Seasons

While many around the world doubt the notion that Stockholm has a season other than Winter, I am happy to say that they are wrong. I laughed at the notion while hanging out in a couple lawn chairs with new friends out in front of my apartment complex. Sure, it isn't quite like the weather my sister Ashley is enjoying in Arizona, but I will take 60 and sunny any day! It isn't just the weather that is making the city feel warmer, it is the activity that seems to increase daily throughout the city. People are out in the city squares, and the customary "Fika" breaks are now taking place on park benches and outdoor patios rather than the comforts of the lounge chairs within the coffee shop. "Fika" roughly translates to "a coffee break" and take place between friends, colleagues, relatives, and even strangers. If you want to shoot an arrow straight through a Swede's heart....find a good coffee shop. Apparently, the joke is that American Coffee is more like a Canoe than cup of Swedish coffee...why? It is closer to water...

Coffee breaks aside, the waterways that wind through the city are becoming more and more beautiful each day. The sun, the skyline, and the sparkling blue scandinavian sea are really something to behold. I still find it slightly surreal that I am becoming familiar with the sights and sounds of a city that is half the world away from my family (blood family that is). My new family in the Mean Machines organization is making sure that I am included in everyday activities. Luckily for me, it seems that more and more of those activities are football related. With our first game only two weeks away from this Saturday, we are beginning to ratchet things up at practice, both mentally and physically. We had our first scrimmage this past Sunday even, and for a preseason session with only 2 team practices under our belt, I would say it went pretty well. We still have quite a bit to work on, but I am sure Coach Johansson and the rest of the leaders on the team will make sure we get it right over Easter Camp. For the first time in my life, I will have to attend an Easter Mass and gather up my football shells (helmet and shoulder pads) rather than egg shells. So all of you out there who get to look for some eggs, color me up a nice one and enjoy a Peep for me!

The past week has been pretty awesome. I was able to participate in a moderate level of hooliganism at the first Soccer game of the year between Djugarden and AIK. It was exactly what I had expected from a European soccer match. There were crazy fans, fire in the stands, riot control, and absolutely zero scoring. It was great to be a part of a wild crowd, partake in chants I couldn't understand, and most of all, to have an unforgettable time at a soccer match. I never thought it would happen...

This weekend I will be going to Prague to visit a good family friend Zach Forster. It will be my first trip to the Czech Republic and the first trip out of Sweden since I have been part of the Mean Machines. Though I love Stockholm, it will definitely add to the experience of playing ball overseas if I can make a few trips before the season starts. I am happy to be checking this one off of my list! I have heard nothing but positive things about the city. Notably that the architecture is stunning, and that food is cheap. With an Idahoan there to join me, it looks like a can't-lose situation.

I still have taken many pictures that I have yet to upload. I am not sure if I should post them through blogspot or through facebook, but either way, I promise they will be coming soon! Hopefully I can include some new photos of the room. Ever since I moved downstairs it seems to have turned into a luxury suite....well, as luxury as you can get in this sort of accommodation. I have a closet, a big bed, a tv, and my own bathroom. Hopefully I will be able to slingbox in the near future, so I can catch big Daddio broadcasting games in the booth. For those of you who haven't heard, Danny Hawkins himself will be in Tallahassee, Florida to announce the Seminoles Spring Game. Should be very exciting! As long as he drops "Boo-Ya" at least once, i will consider it a victory.

On other family notes, I would like to send a couple congratulations...

Dad-Spring Game....big time

Mom-Great Job showing the house AND with the Easter baskets, my teammates are excited!

Ashley-Checked out the new Sun Devils brand identity, NICE WORK! Way cool!

Brittany-Ballin' outrageous with the coolest babies in the world, she has trained Jaxson to do tons of amazing tricks and Amari to smile on command (practically) - skype them soon!

Drew-Not only got a job as a Summer Counselor but continues to be a bright light in the Music Industry by hitting up all the concerts I am missing out on!

Friends and Family - I love you all!

Hope to talk soon,

Cody Hawkins :)

Always Finish What You Start

HejHej....Sorry I bailed last night! I promised I would finish the 23 small stories when I last wrote, so here it goes.

17. Young'ins

One great thing about being part of the Mean Machines organization is coaching the u-15 and u-17 teams. It gives you an opportunity to work with some bright, talented kids who are very, VERY new to the game of football. It isn't like the States where kids have been watching football every saturday, tailgating, and dreaming of being the next Joe Montana or Jerry Rice. They are converts. Kids who know little about the game but are interested and excited to learn. I can't imagine there is a place in the world where your coaching has a more sudden impact. I am not saying I am the best coach in the world, because I am not. Heck, I am probably middle of the pack in my family! Shout out to my Grandpa Hokanson, who probably has more district titles in his coaching career in California at Happy Camp High School than John Wooden had in the NCAAs - not kidding. It is a great feeling having the privilege to teach such talented kids who want to learn and have the ability to translate A. What I am saying in English, and B. Make it happen on the field. Just watch out for my man Jesper - he is an athlete on the u-15 team, a lefty, a golfing convert, and very well might be the next Kellen Moore....of Sweden....

