Confession of a lifetime of Serbian student from the heart of Sweden: I will return to Serbia if they offer me a good job (PHOTO)

- Trip to Sweden was not planed. The only thing i planned is to continue my school abroad, and the rest is destiny - starts the story Milan Jocevski (27), European Union scholarship winner within the Erasmus Mundus program and Fund for young talents scholarship winner.

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One could see that he is different from his peers in early childhood. Besides being the best student and winning first prizes on competitions in natural and social sciences, he went to lots of different courses. He tried his luck in fields of journalism and acting. He is aware of many talents he has, so he searched the best way to manifest them.  

Foto: Privatna arhiva

Milan graduated from two high schools, at the entrance exam, he was first on the lists of Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Faculty of Organizational Sciences, but however he decided to go to Telecommunications on Faculty of Electrical Engineering. While you are talking to him, it is clear that he is, even now - the representative of Serbian and European intellectual elite. He may have chosen his interest a long time, but the only thing he new is that he will improve himself abroad.

- I wasn't sure how many options i had and that is why i applied to more universities. They all accepted me and i had to make the hardest decision then, where to go - said Milan who started his journey abroad in Fall 2012.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

He decided on Erasmus Mundus master program and went to Royal Technical institute in Stockholm and Catalan Polytechnic University in Barcelona, and now, fire years later, he is a year and a half away from completion of doctoral studies.

- The decision to go to Sweden was rational and inspired with the quality of the studies, more than the state. I haven't regretted it. People there live in accordance with nature, and thus it is completely normal to go through the mud in new shoes or sunbathe topless in the city center. Public transport works flawlessly, and if they don't, you can call a cab and send a bill to the city transportation company. If you do not know Swedish, you will not have problems, because everyone from kindergarten to old age speak English - explains young man from Belgrade.

He adds that you boss opens the door for you quite often, girl cleans the snow off of her car or that colleague goes for maternity leave for entire year, and that people make more money than they need to live casually.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

- Precisely that relaxation, comfort and naturalness of people is quite refreshing. However, i believe that not everyone feels like that. I am still on my doctorate studies. I receive my wage, but i live in dorms. I made a combination that enables me to save some money, because i would spend very much on rents. If there is any obvious problem here, that is extremely expensive and unattainable furniture - said Milan.

Foto: Telegraf

He adds that we could learn one important thing from Swedes.

- First of all, we should mind our own business. To respect the success of others. To commit to our children and to teach them the true values. It is interesting to mention that children in Sweden decide to work for 2-3 years or to travel for a year to see what they are and what will they do with their life. University is their own choice and they enter it when they think they need it - explains Jocevski.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

However, he said, that they could learn something from us.

- Swedes are pleasant and ready to help you, but they will never accept going to drink with you after work if you haven't scheduled it few days (or two weeks) upfront. So they could probably learn to be more "warmer" as a nation.

Like in all people, there are common stereotypes about Swedes. Some of them, however, are not so true.

- They are not all blue-haired, not tall. More precise, not all girls are blond and tall. But, many stereotypes are true. They have high standards, they avoid conflicts, they don't have much light during winter (so they are obsessed with sun), they are pretty open and enjoy their freedoms, they are neat and meticulous, they don't use cash for paying.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

As the doctoral studies are coming to an end, Milan is thinking again what should he do. Currently, he has four states in front of him and open possibilities to continue living in any of them.  

- I seem to fit in into living in Sweden, and the things that were not quite so right i got used to. However, the plans are there to be changed and that is why i can't say with certainty where will i go when i complete my studies. If the right opportunity shows itself in Serbia, i would probably go back - concludes Milan.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Jasmina Stakic)