Chapter 9

9.   1985 (Uppsala)

 

Party at my house

In April 1985, my late friend and colleague Jonas Agell and I decided to organize a joint birthday party, because we were born the same date. The party would be held at our apartment because I had a larger kitchen and two big rooms. We invited many people from the department. I offered to cook something Greek, a meat stew with potatoes. In Hans' apartment where I lived, there were two large pots for all guests.

Karin, one of the secretaries who lived nearby, arrived quite early, just as we started to boil water and Jonas peeled potatoes. She joined us in the kitchen; we offered her some wine and chatted. After a while, when the water had boiled and the pieces of meat had been fried in the frying pan, I poured them into the pans with a little salt, pepper, oregano, onion, and garlic. Then I poured in a lot of Greek olive oil. Karin looked surprised and asked if I did not have a tape measure to know how much oil I should put in. I replied I did not have, and then she thought if she knew that, she could buy me such a gift.

Eventually people started coming in and then I heard Karin whispering to the others that I did not use a tape measure and probably there was too much oil in the meat pot. Still, she hoped it would taste good.

A couple of hours later, when everyone had arrived and the stew had cooled down a bit, it was time to eat. I served the ladies first and noticed that Karin who was sitting on the kitchen table was very careful and did not dare to taste. I thought she did not want to burn herself because it was still hot. Most of the guests were in the other room and started eating. Suddenly Berit's voice was heard "God what a fantastic stew you have cooked Christos!", and everyone else agreed. Karin also replied that I was lucky with the correct dosage of olive oil. Jonas laughed and said: "Karin, no one can be poisoned by too much oil in the pot. The Greeks have been using the oil since ancient times!"

Stockholms Marathon

In June I was going to run the Stockholm marathon. I started training already in the autumn and the training intensified during the spring. While I ran several kilometers three or four times a week, I also thought about the thesis. It was boring to just run without using the time efficiently at the same time. In fact, the distance felt shorter when I thought about the thesis.

I remember one evening, after I had run a few kilometers, I thought of an excellent argument and I was afraid that I would forget it after I had run my round. So, I ran straight home, I wrote down the argument and then I kept running. The argument is of course included in the thesis and is about the difference between human needs and demand and their impact on the emergence of innovations.

In early May, I used to run longer distances. On a warm Sunday I ran to Storvreta which is about 15 kms from Uppsala. In my sock I put a ten-krona note to buy a soft drink. When I arrived at Storvreta center, I was completely exhausted and very thirsty. I took my wet ten from my sock and thought about buying a soda. At the same time, I was thinking about buying a bus ticket back to Uppsala, otherwise I would not be able to run back. I went to the kiosk owner and asked what the soda cost.

It cost seven kronor, exactly as much as the bus ticket. The bus stop to Uppsala was close to the kiosk and the bus driver sat in the shade waiting to leave. Before I bought the soda, I went to him and asked if I could travel a few kilometers with 3 kronor, because I wanted to buy something to drink! He felt sorry for me who was so sweaty, but could not help me because it was misconduct if there was a check. I was also very mad at myself because I was so stupid and did not put another ten kronor in the other sock!

Since the soda was more important than the bus ride, I went back to the kiosk to buy soda and chewing gum. He also felt sorry for me and I got three pieces of chewing gum. I thanked him for his generosity, drank the soda right away and after a while started running back with three chewing gums in my socks. A few kilometers later it started to get difficult and I took the first chewing gum and after a while the second and then the third. Near Gamla (Old) Uppsala there was a football field and there I took a shower before I got home, completely exhausted.

A couple of weeks later I ran a shorter session towards Sunnersta. It was also a hot day and the birches had bloomed. After a few kilometers I noticed that it itched and tears flowed from my eyes. I also felt that my nose was stuffy and I sneezed. I shortened the round and returned home. Late in the evening, the tears continued, my eyes were red, I sneezed and it was difficult to sleep.

At 3 o'clock in the morning I took my bike and cycled to the University Hospital. It was already light, quiet, and beautiful, but the silence was broken by the eternal chirping of the birds. When I arrived at the emergency room, there was not a single person there, except for the nurse at the reception. When she saw my eyes, she called a doctor and a few minutes later I followed him to the examination room. After a short examination, he concluded that it was pollen allergy and many people had already been affected in the past week. He asked if I was allergic and answered negative; it was the first time I was affected by it. He warned me with the intense training during the pollen season and maybe I should not run marathon. I got a pill, he dripped my eyes and I cycled back home. Everything took less than a quarter of an hour. The emergency visit that time was so fast indeed, compared to nowadays.

Finally, it was time for the marathon. I had been preparing for months and I promised the department's marathon man, Steffan, that I would make it through the race. We took the train to Stockholm together and decided to meet on the lawn, inside the Stadium, after the race. In fact, Steffan was supposed to wait for me there, since I expected to reach the finish line an hour or so after him. We picked up our number bibs and handed over our clothes to the guards. As a beginner I had number 16993, while Stefan who had run a few times before and had good times got a much better starting place.

