Never underestimate the locals, especially the elderly – they are incredibly tough! Some 80-year-olds in the Kalix municipality are passionate about shoveling snow and probably ski better than you. They don’t shy away from many kilometers with a kicksled – or a walker.

Don’t expect anything to happen quickly. Time generally moves slower in Kalix than in southern Sweden, even slower than in other parts of Norrbotten or in many other countries.

If you want to participate in leisure activities, don’t just learn skiing and ice skating, but also canoeing or kayaking and everything else you can use in nature to get around. Most people in Kalix take it for granted.

Don’t wait for traffic lights in Kalix – there aren’t any, just roundabouts.

Don’t buy clothes for the Nordic winter back home (especially not abroad), but rather locally – here you can find what you really need.

Never leave your shoes on when entering a house.

For everyday problems (with the car, computer, small things in the house, etc.), don’t immediately look for a specialist – as in big cities – but first ask neighbors if they can help or know someone who knows someone. This way, you save a lot of money and get to know people from the area at the same time!

If you have been invited by locals, you don’t need to plan a return invitation right away. People in Kalix usually (unlike many other countries) don’t keep track of who has invited whom and how often.

Don´t forget: “Everything will work out!” That’s the locals’ motto, and you should learn it quickly too!

Don’t ask reindeer owners how many reindeer they have – it’s like asking about their bank balance!

Don’t be afraid that the ice on the Kalix River or the Baltic Sea will melt just because it’s above freezing during the winter. If you’re unsure where the ice still holds, look at where snowmobiles have driven recently (snowmobile trails on the ice are marked with branches) – it’s the best indication of the ice thickness.

If mosquitoes bite you, don’t scratch the bites. If you leave them be, the itching will stop on its own after a few minutes. Don’t be afraid of “mosquito plagues” – there are always areas with fewer/no mosquitoes.

Don’t stock up on food for several months. Kalix and its surroundings are not cut off from the outside world, not even during a snowstorm.

If you’re not a skilled skier, don’t trust anyone from Kalix who says a cross-country ski trail is “easy”! The locals have grown up with skis on their feet.