I'll Be Home For Christmas :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I hope you all had a wonderful, filling Thanksgiving back home in the States. And I am wishing you many holiday wishes as we approach the first of December :) yeeekkkkk the Christmas season just puts me in a constantly giddy mood :) Well, I know it has been awhile since I have last updated so again, we will follow with a simple date to date post.

Tuesday, November 13 we handed in out culture exams; boy was it a relief to be done with those! It was nice knowing that there was only one sit down exam, and one take home exam left before I was done with my studies for the semester. The following week I studied for my Social Psychology exam that was scheduled for November 21. I think it went alright, now I am just working on my History written exam, yay polar exploration!

Thursday, November 15 the new and improved Jekta Storsenter had its grand opening so Madelen and I headed to the other side of the island to do some shopping. It was ridiculously huge with so many shops and a crazy amount of people. We didn't even have to walk from the busstop, the bus driver just dropped us off directly in front of the mall entrance. I, of course, goggled at the "half cut prices" that would have been considered full price back home, but it was really fun to hang out with Madelen :) And my favorite part was the giant, sparkling snowflakes and white, bright Christmas decorations that were everywhere :)

Friday, November 16, I had Tina, Ashley, and Rudi come over for some pancakes :) My wonderful mother cured my craving by sending some pancake mix and maple syrup in one of her recent care packages. It was a delicious treat with lovely company :)

Saturday, November 17: Madelen's birthday was on the 13 but we had her celebration for her this day :) She made homemade pizza (the best) and delicious, cute, huge cupcakes. Yeah, she did all that. I made some mexicorn chip dip however--again thanks to care package makings sent from home :) It was  Henrik, Kristian, Ashley, Madelen and then two of Madelen's other friends. Enjoyed a lot of food and some crazy, tasty drinks. After Madelen, Henrik, Madelen's friend and I headed to the city where we enjoyed some nightlife :)

During this time I have been lucky enough to use the athletic facility Kraft. Yes, I tried to make it an every day thing but some weeks were better than others. Not only did they have any other machine at a sports facility but there were also classes available to members. I forgot to mention that a few Mondays ago, I had met up with an outside running group and it was fantastic. I was very excited, and my assumptions were that it was just a group of people who love to run just going for a little winter jaunt, but nope:: it was an interval workout on the icy streets of Tromsø. Honestly, it sounds worse than what was, it was great being with people who were passionate about running---my fellow tracksters would understand. It was a great workout, I was sore the following day, and although I only went only once I was very glad I went. I have also gone to a step class twice this past week. It was refreshing to not workout on a boring treadmill or elliptical, but it also reminded me how uncoordinated I am. The second day was much better :) I also ran outside this past Saturday, because it was a beautiful 45 degrees and a lot of the ice was melting. It was very nice to run outside again, can't wait to be back on a routine once track season starts. I am also looking forward to some holiday runs---Brittney?? :)

coffee love.

November 22, Thanksgiving back home. I met up with Rudi in the city centre to have some coffee. When we both ran up to each other, we were so very excited because they had just began putting up Christmas lights and garland over the streets :) It was beautiful and made us both very giddy. She took me to the cutest little coffee shop. We got mochas and the yummiest apple dessert. It was evident that this store was the owner's passion. We talked with her a little after our treats and she spoke that her inspiration came from her grandma and Bob Marley, she was wonderful :) We had done some Christmas/souvenior shopping as well. Then we met Ashley and Leonard at Driv for a nice meal of Thai Chicken Soup--what a thanksgiving dinner, huh? It was a very nice meal. We thought about catching a movie on the town, but Ashley, Leonard and I decided it would be cozier to watch one back home, we watched The Inside Man :) I of course scheduled a skype date for back home as well. My parents hosted our family Thanksgiving at our farm so the iPad was passed around as I got to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandparents--it was a real treat, kind of bittersweet but made me even more anxious to be home.

November 24, Ashley, Leonard, Holly, and I traveled to the city center just in time to catch the end of the Christmas markets--enough time to grab a tasty spring roll! We made sure to make plans to come back earlier this Saturday :) We went to Kafebønna, and luckily Karolina was working! It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon with friends, coffee, and ----darkness.

November 25, I met Rudi in the afternoon for some coffee again :) It was lovely to see her, as always. She left bright and early that Monday to meet her mom in Greece so it was kind of a I-only-get-to-see-you-one-more-time-after-this-hangout. Bittersweet for sure, and it made me think of all the other goodbyes that I will have to start saying real soon.....Sunday night the northern lights were very active outside my room window. Normally, they are very faint because there is a lot of light pollution around Stakkevollan so you have to venture away to really see them. I have seen a few little green lights here and there on numerous nights, but I hadn't seen any like this. I know some friends have seen some purple and white light, but green is good enough for me :) It took awhile to fall asleep that night, but that is mighty fine.

