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.
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