Reasons to move to Sweden - why you should become a viking

Why should you move to Scandinavia, and in particular Sweden, off all countries in the world like the land of freedom and opportunity (USA you dummies)?

You can become a viking here and learn how to train your dragon, what's better than axes and beards, swinging hammers and worshiping Odin the All-father?

Ok....ehhh...No.

So, really, with all the myths and rumours that circulate, why would you want to live in a country that is so expensive, where everyone is blonde, 2 meters tall, taxes deduct 50% of your income, that has freezing winters with temperatures up to -30C, 9 months of total darkness and a few hours of daylight? Sounds like hell for a foreigner such as me, coming from a country with mild winters and really hot summers. Let's break it down a little then.

I actually hope that this post might convince some of you to move to Sweden!

1) It is NOT so cold. 

Ok this is the only drawback i can find and i thought i should mythbust this first. Sure it can get down to -30C if you live North, but souther the climate is milder, the temperatures can soar up to 25C during the summer. Summers can be incredible here. The sun has risen before you even wake up and will actually set after you have slept. So if you work or study you will have plenty of time to do any day activity you wouldn't be able to do in another country. And Sweden is a vast country that offers many alternatives, rowing, karting, skydiving, horse riding, check my previous posts!

Also, someone wise told me, it's not cold, you just have bad clothing ;)

2) At least 5 weeks PAID vacations for workers.

I don't think this needs a massive explanation, don't make me bring out Ms. Information again. For me that means that once i get a job after my MSc. i can travel around Europe again without stress. And these vacations are mandatory.

3) You have kids or plan to start a family? You hit the jackpot.

Are you working and have a new baby in the family? You get 480, yes 480 days of parental leave. For EACH child. I think you get around 80% of your salary on those days and according to this study it's one of the best places in the world to grow up. The top three countries are Scandinavian, with Sweden coming in at No. 2. Risk of maternal death over a lifetime is only 1 in 14,100, and gross national income is a whopping $53,150—maybe because all kids receive 16 years of formal schooling. Great.

4) Taxes are worth every penny.

Taxes in Sweden can amount for a substantial sum of your income, almost 50%. But for once it is actually money well spent! There is cheap health care for everyone (ie. dental care is free for under-18's), the infrastructure is great, as well as the public transport. Metro stations and buses cover wide areas in all time frames, making the use of a vehicle diminished. Everybody promotes the use of bikes, which leads on a healthier lifestyle.

Also don't forget that the salaries in Sweden are pretty high compared to other countries, so there is a higher quality/standard of living. Let's compare for a moment selling newspapers in the streets of Stockholm VS serving coffee for a whole day in Greece. 15 Euros/h vs 4 Euros/h. Even after tax it sounds fair huh? While not everyone is as rich as the owner of IKEA or H&M there is a bigger balance in the middle areas of the society and the government tries to eradicate poverty so everyone can have a chance.

There is tremendous help for people that are having a rough time or could be homeless, or unemployed (a really low % by Europe's standards). I would be happy to pay taxes if i have to if they offer me and the rest so much.

5) Education is great, universities are free.

Ok, universities since 2010-11 or so are not free for students outside the EU/EEA but there are scholarships for that that promote the cultural diversiveness in Swedish institutes. And they are very respected amongst the world, ranking steadily each year in the top 100.

No wonder people from the UK or even the USA move here more frequently. Instead of shelling out loans and graduate debt ridden with a mountain to climb they can focus more on their studies, or gain scholarships and grants/reliefs, to ease the pressure, as US universities can cost thousands of dollars each year.

If you are a EU/EEA member you can work/study for free here, only having to cover your living costs. I couldn't think of a better country to study. I would have given my left leg and my right arm to do my BSc here instead of my native Greece.

6) Gender Equity and class.

People dress well. Swedish women are beautiful. It's one of the few countries you can wear the side-perm and never be out of fashion. It's one of the most advanced countries for women, with them representing 44% of the parliament. Not bad ladies? I am a fan of equity and i dislike racism, so this gets a plus in my head. Along with the fact that there are no stray animals here. Like in Greece as well. Oh wait....

7) Low corruption and transparency.

From what i see the level of corruption is significantly lower than other countries, that reminds me not to talk about Greece's bright politicians again...Also watching the news, i hardly remember any war or conflict involving Scandinavia. Sure there are a few occasions let's not put everything in one basket, but still. If you want corruption go play a warlock in world of warcraft.

8) European Location, citizenship.

You are in the middle/north of Europe. You have access to every major country in a heartbeat. Be it Russia, Germany, UK, Italy. Just hop in a plane in Arlanda Airport and you are anywhere. You have/get EU citizenship? Fantastic. Now you can work in the European Union or live there with no need for a residense/work permit. For me this means that every month i could get 3 free days and visit someplace else. Travelling is my passion.

9) Clean, Green country.

Not much to say here. Everyone recycles, they don't litter, people are polite and they don't smoke where they are not supposed to (that's your face silly). Innovations happen for a sustainable environment. I remember my University recently asking for suggestions on how to become more sustainable and eco-friendly. And as i previously stated, everybody uses bikes. 

10) Incredible sights.

From the beauty of the Northern Lights to the little islands of Stockholm, to the vast mountains and staggering forests, this country will never cease to amaze you. I remember in my cover letter during my application here, i said i wanted to promote Sweden and become an ambassador for this country. I just can't wait to move there.

You should too! Consider it, leave me a comment, or simply add me in Facebook!

