Spin around the world.

It is no secret, I am a spin junkie. For most of my undergrad I was vehicle-less relying on my two pedals and legs to commute. I biked to work, rain or sunshine, and loved every minute of it. But, when the inevitable winter chill hits, transforming Saskatchewan into a skating rink, I'm out.  I respect those crazy brave people who strap on a helmet and master the slick streets. Really, I do. 

The exception: Me in 2009 biking an Ecuadorian Volcano.

To get my fix, winter months are spent pedaling indoors at spin classes. During one such class in Dublin, I realized I have unintentionally 'spun' in every country I have called home. After an hour of sweating it out under the direction of an Irish accent, I laughed as I realized how much of the country's unique culture is apparent in the gym.  Can you figure out where each of the spin classes described below was held?

Answers include: Saskatoon, Guatemala, Ecuador, Sweden, Calgary, & Dublin

1) I distinctively remember laughing through entire classes here. Spin is held in a small room consisting of floor to ceiling windows, that never open. In this hot country, an exercise room without fans, AC, or open windows is not good; the humidity like a thick blanket. Class is comparable to the night club; lights off, a disco ball flipped on, and Spanish music pumping! A little round man leads the class, walking around the room dancing and singing, swaying his hips the way only latin men can.

2) This spin studio feels like an exclusive club, where all the girls have matching lulus and seem to have been friends for life. The studio is so obviously designed by a woman with ear plugs for loud music, mint scented towels to clean your bike, hair elastics for all, and amazingly energetic instructors to keep you motivated on the days you regret showing up.

3) The gym here was home to a number of birds whose cages were strategically placed between cardio machines, allowing the parrots the perfect view from which to squeal at and heckle gym patrons. Those parrots, they can actually be quite motivating as they criticize your form! After a while you won't be bothered when class starts anywhere from 10-60 minutes late, or is randomly cancelled without notice.

"Slow poke! Slow poke!"

4) Here classes also start late, and no one seems to be bothered, too busy visiting with their neighbors and making new friends. The instructor, a thick man with an equally thick accent, is amazingly motivating despite hardly sitting on his bike. There is no cheating by pretending to turn the resistance up. When the thick man yells "resistance at 14 and 100 rpm, GO" he means it, and will stand in front of your bike until your machine hits that impossible number. But after class, he will congratulate you for working so hard, and try to hug you despite your sweaty state, because in this country, people are so nice.

5) My first introduction to spin classes, and likely the most serious experience to date. Regular 6am classes are the norm, your instructor will show up and pedal hard even when 7 months pregnant. Most memorable quotes include, "if you're talking you're not working hard enough!" and "you can do anything for 30 more seconds!" She is right. It was here I would first consider becoming a spin instructor, because in this rat-race country, my mind always seems to fall back to work.

6) Here you learn how to recognize numbers in an attempt to fumble along with the instructions in a foreign language. I am typically the lone female in a class filled with men in the shortest shorts imaginable, speaking to man's desire to attain a very slim physique in this area of the world. Classes are consistent, tardiness is not permitted, and Swedish House Mafia themed months are common.

Incase you actually read this far, (I am impressed!), highlight line below to reveal answers:

1) Ecuador, 2) Calgary, 3) Guatemala, 4) Ireland,  5) Saskatoon,  6) Sweden

Swedish Sunday: What to pack.

While attempting to make an Ireland packing list, I find myself laughing at existing online resources. "Be sure to pack your raincoat and passport." Uh, thanks.

Where is the list of less obvious things? The basics I cannot find in the grocery store? The style of clothing that will fit the lifestyle and culture. And most importantly what  simple item will I smack my head and wish I would have brought? 

While I do not have a clue what to pack for Ireland, I like to think I have the Swedish winter cased. Traveling to Europe is remarkably easy, pretty much everything you could ever need is available, for a price. If you are a student or budget traveler worried about paying double for things you have at home, or just not sure if your relaxed "ugg boots and yoga pants" look will fit in (you know who you are)... here is a list for you!

Meet Elin Kling, infamous fashion blogger turned clothing designer rocking the Swedish basics. And of course, blonde locks. More of Elin found here.

1. Pack your black. I once read dress like you're attending a funeral when traveling Stockholm. Odd. But bang on. In Sweden head-to-toe black is not reserved for funerals, rather, it is the day to day norm. If you are looking to fit in, pack your black. If not, new friends will later admit they assumed you were Australian because of your colorful wardrobe. Come to think of it, this is not such a bad assumption! Ok, pack color...
2. Boots, boots, boots. Your feet will freeze. Ugg boots are perfect for snowy days and surprisingly not too casual for Stockholm. Every other day strap on some short black leather boots - the Swedish basic.
3. Class it up. Swedes don't wear yoga pants and hoodies to the grocery store. Rather, they are always polished and put together. So if you're looking to blend in, swap your bunny hug for a sweater vest and think 'chic' while packing.
4. It is cold. I am not kidding. You are Canadian tough. But you are not immune to winter. Here in Sweden Canada Goose is cool and necessary.
5. Skip the umbrella: Don't bother with the umbrella, instead make sure you have waterproof outerwear.
6. Bounce sheets. Random, but I could not find them in Stockholm and didn't realize my dependency until without.
7. Food: Two words, peanut butter.
8. Drugs. The pharmacy, or Apotek, is government regulated. Which, means it is closed almost the entire weekend and most evenings. Not so convenient when a cold hits. Also, you need a prescription for most drugs which are over the counter back home. Bring the essentials: cough medicine, advil, etc.
9. Tooth whitener. Again, if this is something you use at home, it doesn't exist in Stockholm.
10. An extra bag. I would recommend bringing a small duffel or carry on for two reasons. First Stockholm has style, and whether it be design items or clothing, I can almost guarantee you are going to want to bring souvenirs home and will need the extra room. Second, most budget airlines have ridiculously strict carry on rules (I'm looking at you Ryanair), and you're going to want the smallest and most lightweight suitcase possible for exploring Europe.

