I'm getting there. This weekend I promise. Today was just pretty stressful. And I dislike myself. My host family is amazing. Just- you have no clue.
I'm okay.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
In response to comments-
Hi My Mom! Hi Taylor's mom! Hi Lizzie's mom!! Hi Auntie Karen, Zach, Ms. Denie, Elle-Belle, Jessica and the Game Loftians and everyone else that's reading my blog. POST MORE COMMENTS.
Guess what? -Guess.
I have decided to, instead of making one giant lump post each month, break them into smaller and slightly easier to read posts that the whole family can enjoy! I will begin my new quest after matematiks, when I get home. I also need to figure out how to put pictures on this thing. Then maybe some of you will comment. HADE!!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tadah my life is here and waffles are a coffee side dish.
So it looks like, from reading other people's blogs, that I was the third of us to leave and get to our own country. I have no idea why, but I feel like I shouldn't actually be here. I think it might be because I spent so long preparing and thinking about it and just saying 'Norway' that now I'm here I feel like I should be preparing to hear all the questions ('Why Norway? You must be so excited! What's their currency? What's the weather like? Are you nervous? What do they speak there? DO you speak Norwegian? How's your Norwegian coming? Have you packed yet?' - DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I ALMOST EXPLODED AFTER 7 MONTHS OF IT?) but there are no questions.
Just words in a language that makes me feel illiterate and like I have permanent swimmer's ear. But it's okay. The thing that's tricky for me is that they speak Nynorsk and have a unique dialect, where while I was learning I was listening to Bokmal and the Oslo dialect. So I catch like every tenth word. A typical conversation for me while I listen is 'He-the-knife-bear-you-and-understand-cup'. It's a learning experience that makes you immeasurably exhausted, but my host family appreciates it when I try.
My host Parents are very sweet, although I've only been living here for two days- I spent the first two weeks living with my host counselor. Tore and his wife, Kari Jorunn, were incredibly understanding and hospitable. I really enjoyed my time with them, and I appreciate it more because now I feel comfortable enough around Tore to talk to him, whereas if I hadn't stayed with him I highly doubt I would have actually used him as a confidant.
Anyway. Oddbjorn and Gerd are very welcoming, and I feel like they know I am way too nervous (in fact, they seem a little nervous too) about staying in their home for four months. It's very nice to not be.... I think the word I'm looking for is smothered; but I also like that I'm not being treated as though I were a business associate- I hope that makes sense. I do miss hugs though. We went on a small hike today through the woods, and went to an old mill that is by a waterfall. When I figure out how to do pictures on this thing, I will go through and edit this and put them everywhere. Their home is beautiful, and my room is an attic room with a view of the fjord, and the mountains flanking it. It's bright in here, although the sky has been a leaky faucet ever since I got here. Oda is very helpful to me. I know it drives her crazy sometimes, me asking questions, but I try as best as I can to translate on my own. I'm in her class, which is great, and that brings us to school.
School is big- about 600 kids in three different grades. In Norway, the high school has three grades, the first one starting at age 16, and the russ (graduating class) at 18 or 19. Yes. I am a freshman again. So I will never have been a junior in my high school career. Spiffy. Anywho, You get to choose the vein you want to major in while in upper secondary school- sports, arts, or general studies. I really wanted to do arts, but it has a waiting list about 15 inches long- I saw it. So I am in Oda's vein, general studies, and in her class, C. All the people in each vein get put in one class, abut 18 people they share every (or almost every) class with. I have a pretty nice class, although most oof them have yet to say anything to me. It's fine. We have nine months.
Some people are really nice. The girls here all dress pretty similarly. Preppy, and some have a nice urban outfitters feel. I like the urban outfitter girls usually. Like ODA! OOOO. :)
I will tell you this- I swam in a fjord. With Tove and Victoria and Oda. It was cold. It had a few jellyfish. I am in English class, and can't help but laugh every time they use dictionary.com because the voice that says the words makes me think of SNL for some reason. I miss waffles for breakfast. Open-faced sandwiches getting old. Twice a day. And Norwegians eat all the time. Also, I am having a good time but I miss the way the outdoors smells at home. And the sunshine. And Boris. But I get to use my ducky umbrella a lot. The best news I've had all this time was there is a scouting troop here! I hope to join it soon. I'm excited. I heard about it at a birthday party for one of my host parent's friends last night. It was very nice. I should stop rambling! Hade!
Just words in a language that makes me feel illiterate and like I have permanent swimmer's ear. But it's okay. The thing that's tricky for me is that they speak Nynorsk and have a unique dialect, where while I was learning I was listening to Bokmal and the Oslo dialect. So I catch like every tenth word. A typical conversation for me while I listen is 'He-the-knife-bear-you-and-understand-cup'. It's a learning experience that makes you immeasurably exhausted, but my host family appreciates it when I try.