Losing the path and regaining focus

This month was very important to me. The first hurdle to achieving my DCA (Definite Chief Aim) was overcome. I have been through some tough times lately, both physically and mentally, and the only thing that keeps me going is the fact that i am actually moving in Sweden in less than 4 months time. Great.

I also realized that i started this blog too early, or maybe that i gave it the wrong name, or chose the wrong subject. I always had a passion for writing but right now i simply do not have the energy to write multiple blogs while posting quality articles. I simply do not have many solid experiences of Sweden yet to write these kind of posts every day for 4 months and relying on myths or others does not reflect my idea of blogging about preparing to live there, hence i integrated some different things so far that pop into my head randomly or i just feel the need to write about (like the previous posts about my diary).

This does not mean that i will not post anything about Sweden or that i will turn this blog into an outburst of my sentiments, but i will definately talk about multiple topics.

I was watching The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug today and near the end the leader of the group had lost all focus, he was blinded by greed and revenge and he almost turned his back on his friends. 

Feeling dwarved by your problems?

It became clear to me that i was stuck in the same mindset. The boost i received from my admission was gone and i was back in my routine. So i use this post to regain focus and composure, as you should do too. I am watching this blog slowly grow and i never expected these kind of results only one month after its release. The next step would be to get my first subscriber, or my first comment on one of those posts, which would mean that someone actually cares to read what i have to say.

We should also see setbacks and minor issues as water off a duck's back, as we usually make small problems sound enormous while we are in a much better situation than most people.

• I have a good enough job, while around 30% of Greece is unemployed.
• I have a few good friends i care about and they care about me a lot.
• I am learning russian right now, something that fills me with joy and pride.
• I got accepted in a major university in Sweden to advance and kickstart my career.
• I am independant, healthy and perfectly capable of supporting myself.
• I am not the most stupid gorilla in the jungle.

Where is this going? Savor the small things.

People here say too often "Let's go for a coffee". They find a cozy place to sit, they open up their smartphones and one-two hours pass without them exchanging more than a few words. That is sad and reminds me on how we can just eat our food while surfing the web. We don't even taste the food, we just robotically do it. Reminds me of today's replay of "Fun with Flags", by Dr. Sheldon Cooper. 

You...are....a....robot....

So next time you are outside, think about the nature or the beauty that surrounds us, spend a real moment to talk to your friends and understand their problems, do not multitask while eating. Do not be a robot.

This is the next person that will add my friend Eva in Facebook.

10 kisses to keep you warm

He had a surprise for her. It was time for him to leave, on August 29th, 2008. He could see it in her eyes that she was sad, ready to weep and cry. They were strolling around the White Tower of Thessaloniki on what was a rare cool evening in the summer. They sat on the marble benches that occupy that area right next to small compartments of green with trees and the saltiness of the sea in the gulf of Thermaikos.

The area was full of tourists and many of them were french. He started teasing them with a weird french accent that sounded more like a greek peasant and she was giggling all evening, covering her face with her right hand as always, trying to choke the laughter that would make people turn their heads.

There were also many people trying to sell stuff, from phones, to back-scratchers (who goes on a walk and says: "Ohhh! Let's buy a remote control, or a wooden stick to scratch my back alone!"....). Tip of the day. Not very legitimate.

Seriously???

 

After becoming tired of their approaches from the corner, he remembered a funny line our National Star Andrew Euaggelopoulos said and decided it would be smart to use it on the next salesman. Poor guy comes close and before he opens his mouth..

"No thank you we don't want anything you sell", Kostas says.

While the salesman leaves, he turns around and tells Alyx:

"See how i killed him there in the corner so fast?"

Funny eh Kostas? Salesman was some sort of Bulgarian descent and he heard him, turns around and says commandingly "Do you think you are funny little man?"

"Noooothing nothing kind sir", he replies and luckily for him, Hasan leaves.

Now he had to relieve that pressure and the awkwardness, so he decided to let her know he was staying for one extra day.

"I'm staying untill the 31st, i want to spend one more day with you, i don't want to leave", tells her awaiting for her response.

Pupils dilated, her grip tightened, an overflowing string of happy emotions taking over her. His arm around her shoulders, brought together to stop her from getting cold.

"The days have passed so fast, you are leaving soon, what next? This was like a kite", she says.

"This kite loves you", he replies.

"You said a big word", she says.

"One word i will keep", he says with a soothing but assertive voice, looking into her eyes, stroking her hair.

Last day came, August 31th, their soon to be anniversary for years to come. He booked his ticket in the local train station, time 01:51 am. Then went out to meet her. She was late as usual. He must have heard crawling by Linkin Park at least 5 times untill she showed up. But he didn't care. He would savour the moment. He was scared but he had to make his move, open up and show his true feelings.

The walked around and stopped at their usual spot, right outside her school, where they spent almost every night sitting on a steel bench using an orange fiat punto. They sit, she always on his right and fired up their favorite song, Sleeping Sun by Nightwish, the band that was the reason they met.

 

First picture together.

 

Time flied by, and he was about to make his move.

"I don't want to leave, but i would like you to give me a present", he says.

"Like what?", she replies.

"How about a kiss for the road?", it was his last chance.

She says nothing, looking straight ahead, clearly thinking what bumpy road follows ahead. She turns her head, leans in and kisses him, both hands on his cheeks, caughting him offguard, surprised pleasantly. They kiss for a minute, time flies by. Finally some idiots in a passing car shouted "Go easy on the girl!", so they stop and giggle together, hands holding, each feeling eachothers taste and smell. Engulfed by passion and desire they kissed 6 more times, each longer than the previous one. It was magical, passionate, engrossing.

