Brb Going to Europe.

Ok so maybe not be ”right” back. But I’ll be back eventually. Maybe. Depends if I feel like making the 30 hour travel again.  Yup. Roughly 30 hours it took me to get here and most of those hours ruled.

It all started at 7am Friday with a wonderful wakeup at the Carroll household. After bro-ing out a bit and making some breakfast sandwiches, Noah and I got in the car and started our drive to Sweden.  We figured we’d just take the bridge across the pond and park somewhere in Stockholm.  Little did I know I’d end up in my least favorite place in the Union.  As Noah put it, “A land of plastic trees, stale air, and hot moms! New Jersey welcomes us.”

Didn't know I'd have to leave America by way of Jersey. Brutal.

 

And welcomed we were! By the world’s smelliest train station.  Just to further support my dislike for Jersey, this train station smelled like trash.  Luckily we didn’t stay long.  I was afraid I’d soon be orange and pumping my fists until they fell off. So after a quick train ride to Penn station we arrived in NYC.  The capital of the world.  At least I’m pretty sure it is.  We had a few hours to kill so like any self respecting person would do we went to the most important store in NYC.

YESSS!!!!!!!!

Upon entering I was greeted with quite a surprise.  While shopping in the track and field section(they had a whole floor for it!) my phone began to ring.  Julie McGilpin(one of my teammates) was calling.  So of course I answered.  And to be honest I don’t remember much of what was said(I was too busy being in awe of this magical place I was in).  Something about her walking to work.  Next thing I know, coming up the escalator, was none other than Julie! In the flesh! For real! She came to NYC to see me off! Hell yeah! It was a rad surprise to say the least.  After leaving the store, (somehow I managed to not spend a single dime. Noah didn’t fare so well) the three of us went in search for pizza.  Because I mean you’ve gotta eat pizza in NYC amiright?!  After trying to find Ray’s Pizza on 11^th(Because Santa said that’s the real one) we wound up at Carnegie Deli.  Noah got a massive sandwich while I decided that the menu didn’t fit my taste buds.

Who the heck puts tongue in a sandwich?!

Instead we went around the corner to the Stardust Diner, where the wait staff sings and dances while serving you.  We all opted for some ice cream(with the exception of Julie because I guess ice cream isn’t vegan) and Noah attempted to eat his sandwich.  He was promptly told to put it away (fairly sternly I might add) by management.  What dicks. Can’t a man eat a sandwich in this town?

CHICKS!!!!!

After saying goodbye to Noahs girlfriend(seen above) we decided it was time to venture. Few things while venturing. 1.) I saw a tree in the city.  Had to be Central Park.  2.) The naked cowboy confirmed that it was legal for us to be shirtless in NYC. 3.) There are a lot of Spidermans. They’re all real. 4.) I will never understand why people wait for hours to get their face shown in the background of a tv show.  5.)  I need to open a Lids store for all my friends to buy flat brimmed hats.  6.)  The Disney Store rules!

Always wanted to live in a castle. Cinderella's will do.

After taking a break in a park that wasn’t Central Park(Bryant Park.  Though still convinced it was Central Park) we decided it was time to head back to Penn Station by way of checking out Grand Central Station and finally grab the pizza we’d been longing for. Along the way to pizza I realized that I didn’t have anything to wear that would scream America! On the greatest holiday in the world, July 4^th!  I had a bandana but I mean come on.  Its July 4^th. Independence Day! A bandana won’t do that justice.  So we happened to pass a store that had pretty cool looking American flag tank tops in the window. Upon walking in, it was an absolute jackpot. Just the most incredible AF button up shirts, tank tops, denim vests/jackets, hats shoes.  I spent forever trying stuff on figuring out what to get.  Until I looked at the price tag.  50 bucks for a shirt. And me going to Europe. No way I could afford that.  So I walked out with my head down.  The rest of the walk all I could say was how upset I was that I didn’t get anything.  I’m still mad just thinking about it.  I better think fast. July 4^th is just around the corner. Eventually we arrived at the pizza place.  Don’t remember what the place was called, but 1.) it was voted one of the best 2.) they cups they gave out were for Mighty Taco 3.) there was no meat special and 4.) it was right next door to Penn Station.  