18. We Have Clothes Now

When I went to the last Junior practice, I beat my coach there by about 15 minutes, so I decided to take a gander through a nearby second hand store. Usually when I go into a store by myself I will try to chat with some of the employees. It may just be for good company or maybe to find out some insight on their life in Sweden. However, this store seemed to have no employees at all. Eventually this small Asian woman began to follow me around and she asked if I needed help, of which I politely declined in my best Swedish Manners....."Nej Tack". About 5 minutes later, the woman came up to me again and said "We have clothes now". I thought this was either very helpful, as I was in the sporting gear section, or a direct insult to my ability to see what the store had to offer. I continues to browse for about another minute, when the lady repeated herself..."We have clothes now." I was surprised by this woman's persistence and was utterly convinced that she was in charge of the men's clothing section and was working entirely on commission. Then, as the lights went out, my light when on. OH - You have clothes now equals You have TO CLOSE now...I was embarrassed. The lady spoke very little english, and my lack of attempting to respond to her question with any intelligent Swedish made for a big misunderstanding. I saw that it was just past six, and I had been an unwelcome guest for the past 6 minutes. Those little nuances in the language are things I should have been able to pick up - but hey, everyday I am learning!

19. The Lonely Island

If you haven't heard "I'm on a Boat" and other songs (with titles I will not write on my blog for the sake of my potentially younger followers) by Andy Samberg and others of SNL under their band name "The Lonely Island" - you should check out their channel on Youtube. Anyways, I showed several of their songs, notably the new one with Akon and the first one that made them famous, to some of my roommates. Their reaction alone was great comedy. Some people thought they were totally serious, some people heard it and loved it, and others didn't get the humor. Either way, I always get a kick about sharing new things with my friends here. They constantly make sure they return the favor.

20. LOLpics.se

Just check it out if you want to kill time....It has some good stuff, thanks Westny....

21. Rebel Robert

One of the great things about the city of Stockholm is the musical culture. There are many bands, many music venues, and each citizen is a fan. It is no wonder so many famous musical groups come out of Sweden. ABBA, The Cardigans, Ace of Base, The Sounds, Roxette, Robyn....you know, the classics. You would think it is just the long winters that provoke them. With so much time inside, it is only a matter of time before you start tapping your fingers on something to create a beat, and soon you grab a guitar. Well, that was before I met Rebel Robert. Then I began to realize that musical greatness wasn't made during the long, Swedish Winter Nights. It was born. "He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr, and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Rebel Robert was the balls." - Anchorman. While that may be the way Anchorman described Ron Burgandy, I got the same vibe from Rebel Robert. Although in actuality he WAS a hobo, and he probably WAS wearing sex panther, he made the Slussen subway stop one that I wouldn't ever forget. Jamming relentlessly on weekend nights for change is just the start of a legend, I can feel it. Heck, with a beard that would make Rip Van Winkle jealous - I think Rebel Robert is on his way!

22. Pictures

I have hung up several pictures of my friends and family up on the wall, but several members of the Hokanson clan are still left out! Calling out for pictures from pretty much anyone - email them to me and I will print them out and put them up! I got uncle Danny and the Boys....but Tori, I refuse to put a picture of you up on the wall. I got lucky that both of my sisters got married to great guys, I don't want to have to shield you from any crazy Swedish Men. Annaleisa, I say you just quit BBall in the States and come play out here!! I am sure you could ball with the Swedes...I have some friends on the basketball team here and they are all nice, get out here! Even if you don't know, everyone encourage here to do it after college, it is an amazing experience and I am saying that after only being here a month!!

23. One Month

When I started the blog I initially intended for this to be the last post, but it took me two settings to write it all. SOOOO Today marks the first time in my life I have been away from US soil for over a month. When I studied in Italy last year, I was only gone for 28 days of May. Now, It has been over a calendar month. The last I saw of the good ole USofA was February 28th when I took off from O'Hare Airport in Chicago to Amsterdam....ever since then I have been on a EuroTrip! Don't worry though, I haven't forgotten about anyone at home! I still love you all and miss you dearly, I can't wait to make it back for the big reunion in late July and I hope to see all of my friends and family soon. Don't worry, until then my friends and family in Sweden are taking care of me :) Thanks to all of you!

Talk to you soon

All my best wishes....

Cody

Go Mean Machines!

23 Great Things about Sweden

Tjenna!

It has been over a week since I wrote last. The combination of Drew's departure, moving apartments, more football, and various adventures have kept me extremely occupied over the last week or so. I even was fortunate enough to Celebrate a 23rd Birthday last week. To commemorate the event I thought I would write about 23 small stories that have made my life in Sweden so wonderful over the past week.

1. Singing Swedes...

This link - http://www.scandinavius.com/sweden/sesongs.html#anchor1089901 - should send you to a website with the Swedish Happy Birthday song lyrics with the English translation. Not only is it a happy tune, but if you can imagine 60 swedish men (and boys) singing it after a football practice, you pretty much have my evening last Thursday. It was extremely impressive, surprisingly in-tune, and oddly motivational. Unlike the American Happy Birthday, it was sang in a deep tone emphasizing harmony, arm swinging, and makes you want to run through a brick wall. I felt like I was at a big European Futbol match...but I was among teammates - who are all surprisingly talented....cheers to you boys!

