Emily's struggle

It's been awhile since I have written anything at all, and even longer since I've written about the challenges facing immigrants in Norway. This is most likely because I finally figured out my own work/living situation, have been granted permission to work and have been working my ass off ever since!

But there are many other people that are struggling with creating lives here. Emily Stange is one of these people. She moved here with her American husband and their daughter, and brought 6 years education and 12 years of work experience with her.

But this was still not enough for the Norwegian authorities to recognize her as a midwife in this country. Paperwork, technicalities and what seems to be arbitrary bullshit (for lack of a better term) has been standing in her way for over two years now.

For those of you who can understand Norwegian, check out this news link where they interview Emily and visit her home (for an English translation, visit Emily's blog).

Does anyone have any solutions? 
Keep your hopes up Emily. Something has to work out soon!

Mer info på norsk, Bent Høies tanker.

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Money well spent

Lars and I recently dropped a fairly hefty chunk of change for a new bed. While a big investment, it is already worth every penny! Or øre I should say! ;)

It looks a little something like this:

And feels like heaven. It's a pretty rad bed; there's four mattresses that you can layer in different combinations to achieve the support you need. And no, you do not have a clue that you are not laying on one continuous mattress.

I am not sure we really understood how crappy our old mattress was until we were dozing on this beauty that actually supports our bodies. I was waking up with soreness in my upper back and thought it was from work or working out, but now I am pretty sure that it was actually from a worn out mattress.

This was huge for me. I am not sure that I can remember that last time it felt so good to spend so much money!

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hair

Because I am overwhelmed with lack of time and an abundance of things to say, I will share something completely insignificant!

While getting my hair cut in the U.S. on my recent, incredible, almost-too-good 3 week vacation, I learned that it is totally normal that I lose so much hair in the never-ending war with the shower drain every day. It was kind of nice to hear--I have been wondering for awhile how it's possible that I have any hair left on my head. Apparently my hairdresser (who really seemed to know her stuff) learned in beauty school that humans shed like dogs, so I am not to worry!

I also learned that my hair has a blue hint to it. I would have never guessed! But apparently choosing the right dyes is quite the science as you have to combat/complement someone's true underlying hues. I wasn't even tempted to dye my hair, but I was interested, and she was sharing.

And she left me with a a good tip (I may have left her with an even better one ;))---before conditioning your hair, wring it out getting rid of as much excess water as possible. If your hair is too wet the conditioner will get watered down and not be able to do its job! Obvious and DUH, but brilliant!

I had this crazy urge to chop my hair off as well (inspired by my cousin and Elisa's super cute short do's and my current state of annoyance with my long locks) but resisted since it's great to be able to braid this business back at work/soccer.

And there's the end of the ridiculous hair post! Oh wait! Let's throw in a picture of me and said cousin on our recent rendezvous in Vancouver!

See? I am alive!

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Good thing I have 10!

As you all have read and\or inferred, I have honestly not done anything but work since we opened. Nothing.

But lot's happened since I've been there-time goes incredibly fast. It is insane how many guests we have served since Friday at 4pm.

I am exhausted but so invested in what I'm doing that I almost don't even feel it. Until I sit down of course (hehe). I also feel my patience is running thin; I have to try extra extra hard to be Nice Nancy\your friendly local waitress when normally that comes natural for me.

Even typing has become a challenge for me now! Not necessarily because I am so tired but because I managed to slice off nearly the entire tip of my left index finger yesterday. Good times! It bled like crazy and I actually got nauseous! I have never experienced that before--have no problems looking at blood at all--and have lost a ton more blood without getting dizzy at all (combined ca 20 stitches in my head due to basketball collisions!). So this was a new and unwelcome feeling.

So yeah. Just know that almost every time I've tried to type a 't' it's been a 'g' and every time I've gone for a 'g' it's been a 'b'. Gauze is in the way!
Ghag's all folks!

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Rough start.

Our season officially started on Sunday. We hopped on a huge bus, commuted about an hour and half down to Røa (Oslo area) and got our asses handed to us.