Gotta love that zaa.

From pizza we crossed the street to Penn Station to say our goodbyes.  This involved not actually knowing 100% how to get to JFK.  Running around trying to find the answer.  Deciding I’m a man, who needs help?  Buying a ticket and hoping it was right.  And then I bided everyone adieu for the final time and hopped on my train.

Peace out America!

Turns out being a man and not needing help pays off and I ended up at JFK around 7.  Right on schedule.  But that’s where this so called “schedule” ends.  As I’m checking in, I’m informed that my 9:30 flight has been delayed 3 hrs.  Great.  A 3 hr delay means I arrive in Sweden after my train leaves to get to my final destination.  Good thing I bought the nonrefundable ticket!  I then spent the next few hours trying to figure out what’s going to happen once I get to Sweden.  Yolanda Ngarambe(another teammate who also happens to be from Sweden, way to be diverse UVM) was supposed to meet me at the airport.  Hang out for a few hours until my train left and then Martin was supposed to pick me up in his town around 4:30 Sweden time.  Well seeing as they’re 6 hrs ahead, they were basically in bed when all this was going down.  Luckily I was at least able to warn them via Facebook(sup technology) and I decided that maybe I’d make my original train and if I didn’t I’d just purchase a new ticket and somehow find a way to contact Martin when I get to Sweden.  I also proceeded to tell Yolanda that I’d be running so close that it would probably be pointless for her to meet me. Dang.  Once this was settled I ate at an airport restaurant using the voucher the airline gave me in hopes that it would make up for any problems the delay might cause.  I got a bacon cheeseburger because that’s all the restaurant had left(how does a restaurant run out of everything on the menu?!) and watched some baseball. Real American. 

The time finally came to board the plane and make my way across the pond.  Before leaving I received an email that there would be no in flight entertainment(I was hoping for like Chinese Acrobats or something sweet) and that I hadn’t purchased a meal.  This was going to be a long flight. I figured I’d just sleep. Good thing I had my Wall-e pillow! Bad thing I can’t sleep on planes… Good thing everyone else including the little baby can though! The flight ended up pretty rad.  Much to my surprise, there were little tvs in the seats and I got not 1 but 2 meals!  And it was actual chicken(not that McDonald’s type stuff)! I didn’t even have to pay for them! Score! 

We touched down at 1:40 and my train was slated to leave at 2:06.  I was going to make it on time.  Rad.  First I had to gain entry into the country, pick up my bags and run to the train station which my seatmate told me was right at the airport.  Easy. Before the trip I planned everything I might need for Customs. Passport. Info for where I’d be staying.  Bank records.  I was ready for everything they might throw at me. Everything.  Well turns out I didn’t even really need any of that(with the exception of the passport).  I arrive at the window, hand the nice man my passport, say I’m staying for 2 months, he stamps it and says have a great time! Easy as that.  Guess he didn’t need to know I was financially stable enough to be in Sweden…Before I walk away from the window he casually asks me where I am staying for most of the trip.  Note to anyone reading this.  Before going abroad. Make sure you can pronounce where you are staying.  I politely told him the name of my city.  4 times.  He had no idea what I was saying.  I then spelled it out for him.  He laughed and pronounced it for me.  So I repeated it back.  Wrong.  3 times.  Each time he would just laugh harder.  Sup ignorant, one language speaking American! I then rushed towards baggage claim.

Had to let the world know where I came from.

Good thing it took 35 min for my bag to come out! Using that engineering math I determined that my train had already left.  Dang. So close.  Oh well.  Time to go find the ticket booth and try to ask a Swedish person for a cell phone.  As I walk out to the lobbyish area of the airport I am surprised by non other than Yolanda! Hell yeah!  Turns out she lives super close and figured she’d come anyways! That ruled.  After determining what train I could take, we then called Martin to let him know my arrival time.  Guess I get to save the embarrassment of asking a random person for a phone!  So for the next hour and a half we spent time catching up, eating, and talking about how it rules that I finally arrived.  