2. Grattis!

"Grattis" in Swedish means "Congratulations." It was an odd feeling when several of my Swedish friends went with the "Congratulations!" cheer when I walked past, but when you realize that they say "Grattis" instead of "Happy Birthday", it all makes sense. At first I thought that perhaps there had been a sudden plague in Sweden that I was oblivious to. Maybe, just maybe, the marking of my 23rd birthday had released me from some terrible prison that I didn't know existed. As it turns out, not dying is a big deal in Sweden...so congratulations to me for living through the past year, and congratulations to all my readers for not dying as well. Hooray for us :) Yet, though the saying may be different in Sweden, they make sure they share lots of love and make you feel right at home. As "at home" as you can feel with raw herring on the table.

3. Birthday Dinner

For my Birthday Dinner, my good friends Dennis Stockblom and Felicia Mix made me a nice Swedish dinner at Felicia's parents place. There was an awesome assortment of meats and potatoes and some raw herring that I was more scared of than Ndamukong Suh coming through the A-gap unblocked. I thought I was going to get tied down in a torture chamber and have to eat it, but luckily they spared me and I didn't have to eat it. There are few things that really frighten me in the world, and raw fish is one of them!

4. Night on the town with Drewbob

Harry and Lloyd went out in style. On Drew's last evening, we had our first real European Clubbing experience, as several of my friends and I all went to a couple clubs in the social hub of Stockholm, Ostermalmstorg. The first one we went to was in the basement of a hotel where we were treated to VIP seating, and our arrival was signaled throughout the club. I expected to have a good time when we left my place, but I didn't expect to be greeted with fireworks behind the DJ booth in a leather-chair laden lounge. After we enjoyed some music there, we went to a club that I can only describe as "the one just to the left of East". "East" is a popular restaurant bar downtown, and the club we went to had a name that makes sounds similar to those that would be created in an MMA match between your tongue and both cheeks. We stayed out until the club closed, at 5am. It was a great brotherly bonding moment. Maybe one of the best ever for my brother and I. It isn't everyday that two brothers from the states can walk down the middle of an empty European street in broad daylight ( as it was at that time). It was very reminiscent of I Am Legend, minus the scary vampire people...

5. Sleeping, and more sleeping

One of the downsides of staying up all night is sacrificing the entirety of the next day sleeping. After pulling an all-nighter with Drew, and completing the long walk home from the club - we had a nice European breakfast -Apple Juice and Nutella of course- and packed his bags to take him to the airport. Upon returning from the airport I fueled myself up for hibernation and slept all day, with the exception of a 2 hour break to watch the NCAA games, and went back to bed until the next day. It was a great sleep, and I think it was the first time where I have actually stopped to take a deep breath and relax since I have been here. Ever since I stepped off of the plane, it has been go-go-go. I loved every minute of it, and it ended when my brother left. After that, It really began to set in that I LIVE in Stockholm now. It isn't a vacation (though this place is beautiful), it is an experience that will help me to continue to mold myself into the person I want to be. It was a bummer to say goodbye, but I am thankful that I have such a great family. They do a great job of making home feel much closer than it actually is, which is 4,882.2 miles to be exact.

6. Presents!

As if a visitation of the brosef was not enough, I got my first shipment of goodies from the states from my sister Brittany. She not only brought into the world the two cutest kids I have ever seen, but she sent me a package of love from home. Pop Rocks, Girl Scout Cookies, Top Ramen, Reese's, and Mac n' Cheese. I couldn't have felt more American if she had sent me Davy Crocket himself. Those things may seem commonplace in the states, but I will give you 10000 SEK if you could find them in Sweden. Ramen, maybe, but it is "Sanyang Ramen" and is NOT THE SAME. Trust me, i tried to convince myself of that and failed. Not only was that delicious, but I was able to share the magnificent comfort of a hot bowl of Mac and Cheese with some of my roommates. They were amazed that the Swedes haven't caught on yet, and so am I!! On the same hand, I think my stateside friends need to petition for Swedish meatball stands on every corner...

7. Bigger room

I finally settled into a room that I really enjoy! I was living in a room that was roughly the size of a sardine can. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but i guarantee you that you couldn't fit two twin beds in there and walk in between them. However, I will say it is nearly impossible to find a place in the city on the short notice that I was given when I signed to play in Stockholm in December. I have teammates who have been on waiting lists for decades and are just now finding a good living place. The city is an amazing place, allowing you to feel surprisingly at home amongst all the hustle and bustle, and several families will occupy an apartment for generations. Anyways, my room now is in the same building as my other room, but it is about twice as big as my previous accommodation. It is a good fit for me! I get internet, and my own bathroom.

8. Hot water

I feel like this part of the post should just be brief, as we all know the importance of hot water. Well, I would give up many luxuries in this world to have a hot shower whenever I wanted one. Now, in my new room, I do :) Upstairs finding hot water can be like searching for the loch ness monster. You know it is there, but you just can't find it! Well, I am happy to say Bigfoot is in my bathroom in the form of a quality water heater.