He had to leave, so he took her home. On the way they stopped below the balcony of one of her friends, Claudia. She chatted with her for a bit and then kissed him 2 more times, like she was showing off her prized asset to her friend and the world. They stopped at her door. A door he was bound to see many more times.

They hugged like the end of the world was near, their bodies becoming one, hips, thighs, chest united. He stroked her hair and her right cheek and gave her one final kiss.

"I will be back for you, i want you in my life", he said.

"Those were 10 presents to keep you warm untill you get back", she replied almost ready to cry.

He was on the way to the train, and they were texting back and forth all the time. She always mixed Orpheas the musician with Morpheus, the god of dreams. So he teased her by saying that Orpheas will keep her safe untill they met again. He still keeps the texts, one of them saying "I miss you already i am crying" and his reply "I can still feel your heart beating down my chest".

He arrives on the train station, ready to embark on his greatest journey yet. He was not sure untill he saw the name of the train. It was called Orpheas.

No coincidence.

Happiness is a horse

As you have probably noticed, i have been writing lately parts of my memoirs, fragments of a diary i kept for almost five years, spanning an incredible 852 pages. A friend of mine joked recently that i should make a movie and we will win a Cannes festival golden phoenix. And because the days and the date right now are special for me, i will write a bit more of that instead of all things swedish. And i prefer that instead of forcing my self to write about a topic that is not in my thoughts right now and will not satisfy me or have the desired impact.

This fragment shows how to keep a relationship alive and interesting, with small spontaneous gestures that go a long way and will be remembered for life. There is no need for a sleight of hand or to be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat every time.

This is so true.

Two painful months had passed and it was time for them to meet again. Living 300 miles apart means a relationship is tested on a daily basis. And making the most out of your scarce meetings.

It was a cloudy December day in Mytilene, and he was driving to the airport in a rented blue Kia Picanto. The engine was coughing by the frequent use, the right window was malfuctioning and the seats were uncomfortable. I remember the licencing plate was 3562.

As he was driving along the coast to the airport he was gazing at the sky, looking for an airplane, knowing that she would be inside and they would finally hug and let go of all things evil. Everytime they were together it was like they were engulfed in a magic bubble, a divine shield that repelled everything bad, evil, washed all their problems like a shower purifies your skin and body.

He finally arrived and went eagerly in the waiting room of the airport.

"The flight from Thessaloniki to Mytilene airport has just arrived", the announcer said.

The machine that brings the luggage starts working and he starts looking around for signs of Alexandra. Five minutes pass, and there she is. Cute and sweet, as he remembered her, wearing her trademark jeans and shoes and her black casual jacket, dragging a massive suitcase like she brough her entire furniture along. But he was used to it, and most importantly, he did not care.

They hug for a minute, time stops, emotions like a meteor shower. They kiss like it's their first time. He picks up her suitcase and she follows him to the car. She looks so happy. He looks happier. He always did untill the end.

I felt like this everytime we met for almost five years.

They get in the car, it's around 6:43 and he waits for the road to clear to turn left. He takes a longer time because he does not want anything bad to happen to her.

"It's clear come on, let's go!", she giggles, making light fun of him.

"I never want anything bad to happen to you, that's why i wait", he replies calmly.

She silences and looks at him with that look that say's "I love you", and he starts driving back. His hand always reaching out for her's, changing gears together. One day he would teach her how to drive.

Two miles from the airport he see's a sign on the left. It reads "Aiolos Horses". He has an injection of adrenaline and excitement. She hadn't seen the sign. He turns left, the road was small for one car, little houses scattered left and right, white with tiny roofs and flowers surrounding the upcoming forest. He see's a sign to move right, then left, then up the hill inside the forest. They come at a crossroad and he follows his instincs and turns left again. He feels a little lost, there are expensive houses and protection dogs around. But he keeps going for 500 meters and suddenly the ground changes from tarmac to rocky with a lot of dirt. He goes really slow but he can sense that they are getting nearer.

Then they hear it. A commanding neigh. Her blood freezes. Her senses tingling, trying to absorb any information. She is not sure if what she heard is real or just a product of her long desire. She hadn't been near horses for 15 years, and from what she told him and seen through pictures, she was a natural. He made her a promise back then, that he would take her once again to see her favorite animals. And he would keep all of his promises...

He drives around the bend and they witness an amazing little stable with 4 horses, one of them a really small one. The other two, majestic. A real stallion called Demis and a mare called Annie a pinto horse that reminded me of a cow. They were a joy to behold. It was sunday so the stable was closed, but i picked up the number near the gate when two beautiful german shepherd dogs started barking protectively. We would come back the next day. She was crying the whole ride home, holding his hand firmly. He felt so special and he never wanted to let her go. He wanted to be there for her and present the opportunity to do everything she never could but desired. Financial problems can be a bitch.

We would come back many many times.

She though that they went there just to see the stable. So next morning he arranged a meeting in secret with the owner to have a journey through the forest untill the hilltop.

"Get ready we are going somewhere", he says assertively.

Her heart starts pumping with anticipation not knowing what she will encounter but she feels sheer excitement and passion when she sees the familiar road leading to the stable.

He parks, locks the car. The ground was a bit muddy from last night's rain, but it felt more natural. Stavros, the owner, comes and greets us and opens the small steely grey door. She immediately starts observing the area, as she always did when she was in a new uknown place, trying to acclimatize. Then she let out a shriek and galloped towards the horses, patting them, hugging them, sobbing and full of excitement and happiness.

