- you use the word 'quite' in a sentence.
- you title a blog 'Accomplishments,' and then check the spelling over Google because you can't remember how to spell it in your native tongue.
- you approach English-speakers in a mall and when you ask where they're from in English, they reply to you that they come from AMERICA because they think you're one of the locals.
- you secretly make fun of City Names in your head like 'Skogly' because it sounds like skoooogly gooooogly.
- the world feels really big and really small at the same time.
So that was my little introduction to my next blog about my exchange in Norway. Typical exchange student-isms are so obvious sometimes--I literally see it daily between my other exchange student friends. So things are going really well over here in Norway. Of course, all days aren't easy, but I have yet to experience a day where I would really not want to do what I was doing, and being here. I really love it here for so many reasons--it isn't just my phase where I love everything about the country disregarding its faults--I just really appreciate it for what it is. Norwegians are a lot more cultural than I ever thought--some cultural differences are pretty vast. They have a lot of preconcieved notions I had no idea about in the U.S. such as they thought everyone in the U.S. just ran around suing each other for slipping on each others' floors. I thought that one was pretty hilarious--except for when it is true.
I had a WONDERFUL time at Language Camp--took amazing pictures, learned some Norwegian, and met all the other exchange students. We jumped in the fjord, climbed a HUGE mountain, and basically had the time of our lives. After that, I was in Bjerkvik with my host sister. We stayed with my host brother and his girlfriend--basically just had a week of relaxation--let me tell you, over here in Europe they really know how to relax! We got to see where Joakim worked in the military (that is my host brother), and he works with weapons and all sorts of cool things like tanks that we got to see! Then it was back to school for me--homework, tests, etc. I visited Oslo one day with a few other exchange students and decided I LOVE that city--it is SO beautiful and there is so much to do there! For someone who has never lived in the city, Olso is quite the culture shock. Also, we definitely walked by the shoestore where Snoop dogg was, just buying his shoes with tons of Norwegians surrounding the store to sneak a peak!
This week we had 'Operation Docksworth' (or however you spell that), which is also called O.D. dagen, and it is an day all Norwegian schools participate in at some point where everyone raises money for an organization. This year, we raised money for children who wanted to go to school--especially girls-- in Rwanda. We had many presentations all week, and also a rap group that came to the school that is called Gatas Parlament.
They were a little vulgar in comparison to what we are allowed to have at schools in the U.S., but they were fun! For the actual O.D. dag, MacKenzie (the other exchange student) and I baked cookies for 3 hours to sell the next day. It is compulsory to raise at least 400 kroners which is about 80 dollars, but together, Mac and I raised about 1000 kroners--almost 200 dollars! For cookies! People really like 'American cookies' sold by Americans haha. For many people, however, they told us it was their first homemade cookie they had ever had! Can you imagine a world without homemade cookies??? I can because I'm living in it!!!! This is the organization that we raised money for:
I also attended the Rotary district conference where we saw a number of interesting presentations about making Rotary more international online and also just some motivational speakers about how anything is possible--one from a guy who had lost both his legs when he was young! He was pretty amazing. I also attended a Rotary meeting last week where we had a great presentation about a Norwegian who has an organization in Sierra Leone where they give children without parents or who can't go home a home and a bed and a school to go to--sort of sounded like the organization Mary Walker is established with in Africa. I thought that was pretty cool. Especially because that is something that could really interest me in the future--how cool would it be if I could work with an organization like that and use my Norwegian occasionally! Just thought it was a good idea! Anyway, let me know what is going on with Rotary over there--I would love to hear about some of the projects you guys are working on as well! Hilsen!
