The Norwegian wood!

today was really good- I'm back in the horse business for sure now you see! Today the neighbors of Mortin said "Hi are you sarah? will you help us with our horse?" and so I got on, and Mortin says "Just start running and don't stop until she does!" hahahah I felt right at home again! and then, to relax, I went for a ride on the coolest horse ever! Tolgrim- he is a Fjord horse, and knows the Norwegian woods here like Candy knows the Elmwood ones :D I just got on him bareback and let him go wherever. See the woods here are so different from ours- they are completely different vegitation, and almost all of it here is rocky (not to mention covered with ice), to the point where I can't even think of riding off the wood roads unless I am on a Fjord pony. So he took me down this moose trail- like a deer trail but a little bigger lol. It was so neat, because we would get to a place in the trail that looked exactly the same to me (covered in six inches of snow!) and he would stop, stick out his foot, and start pawing. then ice would break all around, revealing a big hole or something, and he would paw until he found the edge of it, and walk around it and continue!

It is so neat, because Tolgrim is the only horse I have ridden here that will do that. It is quite dangerous to ride a regular horse off the trail, because what happens is all the snow melts, collecting in the bottom of a hill or slope or ditch, and it freezes all the way through. then, when the temperature is a little above freezing, the ice at the bottom melts out and runs into the ground, leaving a four inch thick layer of ice over air. then so much snow is on top of it, you can't even see there was ever a ditch there, leaving you with a tiger trap lol. I think Tolgrim can feel it in his feet :D Beth, you would love him! Tolgrim, was by the way, the second horse I was asked to ride by the local farmers today hahahaha

New Years is almost here! I am going to a new years eve party, and then on the second day of January, I go to my new host family! I am going to miss Solvieg and Rolv and Ole, but i think it is going to be fun with my next family too! It is just a bit odd to think of starting everything except school completely over again!

Happy New Years everyone!!!

Second day of Christmas!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

A hard push downhill on new skiis!

Haha yes, I tried it for the first time today and it was a lot of fun! but I will get to that soon enough....Well Christmas here was VERY different, but I have really enjoyed it...and it is still happening! On little Christmas eve, which is the day before Christmas eve, We went to a cabin in the mountians and ate grøt OUTSIDE. It was a lot of fun :D

On Christmas eve, Me, Solvieg, Rolv and Ole spent the day watching TV. thats right, a whole playlist of movies that EVERYONE watches every Christmas. Every one knows them and would not miss them for the world. Then in the evening, after I got back from church (I had gone with Sissel)my Host grandmother, Astry, came and we had a really pretty and good Dinner of A special kind of Rib and sausage. After that we had coffee and tea and started to open the presents. I got an absolutely beautiful necklace from my host family, A really cool Norwegian Santa doll, and the greatest pair of socks ever- They are kindof unexplainable, but they are VERY norwegian. After that (it was about midnight) we all just relaxed and went to bed. On Christmas day, we slept in and then went to church, were Rolv was singing. they are REALLY good and I love to hear them. Then it was back home for coffee, and later to Austry's house for a big family dinner.

So today was the second day of Christmas, and I went to my third Host family's house to meet EVERYONE and have a Christmas lunch. afterwards I went skiing with my "Uncle Lars and cousins" for the first time ever, and had a really good time! Going downhill is no problem, but tramping through all that snow to go uphill was a problem, because I would get halfway up, and just slide back down backwards! well, there is a party tonight and a lot of kids are coming over here fisrt, so I better get off and take a shower, but I will post some pictures later.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Little Little Christmas Eve

Today is Little Little Christmas Eve, wich is the day before Little Christmas Eve, which is the day before Christmas eve, which is the day we will really celebrate. We brought the Christmas tree in today, but we won't decorate it until tommorow, the 23rd. I have been pretty busy lately, visiting people with my host family and doing the general Christmas things. Christmas is a really big deal here, which I love entirely!
This morning we had a special kind of meat, rolled in tortilla bread with a kind of mustard. It was actually pretty good! Also, there is a big vat of home made (non alcholic) beer, getting ready for Christmas eve, when there will be a big family dinner. I tasted some this morning and didn't like it to much. It is good though to drink at Christmas parties because you can have all you want and still drive, which I guess is the theory behind it. On Christmas day itself, we will go to church and then to My host Dad's Mom's house for a Christmas party. I am really excited about having a Norwegian Christmas, and hope you guys all have a wonderful one as well!

Another post today- this was FUN too!

okay, so after Lucia, I headed home. well, i was making cookies in the kitchen, and I looked out the window: out in the middle of a field was a frozen pond, and on it was a hockey game! just some kids around here playing around, and I knew a couple so I got warm clothes on and went out to watch. Sigmon said Solvieg probably had and extra pair of skates from Anders or Ole, and he would teach me! So I texted her, and sure enough she did! So I got them and came back out, and tried it out! It was crazy hard at first because the ice was coated in sleet so it was really rough, but once you got going fast enough it was no problem! The oly thing is, I can go faster and faster, but I can't slow down! usually I just stopped by running into to someone/something lol, but I got the hang of it and was wacking around a puck before long- not that I had any control over where it went. well, thats it- just thought It was a good conclusion to a great day! ((by the way, It was -17 and dark outside when we were doing this, and as soon as I came home I put on my new fuzzy bathrobe xoxox thanks Groses!))