 Saddam had just arrived from Holland.

He was a little afraid but once he got on top of the horse he felt more comfortable. She jumped on it like not a single day had passed and proceeded to the nearest exit. They started their mountain climb. The smell of fresh air was invigorating, forests, horses, stables everywhere, little runlets and streams sprouting out of the rocks.

Much more comfortable

         He looked a bit out of sorts.

After around 50 minutes they arrived at the top, took pictures and gasped at the scenery. Breathtaking. Then they started their descent, but from a different road, making it even more exciting.
Back at the stable, she did not want to leave. She looked with melancholy, but speaking into their souls. Then hugs him and he reassures her they will be back.

Poor thing was injured.

On the way home, she stares outside the window, their hands never let go on the whole trip.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me", he says.

"I will never leave you and our love will stay strong through the ages", words spoken with passion, desire and love.

And she looked outside the window again, reliving her dream day.

Driving along the coastline.

You only love twice

He just got off the bus stop at Ag. Varvaras church in Thessaloniki. A cold shiver went down his spine. There was an old lady with skin withered and beaten by age and hardship and a boy around 10 years old, wearing a black t-shirt, yellow pants and brown shoes.

"The fashion police is deffo going to get him" he giggled inside. 

It was a shitty joke, but good enough to calm his growing nerves. Trembling with anticipation he looked around to see her. Nowhere to be found. Suddenly he thought, will i recognise her? Even though they had a video call more than once every single day for the past 2 months the anxiety crept in, forcing him unable to think clearly.

20 million Euros per year and Messi can't buy a decent costume.

He sat down on the outskirts of the church, on a brick stand waiting. A sudden gaze on the right. Walking, no gliding, could see into her soul. He was in for a hell of a ride of love, passion and pain. Looked into her eyes, she was equally anxious, looking, searching. Her hair were dark brown, moving like silk in the smooth breeze of the atmosphere.

Blue jeens, black shoes and his soon to be favorite blouse, yellow with green and a big green knot on the back. She reminded him of a butterfly, placcidly moving around, ignoring danger, flying from flower to flower.

Equally beautiful in his mind.

He hid behind another person, fat enough to need two seatbelts to manage to strap on. Watching her every move below his elbows. She grew impatient, and he was stunned to make the approach. She finally picked up her phone and called him. Funny how she was 20 feet away.

"Eee, hey!", he replies.

"Hhhey! I am waiting by the church, where are you?", she replies.

"I am at the church too, i can't see you!", he tries to deceive here to regain his composure.

They tilt their heads forward, both at the same time. Their gaze meets. An awkward moment is followed by some giggling and some laughter. She sits there waiting for him. He tries to walk as cool as he can, probably looking like an idiot, like those drunk people that pretend everything's cool and they walk in 8's.

Not like this but it was funny enough to include.

They kiss on each cheek, he can smell her hair and her perfume. She always wore Nina Richie or Escada. Immediately he starts his jokes, past experiences from last week, before he did the unthinkable and travelled 1000 km's just to meet a person he had never seen upclose, with no friends to support him for a whole week. He just crashed at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Thessaloniki and went out to find her.

More jokes, getting the banter and the rapport going. He even did his hydraulic dance for her. And he has no idea how to dance. Tension is building, but he is too scared to make a move. After all she is the first girl he ever felt so powerfully attracted to.

There is nothing like first love. You have never had any of those feelings before. Your brain and your existence thinks that nobody ever has felt this way before about anyone. It creates profound emotions in us, marked by the experiences we share with that person that manages to steal your heart for the very first time. Memories of that person will never fade through time an space. They are carved into your brain and your heart like those pictures you could take instantly with those old Polaroid cameras. They are blurry and black in the start, but once the image and the details appear, they stay there forever. At that time you are not thinking of the possibility that you may break up because first love is filled with the optimism that you will both be together for ever. That love can forge a bond stronger than the foundations of the earth, enough to last forever.

Maybe next time it will be my lucky one.

Confessions of a cuckold

"I hate you for what you are doing to me, i hate you."

A flash of light from the dying lamp, diving. Faster than the eye can follow. Screams from the captain to get into bed or punishments will follow.

She replies. "I feel nothing for you after what you said. Goodnight i am with my friend."

An overwhelming tidal wave of emotions hits him, crushing like the sea on the rocks. Like a massive rollercoaster, from pain, to agony, to crying. And then nothing. Plunged into the abyss, feeling empty, like death had come to reap the souls of the once cheerful people of a village pillaged by war and decay.

Phonecall ends. He stands, looming hopelessly. No purpose, no cause. He is disconnected from the world. Hundreds of soldiers around him running to their bunkbeds, cheerful after sharing a laughter on the night gathering. He feels this is the end, after all, he has lost everything.

After 5 years of giving his heart and soul, his empire crumbles down like paper hit by a tornado. He knows he is alone for 9 more months. In one moment, he lost his soon-to-be wife, his dog, his family, and sadly, his only friend. Her.

By then he had only suspisions, not concrete evidence. But soon lady luck smiled on him, giving him a Pyrrhic victory. Alyx forgot her facebook logged in in his cellphone back in that unforgetable summer they spent together. And he was unfortunate enough to read everything. He would propose in 17 days, when he was released from the training camp. That was the only time she cried before the face to face breakup happened in December 8th, 2012.

