Be curious and patient while living as an expat and allow your children time to play and explore, Swedish Ambassador Helena Sångeland said during a celebration of Sweden’s 500th birthday on June 7 at the Swedish Embassy in Beijing.
“Sweden and China share a very special bond,” Ambassador Sångeland said during a speech to the multinational crowd. While Sweden formally established relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1950, the country’s exchanges can actually be traced all the way back to the 18th century, she remarked.
While Sångeland’s speech mostly focused on the relationship between China and Sweden, she also had a special message for families living abroad.
“My children are all grown up now, but our years as an expat family have taught me that patience and curiosity are key when you move to a new country,” Sångeland recalled during the event.
“You can find so many wonderful and fascinating places in Beijing and China – from the hutongs and the Great Wall to pandas in Chengdu, Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie, desert sliding in Gansu, and ice sculptures in Harbin,” she said. “Just taking the bullet train is an adventure in itself!”
However, especially after the Covid lockdowns, socializing kids should be a major focus for families, she said.
“I think to allow time for play or for social interaction is important,” she said. “Not just studies — I know studies are extremely important for China — but to allow for free time, and to above all, get out to meet people … because that’s an education, too.”
She also emphasized the importance of keeping in touch with friends and family back home.
“Staying in touch with friends and family far away is more complicated here than in many other places, but with patience and creativity, you can come a long way,” she said.
Images: Lumi A