9. Familiar Faces

The Colorado Buffaloes are a worldwide phenomenon. Though people in Fort Collins don't agree, we are....or at least I will keep telling myself that. In fact, I have proof we are everywhere. The Head Women's basketball coach at CU, Linda Lappe, spotted me at a Solna Vikings double-header basketball game on Wednesday and tapped me on the shoulder. I heard "What are you up to?" from over my shoulder, and although I considered Ron Burgandy as a possibility, I definitely didn't think it would be a fellow Buff from back home in Boulder. She was in town scouting the girls game before the Men's playoff matchup. It was awesome to see a familiar face, and everyone should make sure to give our basketball programs a big hand after both the Men's and Women's teams made strong runs through their respective NIT tournaments.

10. No More Netflix

A luxury I wasn't sure I would lose going overseas was the ability to stream movies and tv shows online with my netflix membership. I was crushed, and went without any familiar shows or movies for a couple weeks. Soon enough, the locals realized this and now I believe I can tell you between 10-15 reliable tv show streaming sites, it is a good feeling to be able to keep up with the latest episode of "The Office" each week. That Michael Scott....always getting into trouble....

11. Sneaker Freaker

I know that my employment at Installation Shoe Gallery resulted in many more shoes than it did paychecks, but when you move overseas - you have to leave many good friends behind. For my own sake, I won't disclose how many kicks I actually own, but it is more than your average layperson. Why shoes? Well, lets just say there is more history behind the Jordan III than any T-shirt you could ever come up with. Feel free to bring up all the designers and other fancy things you want to bring up. Shoes tell a story, a story that is waiting to be shared. Just ask my good friend Matt McMullen....who is also my brother-in-law - who gave the best Nike motivational speech I have ever heard. Good stuff. After exploring every nook and cranny in the city, I have found three solid spots that I can count on to find some sneakers in Stockholm, or at least hear some stories :)

12. First paycheck down....

As I stated before-I am a fan of a quality pair of Sneaks. Well, Just so happens that I was lucky enough to stumble upon a brand new pair of Jordan 11's and Jordan 3's in the same day. It is not everyday you find some of the most classic shoes ever to be re-released by Nike in one outing. Fittingly, I re-released my money towards the purchase of these babies right after getting the first bit of payment from the Mean Machines. I had to do it, and i don't regret it, but I might need to spend the next bit of money on food. haha....

13. The Princess' Palace

I went on a nice little walk the other day around my neighborhood. Turns out, one of the most beautiful city parks I have ever seen is about 200 yards away from my house. Granted, it is on the other side of a construction side, but it is awesome nonetheless. There is a huge waterway that runs through it, and many nice hills and viewpoints grace the entire park. The royal family, though without any remaining political power, still remains in high esteem in sweden. Her new estate is on the opposite side of the park from where I live, but it is within the park limits, and i hope to visit the area soon. I guess it doesn't sound too bad saying I live in the Princess' backyard.

14. DJs

After the big move from Upstairs to downstairs, I have done my best to keep my friends from the other area of the barracks while I acquire new ones from downstairs. My friend Kajsa from Upstairs, will be DJing tonight at a club that I will go check out with some friends. I first learned about her skills when Journey and Jimi Hendrix were gracing the kitched one morning while I made breakfast. In a town seemingly composed of techno gods, it was refreshing to hear some classics. Looks like this will be one night where my fist-pumping gets a rest....Thank goodness

15. The Family

"The Family" in Stockholm is composed of all Offensive Lineman who have started a Super Series game in the SMM program. It may not be as lethal as "The Family" from the Godfather, but rest assured, they are close! Long known for their physical play and dominating stature, the Offensive Lineman in my program gather every few months for a get-together. Age and hometowns do not matter, but pancake blocks do. Its good to know I have one of Sweden's best blocking my blindside in Jesper Johansson. I hear I will be an honorary guest at one of the meetings in the near future, I will keep you all posted!

16. Invitations...

Just throwing this out there, if anyone reading this comes to Stockholm, I will personally cook you nice Swedish meatball dish.

I hate to run now....but I will post the rest of my 23 later, I took more time than I thought and I have to run!! Hope you all are well!

All my best

Cody

When Harry Met Lloyd - in Sweden

Wow.

What a week! I fall short of finding any word to adequately describe this past week in Sweden, so I will do my best to explain.

The obvious highlight of the week was the Arrival of my younger (but not little) brother Drew! After braving the trans-Atlantic flight with no cell phone and no prior solo international travel experience, we managed to meet up without any hiccups at Arlanda Airport this past Saturday. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful family can be! As great as a time as I have been having in Stockholm, it seems that everything really seems to click when you are in the company of your family!

As a member of the Hawkins' family, that isn't always the easiest thing to accomplish. While always close in heart, our geography doesn't seem to match up! Right now, My sister Ashley is overseas with my brother-in-law Matt, and my sister Brittany is running an educational center in Boise, Idaho while raising the two cutest kids to ever grace the planet Earth. Mom and Dad are hard to pinpoint to one location. Always up for travel and never short on spontaneity, their fervor for seeing relatives and experiencing no things is rivaled only by their love and passion for their children. Drewbob has been based in Boulder finishing up school but decided to sacrifice a week of babes in some undisclosed tropical locale to come hang out with me in Sweden. While I haven't laughed this hard in quite some time, we are actually managing to get some serious sigh-seeing done as well!

