"I can be free and creative at work."

Three years ago, Andrea Fritsche decided to move permanently from Germany to Arvidsjaur where she spent several winter seasons working for a tourism company. She now works as a strategic communicator at Arvidsjaur municipality.

"Everything happened at the same time after the move, I met my partner and we have had a daughter who is now 2.5 years old. We have also bought back my partner’s parent farm, says Andrea.

The work as a strategic communicator involves a varied job in the communications department together with an informant. Andrea works with long-term communication efforts such as graphic profiling, copy design and crisis communication. Now she can use her creative vein to work with graphical products, which she thinks is like sticking to her hobby. She appreciates her freedom, her responsibility and her colleagues listen to her from the beginning.

Choice and Quality

Andrea has her family left in the vicinity of German Düsseldorf, and studied communication science at the university before deciding to apply for an internship in Sweden.

"Many Germans are looking for Australia or New Zealand, but I don’t like small crumples, so it didn’t fit me. The North and Scandinavia felt more like my thing. In 2015, she visited both Sweden and Iceland, says Andrea, and tells her that she was trained at a German company that built an ice hotel similar to that in Jukkasjärvi.

She then returned for eight winters before the German company went bankrupt. When she stood and chose between returning to Germany or moving to Sweden, the election fell to the latter. Three years ago, she moved to Arvidsjaur where she had already made many contacts.

He told his story

Andrea then worked at Hotel Laponia, but after the maternity leave, it took the opportunity to return to such a seasonal work. She was then asked about a vacant position as a communicator in the municipality, which sounded like something she was educated to. The service received 41 applicants and the recruitment process was made in several stages, one of which was to create a communication campaign to attract relocators to the municipality.

"It was probably an advantage because I had been attracted here and could only tell my own story. Being selected as the top four was a big success for me, says Andrea, who barely believed her ears when she got the call that the job was hers.

"I guess they wanted someone with Swedish as their native language and with local connection. It was fun that they believed in me and are prepared to take in people who do not come from Sweden. I think we can contribute new ideas and approaches.

Like the fish in the water

As a former contest swimmer, she regularly swims and holds swim training for children and young people. She loves being in the water and out of nature and also sets up as a scout leader in her spare time.

I see these two things as my own time. It’s just fun to meet parents and kids, and maybe find a friend.

A lot of time is spent with the family and the mother-in-law as she calls the Sambo family. Trying different words from German and translating them usually works.

Andrea wants to beat a blow to engage in association. There you can find a social network, says Andrea, who has also been careful to learn the Swedish language. First in Germany via the university and then via SFI.

"To enter Swedish society is the foundation to learn the language," says Andrea. If the language is available, all doors are open both careerally and socially. In smaller locations, personal motivation can weigh as heavily as proper training or experience, unlike in Germany, where precise education and long experience are more important.

Find a network

There are as many jobs here. You can only be a bit flexible to get a foot through the door.

"Going socially into a small village where everyone already has their network isn’t easy," says Andrea.

It’s a bit harder in small villages. Many people build their own small communities with people who speak the same language, because it is the easiest way to connect with them. It’s a bit of a shame, says Andrea, who likes to have friends of her own and not just hook up on the friendship of her partner.

But daring to take the step towards speaking Swedish has been challenging and at first she felt outside.

I had some sort of barrier. I understood everything in Swedish but would be happy to respond in English, which many people are uncomfortable with," Andrea says, telling me about an occasion when an older acquaintance of her cohabitant greeted and they sat around the dining table and he spoke quickly and on dialect, which made it normally talkative Andrea most quiet.

"It was not that he had refused directly, but he thought I seemed reserved, which I really am not. He had a wrong impression of me, and it hurt to realize my own limits. Maybe it was my pregnant hormones that kicked in, but it took me hard and I went out into the bedroom and cried. Then I decided I’ll start talking. It was a momentum, says Andrea.

A place to long for

When Andrea moved here, she had already created important contacts and didn’t need much help with the move.

"Therefore, finding a broker who was familiar with German banks and such things. Then it’s great if someone can explain how it works with banking and swish and organization numbers and the like, all those things that aren’t overseas.

Andrea has the house she bought, but now lives in the house of Sambon. The couple was lucky to buy his mother’s family home.

The cave is outside Moscow is one of those places that German craves. In Germany we had almost no garden and it was crowded everywhere. The farm has a single location, giant lawn and we have crops and such – a real dream place. Our daughter is the fifth generation to grow up there.

Something she appreciates with life in the north is the proximity to nature and there is something to do all seasons, such as walking and cycling in the summer. Winter time to pimple or take a sandwich with coffee in the sun out on the lake.

"Arvidsjaur also has a good geographical location with good air connections and commuting distances to the coast. There is no abundance of shops but there is a sports shop, shoe shop and grocery store, all you need. I have the ability to work full-time and it is safe to know that my child is at preschool five minutes away.

Text: Monica Wiksten Gideonsson

Photo by Kent Norberg