Lucia Day!!!

This is Santa Lucia herself!

This is her with the "Starboys". They are really cute!!

Me and Santa Lucia :D

This is them going through the class room

Wow! today was really cool! it is Lucia day- December 13th. Instead of going to my school (I only had two classes anyway) I went with Solvieg to her school, which is an elementry. In the middle of class, all of a sudden a line of little girls and boys dresses in white and holding candles came in. they walked around the class room singing and handing out little homemade buns to the children, and then walked back out as quickly as they had come! It was so neat- they were lead by a little girl wearing a crown of candles on her head, who was representing Santa Lucia, who is a girl from a Swedish Chisrtmas story: when she was little, her parents had arranged a marriage for her. She refused to marry the boy, and so she was killed. Now every December 13th, this is done at the childrens school to remember her by. I really enjoyed it, and have a couple videos and photos from it I have posted above

This is the song below, followed by an English Translation

Natten går tunga fjätrund gård och stuva;kring jord, som sol förlät,skuggorna ruva.Då i vårt mörka hus,stiger med tända ljus,Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Natten går stor och stumnu hörs dess vingari alla tysta rumsus som av vingar.Se, på vår tröskel stårvitklädd med ljus i hårSankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Mörkret ska flykta snartur jordens dalarså hon ett underbartord till oss talar.Dagen ska åter nystiga ur rosig skySankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

The night goes with weighty stepround yard and (stove i.e. house, hearth?)round earth, the sun departsleave the woods broodingThere in our dark house, appears with lighted candlesSaint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
The night goes great and mutenow hear it swingsin every silent roommurmurs as if from wings.Look at our threshold standswhite-clad with lights in her hairSaint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
The darkness shall soon departfrom the earth's valleysthus she speaksa wonderful word to usThe day shall rise anewfrom the rosy sky.Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.

It's begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Okay, So Saterday morning i woke up to this- Is it beautiful or what??? Take note of the footprints in the snow- they were the result of the very exciting night beofre, when when we got a foot of snow. It about 1 AM, I couldn't sleep because it was a bright moon reflecting off snow, which resulted in almost midafternoon light. So I put on some warm clothes and went out to build a snowman. Problem was, the snow was so deep i ended up with a huge one, and couldn't get the middle part on. I tried everything- I eve mae a snow ramp, but it still didn't work. Finally, at about 2 o clock, I went over to my neighbor Per's house (they stay up really late on weekends) and asked him if he would help me. him and his brother (sigmon) and his Brother's Friend (Håvard) came out and we managed to get it up. Then we spent another hour getting the head made and decorated. This is him- I took this picture the next morning.

After that, Per asked if I had ever seen a "snow light." I said no, and he said to make some snowballs. So we made some, which he stacked in sort of a hollow pyramid shape (picture below)

Then the coolest thing ever!! he put candles inside, and lit them. It was so pretty and right outside my bedroom window. I kept getting up and looking at it!

this is a warped piture, but I am leaving it here anyway because it is very cute :)

Math Exam :-o

This past week we have been getting ready for a test in math, and I just assumed it was like all the other ones- an hour or two and you turn it in, right? well today we started testing at 10, and stayed testing in the same room until 3:15. We even ate bagged lunch while testing, and had to have an escort to the bathroom! It was a really short test (only about two pages) but unlike every other standardized test I have taken in my life, it was NOT multiple choice! So It was really long and boring, made ten times worse because big fat snowflakes where falling outside! It is pitch black at about 4:3o now, but it can be sooner if it is gray weather. when it is clear at night though, the stars are so bright it is amazing! I can't see the northern lights from where I am, but If I go to a feild or something and look up, you can see swirls of grey and far away stars all mixxed together, and it is beautiful.
Saterday is when Christmas celebrations begin, at least for us youth. Saterday night Ole and I are going to a Christmas party, so tommorow I really need to find a dress to wear!!! I didn't find one I liked last week, so this time Im going to have to go into Hamar. it is nice having so much free time Thursday, because It gives me time to do get anything I need when I am already in the City for school. Løten has a few shops, but not very much. Well, I better get off here- I have homework :-p

Some pictures and "Løten Lys"

This is Løten lys (candle) factory- the one tiny part that still actually produces candles.

Me and bet - The smallest one- getting ready to ride. She is my favorite I think- Its really funny because when she sees me coming (Im always on a bike) She trots to the gate and chases all the other horses away. Its quite flattering really lol. Nina, Mortin's wife, just told me that she is pregnant, and thats why she hasn't been racing. She is due in March or April- I will be here still!!!

The Polar Bear room- It looks better than this, but my flash kind of messed it up :D

This is what it looks like before the snow gets dirty! You can kindof see the lake and the mountains in the backround.

