Category: September 2009 @ Norway

…will be gone for the week… Road-Trip with Vroni to Western Norway… jipiiii!!!!

Have a great week!!!!

Ha det bra, Mel:-)

Could you imagine sleeping in a disco???? Might sound like a weird question;-) but I was in that situation last night:-(… Some students were having a party downstairs in the living-room which is directly above my room. Anyway, they had soooo loud music and didn’t turn it down until 4 o clock in the morning!!! Somehow I was too lazy to get my bud down there and join them as I couldn’t sleep in that noise… So I slept on and off throughout the night, not very recreative…;-)

Got up early in the morning to finally start writing my essay for American Literature – oh man and I’m still not finished yet…;-(

Beautiful sunny day, high temperatures around 15 degrees, a good day to go climbing. Some students from the climbing group @ university college joined for a great climbing session in the afternoon, close to Tonsberg…

Some impression from that…

Hei, hei!

Orientering – running through the forrest by searching posts can be a lot of fun!!!! This time we went to a different place where we didn’t know the area, so that it was proven we aren’t able to cheat… And also it was the first time that each student started by him/herself. Time was running and within 1 hour we had to find 10 posts, hidden in the forrest… Well, I was so focused to run to the second post, that I completely forgot the first one – didn’t see it on the map;-)… Typical me!!! So I had to run back to the first post, where I met Henriette, together we would find everything quicker, so we ran together. Cross-country through the woods… We did pretty well – at the 5th and 6th post even more people gathered, so by the time we ran over the finish line we were approx. 8 people, which made it quite easy to find the last posts…:-) It took us around 40 minutes – jipiii, back at the start…

We had to wait until everybody got to the finish, so we waited and waited. Half an hour later, one girl was still missing, so our teacher decided to send out some boys to search for her… After a while she made it too… She lost too much time at 2 posts, that was the reason for her delay…

Climbing session in the evening. It’s quite cool because I introduced the sport to some spanish girls and italian students and the italian guys came again;-) So they seem to like it… We made plans for Saturday, to go climbing outside… Looking forward to that…

Today some studying for English, in the afternoon I biked to the gym at university. It’s so weird – those guys who train in the gym don’t seem to be familiar that a girl is lifting weights too;-) Isn’t that weird??? And also none of them is talking to me;-(… Well, I don’t care, it’s just funny to watch how uncommunicative they are. Not only to me though, they don’t speak to each other… The most important thing for those guys is: training their upper body, especially their biceps to show off…;-)

On my way back to my place I stopped at one of the many apple trees along the road. But the problem is always the same – they are standing in a garden belonging to people;-)… This particular one though caught my attention because there was easy access to pic some apples where the owners couldn’t see me…;-) Fruit is very expensive here AND an apple a day keeps the doctor away…:-)

News from back home: Mum wrote me that the new skis and boots from Nordica have arrived. So they are just WAITING for me to get home and ski with them… Nordica is again supporting me with skis and boots this winter – thanks to Flo!!!! AND this coming winter I will be part of the Ziener Team, they are supporting me with skiclothing and gloves!!! Thanks to Nicole and Lisa!!!! So the winter isn’t far anymore and I’m soooooo looking forward to be back on skis!!!!

Next week – “studyweek”, which means travelling around Norway and taking my books with me… Vroni, one of my best friends back home in Austria, is coming for a visit on monday and we’ll go on a roadtrip to the West… Can’t wait till monday…

…back further South;-)… I’ve spent a long weekend up far North @ Tromsö to visit a good friend of mine, Niki. It was really good to see her and meet her friends, we had a great time!!!

Well, after having 3 options how to get to Oslo-Gardemoen, the airport which shall bring me up there, I decided to take the easiest option – taking my car. So I left Horten Thursday morning, allowing me some extra time before takeoff. That was a good decision because right before Oslo I got stuck in a traffic jam. I was a bit worried as I didn’t have any information if I could make it in time… But thank godness – I just lost 40 minutes, so I made it in time.. At the airport, check-in, having some lunch and after that I was strolling to the gate. As I got there, the information board said: GATE CLOSED… But I was still in time, so why is that??? Did I miss the flight??? No, as we found out, it was just an error on that desk… Good!!!!

