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!