Løten Lys is a candle factory about two miles from where I am staying. this evening Solvieg took me and we went through it- It was NOT what I expected really- It was kind of like an indoor market/ Christmas show. It was completely packed with candles, soap, candle holders, chrismas decorations and the like. Evidently it is open almost all the time in the winter. It was a lot of fun to go through, especially since in random places there where these sets- like at Discovery Place when you are a little kid and there is that room full of moving dinasuars and the fake caves? Well those where here, and one room had an "Ice Cave" full of moving Polar bears. Another room was like a cavern, and it featured a giant stone head in the wall. I have posted some pictures above. it is snowing again, but quickly turning into Ice. It is so slippery outside, you always have to hold onto something, or you have to use your shoes like roller skates.

I'm not sure if this will work or not, but It is of Eline trying to teach me to walk on ice, since I am incredabley ungraceful and look more like a penguin than anything else!

Well,I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! I called home to say hi, and it was quite good to talk to everyone. It also worked out well that that same evening I Went in my Rotary jacket to a community fair I guess you could say, to talk to students about Rotary Exchange, so I was to busy to even think about being homesick! Supposidly this is the time when I should start to get a little homesick, what with Christmas and such approaching, but So far it has not been a problem, since I have found a barn full of horses and have such a great host family. I really got lucky with them for sure- It makes a big difference. Speaking of which, It is time to eat dinner- fresh Moose steak Mmmmm!

Icey Roads and Christmas Baking

There has been a coat of really slick ice over everything for the past few days now, and it is so bad when Me and my friends went down to Maxi on monday, we didn't pick up our feet once- we just slid all the way there like we were using roller skates! Everything looks like a black and white picture because it is all coated in ice- It is quite lovely I think, unless you have some where you need to be!
Today me and Solvieg went to our neighbor's house to make "Christmas cakes" for the big Christmas party coming up on December Second- The second day of Christmas as it is called. I actually ended up making jewlry with a girl named Anne Marie while the grown-ups turned the kitchen into a full blown breadstick- factory. The reamaining question is How big is this party, because there were an awful lot of breadsticks! (minus the two Anne marie and I ate!)
I am looking forward to tommorow because it is a free day, which I still don't understand, butI sure won't complain! School is still going well- I have finally gotten used to haveing different classes every day of the week- It is quit nice really, because it stays interesting. In Norwegian I gave an oral book report in Norwegian. It was very short, but it was understandable, and that's what Im going for :D It is nice that we have the same group of people for all our classes I think. Our class is very close and we all know each other well, so there are no cliques and you can just talk to anyone. But outside of class, we have enough free time that you can have friends in other classes as well.
Well, I better get off here- busy day tommorow!

Another horse Day!

Well I know this didn't take long, but I had to correct my former entry! That was NOT fast. Today I took rode two warmbloods, the latter of which was a 17.2hh 4 year old mare. Mortin brought another pulling a surry, and said that this time to bring my horse up beside his and run like it was a race. It WAS SO COOL!!!!! My horse, Idella, completely flattened out and just bolted at a trot so fast I couldn't even reckognize the gait. There is a speed gauge on Mortin's cart, and we ran 1 kilometer at 51 kilometers an hour, which is 31.7 mph!!!!!!! It is so much fun and like nothing I have ever done before, because it isn't just flat, it is cross country and cold and you really have to be strong with your arms to stay in control. well, Dinner time!

For you horse lovers!!!!

