Lately

I have been going more regularly to soccer practice three days a week and really getting my sweat on. I am loving loving loving being part of a team again. The girls are really starting to feel like teammates\ friends and I have really missed that camaraderie lot. We have also had a couple practice games (season starts in April). I have started all of them at right back. I am used to playing center back, but I think I have found a new love on the wing. I have more of an opportunity to be involved in the offensive attack and I get to slide tackle unsuspecting forwards a lot more, and a lot more cleanly. I am loving it, and I feel like I am getting better with each game! Not to mention soccer is seriously the best way I know to stay in shape!

School is also keeping me busy four days a week. I am enjoying it a lot more than I was before and I feel like I am progressing well in the language. I have met a lot of really interesting people from all over the world and I have had more of an effort to get to know them. I invited Ahmed (from Iraq) and Jean Claude (from Burundi) to come to Poesi and have a coffee with me one Wednesday after class, and we had such a good time chatting that we decided to make it a regular Wednesday date. Above and beyond the good it does for our Norwegian skills, I think it is also great for all of us to feel like we have friends beyond those people who we live with. I really enjoy the both of them, and man we are quite the trio--we agree on next to nothing except that we enjoy each other's company.

I thought it would be a good idea to do the same thing with Spanish...so I have been recruiting people bit by bit that speak Spanish and we are meeting on Fridays after class. It has just been me and Tesfaye before (from Cuba) but now we are inviting anyone that can manage the language...I think tomorrow we should be chatting with a woman from Peru and a Lebanese woman that lived in Mexico for quite a few years. It will be interesting to see how all our different levels and styles of Spanish will mesh together.

This weekend Lars and I are headed up to Tynset to visit his parents. His sister and Milan are up from Germany for a visit so we are looking forward to seeing the Brazilian\German on skiis and to cashing in our spa gift certificate that we got for Christmas from Lars' uncles. Milan has also hinted to me that a snow fight might be in my future. I am also pretty excited to see how handsome Lars is going to look after he gets a haircut from his cousin Gjertrud. He always looks so good when he has a fresh cut!!

Oh yeah, I still haven't heard anything back from the NRC about the jobs I applied for. I am not sure if this is good or not, but I know that they said they would contact you if they wanted you to come for an interview or NOT. So I suppose I just need to be patient and wait some more. You would think I would be good at this waiting game by now...

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Clock Strikes Three

Here is a quick panoramic shot of Hamar that you might enjoy...I decided to take it spontaneously (so it is not from the best lookout point possible) when the bell tower started ringing three o'clock as I was out for a walk along lake Mjøsa Friday afternoon.

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Looking Past Differences

Honestly...just watch, learn and follow the example. Friendship and love comes in all shapes and sizes.

I wish we were as smart as animals.

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Norske Reklamer

I have to admit that since I have come to Norway I have been watching a lot more TV. I suppose this isn't really all that significant since while I was a college student I almost never watched anything, but let's just say that Lars and I are watching something on the tube every night.

I would say as well that Norwegians (for lack of a better phrase) have got it going on. Once I began to understand Norwegian, watching a Norwegian broadcast became a much more entertaining experience than the typical American broadcast. I will admit that it does get a little confusing for me sometimes when Lars asks me to put it on TV2 which is NOT channel 2, or TV3, which is NOT channel 3, but I make it through. And it was a bit strange at first that Norwegian shows don't have to end on the hour either,...it isn't that abnormal for a show to begin at 8:40 or end at 5:25.

But the most significant difference between American and Norwegian television in my opinion are the commercials. Here, there are not nearly as many commercials! And when you do have to sit through a commercial, instead of watching a bald guy so wittingly named Mr. Clean miraculously mop the floor or a gecko trying to sell you insurance, you are many times treated to a hilarious little number that makes you laugh just as much as the sitcom you were watching. For example:

These NetCom commericals absolutely kill me. They are hilarious...there is a new one where a girl who is babysitting accidentally calls a guy. Needless to say, the conversation she is having with the little boy she is babysitting about playing with his soldier is enough to make my sides hurt.