I was just poking around on their website to see how to better explain what kind of a team they are and I came across an interesting tidbit: Røa as a club has recently signed Abby Wambach! If you are like most of the world and women's soccer is not one of your first interests, you should know that Wambach is an American professional soccer player and Olympic gold medalist.

Wambach of course will play on their first team. Their second team is in our division. However, they started the game with nine players from the first team, that is to say players that will soon be teammates with Wambach. That can probably give you a good idea of how out of our league we were. Read more about the game in Norwegian here.

Basically our keeper spent the entire game doing this:

And what was maybe even worse was they they subbed them all out in the second half and put in almost an entire fresh team! It was exhausting. But all in all, under the circumstances I feel like we did okay.

Also, I might have broken the last bone in my big toe. Not quite sure, but it's swollen and nasty.

*All these pictures were sent to our coach from Røa's photographer. Hello? They have their own photographer?! Ha!

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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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Feeling the burn.

I guess I've been on a bit of a workout kick lately. This has nothing to do with a New Year's resolution or anything in particular really, I am just digging it. And I've gotten a lot better at maximizing my schedule--one has to take advantage of working so many nights! Extra motivation also comes from having seen a big improvement in my soccer game. I feel like it has to be because I've been working out more (duh) but mainly that I'm changing things up a bit and stressing less. If I have to work and can't make a team practice, I hope on the bus and catch a class at the gym. Simple as that. It feels good.

I've been to a couple more hydro bike sessions, tried out Zumba (awesome) and got my behind kicked at a dance class this morning. There is nothing like starting off your day with a little dance and music and a lot of sweat. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but this class this morning seriously burned. I also thought I was a decent dancer, but I guess that's another discussion for another post. ;) I am so not graceful.

And speaking of feeling the burn, I have a question for you folks. When I work out hard and sweat a lot (mainly indoors) my face really stings. I remember in high school this happened a lot during basketball season. What's up with the combination of my pores oozing out sweat and the stinging? It's seriously uncomfortable. And distracting. And trust me, I don't need any further distractions mid-workout when there's a wedgie coming on, the 65 year old dude in front of me is shaking his money maker and I'm trying to keep up with the perky instructor on an 8 count to All That Jazz.

I am guessing it has something to do a combination of my skin problems (did I mention the most recent is that I might have rosacea?) and maybe my diet or water intake. But I don't really have a clue. Ideas? Tips?

And while I'm on the topic, I would like to share that my skin has gradually gotten used to the Norwegian climate. My scalp which was seriously dominated by psoriasis my first winter here is SO much better (knock on wood!). It's such a relief, physically and mentally. My face is still a little weirded out, I still have some psoriasis patches on my elbows and knees and I'm basically blotchy and scary looking all winter...but you know, you win some you lose some. At least I'm not flaking pieces of my scalp into customers lunches anymore. Ooh...did I go too far just now?

A recent purchase of a cold cream (kuldekrem) has really helped out. It acts as a protective layer against the elements. Necessary at soccer practice next to the river and while skiing\taking long walks. A lifesaver.

Maybe the solution is to stop or reduce exposure to the elements. Or never go outside ever. Haha. But of course, that's unrealistic. It's winter. I am going to ski, play in the snow and kick around a soccer ball. Plus I walk to work!

Pressure's on folks. If you guys don't present me with the magical solution...maybe I'll have go to the doctor! Consult a professional? Ack! Don't let me down... ;)

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Hydrotastic!

Tonight I tried something new: water spinning. Or hydro biking. Or uh, well I'm not really sure what the correct terminology is. It's vannspinning in Norwegian at least.

photo credit

And I loved it! It was a great workout. I am in fact realizing more and more how effective it was as the night goes on, haha.

If you are sick of your normal workout routine or are just looking to try something new, I really recommend trying hydro biking or water spinning or whatever you want to call it. Ever ridden a bike? Or been to a regular spinning class? Then you've already got the idea--it's exactly the same thing, just under water.