"What am i going to do with the ring now?" he sobbed, trying to conceal his pain and suffering from the rest of the soldiers.

"What ring??" She was oblivious, she never saw it coming.

"I would have asked you to marry me stupid bitch, why couldn't you wait 17 more days?"

Silence, then sounds of a woman crying. It's comforting that it felt like she believed it.

Tough months followed. but the first two were the hardest by far. Pain, suffering, lies and persistance to get her back. Only mistakes were made. And now, one and a half year on, he cannot forget. But he has made his choices, and she paid her previous ones.

Stumbling upon a book called "The Game, by Neil Strauss", refueled him with pathos and passion for life and the excitement he lacked. Again he had a purpose. He needed to get back in the dating game, or so he thought. He thought that that purpose was solely to be able to "game" every women he craved. But there was something lurking behind that. Something that it secretly grew and spreaded like a virus untill it became crystal clear. He was not there to pick up women. He was there to lead men, to become social, the heart and soul of each company, to entertain people and to fulfill his ambitions.

Fast forward 17th April 2014. In 4 months he is leaving for Sweden. He has the best friends he could ask for, whom he met through his own volition. He is happy and on course to achieve his life goals. Gliding, probbing forward.

Thank you Aggeliki, Venia, Vicky, Mairy, Biktoria and Sakis for being part of my life. Special thanks go to Yiannis and Nicky, who let me be part of their company.

Being revengful bears no fruit apart from personal satisfaction, and this comes from a scorpio. Being dumped on Valentine's day is a good enough revenge of it's own. Life's a bitch, and a wheel that keeps spinning.

 Oh yes.

My harajuku moment - Acting beats wishing.

Have you had your Harajuku moment?

Today i started a poll in my facebook page to find out new topics worth researching (gah 4 months left to move to sweden). I got a few interesting ideas, including euthanasia, animal abuse, manga comics, true and fake love, even men wearing women's lingerie (wtf mageira?). Right.

Not my idea of blogging topics.

Of course not many replied, as they are more busy posting silly pictures or status's about their crusade to find true love, only to love someone else next week. Though everything connects right? Like the topic suggested by some was everpresent in the news feed.

I will cover these in a future post but i will partly fulfill a promise i gave to a wonderful young lady i met recently.

Lady Tatev on the left is not just stunning, she is also interesting, smart and warm, a quality many women lack lately. Знаешь, я часто думаю о тебе :)

Let's get down to business before i fall asleep.

I was reading a book today about self-improvement and fat loss called The 4-Hour Body. It was well written and had some interesting stuff, but one section early on caught my attention. It was called the Harajuku moment. Simply put, it is having an epiphany about something and actually Doing something to achieve it, as only wishing it or wanting it will not make it a reality. Sounds like having a DCA (definite chief aim), as i wrote in a previous article huh? The chapter follows the story of Chad Fowler, giving birth to the phrase.

I have had many of those moments, but i rarely took action to make it happen. I was not strong enough mentally or i never wanted something so much to put the effort. But when i did, i aced it. Being a perfectionist is a weird perk for me.

My defining moment though was my former girlfriend and my only true love so far. After breaking up with her after almost 5 years during my army enlistment, i went through a really dark period in my life. One day i was handling the call center in the army camp and i had some sort of vision, being half dead from only 1 hour of sleep the previous day due to training excercises. She supposedly called me and told me:

"You will be a slave to society, left unemployed in this country, be miserable and with no friends and you will never get over me".

I was slapped in the face. Not because i was afraid that would happen, but partly because it already had. Chills went up my spine, that paved the way for what followed. I said "That's enough, time for action!". I carefully constructed a plan to make my heroic escape from the abyss i was plunged into.

1. Research and find a country that embraces young minds, respects people, builds the foundation for success.
2. Finish the current task at hand with a presence of mind. That was the army obligation.
3. Do any kind of work in order to support myself in that country. Work like a dog if needed.
4. Become super social, destroy approach anxiety.
5. Make things happen. Apply for university with a strong belief that i will get accepted.
6. Prepare mentally and become a better person in the process. 

That was the blueprint. And i wanted it so bad that it worked. I chose Sweden, a country that covers every single of my demands and way more. I made an application and got accepted in the prestigious Uppsala University. I embraced my fear of approach and strangers and now i met my best friends through random social gatherings. I thank them for their support. Instead of plummeting to the depths of depression, i used that vision to overcome my fears, relax and finish the army. And lastly, i learned how important it is to offer selflessly volunteer work to protect animals and special needs kids. Life lesson i tell you.

You can do it too. Do not hear other people's opinions. There is no failure, just temporary defeat. Accepting that will get you far. Set up some goals this year, try to achieve them step by step. You CAN do it.

We can do it!

Lastly, by all means, never EVER hear what other people have to say about what you want to do (obviously except if it's downright stupid/dangerous etc.). Your close people should be happy that you want to make a difference for yourself and make things happen, not bash you and degrade you. If they do that, then....sorry you need better friends. Remember i have said it many times, life is not a sprint, it's a marathon!

Goodnight for now, think twice when you have your next Harajuku moment ;)

Secrets of college success, tips for getting good grades in college

Back then at my bachelor days, or even earlier, during my time in high school i was known as a nerd, a geek that was always studying instead of having fun (i may as well have been all that). Then the exams came, and people would look at me and say:

"You take NO CANDLE"

Oh wait, wrong line from another era. They would say:

• How do you do that?
• Tell us your secret?
• You must be a genius.
• Get a life?
• You will end up unemployed anyways.

