【Prompt of Happiness】④

Chapter 22: Application

Suppressing my racing heart, I began to research the issuance procedure for a working holiday visa in earnest. I searched the internet and confirmed the application steps and required documents in detail from the official Swedish website. Passport expiration date, proof of flight purchase, proof of overseas travel insurance... I listed every document that needed to be submitted and carefully checked them one by one to ensure nothing was missing.
Furthermore, I thoroughly investigated the necessary procedures for the application, deadlines, and the process after applying. I gathered information to ensure a smooth start to my working holiday life in Sweden, such as the visa application period, the number of days until issuance, and procedures after entering the country. I decided to carefully examine the information and make perfect preparations to obtain the working holiday visa.
The visa can be applied for online, and application forms can also be requested. You need a passport with sufficient validity for the visa application period, and you also need a return flight ticket or proof of funds to purchase one. A certificate showing that you are enrolled in overseas travel insurance valid during your stay in Sweden is also mandatory. The Swedish Migration Agency or the Embassy of Sweden in Tokyo will contact the applicant, and before the screening is completed, it is necessary to go to the Embassy of Sweden in Tokyo with your passport to verify your identity. It takes about 3 months from application, you must enter the country within 3 months from the start of the visa, and the visa expiration date will be the last day of your stay. As for work, it is possible to look for it after arriving in Sweden, and there are no restrictions on the type of work. Once the screening results arrive, it is necessary to go to the immigration office after entering Sweden, and it is desirable to bring your passport, residence permit letter, writing utensils, and round-trip flight ticket at that time. Also, since Sweden is becoming increasingly cashless, it is recommended to bring a VISA or Mastercard that can be used abroad.
The day I got my passport, I couldn't suppress my eager feelings. To start the working holiday visa issuance procedure immediately, I turned on my computer and began preparing to gather the necessary documents. My fingertips danced on the keyboard, and every time I entered information such as my name, date of birth, and length of stay into the working holiday visa application form, my heart raced. While getting excited about the new adventure in Sweden that was about to begin, I filled out the application documents with a serious look. After all the documents were ready and I reconfirmed the steps to submit the application form, I decided to move on to the next step. A wonderful experience in Sweden is waiting for me. I was convinced of that.

Chapter 23: My Heart is in Sweden

Even though they were far apart, the two of them kept in touch frequently. Through the messages exchanged between Maya and me, our feelings were definitely connected. Her passionate thought, "I want to see you soon," resonated in my heart from deep within the text, as if it were being whispered directly into my ear. I also conveyed my current situation and the progress of my working holiday preparations in detail, and my anticipation for reuniting with her grew day by day.
In her message, there was happy news that the possibility of work might expand. She said that the company run by her mother might hire me. Furthermore, I learned that her parents were expressing their gratitude for wanting to meet me, and that friends who couldn't go on a trip with Maya also wanted to meet me. These were warm words that brought great reassurance to my new life in an unknown foreign country. A working holiday surrounded by people who welcome me and greet me with warm hearts, rather than going to an unknown foreign country, will be the first step toward a wonderful adventure that far exceeds my imagination.
Fortunately, I didn't need to worry about money, including travel expenses, at all. When I turned 18, I opened an account at a securities company and made a considerable profit from stock investments. Thinking about it now, the reason I failed my university entrance exam might have been because I was absorbed in these investment activities. Since I was born on April 4th, I didn't belong to any clubs when I was in my third year of high school, and as soon as I got home, I would face my computer and immerse myself in FX trading. My mother told me, "If you're going to university, earn the money yourself," so I opened an account with 200,000 yen as capital. By the time I graduated from high school, the account balance had exceeded 3 million yen. And after meeting Maya, during the three months I was waiting for my visa, the account balance had swelled to over 5 million yen.
While studying the charm of the Swedish language, I noticed something. The beauty of that language resides in the flowing sounds themselves, which resonate as if one were listening to a beautiful singing voice. Swedish has far more vowels than Japanese, and in addition to word stress accents, pitch accents are also interwoven. Its characteristic resonance is as pleasant to the ear as music. The melody played by each word is truly a beautiful melody in the sound of the language itself, capturing and drawing in the listener.
I started learning the guitar when I was in junior high school, and now I can also sing while playing. Maya also said she likes music, so I dream of playing the guitar together and enjoying music together someday when I go to Sweden. However, the guitar would be luggage, so I decided to buy a new one in Sweden. I played her YouTube channel over and over, and I was completely captivated by her wonderful singing voice. Sometimes, she would even perform a song just for me on a live stream, and every time, my heart was filled with warm light.

Chapter 24: Researching Sweden

The Swedish winter is characterized by a long darkness that lasts for almost half a year. Because the daylight hours become extremely short, when the sun finally appears, Swedes never fail to sunbathe more than anything else. On sunny days, they try to soak up as much sunlight as possible, enjoying tea on the terrace while wrapped in blankets to ward off the cold. This moment is a special time for them, and the more I researched, the more I came to love the culture, realizing that feeling the sunlight is a moment of bliss.
And it seems there is a decisive difference in the way of thinking about alcohol between Swedes and Japanese. The traditional Swedish liquor, Aquavit, is said to boast a high alcohol content of nearly 40%. However, it is surprising that Swedes can drink cup after cup without changing their expression. Their strength against this alcohol seemed to symbolize their culture and spirituality.
Every time I researched various things about Sweden, my thoughts about that country grew day by day. As preparations such as working holiday procedures and visa applications progressed, my heart filled with exciting anticipation. However, the biggest purpose among them was, after all, reuniting with Maya. Thinking about reuniting with her made my heart race, and every day, no, every hour, felt like a long wait. Just by imagining her smile, my heart was filled with happiness. I might already be in love with this country.

To be continued