Payback Time - How? A Call to Action

I moved to Sweden on January 2, 1987, for love. Annika and I first met back in 1981 at Disneyland - of all places. More exactly, on June 21, 1981. We both kept the tickets, so I know the exact date.

We were 18 years old when we met. I was finishing my year as an exchange student and traveling around the USA by Greyhound before returning to Brazil. Annika was backpacking, doing the same. My route took me from the East Coast to the West via the northern U.S., then back through the South to Miami, where my flight would take me home. Annika’s journey was the reverse. And somehow, we met at Disneyland. What are the chances?

For me, it was love at first sight. I first saw her in a backpackers' hotel lobby in downtown L.A. So later that same day, when I saw her at Disneyland, I couldn’t help but approach her and say, "Hej, I saw you in the hotel lobby."

Next came the ride "Pirates of the Caribbean" - and the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Annika came to Brazil a few years later, and we kept in touch until I moved to Sweden that freezing day in January 1987. The luggage took forever to come out. Then came an announcement: "We are sorry, but there is a delay with the luggage because the doors are frozen." It was the coldest day in Sweden in over 100 years - minus 28°C. I had just left Rio, where it had been an unbearably hot 40°C.

While waiting, I saw Annika behind the glass partition at Arlanda Airport. It took 45 minutes for the luggage to arrive, but it felt like an eternity.

We have been together ever since.

But this is not a love story. This is a wake-up call.

Why Am I Writing This?

I could continue telling our love story, but I am writing this for a different reason. I retired last year after a successful career in Sweden, and I now dedicate my time to building a community called 4D (Dreamers, Doers, Designers, and Doubters). We engage in conversations and projects to better understand and address the Metacrisis - the interconnected challenges affecting our planet and society.

On January 21, we hosted a 4D Conversation with May Ann Ramsay, a former Senior Expert at the EU, on migration. If you missed it, check the recording here.

Listening to May Ann, memories of my own experience as a migrant suddenly resurfaced – memories that had faded in the rush of building a family and a career. Moments of deep uncertainty and the support I received, which ultimately shaped my success, came flooding back.

So I am writing this to:

1. Share my story - how I integrated into Swedish society as a young 25-year-old immigrant.
2. Reflect on the present - the questions and concerns I have now.
3. Ask: How can I help? Maybe it’s time to pay back. If so, how? And can we do it together?

I hope this post sparks a dialogue on how we can better support immigrants in Sweden - especially in a time when migration is being used as a polarizing and weaponized political issue instead of being seen for its true potential.

My Story: Breaking Into the Swedish Job Market

My First Day in Sweden

On my first day in Sweden, I almost died.

Annika and I took bus number 46 from Odenplan to downtown Stockholm. It was breathtaking. I had never seen so much snow. People were skiing downtown! We stood in front of the Royal Castle, opposite the Opera, and walked through Kungstr?dg?rden to a store called Gul & Bl?, where Caroline, a friend who had visited Brazil with Annika, worked.

At first, it felt magical. The frozen lake M?laren was steaming from the extreme cold - a mystical, fairy-tale scene.

Until I realized I was actually freezing.

I truly felt like I was going to die if we didn’t reach Gul & Bl? soon.

That first day is a cherished memory from a year that felt like a honeymoon. I took Swedish classes (SFI), though I wasn’t very committed. Everyone in Sweden speaks English, and they seemed to like it. Once, at a Seven Eleven, Annika ordered an ice cream in Swedish and got a regular size. I ordered in English and got a double.

Even today, though I speak fluent Swedish (with a heavy accent), Annika sometimes encourages me to speak English in certain situations. No joke.

My First Qualified Job

After our first year, we traveled back to Brazil. When we returned at Easter, I knew I had to take learning Swedish and finding a good job more seriously.

I had an MSc in Engineering - what Swedes call Industriell Ekonomi, nicknamed the "CEO line" due to its success in producing top executives. I had also left behind a promising career at Exxon, where I was considered a "top talent."

In Sweden, I worked at a fritidsg?rd (a daycare center) in Nacka. It helped me earn money and practice Swedish - though the children preferred speaking English.

One day at Arbetsf?rmedlingen (the Swedish employment agency), I found a business administration program at the University of Stockholm. The requirement was an academic degree from abroad. It seemed perfect, but I needed to pass an exam on the Swedish language called "Rikstestet".

The official at Arbetsf?rmedlingen was hesitant. But Tomas, a Swedish friend of ours, was with me – and he wasn’t backing down. At the end he basically shouted at the official, insisting I be allowed to apply.

Thank you, Tomas. Your shouting might have changed my entire life in Sweden.

And thank you, Annika, who walked with me to the door of the interview room at Frescati - the University of Stockholm campus - making me repeat, 'Jag har bott h?r i Sverige i drygt ett ?r' ('I have lived in Sweden for a little more than a year').

I got into the program, under the condition that I improve my Swedish. I spent the summer reading Swedish versions of my old textbooks from Brazil. By August, I was ready. I passed the Rikstest and did so well in the program that at the end of the nine months, they offered me a job at the university. The year was 1989.

This was the start of my career in Sweden and the future looked bright.

During my time at University of Stockholm, my first qualified job in Sweden, among other things I developed programs for academics - mainly immigrants - seeking employment.

After 7 years at the University of Stockholm, I moved to Ericsson for 26 amazing years until I retired.

Payback Time: A Call to Action

From my first day in Sweden, I paid taxes. Just 900 days after arriving, Annika and I bought our first flat in S?dermalm - with our own money, no inheritance or financial help. I built two successful careers before retiring.

All of this was possible because of people like Tomas - people who shouted for me when I needed it most.

Now, it’s time to pay back.

New immigrants often hear: "You need to know Swedish to get a job." But is that really true? At Ericsson, English is the official language. The real challenge is getting the right references. Without someone like Tomas to open doors, many immigrants struggle for years to find jobs that match their skills - if they ever do.

So I ask you: Do you also feel it’s time to pay back?

Let’s come together. Let’s share our experiences, mentor newcomers, and - when necessary - shout to get things done.

When I was young and participated in that job-seeking program for academic immigrants at the university, I gave it my all. The same was true when I later worked at University of Stockholm, guiding others through similar programs. But if only I had known then what I know now!

For example, while extra education is valuable, many immigrants arrive in Sweden already qualified and ready to contribute. Yet instead of helping them enter the workforce faster, we put up unnecessary barriers.

How can you get a job in Sweden without strong references - even with a solid education from Sweden or abroad? And without a Tomas to vouch for you?

We can make a real difference by offering hands-on support:

·?????? Providing strong references when we know someone is qualified.

·?????? Giving practical tips on navigating the job market.

·?????? Opening our networks to help immigrants make the right connections.

·?????? Speaking up when we see unfair barriers.

Sweden is full of talented immigrants - engineers, doctors, and professionals - who end up in jobs far below their qualifications simply because they lack the right network. This isn’t just a personal tragedy; it’s a massive loss for Sweden as a whole.

Do you feel it’s time to give back too?

Let’s take action - together. Whether you’re an immigrant or a Swede, young or old, your voice matters.

If you’re interested, reach out to me. A small group has already started brainstorming concrete steps. Let’s make a difference!