So, Monday was a day off, as was Tuesday, except I decided to do a "lactic acid relief run"
and hit the pavement for a bit with some of the playlists that Thom made me, thumping in my ears :). I have some pictures posted here that I took on that run around the current neighborhood. It was such a peaceful run, even though it was raining and a bit dreary outside. Where I am, there is a lake near us, and the little town rolls up and down some hills. I really found it peaceful at the top of the hill, just looking out over the water. I'm currently NE of Stockholm Centrum (the center). I would love to be in the heart of the city, but rent is hard to find and afford, so here I am at a former AIK players house, on the hunt for a place to rent.Tuesday was a typical Swedish Autumn weather day - not my favorite season here I think. It's too wet. At least at home in autumn, it seems that we have a few rainy days, but here, it has been raining every day for the last week and a half. I've been told that this doesn't always happen, but it's not uncommon either. It doesn't rain all day, but most of the day. Anyway...
Wednesday we took to the hockey rink and had an "easy" practice because some of the gals
from the team (7) had been playing with the Swedish National team against Russia in 2 more matches after AIK took the World Cup home. My legs were thankful as they are still in some pain. What I've drawn as a conclusion on my legs is this - my hips are tight and my fast twitch muscles were under trained. When I was doing my sprints, I tore some of the muscle fibers in my quads that are the 'rapid fire' pieces. Yowie, this hurts, but it will heal in time. I need to keep stretching my hips and my quads and all will restore itself eventually - I just need to lay off of the sprints, which is hard since that is the same motion you use when you do quick starts in skating. Oh well...time.
Thursday we had another day 'off', but again, I did a nice 4.5 mile jog around the neighborhood and enjoyed the crisp October air before a rain came down.
Today, Friday, was a whirlwind tour. I received an email earlier in the week from a coworker here in Sweden that said she had an apartment lined up for me to go look at. It took me a while to figure out the public transportation that I needed to
take from this Eastern Suburb, but I finally figured it out, made it to the train station, got off at he right stop, and hopped onto a bus to the apartment. My first wrong turn was once I got off of the bus...I didn't know where to find the building. Luckily, I have a working phone ;) Never leave home without it!
Once I got to the apartment, I took a look and wow - um, yeah, so I have some shoe boxes that are bigger than this place. Yikes! I did a small debate in my head of "do I commit or not?" As I made my way home on the bus, then the train, I decided that I'd wait to see if the search I've had people on would turn anything else up. I get home, send off an email, and a couple of hours later, I'm told that I need to be at another location by 2:30 --- and it's 1:15 right now, it takes 15 minute to get to the bus stop and an hour of transit time --- you do the math - that's cutting it close, assuming I even know the bus stop...which I found out I didn't know. I call the host family I'm staying with, they swing by, pick me up and drop me at the next stop where I pick up my 2nd connection. (Mental note, still need to find Bus Route 618!). I get the next 2 transfers right and show up at the place. Much more spacious...and by "spacious", I mean that the whole place is the size of the main floor at home. It's for 5 months, I can manage. What's even more interesting is that the kitchen is smaller than the bathroom! The fridge is the size of mine from college, the stove/oven is 2 burners deep, 1 wide, and the sink is 'normal'. I have to take pictures of it if that is where I end up because I still can't believe they can call that a "kitchen". I have some debates to do on this now --- it's close to downtown (read 1 bus for 5 minutes, or even the "tube" --- subway), there is a veterinarian just about 3 blocks away, there are food places within walking distance, and it is in a 'medical college' area...meaning "students", meaning that I hope things are less expensive. The down sides --- it's 30 minutes to practice and 30 minutes to work...a bit of a haul, but in the middle of the 2. There is no microwave...guess we'll have to figure out how to fit a pizza in an oven 6" x 10" - one piece at a time? there is no furniture...so, I have to rely on the friends I have made to help me out. I guess there is a lot of green space nearby - I think about this because I wonder where will we walk Reese? Where will I go for my "off day" runs?
All in all, it's coming together, one piece at a time. It truly was an adventure today taking on the new transit system without much help (thanks for the ride to the 2nd transfer!!), and sloshing through the rain and puddles; today's weather was probably the worst we've had, and I had to be out in it - - - icky. It made me, as well as others, wonder "and you came to Stockholm for winter because....????" Yes, because of Bandy. I shall come back some day in the summer time and spend time enjoying the city, not walking briskly and missing things as they pass by.
I have a list of some things that I will do while I am here -
1) Shop at the real Ikea
2) Shop at the outlets
3) go to the "Ice Bar" and have a drink
4) go with Thom to the "Ice Hotel" and stay the night --- we'll have to figure out what to do with Reese....
5) see the Vassa ship
6) learn the transit system without a map!
and of course, these go without saying:
enjoy the adventure, learn more of their culture and language, WIN the championships with AIK.
And since it is Halloween - here is a fun tid bit about Sweden and how they celebrate Halloween:
It used to be a holiday where people would go to their loved ones graves and put a flower or candle on their grave site. That is less and less common as time and tradition changes.
They don't always do the "American Traditions", but some kids do go out trick or treating - I told the host family about how mom sometimes makes kids she knows do tricks....so, they tried that here tonight and they got some funny looks in return....guess the American ways aren't fully brought over here yet.
We always do Halloween October 31, no matter the day of the week --- they, however, do Halloween the last Friday/First Friday of November (whichever it falls on --- if today ha
d been Nov. 1, they would have done it today)
They also take 1/2 day holiday from working here! (I think that's the part of the Swedish tradition we should adopt!)
So, there are some fun facts about the things I've been doing and learning. This weekend, we will go to a party tomorrow night (whoo hoo!), and Sunday, we will go watch AIK Futbol as they play their last home match of the season. I guess everyone sings the "AIK" song...I know some of the words (when they say "Ah-eee-koh" for AIK...but that's it). Then it's back to business as normal.
Hope everyone had a great Halloween and the kids made out with a lot of loot!
Keep on keepin' on....still putting one foot in front of the other,
KP
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