Surviving In the Land of the $20 Hotdog

2009-06-01T07:21:00.000+02:00

First night of work

2009-01-08T03:50:00.002+01:00

Here I am at work again for the first time in a well...I dunno how long.

Looks like the babysitter is here. I mean it is a nice thing, but really un-needed. First few days have been rather slow.

Have some things due for this weekend but I think I can get it done pretty easily.

I am a bum and need sleep.

Last few days

2008-12-26T13:07:00.002+01:00

Almost done here... Just a few days to go.

So, called the family and wished them a merry Christmas and all that jazz. I'll be home for New Years.
Other than that, last night was a bit scary because I had a pretty bad fever and sick. Today is better, to which I have no clue why.

Other news?
Brenton and Momo are my new housemates. We'll be together for the next 6 months, then I get to decide if I am going to stay or not in the house (so prolly will be)

Got a Jered

2008-12-25T12:20:00.001+01:00

So I have Jered here. Been here since last Sat. He's here to visit and leaves a day after I do from Oslo. Dunno where we are gonna stuff him. Anywho, I've been having a lot of trouble trying to pack because I am rather tired all the time and my back hurts like no other.

Hoping everyone has an amazing X-mas. Not my favorite holiday, but meh...

Asshat

2008-12-19T01:51:00.003+01:00

I'm an @ssH@t. Not wanting to explain, but I am. Also I am oddly sick. I need to eat real food, but I've also felt like cap since Tues. with a sore throat.

Nothing really new on the dish. Getting ready to leave and therefore posting a new picture of the hell that is my room.

More study that I am not doing

2008-12-09T13:56:00.004+01:00

but I've read enough for a break.

OI! New friend... YAY!

I'm been busy with finals and being me my room looks like such:
Onwards to news.

So, as for what I have been thinking.

1. Summer Research in (insert place here)

a. I'm hoping to go to Indiana, I'd like to see some family there. It's been like 6 years since I have.

b. I'll take anyplace really.

c. I need to start the essays for them

2. Graduate school.

a. I've decided to go for certain.

b. Tulane is back on the list (I applied there back for undergradute...)

c. Still gonna throw Stanford in there too. (who knows!)

3. Home

a. Hopefully things will turn out well and the 5 days at home won't leave me crazy

b. Also, maybe the US won't leave me crazy

c. Janterm is going to be strange... and full of fun... sooooo much fun!

I said that I should study

2008-12-08T15:50:00.002+01:00

Instead I fell asleep a few times over.

SOOOO... I was reading some back posts and I wanted to reexamine some things.

An original list of things I've noted here and how I felt about them:

1. NOTHING LIKE A WAL-MART, the closest thing is an Ikea, but you can't get food there. I have to go to three different shops for all my needs....

Not too much of a big deal, I still wake up at 4 am with a crazy craving for random stuff but I'm learning to control myself.

2. Men with BABIES... I see men alone with their children all the time.. Baby carriages, snugglies, etc...

I don't even notice anymore, in fact, it's just nice.

3. Small meat market sections

I still miss meat, but salami is cheap and I think the veggie heavy diet has been good for me.

4. Pedestrians don't look when they cross the street, they just blindly walk out with the expectation that traffic will stop... and it does.

Another, thing I've grown used to. I don't think about it anymore.

5. EVERY THINGS COSTS A LOT!!!!!!!!! again... Land of the $20 hot dog.. but my housing is UBER-CHEAP... go figure

Upon later discovery, it's cheap because of communism, not sure how I should feel. Everything is still expensive (but the dollar did get stronger) but I don't think about it anymore.

6. 30,000 students at this college...

Only difference I have noticed is that I don't run into my friends as much as I would like.

7. 500,000 people in this city

There's more to do here than in SHERMAN!

8. No cheap off brands (except for one, first price, but it's hard to find)

Finally figured things out more, still bugs me though.

9. People are BLUNT, no tact

I'm blunt too, why the hell did I even care?

10. It's really cool to accidentally discover a castle in the middle of the city

That is still really cool, or to take a train to a lake, or a bus to the woods for hiking!

Dad news

2008-12-06T15:48:00.002+01:00

Good news... what... I have good news? WTF!!

As it seems that as of late his tests for MRSA are coming back negative (but there is still a staph infection)

OMG!!! WHAT!

anyways, so good news. I haz it.

T-Bane

2008-12-05T23:13:00.003+01:00

So, here is a story of anger, annoyance, and common culture shock.

