A big relief.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I did it. Last Wednesday I managed to pass a driving test after having my license for almost 8 years. Whoohoo.

When I put it that way, it doesn't seem like much of a feat. But holy moly I felt pretty darn accomplished when I walked out of the DMV (which isn't called that in Norway btw, it's called Statens Vegvesen) knowing that that chapter of making an international move was out of my way.

It's normal to be nervous before any kind of test. But personally I've never really struggled too much with nerves, at least not when it comes to tests. A lot of times after a big presentation or exam I would notice the physical effects of stress but wasn't necessarily aware of them beforehand. But for some reason, this driving test freaked me out a bit. Waiting at home the morning of was excruciating! I seriously do not remember the last time I have experienced anxiety like that; it was strange and totally uncharacteristic for me.

But as soon as I got out the door and got moving, the nerves took a load off. I walked the 40 minutes to the driving school and drove calmly for about an hour with a really helpful instructor. Before the lesson, I was really worried about roundabouts and all the tricky right-of-way rules downtown, not to mention the icy conditions that I have basically zero experience with and the fact that I hadn't really driven much more than around the block a couple times gearing between 1st and 2nd in the past year which makes me both unfamiliar with Norwegian roads and rusty in general! Hmm, maybe it's not so strange that I was nervous eh? But the instructor helped me so much. He really put me at ease and answered all my questions. I wouldn't have had a chance to pass the test afterwards without that driving lesson (which was mandatory btw--you can't rent a car for the test without one)!

When it came to the actual test, it wasn't all that different that my experience in the U.S. Right away though, the sensor pulled out this stack of laminated flash cards that I had to choose from. Apparently answering a random safety question is a part of the Norwegian test. Why did no one tell me this?! She asked me something complicated about the dangers of misusing tåkebaklys (rear fog lamps, wtf?!) and somehow I managed to squeak out an acceptable answer. Thought I was done for for a minute, I must admit.

But after that and following a bit too closely back a tractor and accelerating a little too slowly right out of Statens Vegvesen, it went smoothly. So yeah. That and 3,654kr are over and done with. The car I rented (you have to rent a car to take the test with here) was an automatic so my license that I got in the mail yesterday with a hideous picture (seriously BAD, total mugshot) is only good for driving automatic motor vehicles. Legally I will not have the right to drive a stick until I take the same test again with what is known as a "regular" car here. ;)

But hey, at least I didn't have to parallel park!

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9.32056 miles.

Lars and I tried out a new route today up at Gåsbu.

The weather was fantastic and Lars and I skied our little hearts out. Kinda wish Lars would've told me that my glasses were crooked before he took this picture though. ;)

We navigated up to the top of the mountains and stopped at a cabin to take a load off and snack on some KvikkLunsj.

Approximately 15km (that's apx. 9.32056 miles) and two tacos later, I was passed out on the couch while Lars watched soccer. I think I might be feeling it tomorrow.

Ut på tur, aldri sur!

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Panting for money!

Okay, okay, I have some explaining to do. Going to bed with a viking and now Panting for money!? Sorry, it's just my sense of humor. I like to keep you guessing.

And oddly enough, if you read panting like "to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner" (Webster's Dictionary) then you guessed wrong and most likely have a similar sense of humor as me. Or what is even more likely is that you are not familiar with the Norwegian language and didn't know that the panting I do for money is pronounced much more like "paunting" and has nothing to do with the English word. We're talking about recycling here people.

When you buy recyclable cans and bottles in Norway you actually pay a little extra. All these products are labeled with a pant value:

When you return your empty bottles and cans to the panting automat, you get your money back. Simple as that. Most people save their cans and bottles and pant them. Last year Norwegians recycled 326 million cans and 94 million bottles, which resulted in 5,700 tons aluminum for new cans and 3,650 tons of plastic for new bottles (pant.no).

Some people just throw them in the garbage and end up supporting the homeless who are often seen out and about collecting pant-able items from public spaces and trash cans.

I have to say, it's pretty fun to see bags full of garbage turn into money.

And all you have to do is take them with you on your way to the store (or any place you can buy the products).

And then it's so easy as to insert your empty cans into the hole you see below the "Pant Her" sign. Careful to enter them bottom first and not too quickly; the machine can be a bit sensitive.

Press the green button when you are done and just like that, you have recycled. There is also an option to put your pant money towards a Red Cross lottery. Sometimes you get even more money back, and sometimes you lose and Red Cross wins. ;)

Before Christmas, an A Capella group thanked some recyclers with a song and a little reward. Check it out:



Pant alt. Alltid.

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Going to bed with a viking

There's one thing I particularly like about going to bed with my Norwegian--not worrying about someone hogging the covers!

In the U.S., bedding typically consists of one big bedspread\comforter\duvet\whateveryouwanttocallit that covers the entire bed. Traditionally there are also two sheets--a fitted sheet that hugs the mattress and a top sheet over that. Depending on the temperature outside, sometimes my family also added a blanket or two over the top sheet and under the comforter. With me so far? Fascinating topic, I know.

The interesting part is that it's actually fairly different here. In Norway, the usual is the two dyner (Norwegian for bedspread) set-up seen below:

Not all beds are made exactly like ours above. Some people definitely make it look nicer by adding a crocheted blanket or thin bedspread over the down comforters. Top sheets don't really make an appearance however.

According to me, that's no big loss either. I have never been a big fan of a top sheet (or sharing blankets for that matter!) so basically I have wholeheartedly embraced this Norwegian habit. I have always liked using just one blanket when I sleep and I love having my own space; Norway and I were basically meant to be.

Sometimes I feel like I generalize too much, both in regards to American and Norwegian lifestyles. It's probably a bit unfair for me to speculate on 300 million Americans' sleeping habits and to assume that what I have seen done in Norwegian homes in Eastern Norway is the same all over the country. Remember this is just my personal experience.

Norway definitely gets a gold star in my book for this one. Heia Norge!

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Dream Heart

Yesterday I finished a beautiful book--Ghost Heart by Cecilia Samartin. I read it in Norwegian and it's titled Drømmehjertet which translates literally to "dream heart". I'm not sure why they translated it that way but I feel like Dream Heart works better. But then again, I loved Samartin's writing style so I shouldn't really dis her title.

It starts in Cuba right before the revolution. We get to know young Nora and Alicia, cousins and the best of friends, as they grow up on Cuban beaches, turquoise waters and coconut ice cream. The girls are forced to grow up fast as Castro comes to power and the Cuba they know slips away from them. Nora's family eventually moves to the U.S. and over the 414 pages and letters back and forth, Nora travels back to her homeland to visit Alicia. Only then do they really realize how much has changed--both to the island they both call home and to each of them as individuals.

I started it on Saturday and finished it yesterday. I gobbled it up! It really captured my heart and I just couldn't put it down. Any of you that are nearly as interested in Cuba as I am, have studied Spanish, got sucked into Kite Runner or just have been craving a book that'll move you--do yourself a favor and read this book! And do it slowly. I'm telling you, you're not going to want it to end.

I also recently finished Beaufort, a book about the horror, camaraderie, and absurdity of war, by Ron Lesham. I dug this book too, but it moved me in an entirely different way. I suppose in many ways it was equally as tender, but I can't recommend it as openly as Ghost Heart. That kind of dark humor is just not for everyone. Only a sick bastard like Ethan would gift someone a book like that.

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