My starting place was of course among the worst. I remember that when the starting gun went off, we were still standing there and started moving a quarter of an hour later. In fact, there was no running for the first few kilometers, we just crowded with each other. Only after another ten minutes did it start to get a little sparser in front of us and we could run a little anyway. I think we had 38 kms left when we started running for real. I tried to think about the thesis, a tactic that worked during my training in Uppsala, instead of how many kms I had left. It was very hot and around the track there were a lot of people cheering us on. Barbara and her friends were also standing at Slussen as we had agreed, and I got a banana from her.

When we arrived at the City Hall, it felt like I had blisters on my feet and it hurt a little. I asked an official where the first aid was and I was told that it was outside the Stadium at Vallhallavägen. I kept going, because I had quite a good time and if I could keep the same pace, I would complete the race in less than 3.5 hours. Stefan had warned me not to wear brand new running shoes, but I should have worn them for a couple of weeks so that they softly shaped by my feet. Unfortunately, I only used them once before the race and it was stupid.

When I arrived at the Stadium, it looked like a war site. There were several ambulances and nurses who worked feverishly to deal with blisters, cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Many runners sat in the shade on the small lawn and waited for help. I also lay there and took off my shoes and socks. I had some blisters in my feet that were very wet. A photo reporter saw me and wondered if he could take a photo of my feet, while I waited for an available nurse. I stretched my feet to the sky and he took a photo of my feet and my number bib.

After a few minutes, a nurse came and she put an elastic band under my feet. She assured me that it was not too bad, but I should be a little careful at first until the straps would start working. The photo reporter was amazed when I got up and prepared to run again. He shook his head and wondered how I could run another twenty kms with such abrasions. I replied that I would try, and had nothing to lose. He wished me luck and I started moving. Lying on the lawn for about 10 minutes after I had run half the distance and start running again, was not easy. I was a little stiff in my body, but after a couple of hundred meters it came off. The elastic band worked and a quarter of an hour later it did not hurt anymore.

There were many fun scenes during the race, especially for us who did not think about the time and just wanted to get to the finish line. A guy who was running next to me told me that he was getting a little hungry and after a while he moved towards the sidewalk where a young woman was peeling a banana. He took the banana out of her hand and yelled, "I am so sorry, I'm so hungry! The lady just laughed and replied "go ahead and good luck!"

On the second lap on the big Västerbron it was impossible to run. The slope of the uphill of the bridge felt like it was at least 30 degrees. People standing next to us had to come onto the track and push us up, or pull us until we got to the top of the bridge.  

A few kilometers before the finish line, a runner started running very fast and suddenly he turned to everyone, pointed to a sign, and yelled: "Be careful guys, keep the speed of 30 km/h and the police watch you!" I was so tired and could not even laugh.

In the end, I reached the finish line in just over four hours. Stefan was already there and saw me when I crossed the finish line. I jogged for a few minutes and then I lay flat on the lawn. There we got some bananas, chocolate, and yogurt. After we had picked up our clothes, we took the subway to the Central station and on the train to Uppsala.

When we arrived, it was impossible to get up. My whole body was stiff. Stefan and the conductor lifted me from my seat and helped me to step down to the platform. I went home limping but even there it took several minutes to walk up the stairs to the first floor I lived. I took a long shower and then sat down by the couch to watch TV. Again, it was difficult to get into bed. I do not think I slept much that night.

When I woke up on Sunday, I checked my feet. The elastic band that the nurse put on my feet was gone, as were the blisters. I looked at the socks that were a bit sticky, but no bands were visible. I was going crazy and called the University Hospital. A nurse then explained that they had developed a new elastic band at the dermatology clinic in Uppsala that helped effectively, especially on blisters and was also absorbed by the skin! It was really an interesting news to hear!  

On Monday morning in the break room, I expected all my colleagues to congratulate me on my achievement. But no, they felt sorry for me because I only managed half the distance. I was very surprised and then Monica showed me that I became famous, because the local newspaper Uppsala Nya Tidning had a big picture of me when the nurse helped me. Under the picture was the following: "Twenty kms managed these feet without treatment, but no more. It is Christos Papahristodoulou, Uppsala, who is helped by a caring nurse on Vallhallavägen".

The newspaper took for granted that it was only twenty kms, i.e. after one lap. I was really annoyed with the reporter who had found me via the number bib that I was from Uppsala, but had not checked my name on the results list. I did not have the energy to go home and pick up the medal I had received. A short time later, Stefan came to the break room and asked everyone if they had congratulated me. Then everyone understood that it was misspelled by the reporter and urged me to contact the newspaper. I did it right away and he was impressed that I had made it through the race despite big blisters on my feet. He asked me to come to the editorial office and gave me two large pictures of my feet that he had photographed.

