Oslo, class, stress

Emily and I traveled to Oslo today to meet with our Norwegian friend and her boyfriend who studies at PLU. Christina was on the tennis team. The trip is a bit long, but enjoyable, but only the way there. On the way back, it was a less comfortable and more crowded train. We had fun in Oslo and I bought some coffee and chocolate for gifts when I return. I've frozen these items so that they will last 4 months. We had Chinese food, and they don't split checks here (it's very rare). So, Christina paid for us, which was so nice of her! We also went to a big, very well known park in Oslo. The gardens were beautiful as well as the huge water fountain and lake. There were statues all around the fountain, and then some! They were all of naked humans of all ages, performing normal human acts. I felt a bit uncomfortable at first, but then I understood (I hope) th meaning and purpose of those statues being naked, yet doing normal activities. These activities are very simple, such as playing with your baby, meeting your loved one, just standing, hugging, running, crouching, everything! It's to get in touch with nature and your true self and your family without the pretenses of the world, symbolized by clothing! I was very proud when I thought of this. I must research the park and write a little "report" on it. I took many pictures and I will put them up later when I have a chance.

When we had class today, it was very exciting, at first. Then everything just came to me almost consecutively; field studies, assignments, papers, group reading discussions, BAM! It just kept coming! And the due dates are so soon, I hadn't realized, because we had just started! So now I have to get on top of things even more than before! It's a good thing I'm very interested in the subject matter!

Dinner at Inger's house

Inger was so nice to invite us to her house for dinner tonight. It was so fun; there was marshmallows, food, fresh plums from her garden, and of course a Norwegian dinner. There were other professors and lecturers, and students from different points of our program at the dinner and it was nice to meet them all. The dinner was of course wonderful. And Collin, if you are reading this, Emily tried to eat some smoked salmon just for you! Some of the Tanzanians had never had roasted marshmallow before, so it was interesting to see their reactions. Some liked it, others didn't. We also had ice cream with rasberries, and then coffee and tea. Kris, you are right; the coffee is very STRONG! But I enjoyed it anyway. In any case it was a fun event. I have pictures at the end of the writing.

Inger's house was AMAZING! She has a huge house, with a bunch of book shelves that seemed very impressive to me. Her garden was also one of the characteristics that caught my attention. So, of course, I went around her house and took pictures (just for you Olesya!). She basically has her house surrounded by gardens. It was beautiful!

So! Here are the pictures of the night!


The scenery on the way to Inger's house


Having dinner with Emily and Genevieve by the fire


The other Americans and Czechia girl (I think her name is Catherina)


The Hungarian couple; they are so CUTE!


New friends who will join us in the 3rd part of our program


Me roasting a marshmallow


Everyone wants a marshmallow! I started a trend =)


Left side of Inger's garden. There's a cart with yardwaste in it I think.


This is Inger's garage. It had a nice simplistic homie feel to it. To me, it looks like a picture from a post card.


Genevieve likes the roses!


The right side of Inger's garden, leading to the back yard. All those bikes belong to the students and others who rode them to her house. There's of course, the Yellow Bike Brigade.


A pile of wood (Yes, Genevieve, I really just labled it "A pile of wood")


The steps leading up to the balcony where we ate.


More flowers along the balcony railing.


Geneview, Me, Veronica, Emily having our ice cream with rasberries.