Like I said, I feel like I got in a really great workout (without hating it too much underway). Working out in water is also so much better on your body. I know at least my knees are sick of running on treadmills (not to mention it's boring as hell) and it's not uncommon for me to come home with bumps, lumps or bruises after soccer practice (or skiing!).

Seriously, try this. ESPECIALLY if you are in a bit of a working out rut. I think it'll help. Oh yeah, I also found this awesomely cheesy video where you can see this in action. It's fantastic.

I think I'm gonna give zumba a try next week...

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Adjusting.

Jet lag SUCKS. Ugh.

Lars and I made it home around 6pm Wednesday evening, tired of course, but feeling pretty darn good when you consider we had been traveling for 27 hours. I thought I was going to conquer jet lag completely and not really have much of a problem at all...boy was I wrong.

We went to bed around 10.30 and Lars got up to go to work at his normal time. I, however, got up only when my boss called me, 16 hours later at 3.30 (I hadn't missed work or anything, she was just calling to let me know when to come in the next day). Oops.

Then I went to practice, came home and then stayed up all night. Awesome. I went to work at 3 and didn't sleep until around 2.30am. That was painful. What was even more painful was Lars waking me up the next morning (even though it was a reasonable hour). My eyes seriously would not open and I was super deep in REM sleep. Ouch.

I tried the work thing again Saturday night and crashed afterwards. Painfully crawled out of bed Sunday morning, slept on the bus on our way to our away game, played 90 minutes of soccer (we won), slept on the bus on the way home, and slept some more. Until 1pm today. UGH. What is wrong with me? Breaking this cycle is hard.

Was it worth it to see Mt. Rainer from the plane?

Maybe. Just maybe.

I suppose I have to force myself to sleep.
God natt!

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Daily grind

Even though I work at a pretty cool place, the daily grind definitely still catches up with me. Today actually went pretty well but the last few days I have been tired and groggy. Probably residual from the marathon I worked on Monday. Who knows.

But what I know for sure is that I was more grateful than ever that I have soccer to get out some of my aggressions. Today was a muggy day, I moved a lot of tables around at work preparing for a big dinner tonight and I was sweaty, hot and bothered. I came home, ate a nice dinner with Lars and then got to play soccer in the rain. It was refreshing. It was delightful. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.

I don't mean to complain either. I really did find a job that works well for me. Restaurant Valuta where I have been working for the most part is in a rad old building that used to be a national bank. The building is called Kunstbanken (Kunst=art, bank=bank)and you can read some more info about it here in English.

This is the main entrance to the restaurant. Below is the official entrance to Kunstbanken, which is up the street to the left there. I borrowed these two shots, btw.

The old bank has been converted into an art center\museum and of course restaurant. Art exhibitions from Norway and abroad are on display year round. There is always something going on around the place even if all of my tables are empty!

And there is art sprinkled around everywhere--on the windowsills, on the walls--seriously, everywhere!

Unfortunately we don't have the best outdoor seating so if the weather is nice we are typically slow. This is our outdoor seating arrangement:

I have yet to serve a single guest out here which is really fine with me. The building is complicated and definitely not easy to explain via blog, but let's just suffice it to say that I have to walk way around a corner, down a long hall and up some stairs before reaching the outdoor tables. It's a bit of a labriynth. really looking forward to that space being full to be honest.

I am a lot more used to serving people in the main areas of the restaurant. Like here:


And here:

And here:

I think there's room for about 50 guests, which is more than enough, since I am almost always the only waitress on shift. There are usually two cooks. Here is the kitchen manager, Wolfgang:

He's from Austria. We get along great--similar senses of humor and the same work ethic goes a long way. I just wish he didn't smoke so much. Sick, man.

We do a lot of our conversing through this "window":

Wolfgang's also realllly good at making desserts...so we're basically BFF's. We sell his homemade candies and chocolates for 10,- kr each.