After Drew arrived on Saturday, we took the Arlanda Express into town and hopped on the Subway as fast as we could. I had told Drew that we had to hurry, but I did not tell him that we were rushing to beat the clock in order to get to the Sold-Out Rise Against Concert in time for optimum show experience. Neither of us had ever seen Rise Against play a show outside of warped tour, and they didn't disappoint. Playing inside a concert house at the internationally-renowned Globe Arena (it is the largest spherical structure in the world), between 8 and 9 thousand people sang, laughed, and cried their way through such hits as Prayer of the Refugee, Give it All, and Swing Life Away. After spending the entirety of the opening sets working our way to the front and center of the stage, we were greeted with a tidal wave of people smashing you into the stage when the concert began. I have been at crazy, highly populated concerts before, but nothing came close to the combination of a bunch of crazy Scandinavians jumping, fist-pumping, and rump-to-rump romping that this crowd pulled off! At first it was a bit surprising, but once you got used to the lack of air, abundance of sweat, and random elbows to the face that these close quarters provided, it wasn't so bad. The band played a great show, and masterfully mixed in old hits with the new favorites. It was nothing short of awesome, and having my brother there for the whole experience made it even more memorable.

The next day Drew and I had to wake up at the crack of dawn in order to get started with another exciting day. We ran to the Subway and hopped on a train to the exact location of the concert the evening prior. However, this time we arrived not just as fans, but as Security. The Swedish National Bandy Finale was to be played in Uppsala Sunday afternoon, and several members of my Stockholm Mean Machines squad were scheduled to work the event. After trying to navigate several Swedish Websites to find tickets, I decided that working Security and getting in for free would be much better than trying to scalp tickets from the already sold out event. For those of you who don't know what "Bandy" is, it is basically soccer played with hockey equipment. While it irks any quarterback to see a football field covered completely in ice (as it was, literally), the game was extremely exciting and provided lots of good action throughout the match. Watching 20,000 fans screaming and chanting outdoors to a hockey-like game was very impressive. To me, the game atmosphere seemed very similar to how American's perceive European Soccer, but with more hitting and speed and good ole futbol. Maybe it is that desire to take something the English do and make it more violent and intense that separates the Swedes from the rest of Europe. The Vikings were great warriors, as were the British, but while the red-coats were mending their suits and bowing to their majesty, the Vikings were cutting-off heads, kicking butt and taking names. Heck, their lifestyle was so exciting that they didn't bother to tell anyone about their discovery of North America. When Christopher Columbus discovered North America, he freaked out, but that is because he had been having tea and strumpets for most of his life while he illustrated maps. The Vikings were out burning down villages and having a party wherever and whenever they wanted. Maybe that is not exactly the point I am trying to make about Bandy, but you get the idea! The National Championship match between Bollnas and SAIK was awesome, coming right down to the wire and ending in sudden-death overtime in favor of SAIK. Drew and I had great seats, as we appointed ourselves the Aisle-patrol in the VIP section right at midfield (err....rink?). While others were checking tickets and settling down hooligans in the other parts of the stadium, the Hawkins' boys made sure no one spilled their coffee or dropped their scarves while we enjoyed a classic Swedish championship game. Sorry to everyone else who reads this and was at that game, we did our best but couldn't travel to Uppsala and NOT see the game when Drew was here. Plus, have you ever seen a Swede spill their coffee? Yea, its hectic, and they needed us there....

After a long day of Bandy, Drew and I grabbed some Kebab with Jonathan Westny at Palmyra, a nice little hole-in-the-wall joint near Gullmarsplan (south of Sodermalm) that serves up tons and tons of delicious middle-eastern meat for a low price. I think I may have wrote about Martin Sohlberg's infatuation with it before, but it is well-deserved. Drew needed to feast after the long day...

Monday provided Drew's first real taste of the city, as our exploits the first two days didn't allow us much time near downtown. We saw lots of cool areas, including the shopping center near T-central, the Castle in Gamla Stan, and the beautiful architecture on the seafront to Djugarden. The highlight of the day was seeing the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is a HUGE old Swedish Warship that sank in the waters offshore of Stockholm in the early 1600s. I really wish I could describe it to you, but it is absolutely impossible to effectively convey. It is so historic, majestic, and just impressive in every way. When you walk in, it is hard to say anything but "WOW". We really enjoyed our time there. Dennis Stockblom had met up with us for the journey, and was kinda enough to translate an old historical documentary that told the story of the Vasa. Its creation, its short maiden voyage, all the way up to its resurrection in 1961. If any of you come visit, I promise we will go there. It is just so impressive to see a sea vessel of that kind, with that history, up close in person. It is very similar to the titanic in my eyes, but closer to the hearts of Swedes, and made of wood, not steel (or whatever Leo DiCaprio's massive boat was composed of). Imagine a Catholic Person seeing Saint Peter's Basilica for the first time. That is pretty much how a Pirate would feel when he saw the Vasa. Since I am equal parts Catholic and Pirate, I was equally blown away.

