After working as a teacher while completing my Master’s degree in Austria, I was ready to go on an adventure, broaden my horizons and explore working and living in Sweden. I started my one-year internship at Internationella Engelska Skolan in Liljeholmen, Stockholm, in August 2025, where I worked both as a support teacher for English in Years 5 and 8 as well as a German teacher for Year 9.

Life as a teacher

Because I took over the last remaining German group of the school and had to prepare them for the National Tests (the final exams in Swedish grundskola), I was quite nervous about the responsibility. However, after a short while, I was able to build strong relationships with my students and enjoyed my teaching responsibilities a lot. Moreover, I could always count on my colleagues for any kind of support, for which I am beyond grateful.

Being a teacher in Sweden also meant staying in school until three or four p.m. while also having lunch there, which was a slightly different experience than back in Austria. In addition, schools in Sweden are free – meaning not only education is free but all the necessary supplies, such as notebooks or pencils, are provided as well. Unfortunately, this also meant that there are hardly any school trips as parents are not supposed to pay for anything school-related. Personally, I have found this aspect a bit unfortunate as I have been on multiple school trips myself, whether it was as a student or even as a teacher and those were always fun and helped foster students’ relationships. The school I worked at, however, organizes an annual ski trip to Romme for Year 9 students – a day trip that I was able to join and it was quite fun!

My time at an international school greatly expanded my perspective, offering a wonderful platform to learn about different cultures while sharing insights about my own origin. This mutual exchange of backgrounds truly enhanced my intercultural competence.

Social Life

From day one onwards I have always felt welcomed and comfortable. Whether it was the people I met, my colleagues or my students that made me feel that way. Even though it was more difficult to find friends as an intern in a school without attending any university courses, it was not impossible. It just meant that I had to step even further out of my comfort zone and approach people I met, for instance, in the sports classes I attended. Luckily, it did not take me too long to find friends. However, I sometimes also enjoyed my own company reading a book in a café or exploring other destinations in Sweden as well as Norway and Finland, all by myself.

When it comes to climate, weather and daylight, Stockholm is probably not the number one choice for going abroad. However, I genuinely enjoyed the shorter days because they were super cozy and perfect for having fika with friends. Admittedly, I was quite “afraid” of experiencing winter in Stockholm but even the cold months had their charm. With the arrival of the snow, the city turned into a bright and calm winter wonderland, offering many outdoor activities such as ice skating or cross-country skiing. Hence, I relished the calm and cozy winter months a lot but on the other hand, I definitely also enjoyed spring and summer with its cherry blossom trees and the clear city waters, which were inviting for a refreshing swim.

Experiencing traditional celebrations like the candlelight processions of Lucia in winter or the community bonfires of Valborg in spring gave me a profound appreciation for how Swedes celebrate the changing seasons.

Accommodation

Finding a place to stay in Stockholm was a bit of a challenge and very nerve-racking. However, I found a room in a shared apartment and was living with a retired woman who had also worked in a school once.

The apartment was located in Hägersten, which is a very local and calm area in the southern part of Stockholm. From there, it only took me 20 minutes to school and around 30 minutes to reach the city centre.

Summary

I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced this year in Stockholm. It was a year filled with wonderful people, lasting memories and invaluable growth – both personally and professionally – that I never could have found without stepping out of my comfort zone. Stockholm will always be incredibly meaningful to me and the ways I have grown during my time here will stay with me forever.

Even though I am nowhere near tired of cinnamon buns, winter months or ABBA, every great adventure must eventually come to an end. For now, all that is left is to say a heartfelt goodbye to Stockholm – a city that has truly become a second home. Tack så mycket!

Photos & Text: Magdalena Koch