SJOA 2010!!

Ahh best time EVER!!  Every year the school takes a student trip out of Oslo, and I do not regret attending even a little bit.  It was such an amazing time and has solidified my presence here in Norway.  We left Thursday afternoon and made a 4-5 hour trip on the most ghetto bus I've even been it.  The exhaust was smoking EVERYWHERE...it was actually sort of scary!  Aleks, Anette, and myself took the back of the bus and we met some new people at the 2 stops that we made on the way.  When we arrived we had to find a lavvo (like a big tee-pee) to stay in.  Anette and I split up and I stayed with Helena (who I met my first day here), Anne Maren and Bjorg Kristina (who I met at one of the stops), Marit, and Jenny (who I met at the 2nd year class party my first week here).  Best decision ever...Jenny and I spent almost the whole weekend together and everyone else was so great!  Thursday night we just ate and basically went to bed...I was overwhelmed and frustrated because everything was in Norwegian so I had a bad attitude...but things went up from there!

Friday we woke up very early (I think about 7:30) and got ready to go hike Bessegen.  Luckily I had borrowed boots and long-johns to keep me warm and dry...Thank Goodness!  We took a bus and then a ferry to the drop off point.  8 hours later...yes 8 HOURS...we were back on the ground.  This is a very popular hiking destination because it is a very narrow ridge to climb, with 2 huge lakes on either side.  It is crazy high, overwhelming and DIFFICULT!  Montana's got NOTHING on Norway...sorry everyone.  My American idea of "hiking" has nothing to do with that trip...we CLIMBED a mountain...not hiked it.  Also...they have no concept of "flat".  Really... "Oh yeah it's flat up here."  So NOT FLAT!!  I think these people would die in North Dakota!!  It was sooo difficult, and I never want to do it again, hehe, but I'm really glad that I accomplished something that big.  That night we grilled and talked, played games, etc.  There was a really small bar there and it was very cozy.

Saturday we got to sleep in a bit, and then Jenny and I headed to meet up with the group to go "Brupendel".  We walked about 15 minutes to a bridge, a very old looking one...  The guide (who we found out later had been drinking) got everything ready for us with the help of Katrine, and she became the first one to jump off!  It's basically like bungee jumping but your body is in a harness and you jump from one side of the bridge and swing under it (instead of jumping straight down).  I watched a bunch of people go and decided it was my turn...so I suited up!  I climbed over, posed for some pictures, and told my girls to count...JUMP!!  Off of a freakin' bridge!!  Sooo fun and totally worth it, I would do it again so fast!  Anette on the other hand...hilarious!!  She FREAKED...but after it was done, she was happy :)

The rest of Saturday was filled with relaxing since we pretty much had the whole day for ourselves.  We played cards for HOURS, ate food, and played more cards.  We got a little crazy later and made up a new game...BreadHead.  It's like spoons, but instead of stealing a spoon, you hide your slice of bread.  Absolutely crazy, but it made our weekend epic.  This is when I realized I needed one more day  in the wilderness.  I was just getting close and comfortable with people, and then our trip was almost over :(

Sunday we woke up early again and got ready for rafting...My FAVORITE part of the weekend!!  We had 6 people in our raft, along with the only American guide they had, Will.  We had a BLAST!  It rained the whole night before and brought the river up 30 cm, and then the weather was sunny and perfect for us!  At one point we somehow lost 2 girls and hearing "Oh SHIT!" come out of Helena's mouth made my entire day ;)  On our second surfing trip (going against the current purposely in certain areas) we tried to make it fun, and failed miserably.  Jenny, Helena, and myself all got thrown in...somehow!  I now know what it feels like to drown.  I came up from under another boat coughing up water like crazy.  One raft managed to rescue all 2 of us, and WOW was the the most scary and most fun moment ever!  We made it back to our raft eventually, ready to kick Will's butt!  By the time I could see the end, I didn't want to get out...SO FUN!!

We had a little time to pack up, eat, and head home.  Nice to be back, but I can't believe I'm going to miss that trip next year :(  That's when I realized that I am going to miss my friends here when I go back to the states...there's no winning and no easy way to make everyone happy...DAMN!  If only Norway was cheaper and closer!