Weekend!

Well, I made it to my first Saturday...weird to think I haven't even been here for a week yet! My days have been long an exhausting so far, hence why I haven't blogged yet. I am STILL catching up on sleep, it's only 11:05 pm here, and I am exhausted, like COMPLETELY ready for bed. The rest of my week was filled with my classes. They are very different here...you usually only meet with your class once a week..but it is for 5 or 6 hours!! Absolutely insane, right? But they take breaks every hour, and a lunch break, so it seems to go pretty fast. I am taking classes with the 2nd year and 3rd year students, so we have luckily met some students so far.

One class meets on Thursdays and we do role playing, and then sometimes we meet without the teacher and some students will teach the group from our book. This class ends October 21, and then we start another class for the rest of the semester. Another class is International Social Work (with the 3rd years), on Fridays, and we will talk about certain topics each time, then do what seems like some volunteering (?), write a group paper, and present it. 3 of the International students are taking "The Norwegian Welfare System" and we only meet 5 times, after which we have to write a paper comparing 2 welfare states and it just has to be handed in before Christmas...strange to think, because the Concordia system is SO different! So it looks like right now that I will not have classes on Mondays, and only some on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

It will be such a weird schedule to adjust to, but I am very excited for the role playing class, it seems very interactive, and after listening to boring ass lectures for 3 YEARS I am ready for something different! The 2nd year students invited us to a class party on Friday, so Anette and I decided to go. We had no idea how to get there, so Aleksander and Filip...the only ones who live at the school...were nice enough to take us. I met a lot of new people, got to talk more with people from class, and made a new game..."Kroners"...like quarters with their money and a tall glass. We all sucked at it..but it was entertaining for a bit. I am going to get them to play beer pong some time!

I got ahead of myself, but all-in-all that was a good time. Some people went out a midnight, but we went home because we were so tired...maybe another weekend I will participate in the festivities. One (sunny) day this week (like the only one) we walked to Vigeland Sculpture Park and that place was huge and beautiful. There were water features, and all of the statues were nude...I guess one guy made the whole place! We got some good pictures and walked back through Majorstua, so I am getting a little bit of a grip on my neighborhood. Another night, Hermine and her boyfriend Sebastien took us to Holmenkollen to see the ski jump, a beautiful sight of the city lights at night, and we watched a soccer game in the hotel. The spoiled us with drinks and treats, I felt so special...I hope the know how amazing they have been to us so far!

I think that covers everything up to today (Saturday). I SLEPT IN!! Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE my sleep, and getting up early every morning, still with jet-lag, was NOT fun! I made my day slowly, showered, ate only cereal, and Anette and I headed out with Filip to see some sights! We got rained on a lot, and HAILED on! We went to a few viewing points over the fjord, and also to the Opera House, which was very neat. We eventually got some food, as we were all very hungry, and headed home in the rain. It had gotten very cold, and I was shivering. I was cold, wet, and tired...perfect combination to come home a be a bum.

It took me a long time to warm up, but skyping with Mike helped! I had a little breakdown because I feel pretty lost, confused, and alone...but it's only the first week! I am hoping to get more familiar with the city and keep myself busy. It is hard because the students are not here on the weekends, so getting someone to show us around might be hard, but Filip so nicely obliged us today. We were very thankful!! Now I am again exhausted and I am hoping to stay here and relax tomorrow...as well as begin some homework, YUCK!

DIFFERENCES in Norway

Thus Far:

-Their fashion seems very old style (weird flowery clothes and jewelry)
-It is common to wear tights with shorts over them
-Most girls only wear mascara, lots of makeup is not common
-They don't really say "Please" and "Thank you"
-They don't say "Goodbye"
-Mullets are acceptable
-There are no clocks ANYWHERE!
-The toilets have buttons, not handles to flush
-Street signs are hard to come by
-Norwegians are generally shy
-You need to tke sunglasses AND an umbrella to have a successful day outside
-Their TV shows are months, if not years behind (Like MTV and such..)
-The buses have seatbelts
-The outlets
-They don't have Prom
-They eat sandwiches for breakfast
-EVERYONE drinks coffee and offers it to you
-They eat 4 meals a day
-They eat very early
-Most doors has a ledge on the floor, every time I walk through I almost TRIP!
-The people are fairly shy
-The Taxis are MERCEDES!
-The school schedule is not constant, not like every other day the same classes that I am used to
-People walk a LOT, the hills are exhuasting...my legs HURT!
-The bread is very THICK, and seems to be eaten at every meal...yogurt seems popular too

I think that's it for now...I will keep adding things as my time goes on!

My First Real Norwegian Day :)

This morning I was woken up and could not sleep anymore. I went and took my first shower, very nice, and got ready for our "program". The 4 international students (yes, only 4, pretty crazy huh Cobbers?) met with Inger Marie and learned a bit about the school after some introductions. There is myself, Anette from Finland, Matthias from Germany, and Magdalena from Ireland. We also heard about a trip that 50 students from Diakohnjemmet can sign up for. It is like a camping trip, there is hiking, rafting, "juving" which is basically putting on a wetsuit and helmet and jumping into the river I guess! I am hoping to go if someone can lend a sleeping bag for me??

After lunch together and small chatting, we met students Helena (21) and Paul (27) who are both 2nd year Social Work students. They showed us around the "College" which is actually only 1 BUILDING. So strange to think. The school is about 2,100 students and that includes some Masters programs.