We spent quite a bit of time there, and probably wouldn't have left if it weren't for the security guards urging us to exit as their working hours had come to a conclusion. We ended the night with a nice dinner and waffles w/ whipped cream and strawberries for dessert(Thanks Felicia and Dennis!). I woke up this morning because I felt the need to write, and update my friends and family back home. Drew and I didn't have to share my twin bed thanks to the donation of Dennis' blow-up mattress. Yet, as I sit here and he continues to sleep, his bed looks more like a Drewbob Burrito than a bed haha...I guess I will have to sleep on that tonight...

Thank you all for reading, and I will try to keep you updated :)

Hawkins/Hokansons - you are awesome!!

Friends back home - I miss you all!

Hej Da!!

P.S. I just got a huge craving for meatballs....IKEA anyone??

So as one week goes, so goes another!

I must first apologize for not writing sooner, but it seems the more settled in I become, the quicker time seems to pass. Yet, the time seems to be passing even faster at home! Time is passing so fast that back in ID and CO my family and friends have gained on me! We are now only 7 hours ahead instead of 8 thanks to the annual "spring forward" time change...

There have been a lot of firsts for me this past week. I had my first authentic Kebab(no, not a shish-kabob), I made my first train trip to another city, and I met my first resident of Kyrgyzstan (Now I know my 5th grade geography teachers weren't pulling my leg, the place does actually exist! Unless it was an over-the-top ploy by Mrs. Scanlon to prove to me that her recess-revoking power extends beyond North America). We also received our first playbook from the Mean Machines. There isn't a whole lot in it, and I am sure the 3rd down package would have my old OC's at Colorado rolling over in their graves. Yet, I think it will be a lot of fun giving the players a chance to audible on a consistent basis and change routes based on coverages. I don't belong in the same category as Peyton Manning unless you are talking about birthdays, and yes, I share March 24th as a birthday with Captain Audible himself. Heck, I even share birthdays with Harry Houdini and Mark "The Undertaker" Callaway from Pro Wrestling hahaha... Even Justinwas kind enough to grace the world with his presence during my mo Bieber nth of birth. It is a shame that the massive bonfires created by millions of 16 year old Bieber-believers on to commemorate his birth will have died out by my Birthday, but hey, I think I will make it.

I actually have something even better coming this weekend. For the first time ever, a Hawkins member will be making the jump over the pond to visit me in Sweden. My smarter/more athletic/better-looking younger brother Drew will be sacrificing a Spring Break potentially inhibited by thousands of college-age hotties in Cancun to come visit me in Stockholm! It looks like the power of Thor and Great Oden's Ravens will come through with some solid weather for the next week as us in Stockholm get ready to officially ring in the Spring! Fingers crossed!

It will be nice to have Harry in town for a while, as Lloyd has been missing out on some good times without him! Yes, I am referring to the characters in Dumb and Dumber - my favorite movie. I was even able to share my love and joy of that movie with my friend Tom over the weekend. I took a train up to Gavle (pronounced Yev-leh) where he lives and works in the offseason and took part in his first Dumb and Dumber experience. Now I know that it isn't just the American dream to drive across the country doubled up on a 50cc scooter, but it is at least one Swede's dream as well.

It is hard to say that there was anything better than that movie that weekend, but there was...I was actually able to spend almost an entire day Monday working on timing/terminology/and football outside for the first time in a while! My birthday-mate Peyton is widely praised for driving long hours to work with his new receivers, but has he ever gone overseas to do it? Yea, take that Colts fans... again, just kidding.

If anyone out there is interested in some good Kebab i Pommes (a Middle-Eastern plate of meaty/potato goodness) my DE Martin Sohlberg knows the place to go. Over the weekend I had the chance to check out a hole-in-the-wall place where you could enjoy a giant meal for the price of two cups of coffee (In Sweden that is about 95 sek, or 15 dollars -pricey, I know...) It was a little bit of a drive, but every mile was worth it. It is an experience...the drive, the food, the people, and the restaurant are all part of what makes the food so appealing and unique. Martin's friend and another Mean Machine Eric Karlsson was also the first BYU cougar fan and LDS believer I have met overseas. It was good to chat with someone who shared the same religious background as so many friends back in the good-ole 208. It must have been a coincidence that my Dad just so happened to be hanging out in Provo for the cougar spring practices...

On a couple other interesting sidenotes.... I saw The Fighter for the first time, the day after it premiered in Sweden haha.... Chicken Nuggets here cost about 13 dollars for a meal ... My gym offers free yoga classes, so soon I will be able to say "Namaste" in Swedish... I am terrible at billiards... I saw my first Bandy game - pronounced Bon-dee - which is basically Ice Hockey played on rink the size of a soccer field with goals just smaller than those used in soccer, it was awesome!

Hopefully all of you are enjoying the transition to Spring back home...We are excited about it in Sweden!!

Love you all and thanks for the support :)

Phrase of the Day - "Var gor det ar taget?" - Pronounced "Vahr goor day air toaget?"

Meaning.... Where is this train going? A phrase I should have used on my way to Gavle...but Hey, a little sight-seeing detour overseas never hurt anyone ;)

Later!

Cody

One Week and Counting...

Its hard to believe I have been in Sweden a week...

People have to overcome a lot of adversity in their life, and, as life would have it, "Moving to Europe" is mine.....haha I know, tough life right?

