As a newcomer to a municipality, it can be a challenge to get to know people and get into the local community. My strategy has been to get involved in association life; The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Rotary and Conversion Sigtuna, the art association in Odensala, the local road association as some examples. A bit much considering full-time jobs with a lot of travel and overnight stays in combination with the development of your own farm, but heavenly fun and important. Has last week been involved in leading a panel debate on sustainable food supply and an audience discussion linked to a play about pig breeding that was given at Kulturlänken in Märsta. Exciting and fun!
And it gets so much more fun when you start to know people and mother a little more to the right and left. As a native, this is natural, but as a newly immigrated "märstaian" clearly more challenging.
We feed the chickens.
I notice a difference compared to the big city - out here it is a little easier to see each other and distinguish individuals in the crowd. Even though most of them are commuters who work elsewhere, you sometimes meet in the big grocery store, on the promenade, by the mailboxes, by the chickens, etc. Really nice! I think in the future we need a committed local cohesion where we can help each other - no matter where we live. But in what way can probably vary. Do you have any tips on meeting places and easy ways to get to know each other in the local area? Not least for our new arrivals from other countries. My wife Heléne has started going to "friend coffee" - a simple and pleasant way for new arrivals to meet a native Swede and for her to gain insight into other people's worlds and experiences. Win-win!