I started my Norwegian language classes this week. They're alright, the teacher isn't the best, but I'll manage. Classes otherwise were fine, nothing too spectacular. In a few weeks, though, in my international security class we are going to focus an entire day on economic security. I cannot wait! We're also talking about economic development and resource management in my Sami Nation class, which should be SUPER interesting. That's not for a while though, so for now classes are just alright. I read Hound of the Baskervilles (online) for my British and American Crime Fiction class and next week I need to read an Agatha Christie novel. That class is alright, but it's all about literary technique and symbolism and all that stuff. It makes the books a lot less fun.

I returned cans yesterday and got 35 kroner ($5!). Its 1 kr per can, so it pays to pick up cans. I almost went recycling-bin diving, but the bin is too deep so I'm going to wait till the end of the weekend.

Tonight there I'm going to a pizza party and then all the international students invited all their norwegian friends to a huge party in the laundry house here in Orndalen. Its going to be ridiculous, crowded, and fun. Before that though I'm going to go to the grocery store and get stuff to make bread with.

Sorry Eric, I didn't realized anyone actually read this.

So Friday night I had to work at Driv again, but only from 9:30pm until 4:30am this time (ugh). It was actually pretty fun. There was a ska concert and I had to stand in the front and watch the crowd to make sure no one got hurt. It was actually pretty hilarious to watch Norwegians dancing to ska.

Saturday I slept in a little then went to Stakkevollan swim hall. I didn't really like it and I had to swim with a bunch of slow old people, so I don't think I'll go back. That's alright though because it was 40 Kr! That's almost $6! Saturday night me Anna and Cam went to Driv (AGAIN, I hope next week we can branch out a little and go somewhere else) to see FM Belfast and Royksopp. The concert was AMAZING. We all managed to catch the last bus home too, which is nice.

Sunday I slept in and then went running. Almost 5 miles but the last part was really rough. Then I went to a party for all the international students downtown. They had free pizza, but it was really strange Norwegian pizza. It only made my cravings for Jeff's even worse. It was nice to see all the people from orietnation again though. Unfortunately my state-mandated buddy Brage was unable to make it because It was his Grandma's 80th birthday.

Monday I woke up early because I couldn't sleep. I was going to go for a run, but its REALLY cold out so I didn't and just sat around and tried to read my homework. For my International Security class I have to read like 400 pages this week. I don't know if its all going to get done... Around noon though I went downtown to see if my bank account was ready, but they told me to come back next week (UGH NORWAY!). I did, however, get a soap dish for my shower downtown and some lunch from the grocery store. Then I went to the school and sat around until 4 when my Norwegian language class started. It was alright, though I definately don't feel like we learnd three hours worth of Norwegian. Jeg hetter Jon. Jeg komme fra USA fra Iowa, med nå bor jeg i Tromsø, i ørndalen. Jeg er Studerer.

That's about it.

Monday: I had the first meeting of my British Studies class. Its introduction to British Studies and I was hoping to use it as my upper level English requirement back home, but after attending class I can tell that its not really going to be all that upper level. So I applied to switch to British and American Crime Fiction, which would be. I don't think there will be any problems switching it. After class me and some of my friends went downtown to a second-hand shop that I found while walking around Sunday night. I got a rug and a really cool mug with a painting of Tromso in the 1800s on it. The whole store was really cool and I think Grandma Oppedal might have emptied her bank account on all the cool old Norwegian stuff ; ).

Tuesday: I had International Security, which so far seems like its going to be the most fun class here. Then in the afternoon I had Sami Nation, which is undoubtedly going to be the most boring. Tuesday night some of my friends had an Obama party, which I begrudgingly atteneded.

Wednesday: I left at about 10am and went for a cross country ski. Wednesday was officially the first day the sun was supposed to make it over the mountains, but I didn't really see it. The ski was absolutely beautiful though. On the way back I stopped at the school and saved myself 800 kroner (over $100!) on books for my International Security class by renting them from the library. I was pretty proud of myself. Then I walked home and slept all afternoon and evening.

