Norway: the First 36 Hours

On the morning of January 31, our group left the guesthouse at 5 am and flew to Norway.  I was between to random men again, which was okay, because I just finished the movie I had started watching on the flight to Iceland and read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants I was able to pick up all four of the books in that series before I left MN, so I'm looking forward to re-reading them while I'm here, and I might just leave them. 

When we got to the Oslo airport, we had about 40 minutes to get something for lunch if we wanted before we got on the train to Lillehammer.  Thankfully all of our luggage, even the skis that got lost in Iceland, made it to Norway with us. I went to change some of my leftover Icelandic currency to Norwegian kroner.  Unfortunately, they didn't take money from Iceland there, and the lady said that it would be hard for me to find somewhere to take them.  I have about $17 sitting in my suitcase now :(. 

When we boarded the train, we couldn't find room for all of our luggage, so we put some of it between the seats. I'd seen the view before, but it was even more beautiful, if possible, in winter than in the spring.  WOW! 

When we got to Lillehammer, we met a taxi and found our lodgings.  We dumped our stuff and went to the school cafeteria to eat.  Our flats are right across from the campus, which is nice so we don't have to figure bus-riding time into our schedule.  Then we had a tour of the campus and some time to move in.  Our flats are very simple and kind of small, but they are nice.  Three girls are in one room that is right inside the door, then comes the kitchen with a small living area immediately across from it, and the room for the two boys on the other end of the hallway.  There is very little hanging space and no dressers, so we will have to adjust to simply placing our clothes on shelves.  It's a small trade for being able to live in Norway for four months, though! 

Besides moving in, the main event of the night was going grocery shopping.  We took the bus a short distance towards town (the school is on the edge of town, almost out of town) to the KIWI grocery store.  It was an adventure, trying to find food in another language and stay within our budget of 250 kr for breakfasts and weekends.  Food here is EXPENSIVE.  I paid 30 kr (1 kr=$5.8) for a regular old loaf of bread! 

Today, 1 Februar, we had orientation and our first classes.  We met some of the Norwegian buddies who have been assigned to show us around, plan activities, and help us with whatever we need.  From the short conversations and time we have spent with them, them seem very considerate and willing to help us, which is good.  We had to take pictures to get our college IDs, mine turned out okay.  It's better than my Cobber ID at least.  While we were in the cafeteria eating right before we went to take pictures I realized that I didn't have my wallet or any type of ID with me, and I was worried that I couldn't get that ID without another ID, so I went back to get mine.  We found out we did need an ID, so I was very glad that I had gone back :)

We had a bit of free time, and then we had our first class, our culture and society class.  That class is made up of the 10 American students, 2 German students, 5 French students, 1 Hungarian student, and 1 Norwegian student who is taking the class to prepare for studying abroad next semester and being able to talk more about what it means to be Norwegian.  I think it will be interesting to have him there to be able to see if he adds another opinion besides the professor's of what it is to be Norwegian.  Today we had a short introduction to the format of the class, and then another professor came in to give us Norweigan history in a nutshell.  The prof kept talking to us American students, and relating a lot of things to American history.  I kind of felt weird about that, because even though it was nice to have something to connect to, it kind of seemed more like he wanted to teach us and not the other students, or didn't make as much of an effort for us.  There were two French boys in the class that definitely don't like Americans, and thought we were stupid.  I tried to get over it, but it was hard.  They were talking a lot between themselves and eventually the prof called them out and told them to listen, so I don't think he appreciated them very much either, but for different reasons. 

Finally today we had our class that will focus on Norwegian language and Americans in Norwegian society.  Birger, the gentleman who teaches the class, is quite a character--very sarcastic and joking.  It will be fun to have class with him.  He gave us a strange quiz on what it means to be Norwegian, it partially seemed to be for fun, but also to address the misconceptions of a Norwegian we may have.  I won the quiz, and get a prize on Thursday.  I'm excited and also very nervous to see what his idea of a prize is...

Right now we are still figuring out our schedule and how exactly classes and meals and things will work.  Now, at 20:15, we still don't know when/where our class that is supposed to meet tomorrow will be.  Even though I'm usually a go with the flow, see what happens kind of person, it's frustrating to have NO IDEA what we will be doing.  Hopefully that will get better once it's not our first week anymore. 

Tomorrow I will be meeting with Tor, a friend of my parents.  He will be bringing me a Norwegian phone.  Our group is also hoping to go into town, walk around a bit, and find some stores to see what Norway has to offer as far as taking our money.  Speaking of, I also hope to figure out bank stuff tomorrow, as the $60 I converted when we got here is running low after buying one lunch and paying the commission.  Uff-Da, my homeland is expensive. I will update later, when there is more to talk about, have an excellent life in the meantime!