"My colleagues help me with the language."

Chris Butler was born and raised in Zimbabwe. When he was 18, the family moved to England and Chris got a job in the telecom industry, first at a call center, then as a telephone engineer. But he did not like the stressed metropolitan life, and decided to move to Sweden.

In England, Chris Butler worked in the telecom industry but did not enjoy the stressed metropolitan life, which meant a big contrast to the rural lifestyle he grew up with in Zimbabwe. After 18 years in England, he decided to move to Sweden, where his mother lived with her husband for a few years.

"The times I greeted my mother in Sweden, it felt like home in Zimbabwe, except for the cold. Here it was quiet and quiet, without stress and without a lot of car traffic, says Chris, who is currently working as a fitter at Norr-Don in Åmliden, Norsjö.

Enjoying great

The year was 2022 when Chris started talking to his family about the plans. His brother had previously worked in Sweden and his stepfather, a journalist, had done an interview with Norr-Don. He told Chris they were looking for staff. Said and done, Chris contacted Norr-Don who welcomed him with open arms.

"First, it was supposed that I would work as a telecom engineer, but the need for fitters was greater. Now I am thrilled with my job as a mounter at the workshop in Åmliden, says Chris.

Depending on long processing times, the residence permit was delayed and only in September 2024 could he move to Sweden permanently, but Norr-Don was understanding. Chris had to rent a house from his mother in Kusfors, who was previously used for B&B business, and on that road it is.

A varied job

At the workshop work Chris, along with six other colleagues, has assembly of various components into electrical cabinets and special solutions that their customers demand. Most of the customers are mining companies and the job is creative and stimulating.

The best thing about work is the variation. I learn something new all the time, unlike my previous jobs in the telecommunications industry that became clean routine once I learned, not so stimulating in the long run.

When Chris first saw the different products the company was building specifically for the mines, he realized that this was something that would raise his interest for a long time.

As Norr-Don and the exploration industry undergo an expansion phase, there is the opportunity to pursue a career in the industry. But Chris is happy where he is right now and sees great opportunities to learn new skills in his current position.

"As I told my family, the work environment at this job is so much better than my previous one. I don’t want to change, I want to stay where I am.

Supporting colleagues

Chris also appreciates his talented colleagues. In addition to solving problems together, they support and help each other with possible language overhauls. Most of the workshops have Swedish as their native language or learn, including a colleague from Germany and one from the Netherlands.

"Most people I work with speak Swedish and everyone is very accommodating and help me when I try to speak Swedish. We help explain different words and terms to each other. If I speak English, they are also very comfortable with it. I learn a little Swedish via the Duolingo app, which helps at the coffee table, although my mother claims that I will start talking Stockholmska, Chris smiles and refers to the various pronunciations for sje sound.

Quiet and peaceful

Chris also appreciates the flat organization that the company has compared to the company he previously worked for in England, where the hierarchy was clear.

"If I want to talk to the manager, he’s near the workshop. Here is more like knowing each other. It becomes more personal.

As an immigrant from a non-EU country, Chris was prepared to take a Swedish driving licence, but it turned out that he only had to undergo an approved health declaration for the old driving licence.

Now appreciate Chris is able to drive home to the small village of Kusfors and see the forest passing by outside the box. He looks forward to being in nature even more, and perhaps hiking, hunting and fishing.

It is very quiet and peaceful here. The culture up here provides opportunities to reconnect with nature, unlike in the big city. I don’t have the constant noise of cars and ambulances. I can hear and feel nature.

Text: Monica Wiksten Gideonsson

Photo: www.ricke.se