Christmas in Hamburg

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Here comes some pics from Hamburg, Germany and my Swedish Christmas with Sofia and family.

The Tiniest VW Ever

German Egg Nog and Apfel Struddle

Christmas Market (one of Many)

The view from Sofias Parents Apartment

Central Square in Hamburg and Xmas Market

Julbord!!!! Eggs and Caviar, Elk Sausage, Johnsons, Salmon...

Julbord 2: Christmas Ham, Meatballs, Cabbage, Salad, Bread, Sausages...and much more...

Me on a COOOOLD, WINDDDDY Day with a glass of Glüwein!

German Sausages, DELICIOUS!

Sofia, Ulle (sister) and Jan (dad)

Sankta Lucia

Sankta Lucia Celebrations in Sweden!

Tomorrow is Sankta Lucia Dag. Saint Lucia Day. Time for Lussekatter, Glögg, Pepparkakor, Coffee and waking up early to watch the television for the concert. Its a beautiful celebration of light and goodies! Today at work we had visitors from the Mechanical Engineering Department come and sing for us. The department also had a great morning fika, cofee break. I loved it! My first REAL Sankta Lucia Celebration.

Others at work were gone to watch their kids. Super cute! Here's a video of some kids doing the Luciatåg (Literally, Lucia Train) where they walk around and sing the Lucia Song. The second link is of older people singing really nice.

Kids Singing Lucia

Lucia Choir

Swedish Tribute!

Last weekend I had a nice "mysig" (comfortable) weekend, studying and tying flies for next year's salmon season. This fly was one of my products, a tribute to Swedish salmon! Yeah baby, and hopefully it will catch something big! (I plan to use it in Norway to piss off the Norwegian salmon) hahaha

Michigan in Crisis...what will come?

I feel a bit mixed sitting here in my office in Sweden, comfortable in my PhD position for some time while many are losing jobs, finding it hard to get jobs and Michigan is slowly falling apart.

It is not only Michigan losing, it is the world. Here in Sweden (mind you Sweden is not huge but similar to Michigan in geography and population) over 1000 a day are losing jobs and reporting unemployment. Michigan is worse off with the unemployment rate reaching 10% soon. To add to this, what is going on with the auto makers? What will this bailout plan do? Will they even get money?

Barack Obama, Change and 2009! Yeah Baby!

Wow, can you believe it! I thought the voting and competition would go on all night like last time. Obviously not, and like so many Europeans, USA actually wanted change! I'm not proud of the fact that everyone I know and the media over here in Europe only portray Barack as the "hero" of America...he is not that. However, he brings something new to USA. "Change" we'll see. However, I believe as well that something new can come from what he has done. Hopefully you can tell that I am not a die-hard Obama fan, but I admire him and believe more in what he has to offer. I am a little frustrated at the way the rest of the world portrays McCain, and holds Obama on a pedestal. Nonetheless, we will have NO MORE BUSH! THANK GOD! Relations with Europeans will be so much more easier now. Its been hard as an American abroad having to answer for everything our political system does. I'm not America, I'm an American is what I have to say. Lets hope this brings some change, hopefully back home in Michigan!

And change to Michigan, wow! I saw the polls, and we voted YES to stem cell research and Medical Marijuana. That is awesome! (Well, at least for the stem cell research) I'm sure there's hundreds of Phish fans and hippies roaming the streets now in victory over that...hahaha!

And now I'm closing with the cheesiest American song ever. I remember this, being in 3rd grade during the Gulf War and singing this at Cody Elementary. Complete with Flags, Eagles, Hardships and Good Ole American Stuff!

Proud to be an American


Michael Martin reporting from Linköping, Sweden

GOT IT!!!! YEAH BABY!

Completed both my theory test, yesterday, and my driving exam and now I am DONE!
One of the greatest reliefs ever! Like being 16 again, except this time it was MUCH HARDER!

Now Im waiting for my pink card, thats right, PINK. The licences in Sweden are pink...hahahah!

The Quest for a Svensk Körkort (Swedish Drivers Licence)

So, ive been kinda quiet lately...the reason....studying for my Swedish Drivers Licence. Monday and Tuesday I'll have my exams, first the theory exam (a computer based 70 question exam) and on Tuesday the driving exam. The whole process has been stressful, tiring, EXPENSIVE and confusing. It is good to know most of the new signs and learn more about the system, but is it a bit too much and a bit hard....possibly. We'll see soon!

Kanelbulle Dag!!! (Cinnamon Roll Day)

Thats right! Last weekend, a wonderful day was celebrated in Sweden....KANELBULLEDAG!!!!
Several friends came over, made about 100 cinnamon rolls with us and had a great time. Cinnamon rolls, white russians, friends...it couldnt get much better than that!

Linköping and Flint Michigan....Partners?

So, whats in it for us? Flint? Linköping? Me?

Lots of people have asked, though the answers are not necessarily available. What am I talking about? The Flint-Linköping connection, no not that I live here and I am from Flint, but the Biogas Plant that is going to be produced there and a "collaboration" between Kettering, Linköping University and Swedish Biogas International.

