I am on a northbound train now, going more than 200km/hour through the countryside of Sweden. I am in the quiet section of car number 2, with an amazingly comfortable seat, and pleasant respectful Swedes around me. Somehow a foreign couple with their child entered the quiet section, so they were politely asked to move to car number 4. There was an announcement that “in car number 3, someone is allergic to hazelnuts, so please don’t eat hazelnuts in car number 3”. The internet is included in the price of the ticket, which is very affordable (about $100 round trip) for a 3.5 hour train ride to Sundsvall from Stockholm.   I am very happy doing my work, and catching up on emails. The train ride is not long enough!

Yesterday I had my appointment with the LifeGene program. This is a health initiative where the government is trying to get 100,000 Swedes to answer detailed questions about their health, and give blood and urine samples. We will be followed for the remainder of our lives. I was randomly selected to participate, but anyone can take part. I found that I am very healthy, and that I am living a very healthy lifestyle. I think I have good genes, plus I am a vegan, don’t drink, don’t smoke, and I do exercise. They will continue to ask me follow-up questions every year, but only take blood samples every 5 years. I think they are doing something like 23 and Me, which is a genetic analysis company in the USA.

Jag uppmuntrar alla mina svenska kompisar att delta i projektet: “LifeGene är ett unikt projekt för bättre kunskap om hur våra gener, vår omgivning och vårt sätt att leva påverkar vår hälsa.”

It is grey, chilly and rainy in Sweden now, and the dark months will be here soon. You can see some photos of Stockholm here.

 

I heard a wonderful concert last night, at the Grünewaldsalen in Stockholm. Baroque music played by the Rebaroque ensemble. My very close friend is the harpsichordist with the group. The audience was enthusiastic, as were the players. I was surprised that my ticket as an „Unemployed Person“ was not much cheaper than the regular price, $34 instead of $39. I guess the government is not encouraging unemployed persons to attend baroque music concerts.

I will be in Sweden until Sunday, when I fly to Vilnius.