The more I think about it, I really am happy with my job so far. I need to try to be a bit more positive at work. I feel like I've been so easily irritated lately. Yes of course it's no fun mopping the floor and doing all the undesireable chores, and yes of course it's irritating when communication goes bad or when I have to work holidays and weekends or even when the weather is nice and I'm stuck inside. But that's the way it is.

And I sure am thankful to have a job.

Hungry? Did I mention the food is BOMB?

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Racing around.

Holy crap, what a weekend!

After working 14 hours without a break on Friday and crawling into bed a bit before 3am, I can safely say that even though work went really smoothly and I actually had a lot of fun, that I had a nasty work hangover when Lars so gently woke me up relatively early Saturday morning. "Are you ready to leave in about an hour or should we take a later train?" I rallied: got dressed, packed, ate breakfast that Lars so sweetly made for me in time to hop on the 10:07 train to Oslo.

We got picked up by Øivind (long time friend of Lars') about an hour and a half later, drove to the apartment he shares with Kari (who is adorably pregnant with his son), and headed out into the streets of Oslo to enjoy the weather and find a tasty tidbit to eat. We chose a cafe near their place and secured a table outside. A chicken salad and a chicken wrap later, Lars and I were ready to run our little hearts out. We walked down to the park where we were supposed to meet the other members of our relay team and relaxed and lounged around in the sun discussed strategy and tactics until it was time to make our way to our starting destinations.

There were people everywhere! The relay has 15 legs and there were over 3,000 teams! So I can guarantee that I have never seen so many pairs of running shoes or that many legs in spandex before in my life! Holmenkollstaffeten (Holmenkoll Relay) is indeed the biggest relay race in the world! And Lars and I are proud to have been a part of it. If you can speak Norwegian, or are up for some visual stimulation, check out this video of all the different legs.

Personally, we both did well. Not super, but well. Lars ran 1.7k around corners and curves and up and down hills. I ran 1.1k around corner and up and down hill. Among our peers (business teams with mostly male runners), our efforts contributed to an outstanding 602nd place of 910 teams. We were 20:43 behind the team that took 1st place. All in all, not too shabby. But absolutely not spectacular either. It was, for quite possibly the first time in my life, the first time I was satisfied with just participating. Check out some of our fans:

Familiar faces, right? ;) Lars's parents made the drive down from Tynset and met Stine and Lars' aunt and uncle who live in Oslo to come out and cheer for us!

The race was a great experience, but what came after was possibly even better: dinner grill party with Øivind, Kari and friends. First of all, Kari and Øivind are great hosts, they have a sweet apartment, and it was no stress-no fuss being their guests. We enjoyed a great evening with good people and good food. Mmmm...shishkebab!

Did I mention Kari was absolutely adorable with an apron over her pregnant belly?

Sunday we stopped in to visit Lars' uncle and aunt at their new apartment before catching a ride home with his parents. We made it home, threw together a macaroni salad and made our way to one of my bosses' houses for another grill party! I think Lars and I were both pretty exhausted so we didn't really get to enjoy the party 100%, but we did get to enjoy some good food!

Whew. I am glad I don't have to work today. I am pooped.

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Health "Reform"

I like my friend Ethan. He doesn't like the United States of America all that much. Now isn't there some kind of math rule (geometry maybe?) that could be used to assume I, therefore, don't like the country either?

Who knows...I am not much of a math person. I am much more of a social science person myself. What can I say, I like people! And I suppose that is the explanation as to why I am on one hand I am glad that the health "reform" is making progress across the pond. I like the idea that peope may someday have better access to health services. That's good, right?

So then explain to me all the recent Facebook statuses about how we are all going to die because we are one step closer to becoming a socialist country. These people must also have friends that have been seriously sick and didn't go to the doctor because they didn't have insurance and this couldn't afford it? They must also read the news once in awhile and hear the stories about people struggling with expensive/deadly diseases who also don't have the cash to pay the hospital bills? So why the statuses? Baffling.

So yes, on one hand I am glad that things are this "reform" is getting the support it needs. But on the other hand, I am disappointed that it is not even more extreme. Yes, I would willingly pay more taxes so that everyone had the right to free healthcare. Take that!

