The one where I create a 25-Minute Treadmill Interval Workout

Deciding to finally get rid of the middle eastern style belly I have, I have signed up at the gym and have been working out for a week now. concentrating on the cardio part of the gym and also paying short visits to the “build muscles” part. After reading quite a few websites on how to actually lose some weight around the belly using the treadmill, and considering my own limits; I have mastered my very own interval work out. This kind of workout, where you run in sprints and rests, supposedly burn the most fat! The workout shall be tested this afternoon at the gym!

Period (min)	starting time	Speed (kmph)	incline (%)	Intensity	Perceived Exertion
2	0:00	6.5	1	Warm up Walk	Level 2
2	2:00	8.5	2	Warm up jog	Level 3
5	4:00	10	2	Fast jog	Level 4
1	9:00	11.5	3	Run	Level 6
2	12:00	10	0	Fast jog	Level 4
1	13:00	12	2	Run Faster!	Level 6-7
2	15:00	10	0	Fast jog	Level 4
1	16:00	12.5	2	Go! Go!	Level 7
2	18:00	10	0	Fast jog	Level 4
1	19:00	13	1	Push it!	Level 7-8
2	21:00	10	0	Fast Jog	Level 4
2	23:00	8.5	0	Cool down jog	Level 3
2	25:00:00	6.5	0	Cool down Walk	Level 3

The one where I study jackets

Swedish weather is very tricky, as I might have partially explained the day where it hailed, snowed, rained and we had beautiful sunshine all in a period on an hour.  This shifty weather demands the need for proper clothing. While living in the middle east, all you need is a relatively light jacket to get through the winter. The seldom times that it actually rains, you find shelter until it ends a few minutes after or at the most: meeeh!you’ll get a little wet.

Living in Sweden, you need at least 4 seperate pairs of jackets. I will try to specify them below:

1. The Cold Hard Winter Jacket: 

You’ll need a well insulated thick long jacket to get you through those -30 degrees Celsius days in November.  Bear in mind that we are just talking about the final layer of clothing. The many layers underneath must not be forgotten! This jacket is usually accompanied by a warm hat and a thick scarf or shawl. The Swedes usually trust a couple of well known brands like Everest and Helly Hansen  to keep them warm on those ruthlessly cold dark days.

2. The Keeps You Warm and Dry but Not Too Warm Jacket:

In mid February when the snow starts gradually melting warm and single digits below and above zero will govern the air temperature for about 8-12 weeks, jacket number one will be too warm to wear. Wearing something that will make you sweat is not a wise idea when its still pretty chilly out. So you’ll need another jacket. A Spring/Autumn jacket. This jacket HAS to be waterproof, no buts about it. Doubt you not, it will rain a lot in the Swedish spring.

3. The compact one that keeps you dry but not warm (more commonly known as raincoat): Weather predictions are totally unreliable in this region of the world. I’ve heard the Swedes themselves complaining about this many times. Naturally the further out the prediction, the worse the probability of it coming out true. I remember checking the forecast online for the weekend on a Monday trying to plan a BBQ and reading a +24 degrees with sunshine! We had absolutely no sun that weekend. Moral of the story is, always have a raincoat tucked in your backpack. Now the more compact it is, the easier you’ll carry it around.

4. The hoodie:

Excluding a few weeks in the end of  June and the beginning July, Summer nights tend to get a little chilly in southern Sweden so if you’re planning to stay out when the sun goes down (anywhere from 9 pm to 12:30 am throughout the summer) grab a hoodie! Also, no matter how warm the weather is, the wind is never hot here, so if you don’t want to ruin the beautiful Swedish summer by catching an unwanted cold wrap a hoodie around your waist or neck and head out for fun!

The one with a dish of Ghormeh Sabzi

Last night was a fun night with shrimp soup and a fun games of charades with the Persian gang which now has a new member. She was in her first days of living here in Sweden When she suddenly comes across two young teens going at it in the hallways at her apartment building! The poor girl had thought that such a thing is normal here! people are so comfortable with their sexuality that they do it in the hallways!

Charades is a game that is only fun when the words that are supposed to be played out become dirty! Only then can you start laughing you bottom off as you see the performer striving to play out words like “naughty”!

I made “ghorme sabzi” today and invited a friend over for lunch. It turned out great despite it being my very first time. Of course I noted a few things so it would turn out even better next time. Its very time consuming to prepare it but its well worth the effort!

The one where it snows, rains and hails on the same day.

Woke up early with a phone call from the other side of the world and didn’t bother to sleep again. It was beautiful and sunny when I left my flat. Then it started raining as I was paying a trip to the bank. When I came out it was hailing little pellets. and when I got back to my place in the library it was snowing like its November!

The one where I take over half of the world

Petrik paid me a surprise visit yesterday. I got out of bed and opened the door wearing nothing but undies at 10 am on Sunday! He came in carrying a board game in his hand; a scene that always excites me!

a few hours went by as I slowly took over the world with my troops, winning some battles and losing some others. eventually taking control over all of Africa and most of Europe. But expanding my army made me weak and my soldiers were wiped out as my enemies reinforced and attacked me from east and west!

The game commenced while we ate nuts and seeds, all from our trip back home and freshly brewed Iranian style tea.

The one where I change the way I view

We cycled downtown today since the weather had finally opened up a little. Cycling around the river and in the old fashioned stone paved streets downtown, it suddenly hit me: I have been living in Scandinavia for the past two years of my life! How freaking awesome is that!

Its so nice to sometimes close your eyes, imagine you’re gonna open your eyes into a whole new world. where everything is new, where mainstream has no meaning. I am learning to live life.