I was asked by a friend to visit, so I did. What else do I have to do but study for that test that I DO NOT want to do... So I jammed on my shoes and took to the door. Little did I know that I should have just turned around and hid in my room.

First things first, I wasn't thinking about the fact there is like a foot of snow outside... nor did I think about OHHHH it's very cold and icy. In that, I grabbed my old ass vans (that are missing the heel and lack ANY traction. Literally, I've shaved the bottoms of those things.) I head outside and think about this, but eh.. I'm only going 30 ft to the bus stop. OF COURSE, it was at this moment that I decide to slip and nearly complete the splits... stopping only at the expense of my thigh being wrangled some odd way.
OW...
So I hobble to the bus stop and wait for the damn thing to come... Oh wait.. I JUST missed the last one, so I stand in the snow fall waiting for the next one in 12 mins. Ok.. not so bad... BUT... I think... hmmm what stop do I need next and then look at the post. Dammit... none of them say kingsja. so, I just have to guess...

On the bus, I wait til I get to the stop I need. NOPE, One to early. Yah. SO, I end up walking about a mile (all uphill, on ICE, with shoes that lack any grip)

Only to find that on my way there, the snow up the hill has turned into a thick, sandy, black ooze.. not to mention my shoes have NO heel, therefore all of the ooze... well, oozes into my shoes.... Icky.

I get to Linn's flat and we make tea. It is at this time however that a glass in the cabinet decides to go suicidal on us, and attempted to take us too. It was ineffective, but the glass shards were EVERYWHERE... Under the table, in the soup, in the bathroom. SO there was about 30 mins there just to clean it up. Oh did I mention that Linn does not have a vacuum or a broom. So, we are PICKING the shards from the floor.

After this. We drink tea and watch Heroes, while I chatter as always.
FLASH FORWARD>>>>>>>>>
Leaving Linn's place, I head to the bus and in fact RUN to the bus stop hoping that I hadn't missed it... Yeah... it was 10 mins late... *grumble*
So, I'm getting warm on the bu and my stop comes up... and the driver goes past it.. (I'm jamming the STOP button to hell and back at this time too)
NOPE... we keep going and going, then I head the DING of the stopper button. So the damn things DO WORK... I'm pretty certain that the driver didn't bother stopping because either the button was broken ( I WAS STANDING BY THE DOOR) and distracted by his TUBBY friend who was talking to him the whole time. bastard!!

Soooo, I get off at the last station which happens to be the light rail/subway stop too. As I scramble in the slush up to the stop, a grop of guidos are blocking the path... yelling and puching each other... and IN MY WAY... I try in vain to get around them, and as I make it around them past the wicket... I see my train go.. ARGGH!

Angrily I wait in the cold for another 20 mins, and get on the next train.

Sitting... it's nice and quiet, but there are these 2 strange fellows. One has a guitar and the other has a cup and tambourine. OH GOD

So they begin to serenade us as we sit on the train, while shaking a cup in my face. This was priceless, as the Norwegians faces were in UTTER horror. I tried to get out a few coins to pay them for this pleasure (the singing was AWFUL though)

I make it to my station and walk to my flat... all the while in my COLD, WET, and GROSS shoes... yah. Fun night.

TTLY

Sognsvann

2008-12-04T11:53:00.002+01:00

So it snowed a few days ago...
Because of this I felt the urge to go take a walk instead of work on my papers.

Now that I have free time to do so... I shall now post em.
It seems that as of today the snow is MUCH deeper than that you see in the pics, but like well if I am going to go back and actually take more pics... maybe this Friday?

BTW: Nordic walking is the pic of the guy with the ski poles... something that old people like to do here... Go figure!
Enjoy!

MOTIVATION

2008-11-29T18:39:00.002+01:00

I have none...

Tired and annoyed, I have to write this paper for my Sociology course. I hate this crap. It's a pass fail paper... which blows my mind. What the hell. I don't quite understand how that works. Still I want to do a bang-up job on it.

Other than that... Monday I have to begin on Genocide (which means I finish my Soc paper tonight hell or high water!)

Then NORWEGIAN... UGH
I hate that course... HATE HATE.
I feel better.. no more ranting. BACK TO STUDY.

30 mins or so?

2008-11-22T15:47:00.005+01:00

I cheated... I didn't take these. They are from Homecoming at AC, but tis why I lurve my sisters! (Stolen from L Ry)

So, I'm chilling... Thinking people might actually wake up earlier than 2 in the afternoon back home... but it's Saturday, so what the hell am I thinking.

