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Hej!

It's been a wild first couple of days in Sweden! The first day I got here we had a training session at 6pm...I arrived in Stockholm around 9:30am and had to drive 2.5 hours to Borlange. I then met up with Olle, the team's manager and club chairman, who brought me to my apartment and set me up with some groceries!  At 5:30pm it was time to get ready for training...I was able to get a nap in before I had to leave, so I was somewhat energized for the session :).  On Saturday we had a training game (scrimmage) against a Div. II team...we played okay, won 3-2, but there is definitely room for improvement during preseason! If you didn't already know this, its FREEZING cold here in Sweden! Unlike the US, the Swedes play soccer in any temperature, whether its 20 degrees of 80, they are out there no matter what! Yesterday, the temperature was about 25 degrees at kickoff...pretty cold for a wimpy American like me, but just something else I have to get used to while I'm over here :).

All of the girls on the team have been extremely helpful with the language barrier.  Most of the girls speak very good English, and the trainers speak English very well too.  Of course, they speak to each other in Swedish, but its nice that they can translate for me whenever I don't understand something (which is quite often :) ).

Other than soccer, I've just been unpacking and trying to get settled into my new life! Of course its been hard adjusting to the time difference, and I admit, I am a little homesick, but that will all pass once I find a routine and get to know my teammates!  I'm extremely excited for the season to start, and I can't wait to improve my game in the process!

Well tomorrow is the big day!!!

After two LONG months of waiting and preparing for my big move, the day is finally here, and I cannot be more excited!  I managed to fit all my clothes and belongings into two huge duffel bags, a backpack, and a small carry-on. Like most girls, I definitely overpacked, but you can't have too many clothes right :)?

My flight leaves tomorrow around 5:30pm.  We are flying out of Newark, NJ and stopping over in Copenhagen before we reach Stockholm at around 9:30 in the morning.  Up until today, I wasn't nervous at all, just anxious to start my new journey, but the nerves finally got to me, and a million things are racing through my mind!  The manager at Kvarnsveden, Olle, called me this afternoon, so hearing his voice reassured me that everything is going to be fine!  

These past couple of weeks have been extremely busy for me.  It was hard trying to fit in training, a job, and saying goodbye to all my family and friends.  My Loyola team actually threw me a surprise party before I left, and gave me an incredible going away present. They are a great group of girls and I am really going to miss them...I wish them nothing but the best in the future, and you heard it here first, I'm predicting a second round NCAA birth for 2010! Besides my players, my roommates in Baltimore have been extremely great these past six months, and I am going to miss them tremendously. I won't forget our nights out on the town in fed hill at the famous stalking horse...one of our favorite places to go to.  I even got to see my friends from HS a few days ago...they took me out to a great Mexican restaurant, and we just reminisced on old times like we always do when we get together!  Last but not least, I will probably miss my family the most. They have been there for me throughout my entire soccer career, and I couldn't have gotten to this point without them. My mom is actually cooking one of my favorite meals tonight...salmon with a baked potato and green beans, and you can be sure that I'll miss her cooking skills while I'm overseas!

Soccer starts right away for me, which is awesome!  It'll be nice to meet my teammates and coaches when I first arrive, and I'm sure they will help me get adjusted to my new lifestyle. We have training the first night I get there, and then a scrimmage on Saturday!

It's going to be a crazy ride, but I'm ready for the adventure! 

Vi ses senere

Moles

Hello again!

If everything goes according to plan, I am scheduled to arrive in Stockholm, Sweden on March 5th! Luckily, my Dad has some business to take care of in Sweden, so he kindly offered to help me move into my new place (it also doesn’t hurt that he speaks the language  ). The flight is about 8 hours, so that means lots of reading and iPod listening on my end…I don’t know what it is, but for the life of me I cannot sleep on planes, so this overnight flight is going to be a doozie!  The only stop we have on the trip is a layover in Copenhagen.  If you didn’t already know, I have dual citizenship in the US and Denmark.  My Dad is still a Danish citizen, and because of him, I was able to apply for Danish citizenship as well.  Since I am a citizen of Denmark, I belong to the EU, which means I can travel anywhere in Europe without a Visa…pretty helpful for this whole playing soccer gig  .  After we arrive in Stockholm we have a two hour train ride before we reach Borlänge.

As you know, they speak Swedish in Sweden…apparently its a Germanic language, just like English, so in hindsight it SHOULD be easier to learn, but I find that hard to believe.  Hopefully when I get there I will have time to sign up for Swedish classes…it will give me something to do, and it may be a way for me to meet some other people besides my new teammates.  By the way, if you were ever wondering what Swedish sounds like, pleaseeeee don’t go off Sesame Street’s version of the Swedish Chef…totally not correct, but funny none the less. Check him out on youtube!

Other than that, nothing else is new here.  Training is going well, except for a HUGE snowstorm that closed Loyola University down for a week.  I'm currently training with the Loyola University Women's Soccer Team down in Baltimore, MD.  We had two blizzards in four days, and since Maryland isn't used to all that snow, they had to close school for a whole week.  I still got some training in, but it's definitely better working out with other players than by yourself!  Countdown to Sweden is 16 days, and I can't wait!

Well that's it for now...till the next time vi ses senere!

Moles

Hello everyone…I decided to start this blog to let people know back home what I’m up to in Sweden. Just recently, I got the opportunity to play for a team called Kvarnsveden IK, located in the Dalarna region in a little town called Borlänge. If you look below on the map, you can see that Borlänge is in the middle of Sweden…meaning COLD winters and mild summers. Luckily, I’ll be arriving in Sweden on March 5th, so hopefully the coldest weather will be gone by then!

Unlike Baltimore (that's where I've been living the past 5 years) , Borlänge is definitely not considered an urban area.  Its is in the middle of the country with lots of open terrain and huge lakes!  Just about 10 minutes outside Borlänge is Lake Runn, one of Dalarna’s biggest attractions. Lake Runn is home to a 55km bike path, kayak adventures , golf courses, and of course boat tours!  There are plenty of cross-country ski trails and downhill slopes also about 10 minutes away from Borlänge, so I’m sure I’ll be keeping myself busy when I’m not on the pitch.

But enough about the area I’ll be living in, lets talk about the good stuff…soccer. The club I’m playing for, Kvarnsveden, is entering their second year in the Swedish Division 1 North. During their first year in division 1 they came in fourth, a huge accomplishment for a brand new team to the league. Hopefully, with hard work and dedication the team can rise up to the top division…but only time will tell.

It’s pretty crazy to think about all the little things that need to be taken care of before I leave (doctor appointments, international driver’s license, etc). And, oo yea, can’t forget that I have to move my entire life out of Baltimore and into my parent’s basement…that should be pretty interesting . Not only do I have to move out of my apartment in Baltimore, I also have to start packing everything up and getting it ready for my big move!  All I can say is those space bags you see on the infomercials are really going to come in handy when I try to fit my entire wardrobe into 2 suitcases! But, no matter how much stress and anxiety comes from moving overseas, nothing can express how excited I am to start playing again!

Working as a graduate assistant coach this past year at Loyola University in Maryland has given me the opportunity to keep up with my training and fitness at an extremely high level. I couldn't have asked for a better situation to prepare me for the months ahead. I'm sure, at times, It's going to be tough and frustrating to get used to the Swedish style of play, but I'm hoping all the hard work and time that I've put in over the past year will pay off in the long run!

That's about it for now...till the next time vi ses senere!

Moles