But don't worry, I am not going completely Norwegian. While they win the competition in the commercial arena, we still broadcast with more insight and quality than any other country on the planet. I am still able to access the quality shows that keep me true to my American roots--Pimp My Ride, American Gladiators, Playboy Girls and Date My Mom. Couldn't live without those gems of American pop culture.

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Language Woes

You would assume that any language woes of mine would be directly involved with the Norwegian language and my struggles therein, since I have recently moved to Norway and been thrown headfirst into the språk. Norwegian, however, is going quite well. I am not thriving by any means, but rather doing quite well with surviving. I am not fluent by any means, but I am holding my own with communicating. And surprisingly, it is actually Spanish that is the cause of my language woes! Come on, I have been studying Spanish since I was 15, I lived in Spain and spent the last year of my college education analyzing old, famous, dead Spanish poets. Who would have ever guessed that at this stage in my life, speaking Spanish would be more challenging than speaking Norwegian?

It is 100% crazy. I do not mean to say that I now have more knowledge of the Norwegian language than I do of Spanish. It is certain that I am more fluent in Spanish: I have a larger vocabulary and much more experience speaking the language...but for whatever reason, it is much more natural for me to speak Norwegian now.

There is a man named Tesfaye that I speak Spanish with once in awhile. He was born in Ethiopia, but lived in Cuba for 14 years so he is much more cubano than africano. We met on Friday for some coffee and in my mind it was an opportunity for me to intentionally practice Spanish. It was close to a disaster. I felt like I had regressed years in my Spanish development. Actually I can't remember a time when speaking Spanish was that difficult and took that much thinking! It used to be natural! It was impossible for me to say 'no', 'but', 'and', 'now', 'yes', 'I agree', 'thanks' and other small phrases in Spanish, I naturally responded in Norwegian and what resulted was a nasty mess and butchering of the two languages! (Not to mention a confused Tesfaye!)

Explanations? I have many, and I don't know if any of them are on target or not. It could be that it is just normal IN NORWAY for me to be speaking norsk...or maybe it was that I had met Tesfaye at Poesi and I am used to speaking Norwegian there (on the job). It could even just be due to the fact that I have submerged my brain so deeply in Norwegian in my desperate attempt to learn as fast as possible, that it is going to take me awhile to kick the cobwebs off my Spanish skill set. Whatever the reason, it is really frustrating when something that used to be second nature becomes rusted shut in the corners of your brain.

I must learn to be able to keep the two separate. But how to do that?? The plan now is to read Norwegian and Spanish out loud back to back to try and help my poor, confused mind differentiate. I want to continue meeting with Tesfaye once a week and work out some more kinks with my spoken Spanish. I need to engage the language more, read books, write more emails etc etc. I think it is true what they jokingly say--if you don't use it, you lose it!

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Valentine's Day

Even though Valentine's Day is no where near as big of a deal in Norway as it is in the States, Lars and I took some time on the 14th to celebrate anyway. Sleeping in was the first wonderful step of the day and we continued with a lazy morning watching skiing on TV and reading the news. Then we ventured out into the streets of Hamar; the weather was incredible. Neither of us had to wear our winter jackets, and the sun was shining!



We walked around town, stopping into whichever shops struck our fancy. On our way back home we stopped by Poesi and got some delicious (and reduced price!) coffee, waffles and cakes. We relaxed there for quite awhile. Lars humored me as I read every single set of trivia questions we could find in the Norwegian magazines and newspapers that were lying around. As we said goodbye to my coworkers, we realized it was almost three o'clock and that we really had to get a move on if we wanted to make it to the Vinmonopolet (aka liquor store) before it closed! Lars wanted to get some red wine for the dinner he had planned to make me (grocery stores can't sell wine in Norway).

