Everything you have heard about Stockholm is true. The city is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the Swedish meatballs are fantastic, and the weather is cold...However, the three first things have no problem making you forget about the first. You also have the efficient (and nearly pristine) public transportation, the IKEA mega-store which is the King Kong of all department stores, and to be quite honest...the things you hear about the women are true as well....haha
I am already fascinated with the city of Stockholm. There are people bustling every which way, everyone seemingly jubilant as they glide across the sidewalk. There is an aura about the town that is hard to explain, but it definitely makes you feel welcome. Lots of coffee shops, book stores, and interesting boutiques that give this big Swedish city a small town feel. Lucky for me, I scored an apartment right near the University, so I am living just North of downtown and I am surrounded by 20 to 30-somethings.... More on the younger side than the older. It is a fratty-feeling apartment, but it will do. I have my own room and bathroom, but we all share a big kitchen and living room. Luckily, most of the Television in Sweden is in English with Swedish subtitles. They have The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and yes....sadly....Jersey Shore. Now once (cough cough) Never Say Never : The Justin Bieber Story comes out in Sweden, I will have everything I need...I have met several of my roommates (I have about 30) and they are all really nice! They come from varying parts of the world, including Israel, Egypt, and El Salvador, but I would say about 70% are from various parts of Sweden.
After arriving yesterday around 1pm, I was picked up by Jesper Johansson, my left tackle, who I will happily say is easily one of the biggest people I have ever met, and is the biggest Swede I have ever seen. Even many of my Swedish roommates say he is the Biggest person they have ever seen in person (Shaq has followers in Sweden :/ ). He was nice enough to help me move my stuff into the apartment, and take me through IKEA today in order to pick up some extra things.
Unfortunately, I do not have an American IKEA to compare it to, but rumor has it that the biggest one in the world is the one I had the pleasure of visiting today... It was shopping like I had never seen it before. Not only was it a restaurant, furniture, appliance, electronics, and convenience store like I had ever seen, but it was PACKED. It felt like Black Friday...and if they weren't there for the smoking hot deals, they were there because it was impossible to find your way out. I bet there are people in there that have been looking for the exit since new year's, and have nothing to keep them warm but the clothes on their back and the scent of those swedish meatballs. Good thing there are plenty of made up rooms and beds for everyone to sleep in.
After the IKEA trip, I was able to pick up a Swedish phone (sorry, I cannot text or call outside of Sweden) and grabbed some groceries at a nearby store. I was lucky enough to be invited to Taco night at the home of my friend and teammate, Dennis. He lives in a cool apartment in the South of Stockholm with his girlfriend Felicia. They are both great and have been welcoming me into their country like one of their own. Heck, Dennis even scored me an official Mean Machines Letterman Jacket already. I definitely need to pay him back, but hopefully that moment will come when I get to know the city better and actually get my first paycheck. In Sweden, I will get paid the First of each month. Nothing to feed a family on, but it will buy me some good weekend travel excursions and much more than a pack or two of Ramen you come to live off of with your college scholarship stipend. A new receiver, Tom, was there as well-he is not only hilarious, but supposedly he has some of the best hands in Sweden... with those pink gloves - they had better be! All three of my new friends were great at Dinner, not only making a delicious meal but helping me to understand a little bit of Swedish along the way - Hopefully I will be able to share a Swedish phrase or two with you each post...
Well, It is hard to mention my reason for being in Stockholm last, but it is the only thing familiar to me, so it has come easily! We had practice last evening at a great indoor facility used by many Stockholm sports teams, and happily/sadly - it is 30 times better than the indoor facility at the University of Colorado. Not only is it MASSIVE with top-notch field turf, it has locker rooms, bathrooms, and indoor equipment sheds. I know the QBs over at CU would be happy to throw room-temperature balls at practice rather than warming up with the tin shed-rocks we had to toss around the first few minutes of each Buffaloes practice. (JT, if you read this, I LOVE the equipment staff at CU). That decision wasn't up to him, we just couldn't have a permanent facility in Boulder! He is the best equipment guy in the business, and now that I have to be my own equipment man in Stockholm, I am glad to have served under him as a Buff.
The guys on my team are AWESOME - we practice with the Junior (U-18) and Women's (All Ages) team's as well....individuals are together, but team (when we get to it) will be separate. There are people anywhere from 19-52 on my team. Yes, I said 52. In Europe, everyone plays for the love of the game, and it shows! There is no age limit, just a requirement that each and every person who comes out busts their butt. They do just that and more. I expected some good athletes on the Stockholm team, given that they have won 10 national titles in the last 13 years, but I am still pleasantly surprised. We have some Athletes that could have played at CU, and many that could have played on my high school team back in Idaho (for all you Idaho haters, we went undefeated all four years...so there). Leadership is also at a premium. We have two guys on the Team who I noticed for their play and their attitude-Martin Sohlberg and Martin Kwallberg-they are our own Swedish version of the Eminem Show, or the Bash Brothers...depending on whichever musical/film comparison you prefer. They are great athletes and even better leaders. I look forward to playing with them and many other of the athletes on the team. Our skill positions are stacked, and there are too many intriguing guys on offense to name, so just check out the website (MeanMachines.se) and read up on them! The Coach - Robert Johansson, is a stud. He has won countless titles both in Europe and in the States, and his English is perfect, which helps a lot :) . However, I don't think it will be possible to love any coach like that I had at Colorado....
Speaking of which, I already miss everyone back in the States. I am really excited about the opportunity to be here, but I am also sad I had to leave everyone behind. If only you all could have come with - we would have had a great time!
Please take care of yourselves and I will write soon
Hawkins/Hokanson clan - I love you!
Friends - I love you too :)
God Natt!! <- Swedish Phrase of the Day = Good Night
Tack sa Mycke <- Bonus Phrase = Thanks so much
--Cody Hawkins
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