First two weeks delayed

I want to start by apologizing to all of you who have been following. I have been a bit busy, but here will be my first two weeks in Sweden.

Travel to the place
Where mind set to peace,
No one can see,
Feel us free.

Travel to the place
Where we can breathe,
Fill our desire,
We wish; we aspire.

Travel to the place
Where we have silence,
Flower of fragrance,
And nature to admire.

Travel to the place
Where we can write,
Lines of rhyme,
At any time.

Travel to the place
Where we have enough space,
Work without race,
No tension on face.

Travel to the place
Where we can dance,
Sing at glance,
Bit of time to romance.

Travel to the place
Where we spread love,
Freedom to serve
And land to move.

Travel to the place
Where we can live,
Of joy and sprinkle its grace,
And do anything, anywhere.

By: Divyesh J. Shah

In my first two weeks here is Sweden, Karlstad to be more specific I have met a lot of very nice and caring people, I begun practicing with my team, the Carlstad Crusaders, and I also took a trip to Oslo, Norway on a day that happened too be their Independence Day so there was a lot going on. First beginning with me getting settled into my apartment, I have a four bedroom apartment in a neighborhood called Kronoparken which happens to be right down the road from the local University. The town is pronounced just as its spelled which is not the same as many f the other words here in this country. I live with two other guys, one from Chicago, and the other from Stockholm, which is here in Sweden. They are really cool guys and we have a lot of fun just sitting around talking to one another about sports (typical guy talk) or where we have traveled. Speaking on this topic I quickly found out I am literally not experienced in that area of life. Brett, my roommate from Chi-Town, He has been to a bunch of different countries including Germany and Japan, while my other roommate Robin was bourn in Iran btu has also journeyed to a bunch of different countries such as Thailand, Iran, and Japan as well. I must be the lone soldier in this convo because while they are talking about their life trips all I could come up with was the different states I have been to as well as my one trip to Canada for a summer haha, very exciting I tell you; but hey what can you do right, so I just sit and listen to their stories. They are both really cool guys.

I have driven around the city of Karlstad and seen many old time buildings such as prodistan churches that still look like they are in mid evil times and houses that look like they were built in the late 1800's. But it is really cool to see these things because in this century we don't realize how people had to live back them. Limited amounts of space, no cooling systems, shelter is just enough to keep you safe, oh and don't let me forget the farms. Ive seen houses built on their own islands out in the middle of the lakes which I thought were really cool. Hiking spots where you are in the middle of the forest and it is so quiet you can hear cars driving by on roads miles away, but the most peaceful and beautiful thing was watching the sunset from the middle of no where with nothing but the lakes between yourself and the sun. The reflection that shines off of the water makes you feel so lucky to be able to witness that. Although here in Sweden the sun never goes all the way down, It is always peaking out into the world shining its light. And it is not shy to wake you up when it begins to rise at 3:30 am either.

Football practice has been really fun, I am loving my team because the guys are so eager to learn. It is so different from the states where you have guys that think they know it all and don't need any help from anyone. Well the story is so different here. Players help players and if they still don't understand they then go to the coaches for help. The competition may not be like in the US but hey, football is still football you have guys tat really care about the game and are really competitive, but the over all sport isn't the same. To say the least I am enjoying this moment to the fullest and I haven't looked back one time wishing I was somewhere else, and I think thats why I am loving it so much. Im just so caught up in the moment.

Finally my trip to Norway with eight of my teammates.This trip was not planned a week before, well not even the night before. It was noon and I get a text from my quarterback saying, "we are going to Norway and you are coming no matter what." Im like what, how are we getting there. Not knowing how close it was we left at 6:00 pm and hopped on a train that took us through the forest, over lakes, and in the middle of farmlands. Over the three hour ride it was to get from Karlstad, Sweden to Oslo, Norway we had a very interesting ride to say the least. Once we got to Oslo we walked into the city with nothing in our possession except mixed drinks, our I.D., money, and brotherhood. We went to own the night. We had no idea of a place to stay, but we weren't planning on sleeping anyways. We meet people and ask whats going on, but it seemed like all the answers were the same. "Would you like to buy some drugs." What the hell is going on in this place. Every five steps was the same interactions. Once we passed through that faze we got to the good stuff. We got into multiple nightclubs without paying, we had a blast at a few of those, but they came to an end with us getting kicked out because we were having too much fun I guess haha. A typical middle of the night stop to McDonalds came where we just talked to one another and tried making plans for what was going to happen next. Let me tell you, traveling to another country with no plans was probably the best thing I have ever done in my life although if it was a country that was more than a three hour train ride my thought process would have been a bit different. One of our friends was pepper sprayed and we had no idea what was going on being under the influence didn't help at all either, but many of the events that took place we had no idea what was going on.