I like to think some of you will consider Sweden as a travel destination. It really is a beautiful country. If you forget to pack any of the above items, fret not. You will have an amazing trip none the less.

Disclaimer: I am a chronic over-packer. I am working on this.

Swedish Sunday: The Scream

During my four months in Stockholm, I lived in a residence of sorts called "Campus Lappis." Lappis takes you back to your undergraduate days filled with students learning how to do laundry for the first time, cook meals from home (all in a shared kitchen...), master the fine art of balancing studying and socializing, and ultimately making life long friends. The only residence actually on campus, Lappis is surrounded by forest, perfectly located right on the edge of Stockholm University and a quick five minute walk to a local beach.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Lappis is a tradition occurs every Tuesday at 10pm. If you are not aware of it, the first time can be quite terrifying...

Ah, the Lappis scream. It is quite disturbing but I must say, a pretty great tradition. 

At 10pm every Tuesday night, everyone puts down the books, highlighters, and/or beer, opens their windows, and screams at the top of their lungs. No one has any idea where the tradition came from, or how long it has been around, but no one seems to care.

I admittedly felt too old to participate with my 18-20 year old counterparts for the first couple of weeks. The day I finally opened up my window and let out a scream, I was hooked. What a stress release!! I now believe we could all use a good old weekly scream to let any current frustrations.

Swedish Sun... Mon.. Thursday?: The Glögg

Is it really Thursday?! Forgive me it's the holidays and I can barely figure out the time of day let alone the day of the week. I'm not the only one right? Speaking of the holidays, the instant I was introduced to this Scandinavian holiday tradition, I knew it would become a staple back home.

Glögg! (Pronounced glooog). 

I am now convinced there is nothing tastier than a cup of warm glogg (ie: mulled wine with spices), on a cold winters day. In Stockholm an alcohol free version is given away on the streets. What a treat to warm your frosty fingers and noses! The best thing, there is no one-way to make glögg. Aside from the staples: wine, cinnamon, cardamom, almonds, raisons, orange peels, and sugar, glögg allows you the freedom to don your chef hat and concoct a creative version perfectly fit to your own taste. I have quizzed Swedes and scoured recipes: some add brandy, others vodka or aquavit, and if you're my moma, diluting with water is key. Interestingly, in the 1890's glögg became very popular throughout northern European nations, used as a "health potion" to cure various winter related ailments.

Since returning home I have been experimenting with glögg recipes, trying to find that perfect taste. After accidentally straining the first batch straight down the kitchen drain, (cue jet lag tears of exhaustion), a cringe worthy vodka batch that surely puts hair on your chest, and a few other concoctions involving ginger ale, I have found my favorite version! If you have a cheap bottle of wine kicking around your liquor cupboard, I assure you, it is up for the glogg challenge!

Glögg Basics:

• 1 ltr inexpensive dry red wine
• 50ml inexpensive brandy
• 8 cinnamon sticks broken in half
• 1 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds - Most recipes call for cardamom seed pods. If you can find them, use about 10. Lack of selection at the Yorkton grocery store had me substituting with dried cardamom - avoid at all costs! It is just not the same.
• 15-20 whole cloves
• 1 orange peel
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup blanched almonds
• 1/2 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients together over low heat. Do not let the concoction come to a boil. Let simmer for 45 minutes. If your house starts smelling like Christmas and you are anxious to dive in, strain it, adding the almonds and raisins back into the mugs, and serve! Other varieties include letting the wine mull for 4-5 hours, or even overnight, it is all up to you! If you're an aquavit or port fan, feel free to experiment adding different things to the mix.

In this subarctic Saskatchewan winter, glögg is quickly becoming a post-cross country ski tradition... can you blame us?

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Home, sweet Stockholm.

I lay here awake at 3:30am, realizing the sleeping pill on the flight home did not do the job. I am completely jetlagged. And each morning that I wake up at some ridiculous hour, I find myself startled when I don't feel the familiar cold air of the Lappis residences, and I miss Sweden.