Wow, the weather is really starting to change here- It has not been above about -3 Celsius this past week during the day, and as cold as -15 at night! All over there is a thin powdery layer of sleet/ snow that has been here this whole time, and so all the roads a icy and slick, but people still drive as usual. It is also Dark quite a bit of the time now. When I get to school at about eight, I can watch the end of sunrise from the cafe, and when I get off the bus at about 4, I have about 30 minutes before dark! This is quite hard to get used to, especially since I like to spend so much time outside. Now three days a week I take the bus from the city, so I have a freezing cold bike ride every Mon, weds, and Thurs! I am such a wimp that I have deflated my tires a bit, so I have to pedal twice as hard and I can get warm fast! I think my best investment here so far has been a pair of impossibly warm gloves- I would not survive the mornings without them!
Last Thursday was an interesting day for me- I didn't have class until noon, since I have Spanish and everyone else in my class has German, So I walked from my school to the large city nearby (maybe about 4 miles, which is nothing anymore!) to look around and see if there was anything going on (there is usually a concert or music festival somewhere, not to mention there are about 10 malls!). Well I ran into three lost American kids my age, who were staying in Europe, and were in Norway for the weekend. We started talking, and I ended up taking them around the city, showing them all the places I thought were really cool. It was a lot of fun I think, because I felt like a native. It was very strange for me to speak so much English at once, and to be able to understand a conversation completely, and It was funny because I kept forgetting the English words, and saying sentences like in Norwegian. We had lunch and then I had to take a bus to get to class on time, but it was definitely fun, mostly because I am getting a bit homesick now, and it was nice to have that.
Today was a wonderful day also- this morning I was bored to tears because I hadn't made any plans, so I got on my bike and went out for a while. Now you know how if a smoker suddenly stops, they get to be quite strange and unpleasant? Well I have been a bit like this without horses- Not unpleasant though, just not to sure what to do with myself. So today I went by this really pleasant looking stable with about seven horses or so, and on a whim I pulled over, knocked on the door, and asked if I could do something- anything- with a horse. The lady there told me to talk to the man in the barn, so I went in and asked him the same question. He smiled and said "will you ride?" I about died right there, because I just wanted to touch a horse again, I didn't even hope to ride one! I said that yes, I thought that would be just fine. But I had no idea what I was in for! First, he let me borrow these really cool sort of riding coveralls, and really strange helmet. Then he sent me out to catch what was probably the tallest horse I have ever seen. She was built like a TB, but even more leggy and narrow then most, and she was five years old and quite nervous. The man- His Name is Mortin, and He is really cool- just gave me her tack and hitched up another two year old to a two wheeled cart. Now my first clue should have been the fact that it was a racing cart, and the second clue would have been the fact that his helmet had Racing goggles, but I still didn't know what I was in for. Well he led the way down the road and I just let my horse follow his, and then we turned on this really long sand path. It was coated in about 4 inches of ice and snow, and all up and down these hills I might not have tempted on Candy. He turned around and said "hold on really tight" TO WHAT??? it was an English saddle! Then he took off, and my horse right behind him. It was the fastest I think I have ever gone on a horse- and get this- It was trotting! Indeed, i had unknowingly mounted a trotting horse sporting spiked shoes, and all I could do was try not to fall off. We just went and went, and it wasn't until about the first ten minutes that I started to get used to it and enjoy it. The gait is so rough I couldn't sit it, and when I defiantly couldn't post without my horse freaking out, so I just stood up. I can't really describe how cool it was, but maybe if you have seen the racing on TV, you can imagine what it was like to RIDE one. we went for a loop about 15kilometers around an iced over lake, and it was so much fun! When we got back to the barn I helped him line drive a two year old, and then walked with another one while he put the cart behind him for the first time. The best part is- He said I can come and ride anytime I want!!!!!So now I feel a million times better knowing that I can get on a horse whenever I feel like it!

some pictures!

T This is a shopping mall in Oslo. once again, check out that parking lot!

This is the garden. It is truely amazing! It is filled with statues and sculptures and fountains.

this is the Royal Castle where the Royal Family lives. You can see the flag at the top, which means they are home!

Moose Hunting and Oslo!

Helloooo!
last week was pretty cool! Monday was mosse hunting, and that was interesting. From six in the morning until eight at night. That's fourteen hours spent in the woods. It was quite an interesting technique. first you bundle up like an eskimo, (the temperature never got above freezing) and you go with a team. the team spreads out, with a person at a station about every 500 meters. there are about six people total. I was with the president of our Rotary club, and stayed with him since I didn't have a gun. after everybody is in there place, someone takes this dog that is like a half sized wolf, and finds a scent track somewhere. When the scent is picked up, the person with the dog radios everyone and keeps them updated on where they are. the Idea is to push the Moose towards the hunters and ambush it. Of course if you miss the first one (which we did) everyone relocates and starts again. after a moose has been shot, it is taken back to the camp in this tractor like sling. then everyone stands around telling stories while it is gutted and cleaned. NOTHING gets thrown out. I thought it was completely discusting, and I don't think I would do it again, but It was deffinately and expierience! I don't think I have ever spent so long in the cold! it was funny, because I haf brought a yogurt for lunch, and It froze solid and never thawed! you have to wera a very special kind of pants and coat, and lucky for me Ole had some, so that was good.

The next two days were spent in Oslo. I went with Solvieg, my ost mom, and we went to the Royal Palace, and this amazing garden full of sculptures. I do not have the slightest Idea how to spell the name of it, but I have taken some pictures that describe it pretty well. It was beautiful weather the first day, so we were outside the whole time. We spent the night in their flat, and The next day went to the National Gallery! this was my favorite! We came at the right time, too. It had many norwegian Artists that I have not heard of, but really liked, but in addition to that, there was a special exhibition of European art. Renoir, Mattisse, Picasso, Munch (who is also Norwegian!) Van Gough and the like! I got to see Van Gough's Self Portrait, and "The Scream"!!