Talking to my mom...
HMMMmmm...
Dad?
1. Surgery the other day
2. Thought we were gonna lose him... but he made it out
3. This is the last stretch... If they didn't finish it this time, we're screwed
4. He's been stable, so let's cross our fingers.

And we wait... wait... and wait

As for the surgery:
They removed one vertebra, removed pockets of infection, put him on a vent, and placed in ICU.

So about Riga last weekend.
It went well, things were good.
Day 1:
Bus trip to Stockholm was pretty much long and tiresome. Didn't do a lot but talk to Anthony on the way there. Again, not much gained, still good to actually talk to people.

That night I wandered Stockholm a little. Ran into some people from the trip (quasi-friends... what the hell do I call them?)

Went to bed on the boat after seeing my male roommate's ass... Wasn't that bad... LOL.

Bed... and slept only to be woken by the roommates coming in at 6 am drunk.

Up at 8:00 am to eat breakfast... then wandered the city aimlessly away from the tourist part into the residential areas. Found a trashcan covered with sponges.

Bus to boat that afternoon after wandering around with Anthony again (we ran into each other)

Boat that night... I was being rather cantankerous about not dancing... replying to the suggestions with "dancing makes me envy cripples," only to see some guy in a wheelchair out (more like besides) the dance floor..

Feeling like a total asshat, I agree..
yes, this pickle went and danced... get over it... Still wasn't as awesome as when me and L Ry danced to 80's music and head banging in her living room (soon to be mine !)

Anywho... Went to bed at like 3ish?

Riga the next day, got up... and broke my fast.

Took a tour around the city, enjoy that... it was interesting.

Wandering about the city with Jon, Laura, and Erik. Cheap city, I enjoyed.

Boat again that night, where as I had the (dis)pleasure of enjoying more karaoke... Woot? THen to be asked later if I was smoking in the boat in Stockholm (no thanks) which lead to my separation from my little group. Feeling particularly stoic, I went out side on the deck and watched the water for a long time (forgetting that it was COLDER than a Will-digger's butt) and watched the moon reflecting off the waves. I think that may have been the best part of the trip. Anywahys, made it back to my room only to have my door beaten down by three drunk guys. "WHERE DID YOU GO!" My, ,my I was surprised to be so missed... But Yah, followed them, had a drink of my own and then went to the "club" for dancing (at this point I didn't care if anyone saw me last night, what should I worry for?)

That night the boat was rocking a good deal, so ... I got VERY sick. VERY, VERY Sick.
I wound up asking for some seasickness meds from a friend. I am quite grateful for that.

Slept on the bathroom floor. Ewwww....

Back on the bus to Oslo.

Home and SLEPT.

Only to have to go the next day and write my final for my Gender course.

Pictures

2008-11-20T11:47:00.004+01:00

Riga Weekend

2008-11-15T02:54:00.002+01:00

I should NOT be going... I SHOULD study... but I am sick of GENDER EQUALITY. SICK OF IT!

Other than that. Dad is still in the hospital.He has no less than 3 to 4 more weeks and that is only if he gets some better results in his testing. I should call them now?

Maybe later, I'm too tired and my brain is Jell-o.

Anyways.

Stockholm tomorrow, Riga and back to OSLO... I Feel like I am an idiot, but what can I do. I'll manage, I promise.

Anyways...
Hoping my dad gets better, missing my sisters and my friends from home... I am maybe TOO excited to get home. Then again, with as much crap as I have had to deal with, I am MORE than prepared to get home.

Fried Rice

2008-11-08T20:19:00.002+01:00

3 cups rice (prepared)
1/2 an onion chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
slat and pepper
2 eggs
1 cup mixed veggies

cook egg in skillet then remove and take skillet back to stove
add oil and onions and garlic. Cook until tender, then add eggs again.

add rice and stir fry 5 mins

add veggies and fry another 5 mins.

Remove from heat and let stand (add soy sauce if desired)

Serve

I'm bored... and I've made a lot of it

Good stuff.

Halloween and the like

2008-11-02T13:55:00.001+01:00

so, again my dad had another surgery. I'm going to try and get a hold of them today and ask how things went on.

Halloween is not that popular here. Think little decorations and I think I saw ONE hoard of children. It made just a bit sad. But there isn't a lot to do here other than party and screw off time. I need to get out more. Anyways, met a friend and had a decent time. The guys a bit dry and sometimes there is a lack of "cultural" understanding... IE the wal-mart jokes are not that funny. Then I spent the past two days yammering with different people.... Why.. I ask, the moment I leave the states that I manage to connect with old friends, or at least online I'm stupid popular. Why is it impossible to make friends that live CLOSE to me.
GD.
Other than that.... It's boring. Nothing special really... Halloween was just another day, but it was one of the nicest I had in a while (and my mom told me that night, my dad was doing ok)

No pics. I've been a lazy bum.