After the school we walked south, to a place with stores (not like a strip mall, just more like a street) and went to a GROCERY STORE thank goodness. They offered to let us shop so we didn't have to waste time going back later. So nice, but WOW was that grocery store INTMIDATING!! I couldn't read ANYTHING and it was hard to find things. Anette and I decided to share some food, we got 3 containers of GRAPES! It was buy 2 get 1 free...and me being so cheap...haha we HAD to do it! I came away with some pasta and sauce, bread, cheese and meat, a PIZZA (!), jam, fish sticks...and some others. When I went to pay...they didn't take Mastercard, which my credit and US bank card are both. Paul jumped up and payed for my groceries...so NICE! When we returned to put our groceries away, I stopped at the ATM and got 1000 Nok and payed him back the 300 I owed him. :) The ATM WORKED!!

After that we bought tickets and boarded the T-Bane (Tay-a Bahn eh) which is the subway system to Downtown OSLO! We saw a few stores, got me an adapter for my computer (so I can charge it now!), and walked around a bit. We saw the King's Castle, the old part of the University of Oslo, some fountains, and other things. The streets are FILLED with stores. I could see myself getting lost there easily...there are SO MANY!

Then we used the T-Bane to get back to the Borgen stop and walked back to the college. Paul and Helena went to eat, and us International students headed back to our rooms to relax. Matthias showed us the lockers and laundry room downstairs (it seems confusing!) and then we all went to our rooms.

After chatting with Mike, we had some major corridor (hallway) bonding. I propped my door open so people would stop and chat. Across the hall is Hedmina (sp?) who has a pet parakeet, Hedmulan, he is SO cute! We talked a lot about family, futbol, saw some pictures, ate some candy....BACON FLAVORED....so gross! It was a joke though...until Anette came over...she LIKED them...EW! Then we talked about ice hockey, more friends and family, and just had a great time bonding.

After some blogging and relaxing, more chatting, we decided to have dinner together. I made spaghetti for the 3 of us, and we ate dinner in our "living room". It was really fun, and we are making lots of plans!! We are maybe going to a futbol game tomorrow evening...I hope we can go!! We watched Grey's Anatomy (all of their TV is like years behind, it is wierd), and now I am here...getting very tired and ready for BED!

Tomorrow is our first "classes" which are mostly introductions to the courses. I am excited to learn my schedule and see how the classes will be. I hope you can all keep in touch and keep reading my blog...hopefully they will get shorter soon!!

<3

My closet/sink and my desk! Small but cute:)

WOW!

Where do I even START?! I am going to break this up into a few blogs...so read all of them!! I'll begin with my flights :) I left the states on Sunday at about 1:30pm. My mom and dad came to Mike and I's apartment early in the morning and we got everything ready. Check-in was pretty easy, but saying goodbye was SO HARD!! We were all tearing up...but luckily my mom and grandma are coming to visit, and Mike will visit about a month after they leave.

My first flight was to Chicago. A very nice lady sat by me on the plane, headed to Frankfurt for 4 months to babysit her niece, she seemed very excited. When we landed I had to ride to another terminal, budge to the front of the security line and RUN (literally) to catch my plane...they were holding it for me...but NOT my fault!! This was now my long flight from Chicago to Stockholm, Sweden, on a HUGE plane! We had our own small private TV screens, but I couldn't listen to my Zune because somehow it got shattered in my purse...how that happened I have NO IDEA!! When I landed in Stockholm, with less than a half-hour layover, I budged in security once again and RAN to my plane (again)...they were PAGING ME...like big-time you're late and get your butt here!

When I landed in Norway, I followed the crowd and gathered my two suitcases. I asked to help finding my bus, and when it came, the bus driver was VERY nice. He showed me exactly where to get a taxi after I got off the bus :) It took me about 200 Nok (48$) to get from the airport to my school. Things are CRAZY expensive here...as I'm sure you know...but once you're here you realize how much money you are spending...it's NUTS!

I went into the college and met Inger Marie, the International Coordinator, and she took me to my room. I will try to post some pictures. It is basically just like a dorm. Small bathroom and rooms in long hallways (they say corridors). I then took a small nap and met her again to pick up my internet modem and sign the housing agreement. The housing is not owned by the college, but it is where students live, so I'm basically "renting a dorm".

While getting my modem I met Anette, from Finland, who happens to have the room right next to me. We made fast friends! After another long nap (trying to crush the jet-lag), Anette and I met some Norwegian students here that go to the University of Oslo that live in our corridor. We watched TV, talked, and one was kind enough to share some dinner with us (as we had not been to a grocery store yet).

I was able to chat with Mike before bed :) and slept fairly well in my small bed.

Tomorrow!

I absolutely CANNOT BELIEVE that I am leaving for Norway for 4 months tomorrow! My flight leaves at 1:35 pm. I will be flying to Chicago, then to Stockholm, Sweden, and finally landing again in Oslo, Norway. Right now my biggest fear is getting myself from the airport to my school. Luckily I am arriving during business hours so my International Coordinator will be at the school waiting for me.

I will then check in to my room, which I have been told is "suite style" living. I will have my room with a bed, desk and chair, and a sink. Then I will share a bathroom, kitchen, living space, etc. with other students. Whether the students are Norwegian or other International Exchange students, I do not know yet.

After that, I have NO IDEA! I am planning to take the free bus to Downtown Oslo and head to their IKEA to get some linens and such. I have realized I will also need to purchase groceries and some toiletries as well. Hopefully I can settle in smoothly and meet some new and interesting people!

Wish me luck, and I readily welcome any advice for traveling abroad!! I will miss everyone SO MUCH...and especially my Michael :)