This week has also been interesting at school- On Monday, Me and Eline and Mayaa went down to Maxi after first class. The entire place was swarming with people from school running around with bottles of soda. It was "Yule Bruss" day. That is the day when "Yule Bruss" (Christmas Soda) goes on sale. It is quite a big deal, because everyone seriously loves it! people were buying packages of it, and lugging it back to school, drinking it like crazy and hugging each other. I thought it was quite fun, and we joined in the celebration.
Then later I figured out why the school stays so clean. Everyday on a rotating basis, a class is selected to clean the school. It is about two hours of collecting dishes, picking up trash inside and out, and doing whatever needs to be done. In addition to keeping the school clean, It really encourages students not to trash it in the first place, when they know their classmates are the ones cleaning up after them.
Also, there is a special day coming up thursday, and I think this is the coolest thing of all: Thursday, no one has to come to school. Instead, you go out and get a job for the day. It can be anything: working for your parents, in a shop, at a barn, for the neighbor, you name it. If you cannot find a job, the school assigns you one. You work there for a day, and the only condition is that you have to earn 300kr (60 dollars). the next day, all the money is COLLECTED at school, and it goes to a charity called "Sammen For Barn" or "together for Children". It helps pay for food, cloths and education for children in Africa. this is truely amazing if you think about it- in a huge school like this, even if only 2000 students participate, that raises 120,000 dollars, in ONE DAY. Not to mention students get work expeirience and become a part of something like this. I think this is a really wonderful idea! Local businesses know about it, so they are quite ready to hire students for a day, students are happy to get out of school for a day and get a grade for doing something of their choice, and it is a huge help to a country that really needs it.

On holiday!

Hello everyone! School is out for this week, and everyone has just relaxed over the weekend, and we are ready for a busy week of vacation! Every Sunday morning we have breakfast together, and Today I made it. I made scrambled eggs (success) Baked apples (quite good) And tater tots (an utter disastster, since the potatoes here are quite different- they are kind of yellow and slimy, so you can imagine...) and Sweet tea. It was quite fun actually. It was very much like a "Perry style" sunday breakfast- I played Chris Ledoux, showed them how to eat with the fork in the right hand (switching fork hands was quite a challenge for me, and I actually felt quite unatural eating the way I have up until two months ago.) And perhaps the most amusing part of it all was teaching them how to adopt a southern drawl. They are very good sports about it, and It is fun because Ander's, (they're other son) is in America, probally learning the same thing.

This week promises to be a busy one as well- This afternoon Ole is going to Fredrikstad for a three day party, I am going Moose hunting tommorow, and then Solvieg and I are going to Oslo for two days and going to the National Art gallery, as well as other famous Norwegian sights and places. I think it will be quite fun. Today I am cleaning my room- and no, that is not the most shocking part- I have kept my room unaturally clean since I have been here, and I think it is becoming a habit! Part of it has to do with the fact that it is literally about a third of the size of my room at home- It is quite typical actually, and not inconvinient or anything. It is just the way it is, and I kind of like it actually.

Well, I better go wash my sheets and dig out something warm to wear for Moose hunting- I have no Idea what this is really, but I am going with a "Moose hunting team" really early in the morning to stake ne out. I shall post more on this afterwards, but for now I am afraid to make any assumptions!

ha dei! (bye!)

My School! (pictures)

This is it! the front anyway. It is the most modern school in Norway, as we students like to boast :D

Our lockers have outlets in them so we can charge our cell phones\laptops. or plug in lava lamps!

our glamerous cafetria! lol. complete with sofas.

We recycle!

The school parking lot!

Just a little bit different isn't it? lol, you can probally see why the first day was REALLY scary, and also why I love it so much now!

On the way to Flåm, we stopped to see these paintings on rocks. They are sooo old!

We went on a train up and down the mountains. When we stopped I took this picture. all the water comes from the snow melting.

This is the smallest church in Norway! or one of them at least! they really do have services here. It is in a tiny town on the side of the fjord.

This is a Norwegian Stave church- aka Viking church! It was so neat- especially the paintings on the alter, and the wood carved pulpit. I would have taken pictures, but of course thats not allowed.

This is the Fjord in Flåm (say that ten times fast!) We stayed with a family right on the side of this!


It is hard to describe some of these places, but I think pictures do it some justice! It was a great weekend, and we saw lots of things! We stayed with some family friends, and went on a boat through the fjord, went on the "Flåmline" train, and also, on the way we went through the longest tunnel in the world! it took FOREVER and went straight through sever mountians!

A trip "out west"

Hello! This weekend was the Rotary district conferance, and we all went to Kristiansund. You can see it on the map at the left. It is on the West coast of Norway, Where the Fjords are. The exchange students from the Hamar\Oslo Area all flew there, and I found it quite cool flying over the Fjords, because ThIS weekend, My host family is taking me to Flåm, By car, so we will see it all! While we were there last weekend though, we walked around the city on friday (I went with Some other students and Quinn, who lives there, so we got to see all the interesting stuff, not just the historical sites, though we did see those as well) That evening we put together another presentation, only this time for a lot more Rotarians! Saterday we Preformed it, and then That evening We went to a...well, almost a ropes course, but minus some ropes!!! We Put these little harnesses around our waists, and the sent us to climbing through this course. It was Sleeting, and it was completely dark. our last obsticle was a straight down freefall from a log bridgeing two trees. It was pretty cool!

