Advertisement

Stockholm

#MySweden: 'There's nothing we need that's more than a few minutes away'

The Local Sweden
The Local Sweden - [email protected]
Published: 12 Apr, 2019 CET. Updated: Fri 12 Apr 2019 09:24 CET
#MySweden: 'There's nothing we need that's more than a few minutes away'
Erin Gisby-Fears. Photo: Private

Erin Gisby-Fears from Los Angeles shows us around her neighbourhood in southern Stockholm.

Advertisement

How old are you and what do you normally spend your days doing?
 
I am 32 years old, and I normally work as a digital content strategist at a game company Monday to Friday. On my free time I love meeting up with my girl squad for after works and stand-up comedy, going to film screenings and plays with my husband who is an actor, and checking out new things that might challenge my status quo. Like I just learned to play Dungeons and Dragons, can you believe it!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There have been three events that have been seminal in my journey here in Sweden. The first, as you saw on Friday was my graduation from @KarolinskaInsitutet with my masters. The second was my Big Fat Svenskt bröllop ! ?? ?? A wedding is a momentous moment in anyone’s life and can sometimes be the most stressful ? In the end it was the most love filled beautiful day of either of our lives, surpassing our wildest dreams. ? One especially wonderful part was the experience of blending my African-American wedding traditions with my husbands Swedish ones. Traditions like jumping the broom, throwing the bouquet, kissing the groom/bride, why you shouldn’t wear red ect… (Google my blog “My big fat Svenskt Bröllop” for a more in-depth blog I wrote about this ). Shown below are me throwing the bouquet to a mix gendered group of guests (a little nod to Swedish equality culture) , my husband’s parents and my mom after the ceremony ?, the broom that we jumped over in the ceremony, and cutting the cake and feeding each other. -Erin (@eringfears) ?: @liamwartonweddings . • • • #mysweden #thelocalsweden #sweden #visitsweden #expat #wedding #marriedlife #weddingphotography #destinationwedding #bröllop

A post shared by The Local Sweden (@thelocalsweden) on Apr 8, 2019 at 3:03am PDT

 
When and why did you move to your neighbourhood?
 
I've just moved to Årstadal which is the area right by the water in Liljeholmen in southern Stockholm. Previously I lived in Bagarmossen for many years, so this is a big difference from the leafy, hippie enclave that I had come to love. We really needed to move into our own two-bedroom apartment though. So when finally we got a great new-build first-hand contract from the queue, we had to seize the opportunity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It’s Friday so let’s talk #Nightlife ! ??Getting into the nightlife scene here in Stockholm was tough for me. I was used to going out to different dance clubs all the time, and also not paying so much for drinks ? so when I first moved here, I couldn’t find many clubs that I liked, and everyone in the city seemed to be going to the same 4 or 5 clubs. ?‍♀️?‍♂️ Over time I’ve come to accept that often the best parties here are house parties, and if you have your friends you can turn almost any bar into a dance party (despite the crazy no dancing in bars law ? ), and that there are a few restaurants that turn into fun dance parties on certain days like @boqueriastockholm . I also feel that I can usually count on @spybar , @tradgarden (in summer), @slakthuset (in summer) and @clubbackdoor to be fun on any random night. ???Say hi if you see me! ??‍♀️ -Erin (@eringfears) ?: @giokant . • • • #nightlife #bars #clubs #stockholm #mysweden #thelocalsweden #sweden #visitsweden #expat

A post shared by The Local Sweden (@thelocalsweden) on Apr 5, 2019 at 6:42am PDT

 
What do you love the most about your neighbourhood?
 
