What are you going to do?
– I will work as a tour guide, which has long been my "jobby" alongside work at the university. In the past I have traveled a lot in Asia and Europe, but now I am focusing on Africa and will visit Egypt, Madagascar and Namibia, among others, says Stina Elfverson.
What is your worst and best travel guide memory?
– When I was a tour guide in China in the 1980s and 1990s, you had to expect delays, power outages, illnesses and accidents, but now it's unusual. Almost the entire world is modern and the guests are much more travel-savvy. The best is when there is a nice connection in the group and together we experience, for example, the sunset from a temple roof in Bagan or an ice dip in Longyearbyen.
What do family, friends and colleagues say about your adventure?
– Most people are probably a little jealous.
Why not travel without working?
– As a tour guide, I can travel more often and further afield. And I learn an incredible amount about each place, which I wouldn't absorb in the same way if I didn't pass it on to others. In addition, the group trips usually have a lot of programs, which would be difficult to manage at the same time if you arranged it yourself.
Of all the places you've traveled to - which one has left the biggest impression?
– I have been to 50 countries and always think there are interesting things to experience, but I prefer nature experiences to cities. Right now I am very fond of Namibia, which I will travel to several times this winter. It is Africa's most sparsely populated country, mostly desert, but with friendly people and with an animal life adapted to the climate – for example desert lions and desert elephants.
How will you let go of work completely?
– I completely trust my colleagues who take over.
During Stina's leave, CASE administrator Sigrid Svensson and research communicator Lill Eriksson take over part of the work.