And here comes the punchline. I got stung today by some self-realization. I never studied a lot. In fact, up until the last two years of my bachelor's degree i was lazy, prefering to play World of Warcraft or spend endless hours with my girlfriend. But i had great grades. They could have been even better but i always managed to outperform better or smarter students. How did i do that? Is there some magic formula or just being good at it? Being able to guess exams? Being lucky or simply being able to digest massive amounts of information and knowledge overnight?

Rubbish.

The list of people that can actually do any of those things is rather small.

 

You get the point.

In a previous post i said i would talk about how a fool with a plan is likely to outsmart a genius without a plan. I was a fool for doing a million things wrong, but where it mattered i had a plan. This applies here though you don't have to be a fool. There are certain things, tips if you prefer, that can help you pave the way to success, stardom and that really high GPA you crave and think is unreachable. Let's get to it.

1) Before the semester starts.

Preparation is everything. Time management as well. Read the academic calendar, it will help you notice the important dates and spring/summer breaks. Have a journal or a calendar to mark the future assigned papers and essays so you don't miss a deadline and have them handy.

Moving in another country? Dust off your language skills. I played a lot of online games so i kept my english skills sharp, it will definately help if you are moving somewhere else that the language is not your native one. Reading the news or even better, talking with a native person will work wonders for your language skills and confidence.

Get the required "hardware" so you don't have to run at the last moment and shout "У меня нет времени" (i don't have time). That consists: notepads, laptop, netbook, pens, etc. Will get back to that later. 

Quick-check the courses and the syllabus and do not miss orientation day. Do not pick courses blindly. Learn the facilities, settle at home, find out where you will eat, work out. Get a place where you can study, that inspires you. It does not have to be your home, everyone has his own preference or study style.

Relax, have some fun with your friends, let off some steam and take a breath, it's is going to be a long journey in pastures new.

2) During the first weeks/months of the semester.

Assess your situation. Set up a goal and have a plan to achieve it. Also eat healthy and sleep well, a tired brain will work against you. Picked up the wrong class or decided you could handle an extra subject but it pressurizes you? Is the professor bad, boring, or does not give a damn about his students?

Don't be a fool and drop the class, what good will it do if you are going to fail/pass with a mediocre degree or just scrape through if it has unecessary workload that interferes with you real priorities? It will just affect them and derail your plan, as well as it will have a massive effect on your confidence and your stamina. Being physically sick is not a good thing. College is a marathon, not a sprint.

3) The Professor is your friend, not your enemy.

Well, i know many people that are willing to bet against me in Greek universities, but in a country like Sweden where the teachers are young, thirsty to pass their knowledge and don't bring their political beliefs into class, they can be a powerful ally. College is not just attending lectures and reading books. Interaction with the professor can be the difference between an A and a B, or turning that B/A+ into an A.

Had a rough time or could not understand a part of a complex lecture? A simple question or just 5 minutes with him can maybe clear things out and steer you in the right direction. All of them have office hours especially for the students to attend. Hell sometimes they may even feel lonely. What is better for them than a student that is actually interested in learning something, a chance for them to pass all those years of experience. And we are talking about students with valid questions, not 

"Hey bro what class are you teaching?"

 Yes. That's a no go. Set up a meeting with your professor then. Show him a draft of your paper, maybe you got the topic wrong or you are stuck in a part that you need clarification. He can help. 

Ask constructive questions on the subject at hand in classroom, you can get bonus points if your question demonstrates some understanding of the material that he is presenting that day or in a previous lecture. Be combative and passionate, get into an arguement if you can, demonstrate those strong personality traits you know you have. It will break the monotony. But don't overdo it.

4) Read those red marker comments in exams/essays.

You think teachers correct your mistakes in order for you to feel ashamed and hide your paper from your friends or mother? This is a key part, one of the few times that you can get 1-1 feedback on your topic/essay/exam/mistakes from the professor. Study and analyse your mistakes, it will help you prevent them in the future.

5) Do not procrastinate.

• You can run out of time.
• Unless you are a born writer, it takes some time to put an idea together and turn a draft into a fully-fledged essay.
• Something unexpected might happen and you will be into loads of trouble. The prof won't appreciate you begging for extra time.
• A paper done overnight before the deadline will not be good enough.
• No time to polish your work. Remember that slight line between a B and an A?
• You sabotage yourself and your other courses.
• It's not going to get easier if time passes.

6) Have a time-management plan.

Time management is KEY, i cannot stress this enough. Set up your courses well through the week and start working on those assignments early. You could be hit by 10 different deadlines and 3 exams in the same month and you will probably lose your sanity and go hunt white sharks in the baltic sea.

 

Sometimes i just can't help myself. Megalodon easter egg in BF4

7) Divide and conquer.

Large projects, assignments, papers, essays, can be broken into smaller pieces. That will give your ideas time to gel and the extra brainstorming might give you a breakthrough if you are stuck. While you sleep your brain processes the problem and can find a solution. Tip courtecy of The Secrets of College Success (Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman).

8) Save often, save early.

Not much to say here, but you would hate it if your hard drive crashes or there is a power outage. Go explain that to the prof.

9) Anticipate the exam material. 

The most important parts of the lecture are the first and last 5-10 minutes. The professor delves into the subject he is going to discuss over the next few hours. At first he is making an introduction, giving you quickfire tips about what is going to follow. Then in the end he is going to summarise what he said, helping you if you missed or misunderstood a part. Great.

