@ULOGS: HOW IT WENT IN SUNDBYBERG-SWEDEN

I was privileged to have been selected by my supervisor at the office for an international training on Strategies for Chemicals Management- ITP299 in Sundbeberg, Sweden in the year 2015. The first challenge was that I had to sponsor myself even though I was selected. This was a great opportunity for me in my professional career and my first time to travel outside the shores of my country, Nigeria.

I had to gather all my savings and called on family and friends to help me raise the money for my flight tickets. Gladly I did after I had gotten the visas for the trip. This was a three weeks and two days stay in Sweden. Wow!

I was so excited and had to do some research on their weather, food, fashion and all that. We were to leave in February and return in March. At that time of the year their weather is cold and snowy with temperatures hitting -10°C and below. That was another challenge for me coming from the tropics. I had to get some jackets to help me withstand the cold.

We set out at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport MMIA, Lagos to catch our flight enroute Amsterdam to Sweden.

MY WELCOME EXPERIENCE
On arrival at the airport in Sweden, we could not find our taxi, being the younger person I had to go out to ask questions and suddenly, the cold wind was getting my lips frozen as I tried to talk, tears rushing from my eyes down my chicks. 😂😂. In my mind I was like "na so we go de dey for three weeks"?

I had to start using my glasses everytime I was outside when the weather was unbearable.

The chill was more than I imagined. Besides, the person I met could not understand English, so there was no communication. I had to rush back in and took a lift down and saw someone with my name and my lady Boss's name on a placard. Sweet relief! Thank God. I beckoned on him to help us with our laugages to the car waiting outside.

It was a far journey to our hotel and on arrival, we saw about 4 ladies from Tanzania, who locked themselves outside the hotel. They had gone out for food bacause the canteen had closed for the day. This was about 10pm and we were their saving grace because the snow flakes were hitting them hard. We followed the instructions to activate our key card and got everyone inside.

My excitement was high despite the cold. Every experience was fun for me. We went to the Swedish Chemical Agency the next morning for an introduction together with other participants from various African countries and a delegation from Brazil.

While we were there we had wonderful experiences from boat cruises, road trips, the zoo, visits to the City centre and various islands around Stockholm.

The Food
This was one part of the entire experience that blew me away. At the welcome party we were served assorted dishes with funny names very difficult to remember. Most were very tasty with lots of Coffee breaks (fika) in between classes.

There was this meal I cannot forget, I was looking at it and smiling. I will not say much on that.

We were in one of the various dinners and were asked to choose between fish and meat dish what to eat. I decided to choose fish. Funny enough we were served raw fish and a white sauce I can't describe the taste. Every morning at the hotel was graced with nice meals and some fruits.

After one week of eating similar kind of food I got tired and asked where to buy Nigerian foods. I went with a fellow nigerian to the only shop in Sweden where you can get such. I made garri (eba) and ogbono soup that day and told my colleagues about it, the next day 5 people came to enjoy the meal with me.

The Fashion
Well, the only fashion was for everyone to protect themselves from the cold. Different sizes and colours of jackets, boots and hats to withstand the cold. Some mornings will have beautiful sunshines but the cold is freezing cold with a -6°C temperature. Every night one can hear the ice cold cracks on the window to tell you to keep warm. Heaters in every room to normalise the temperatures, still the cold was biting. I spend little or no time at the bathroom because I have to get back into my cloths.

Every day was exciting to go out to class with our key card that gave us access to the metro-bus or train which can take us anywhere for one month.

We would go out at night and just watch the people walking so fast, some times go for shopping.

The Tour
On various occasions we went on tours and I was privileged to visit certain places that wowed my imagination. The walls sometimes looking at them I felt like I was in the movie "Game of Thrones". Standing there so tall and strong. The sites made me appreciate another movie "The Vikings". I had to ask the tour guide some questions and she told me their history inspired the writing of the movie. Then the big one. I was on a cruise ship from Sweden to Helsinki in Finland, on vogage the Viking Line. This was most exciting for me. I felt like a child seeing my dreams come true. I went on that trip to take the opportunity to visit my Inlaw living there. Three other ladies accompanied me there. Every thing was inside that ship or boat. It was fun all night to and from Finland. We left Stockholm by 4pm and arrived Helsinki by 8am, we hardly could sleep that night. The same was on our way back to Stockholm.

The wall

We saw the Nobel Centre, Stockholm City Hall, The Zoo and many small Islands around stockholm Capital. The train stations had had more passengers than the bus stations as though everyone was living underground. When you get to the surface there are few people on their streets.

The Class Hall

Class presentation

With my project supervisor and my Supervisor at the office

I had a wonderful outing in my training classes and a whole lot of fun outside too. We had a party the night before we left and it was so exciting. Everyone was dancing and saying their good byes. Tears flowing and all that, but we were to meet again in 8 months time.

Three weeks plus made us like a family. We left and mentained a WhatsApp group till date. It was one of the participants from Zambia Mr. Ray that inspired me to go into farming. Since I had had a likeness for it then my passion grew. We still assist each other in various ways till date on the startegies for chemicals management in our various countries.

The group photo

This trip was a vital part of my career and it shaped my personality today. Amongst us were highly placed Chemists in government establishments, Doctorate Degree holders, Lecturere, farmers and so on in thie countries; Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bokina Faso, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, and Brazil.

We are planning a meetup like get tobether some day inTanzania.

The City Hall behind me

At the 8th floor on the boat

In Finland with my Uncle

At the Zoo/ Park

Inside the oldest church in Sweden

At the City Hall

At the Cruise

I had a blast during the entire time and I wished my husband was with me on this trip. I didn't miss him sha o 😂 I was catching my fun all the way.

I visited 3 countries within that 3 weeks before I came back to Nigeria. Guess what it was just phase 1 of the training. It was an unforgetable experience.

Thank you all for stopping by.

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I am @gloeze