The swedish immigrant (Raleigh, Welcome: sales, coupons, mover)

[snilsson]

Hello!

I need your help in my biggest life decision yet!
I am a 24 yo guy living in a small town in south Sweden. I have a great job as a manager at a BMW dealership. I can buy (most) of the stuff that I want, I can travel to most places, I have 40 days paid vacation each year. Etc yada yada.

But it doesn't matter to me, I'm motivated by new adventures. I have always wanted to work abroad to meet new people, get new experiences and to learn english.
You might think that I'm crazy.. But I would rather regret the things I did, than the things I didn't do.

To get to the point. I signed up for Diversity Visa Lottery last year and I got a mail saying I was selected last month. I have my visa interview in October and my plan is to move within a few months after that.
I have been researching a lot the last month and while there's is a lot to think about when moving from one country to another I think the hardest part is choosing a place to live.
I have been to the usual tourist spots in the U.S. a few times and what impresses me is the social, outgoing people. I don't care about the tall buildings in New York or the beaches in Florida. I want to live in a medium-sized city with interesting and happy people, good job opportunities, and decent weather.

And all my hours of research have led me here, to Raleigh. A place I didn't know existed a year ago. :-)
I have heard so many good things about this place and I really feel like it's the place in the U.S. I would like try out.

I would like to use this thread as my Q and your A along the journey. There's going to be a lot of questions, everything from which lawnmover to buy, to which section at the Hurricanes home games is the best and what not. I hope you can deal with my enthusiasm and crappy english.

Any tips and/or information about the area or life in general is very appreciated.

Best regards
Snilsson

[JaPaKoMom]

Oh man! To be young and have such a fun opportunity! With your attitude I am sure you will enjoy your time here! Welcome to the forum!

[e6jakobh]

My personal advice would be not to overthink the move. Just do it and take it step by step.

[Stagemomma]

Your English seems pretty good to me!

Welcome!

[snilsson]

Originally Posted by JaPaKoMom

Oh man! To be young and have such a fun opportunity! With your attitude I am sure you will enjoy your time here! Welcome to the forum!

Thanks a lot! What have I done to deserve all these good things in my life?

Originally Posted by e6jakobh

My personal advice would be not to overthink the move. Just do it and take it step by step.

I have heard that before and I think you're right. I can get a bit obsessive about details.

Originally Posted by Stagemomma

Your English seems pretty good to me!

Welcome!

Thank you!

Well, I understand the language and it's easy to write when I have all the time in the world to correct mistakes (that I know of) but I lack the wittiness/quickness in a real life conversation. Something I hope a daily dose of english will fix in the future.

[asearchforreason]

40 days paid vacation? I'd stick with that and adventure during my vacations.

[hey_guy]

I can't reccomend it only based on your job. We treat employees very poorly with little to no safety net and car sales are high pressure and turnover.

Also car sales are so cultural it would be hard to say if you can be successful

If you are doing back if the house work it should be ok I think...

[MrsRhythm]

It sounds like you will find what you seek in Raleigh. We have lots of interesting people who've come from all over the world, though I personally have never met anyone from Sweden. I love your attitude! Welcome.

[snilsson]

Originally Posted by asearchforreason

40 days paid vacation? I'd stick with that and adventure during my vacations.

Tbh I get 30 days paid vacation, but I don't get paid working overtime. Instead it builds up all the OT-hours in a bank. I don't how to explain it but right now I can take 19 days off paid vacation without having to touch my planned 30 days... It sucks.

Originally Posted by hey_guy

I can't reccomend it only based on your job. We treat employees very poorly with little to no safety net and car sales are high pressure and turnover.

Also car sales are so cultural it would be hard to say if you can be successful

If you are doing back if the house work it should be ok I think...

I'm in the service business, not sales. But I'm not sure I would like to stay in the automotive industry at all.
I might have to if I can't get a job elsewhere just to build up my experience but I would like to try something new if possible.

I know about the differences but I'm not exactly moving to sit on my ass with welfare checks and food coupons. I would rather move back if I fail that hard. I have been working hard since I graduated and I didn't become a manager when I was 22 for no reason. (wow, that's hard to write down without sounding like an ass)

One reason I like the U.S. so much is that there's no law of jante ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante )
like there is here in Sweden. I want to work and I want to live the way I want, if I can.

Originally Posted by MrsRhythm

It sounds like you will find what you seek in Raleigh. We have lots of interesting people who've come from all over the world, though I personally have never met anyone from Sweden. I love your attitude! Welcome.

Thank you very much, appreciate it. :-)

[JaPaKoMom]

Originally Posted by snilsson

One reason I like the U.S. so much is that there's no law of jante ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante )
like there is here in Sweden. I want to work and I want to live the way I want, if I can.

Interesting! I have not heard of the Law of Jante. Very socialist/utopian and definitely unlike the US. Reminds me of the towns out west that have tried to live the United Order.