Luckily we just made it, and we had the wine for the delicious dinner that Lars thought up! He made an awesome elk steak which would have made my Dad so jealous, accompanied by some steamed broccoli, grilled onions and mushrooms and some delicious sauce to top it all off. I made some scalloped potatoes which were also pretty tasty if I do say so myself! It was really fun to see the way Lars displayed his meal--I have never seen him so conscious of the way dinner looked! He really made it special for me!

I thought the dinner, and the thought behind it, was a wonderful Valentine's Day present. Sure beats what I lightheartedly gave him: a Donald Duck comic book, some sweethearts and a cactus. I told Lars he had to name him since I named our other plant (ridiculous, I know) but I don't think he was that into it. He jokingly said he chose My Valentine as a name for the prickly little fella. I really meant that he had to choose, so I guess that's his official name. We'll call him Val for short.

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Drømmejobb

Even though I have been having nothing but work permit frustrations, I do have a good piece of news to report in what I hope to be in regards to my career. Recently I found and applied for two jobs with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), or Flyktninghjelpen/Flyktningerådet that are right up my alley. I have yet to hear back, and the deadline for one of the positions hasn't passed yet, but regardless--I am excited.

The NRC is an independent humanitarian organization whose task is to assist and protect people who have been forced to flee their countries, or their homes within their country, due to war or conflict. The NRC is the only organization in Norway that specializes in international efforts relating to this target group and I would absolutely LOVE to be a part of what they are doing! Their Norwegian office is in Oslo, so that would mean a commute...but I think it would be more than worth it (if it works out!!)

Position one: Program koordinator Midt-Østen, Latin Amerika og Kaukasus Seksjon (Program coordinator for the Mid-East, Latin America and Caucasus). Basically I am highly underqualified for this position, but I went ahead and applied anyway because they are looking for someone that can work (speak and write) both Spanish and English. They also wanted someone with knowledge of the Latin American region, which I think I can also swing (or at least I would hope so after majoring in Spanish!). However, they are also looking for someone with a lot more experience than I have, in humanitarian work, administration, international work and other areas. I know that I am not their ideal candidate, but I also think that I am capable and that I can learn if someone can take me under their wing! While it would be awesome, I don't have high hopes for this one.

Position two: administrasjonsassistent (Administration Assistant). This job description was a little bit more vague. It said more or less that this person would serve as a general back up for all the work that is going on during a daily basis and that he or she would need to be able to work in English (in the bag!). I think it includes a lot of office/secretary work. I KNOW I could do this.

Basically, working for an organization like this is like a dream come true! I would be working with an organization that is dedicated to helping others in need and that has a global focus! It sounds like the job offers an opportunity to travel, see the world, experience new things...and that they everyday experience in the office would be different every day as well.

The deadline for the assistant job was the 10th of this month, and the deadline for the program coordinator spot is the 18th. Guess now I just play the waiting game that I am getting oh so used to (and sick of) and see if they contact me for an interview. . . And no...I have no idea how this will play into the current work permit crisis, so don't ask. I am just flying by the seat of my pants here.

Note* Both the positions were posted in Norwegian. If they are looking for someone that only needs to manage English or Spanish why are they posting in Norwegian? Strange...

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Cut even shorter

You have all been pestering me to see it---so here it is. To be completely honest, I am really not in love with it. It's really blunt, too short and impossible to wear curly or let dry on its own. I can't put it back in a pony tail without numerous bobby pins which isn't the most convenient for my sporty, on-the-go lifestyle. With that said, it is just hair, and it will grow. It is also healthy, so that is a plus. And, the cut was free and I am not $80-$200 poorer like I would have been if I would have made a visit to a Norwegian hairdresser.

I just miss having hair that is a bit more versatile...I miss braids, my curls, headbands and.. well feeling a bit prettier. Then again, it dries a lot faster and fits nicely under the beanies that have become a daily part of my wardrobe (it was -4° F today!!)

