Evenstad...Just Like Home

On Friday, October 15th, I got up really early to head into the city and catch my train to EVENSTAD!  Jordan Lutz (who I worked with for 2 years at Phonathon) and Rachel Ward are also students from Concordia studying in Norway.  Except, they live in the middle of nowhere!  Good thing for me, I had been craving the country for a while.  I love living in Oslo because there is lots to do, but being from a super small town, I was getting a little stir crazy and had the need for some nature.  After about 3 hours, I saw Jordan's lovely face waiting for me at the little train stop.  We made the short, cold walk to their campus.  It essentially looks like a farm, the buildings look older, and there were dogs and horses.  It felt amazing to breathe fresh air! 

We chatted a bit, and went to get some lunch.  Rachel and I shared a moose burger, absolutely delicious!  Apparently on Fridays at 2pm, there are free waffles, so we hit those up as well...but with sour cream and jam.  It sounds awful, but it tastes amazing, yummm!  It was really nice to talk about Concordia, reflect on our time so far in Norway, and just talk in normal English.  Jordan had bought supplies to make wine, so while Rachel did some studying, we started making a batch.  I haven't yet heard how it turned out!  Later on, Jordan, Dan, and I headed over to Kjetil's place for a Norwegian dinner he had made.  Since it was herring (YUCK!) I just went for the company and reggae music.  I asked if he was half Jamaican...when I met him he was wearing Bob Marley and constantly said "Ya Mon".  Kjetil is a super blunt and harsh person, I loved it.  We got along really well giving each other crap, it was nice to have someone who can handle my attitude. 

That night was the Halloween party at their student pub.  We got dressed up as our alter egos: girly girl, ballerina, and shadow, and had a few drinks before heading over.  The pub is small and cozy with a pool table and couches and the "bartenders" are students.  Some people hardly recognized me in my straight hair and a dress!  We had a really fun time dancing and playing cards and pool.  I tried Karsk (their moonshine and coffee), it was awful.  When I went back to Rachel's room after 4am, there were still people dancing and drinking the night away! 

Saturday night we went to a birthday party down the hall for Silje and Gabrielle.  There were delicious baked goods from Gabrielle and we played SingStar.  Blue team rocked the house!  Sadly, trying to sing in Norwegian did not improve my language skills at all :(  Afterwards we watched a bit of "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" and headed to bed because Rachel and I knew we would talk and be up forever anyways!  We did...even though this was our first time meeting in person, it felt like we had been friends for a long time.  Her and Jordan were so kind to me and we all got along fabulously. 

Sunday morning Jordan made us crepes for breakfast and we had lunch right after!  Ricardo's family made a Portuguese meal of beans and sausage for about 14 people.  It wasn't my favorite, but it was tasty and had PROTEIN which I am definitely not getting enough of over here.  I also gave Jordan a haircut (with the help of Dan) and it turned out to be pretty decent!  *At this point I have given 2 haircuts and done one coloring..Maybe hair is my secret calling?*  Before I left, I got a hug from Eirik when he got home from moose hunting...nothing like hugging a guy carrying a gun to bring your mind back to good old Litchfield, MN.  He was the one who stayed up with me until 4 am Friday night even though he had to be up really early for work the next day, what a trooper!  I left that evening at about 6:30 and got back to my place in Oslo pretty late.  I had an awesome time in redneck Norway and I would love to try to get back before I go back to the states!  I met some really great people and I have a feeling I will get the urge to get out of Oslo again!