...2 months later

so... hey. Clearly blogging just isn't my thing. However, mom has been descretely scolding me the past few emails so I though you all deserved a brief update.

Easter was a few weeks ago so we had a week-long Easter break. What this means for Norwegians is basically time to travel and watch/read crime series. Yeah, I know, crime series? Really? I was rather shocked when I walked into a Narvessen and saw a big cardboard cutout in bright yellow with a really bloody (and very realistic looking) Norwegian mitten printed on it. But I must say, this crime series thing rather grew on me.

And mom says to write about the ash cloud. Well, sorry to dissapoint but it isn't raining ash here. In fact quite the contrary. I see blue skies and the sun...ow. ok, note to self, don't look at sun. But I do know it's there, Oslo airport was closed for a while, I think it's re-opened for outgoing flights. Hopefully it will be open when I leaveon Thursday for Eurotour :D

Anyway, I feel like I owe everyone some pictures. So let's see if I can find some. I know I have some from Stockholm on my camera...I'll load those later...haha, how many times have you guys heard that from me?

This be me and Thor :D He's my friend :D

Umm there was ice on the fjord...I hadn't ever really seen anything like it before so I had to take a picture of course. Why I'm sharing it with you I don't actually know.

I was at Rotary wintercamp...well a long time ago. But still. We went on a long cross-country ski trip, this is a picture of (from left to right) Henry (Minnesota), Daniel (California), me.

I also have a great video of this picture. Jamie (Ohio) and Kate (Idaho)

This is Alex (Indiana). This is how much powder there was in places (Alpine skiing this time).

The lift ride up was rather boring. We had to find ways to entertain ourselves. There were several times I feared that Henry would fall off and takes us all down on the way.

At the top :D Left to right again, Allie (Canada), Henry, Alex, Sarah (USA, can't remember which state...) and me.

Umm I shall upload pictures from Stockholm and the Rotary Holmenkollen weekend later. Though prolly not before Eurtour starts, then most likely none of you will hear from me for about 2 weeks. so...bye then!

No worries, I'm still alive

…hehe. Hi everyone. I realize it’s been a while since you’ve all last heard from me, I apologize. But I can assure you I’m fine, everything is going well etc etc. Quick update on some of the things I’ve been up to…

1. I saw Gerard Butler, he was in Oslo for the premier of his new movie, Law Abiding Citizen, and I just happened to pass by while he was going into the theater. I didn’t shake his hand or get an autograph or anything, I had to get somewhere, but still. I saw him. It was pretty cool.

2. Better than Gerard Butler. I saw President Obama. As I’m sure you all know, he was in Oslo for a couple days to receive his Nobel Peace Prize. I stood outside the Grand Hotel (behind a fence and several concrete barriers of course) until I saw him :D I was happy. Seriously though, there were snipers EVERYWHERE and it felt like the entire city had been blocked off. And they had to borrow police from Sweden. It was intense.

3. Ummmm oh yeah! I wrote a text in Norwegian. I’m so ridiculously proud of that. It was a whole 558 words long…I think.

4. And Christmas.

Christmas in Norway is very different…and yet it’s the same. Go to church on Christmas Eve, decorate a tree, presents, Christmas music everywhere, decorations, lights, family, food etc. So the church thing was pretty similar to what I’m used…except it wasn’t at midnight (wait…do I go to church on Christmas Eve anymore?) and there were no candles. And the tree was the same. Christmas ornaments and lights with a star at the top. Except the lights they used were waaaaaaaay more awesome than ours. Theirs are in the shape of candles. And they clip onto the tree branches. :O Oh. And the tree did not get put up until about December 23 I think. That was really strange for me. I’m used to seeing a decorated and lit Christmas tree for about the 3 weeks prior to Christmas with the pile of presents under it growing by the day…and of course Rocko hiding underneath. Presents didn’t appear under the tree here until right before they were to be opened.

The best part about Christmas here though, is that-at least at the family I’m at-we all held hands on Christmas Eve and walked around the tree singing Christmas carols. It was ridiculously happy. Of course the songs were Norwegian Christmas Carols and so…yeah I basically just smiled. They did sing Silent Night in Norwegian, so I sang that one in English. I really don't know what else to say. Here’s some pictures… Maybe they can explain the Norwegian Christmas better. Ohhhhh something that I don’t have a picture of is Julemarizipan. A.K.A. Christmas marzipan. It’s yummy and in the shape of a pig haha. Somehow that makes it super fun to eat.

Umm sorry. Pit stop. I think it might be necessary to tell you all that as of November…11^th? I think. I have been living with a new family. And this new family is INSANELY musically talented. I can’t even clap on beat in church hahaha. So it’s definitely different, but SO much fun!!! The parents, Line and Truls, 2 dogs Seamus and Shannon, and 3 sons (although only the youngest 2 live at home) Thorvald, 13, Magnus, 17, and Eivind, 19. Ah and I should probably mention GK. She’s Eivind’s girlfriend and is super awesome! …I don’t have a picture of her quite yet but I’ll get one up soon J

So... These are my host brothers, from left to right Eivind (19), Thorvald (13), and Magnus (17)... yeah I don't know what Magnus is doing with his little finger either...

