“Sweden taught me a simple way of living”

Wentong Cai at her former workplace, Stockholm City Hall

– It was actually by coincidence that I went to Sweden the first time. I studied Russian, but there were few exchange opportunities between Chinese and Russian universities. I got the possibility to go to Umeå University and I was the first Chinese exchange student in the Russian department there. My professor was from Stockholm, and through him I got to know Stockholm University.

Wentong finished her bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and literatures at Fudan University in Shanghai, and she knew she wanted to study her master’s degree in Sweden. She got admitted to her first choice “Applied Cultural Analysis” at Lund University.

– I was very excited. It was a joint programme together with University of Copenhagen, so during my time there I got the chance to meet and interact with a big group of students. 

The interdisciplinary programme was a perfect match

After the master’s programme in Lund, she moved to Stockholm as her boyfriend had started his PhD studies at Stockholm University. As a non-EU citizen, she was able to extend her residence permit with six months.

– I used that time to study Swedish. I was also applying for jobs and PhD positions, but it was hard with my mix of degrees in Russian and ethnology. I was interested in the environment and anthropology and found the master’s programme “Environmental Social Science” at SU.

The programme has an interdisciplinary curriculum where the students can choose social anthropology, human geography or political science as their major. Wentong chose social anthropology.

– The programme had its emphasis on the environmental aspects which felt right for me. I also tried to experience more during my time at SU than I did during my first master’s programme. I vividly remember the student ambassadors showing us campus on “Orientation Day” in the beginning. I also volunteered as a student ambassador later on.

An unforgettable experience to work in Stockholm

Wentong wanted an extra income during her studies and found a job as a tour guide in Chinese and English at the City Hall in Stockholm.

– It was the most unforgettable experience for me during my time in Stockholm. When you learn a language, you get to know the culture and the society on a deeper level. It was a really intense language environment as I was forced to listen to and use Swedish every day. To use a language as a working language is the best way to learn. I was always a shy student but my work experience at the City Hall really helped a lot.

Still connected to Sweden in Shanghai

When Wentong graduated from Stockholm University, she felt she had been away from home for a long time. She went back to Shanghai and worked as an editor of children’s books for two years, before she found her current job as a librarian at her alma mater, Fudan University.

– My master’s programme gave me the skills to communicate with people and to listen to their feedback. As a librarian, I work with the users who are students and teachers. I’m always curious about how they find the services at the library. The service-minded thinking is always with me. This is how anthropologists think, we are always in this “insider role”. It’s a really practical skill in my work life.

Wentong is hoping to someday work with something related to Sweden. She has joined SwedCham Young Professionals in China, the youth committee of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China. The committee organises events for young people such as Swedish students or employees at Swedish companies in Shanghai. By meeting Swedes over a “semla fika” or a “kräftskiva” she still gets her share of Swedish culture. Some parts of that she’d like to implement in China.

– Swedish students aren’t shy to ask questions in class and also the hierarchy between students and teachers is more balanced than in China. Maybe I can do something to change that environment in the future.

Thankful for what Sweden taught her

Wentong would recommend future or current students to grab every opportunity to join the society, to learn the language and the local culture.

– Try to come out of your comfort zone and try to interact with the local society as much as possible. Language skills don’t only help doing grocery shopping, but help you understand the culture. I joined the organisation Kompis Sverige (“Friend Sweden”), where they match you with a Swede. I met a Swedish girl a few times and practiced Swedish, and we also talked about how to find a job. I learned a lot from her.

Thinking of Sweden, Wentong feels thankful. She says Sweden taught her a simple way of living as she thinks Swedes aren’t very materialistic compared to many young people in China.

– Swedes enjoy simple things, like sunshine in the summer. I still have this Swedish saying in mind: “det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder” [“there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”]. The daytime is very short in winter but people are still positive. I spent an important period of my life in Sweden, when I was passionate about absorbing knowledge and seeking the values of life. Sweden gave me a lot.