No one can say it as well as my buddy Ethan--check out his most recent healthcare post:

Well, the House managed to pass healthcare legislation. Even if the Senate rejects all the amendments they appended to the current bill, the bill as passed by the Senate will be signed into law (unless Obama was joking about the whole signing thing).

Semi-victorious Democrats are calling this "the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century," or comparing the act to the establishment of Social Security or Medicare. Obama perhaps was the most honest in saying: "This isn't radical reform, but it is major reform." Republicans, meanwhile, are demonizing the bill in quite the opposite
terms. They act like the House just passed a law mandating the public
killing of puppies.

It's true, polls indicate that a bare majority of American voters oppose the healthcare bill. These opinions, of course, are based on what Americans think they know about the healthcare bill, rather than an educated understanding of the thing (that might require reading). Nonetheless, they represent a rough guess at the mindset of the American people.

On the other hand, polls still show that the vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the status quo, which is what opponents of the bill--and their corporate backers--are fighting to maintain. And if I'd been polled, I would've said that I do not support the current healthcare bill, because I don't. Let's see why!

First, there's no public option. Yes, I understand that a well-executed public option would absolutely gut the private health insurance industry in America. I have absolutely no problem with this. Aside from people in the state of Connecticut, I don't know why any Americans should. What is it about faceless corporations fucking you over that people find so appealing?

All right, accepting that a public option isn't on the table, there's still plenty wrong with the bill. Even by the government's own projections, it leaves 23 million Americans without healthcare insurance. That's about 7.7% of the population, which doesn't seem insignificant to me. (But then, I can run a calculator.)

Also, while it establishes an exchange where insurance companies have to compete with one another, it establishes this exchange on a statewide, not nationwide, level. Meaning that the Washington state exchange has the potential to have drastically different prices from the Oregon state exchange--from the same companies--and that there's nothing you, the consumer, can do about it, other than moving to Oregon.

This is the best sort of exchange system for the insurance companies, because it allows them to maximize their profits. A national-level exchange would've cut a lot of fat out the system--but then, I'm sure Connecticut lobbyists made that well known to our esteemed congresspeople.

I like the idea of requiring employers to insure their employees, but I frankly don't know enough about how this will effect small businesses with limited budgets, and I've heard too much propaganda on both sides to make an accurate judgment. And I have to read 200 pages of shit for my Ottoman class today, so I'm not going to research it.

(Notice what I just did there? I admitted my lack of knowledge and refrained from issuing an opinion or judgment until I gathered more facts on the subject. That's some shit you could learn from, America.)

And I like that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the plan should reduce the federal deficit by $143 billion in the next ten years. Now if we could just slim down the Pentagon's budget by, I dunno, 75% or so. If wishes were horses...

So, yeah, there's plenty to like in the current healthcare bill. And at least it's fucking something. But the flaws aren't inconsequential--on the contrary, they're central to the plan as it stands.

Point of the story is, we're fucked, and I'm going to marry a Canadian
heiress.
Ethan Jennings

Well bud, I guess I'm one step ahead of you--I've already moved to Norway. Lars isn't an heir or royalty (that I know of) but I'm still here. ;) Good luck finding your Canuck!

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Cry for help

Last winter, I wrote a post about psoriasis and my relationship with the disease. Our relationship is getting serious. If it was up to me, I would break it off now and never look back. Hell, I would hope I could get a restraining order.

But it's not up to me. The psoriasis is definitely wearing the pants in this relationship (what a terribly sexist and now outdated phrase; I wear pants all the time?). Especially my scalp psoriasis is getting out of control. It is spreading all over my scalp, becoming more severe and seriously driving me insane. I used to have a spray prescribed from a dermatologist in the US that I think was fairly effective, but it's empty and I obviously can't refill it now. I think the American tar shampoos I stocked up on might actually make my condition worse. Lars did buy some scalp treatment for me from the local pharmacy (Dexem) but I am not sure if it is helping or hurting. Plus it smells bad. And I can't stop picking at my scalp for the life of me. It is rett og slett uncomfortable. And painful.