2h flight, getting picked up by Zitá, Niki’s friend, straight to the students café @ university Tromsö – the most northern university of the world… wow, really big university – more than 9000 students study here –  http://www2.uit.no; pick up Niki from the Norwegian course – drive to their home… They live in a cute little house, sharing it with 6 other students, about 10 km’s from the university – beautiful view to the sea and mountains…

This weekend there came soooo many impressions together, so I won’t be able to write everything down – otherwise this will turn out to be a novel…;-)

Friday: The weather god meant it quite good with me – it didn’t rain so I decided to go for a hike on the nearby mountain, as Niki and Zità had to go to university… Having trouble to find the little path first, I finally found it… You have to know that the hiking path aren’t so well signposted… I had a gorgeous view the higher I got up the mountain – being able to see Tromsö and the surrounding mountains…

I hiked and hiked and hiked, reached the top and went even further… So I got to another view point…

I went so far so I didn’t want to hike back the same way… I spotted out another option on the way there, which I decided to take – hiking cross-country along the water-course down the valley… By the time I got down half-way, my feet were already soaking wet – I was swimming in my hiking boots;-) Well, just walking in marsh and wetlands, how would you expect it to be;-)? Finally I got on a small path, following it, loosing it again, finding it again, loosing it again and so on…;-) That’s the way hiking is here…

…back to Niki’s place, biked to university to meet the girls, exploring Tromsö city, back to university 4 the international students party…

Saturday: Rainy day @ least here in Tromsö. Although there weren’t the best conditions to go to Lyngen Alps we decided to go. I really wanted to go there as I know that some fellow friends have been here for backcountry-skiing and I wanted to spot out some mountains… For the next trip – skiing up here… Alberto, an Italian guy joined us… About a 2h car drive to Lyngen – weather was changing throughout the journey – when we got there, it actually turned out to be quite good, means it wasn’t raining… I was just happy to get out there and be up in the mountains…

Our hiking tour started @ the Spar Parking place @ Lyngen and took us through autumnal forrests. After a while we reached the Skihytta – an open cabin to everyone, where you can stop by, have a rest and get a shelter when there is tooo bad weather outside…

…Having had a short rest and quick lunch we went further – Niki and Alberto wanted to reach the nearby top of the mountain. We got to the foot of the mountain, the gras and rocks were really wet from the snow and as I looked up this mountain, I decided that it’s a “no go” for me… Just hiking up cross-country on a rock-field, where the rocks were just completely wet, no visibility up there – not worth to go… So Niki stayed down with me, Alberto wanted to reach the top, no matter how the conditions were… So we split up and made up a time for the meeting point – in 2 hours back at the Skihytta… Me and Niki went a bit down the mountain, Niki wanted to go further into the valley – I suggested it might be a good idea that we aren’t crossing the rock-fields… I was proven to be right, as suddenly a huge rock came down the mountain, causing an avalanche, not activated by Alberto – thank godness… So also Niki was happy that we didn’t go up there… We still saw a red dot far up, nearly on top of the mountain, so everything seemed to be fine with our Italian guy…

After a lunch break we started to go down the mountain… Hiking on/off the sheep paths and finally just going cross-country down… We couldn’t spot out Alberto anymore, hoping that nothing happened with him… We reached the Skihytta and waited inside, as it started to rain… 6 p.m. and no Alberto there… Me and Niki got a bit worried, what if something had happened to our Italian friend??? We wouldn’t be able to do anything for him. And as he didn’t have a cell phone with him, we could just wait. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Half an hour… No Alberto here… An hour – still no Alberto here… One hour and 10 min. later finally the door opened and there he was. He felt sorry but he missed the trail and went to far East, not being able to find the shelter anymore. So he went to far down and had to hike up again… Everything was fine – we didn’t have to call the mountain rescue – thank godness…:-) It was already starting to get dark as we finally got to the car again…

Sunday: Road trip to Sommaroy with Niki and Zitá… Finally saw some deer, had quite good weather again, took a lot of pics and enjoyed the time…

In the late afternoon the girls prepared dinner – mushroom schnitzel – mmhhh, very good!!! I couldn’t believe when they told me that Norwegians don’t pic up any mushrooms, as they say it’s not good for you… Right now up there you can find tons of mushrooms and blueberries and hardly anyone takes the chance to pick and eat them… It’s a proof that Norwegian people are really spoiled with there beautiful nature and don’t act very ecological. Wasting energy, throwing food away – there are many examples. But I guess rich countries just don’t care, as they have enough ressources…:-(

…Time to say good bye to my friends up north – fligtht back to Oslo – to my car – trying to get gas from the Jet gas station, didn’t work with my credit card – no gas there – next gas station – forgot the tank cap @ the first G.S. – back to the Jet G.S. 🙂 –  finally dog-tired arrived my flat…

Hei, hei!!