Sunday was the last day, and we took a bus tour of "The Atlandic Road." It is basically a chain of islands connected by Strangely constructed bridges. It is considered to be a Structual Marvel of Norway, and it was quite beautiful! At the top left, I posted a map of the area, so you can picture the Geography.

This week has been a good one as well. Wedensday Was a "special day" (according to everyone, "Just Because") so class started at 10 as usal, only it was in the middle of a forest. All the people in my class just met at this place in the middle of nowhere, and I Don't know how, for if I hadn't have found some class mates earlier, I would have been completely lost. We spent the day in small groups, Identifying trees, finding mushrooms, and catching bugs. It was so suprising, the bug catching. We all had these nets, so it looked like a very bad day to be a bug, but whenever some one caught one, it was placed ever so carefully in a magnifing container, passed around gentley for investigation, and then released in the exact spot it had been taken from. I Imediatly thought of Beth- You would have loved to see these spiders! Class ended at 2, and I went to my friend May Kristin's house, and we drank Hot chocolate until we had thawed out!

Also this week I went with some friends to a fair- Remarkable similiar to ours- And also to A Norwegian rap concert! that was pretty cool. Their name was "Karpe Dium", which I thought was pretty funny- White boys, rapping in Norwegian, with a Latin name. I liked it a lot, even though I didn't understand it! Now I am just relaxing this morning, until I have class at 12. This evening I am going to the Rotary meeting, since the Governor is coming! I will make another post when I return from Flåm. (lots of pictures!)

On the road again!

This is the Viking ship in Hamar. You can see it larger if you click on it.

I took this picture from the lake.

This is from the end of our Geography lesson. It was lots of fun! About thirty kids,

Flying through the city on Bikes, and we would stop at anything we thought was interesting,

sit down in the grass, and our teacher told us about it. We went a pretty good distance

and saw all sorts of things. It is nice because Everyone enjoys it, and you

get to SEE things for yourself, not just read about them, so you learn

much quicker. We rode from our school to a residentail area, a farming district, an industrial area, a city, and then to another school, where we are here.

This is a picture of part of our school Library on an empty day.

It is cool because everyone likes to hang out here- The Library is for the
students you could say. They have Comfy chairs, a coffee bar and a Porch for sunny days.

Me Setting up Nemi. In the back you can see the Viking Ship.

This is one of the "holes" in Helvete.

Hello! it has been quite a busy week, as usual! last weekend I travled to Fefår for a Rotary conference. About twelve other exchange students came as well, and we listened to the meetings, went to the Governor's banquet, and did a presentation on Sunday. It was A lot of fun, and the area was beautiful! It was in the mountains, which are mostly trees and small farms scattered "on the sunny side". After the conferance on Sunday, I went with two Rotary members to a place called Helvete. We paid 15 cronner and hiked down a bit, and came to this really cool place where whirl pools from a long time ago had swirled rockes around until they carved out these vertical cylinders in the walls of the river bed. They were about thirty feet high! We walked down the river bed on these little wooden bridges for a while (trust me, they are not the idiot proof ones you come to expect at tourist attractions!), and then climed up a ladder and then a rope to get out! it was really cool!

This week I have been going to school, naturally, and I am understanding more and more. I am trying to do all my class work in Norwegian if it is possible, and with the help of Eline (Eeleena) or Hæken I can write a paragraph or so. For Norsk (Norwegian) we are reading a book to give an oral report on, and I have checked out a decent sized one, and during free hours, Hæken goes through it with me, with me reading it in Norwegian until I get to a word I don't know. It works out well, because I get a little farther every time! The local elections were this Monday, so we have been hearing about plenty of politics (though I understand hardly any of this!)

Another interesting thing: Yesterday I went shopping with my friend from school, Ida (Eeedah) and then we went to Dog show training. She had asked me if I wanted to go and I said sure, assuming she meant to watch, but I actually got to take a dog and learned how to show her! her name is Nemi, and she was last years Top B sized dog in Norway, if anyone knows what that means? I don't, but the explanation confused m more than the answer! Anyway, i have posted some pictures of it. The training was at the Viking Ship in Hamar, so that is what you see in the backround.

I leave again tommorow at 11 (No school for me!) and take a plane to....Kristansound? (I spelled that phonetically, but it is wrong so I will correct it when I know!) it is the Norway Rotary conferance, and all of the exchange students will give their presentations and Go to some Rotary sessions. Then the weekend after that, I am going to Flåm with my family, and will post more on that later!

A post from School!

Hello! I am sitting in the library (biblioteket!) between classes, and had a bit of spare time, so I thought I would make a quick post! I am lking this school more and more everyday, as I am learning my way around and meeting people. Today our class is going on a 20 kilometer bike ride for geography! We all brought our bikes to school, and will ride until about five. lastFriday we did not have a geography lesson, so that is why we are staying longer today. It is starting to get a bit colder here- the trees are starting to change colors, and I am no longer sleeping with my windows open!

one cool thing here is the computers- rather than have a computer lab, there is a vault of laptops that people can check out in the library, and bring to the classrooms to use. It is pretty cool! Also you can get on the library's desktops when ever you want, like I am now.

