food

☐ Locate nearest ICA, Coop, Willys, or Lidl
☐ Enter supermarket and pretend self-checkout isn't intimidating
☐ Forget reusable bag
☐ Buy reusable bag
☐ Forget reusable bag again
☐ Learn that coffee is not optional in Sweden
☐ Build emergency pantry:

• pasta
• rice
• oats
• eggs
• coffee
• more coffee

☐ Discover that a cinnamon bun and coffee somehow counts as a cultural experience

utilities

☐ Obtain Swedish SIM card
☐ Realise every service wants a Swedish phone number
☐ Discover that everyone assumes you already have BankID
☐ Explain for the fifteenth time that you do not have BankID
☐ Wait for BankID
☐ Continue waiting for BankID

transport

☐ Download local transport app
☐ Accidentally buy wrong ticket
☐ Learn transport zones
☐ Learn that ticket inspectors appear when least expected
☐ Successfully complete one journey without Google Maps

phase 2: advanced survival (weeks 3–8)

social integration

☐ Learn difference between:

• fika
• lunch
• after-work
• actual friendship

☐ Attend a fika
☐ Attend another fika
☐ Realise most Swedish networking occurs over coffee
☐ Begin measuring time in coffees rather than hours

financial survival

☐ Open Swedish bank account
☐ Receive personnummer
☐ Celebrate
☐ Discover you now need BankID
☐ Receive BankID
☐ Experience mild enlightenment

grocery guru

☐ Learn what veckans erbjudanden means
☐ Compare ICA prices to Willys prices
☐ Become emotionally invested in loyalty points
☐ Start discussing grocery discounts with alarming enthusiasm

You now possess the sacred digital key.

Suddenly:

☐ Swish works
☐ Government websites work
☐ Healthcare apps work
☐ Kivra works
☐ Banking works
☐ Life works

Scientists remain unsure whether Sweden runs on electricity or BankID.

student mode

☐ Acquire Mecenat card
☐ Locate cheapest grocery store within cycling distance
☐ Learn 17 ways to cook pasta
☐ Tell yourself you'll meal prep
☐ Do not meal prep

work permit mode

☐ Learn workplace coffee etiquette
☐ Attend meeting that could have been an email
☐ Attend email that could have been a meeting
☐ Master the phrase: "Det låter bra."

EU citizen mode

☐ Arrive thinking bureaucracy will be simple
☐ Discover Sweden's systems are efficient but require seven different numbers
☐ Adapt

asylum / temporary protection (TPD) mode

☐ Learn available support resources
☐ Register for essential services
☐ Build local support network
☐ Celebrate every small administrative victory

☐ You know where to buy the cheapest groceries
☐ You return bottles for pant without feeling strange
☐ You own multiple reusable bags
☐ You complain about SL/Västtrafik/Skånetrafiken like a local
☐ You check Kivra before checking your physical mailbox
☐ You casually use Swedish words without noticing
☐ You have stopped converting SEK into your home currency
☐ You understand why everyone talks about the weather