Thursday: I woke up at about 3am. My sleeping cycle is really messed up and I keep promising myself to fix it, but when I'm napping and that alarm goes off, its really hard to get up. I just now got back from a 4 mile run and it is absolutely beautiful outside. I'm going to walk to class today, I think, to take advantage of it.

Well downhill skiing was a blast! It didn't actually cost THAT much, considering this is Norway, and the view was beautiful. After skiing I grabbed a couple hours of much needed sleep and then went to Driv, the student-owned cafe/club/bar where I am volunteering as a first aid person for concerts and parties. It was hella-driv, the biggest party of the semester where all four floors are open and it was CRAZY. I went there at about 8 and got home at 6am. It was REALLY fun though. I only had one injury- a guy who burnt his hand, but when I was working upstairs a guy downstairs fell and had to go to the hospital (I was kinda bummed I missed it). The rest of the night I just walked around and helped the bar tenders out and picked up empty glasses.

Another Post Today!

Hey, two posts in one day, you sure are lucky. Me and Anna went to the school this afternoon because she wanted to rent skis from the gym, but they were unfortunately out. We were all bummed because we were going to go cross country skiing on the track that runs through the entire island, but luckily she was able to borrow her roommate's skis. We had a blast, I've only been xc skiing a few times before, but I am a pro already, but afterwords I felt like my legs were going to fall off, so I took a nap and at about 8 all of the international students who live in our area came over and we had a huge pot luck in our kitchen. I made mac & cheese with hot dogs (yum), but people brought tacos, spaghetti (from real Italians!), cheesey-rice (my new favorite recipe), fried potatoes with scrabled eggs, french toast, and lots more excellent food. For the first time since I've been in Norway I am stuffed! Tomorrow we are going to go downhill skiing on the mainland and I hope my legs can take it. Alright, love you all!

Beautiful Morning

My sleeping cycles are still all messed up so one day I'll sleep 14 hours then the next day only 5. Last night was one of the 5 nights. But the unforeseen upside was that I got to see what counts as dawn here, where the sun comes up in the south. You don't see the sun, but you do see the amazing colors. I went for another run today, 4 miles. I rolled my ankle a little, though, so I think I'm going to have to call it quits at least till Sunday (oh darn).

Slow Day

Hello!

Today I woke up really late (2:00 PM) and just kinda sat around until the evening when I went to the city center. I had to pick up some groceries and then I went to an orientation meeting at Driv, which is the school's student center downtown. I am going to volunteer there a few nights a month as a first aid person! I am really excited and it sounds like I'm going to have fun. My first shift is this Saturday when they have a huge party on all four floors. I'm kinda bummed that I can't enjoy the party and will have to work, but I think it will also be a great way to meet new people and it will be a lot of fun.

That's all I did today, nothing special. All my bread is moldy because there are no preservatives so tomorrow I will have to go to the grocery store AGAIN. Luckily its much warmer here than it is in Iowa, so I think I will walk.

First Post!

Current Weather: 19 degrees and snowing.

Hey everyone! I thought I'd start a blog so that you can all keep up on whats going on here in Norway. Go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006543&l=e68a3&id=1172700378 to see the pictures, it should work even if you don't have a facebook.

I only have classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, so today was the beginning of my first five day weekend. As I understand it the Norwegian higher education system is a lot more laid back than ours. The semesters are much longer but classes meet a lot less often and some of the classes have "reading periods" of about a month where they don't meet. For my British Studies class we have a field trip in the Spring... TO BRITAIN! The school even pays for some of it.

My friend Anna (international student from Canada) and I went to Driv (the student-run cafe/bar/nightclub/restaurant in the city center) last night to see a concert. It was really fun and our Norwegian friends introduced us to EVEN MORE new Norwegian friends with difficult names to pronounce. We caught the last bus home by a matter of only like five minutes, so we were pretty proud of ourselves.

Today I slept in and then cleaned the apartment a little. At noon when it was fairly bright I went for a run. 5 miles! It was ROUGH especially at the end. Living on the top of a mountain is nice for views, but hard for running. I ran down to the shore and then around the tip of the island. It was 19 degrees F and blowing snow, but how many people can say they've ran outside in January 217 miles north of the arctic circle? Don't worry though, I wore my yellow reflective bib.