Toast Dominates Sweden!

Hej! (that's Swedish for Hey)
I got back to MadTown last night, and was so tired I could barely think. Now I've had a good night's sleep, and I am ready to report on the ridiculous event that was my trip to Ostersund (the O has a snake bite above it, but we don't have that button on our key board), Sweden.

First of all, in Sweden, you don't need a boarding pass! They scan your fingerprint at check-in, and then they do it again at the gait when you go to get on the plane. Then they just print a little stub with your seat number. It was really cool. Probably better for the environment too. The flights were pretty long, but they fed us pretty well. I also watched the new Indiana Jones, which sucked. Anway, that's not important. On to cool things...

1. The two women I traveled with were not that awesome. They were both fairly old, and lacked some common sense. Most of the time with them was like herding autistic cats. It was slow and frustrating. They were also very stereotypical American tourists. They were loud, made everything about themselves, and constantly asked obvious questions. The people from other countries were usually pretty annoyed with them. Lesson: don't travel with old ladies you don't know.

2. I was on Swedish TV. The US delegation was asked to present on what our junior biathlon program is like. When it came time to present, my two noisy colleagues clammed up like poker champions. That meant that I gave a twenty minute presentation in front of an international audience of top coaches and former olympians on the US national program in a sport that I picked up a couple months ago. It was really intimidating. Afterward, a TV crew came up and asked to interview me. Apparently I sounded like I knew what I was talking about. It was pretty cool. Lesson: It seems that a Colby education is useful.

3. I was witness to a bank robbery. We traveled by train one day to a ski resort called Are (the A has a halo above it, but we don't have that button on our key board) to go hiking. As we walked up to the town square we noticed a cop standing behind his car with a gun drawn. He was yelling, and as we got closer, we realized that there were cops sneaking around all over. We found out there was a bank robbery in progress, and then they made us leave. Later, we learned that the robbers had gotten away... Seriously, who gets away with robbing a bank in 2008? I can understand it happening in 1894, but now? They told us they have so little crime that they just don't really worry about stuff like that anymore. WOW. Anyway, we had a nice hike, the mountain was beautiful, and I got to play in the snow. Lesson: It's easy to commit armed robbery in Sweden?

4. We went clubbing one night (not the old ladies and I, but some other coaches and I). Swedish girls are really hot. They seem to think I am too. I ended up bringing one back to my room. Later, she told me she was married... and had three kids... I was shocked! She wasn't that old, and she didn't have a ring. I was really flustered. Lesson: Beware of hot, young-looking Swedish girls. I am officially making my objective to find a girlfriend now, and there must be multiple dates and stuff before any canoodling.

5. Sweden is a really cool place. The city we were in was very interesting, and the country is beautiful. Not everyone is blonde, but they are friendly. There is a lot of history, and they love to eat moose and reindeer. The conference was very good, and I am much more prepared to coach biathlon now. All the Swedes I met were very sincere, and welcoming. I can't wait to go back. Lesson: I am learning a lot: about my profession and myself. I am gaining experience, and I am pretty good a causing a stir no matter where I am.