Things have been great here. It has come as a pleasant surprise that there is better weather in Stockholm right now than in Boise, Idaho and Boulder, Colorado :D. There is still snow on the ground, but in the week I have been here It has been a sunny, dry 32-36 in the daytime, with chillier temperatures when the sun sets. Around here, the saying goes that spring officially arrives when it stays above freezing for a week straight-Sounds lovely right? Well I promise you, it is better than it sounds, and while you are all out shoveling your respective driveways, I will be taking a nice walk through the nature preserve a half-mile from my house.

All in all, living in Sweden has been an easy transition. The Stockholm Mean Machines club has done everything possible to help me out, and the guys on the team are doing their best to make sure I don't turn up the oven to 450 degrees celsius to cook some meatballs and burn the whole housing complex down.

The degrees change is coming along better than expected, but it is the little differences that really let you know you're on the other side of the world. Yesterday, during a nice little stroll through my neighborhood, I noticed there was a small bug on my shoe that I had never seen in my life. I wish I could go all Steve Irwin on you (May He Rest in Peace) and tell you all about the little bugger, but in reality, I have no idea what it was. It was a little orange bug that I have never seen and it served as a reminder that home is a long, long way away!

Even though home is a long, long way away, I am working hard not to forget my friends and family. Before I left, My friends and family gave me several pictures and they are happily displayed around my tiny little room. If that doesn't make you feel like home, waffles with berries and whipped cream definitely will! My mom is unbeatable in this department, but my friend Felicia (girlfriend of my friend/teammate/recruiter Dennis) had us over for her best Misti Hawkins impression...and she came close! It was a delicious treat that I am sure I never appreciated enough while I was home (The typical Swedish breakfast consists of a strong coffee and a pastry).

Competition is always something that I have always enjoyed, and Living in another country has definitely put a limit on those opportunities. After my poor showing at the Billiard hall the other night, I made sure to get back on my horse and head to the "Rock and Bowl" with Magnus, Alexis, and Dennis in the evening to get a good taste in my mouth! I was pleasantly surprised to find an impressive little bowling alley underneath the hustle and bustle of downtown Stockholm. There were only 8 lanes, but what they lacked in size, they made up for ten-fold in character. It was supposed to be a rock and roll theme, backed by electric guitars and posters of lyrical legends adorning each and every wall. However, every music video playing on the screen made it seem much more like a "Tears for Fears" themed bowling alley, which is of course, fine by me :) haha. The music videos were all of Pat Benetar, Duran Duran, and other 80's artists who have haunted my dreams since my birth... My only regret is that Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" went un-played the entire night - sigh... However, I did manage to bowl the high score in the first game (a free for all game) and in the second game, I teamed up with Alexis to battle Dennis and Magnus in an international (not so) friendly matchup between the Uber-cool United States and the Super Swedes. While Magnus easily bowled the best game, we were able to come out on top with some clutch patriotic pin precision. I know, I know - I promise that is the last bit of alliteration I will use for the time being.

The city is coming together, and with each and every day I am improving my sense of direction and recognizing subtle street signs to find out where I am and where I need to go. Heck, I even bucked the subway trend and took a scenic bus ride through the city the other day! Busses here are not what they are in the states, and they can drop you off at nearly any doorstep in town. If we took a page out of Stockholm's book I am sure that the usage of Public transport in the States would skyrocket. Each day I make new friends, and I actually had a google-translate conversation with a new friend Rosa in my student housing complex. After an awkward encounter in the kitchen, we realized that neither of us spoke swedish beyond small talk (I am working on it!) and my exquisite spanglish led me to have my first ever exclusively google-translated conversation with my friend from El Salvador. New friends are great, but they will never replace the old ones. I really wish I could share my great experiences with everyone back home, but I am doing my best through this blog! If you have any questions, please feel free to share them with me and I will try to get them answered :) I am working on putting together a photo album as well - so you can catch a glimpse of some awesome scenes that I have had the great fortune of witnessing!

Hope you all are doing very well - and I miss each and every one of you!

Hawkins - You're the best, love you all (Who's excited for sister Ashley's birthday on Friday??)

Hokansons -Love you as well (and an official BLOG shout-out to cousin Danny getting into West Point!!! chikka chikka yeyaaa)

Friends at home - thanks for all the support and I miss you and love you all!

Swedish Phrase of the Day(s)

Tjena! - A friendly, upbeat greeting often used by Stockholm-ers much more often than "Hej"

-Pronounced "Chen-nah!"

Et stor varmt chocolat ta med, Tack! - One large hot chocolate to go, please!

-Pronounced "Ett stoor varmT hoocolah ta mid, tack" (They use Tack for both "please" and "thank you"

Hej Da!!

--Cody

Spring is Coming...

Happy Sunday! I hope each and every one of you has found some time to enjoy the changing of the season in your respective homes. In Stockholm, it is no different.

It may be a liiitttle different, considering here we still have snow that would make any mountain shredder jealous. Yet, the sun has been shining and the locals are ecstatic about the positive degree temperatures(in Celsius of course).

The last couple days have been extremely busy, and filled with lots of exciting(and not so exciting) information, but each day brings me closer and closer to being fully acquainted with this great city. Since my last post, I have had a very busy Thursday/Friday/Saturday...

