Happy birthday! From all angles here in Norway :) I turned 18 on September 14th, and my host dad's brother was 50 on September 11th. The birthday t
radition is quite different over here in Norway for some things, but I am learning all about the customs and culture. As for my birthday, it couldn't have been better. I was told 'Grattulerer med daggen' or 'happy birthday' by SO many of my classmates, and I had tons of posts in tons of languages from all my friends online through emails and facebook. It was really nice to see you haven't all forgotten me, and I was expecting that no one here would have known it was my birthday--they did NOT forget! People I never even talk to said happy birthday to me from my class, so overall, it was really nice. My host family took me out to an Indian restaurant because they know i love spicy food--Norway is not a particularily spicy country as we eat mainly meat, potatoes, brocolli and cauliflaur for dinner. They then surprised me with a nifty technological gift that I have yet to discover, and my parents and family friends surprised me by sending me packages filled with gifts and goodies! Overall, it was a great birthday over here in Norge.
As for my host dad's brother, he had a party up in Averøy for
his birthday--about a ten hour drive from Nærsnes! My host dad and I did the trip together and stayed with his other brother while we ate the BEST fish soup, cake, and visited with relatives. I met many new family members and heard a TON of Norwegian for five days. Other than one American I met there, it was all Norwegian all the time, which I am used to, except for the fact that it was a different dialect! This made it exceedingly difficult to understand, but it was a great exercize for me. It really helped me with my Norwegian! Now at school bokmål doesn't seem so hard! (Bokmål is the common dialect spoken here in the Oslo area.) We also went on many hikes and saw the most BEAUTIFUL scenery as Averøy is an island in the country--most definitely. It was some of the best scenery I think I have seen in my whole life. On the drive back we went through the mountains and saw some AMAZING famous fjords. Here's a taste of Norway for ya:
Norwegian is coming, slowly but surely, and with enou
gh conviction I hope to have it pretty down by Christmas so I can understand all of the Norwegian jokes and cartoons they have arou
nd the holidays. I have eaten many interesting things since I came here--my first taste of caviar, pickled herring, moose, sheep, liver paste, and NORWEGIAN CHOCOLATE. Can you tell that that one was my favorite? Norwegian chocolate is SO good. I have to say America REALLY needs to work on their chocolate skills. Just saying. I don't know if they do, but if some of the things I say sound a bit funny, it is probably because I am doing a little bit of Norwenglish translating in my head, which is actually great! That means I'm learning--I hope!
We have our language camp in Kinsarvik next week with the other Rotary exchange students in Norway--I really can't wait for that, it is going to be a blast! We have yet to all meet together--just over the internet! The week after that is fall break and my host sister and I are going up to NuNorge to Norvik to visit Joakim, the oldest host brother and his girlfriend. I definitely understand what all exchange students kept telling me--life of an exchange student is just...busy! With all sorts of things!