Had my first test today in Orienteering and it went quite well. It was a written test in the gym. All the students where spread out all over the gym, lying on the mats. The teacher got a phone call during the test and went out the gym and it was really surprising me that no one was trying to cheat!!! I was allowed to write the answers in English – thank goodness!!! Although I could remember some definitions better in Norwegian…

So the past days a lot of studying was going on and I had to read quite a lot in English. There is enough to do for school but it’s really nice to have the freedom to decide when I do it… So enough studying and enough free-time… Gives me the chance to get ready for the winter as my right foot is still not so strong and it’s still sometimes painful to train. I guess I have to live with that – Pain seems to be my friend;-)!!!! My right foot won’t get 100% anymore I but I try to get most out of it…

I’m off for the next days – flying up further North – to Tromsö… Visiting Nikki, a friend of mine – she is studying up there, so I’m looking forward to see her and am curious what to explore up in the North… The weather forecast doesn’t promise good weather… So I’m leaving the sunny south and change it for rainy north…

Have a nice week and weekend!!! Cheers, Mel:-)

I guess I can’t wait for winter, that’s why I already put the date on december;-)… But it’s still some time to go…

Nice sunday today, another day with sunshine and beautiful blue sky… Stine’s birthday today – we were baking muffins and a chocolate cake together, which got a bit black but u still could eat it;-) I had to leave @ 11 a.m. for bouldering, so Stine had to take care of the cake… It really got huge and suddenly it kind of fell together…;-) See the pix;-)…

So another trip to Tjome with Rod. It seems to be a climber’s and boulder paradise although the rock is very sharp and it really hurts after the magnesium on the hands is gone… I finally found a rock where we will be able to do some rock climbing – yes!!!!

…just came back from a great day @ Oslo. Weather was good too and now you really can feel that autumn is here and winter isn’t so far away anymore… My feet are a bit tired – I’m sure you know how that feels (women do;-)…) – walking through the city the whole day, going from one store to another, trying things on… Yes, hard work;-)…

Me and Stine, a very nice danish girl who just moved into the studentshouse, went to Oslo with my car. We parked the car in the suburbs, as you just can’t afford parking in the middle of town. That would just cost tooooo much!!! I prefer spending that on clothes or other stuff…;-) …A norwegian girl told me that she once parked  in the center and spent around 40 € !!!! Just for parking for 4 hours!!! So one of Stine’s working colleagues draw a map for us where we could park for free. We didn’t find exactly the place but we got close by, took our bikes and went to the city…

Oslo is just a cool place to be, to hang out, enjoy city and nature, of course going shopping there AND it’s the most expensive city to live @ in the WHOLE world!!! It’s very clean and green… You have everything here – forrests, lakes, the ocean, sandy beaches… Really beautiful!!!

We went in nearly every shop – “should we go in there – yes of course;-)…” … It was fun to just explore the shopping malls and the big stores… We didn’t find that much variety in the stores, a lot of similar clothing in different shops but still very trendy fashion… Scandinavian people are really into fashion, when you walk along the streets, the kids are already styled and into fashion. I haven’t seen any young boy without having styled his hair;-)…

After some “quick lunj” we walked down to the Opera house. Wow, a really impressive building!!! Really pretty!!!! It opened in the year 2008 and already won some architecture awards… The whole area is soooo clean!!! But pictures say more than words…

Some more shopping needed to be done;-) and YES I spent toooo much money but NO I don’t regret what I bought….;-) I got some really cool caps and another jacket. Well I’ve got like over a hundred jackets – that was number 101;-)…

Our shopping marathon ended, as the shops were closing – we went to the Royal Palace, sat in a nearby park and enjoyed the sun… We didn’t go the famous Vigelands Park but I guess it hasn’t been the last time we’ve been there as it’s just one hour away from Horten…

p.s.: …I forgot to tell about this woman…;-) There was a Christian group, singing, dancing and talking about God… Well, that woman definetely saw him and the light;-) – she was sooooo happy and completely in a different world…;-)

…time is really flying by!!!! Another week of school is over…

Monday Ballbasis & Orienteering, Tuesday Swimming & Climbing, Wednesday American History in the morning, Ballgames in the afternoon, Thursday Orienteering – my weekly program at Vestfold College… Nice, isn’t it???!!!!