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be home. I am beyond excited to be with my family for the holidays and to catch up with friends over New Years and the weeks to follow. I have literally been counting down the days to return to Canada, but as the plane touched down two days ago, my mind panicked. Is it really over? Did the last four months actually happen? How will I ever be able to sufficiently describe the beauty of Sweden to everyone. They all must go to see it, but how to convince them...

So here is my best attempt to describe to you the beautiful city I called home for the last four months. I realize I have not shared any photos of Stockholm with you as of yet. Truth be told, I am scared that I will not do the city justice. It's a daunting task. How do you capture the beauty of the archipelago, explain cleanliness of the streets, describe the fresh clean air, and the comforting sing-song sound of the Swedish language. I beg of you, add Stockholm to your travel list, you won't regret it.

In no particular order, here are the things about Stockholm that I fell in love with.

The Water

Stockholm consists of 1/3 water, 1/3 green space, and 1/3 city. Spread across 16 islands, connected by 57 bridges, your daily commute is guaranteed to include spectacular views as the metro crosses from island to island. For a self-proclaimed water baby whose perfect day consists of any time spent at the lake, Stockholm is paradise.

Before the dark consumed Sweden, I could be found most mornings walking the five minute trek through the forest adjacent to my apartment, to sit on the shore of a lake and enjoy the quiet. It does not take much effort to surround yourself with nature, take three steps away from downtown and you will find forests scattered with lakes, sometimes bordering the sea. The water is clean, calm, and refreshing. Those who love the sea, pour into Stockholm to dock, resulting in lines of boats cluttering each harbor.

Those lucky enough to visit the city between the spring and summer, must cruise the archipelago, a string of 30,000 islands, islets and skerries. Here you are sure to find numerous idylic red Swedish summer cottages hugging the shore, and understand exactly why the Swedes treasure their outdoors. Standing on the deck you promise yourself you will return in summer to take in an infamous crayfish party under the endless summer sun.

Food

Stockholm's proximity to the sea no doubt means delicious fresh fish is a staple of the Swedish diet. During those first visits to the grocery store you will likely find yourself lost elbows deep in the pickled herring section where you can find every flavor you could ever imagine and a million you would never dream of.

Even more confusing however are the rows upon rows of what look like toothpaste tubes... The tubes contain mayonnaise, mustard, shrimp, salmon spread, among other things, but the most popular tube is caviar, typically spread onto a hard boiled egg for breakfast.

Given the prominence of fish it is easy to understand why Swedes are all so slim. (Seriously, so slim). The connection however becomes murky when you realize how obsessed Scandinavians are with candy, and the daily fika indulgence. I wish I could tell you I both enjoyed these Swedish indulgences and discovered the secret to maintaining their envious figures. But alas, I just ate the food...

These People

These people, who made every day so much more entertaining. 

When you move abroad alone, the people you meet become your family. They are around for corridor suppers, they help you fix your broken suitcase, they quiz you about Canada and teach you about new areas of the world, they are the ones you call when you're lost in the City and without hesitation come find you and bring you home. You meet hundreds of new people, but consider yourself so lucky when you find those few you instantly click with. Ali, Sara, Ryan, Mario, Svenja, Kathrin, Megume, you are so missed.

Crammed into my room for a movie night and slumber party during a snow storm that stranded three of my girlfriends in the city.

The Winter

Just when you start taking the beauty of Stockholm for granted, winter arrives, blanketing the city and countryside in a fresh coat of white fluffy snow. Christmas markets seem to pop up in every public space, glogg becomes a staple, and Christmas carols ignite anticipation for the holidays. Staying true to their outdoor mentality, Swedes brave the cold for a cross-country ski on one of the many park islands, meet downtown to skate Kungstradgarden, and pack on the layers to meet friends at a local Christmas market. These are my kind of people. 

As K described during her December visit, "this is exactly how I imagined the North Pole."

Visitors

When you are lucky enough to have amazing friends and family that make the long (and sometimes short) trek to visit Stockholm, you will be so grateful on so many levels. First to have the comfort of friends and family near, a piece of home while far far away. But second, for the excuse to explore new areas of the city, and for the opportunity to appreciate Stockholm all over again through new eyes, confirming my initial reactions to the city.

New Experiences

At 800,000 in the city core, Stockholm feels like a smaller city, but has benefit of being just big enough a city to have a number of major attractions. Here I was lucky enough to attend my first TED Conference, watch Zlatan Ibrahimovic's incredible bicycle kick live, cheer on NHLers at numerous Swedish Elitserien hockey games, see Roxette, the Hives, etc perform live, and last but definitely not least, mingle with recent Nobel Prize winners.
Granted, watching a hockey game is not a new experience. However it was my first time attending with  a group of friends brand new to the game, and paying as little as $30 to watch NHL players. Thank you lockout.

There you have it, Stockholm in a nutshell. Highlights of the people, places, and things I fell in love with in Sweden and am missing dearly. Unfortunately there are not photos that could possibly show the efficiency of the city; the revolving doors that speed up and slow down dependent on your walking speed, the queque system, the clean and efficient subway, the practicality and efficiency of every design piece, and the minimalist ideals. But trust me, this country has things figured out. 

Stockholm, it has been a blast. Thank you for having me. I will be back.