Not to mention embarrassing. Sometimes the flakes are so intense that I have actually showered before going to the gym (showering sometimes is the only way to get them all out of my hair). And I know that just doesn't make sense at all. It makes me feel really gross and robs me of enjoying one of my most feminine characteristics!

HELP me get back my hair!
Anyone have any solutions? Suggestions? Advice?

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Glass walls

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, then everyone would be a vegetarian."

-Sir Paul McCartney

One of my favorite students from BuddySchool named Sergei sent me a video posted on BBC from PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) that seriously made me rethink my everyday life. See it for yourself here.

If you don't have time to see the video (it's about 13 minutes), I'll give you the main idea, even though I insist that you attempt to make the time to see it for yourself. Then you will see with your own eyes how animals are brutally handled so that we can eat them. Brutally handled. They squeal, they bleed and they are conscious of what is happening--sometimes even when their throat is slit and always in the uncomfortable months before their deaths. The thing that is so strange and doesn't quite make sense is that we absolutely do not need meat to survive. So why do we eat it?

I have never seriously thought about being a vegetarian until now. I never knew much about PETA besides what I learned from the headlines about them throwing paint on fur coats. Obviously I was ignorant, not only to what PETA is all about, but also to what is really going on to get that chicken breast into my local grocery store. Of course this is not the first time I have heard about animal abuse within the dairy and meat industries but maybe this is the first time I have really let it sink in.

I was going to make spaghetti for dinner but now I am not so sure...Are any of you vegetarians? Ever tried being one?

Maybe the idea of being a vegetarian is absolutely repulsive to you. Maybe you don't give a damn about animals and don't think they have any rights. Even then, eating meat is really destructive. According UN scientists, eating meat causes about 40% more greenhouse gases than ALL the world's transportation systems combined. Studies also show that vegetarians are less prone to obesity, heart disease and even cancer.

It's amazing how much I learn when I teach.

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Sunday on Mjøsa

The sky has been full of clouds lately. Clouds that have been constantly dumping snow down on us. Constantly. Don't get me wrong, I love the snow (it really is gorgeous here) and am really enjoying the winter. But it can get pretty gray after awhile with all those clouds hovering over your head. Today, however, was a huge exception. The sun was brilliant! So out we went!

And so did everyone else! We saw people all over the place--skiing, walking, running, sledding, ice skating, ice fishing and more! And all right on top of Mjøsa, the biggest (and now mostly frozen) lake in Norway!

(Ice fishing!)(Lars took this picture!)

I love to see so many people out being active and enjoying each others' company. I really dig this about the Norwegian lifestyle. Makes me warm and fuzzy inside, even though I sometimes am not so warm on the outside. Like today for example--it was really pretty, but also pretty dang cold. When the better part of my hair that was peeking out of my hat was in danger of breaking in half and I couldn't feel my legs anymore we headed back home. And then made some nummy soup.

Also of note--Lars and I really wanted a dog today. It just would have been the cherry on top of the already kick ass winter sundae. We actually considered stealing one. Problem was we didn't see any that we believed made the moral transgression worth it. How come so many people like tiny little yappy dogs?

Maybe we'll find a better candidate next Sunday. ;)

*Some time ago, I came across a blog from another American woman who has also made the move to Norway. A couple times she has posted some of her Sunday adventures in line with a proposal from another blogger (from San Francisco I believe) called "Sundays In My City".

Today I joined the club!

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People saw me naked.

I vividly remember when I was about 11 years old that a group of naked Asian women changed me forever.

It was summer time, school was out and we were on a family vacation at Sol Duc Hot Springs in the Olympic National Park in Washington. My cousin Gitta and I spent most of our days swimming in the pool looking fashionable with our matching goggles and nose plugs while attempting to realize our dream of being scouted for the U.S. Olympic women's synchronized swimming team. It was all fun and games until it was time to hit the showers. That's when the group of older Asian women were butt ass naked in the communal shower crouched down scrubbing each other's backs--and that's when I was scarred for life.

