<p>Should I/we move abroad or not? This is a question that surely many of today’s expatriate Swedes asked themselves and was probably largely debated by most. How does is feel to move back to Sweden? I have chosen to contact a number of expatriate Swedes and some that have returned, in order to receive answers to these questions.</p><p>The aim with this thesis is to study the experiences and thoughts of people living in a different country as to were they were born and also those of people returning to Sweden. I have used a hermeneutic analytical method alongside a socio-psychological identity perspective when I studied the replies of my 69 respondents. The replies I have received are in a narrating format and I have treated them as qualitative information and not performed any statistical analysis.</p><p>I have found, among other things that most of them move abroad because they seek for adventure. When they have arrived and settled in their new country, many seek contact with other expatriate Swedes. They nurture the Swedish traditions and the Swedish language, and it is especially important if they have children. That one becomes “extra Swedish” abroad is confirmed by most and many compare “the new ways” with “the old ways” in Sweden. To find new friends can be very difficult in the beginning and many miss a close friend that they had in Sweden before moving. The majority move back to Sweden due to homesickness or a working contract expires. The option of many is that it feels good to come back home and that things return to normal as they were before leaving Sweden. Others might have certain problems with everyday things that have changed or been implemented while they were abroad.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA/oai:DiVA.org:liu-2534 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Lindgren, Susanne |
| Publisher | Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies, Institutionen för tematisk utbildning och forskning |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, text |
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