Do not miss classes. Say that the course has 50 lectures per semester and you decide to skip 10. That's 20% of lost material that you cannot make up for.

Exam coming? Start early. Like a week or so before. The prof is leaving hints on what is going to show up all the time. If he stresses a point a lot, or he repeats it multiple times during the lecture, it's bound to be important. Understand the material, don't just memorize and do not read every lecture so focused that you forget about everything. There are time constraints. If you attended the classes you should have a clear idea about the topic, and if you studied efficiently you will have a firm grasp on the subject. Prepare a pre-test, or attent the professor's office, he might even drop a hint or two.

10) Eat and sleep well.

Last tip because i am a bit tired. You don't eat well? You better start now. You don't sleep well or enough? You WILL start now. The brain needs energy and a good reboot in order to function correctly and at maximum capacity. You will feel invigorated and it will show. NEVER do a last night reading marathon or you will degrade your performance and come up with many many excuses.

Sounds familiar? Not like this.

Well that concludes 10 tips on improving your college experience and your grades. Next post will be about Sweden probably, or something that irritates me, or some random thought i will have that day. Anyway time to study some Russian! Feel free to add some comments or suggestions!

Have a great weekend lads and lasses.

 

Housing and Financing in Uppsala Sweden

I never thought that finding a house to rent would prove to be such a challenge. Maybe because i live in Greece, where people will beg you to rent and even bring you cookies and juice. So how do we tackle this subject? Join me and let's find out!

This classic small-house look is something you don't see in my country.

After i received confirmation of my admission in Uppsala University (let's call it UU for convenience reasons) i thought: "Hey Kostas, let's find a house!". So i started my research on the UU website and i spent countless hours googling. It was chaotic for me to start with. One reason was that everything in each website was in swedish (and google translate sucked so i had to feed on scraps) and that i was demotivated by the forums i read, where people said that it is extremely hard to find a place to stay, that you will probably have to move houses often etc etc. The truth lies somewhere in between.

Many websites offer houses on 2nd hand contracts, which means someone is renting a place they are already renting afaik (tip of the day, afaik = as far as i know). 1st hand contracts are another story and it may take years to get your hands on one. So what about these 2nd hand contracts? Well get in line, because there is a queue system and depending on how many days you are in the queue, you get priority for the houses that are available for rent. So get registered on sites like:

• http://www.studentstaden.se/
• http://www.uaf.uu.se/index.php?pageId=21&prId=3

If you can't navigate with google translate, for the first website go to Ledigt just nu, then click on Lediga studentbostäder, filter the houses where it says Hyra (rent), and click on Anmäl intresse. And you are queue'd :)

Well, the queues can look big.

So is that all you can do? Aimlessly wander the streets of Sweden and hope for a house to sprout at your feet and a magical contract on your hand? Well your last line of defence and imo (imo = in my opinion) is blocket.se.

Easy to navigate, straight to the point, and most importantly, has NO QUEUES. So pretty much every house is up for grabs.

So:

• Fire up www.blocket.s
• Register
• Select your desired city/area either from the map or the list on your right (in my case Uppsala)
• Select uthyres right below the search bar (uthyres means rent)
• Check the most recent adds that show up (ie 3000kr/man means 3000 krona per month, while 3000/vecka means per week)
• Igar means today, idag yesterday, helps you filter the most recent ones.
• Click on a desired house add
• Read the description, google translate gives you a nice basic idea.
• If it interests you, click below the add meijla annonsören to send a quick mail to the owner.
• Type your name and phone and on the box below your question/request/anything you want to ask or say.
• Wait for reply and repeat.

This was some basic info on housing in Sweden, the situation seems to be a bit easier on smaller towns and harder on the capital or cities with intense competition for places. Do not despair, keep your cool and we will meet soon in 26th August! For additional info or questions feel free to add a comment or PM on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kostas.mandilaris.3

 This will be a common place to visit :D

Watch out for the Rift

Before going to the movies to see the sequel of Captain America, which was a pretty good movie, but felt a bit long and tiresome with the 3d glasses on, i went to a local internet cafe in Kalamata (TheWeb Kalamatas) and i tried this:

The kid's expression gives you an idea.

The gamestation had a high-tech computer with a massive HDTV and the early version of the OCCULUS RIFT. So being tech savvy i had to try it!

It had a beta game of a Formula-1 game that was actually pretty cool, so here are my short thoughts on the machine.

Pros

• Fantastic experience, it trully immerses you.
• Moving your head around. Seriously, i was watching the sky and the buildings more than the circuit.
• Gives unlimited potential.
• Would be every mmorpg fan's dream.
• Was not as heavy or uncomfortable as i would have imagined.

Cons

• That version of the RIFT had low resolution (already updated to support 1080p though).
• Seemed like low fps, but it was a beta version.
• The hd version costs a fair amount, as would the whole gamestation.

And that concludes my thoughts on the OCCULUS RIFT. I think it's going to be a great next-gen tech and that we will see even more of those spawn within 2014-15. One more picture, and wishes of a great weekend!

 Shut up and take my money!

Destination Uppsala - Preparing for life in Sweden

Today i finished work early and with quite some energy to burn for a change, so i sat and thought about what should i see/do when i get in Uppsala. It looks like an amazing place to live, plus its really close to the capital.

I live in Greece, where the climate is really warm and nice. Sure it will not be the same and i will require some time to adapt using a bike and seeing snow, but one of my traits is being adaptable to all situations. And my positivity allows me to see an entirely new world out there, built on Sweden's strengths. I like what i read about this city. It seems there is always something exciting to do.

