Vilnius conference

Today, at the Vilnius conference we have met many doctors, junior and specialists. We presented the recruitment process and life on the Paragona campus during the language training. The participants had a chance to ask a Lithuanian doctor about her experience after moving out to Sweden and learn some Danish phrases. Thank you all for coming; we hope you enjoyed it.

Agnieszka – Recruitment Department at the Paragona Conference in Vilnius

Soeren – Director of Studies

Medical Job Fair in Vilnius

Go to: www.paragona.com

Interview with Dalia recruited by Paragona to Sweden in 2011

How has your life changed after moving to Sweden?

Dalia: Sweden is not so far from Lithuania, where my family and my parents live. I visit them every month. My life became more secure, I have many opportunities to work while learning Swedish culture. I am glad that I have many nice colleagues!

How do you estimate the standard of living in your home country and in Sweden?

D: I have lived here in Sweden for almost nine months. I can not say that I had experienced any culture shock. But the Swedes are more calm. They work a lot, but they know how to have fun in life. It’s really important, I think. I learn to enjoy my life.

What was the most challenging for you after moving abroad?

D: When I moved to Sweden, my stuff came too late. My neighbor (she’s Swedish) helped me so much at that time! I was surprised. Additionally, she taught me a lot of Swedish and “smålandska”. She taught me to bake Swedish buns and a variety of stuff in the kitchen. We still hang out.

How do you cope with the foreign language in the new country?

D: Paragona has brilliant teachers and they know how to teach us Swedish in just three and a half months. It was not that difficult to learn later. I had passed my exam B2 before. My hospital paid for B + and C1 Swedish course too. I have talked a lot with colleagues and friends. I have read Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy in Swedish and some other books. Swedish radio also helps a lot. I am very satisfied with learning.

How has your family adapted to the life in Sweden?

D: My parents are old and it is a bit complicated for them to move to Sweden. But my family is very happy and we help each other. I think a person should have ambitions and motivation, and then he or she can do it all!

Go to: www.paragona.com

Interview with the internist recruited by Paragona to Sweden in 2009

How has your life changed after moving to Sweden?

Doctor: I think we got new challanges with the removal to abroad, which is very stimulating and also satisfying. The fact that we can work in a foreign country in a new language is a very positiv experience. We got an opportunity to mix elements of the new culture and preserve the old ones from our tradition. We have much more time for each other with my husband, we can reach the nearest forest in 10-15 minutes. We ride bicyckle to the work and tried to paddle kayak and skiing and hike as often as we have time. I tried to bake bread which is very popular here.

How do you estimate the standard of living in your home country and in Sweden?

D: Our living standard became higher and it is not only true regarding the monthly salary but the prospects of our lives. One of the best things is to have right to 5 weeks holiday which was unknown for us in Hungary.

What was the most challenging for you after moving abroad?

D: The most challenging thing was to me to learn how people handle things in the hospital and in the authorities.

How do you cope with the foreign language in the new country?

D: I think we speak the language quite well, but I think we can be better every time a bit and this is why we have to improve it. I would like to take a C1 exam probably next year. I think Paragona gave a very good language course for us in Warsaw.

How has your family adapted to the life in Sweden?

D: I live here with my husband and we both like very much to live here. We live in a smaller town very close to the nature. He could start the language school which was an intensive one with the help of Catharina (Paragona launguage teacher). He got first a so called practic place to work and after that he could continue to work on the same place as an IT consult. We got quite a good help from the local office of unemployment (Arbetsförmedlingen). He has opportunity to improve his knowledge in IT permanently. Since he works mainly in English it is a bit more difficult for him not to forget Swedish and this is why he is to start a new language course from september just to improve his Swedish.

Go to: www.paragona.com