Ever since (and most likely before as well) I have been a bit nervous with the locker room culture. My private parts have remained private. As long as underwear was involved I was feeling okay. Girls at my high school rarely showered together and I can count the times I knowingly exposed my own breasts or vagina on one hand.

I don't think it is or was just me that is made a bit uncomfortable in these situations, and I don't think I can lay all the blame on the naked Asian teamwork that struck me as so odd as a pre-teen. I have noticed a trend in American culture that especially girls and women are very shy when it comes to changing and showering in front of each other. Honestly, no girls that I was friends with growing up showered in the locker room, unless it was behind a curtain. However, I remember hearing countless stories of how boys stole each other's towels, whipped each other with said towels and or made ridiculous scrotum shapes at each other and then called each other gay afterwards.

Why is this that men flash themselves and we hide? What a strange fear, phobia, or whatever you can call it. It doesn't quite seem to make sense; all us women have the same parts and I don't believe that we are so ashamed of our bodies that we fear exposing them. I know that is not the case with me, not at all. So why the cover-up? Why the awkward putting on your underwear under the towel routine? Why can't we make vagina shapes at each other and get a good laugh out of it and then call each other lesbians afterwards (heavy sarcasm)?!

My experiences with the Vagina Monologues in college give me some insight into this issue; I think in general women are indeed very shy about their vaginas. I would also like to point out that I have made some generalizations here about men and women and I am the last person to insist that men are alike because they are men and women are alike because they are women. Some girls let it all hang out and some guys change in the stall.

But the point is I am challenging myself to get over this. I showered in my complete birthday suit last night after a kick ass soccer training at the gym in Brumunddal.

People (even people that I knew!) saw me naked and I only minded a little bit.

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Fotball begins again!

Last night the Brumunddal women's team had their first practice of the year. I wish I could say with confidence that WE had our first practice but I am trying not to get my hopes up like I did last season (where I was told I wouldn't be allowed to play the week before games started!).

So this year the plan is to practice as a guest and not become too attached. I have a real problem with this though, which I think is understandable--when you are exhausted and sweating and bonding via team sport it's just difficult to remain detached. I have never been one of those players and have always been arguably too involved with my various teams over the years.

So I am trying not to be too excited but I am anyway. This year offers a lot of new and exciting opportunities--a new coaching staff for one:

(New head coach in the middle, top row)

For two--practice three nights a week (yes, I think this is positive) and finally a legitimate, fun way for me to get back in shape! Jeg gleder meg!

Now I am just hoping more than ever (if that was possible) that I find some kind of solution to my residency here in Norway. Did I mention that has to happen before February 4th when my tourist visa expires and I turn into a pumpkin?
Uff da.

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Alumni Game

I don't EVER remember having so much fun playing softball.

This past Sunday, the new coach at PLU (starting her second season) hosted an Alumni Game after taking a break from it last year. During my career at PLU the Alumni Games were a big deal; previous players came from far away with their whole families, even people that graduated in the early 90's! Needless to say, everyone was very disappointed when it didn't happen last year and really excited when it was scheduled this year.

The day was magical--the weather came through, Mt. Rainer was out to spectate, we had exactly 9 players and were able to field our own team. Despite being out of softball shape, we actually played pretty darn well. We turned two double plays, had maybe two errors in eight innings, Heather and I both hit triples, quite a few others had solid singles, Liz made an awesome diving catch in center and our pitchers (after not pitching for years) really came to play. We had nothing to lose and we played like it.

It was AWESOME--worth every sore muscle and bruise--so incredibly good to be back. I just wish I could have stuck around a bit longer after the game and maybe have moseyed around campus a little bit but I had to hightail it back home to work at three. It was one of those beautiful fall days, where campus was looking especially inviting because of all the old bricks, changing leaves, green grass and good memories...

...I do believe PLU might always feel just a little bit like home.

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Hooked on Hookah?