On Thursday, I woke up to one of my WRs heading to my house for a day of "hanging out". Well, in Sweden, "hanging out" means enjoying the 35 degree fahrenheit sun and walking through every nook and cranny of the city. The WHOLE city. We had a blast and saw every section of the city - very similar to Burroughs in New York - but the highlight of the tour was Djugarden (pronounced You-gordon). It is an animal preserve on a large island in the city that used to serve as the Swedish Monarch's personal hunting ground. Think of it as a luxury if you like, but even I could shoot an enormous black bear if you gave me a gun and put the bear in a room with nowhere to go. But, after saying that, I really hope I am not in that situation. After all, at Grandma Hokanson's house, that is a more likely possibility than any of us would like to admit. (Isn't that right Ashley and Brittany?) Anyways, the preserve was amazing, holding many types of birds and mammals, and they even had giant terrarium that was heated and housed snakes, iguanas, and various types of primates. I got the chance to check out some of the European Bison - and they definitely hang out in the weight room more than the Colorado Brethren, Ralphie. I am sure Ralphie would get them in the 100m dash though :).

After walking throughout the whole town - my LT Jesper picked up Tom and I and we headed to my second practice as a mean machine. We worked on route concepts and conversions most of the practice, but we got in some typical WR/QB drills as well. In March we will be doing mostly installation and drills, getting into 7on7 and Team in April. At the conclusion of practice, we had an Offense vs Defense competition with sprints on the line. Coach Johansson had each side choose 5 people to stand out in the middle of the field, without giving us any warning he shouted the directions and we were off. 2 of the players from each side had to carry the other 3 down around the cones 30 yards away and head back. I immediately grabbed Joakim (one of our slot receivers) and took off, I thought I was doing great, but we had left Magnus (a TE) back to deal with 2 of our other teammates. I dropped of Joa and headed back to help, and we won! However, coach said we had cheated...which I took as a compliment to our brilliance(one of our teammates had touched the ground with his foot in all the commotion). We all had to jog around the field a couple of times for condition, but your lungs hurt more from laughing during the competition than the running...It was a great practice. That night, I slept like a baby.

The highlight of Friday was heading out to Coach's house for a day of Food, Football, and Fun.

His fiancee Minette picked me up from a Subway stop north of the city by the Hospital that she works at, and took me to their beautiful home in the suburbs. When people say "Behind every great coach is an even better wife", it is true (but my mom is the best!). From what I experienced Friday, Coach will be very successful not just because of his passion and knowledge of the game, but because of the family he has behind him. Coach and his fiancee have an adorable little girl named Katie. She was only two months younger than my nephew Jaxson(who will be two in may), so it was great to play with her! Sure made me miss my little niece Amari and her big brother Jax though...

We got a wonderful meal of plank steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus wrapped in bacon, and baked tomatoes...which sets the bar high for any other meal I will have during my stay! After the meal, we got to play Xbox Kinect, which is pretty amazing. It puts wii sports in its place, although I blamed my lack of skills on the poor technology...Robert and Minette bashed me in every competition, except for the boxing! Which I am sure looked like quite a show from outside of the window...

Saturday Morning - Magnus, Tom and I met for some lunch downtown (Yea, I got the meatballs...they're too good to pass up). We bounced in and out of some shops, looking for a present for Magnus' friend Alexis, who is from the New York. He settled on a camera - which turned out to be an excellent gift! We hung around in Sodermalm for a little bit, and then we both got cleaned up for a night on the town and Alexis' birthday party. When we arrived, I was greeted by a few Swedes, but it seemed like everyone else who came in after Magnus and I was an American (Tom went back home up north, to get ready to move all of his things to Stockholm). Apparently the birthday bash had turned into an Au Pair/ Student Convention. Eric was from New York, and I actually ran into a girl named Brady - an Au Pair in Stockholm who is great friends with my friend Anna Nelson from the states! Small world...

After the presents were opened, we had a bunch of snacks and hopped on the Subway to come downtown. We were able to get into a really fancy nightclub because of Alexis' friendship with the Bouncer, and when I got inside, every stereotype of every European club you have ever heard came true. There were strobe lights everywhere, men and women everywhere looked like they had just walked out of a fashion magazine, and you couldn't hear yourself think. I felt like I was Dane Cook in his club skit, "I was INSIDE the SUBWOOFER". Well, it felt like it anyways...

After about two hours of fistpumping, the robot, and other dance moves that I cannot pull off, I hopped on the subway to come home! While my jetlag is gone, it is still nice to stay up late and skype with friends and family :) My mom actually just bought the new iphone, so i will be able to video call her wherever she is at! It is a great feature that many families are now taking advantage of, but my brother swears my mom is the first person in the world to be "scared" of the iPhone. It is a lot of technology for my beloved mother, but it will definitely come in handy!!

Today is the first Sunday of my time in Stockholm, so I am going to head to Saint Eric's Cathedral in Sodermalm to catch my first Mass in Sweden....should be fun! Other than that just a lot of cleaning and relaxing! Hope all is well, and I will keep you updated soon! Take care...

Phrase of the day - Hur ar Leget? (pronounced hoor air legget?) - it is a relaxed way of saying "how's it going" with out saying the customary "hur mar du" that Rosetta stone loves :)

Fanga Dagen!!