My host Parents are very sweet, although I've only been living here for two days- I spent the first two weeks living with my host counselor. Tore and his wife, Kari Jorunn, were incredibly understanding and hospitable. I really enjoyed my time with them, and I appreciate it more because now I feel comfortable enough around Tore to talk to him, whereas if I hadn't stayed with him I highly doubt I would have actually used him as a confidant.
Anyway. Oddbjorn and Gerd are very welcoming, and I feel like they know I am way too nervous (in fact, they seem a little nervous too) about staying in their home for four months. It's very nice to not be.... I think the word I'm looking for is smothered; but I also like that I'm not being treated as though I were a business associate- I hope that makes sense. I do miss hugs though. We went on a small hike today through the woods, and went to an old mill that is by a waterfall. When I figure out how to do pictures on this thing, I will go through and edit this and put them everywhere. Their home is beautiful, and my room is an attic room with a view of the fjord, and the mountains flanking it. It's bright in here, although the sky has been a leaky faucet ever since I got here. Oda is very helpful to me. I know it drives her crazy sometimes, me asking questions, but I try as best as I can to translate on my own. I'm in her class, which is great, and that brings us to school.
School is big- about 600 kids in three different grades. In Norway, the high school has three grades, the first one starting at age 16, and the russ (graduating class) at 18 or 19. Yes. I am a freshman again. So I will never have been a junior in my high school career. Spiffy. Anywho, You get to choose the vein you want to major in while in upper secondary school- sports, arts, or general studies. I really wanted to do arts, but it has a waiting list about 15 inches long- I saw it. So I am in Oda's vein, general studies, and in her class, C. All the people in each vein get put in one class, abut 18 people they share every (or almost every) class with. I have a pretty nice class, although most oof them have yet to say anything to me. It's fine. We have nine months.
Some people are really nice. The girls here all dress pretty similarly. Preppy, and some have a nice urban outfitters feel. I like the urban outfitter girls usually. Like ODA! OOOO. :)
I will tell you this- I swam in a fjord. With Tove and Victoria and Oda. It was cold. It had a few jellyfish. I am in English class, and can't help but laugh every time they use dictionary.com because the voice that says the words makes me think of SNL for some reason. I miss waffles for breakfast. Open-faced sandwiches getting old. Twice a day. And Norwegians eat all the time. Also, I am having a good time but I miss the way the outdoors smells at home. And the sunshine. And Boris. But I get to use my ducky umbrella a lot. The best news I've had all this time was there is a scouting troop here! I hope to join it soon. I'm excited. I heard about it at a birthday party for one of my host parent's friends last night. It was very nice. I should stop rambling! Hade!
Friday, August 28, 2009
So.....
I know it's been infinity since I've posted anything but you'll all have to wait just a bit longer. I don't have real time now and I haven't had access to a real computer in ages, but I promise at least this next week I will do a humongous post making up for my lack of words. Talk to you all soon! Hade!
Monday, July 13, 2009
T-minus....
I leave in one month- and it's pretty nerve wracking. I'm really excited, but I want to be sure of things that I know I can't be (like there's no screaming baby on the plane (there always is)). I got a job for the summer! I'm having a great time working in the kitchens, and that's been keeping my week pretty full- I still don't have my ticket number, but I'm all packed and everything else seems to be set. My host family's been really kind to me, and I'm looking forward to meeting them. My friends are already telling me how much they'll miss me, and I know I'll miss them- the nice thing is, they understand completely about the minimal communication idea. I really know I'll have a great time and meet all new people and experience a whole new life- it just feels like I'm sitting on my hands, waiting to be able to get up and go! I do love this summer though; when the sun's out, it's beautiful outside.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Koi, School, and Packing Dilemmas
My first host family has been very cool about giving me information and talking to me. My host parent's names are Oddbjorn and Gerd (my host-dad's name isn't the right spelling because this keyboard doesn't have the letters); they both work at schools. My host sister's names are Oda and Sophie May; Sophie May is coming to the US for her exchange while I'm in Norway. I hope we get to meet each other before she leaves! They have a cat, and a koi pond. My high school will have somewhere around 700 kids, and Oda is going to be in the same grade as I am. I'm excited about meeting my family- they've been really kind and helpful with answering any of the questions I have. I'm nervous about leaving and then starting school three days later, but I know I'll be fine. I'm really greatful to Oda for making me feel more comfortable about the whole situation!
Stord is a lot bigger than I thought it was initially.
I made a lot of money on the raffle- thank you so much to the people that helped me sell tickets!!!
My biggest fears right now are maintaining contact with my family (my friends all know that I'll talk to them if they comment on my blog.... :D), PACKING, and getting to know people when I arrive. I think I've made a good start!
Stord is a lot bigger than I thought it was initially.
I made a lot of money on the raffle- thank you so much to the people that helped me sell tickets!!!
My biggest fears right now are maintaining contact with my family (my friends all know that I'll talk to them if they comment on my blog.... :D), PACKING, and getting to know people when I arrive. I think I've made a good start!
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