Årstadal has more of a city pulse, and much less greenery than Bagarmossen. But it is super nice being a short 10 minute walk from Hornstull and being connected to literally every form of transportation that runs through Stockholm. That is a godsend! There is nothing we need that's more than a few minutes away, and it's much easier to pop into the inner city to meet a friend, or check out an event than before. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

? One of the very BEST things about Stockholm is all of the gorgeous clean fresh water! Coming from a desert city, I love being out in the water at every chance. ?With the seasons moving forward , make sure to get on a boat and get out to enjoy the sea and sunshine. Here I am on one of the many cruises that you can take out to drottningholm castle , the official residence of the royal family ?. Not only will you get a great meal along the way but you can see the beautiful city coasts, and hop off to see the castle if you haven’t before. They have stunning gardens ?? -Erin • • • #mysweden #thelocalsweden #boatlife #sweden #visitsweden #expat #cruise #yachtlife

A post shared by The Local Sweden (@thelocalsweden) on Apr 9, 2019 at 5:37am PDT

 
What annoys you the most about your neighbourhood?
 
So far it is all of the construction. When we moved into our complex it was still being built, so I am really looking forward to seeing the last construction vehicle drive away into the sunset! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Another thing I love about living here in Sweden is Kanelbullar! ? This picture was taken in Gothenburg and is from the famous @hagabageri that makes these enormous buns. I was in Gbrg for the @wayoutwestfestival summer music festival, which I thought was super fun. ? I am looking forward to heading back with my friends this year to see some of my favorite musicians @devhynes (Blood Orange) and @iamcardib (CardiB )? and to get another bulle ?. Sweden is so big in the music scene, that despite the super small population (there are more people in my hometown than in all of Sweden) it really attracts the big acts, so I don’t feel so left out not being home ? ?. -Erin (@eringfears) . • • • #gothenburg #mysweden #thelocalsweden #WOW19 #music #festival #foodporn #sweden #visitsweden #travel #summer

A post shared by The Local Sweden (@thelocalsweden) on Apr 10, 2019 at 7:10am PDT

 
How should I spend a day in your neighbourhood?
 
If you want to spend a day in my neighbourhood I think that you should first head to original Brisket & Friends for finger-licking good BBQ in the remaining industrial area.
 
Then you should go for a nice walk down the Årstaviken nature trail toward Skanstull, and enjoy all the gorgeous nature the Stockholm coasts have to offer. You can then cross the bridge at Skanstull and walk back on the Södermalm side of the water, maybe stopping to play some boules in Tantolunden before heading back across the bridge and going for a quick swim in the sun from one of the many sunbathing docks in Årstadal.
 
Finish up with burgers and beers at Bröderna on the water and head home for a nap. You'll need it!
 
 
What's a fun fact not everyone knows about your neighbourhood?

Hmm, a fun fact... I don't really know. Maybe that there used to be a lot of raves in the area before they tore down all the warehouses to start building housing?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For my final post I’d really like to share one of my most proud moments here...the moment I became a Swedish citizen ! ?? In the USA as in most countries , you’re born into the nationality you are. It’s not really a choice. But to move to a new country learn their obscure language, and become a citizen there, feels almost like a marriage. ?I got to choose the country with the culture I wanted to be apart of, and the country I thought I could contribute too. ?? I didn’t think at the time that I applied that I would feel emotional in anyway, but I almost wanted to cry of happiness when I receive my bevis ?. It felt like I chose Sweden because it represented so much of what I loved, and Sweden said yes Erin I love you back. ? I hope this story doesn’t make anyone going through a hard immigration process feel sad, I just wanted to share what my Sweden means to me during this week, and I couldn’t share my Sweden with out sharing the moment where I committed to her, surströmming and all, for the rest of my life ? -Erin (@eringfears) p.s. I’ve added some highlights in stories from the stockholm city citizenship celebration that happens every year on national day ? . • • • #expat #stockholm #mysweden #thelocalsweden #sweden #visitsweden

A post shared by The Local Sweden (@thelocalsweden) on Apr 10, 2019 at 10:13pm PDT

Follow Erin Gisby-Fears on Instagram here. To find out how you can become The Local's next #MySweden host, click HERE.

More

#Stockholm #mysweden #Travel news

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also