Gym class is also interesting. Yesterday we had it at a place very much like the YMCA. It was pretty cool- indoor pool and lots of soocer fields outside. We played Frisbee for a really long time.

Well, I better go here and head off to Naturfag- still not sure what that translates into English!

Settled In!

Hello! It has been a while, but I have plenty to write about! I have been trying to figure out school mostly, which has turned out to be much tougher to do than I expected! Not the people, but the schedule! It is very different from American schools, which I expected, but not the details, as usual =) For starters, a group of about thirty people make up a "class" we Stay together for all of our classes, except language courses (Spanish, french, etc). We have different schedules every day of the week, and the classes are never in the same room! math, Politics, and Languages are held in auditoriums with about 100-200 students. you are completely on the honor system to show up. The other classes, Earth ans Atmosphere, Norwegian and English are in different rooms. Wednesdays are special For our class- School starts at 11, and from 11 until 3:15 we are all taking one subject, such as Norwegian, for the entire day. This is made for projects and Field trips mostly. The cool part- every third week we have Wednesday off! Tuesday and Friday school starts at about 9:30, and as soon as the teacher is done teaching, you can leave. Between classes we have quite a bit of free time- anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours. Usually we walk a mile to the mall, here you can go to the Maxi centrum and by a croissant for lunch, and browse the shops until your next class. Classes however, are much more concentrated, and the students are very focused. It seems like we spend half the time in class, but learn twice as much. Even when it is in Norwegian! I have made quite a few friends here already- Mary, who has an Icelandic pony that she has let me ride, Eline who is my best Norwegian friend and who ALWAYS seems to know where we are supposed to be and when! Eda, marta, and May Kristen who Eline and I hang out with between classes. Then of course there is Ole, my "brother", Marn, Helena, Hilda and Pedder, But i do not see them very often since we have different schedules.
The school itself is the most modern (not to mention biggest!) one I have ever seen. It is quite nice- mostly all glass. All of the lights are Motion activated, so If no one is in a hall, the lights go off, which is quite nice! Thee is no intercom system- instead, in all the halls are giant plasma TVs with announcements and other information playing on them. It is very cool, but took some time to get used to. I still wouldn't be able to find my classes if it wasn't for Eline and Mary!
Outside of school, I first felt pretty unsure of what to do with myself- Usually I would head straight up to the barn, or do something with Julie or Ride, and It is quite strange to not come home and ride a horse! Now I am getting used to it, and finding other ways to entertain myself. I usually go exploring, one way or the other. I have a cell phone now, So My host parents don't worry so much about me getting lost. I like to go off on the bike and find public trails, of which there are plenty, and see what there is to see! Yesterday I came across this huge old Paper mill turned into a museum. That is a picture of it at the top. Also I go up to the Barn here and hang out with Mary and Eda, but the trouble is the weather, since it is very unpredictable and the barn is a considerable distance away!
The weekends have been quite full as well! I have been to My host Rotary club and told a little about myself, and one of the members took me and My councilor out on his speed boat on the largest lake in Norway. Also I have been to the Hamar Music Festival, The Farmers market, The opening of a huge new Golf course, Several hikes, and I have met the Bishop and Norway's biggest country star, both without realizing it until some one told me who I had been talking to!
The weather here, as I said earlier, is quite unpredictable. It is sunny, and then it rains, and then it is Sunny....It is very pleasant for the most part though. two mornings ago there was frost on the ground! the next two weekends I am traveling to go to Rotary Functions, and in three weeks my host family is taking my to Flum, in western Norway, to see the Fjords and other Norwegian Sights! My family here is great- They treat me just like a family member, and are always taking me some where! My host brother Ole was a huge help in the beginning of school, showing me where my classes were and helping me figure out the bus system. I am really enjoying myself, and learning more every day. I am catching on to Norwegian now, and can make the sounds of Ø Æ and Å, which was the hardest part for me at first. Norway is definitely a good place to be!

first day of school

Wow. Wow. I don't think I've ever done anything so stressful or strange in my entire life! It is great though! Yesterday Sissel took me to look around, and it is HUGE. It is about as far from North as you can imagine. Steel and glass, auditoriums for classrooms, cappacino machines instead of water fountains, amazingly designed and decorated, and did I mention HUGE! so after that I was pretty anxious about what would happen, Not knowing anything else but that it was huge. This Morning, Sissel took me to the bus stop and said Ole would look after me. And let me tell you, I would not have survived without him! He pretty much stayed with me the whole day- which only included 30 mins. of class. after the short class, We met up with about six other people and walked the the mall where we just kinda strolled around. Then we went back to the cafeteria- If you can even call it that- more like a restraunt- and hung around till we got bored about noon or so. Then Ole and I took the bus back to Løten and went to his house. We watched a couple shows till Sissel came and picked me up, and here I am. In shock. It is so cool- I mean, there is so much freedom here for the students, but everyone is so responsible it is not abused. Tomorow has great potentual to be interesting- at noon our class is going to a beach on the lake to have a cookout- Ole said that as a "getting to know you / icebreaker" the classes have a competition to see who can make the longest rope- out of clothes. welcome to Norway =)