My professor Bentzel was about to retire in 1985 and he tried to convince me to present my dissertation, no later than December. But the new professor Bengt-Christer Ysander, who had already been installed, thought that some adjustments were needed that would take about half a year. Considering that I had funding for another year, I was able to extend the dissertation time without any problems. I noticed that Bentzel was a little sad because as an emeritus he would not have the honor of leading my dissertation. 

Olof Palme in Uppsala

The first time I saw Olof Palme up close was in May 1985 in the main building of the University in Uppsala. Gonzalez of Spain had a lecture on the new democracy in Spain compared to Sweden. I remember Palme laughing and shaking his head when Gonzalez mentioned two incidents that had taken place in 1981 and 1982 to overthrow his country's democratic regime. After the lecture, both leaders stood on the steps of the University completely unprotected and talked to the people. Of course, it surprised me very much because I did not see any guards around them.

The second time I saw him in Uppsala; he was going to speak to the students at the Economy. The meeting had been arranged by the social democratic students in Uppsala, and Palme was to speak about international solidarity, aid, disarmament, and peace, and was scheduled for early in the evening.  

The talk was planned early in the evening. It was late in November, cold and snowy outside and from what I found out afterwards, Palme took the train with, among others, Anna Lindh and a few others from Stockholm and walked from the station to University, HMC. Fotis and I, a Greek who studied computer science and used to study in the library until late at night, sat in the cafeteria and planned to go to the auditorium to listen to him. Next to us sat some Swedish Social Democratic students who were also waiting for Palme.

After a while, Palme came with his company, snowed in, without any guards. The cafeteria was located just outside the auditorium where Palme was to give his speech. He left his coat and bag on a chair and asked how many people wanted coffee. Then he walked past our table, greeted us kindly and stood in line to buy coffee for everyone! As long as I live, I will always remember this scene. I was shocked and speechless.

Fotis, on the other hand, who had come to Sweden with his parents when he was a child, was more level-headed. He said it in Greek that only a Swedish prime minister does that. Unfortunately, there were no cell phones that time to film this historic moment. Palme took about ten coffee cups and a few sandwiches on his two trays, paid, and started serving all the students who had ordered. Then "thank you Olof" was heard by the spoiled students who were served by the prime minister himself and they began to chat with each other.

For a moment I thought about going to him and introducing myself, but I did not dare, I just looked at him as he talked and laughed with all the students there. At the same time, I thought about the high school's geography book, which wrote that if you are lucky, you can meet the Swedish king on the street, or ministers in the grocery store. I did not really believe it then, until I experienced that it is true in Sweden.

The speech was warm and emotional and the entire auditorium was captivated by his deep commitment to justice, peace, and solidarity. I remember that when an African student asked a question in English, because he felt lonely and isolated in Sweden and asked if he had any advice to give, Palme became sad. He answered him in English, of course, and urged Uppsala's student union, and of course the Social Democratic students, to help with everything they could to break the isolation of foreign students. He joked and said that if they do not have the resources for such activities, they should apply for funding from the ministries or SIDA (the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) and he would make sure that they got money for it!

The seminar ended very late and Palme wanted to walk back to the station. But it did not quite turn out that way, a taxi came and drove him there because he was going to miss the train to Stockholm and the next train would leave at midnight.

Refaat El-Sayed in Uppsala

A couple of weeks later, another interesting event occurred, exactly in the same place. It was the Uppsala Economists' Association that had invited the charismatic entrepreneur Egyptian Refaat El-Sayed to talk about his company Fermenta.

Fermenta had become a rocket on the stock exchange in Stockholm in a few years and a couple of workers went with their Rolls-Royce to the factory in Strängnäs! The whole of Sweden was talking about Fermenta and the company's share price exploded and was at the top. Refaat, who had studied in Uppsala, of course accepted the invitation and came there with the entire board sitting in the first bench.

The auditorium was packed and had as many listeners as when Palme was there. Refaat, who has just been named the Swede of the Year, came in with his sporty corduroy trousers and the red polo shirt and the audience began to applaud. He brought some overhead pictures that he wanted to show in one of the two overhead devices that were in the room.

The chairman of the association sat behind one of the devices, got a picture from Refaat, turned on the lamp and showed it. But it was very blurry. She tried to adjust the light but it was impossible. She moved over to the next device, but the same problem was there too. You could hardly see any figures from the balance sheet that Refaat wanted to show. Then he turned to her and said: "Is Uppsala University so poor nowadays and cannot afford to buy any good equipment? Buy 100 apparats and send the bill to Fermenta! It's the least I can do for the university that made me a biochemistry doctor." The auditorium exploded with cheers, laughter, and applause!

Then he wrote some numbers on the whiteboard, something he had not done since his university studies, he said. He was happy to answer all the questions he was asked and joked about the Fermenta’s stock price that would continue upwards and encouraged everyone who had not bought the shares to do so. It was a much better financial support compared to student loans he said.

So happily, ended 1985 in Uppsala.