Apparently they don't have pretzels in Sweden. They're called Salty Sticks. It's a gosh dang pretzel.

After Yolanda left I made my way towards the train to start my venture to Martins.  I arrived at the gate and see there is a credit card reader type thing.  So I swipe my ticket through figuring it will open.  After a good minute or two I decided this didn’t work.  Maybe I have to scan the barcode on the black box thing.  So I try that for a few more minutes.  Refusing to give in to defeat I start to attempt swiping again.  To my left I hear all the train workers burst out laughing.  I turn. Smile. And ask how do I get in?  They immediately start laughing harder and open the gate for me.  Sup ignorant American round 2. 

The time is now 4:06.  I have 2.5 hours on a train and then about an hour drive to Martin’s home.  Cool.  On the train I decided I wanted to learn Swedish this summer so that I could become bilingual ignorant American.  I proceeded to try and read the magazine that was on my seat.

I thought this was Ellen DeGeneres. Turns out it's a womans soccer coach. Who knew!

After failing miserably and looking at all the pictures I decided maybe studying my ticket would be a little easier to start out with.  I mean I had to start reading English with The Foot Book.  Not Harry Potter(though that’d kind of rule).  

I think that says "don't waste your time, you're not going to understand anything on here"

I gave up that battle and figured Martin could just teach me.  Probably a smarter idea.  I spent the rest of the ride just watching the Swedish country side pass by.  It was incredible.  Everything is super green , there are super old looking small towns every once and a while and random lakes everywhere.  I felt like Harry Potter on the Hogwarts Express. 

Is that Camel's Hump?

By this point my lack of sleep and jet lag starts to kick in.  And I decide I should fight it and hopefully I won’t be jetlagged for 2160834 days.  Brutal.  But not too long later(though it felt like forever) I arrived at the train station in Falun, Sweden.  I’m promptly greeted by Martin and we begin our journey to his town.  Vikarbyn, Sweden.  After traveling for so long and dealing with late flights slash missed trains, it was a great feeling to finally be towards the end of my journey. 

Around 7:30, by this point I was so tired for all I know it could have been midnight, we arrive at Martins home.  I’d finally made it.  Hooray.  The previous day had been a major holiday in Sweden called Midsommer(I think that’s how its spelled) so Martin’s entire family was there.  His Dad, both sisters with their boyfriends, and a cousin with her husband.  Mom was visiting family elsewhere. 

I could live with this.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was until we arrived and I saw all the food that was made for dinner.  I guess airplane meals aren’t too filling.  We ate leftovers from the day before, which was totally fine with me!  Burgers, pork, potatoes, green beans, recognizable food.   But then there were Swedish breads, and this classic Swedish like side dish called Herring.  It was fish in different sauces.  One was a cheese type sauce and the other was some form of mustard.  Martin’s family said I should definitely try it, so I put one of each on my plate.  Dinner with Martins family was beyond exciting.  They’re all super friendly and funny.  It was so weird to sit and have no idea what they were saying.  I just sat back and people watched, except these people weren’t strangers, and took it all in.  Every once and a while they’d say something in English.  And sometimes someone would ask a question in English and then someone would answer in Swedish.  It was really funny to listen to.  They’re all so fluent in both languages.  Man I need to step up my game. 

I left the Herring for last.  Martin told me I was brave for that.  What can I say. I’m a man.  I ain’t scared of nuthin!  With everyone watching me, I dove right in without hesitation on the herring.  This was a big step for me.  I hate trying new foods.  Needless to say, I probably won’t be eating herring again anytime soon.  Lets just say it wasn’t my favorite taste.  I’ve never liked fish really before but this was completely different.  Can’t really describe it. Just know I didn’t like it and we’ll move on.  The rest of dinner was spent just talking about America and Sweden and running and various other topics.  It was such an awesome welcoming. 

