Hello, lovely wanderers—both stateside and across the pond!
Today’s blog isn’t about trekking Swedish forests or finding the perfect fika spot. No, today’s adventure is about something far less glamorous: the wild world of bureaucratic waiting. Specifically, my current quest to get my request officially registered while I’m still here in the U.S. and my husband is in Sweden, waiting patiently for me to join him.
Here’s where I stand: I’ve filed the Request to Conclude paperwork, dotted every “i,” crossed every “t,” and—success!—gotten the coveted automated email that says, “We’ve received your request.” It felt like a small victory, the bureaucratic equivalent of hearing, “You’re next in line!” at IKEA.
Despite the confirmation email, my request hasn’t been uploaded to my file yet. It’s as if my paperwork is chilling somewhere in the digital equivalent of a Stockholm café, sipping its latte while I’m here refreshing my browser like it’s my full-time job.
Now, I’ve told myself I’ll give it a week before I call and politely nudge things along. Because let’s be real: as much as I’d love to embrace a zen-like Scandinavian patience, I’m an American at heart, and “waiting” is not my love language.
So, here’s where I turn to you, What has your experience been with the mystical realm of Swedish paperwork? Does the automated email really mean it’s in the system, or is this more of a “don’t call us, we’ll call you” situation? Should I give it more time, or is calling the universal signal to summon your request out of the void?
And for my European friends, do you chuckle at how we Americans obsess over timelines? Or are you equally familiar with the red tape tango?
Honestly, this whole process feels like waiting for a train during a snowstorm: you know it’s reliable… most of the time, but you’re left squinting at the horizon, wondering if you should just start walking instead.
So, spill the tea (or coffee)—any tips, stories, or solidarity to share? Let’s turn this limbo into something a little less lonely. Because whether you’re navigating life in the U.S. or Sweden (or somewhere in between), I know I’m not the only one stuck in the Waiting Olympics.
Fingers crossed, I’ll be updating you all soon with good news—and maybe even a story about my first Swedish winter as a reunited duo. Until then, thanks for keeping me company in the comments.
Skål from across the Atlantic (for now!),
-Jen
Swedish Wanderlust 