During lunch, I biked over to the mall that has a branch of the bank.
(In Tanzania I also needed a letter of introduction from my school, two photographs, and my own photocopies of all the official documents!)
I got my “take a number” to wait for my turn.
After a 5-minute wait, I’m at the counter and say I want to open an account. The summary is that I filled out three forms (including a USA W-9 tax form!), and she took copies of most of my paperwork (not housing contract or passport). Finally, she told me that this application will probably take two weeks to review. Yes, another two week wait! I asked politely, but with a gracious plea, to please do everything possible to speed this up. I said that I haven’t been paid in two months, because I haven’t had a bank account, while waiting for personnummber, residency card, and Swedish ID card, and I’ve been doing everything possible to move to the next step as quickly as I can. She told me that she would try to make things go quickly.
I also began the process of opening a bank account for Anya. However, I didn’t bring her birth certificate for proof that I was her parent, though I had a copy of Eric’s death certificate. (I did have to refer to my widowed status in my application.) She asked if Anya had a Swedish ID card. I replied that it takes a 400 kroner online fee payment, which I asked a friend to do for me, but I was going to do it when I had a bank account. (I should have had Jim pay it for Anya too and process them both at the same time, but I was concerned that I was flooding him with cash in this cashless society for several other online payments. Live and learn!) The bank rep thought that she could at least start the process, because she was a minor. I hope it can be set up. Anya’s been working in cash in this cashless culture.
So, it looks like one more transfer of funds from savings to my CapitalOne debit card (with a 0% international exchange rate) that I use for international travel.
I grabbed a wrap from the grab-and-go section of the grocery story in the mall and made it back to Johannelund at 1:00 pm for the språk café (the talk time) with retired volunteers from church.
There was about 15 people who came for the conversation practice in Swedish, including people from Syria and Somalia. It was beautiful to see them welcomed and cared for. There was one family from Syria with two children who were perhaps 6 and 8 years old. The hosts were eager to welcome them with cookies, apples, and juice. One of the women took the kids and played a game with them.
My male conversation partners from my last visit (three weeks ago, because I’ve been traveling) were paired up to talk with men, (though I was warmly greeted by Hans 2). They are really wanting to be culturally sensitive. It is wonderful to see.
I offered to give up my place if needed, as I can find other opportunities, but my partner assured me there was enough people available.
I’ve found that this time of conversation with these volunteers very helpful. They are patient and encouraging. I feel that I have had some of my best times speaking Swedish here, but not without appropriate challenges. At times, I don’t have the vocabulary in some topics.
I’m trying to figure out why I can engage better when speaking at the språk café, so then, I may be able to do this elsewhere for more practice. I think the main issue is that I know that they are willing to listen to my bad Swedish as they have committed to be patient with me. Elsewhere, I feel like a burden to the conversation.
I have a few minutes with Åsa tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll keep working on it!
With blessings,
Beth
The ministry the church folk give to those practicing Swedish is very similar to what our coffee house here is doing. I play endless rounds of UNO on Saturday afternoons to help youngsters to relax and have fun with English. When you are in a relaxed atmosphere rather than a class situation you retain more and gain confidence. Don’t give up on or excuse away the practice you get there. Keep going and understand that they are your boosters. They will be patient with you and encouraging enough to give you a leg up. AND they are also on your side!