Been a while...

So, It's been a while, but here are some new pics and new things from my exciting world/life in Linköping.

What you'll see here are some pics of Sofia and I attempting to make sushi. It turned out quite good...maybe we should open our own shop!



Life is going good here in Linköping. I've been working my ass off though trying to juggle two jobs at once, my reading job and research. Im soon complete with the reading job though, but it is just so damn time consuming. I've had no life for the last month, reading after I come home from work, reading all weekend, oj oj oj dåååå.... The book is due April 11th, and I plan to finish possibly this next weekend. Then, time to FISH!!!!

Im getting things ready to head over to Emån and fish for some sea-trout and salmon. Wish me luck. I'm waiting on some things to be sent over from USA (Ive bought things because they are SOOO damn cheap in USA! The dollar is super low now.) Just to give you an idea of pricing, check out the prices ive come up with below:

Pack of gum at the supermarket: $1.85
Bottle of coca-cola: $3.95
McDonalds Big Mac Meal: $9.45

Sounds a bit expensive huh....

Also, when you all complain about gas....

1 gallon of gas here: $8.10

It costs me around $80.00 to fill up my tank, and I have a Ford Fiesta 1.3 L, 10 gallon tank that gets about 45 mpg.

Here is a new pic of my little car. It has been a weird winter with hardly any snow. The first few days of this last week it snowed quite a bit. I was even out skiing!


Next news, TANZANIA! Im completing my itinerary for my Tanzania trip for my biodiesel research, and I will let you all know the plans...

Here is a pic of my office, where I work my butt off for this biodiesel-Tanzania project

Linköping Hockey! Awesome!

Well I finally made it out to see one of the Linköping hockey games. Needless to say, I was VERY impressed. I thought it would be the level of the Flint Generals or something like that, but I was mistaken. It was quite like the IHL (Detroit Vipers) however, just a step down from the NHL. Linköping has produced many NHL players, and I believe Johan Franzen is one of them on Detroit.

The game was full of goals, we won 4-3 and PENALTIES GALORE! I expected the Swedes to really crack down on ANY penalty, and it was true. At one point, Linköping alone had 5 players in the bench. Thereafter there were fights, goaling bashing, and even one of the opponent players checking the Ref...ON PURPOSE! CRAZY.

Im GOING AGAIN! Oh, and the arena is brand new....

Welcoming New Members into the Family!

First off, before MY big news, CONGRATULATIONS to my Brother Christopher and his Girlfriend Rosie on their new baby. Keira was born on Friday afternoon and she is definitely cute. Christopher can now be a happy dad, but with many sleepless nights ahead of him....mu ahahahahahah!!! Congrats man, I am an UNCLE now!!!!




Now you are probably wondering why there is a car pic on here. Well, here it is....the new FORD FIESTA baby!!!! I went to Nyköping on Saturday morning and bought this little beauty for about $1000 with only 55,000 miles on her. Has about 86,000 km or what the Swedes call, 8,600 mil (1 Swedish Mile is equal to 10 km).
I drove her home, even with my limited manual experience, and did quite well. Only problem is that I filled her up and it is leaking a bit of gas. Gotta get this fixed, ASAP...TRÅKIGT!!! (Swedish for BORING, or that SUCKS!) Otherwise Im very happy, and it even has a CD Player and is equipped now with metal studded winter tires...OH YEAH BABY, the road thrashin begins...

UPDATE: The gas problem is fixed, now there is a nice SHINY new tank on the car. I also changed the wheels (hubcaps) to look less Flint Trailer style. However, the cost of a new tank and labor in Sweden.....$$$$$$450$$$$$$
Wow!

-MIKE-

Statoil Rental Car, Advertising EXPLOSION!

Well, Sofia and I rented a STATOIL Nissan Note for the weekend to get some Manual Practice!
It was great, I started out a bit rough around the edges, but ended on a high note! I was driving a manual great!
Sofia also suprised me. She was super nervous about driving, since she hadn't driven in over 4 years. However, she stepped in the drivers seat and after calming her down, she was driving like a Formula One driver...yeah she likes to go fast, my new hero!

So much adverstising, huh? I kept wondering why people were looking at us everywhere we went... the car was GREAT though and well worth it!

Waiting, Waiting, Bargaining....Swedes and Cars....

Hej People!

Well, its been a week or so, but I did NOT buy the Peugeot 106 as I didnt feel it was worth the price they were asking for. Something like 1300 bucks or so...not bad...but some little problems things that needed to be fixed.

I also have some stories of other cars....


VW POLO #1, TRAVEL TO NYKÖPING

I "employed" my buddy Ovi to come with me to Nyköping and check out a VW Polo which was labeled for 9500kr (negotiable and cheaper with quick purchase). I also called the guy and he said to come out and check it out and that he was really flexible.
After checking it out, not that bad of a car as well, I tried to bargain a bit. His Idea of bargaining....500 kr. For those of you who dont know what 500 kr is..it is about 70 dollars.
I basically told him that it costs me more to take a shit in this country, and we were out the door. HHAHAHAHAHAHAH.....

This was an adventure. We got back to the train station, and the train left 1 minute later. We then had to stay for 2.5 hours till the next one in the little town of Nyköping with EVERYTHING closed. Luckily however, we found a Pizzeria. They had a special with Pizzas for 35 kr!!! We went in thinking we would have a warm place to eat and wait....however, 35 kr for a pizza was only for take away. If we wanted to sit, it was 55 kr. Then we said...hmm, ok, then we just take 1 pizza for two. But to share a pizza for 2 people it is then 65 kr! What the hell!!!!! Weird stuff....

VW POLO #2, Linköping

The next day I went to check out a POLO in Linköping. Guy tells me to come at 5.45 pm. I get there, hes not there. 6.15 I call him, and he is on the way. Mind you that it is FREEZING as well. So, he gets there, and he DOESNT HAVE THE KEYS! He also tells me there is no leaks or anything. I look under the car and it is leaking oil like there is no tomorrow! And he tells me it is not bad! hahahahahah

Im still looking for a car......

Headed to Stockholm for a Car!

Well people, I'm headed to Stockholm tomorrow to check out a Peugeot 106 XT. (The XT makes it sound a lil more cool!) Hope all goes well and that it is a good car. I will keep you informed, but this is a lil European beauty!

Ordning och reda i den nya lägenheten...Klar!

Translation: We are all set in the new apartment!

Sofia and I are now set with the moving, and after our House Warming party last night, we have gotten everything in order...well almost everything. Now I know how older people feel getting ready to have people over to their place...wait a minute...IM GETTING OLD TOO!!! Im now 26!

Anyways, the new place is SUPER nice, bright, and much much Bigger!

Messy, right after painting and moving in!

More Mess

My Senseo Products (Mmm love it!)

After IKEA, New Furniture

The Bedroom

New Dining Room Table

Kitchen

I will have some pics of the Work Room-Office after it is cleaned up.....However, here is a pic of some snow in Sweden. Hasnt snowed much, but yes it DOES snow sometimes