SHANNON!!! I'm sure everyone reading this knows I'm undoubtedly a cat person. But... she's just so CUTE!!!!!! <3 ...even if she looks slightly demonic in this picture.

My host dad, Truls :)

Eivind...again (he's a little crazy) Kidding. He plays the trumpet and is studying music...I think...I'll double check that.

Magnus. He's not actually a ninja. He just thinks he is. But he really isn't. Not even close. Me, on the other hand, I'm a ninja. He plays lots of guitars. Mostly bass. And the piano...

Seamus, the other dog, he's older than Shannon and very protective of the family.

And Thorvald. He plays the sax and we play wii together... he's definitely WAY better at me in boxing... of course all I do is flail around so..............yeah.

So that's the family.

Ok. This one is for Tjos. THEY'RE MINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha. Ah. And for Caitlin too. (These horses are my neighbors^^)

This was the...alter thingy at the church we went to Christmas Eve, it was really pretty!!!

Here's the dinner table. I folded the napkins. The book in the front of the picture is their copy of the bible. My host dad read from it before we ate :)

Food. The thing in the middle is one of the typical types of Norwegian Christmas Dinners. It's rib...of something. I can't remember what. But it is a lot harder to eat than it looks. At least it was for me. And whenever I asked how my host brothers all responded with "Just put it in your mouth and chew!" Haha. Thanks guys. I couldn't figure that one out myself :)

Aw they actually had someone dress up as Santa for the little cousins. AWWWWWWWWWWW!!

This is my host dad and my host mom's sister (who was the one dressed up as Santa) right before we started opening presents :) OPening presents was a little different. Someone would start by getting a present (not to themself) the person who received it would open hug the sender and then go get another present. None of that "Hey! This one's for you!" and throwing the gift across the room.

Eivind and Magnus... during present opening. You can see how serious of a matter it is. (just kidding, I don't know why they're being so serious).

Thorvald. Aw!

This was the breakfast meat plate. I thought it was cute that there was a meat plate so I took a picture :)

Salmon ^^ ...and eggs... together? Eh?! Why...

The obligatory (except not) old-fashioned super amazingly awesome phone. This was taken at the house of my host mom's mother's house.

How the World Will End...I know it

If Vikings conquer the sky...no place on earth will be safe from their madness. I bet this is what's going to happen in 2012.

About as random as can get...

Ah blogs, blogs, blogs, blogs, blogs. Whenever I sit down to write, I can never quite seem to remember what I’ve done since the last blog. Thus I always end up writing about all the really random and obscure things I’ve done that honestly don’t even relate to Norway. But regardless…

The other day I was watching What I Like About You and this particular episode was about Val who is about to get married only the wedding, it turns out, is not star themed like she thought but Star Wars themed… The only thought I had during that entire show was ‘That would be kind of awesome’. Seriously. As long as Jabba the Hutt is nowhere in sight you’re golden and who wouldn’t want to be married by Darth Vader? The sad thing about this little spiel is I’m actually about 62% serious about this and only 38% sarcastic…But just so we’re all clear, I am not actually saying I want to have a Star Wars wedding. Because I don’t. If I went in the direction of really nerdy themes I could probably find something else… So. Now that all of you think I’m insane we can move back to Norway.

Erm actually one more sidetrack. The premier of New Moon is coming up and sparknotes has offered some very good advice on what to do which I thought I would share with you.

"1. Buy tickets to the midnight showing, which is sure to be packed with die-hard fans, and dress up as Harry Potter.

Wave your wand at horrified onlookers while angrily rubbing your lightning scar. After you purchase your tub of popcorn, loudly explain to the crowd that Lord Voldemort has returned, and you will need their help to defeat him. To prove your wizarding powers and the earnestness of your cause, claim that you will make your tub of popcorn levitate across the room. Then hurl it across the room with all your might. If possible, his someone wearing a "BITE ME EDWARD" t-shirt right in the face. BOw grandly, then proceed to enter the theater. At the most suspensful, climactic moment in the movie, shout "SNAPE KILLED DUMBLEDORE. WE CANNOT LET THIS INJUSTICE GO UNPUNISHED." As you are dragged out by security, scream that everyone in the audience is a death eater and a traitor, and is responisble for the end of all that is good in the world.

3. Show up to the premier covered in garlic butter.

Wear a giant silver crucifix around your neck. And carry a cross bow stocked with silver-tipped arrows. If anyone asks your name, glower and respond, "Your Worst Nightmare.""

-Sparknotes

Brilliant? I should say so.

And now back to Norway.