Settling down a bit I have found a very cool thing to help take part in. I am helping out with coaching a professional womens football team. Now I know what you all are thinking, they are in lingerie and all that, but nope! They are suited up just like regular football players, they play, tackle, run, and support one another just as we do on the field. It is pretty cool because its fun to watch the ones who would usually be in the stand cheering us on take part in the events that we love so much. There was about 26 women at the practice, and for just starting up thats a great turnout, I'm sure there will be more to come out of the woodworks once they hear how fun and entertaining it really is. Suddenly they get to see that the hits that look horrible are not that bad, and beating up on one another isn't so bad after all.

Also I have had the opportunity to be in the newspaper here in Sweden two more times, as well as be on the radio. It was pretty amazing to me because I had never been on radio before so I felt really honored.

Well, This is all I have for you all so far. We have our first game coming up on May 31 so I will tell you all about the turn out and how that goes. It is a cancer support game which I think is really cool t support those suffering or dealing with that. Before hand I may put the online website up so you guys can watch as we take on the Upsalla86'ers which has a QB that played for the Lions, and a few other NFL teams, but most recently was released from the CFL so it should be a great challenge for us.

Thank you all for reading and again I apologize for the late post.

First day in Sweden- "This place is amazing"

My first day in Sweden was pretty cool. Although I didn't travel around much I did get to see the old downtown of Stockholm, it was pretty cool I must say, there is a lot of history in that place. From the narrow streets where cars could barely fit, all the way to the streets still being paved with stones and castles alined in the middle surrounded by old Protestant churches. I was amazed at how all of these things made you feel so lucky to be able to see. They still have guards at watch in front of the castles even though no one lives there, I guess if we in the US we are suffering from layoffs, well we can move to Sweden and try to become a guard of empty historic buildings haha. The water is beautiful, I know it sounds weird but it really is very blue and streams really smoothly. I took some pictures and have posted them to my Facebook page you can take a look. There are also some on this post from me flying in.

Sweden has a lot of interesting things behind it that not many people know. Some of the things I have found out about this place has made me think.... WOW! it really can get better. some of the things that are very interesting and shuts the US down in my opinion are...

1: US, we pay for schooling in high school and college, well sweden students get paid to go to high school once they turn 15, and well University is free, but thats not it, they also get paid to go to school. Even though it is only enough to buy books then have a little money left over, still THEY GET PAID TO GO TO SCHOOL. I bet that would motivate a lot of us Americans to wake up each day and have something worth going to class for.

2: Healthcare in free here, they pay nothing for healthcare which is pretty sweet because everyone deserves to be helped in my opinion.

3: The street lights here in Sweden are kind of weird but I find them interesting. In America they go GREEN, YELLOW, RED. But here in Sweden it is the other way around they go RED, YELLOW, GREEN, so you can begin diving on yellow instead of coming to a stop or trying to rush through the lights.

4: The waitresses and waiters here get paid pretty well, so that means you as a guest don't tip them, you just pay a lot for a meal. I haven't gone out to eat at restaurant yet but I did stop at McDonalds, (very american like) and I ordered a Big Mac combo ad it was 59 krona (swedish money) this is equal to about $9.30 US dollars. and wait did I mention they don't have lemonade! It was pretty weird but oh well, the plus side to that is I ordered apple juice and it comes in a bottle, but they give you a cup as well, so I got two drinks because I poured soda in my cup and drank out of the apple juice bottle.

I find these things to be pretty fascinating, but if these natives were to come to America I bet hey would feel the same way I do. With all of these cool things and free schooling of course there are going to be some kind of setbacks. Here in Sweden the taxes are pretty high, and there are sales taxes and government taxes so your getting hit with a two-piece from "MONEY mayweaher," but at the end of the day things equal out.