All the people here are very nice- quite shy at first though I have noticed. They warned us at language camp that you had to talk to them for a while first, And I see that now, But as soon as you get to know each other they are all quite nice- the people I have met anyway. I think I forgot to post this- Sunday Sissel and I met my first host family for coffee- I love them! Solvieg, the mother, is so nice and, well, motherly. Rolv the father is very nice as well. Ole, My new brother is great. He is very nice and makes sure I am where I am supposed to be. He's pretty cute too, and loves heavy metal, though he doesn't seem the type. At school I met many people who's names I can't pronounce, but I like them all. Hilda and Helena are my second and third host sisters, and they are both nice people. Well, Better go eat Santa's little helpers! (Just kidding, Its tomatoe soup.)

More Pictures from Camp

Another Scenic Picture...

Neil, Me and Josey, starring in "We saw a Moose"

Russle and Me

Canadian Lauren, Quin (as in: he is a quinner) Me, and Nicole
Lauren, Me and Neil



(front) Kaoru, Me, Josey, (back) Lauren and Marcella. Messing around after our last day of class

Sorry you have to turn your head sidways to see it, But all the commands on the computer are in Norwegian, and "Rotate" is not one that I know! but anyway, this is one of the pastures around the camp.

Okay, so those are the most of them! I had a bit of time, so I thought I would post them before school starts on Monday....hmmmm....I'm a bit nervous, but who wouldn't be?

Today so far has been very good weather. I took a nice walk after breakfast this morning, and then Went to town with Sissel and saw all the shops and offices. After that we went to the Opening of a huge new golf course near the biggest lake in Norway. It was all said in Norwegian, so I didn't catch much more than that, but I met several Rotarians there.

Also We drove past the Viking ship shaped Ice Ring, where the Winter Olympics were held in I Believe it was 1994? It really is impressive! I will be sure to take a picture next time, but in the intrest of my low battery, I decided to wait until I got a converter. This evening at nine is The concert in which Sissel's brother is playing- It sounds like a pretty cool thing- It really is under a bridge!

In Løten- and yes, "Ø" is on the keyboard =)

A rather bad picture (we are all squinting) but thats some of us.

A picture from the first day here. Very typical view, if that tells you anything- thats why I am still in awe.

This, from bottom left, is Nicole, Josey, Me, and top row is Brazo, eva, Benwår, and Kaoru.

Katie, youasked what a water trampoline is- Here you go! Me, Quinn, Kauru, Lauren, Benwår and a boy from Brazil whos name I can't pronounce so I call him Brazo, took the boat out and you can see it tied.

Well, I mostly wanted to post some pictures now that I am at a real house, but I will make an update soon =)

A Norwegian hike

I have a little bit more time this evening, so I decided to make another post. Today was another sunny day, but very cold- We wore jackets all day. After Norwegian lessons, six of us went on a very long hike. By everyone I mean three Canadians: Lauren (sweet) Quinn (Really funny) and Nicole (Smart) and two french: Eva (a french goth) Benoit (speaks no English) and Kaoru, my japanese friend. We Went all over the place, and the higher we got, the more mosquitoes we ran into. One cool thing is that cows roam EVERYWHERE. Fences have a reverse purpose here: rather than keeping Cows in, they keep cows OUT. there are cattle gaurds at the end of all the driveways, and fences around everyone's property, but you can go anywhere you want really, from what I understood in broken Norwegian. It is still a beautiful place, and everywhere smells so good, like the mountails only cleaner. we are all learing languages other than Norwegian now- French, German, Japanese, Canadian.... (just kidding about that last one =) It has been getting very cold at night, but we still sleep with our windows open. Well, Better go to bed!

By the way- It was not lamb for dinner last night- It was MOOSE. pretty good to :)

NORWAY ROCKS

Hello! great day today. Today we all took boats out and jumped on a Water trampoline, and then came back and played cards. We are in a camp type place with cabins and such, but formally nothing to do. It is beautiful here- all the time, but especially today. You know how if you google Some place you only get the best pictures? well, every picture you get when you google Norway is True. It is breezy and cool and Sunny today. Wonderful!

got to go- time for lamb and potatoes.

First Full Day

Hey! Don't have a lot of time, but thought I would get on while I could! Got in yesterday evening- the flights and connections all went pretty smoothly. I am at a language camp now until friday, and the monday after that school starts. It is beautiful her, but so overcast and rainy- very different from NC! The people here as well as the exchange students are all very nice and friendly. Not too cold either- about 65. I am right on a lake, and the most noticable thing of all is how clean and clear the air and water is. Well, better go!

Norway bound!

Today is the day! My plane to Detroit leaves at four, but we are headed to the airport in a few minutes. I am so exited I almost can't stand it. I took my last gallop on Candy this morning and told everyone goodbye! Well, I better go catch a plane!