Friday, August 20, 2010

Open Blog - Weekend Version


Be good to yourself.
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13 comments:

Why Not? said...

Hello all, Happy weekend..

As of yesterday I have been living in Sweden for 11 years and have just recently become a Swedish citizen.. Now I just have to figure out who I am voting for this upcoming election here.. Hmmm..

August 20, 2010 at 2:25 AM
Lizardmom said...

Happy Friday!!

I can't wait for allergy/sinus season to come to an end!!

August 20, 2010 at 2:37 AM
Beejay said...

Have a great weekend. I have to plant some flowering vines in my wooded area....what color, what color, oh what color....that will be my big decision for the weekend.

Have a good one...Hot, hot, hot here and I mean really hot. Maybe next year.........

August 20, 2010 at 9:34 AM
OrbsCorbs said...

Congratulations, Why Not. I'm a citizen here and I have no idea of who to vote for, either.

August 20, 2010 at 10:06 AM
hale-bopp said...

I always seem to move to a new city and state right before an election. That is confusing even if you are paying attention. It takes a couple of years to really start understanding the local political systems, whether you have a strong or weak mayor system and all the different city/county/school board/judicial elected offices and how the responsibilities are delegated. If you have lived in one place for a long time, you might forget that not every place in the U.S. has the same system.

I have been here five years and made a lot of progress figuring it out, but I am sure there are still some things I am missing.

August 20, 2010 at 10:53 AM
kkdither said...

Congratulations, why not! Are the regulations for citizenship more, or less strict, in Sweden? Do you have to study the history and pass a written exam?

August 20, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Why Not? said...

To become a citizen of Sweden I filled out a form over the internet (they asked a few question about how long I lived here, if I were married and couple of other questions can't remember) the application took about 5-10 minutes to fill out, printed out a copy so that I could send in my signature and paid 1,500 SEK which is about 200 dollars.. Sent in my American passport and about a week later I got a very simple letter in the mail (registered mail) saying I was a citizen of Sweden (no language test or history test). Very simple but I think it is a little easier for me who is married to a Swede, have been living here for 11 years, haven't been in trouble or have a bunch of debts sent off to collection agencies and I come from USA.. Getting my residency was a cinch as well, while I saw other people from other countries have a much more difficult interview process.

As for the voting thing I guess I always considered myself quite liberal, but the more I read and try to figure out who to vote for the more I realize I don't know what to call myself. I have found so far that I am more agreeing with the Christian Democrats which completely surprises me. But I have a lot of research to do before the election, hope I can figure out something that I can feel confident in.

It's funny though, Sweden is quite liberal, even the more conservative sides are much more liberal than most conservatives there in the US, so here I guess I would be considered more conservative while I'm visiting in the US I would be considered more central or liberal..

August 20, 2010 at 4:13 PM
Beejay said...

Why Not? Congrats. Now did you get a new passport as part of your 200 fee

August 20, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Sassa said...

Can you get a dual citizenship? Would you want to? Would that mean you pay taxes on both countries? Just wondering.

August 20, 2010 at 6:08 PM
OrbsCorbs said...

I knew a man who had dual citizenship (Ireland and USA), but I never asked him about it. I assumed he paid taxes where he earned it.

August 20, 2010 at 6:40 PM
MinnesotaChick said...

And I'm confused living in another state.....

Happy weekend everyone.

My sister and I were talking last night, it started lightning and thundering. I told her, oh you will probably get rain tomorrow.
She sent me a email today to thank me for the warning.. (LOL) She lives in Kansasville.
Did Racine get alot of rain today?

August 20, 2010 at 10:17 PM
OrbsCorbs said...

Not today, but we've had some tonight. Were supposed to get more overnight. I'm glad, my tomatoes need it.

August 20, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Why Not? said...

I now have a dual citizenship.. I was the last in my little family here to get it.. my husband and girls were naturally born with dual citizenships..

As for taxes, to tell you the truth I'm not exactly sure how that all works.. As it is now I pay taxes where I earn it.. If there is a law saying I have to pay taxes in both countries I'm not sure.. lets not bring any attention to the IRS...

Beejay, unfortunately no I didn't get a Swedish passport but I do still have my American.. I will have to get a Swedish passport before I travel to the states again so I am allowed back into Sweden.

August 21, 2010 at 4:04 AM

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