Lars and I visited Ahmed's apartment last weekend and had an awesome Arabic lunch with almost all of my best buds from school: Jean Claude, Laith, Ijhad, an older Iraqi whose name I seriously can never remember (I tend to refer to him as the guy that just had appendicitis) and of course Ahmed. We ate bariany, a typical Arabic food. It was a lot of rice, chicken, peas, boiled eggs, sauces and spices...pretty darn good--and SO much food. I didn't even come close to finishing my plate!

After lunch, Ahmed served some tea and coffee and some women's arms for dessert. Of course, he didn't actually serve real woman's arms! The pastry shown below is apparently called that in Arabic. No one really knew why, although we had a pretty good timing fabricating potential origins. Apparently women's arms are flaky, warm in the middle and sprinkled with pistachio crumbs on top!

We also smoked some hookah after lunch.

Ok STOP right now all of you who don't know what a hookah is and let me explain. It is by no means illegal and it has nothing to do with drugs (well it can have something to do with drugs, but it didn't this day, and it doesn't when it comes to these friends)! A hookah is an Indian water pipe (vannpipe på norsk) that is very common and cultural in the Middle East. It can be used for smoking marijuana (again, I repeat: we didn't do that), herbal fruits or tobacco. We smoked some lemon-mint business and it was actually nothing like what I expected smoking to be like...it was actually quite pleasant...but don't worry I am no where near being hooked on hookah and generally look down on smokers in general (mostly joking).

(Laith and Ijhad)

(Jean Claude)

Hookah smoking is very popular in Spain as well, and when I lived there in 2006 I was absolutely set against it. I had no desire to try; I didn't know what they hell it was, what was going into it or if I could trust the hookah bars that offer various fruits and tobaccos for relatively decent prices (I ate their delicious crêpes instead). So I never tried. Basically I was scared of it, and still was fairly skeptical this day as well. However, I was in trusted company and thought I might as well try.

After more research I decided I would never, ever do it again (ok maybe not never ever, but I am certainly not making a habit of smoking). Despite rumors, smoking hookah is not healthier than cigarettes and can arguably be worse (since you inhale a lot more smoke). Of course, if you are not smoking tobacco I suppose that is a whole 'nother ball game.

(Ahmed)

Well ladies and gents, one fear faced, one 'I've never' checked off the list. I survived. And why the heck not try anyway? Life is short.

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The hits just keep on coming...

So I think I have may have mentioned before that is was possible that I might not be able to officially play soccer for Brumunddal. Today my worst suspicions were confirmed, and NO I will not be allowed to play soccer just yet.

So here's the breakdown: to play soccer in Norway, everyone (including Norwegians) have to pay for a license, or lisens. This only costs a couple hundred kroner and it serves as some sort of insurance. Brumunddal Fotbal was even going to pay for it themselves, which I was pretty stoked on. That was of course, until I saw the form that accompanied the international player's request for said lisens; it required a copy of both my passport and my work or residence permit. Oh. Shit.

So that's it folks--I can't play in games (which just happened to start this weekend). Basically if I do and someone finds out that I didn't have a license my team would have to forfeit the games I played in...which at this stage in the season looked like it was going to be every game. I have been starting every game at right back.

I am really disappointed. Soccer was one thing I could always count on to release some stress. I didn't have to look good, remember my textbooks or really speak that much Norwegian if I didn't feel like it. I could just show up, tackle some people and kick the ball around. And even if I didn't perform well it still felt so good to compete, to sweat, to run. Of course I can still practice, and that will serve some purpose (to keep me in shape for one)...but I want to continue being part of a team! I want to compete! I want to wear a jersey proudly on my back and feel the game-day knot in my stomach during warm ups!

Let me repeat: I am really disappointed. Now the real world has officially crept into every aspect of my life. I just want it to go away and leave me this one little thing to enjoy! Okay I give--I can't work, I can't travel out of the country...I have no money, no job, no concrete plans for the future, I am far away from almost all of my loved ones and friends--but can't I at least be allowed to play soccer? Is that so much to ask?

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