In May 2015, Samira Musa came to Sweden.
She was 25 years old.
- I came to Grytan and it was rainy and dark.
It was very depressing and we were all in shock.
We just did as the Swedish Migration Agency's staff said, says Samira Musa.
What did they say?
- They said: Here you will live.
So we jumped off the bus and then they divided us into different rooms.
I got to share a room with three other women.
Come alone
Samira was born and raised in Saudi Arabia.
She came to Sweden alone.
When she came to Grytan, the majority of those who lived there were men.
- It was very scary in the beginning.
I come from a culture where women are not allowed to do things on their own, so in the beginning I was very careful, she says and continues:
- But when I started to realize that this was a completely different culture, then I started to become friends with them and now I have several boyfriends, she says.
Got support from Hi Stranger
The first days were tough but pretty soon it turned around.
- I met Emma and Hi Stranger.
Hi Stranger is a non-profit organization that Emma Arnesson started.
The organization's motto is to create natural meeting places between locals and asylum seekers with simple means.
- It was very nice.
People were kind and curious, says Samira Musa.
For a year, Samira remained at Grytan.
Then she got a residence permit and moved to an apartment in Östersund.
Today, Samira works herself within Hi Stranger.
- They have meant a lot to me and I think that everyone needs Hello Stranger in their lives.