Today i am going to talk only about the various activities you can engage. So let's get going.

Activities:

1) Go-Kart. This is a personal favorite, we have a great track that hosts races in Kalamata and when i was a kid i used to go there all the time and push my self to the edge. Nordic Gokart and Rörken Gokart look interesting.

This is going to be great.

2) Paintball. Not really a favorite of mine since i remember losing my glasses and massive pain from being shot in the head from point blank range (hell i even remember the colour of the ammo, yellow). But i am 10 years older now and after finishing my army obligations and being a good marksman and actually learning some tactics, i am willing to try it again, as Aventyrespark offers both paintball and interesting activities. Plus Aktivitet & Paintball, Fullerö and Upplands Paintball are just fifteen and ten minutes, respectively, from Uppsala and arrange outdoor paintball matches.

 

I looked something like that, but prettier :D

3) Horse riding. Back when i was in university i used to pick up my girlfriend and climb the mountain with horses, while every Sunday we took them to the beach and swam with them. Fantastic experience, seriously a life changer and an amazing workout. Could there be a better place than Skandinavia to experience nature and the wildlife that inhabits it? There are many stables in Uppsala that offer horseback riding and though i am a fan of really big horses, the Russian Bashkir breed looks amazing.

Looks familiar to me.

4) Fjällnora and Alnäs adventure parks. The aerial adventure courses at Fjällnora and Alnäs offer a cool experience in the wonders of nature. Get ready for an adventure up among the treetops. The courses consist of several exciting elements – make your way over suspension bridges, logs and other obstacles high in the air (courtesy of destinationuppsala.se).

Can i sleep untill August plz????!

5)  Gliding/Flying. I have a fear of heights. This never stopped me from facing my fears. I joined the helicopter division in the army. I climbed cliffs. I went to every dangerous amusement park game. And this is going to be awesome.

Adrenaline and excitement beats fear.

6) Rowing. I saw this in the part 1 first day in Uppsala video by the University (which was breathtaking). I am definately going to try it.

Next season i will be in their place.

That's pretty much it for now, i hope you get the picture. Other activities i will try will be bowling, football, footballgolf, discgolf, which sound strange, but strange is always nice!

Next post will most likely be about sightseeing. Happy weekend!

Happiness Is a Serious Problem

Thursday 3/4/2014

I read a post about human longevity and it gave me some serious food for thought. We live way more than our ancestors did, and way more than most people do in 3rd World countries, all that in anno 2014. Yet we have some serious issues.

One of them is the lack of happiness. I currently live in a country struck by the economic crisis, where unemployment and corruption flourish and there seemes to be no ray of light at the end of the tunnel. For the past 15-20 years i have had a tough time, especially during 2012-2013. But i never lost hope, nor the desire to regain my composure and chase my goals.

Plastic friends are everywhere, they only know how to have fun and drink, but once you ask them for help or to do something new, something interesting, they bail out and throw any kind of excuse right in your face.

"Hey Maria (random name), let's go horse riding this weekend."
"I can't Kostas, i have no money, work at uni/school"

Same night you can find Maria and co. at the local club dancing her ass off and throwing 20 euros per night.

Yet you witness them in the nightclubs and cafe's, where people are meant to socialize and actually have a good time:

1. Get smartphone out.
2. Check in location including all friends.
3. Write that you are having a blast.
4. Wear your fake smile and take selfies.
5. Sit in the corner like a statue.

Now that's what i call fun. Let's throw a picture for the sake of it.

Seriously?

Let's not talk about their attitude when you try to approach them, or the male orbiters that pray and eye-stalk every good looking woman in the place.

PS. Orbiter: A guy or group of guys that surrounds women with no purpose or use, he just exists. Also known as beta male or AFC (Average Frustrated Chump).

So how do we combat this plague?

Unless you are willing to make an actual effort and you are not just a man/woman of words but action you can turn your life into something purposeful, that fulfills you, brings you joy and overcomes your depression.

Notice when you want something really bad and you make it your goal to get it even if it sounded impossible for you at the moment? You need a DCA, a Definite Chief Aim to be able to achieve your goals. You need to know what you want, where you want to be and a plant to make it happen. Of course we are talking about realistic targets most of the time (Napoleon Hill, The law of success).

 

Not like this.

The same book covers some interesting topics, though his obsession with Henry Ford being the most powerfull human on Earth and the USA being the greatest country in the world (not objecting, it just gets repetitive). 

It also promotes self-talk and self-suggestion, which is a really powerful tool that we usually use wrongly. Instead of telling ourselves every morning that we are the best, that we are beautiful, that we can achieve our goals, we downgrade ourselves, and our self-esteem plummets to Hades. Employers talk a lot about powerful communication being a perk, they forget that it is not only important to be able to communicate with others, but also to have a discussion with yourself.

Do activities, embrace your fears, face them, travel, talk to strangers. I started volunteer work, helped animal shelters, started learning Russian, travelling etc.

I will get back to that later sometime, let's some things up:

• Get a Definite Chief Aim.
• Brainstorm plans to achieve your goal and work towards them.
• Engage in different activities.
• Talk yourself up (in your head, write it down etc)
• Self suggestion. Powerful tool, seriously use it.
• Leave your smartphones somewhere. Seriously.
• Have fun.

That's it for now, will post in a few days time, not sure if it will be about Sweden but i am doing a post (in the works) titled "A Fool with a Plan can Outsmart a Genious with No Plan"

Cheers, have a great night and remember to smile!