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Interview with Slavcho and Milena from Bulgaria who work in Sweden

Interview with Melania, a neurologist from Hungary who works in Sweden

Milena, a specialist in paediatrics together with her husband Slavcho, who is a gastroenterologist and their son Rayan relocated to Skövde, Sweden in December 2023. We talked to Milena and Slavcho to get to know a little bit more about their experience regarding the relocation process, the language course, the support from MediCarrera, and, of course, their new life in Skövde.

How did your journey start?

In Bulgaria, we searched for employment possibilities in Sweden and we got in touch with MediCarrera who found us positions in Skövde. Firstly we had online interviews with the clinics and then they invited us for personal interviews in the clinics. Milena shares: 

When I was on the study tour in the clinic, after talking to colleagues I instantly felt like this was the place where I would like to work. After successful interviews in Sweden, we got employment contracts, which we both accepted.

How was your experience with the language course?

We started learning Swedish online while we were still working in Bulgaria and preparing the documents for our relocation. Our intensive full-time course was in Calafell, Spain where we moved together with our son. We had classes every day from Monday to Friday from 9 to 14, plus 2-3 hours of self-studies everyday. 

We appreciated the possibility of our son to study Swedish with us. He progressed well! 

Swedish teacher Johny prepared us well for passing B2 level of Swedish. During the course he also provided a lot of information about Swedish culture, traditions and all the important things we needed to know before moving to Sweden. Slavcho and Milena say: 

“Johnny is an excellent teacher, he could notice our weaknesses and structure the lessons so we can improve our weak points.

After passing B2 level of Swedish we moved to Sweden. It was Christmas time and the hospital invited us for a nice dinner to welcome us. It was a nice gesture! 

While we were in the course center in Calafell, MediCarrera’s relocation team found us an apartment in Skövde. It is spacious, with a good neighbourhood and it is newly built. We are very happy with this selection. 

After spending a couple of days in Sweden for all the paperwork associated with the relocation we started working in the hospitals part-time. 

We continued studying Swedish part-time online for 2,5 h/day.

Were there any difficulties that you anticipated in Sweden? 

When we arrived in Sweden we needed some time to get used to fast-spoken Swedish. Our colleagues helped us and they talked slowly with us and with time it got easier. 

 

How were your first days at work in Sweden?

We started working with mentors who helped us a lot and in case of any questions we could address them. The first days at work were difficult but we had colleagues who moved to Sweden some years ago and they calmed us down saying that it would become easier after some time. 

How did Rayan experience the relocation to Skövde?

When we moved to Sweden our son Rayan had 2 month preparatory course in Swedish at school after that he was enrolled in the 3rd grade, in a class of pupils of his age.

School is very well organized, the pupils learn practical things. Rayan adapted well, he says that it is easier to study in Sweden. 

He is very happy in Sweden; he has friends with whom he plays after school. 

What is the biggest difference between living and working in Bulgaria and living and working in Sweden?

Swedes have great respect аnd trust towards doctors. They have a flat hierarchy, where everyone is free to share his opinion and is encouraged to give suggestions. That gives a sense of value and responsibility. 

Also, teamwork plays an important role here. 

 What is the best thing about working as a gastroenterologist/a paediatrician in Sweden?

In Sweden the work of a specialist is organized so in different weeks he has specific tasks, for example, one week you do endoscopies, another week you work in inpatient care and another week in outpatient care. Like this the work is well-organized and you can be more concentrated. 

In Bulgaria, a doctor could do all these tasks in one day. 

How is it to live in Skövde?

Skövde is situated 150 km northeast of Gothenburg. It is a small town but there are all the things you need for life here. There are the two largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern, a mountain, a ski slope, schools and a university. It is a safe and comfortable town. We are happy that we made this decision and relocated to Sweden.

 

Are you interested in doing the same journey as Milena and Slavcho? Contact us and let us help you start your medical career in Sweden.

 

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