The one where I look back at old me

Retiring from work early yesterday, I met a friend in the cafeteria while fetching a cup of coffee and somehow ended up having one of those political conversations I seldom have here in Sweden with virtually anyone! One that I am hoping will happen more often. I have been raised in a political environment, I have been active in every single election since I was of age and discussing politics is something that my soul needs to be at rest! So its kinda like getting the poison out!

I have to point out that the Swedish moralities have been beneficial in shaping me and my character. Therefore educating me towards becoming a much better negotiator. I owe a great deal of my success in life to my ability to look at issues from above; from a broad futuristic perspective. What life in Sweden has added to that is to respect every nation, every ethnicity, ever single human for what they are; not to judge based on factors in an individual’s current or past life which he/she has had no control over.

I look back and laugh at the inexperienced Mahdi of 3 years ago who had just started working and was put in charge of a small group of engineers; when he ran to complain to his boss for having the most unqualified team to work with. That Mahdi did not know how to point out strong points in each person and delegate work accordingly. I truly believe, the person I am now, can do things much more efficient and with much less resources.

 

The one where I play backgammon with dad

One of my favorite parts of trips back home are afternoons with tea and backgammon with my dad. I lost badly today! dad was having good fortune with the dice and after all he’s a mathematician!

Backgammon is a game I personally had never played but seen my father play with his friends when I was a small child. I learned to play in Sweden and during my summer trip to Iran, we bought a set and played like freaks with dad. I guess I can be called a “Gamer” now! I took the set out of the drawer today and saw that it had a good layer of dust on it! poor dad doesn’t have many people to play with!

Its a game of luck and strategy combined. What makes this game so different from chess, is the existence of dice, which contributes to the luck part of the game. With good luck, even a beginner can sometimes win over a pro. But in the long term, like games of five out of ten, the player with more experience will always have an advantage.

So even if you’re playing with an amateur, the fun is always there. The more you play, the more experience you gain and the better your game gets. This makes the game partially addictive too!

The one where we shop in wholesale scale!

My dad is holding a big new year/Mahdi is home  party (!!)  at our place tomorrow where practically all the “Daghigh” dynasty will be attending. As I am used to, the day before parties like this are devoted to shopping and preparing for the party. Although I had done this for many years, after the two years of living abroad independently and buying Kiwis per styck, I was still amazed how we bought bags and bags full of fruits! If you follow me, you’ve read the post about how a gathering i carried out, so 6 types of fruit were what we went for! The weather is absolutely amazing and I think we will be having lunch in the backyard tomorrow.

Despite it not being considered a very honorable gesture, dad has hired a caterer for the food. Since  mom really does not have the energy cook for 40 people! She did express desire to do so, but we wouldn’t allow it. Traditionally, I am responsible for the salads and Merriam is in charge of desert if she finds the time! She is currently busy catching up on How I Met your Mother  episdoes!

In Iran, shops sell very specific items. And although big grocery stores which have everything are found everywhere. When it comes to quality, the small specialized shops are always preferred. So We will buy our fruits from a selections of Fruit stores, our herbs and vegetables from a selection of grönsaker  stores, Driving around from store to store to find the best oranges, apples, … in town! So although I’ve gotten used to having an eye on the prices when shopping with my student budget, when I come home, Its always the best quality, organic, blah blah blah, even if you have to drive to the other side of town to find it!

All Swedes should know, the cheese doodles in Sweden suck! OLW  might be good at making chips, but they have no idea how cheese doodles are supposed to taste! We call the Cheetos and they taste like heaven! mega cheesy, highly dense and super crunchy!

My cousin flew to India yesterday to pursue his education in philosophy! He was always kinda wierd in my eyed, no wonder he became a philosopher!

The one where I fly home

I am sitteng in 21A -a window seat in an Airbus 300, on my way back to Iran. Listening to Emil Sande, sipping on Iranian OJ, Challenging my Persian language proficiency as I try to complete the crossword puzzle in the magazine that they gave out. Flight attendants are unusually friendly and despite the old and (SYNONYM) aircrafts I like flying with Iran Air more than other carriers. After all there’s Persian cuisine on board! We had a small sandwich which I am hoping was just an appetizer!

My Bank card stopped working this morning so I was very happy to be carrying some cash! And I had considered a very vast time margin for unexpected incidents. The Lady at PressByran said Nordea is known to have problems like this. I guess I’ll Switch to Swedbank when I get back.

I sat patiently waiting to see who Mr. or Miss 21B would be. It ended up being no one! So I have loads of room to sit in, crawl, and even sleep I guess. I looked at the flight attendent and gave him a smile as I saw him dealing with unreasonable requests from passengers. These guys might have on of the “highest” jobs in the world, but its certainly not an easy one.

The plane will stop in Budapest and refuel. Since the European Union does not offer Feul to Iran Air due to American Sanctions. I’m not sure how this will affect the time it will take to get home, but its still much faster than a flight with a layover can ever be! I’ll still call it a direct flight!

The kid behind me is crying her lungs out and that does not bother me a single bit! I tried helping out the parents by making faces for her. But my entertainment only managed to make her smile for a few minutes. It does not seem to be bothering her Swedish Dad either! Her mom is obviously uncomfortable and trying to quiet the child. Its a 3 year old girl! When she wants to cry, she should cry, No matter where! So to all you people that are pissed abouting losing precious sleep time, Dont you dare give those parents judging looks. Suck it up! That little girl has as much right to cry aloud as you have to breathe!

I feel numb on the inside. Unable to have feelings of any sort, No type of anxiety, excitement. Just pure blankness. I guess this will be uploaded when I get home since they certainly dont offer onboard Wi-fi on Iran-Air!