Thanks for reading, please continue to follow and comment if you want.

NTSA- horrible process in Chicago "The Windy City"

After a tasteful flight from Salt Lake City, to Chicago where I actually slept for once in my life on a plane mainly due to me staying until 4:00 am before having to wake up at 5:45 am to go to the airport. this is a complaint about the TSA, I was stopped and searched by the airport natzi'z at the Chicago airport today. This was my first encounter with these thugs, and I didn't like it at all let e tel you. It didn't help that the lady had the biggest attitude and was throwing my bags and clothes all over the place. I so wanted to say, "hey lady, you need to calm it down," but I kept my sanity haha. I never knew that a phone charger could cause so many problems, not to mention the line for security was already longer than anything. If you are familiar with the new Popeyes chicken that opened up in Lehi, Utah then thats how this line was. already suffering from a headache from the plane ride I had to wait in that line and then go through that, I am kind of upset haha, but oh well I'd rather be safe than sorry I guess. Now I look at it this way, If it wasn't me and they just let someone go by and it ended up in a tragic situation then everyone would be highly upset, so I guess its a good thing they are so uptight, but that lady needs to calm down and fold my shit back up, and neatly put it in my bag haha. Well I am waiting here in the airport in Chicago getting ready for this long flight to Sweden, you all have a blessed day and thank you for reading my complaints and cries... sorry this is late it wouldnt upload earlier.

Final day in the US before leaving to Sweden, Europe

Today I woke up at 9:00 am and the first thing that popped up in my headd was, wow I still need to pack knowing that I have a lot of stuff to get done today. The second thing was wow! I am gtting ready to go to europe tomorrow this is insane. But I look at this situation and I thank the man above for blessing me with an opportunity of a lifetime. I mean really though how many people can say theyhave  been to europe with just about everything being paid for, get to continue playing football, and also meeting new people, getting acclimated with a new culture, as well as doing some traveling, and gettting paid to do it. I sit back aand look at how blessed I truly am. Now, it may not be the NFL like most people in America would look at it, but think about how this works. I am not having football be the center piece of my life. It doesnt run me, we are partners we work together. I dont have to worry about the daily stress of if I dont practtice I dont get paid, so now how am I going to feed myself or provide and maintain this rich lifestyle I have become accostomed to? I am not a guy thats all about the money.... But back to how this last day is going. I have finished packing, well almost still a few things I need to figure out but for the most part its complete. I will be leaving the US with two big bags, a backpack and a carry on item. Im not sure if Ill have enough options each day as i do when I open my closet to get reafy for the day but for the most part Ill be ok. Oh well I will enjoy every step of this journey as best as I possibly can.

So far I have gotten about 45 phone calls from peope who wanted to say "see you later" because its never goodbye. It is so intresting to see the people that come out when things are going good in your life, where were you when I was beating myself up over getting through school, having hard times in life, and wondering what to do with my decision? But hey it is ok these are the defining moments that shape us all into who we eventually want to become.

After a while it has begun to get boring. I am sitting here trying to think of what I should do as far as sacrificing and leaving some stuff here so I can fit my personal pads. I already have a limited amount of clothing that Im taking so I have no idea. I need to get out of the house for a bit because when I start thinking it turns into stress and I don't want, nor do I need to stress. Ill figure something out.

Dinner, well for me I woudnt mind going o inn-&-out for my last meal here. a nice double cheese burger with fresh cut fries and a strawberry milkshake, mmmmm making my mouth water already. I would like this because I have been to plenty of dinners and I mean when its all said and done, I would rather have a tastful and pleasing meal that I want instead of some over the top $50.00 plate that doesnt even fill you up. But I have to choose somewhere that is somewhat nice, I hate making these decisions. We ended up going to a burger joint called Tony's Burgers, I ordered a burger that had beef, bacon, a fried egg with a little bit of lettuce and ketchup. The first bite had the yolk of the egg shooting out, but my oh my was it delicious. After that we went to see Iron man 3 which was a pretty cool movie I thought.

After all was said and done the night was over! I am sitting here thinking to myself, here we go, time to experience the world in front of me. Im going to have a blast. Karlstad Sweden, welcome me with open arms as I embrace the beauty and elements of life you have to offer me.