November 26, We were given our history exam prompt this day and the past few days I have been writing hoping to get as much done so I can enjoy the weekend as much as I can. I am coming to the end of it, only a few more hours tomorrow with coffee and the morning light--it'll get done.

The past few weeks have been wonderful here in Tromsø, Norway. And I cannot believe that I will be leaving this place so soon. But my heart could not be happier knowing that I will be back in Fargo in TWO WEEKS! It has been ridiculous. There have been a few nights now, that I have walked back from Kraft (instead of bussing) because it has been so beautiful out, and I wish I could share that with all of you. The more I think about it, the more I would definitely love to come back here. I have not regretted anything since being here, and the next six days are going to be the best yet. I missed you all at Thanksgiving, but I will see you soon :) Now go listen to that Michael Buble Christmas CD!

Morning in Tromsø :)

November, that means it's Christmastime:)

Tromsø Cathedral

Hi all! I know it has been awhile since I have last posted so I hope I don't miss too many things trying to catch up. Well, the morning of the 27th I made delicious French Toast--mmyep. I spent, as earlier stated that weekend/week writing a research article for Social Psychology which I handed in on Monday. Later on that day, I met up with Ashley and her boyfriend, David who came to visit her for a week. The three of us travelled to Tromsdalen in hopes of traveling on the cable car but were disappointed to see it wasn't available until November 5th. We hope to try again soon. The three of us then enjoyed the nice weather, freezing but nice, and walked towards the Arctic Cathedral and then around the city centre for some time as well. We came across a glass blowing shop where you can actually see the artists make the beautiful, creative works of art. We then treated ourselves to a warm dinner at Driv, lasagna--it was amazing.

On Tuesday, the 30 after going to Culture class, I got a months membership to the student athletic facility known as Kraft---whenever I think of it, I always think of mac & cheese. It had gotten really icy with the snow, and although I don't prefer to workout on machines, it is a very nice facility to be able to use. I try to go as often as I can, it is a nice daybreaker as is any good workout. The night of October 31, my friend Jana and her sister who came to visit made a few friends and I Serbian Crepes! They were delicious and temporarily cured my sugartooth.

A seal at the Polar Museum,
aren't stuffed animals cute?

Halloween in Norway

And then November was here, just like that. On Thursday, the 1st, Ashley and I went downtown to travel to the Polar Museum which we were scheduled to meet our class there for History. Well, of course the two of us showed early so went through the museums ourselves. It was very interesting, nice to tie in a few things we had learned in class while having something to visualize. The next day, Friday, Bill was hosting  a Cake Evening. So we went of course, because how could anyone pass up an evening involving sweets, and we had brownies and cookies--there was even honey wine, not incredibly fond of. But many friends showed and it was a really good night. The next day I travelled to Mortesnes once more to meet up with Rudi and her flatmates for a lively Halloween Party. I went dressed as a "female version of Indiana Jones," pretty much I just wore a green fedora, not too much of a hit but I didn't care. It was a good, crazy night.

This past Tuesday, November 6th, we were given our Culture prompt for our ten page paper due next Tuesday. So there has been lots of reading and writing this past week. But there has also been a lot of skyping, working out, and recently I started watching Modern Family and I can't seem to stop watching, it is such a great TV show and I recommend it to everyone. The snow just seems to keep falling, which is good because then it doesn't give it the chance to get icy. And of course, there has been an occasional waffle :)

The days are getting much shorter and I miss the sun but I know that it won't be too much longer before I can enjoy those Northdakotan short days. As of tomorrow it will be 32 days until I am in Fargo once again and I simply cannot believe it. The Seasonal Spice Craft Show was today in Minot and it has always been tradition that the Christianson's show. My mom and my sisters, along with her sisters and their daughters have been going to this craft show for as long as I can remember. We always strive to be the first in line with coffee in hand, showing up two hours before the doors open so that when the time comes, we are all ready to grab the "good stuff." This is also the day we have dubbed as the first official day of Christmas, so to get in the spirit I listened to Christmas tunes all morning. This year, the song I feel most likened to is of course, I'll Be Home For Christmas--gets me every time. But I will be!! But first, I am going to finish this paper and my other school assignments, enjoy and embrace these people and these sights, and extremely enjoy the Christmas Markets in Dublin and Copenhagen before I make my journey back home. Until next time....baby, it's cold outside.