Soon after I check my watch.  10 o’clock. Whoa what?! It’s still 100% light out.  The sun isn’t even close to down yet! Supposedly around these parts they like to save on the electricity bill and the sun is pretty much up all night.  This is sooo coool! I decide I should probably try and catch up on some sleep. And I say my good nights.  I get to stay in the “play house” as Martin called it. His family was staying in all the other houses(theres 4 on the property) It was just this little house with 2 beds in it and probably the size of a Chittenden dorm at UVM.  Maybe smaller.  Works for me! It ruled.

The next morning I wake up still super tired and even more jetlagged.  This is going to be a rough weekend.  I go to look at my watch.  4:30 AM.  And the sun is completely up! What the heck! I have a feeling by the end of the summer this won’t be so cool anymore.  So after not being able to fall back asleep, I head inside the main house and wait for everyone to wake. I start to browse through the tv channels and come across Dora the Explorer…. IN SWEDISH! It was awesome.  I just sat and watched it like any 5 year old would except I had no idea what was happening.  I think Dora was lost but then again she could have also just been on an adventure.  I had no clue.  After settling on some news channels I patiently wait for everyone to rise. 

Eventually they wake and Martin makes breakfast.  During breakfast I get my first Swedish lesson of the summer.  For the rest of the morning I proceeded to greet everyone with “godmorgon”, Good Morning in Swedish.  They were all impressed.  I’ll be fluent in no time.

 By this point I’m already wiped.  Its going to be a long day.  I debated on running for a long time and eventually decided I probably should to try and shake the travel out of my legs.  We went to a local park on the lake with one of the most incredible views. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. Just take my word for it.  The run felt awful, but I’m happy I did it.  Plus.  It was a workout in Sweden! Rad. 

From there we journeyed to the grocery store.  Holy crap was this place nuts.  Everything is super different over here.  And I’m not just talking about the outrageous prices.  I’ll get to that later.  But everything is put in different containers such as yogurt in a milk carton.  Or liquids in funny shaped bottles.  Nuts.  

Weird.

Aside from that we spent time comparing prices.  Everything here is in Swedish Crowns and weighed in kilograms.  After some fancy math we determined the rough price of various items.  Such as $10/lb for beef or $3/lb for bananas.  HOLY CRAP!  What is this land I am in?!? Definitely a mindblowing experience at the grocery store.

One more stop at a local pizza place where we picked up some kebab rolls that Martin had been raving about all day for dinner.  First encounter with someone who couldn’t speak English.  I just let Martin talk and I swiped my card.  For all I know I could have just purchased a massive herring sandwich or something.  Oh well.  Whatever it ruled so I must have gotten the right thing.

After dinner we watched the European Team Championships on TV.  That’s right.  Track and Field on TV.  This country rules.  The meet was being held at the same track I will be running on in a few weeks in Ireland.  It was really cool to see it on TV before I get to go run there.  I’m so pumped to compete.  I also saw commercials for the meet I’m running in on Thursday.  My meet is going to be on TV! That’s awesome!!!!!!!!  I guess they enjoy track here.  America step up your game.  The commentary was all in Swedish so I had no idea what they were saying.  Either way it was still better than the commentary we get on the few American track meets.  USATF step up your game.  They even showed field events in-between races. Field Events!! USATF seriously step up your game!  We spent the rest of the time talking about how sad it is that America is so large and so good  yet can barely get 8,000 fans to our National Championships. A meet over here can get 40000 or 50000 like nothing.  Dang man.  Maybe someday.  Sweden even has its own track meet circuit at 2 different levels.  Where its able to have payouts to help support its athletes.  How can we not do that!? USATF you’re doing something wrong.  

The rest of the night was spent planning our summer a bit and just talking about a plethora of different things.  So far I’m blown away by this magical land I am residing in and I havn’t even been that far away from where I’m staying.  Some goals for the summer. 1.) Learn enough Swedish to have a decent conversation with someone 2.) Learn to drive stick 3.) Drive stick in Sweden 4.) Become less ignorant American.  Ok now that that’s been said it has to happen.  But until then I need to fight this jetlag.  So hands in everyone. Alright ready break!