Well, in October I’m finally starting the Norwegian course… I’m still not able to speak a lot but I’m getting quite good in understanding what the people are saying. Some words in German are quite similar to Norwegian… So @ the sportscourses, I don’t need a translator anymore… I get most of it and if I don’t I just ask my colleagues… They are very helpful!!!

I do have a lot of  free time but I also have to read a lot in English. I would never have thought that American History would ever be so interesting!!! At the moment we have to read “The Autobiography” by Benjamin Franklin – pretty tough to read… (He is at the 100 US$ bill) …”I concluded at length, that the mere speculative Conviction that it was our Interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our Slipping, and that the contrary Habits must be broken and good Ones acquired and established, before we can have any Dependence on a steady uniform Rectitude of Conduct.” – Did u follow???? I didn’t…;-)

Today we had our first “Orienteering lop” through the forrests… Was really cool!!! Me and Silje were a team – equipped with compass, map and a chip for the control points we had to find seven posts, stick the chip to the check-point and find our way back to the starting point. I think it’s a really fun way to run through the forrest and also get used to work with map and compass… (I don’t take pictures at school, as I think it’s not necessary and maybe some students wouldn’t like it…??)

Weekend started at noon, as we were finished by then. In the afternoon – again to Tjome, bouldering, chilling and reading there…;-)

Some impressions…

…wow, what a beautiful day!!!! I know this word (beautiful) is being stressed when you read my blog but that’s the best word to express how life is treating me up here… Got a message from Rod, (my Norwegian climbing buddy), in the morning that he’s up to join for bouldering, so we decided to go out there and make the best of the day! And it really was worth it!!!! BEAUTIFUL;-)…

After being motivated for studying in the morning, what I did and I’m really proud of myself;-)…, I picked up Rod to go further south and search for some boulder problems… After an hour drive along the coastline, we had to walk a little further to get to some boulders… On the way there, we already saw cool rocks to climb on but we didn’t stop and went further… Finally we got there… Again – BEAUTIFUL!!!! 😉 (I guess I have to expand my english horizon and find other words like maybe: wonderful or gorgeous… – I’m just being lazy, I guess;-)…)

So there we were, right next to the ocean, climbing rocks and enjoying the beautiful day… Thxxx Rod 4 joinin’…!!!! Was really cool and I’m looking forward to the next trip… 

Norway is a DREAM for bouldering!!!! So many options, virgin rocks all over the place and great grip…

…I guess I have update my blog;-)…

The rain has stopped and today we actually had a quite sunny day with temperatures around 16°… wow, summer is back;-) Party with the sportsgirls yesterday, bike-tour today, shopping in the afternoon… It never gets boring and YES I’m also studying…

The Friluftsliv (Outdoor) days with the other students were quite “adventurous”. B-Boy picked me up Wednesday morning, together with Bjaerne and Henrik we went near Kongsberg and met the other students there… It was a very funny journey as the guys were making a lot of  nonsense;-) Greeting the cows, waving and honking the horn to strangers and cows, speeding up-slowing down,… It didn’t get boring;-)

The weather was not good and it didn’t seem to get better through the day… We got to Skrim Nationalpark @ around noon, had to find a place to set up the tents and had to be ready by one to go for a long hike…  Well, that was quite challenging, as it had been pooring down for hours and the ground was completely moody and wet… but we found something…

After a nearly 20 km hike in muddy and wet conditions, having soaking wet feet, we were happy to be back… Preparing dinner, sitting @ the bonfire, eating dinner, having fun, enjoying the company, listening and trying to understand Norwegian rounded up the evening…

Didn’t sleep well @ night – oh wonder;-)… 9 girls in a tepee, one girl was snoring, one turned around throughout the night, the tent and my sleeping bag got wet and it got pretty freezing in the night… Not the best circumstances to have my beauty sleep;-)… (just joking, I knew what to expect sleeping outdoors…)

Got up early in the morning – wow, the lake was sooo clear, the landscape was mirroring in the lake… 1h later it started raining again;-(… It was pooring, however, we had some orienteering (Trine my sportsteacher was so kind and translated for me… although I already get a lot of meanings and know what the people are talking about…) and we had to present examples with branches how to set up different kinds of bonfires… In the early afternoon everybody was glad to leave, being soaking wet… Although the weather was not tooo good – beautiful place…