The exchange students had another get together. This time in Gjøvik. It was pretty awesome…basically we just…I don’t really know. There was a fancy dinner with all these Rotary people (it was their big fall meeting I think). That was quite long… But they also took us ice skating which was entertaining to say the least. (The blades were very dull). Aside from that, they also took us to Hunderfossen Family Park where we got a private tour, it was very much awesome. Hunderfossen, for those of you who don’t know (I certainly had no idea what it was until I got there) is Norwegian Fairytale land. There is a statue of a giant Troll who, as our tour guide told us, was apparently turned to stone by the sun (at which point I shouted out “Like in The Hobbit!!!!!” …no one else seemed to get it). It’s such a cute place though I loved it! Perhaps I will make my family visit it with me when they come… Another thing they showed us in the park was a panoramic movie about Norway. Or actually the landscape of Norway. I wish I could see everything they showed us in real life, it’s all SOOOO beautiful!!!! So that was Gjøvik. Kind of. I left out the boring stuff…or most of it at least. Oh and afterwards I had one of the other exchange students from Wyoming come and stay a couple days with me, which was fun.

And let’s see… oh yes. Halloween (which, might I add, also happens to be dearest mother’s birthday-I love you mom!!!). Umm I’ll just put a picture up in my next blog, I’m not very adept at explaining costumes and I havent’s loaded the pictures onto the computer yet so… But besides dressing up we carved pumpkins at Maria’s house. And then watched the Blair Witch Project. Mom, Dad, I’m really sorry but I don’t think I will ever be able to go backpacking in the forest ever again. So scary… L

So…that’s really all I can think of for now. I will hopefully have more pictures up soon.

Actually, since I have no new pictures loaded on my computer, here are some I took from language camp :D

I ate one of these. I can show you a picture of my reaction in the next blog. It was great...



Here's my work...



Look closely, can you spot anything wrong with this picture??


This was one of the last days. You can see how out of it we were. Living off coffee and...well that was about it.

The fridge in our rooms didn't really work, this is how we kept the drinks cold.

...no comment

Jean-Baptiste, Henry, Kate :D

So this is what we did with our spare time...

And this is the result of no sleep whatsoever.

One last thing. Apparantly that time I said it was snowing, it was "sleet" (lies, it WAS snow) but regardless, it has since been snowing...just not sticking.

And Ariana...can I just ask, why do I need an umbrella from Norway??

HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...for like 2 seconds during school today. But still :D

Pictures anyone?

Ok. So here's two months in a nutshell-excluding language camp, I'll put some of those up later. And you should know that just in case you want to see a picture larger, I think you can just click on it... I tried that with my math test picture and it got HUGE. Seriously Harry Potter was suddenly life size. Ok so it didn't get that big but still...

Smoking "room" ...I still don't really know what to say about it.

The Palace. And Astrid :)

K same thing but with me in the picture...

SKIING :D

Fortress thingy... I have yet to actually explore that....

You can see what I'm eating in the next Picture

Ok so I wasn't eating that exactly, but I was eating the... well, edible part of that...

Hehehehe I got to drive a 100 year old boat :D

So this house is on a little island. By itself. Not gonna lie that would kind of suck... You would have to row yourself to shore everyday... what if you have a fever and are too weak but you need to get medicine???

This is just a random picture of Norway from the boat trip I went on (that's when I ate the shrimp)

I have no idea what building this is... I just thought it looked cool.

The building with the ramp looking thing in front is the Opera. That place is seriously awesome.

Hahahahahaaaaaaaa :D

Stavern Pictures:

...a street. I don't know what else to say...

VIKINGS!!!! QUICK, QUICK EVERYONE RUN!!!!!! (In case you're wondering, we did escape...but just barely).

Stavern = Beautiful

Random.....

best portrayal of the Reign of Terror EVER. My history teacher is a genious.

This is what we eat. Bread with brown cheese, cream cheese, blood, bananas...you know, the basics :) ...I'm joking by the way.

This is my school. Note the windows. It has windows!!! And we even get to open them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Halleluja!

This is from the Opera. It's pretty awesome. I like the guy with his hand raised although I don't know if he's saying "f*** you, sun" or "I salute you, sun" ...and now that I look at it more it looks like he's doing that hitler thing... awkward silence... moving on.

Obama's face is on bags at the Nobel Peace building... I kind of found that hilarious. Our President is a celebrity (and I will be going to see him when he comes to Oslo)

So there's the outside of the building....

Taco Pizza = Best Pizza EVER!

So this is what I see from my bus stop.... I know you all wanted to know.

I forgot to mention. That time I got lost in Oslo, I managed to find the American Embassy. The place is seriously scary. It's very black. And it has bars all around it. I wanted to go ask them for directions but I was too scared!!!! :(

p.s. I will put pictures of my friends up later...after I've taken some pictures of my friends (and yes, I do have friends, I'm not making people up when I talk to you guys)

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