So, back to the question. I have been asked by many whether or not I am directly involved in the project. The answer is no, at least I dont think so. Officially, we are, but unofficially we are not. I think we have been left out on the information, but hopefully something will happen soon.

Despite the fact that there are HUGE amounts of money going around to fund research and projects about Flint, Biogas and Transport, we are not part of it yet, even though we have tried to be. Personally I would be thrilled to be a part of this. I am conducting my PhD on how to better biofuel development in Sweden and other countries by Industrial Symbiosis, Synergies and production with other biofuels (making use of by-produts, waste heat and energy). I have researched and work with sustainable transportation on the implementation of biofuels for transport in Stockholm and Troyes (France). I live in Linköping and work at Linköping University (Department of Environmental Management and Technology). Finally, I am from FLINT. Despite this, I have heard nothing.

I have tried to become a part of this, obtain research funding to connect the cities and my research and have made a few contacts...but it stops there. Nonetheless, Linköping can provide GREAT examples to Flint as I personally know. Much of the reports you'll see on TV are not made up, they are true. We recycle, use wastes, drive small cars with biogas and have heated streets and bike everywhere. Its just life here, period. It can be done! So, Flint, DO IT! Moreover, our department is great at analyzing systems, energy plans and putting sustainble development to work with actors and contacts.

If you want to check out some videos about Flint, Linköping and anything about the collaboration here you go!

Linköping-Flint Videos

Moreover, if you want to see at least something about my research, here is my poster for my new project.
Research Project

Fishing in Sälen, Dalarna (Swedish Mountains at the Norwegian Border)

Here's a little provsmak (taste test) of the weekend up in the Swedish mountains near Sälen. What an amazing trip! Lots of grayling, beautiful weather, beautiful nature, good friends and really cold! The fishing was okay in some spots, but amazing in others...you really have to work to find a nice place, but when you do...DONT LEAVE! We found our smultronstället and had a great time fishing a sulphur hatch. Will be back here again!

The Secret Spot

Le Tour Eiffel?

The River

Oh Shit!

Base Camp near the river

Wild Swine!

Davie in one nice hole

"THE SPOT"

A Full Fiesta (Davie and his Euro pose) hahahah

Finally, one of many nice Grayling ("Harr" in Swedish)

Awesome Weekend! Fly Fishing and Hockey

This weekend was amazing! Friday night I went to a really cool party for international students here at the University. The next day, several friends and I went and watched the Nordic Trophy championships in hockey...LINKÖPING WON!!! YEAH BABY! WE ROCK!

Today (Sunday), Sofia and I decided to do something differnt...driver over to Mellanströmmen and give some Fly fishing lessons to Sofia. She did GREAT! Really, I'm very impressed, and she had lots of patience. No fish for anyone we saw...but......I GOT ONE!!! I think it was like my 3rd cast and I got it on a grasshopper imitation.

Next weekend Davie and I head up near the Norwegian border and mountains by Sälen to do some grayling fishing, PICS TO COME!

Tälta på Utö (Camping on Utö Island)

Last weekend Ovi, Marianne, Sofia and I decided to do something new and go camping on Utö! It went awesome. A nice island, nice company, great views, lots of mosquitos, wonderful taste of mosquito spray and the beginning of more adventures!

Only thing that went bad is that when we got back to the car, someone broke into our car to steal 12 kr...yeah, thats about $2.00 in change! More fixing to do on the Fiesta.....

Ovi and Marianne

Ovi Crammed in the back of our Fiesta

Me, Sofia, Marianne and Ovi

A view over Utö

Chinese Pose!

Fishing at Emån....Again

Heres a few pics from the latest outing (2 weeks ago) at Emån. No fish, lots of rain but still a good experience. Me and my spey rod are getting some more experience. Hopefully...soon LAX!

Harrfiske i Harkån (Grayling Fishing in Harkån River) The Boys Reunited!

Here's a little taste of our recent trip to the North (well, middle) of Sweden. About 1 hour north of Östersund is a wonderful place run by an outdoor company. Check it out at www.jaktfiske.se

Tolik, Davie and I were there last year and had a great time fishing for grayling. This year, Myself, Johan, Tolik and Artur went up to try out luck. Wasnt as great as last year due to the super warm and dry weather weve had in Sweden the past 3 weeks. The last week it has been raining and cold though, but the fishing and river have been hit hard by this. Low,warm water is not the best for fishing, but with some nymphs and a little lead (sink putty, not real lead) we got down to a few good ones. Even some dries worked good as there was a good hatch of caddis. Tolik and his buddy Artur had a great time swimming and picking mushrooms for our dinners!
It is a long ride up there, but it was great! Im going back again next year. This time it might be myself, Ron and my mom!

Caviar from Russia

Johan and his dog Morrison

Tolik, Always posing!

Tolik and Artur, Expert Mushroom Hunters!

The River, Low and Warm but nice

Me out in the river

Fika Time

Me and a nice Grayling

Johan, Tolik and I at the last dinner