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Body Attack

It has been too cold outside to practice so we have had to take things inside. Yep, apparently if it is colder than -15 ° then you shouldn't be running around sucking freezing air into your lungs. Last week, two of our trainings were canceled because of the weather, so our coach decided to make up for it by so generously providing a training opportunity on Sunday. We went to Ixat, a gym in Brumunddal and got our behinds throttled aerobics-style by Body Attack with Brit. Seriously, try jumping around, doing push ups, sit ups, running, jumping some more, running some more and repeating the process for 55 minutes and see how you feel the next day. It was painful, but man it felt good when we were done.

Our assistant coach, Eva, was kind enough to document the experience with her fancy camera and her zoom lens. And then she decided to post the pictures on the home page. Not flattering to say the least.

Gry (on my left) and I drove to practice today, only to find out that it was again too cold to safely practice outside. So guess what we got to do again? Body attack. It was SO hard to do it again the day after the first encounter...but we made it. Good news---if it's too cold tomorrow--spinning class.

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SMAK

Last Thursday, I ventured down to Lillestrøm with my German friend Linda to, well to put it bluntly, eat our hearts out. Her boss had received free invites to this huge food, wine and restaurant event in the Oslo suburb. Linda and I spent the hour and change discussing work, creative inspirations, our excitement for the upcoming feast, random people we saw on the train etc. etc. She is so pleasant to be around, and we both can use the time to practice Norwegian!

When we arrived we made our way to the hotel that was hosting the event without wasting too much time googling at the snow covered town. The event was huge. Linda and I were first attracted to a huge room of appliances...and these were not just your ordinary blenders, toasters and coffeemakers... the first thing we walked in on was a ginormous sausage making machine! (Norwegians love their hot dogs). And right next to that was a device that was popping out different sizes of plastic bags. The idea would have been to have foods inside them, but they were just demo-ing. This section was super cool, but we definitely didn't need any of the industrial machines in our small cafe. We were there to investigate some food (and we were hungry!), so on we went!

We made our way around the room dedicated to food, sampling and sampling and sampling. We spoke English, Norwegian, German and I even attempted to communicate using Spanish with an Italian chef. It was mind-blowing, stomach-filling and absolutely exhausting. We ate everything from gelatto to chicken wings to sushi to Mexican tortillas to Spanish tapas to fine cheeses to cheesecake to Belgian chocolates. It was insane, and Linda and I were painfully full. By the time we got around to the incredible fish section, Linda and I were incapable of eating one more bite of food...and maybe that was for our stomachs considering the nature of the fish displays. :)

I have to say, it was a nice way to spend the day...eating a bunch of great food for free. I'd do it again, it's safe to say.

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A Shutter in Time

I just started a new site devoted entirely to my own photography. New pictures, old pictures, and my thoughts on the hobby that drives me wild. Check it out here.

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Skitur

Sunday afternoon Lars and I drove up to Gåsbu again for a little outdoor winter wonderland aerobic activity. As it was just my third time trying to cross country ski, I still felt awkward, but I was also much more successful than the last two tries (not that that is saying a whole lot though). I was hoping that I had just somehow managed to magically improve my skiing skills, but I suspect that it probably had a bit more to do with the aid of some ski wax that Lars bought. It seemed to really help a lot, especially when I was going up hill as it provides a bit of traction under your boot.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, the sun was out and the weather was crisp. We were only out for about an hour, but we went at a much quicker pace than the last trip and managed to go quite a bit further. The pace and my attire sure did combine for a nice sweat down my back! I think the next time around we will try to double the distance to make it to a cabin that sells warm beverages and good snacks.

And just to give you an idea, it was about 5-6 °F at Gåsbru. Brrr. I had some problems at first with my fingers and hands (couldn't feel them)...that is really painful. But a few arm circles and some funny lookin' dance moves can always get the blood flowing again.

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