Snow

2008-10-29T08:36:00.001+01:00

Well, it finally happened...

I hope it melts... and it should, I think....

Mulligan

2008-10-27T14:58:00.002+01:00

SOOOOOO... I was going to go outside... but again.. I'm lacking... damn depression... I've stopped sensing color again (at random times).

Anyways... So I'd post a pic of what I've been fooding on for this week... A mulligan stew!

No meat sadly.. hard to find the right crappy cuts... and $$$$$.

Still.. it lasts about 6 meals.... so about half a week... and nutritious...

I should go outside...

Frustration

2008-10-22T23:04:00.002+02:00

Annoyed.. Jered heard me complain for about 20 mins...
I really dislike the situation for finals here... I'm whiny ... whatever..

Ugh. Anytime I ask, no one give me any other answer than "Check the website"

The website that is in NORWEGIAN, or that has been WRONG countless times, or how about the I COULDN'T EVEN ACCESS THE INFORMATION....

But they get pissy if I ask a question that they could answer within a few seconds.

Frustrating, which wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't as stressed out as I am right now...
I'm losing my eyebrows again... Sad face...

Weekend

2008-10-20T18:49:00.003+02:00

So...
Ended up in the convention this weekend..... very interesting for me, but I don't feel like talking about it now... I make story later when I can fix the stupid space bar on my computer.
Yes, pictures of me for once... Jered shall be please.

Shudder

2008-10-17T00:44:00.001+02:00

why... why do I ever look at pictures of people from high school.. Makes me feel old...but grateful I am here in Norway!

Anyways.. I seem to be depressed I really wish things were better, so that I would want to blog about them...

Going to As this weekend... Really, I don't want to go, but.....

Statistic

2008-10-16T10:14:00.002+02:00

Well, if you know anything about stats is that they are easily manipulated to take theses with a grain of salt.

Top 5 Alarming World Poverty Statistics:

5. More than 800 million people suffer from malnutrition.

4. The United States spends 0.16% of its budget on aid to poor countries, the second lowest percentage among all developed countries.

3. A worker in Bangladesh making garments for Disney would have to work 210 years in order to earn what Disney’s CEO gets paid in one hour.

2. 35,000 children a day die from diseases related to malnutrition, or 1 every 2 seconds.

1. Over three billion people (roughly half the world’s population) live on less than two dollars a day.

Top 5 Alarming United States Poverty Statistics:

5. In 1968, the minimum wage was 86% of the living wage. By 1998, that figure had fallen to 64%.

4. On any given night, 750,000 Americans do not have shelter, or 1 in 400.

3. 40 million Americans do not have medical insurance, 0r 1 in 8.

2. 10 million Americans go hungry each day, 40% of them children.

1. In 1996, one in four Americans under 18 was living in poverty.

Top 10 Alarming United States Wealth Statistics:

10. Since 1950, Americans have used up more resources than everyone who ever lived on earth before 1950.

9. In 2000, CEO’s earned 475 times what their average workers made.

8. 57% of those listed on the 1997 Forbes 400 started life as millionaires.

7. Americans spend more on trash bags than 90 other countries spend on everything.

6. 27% of people earning over $100,000 agree that “I cannot afford to buy everything I really need.”

5. On 15% of Americans report that they would be satisfied with a comfortable middle-class lifestyle.

4. The Unites States comprises 5% of the world’s population, yet accounts for 40% of its gasoline consumption.

3. The average size of a new home today is double what it was in the 1950’s.

2. The average American consumes 5 times more than a Mexican, 10 times more than a Chinese person, and 30 times more than someone from India.

1. If everyone in the world consumed at the same rate as Americans do, we would need six planet earths to meet the demand for resources.

(originally posted at Discipline for Justice)

Blog Action Day

2008-10-15T14:25:00.001+02:00

So this may seem a little pointless to me, at least to post here, but whatever:

88 Ways to Take Action Against Poverty Right Now

1. Eat meatless meals 2x a week. Donate that grocery money to a local food bank. - TarotByArwen
2. Be homeless for a day/night. - Lex
3. Stop putting off adopting a child through an organization like Compassion International (or adopt another one). - Lex
4. Make a loan on Kiva, or buy a couple gift certificates and give them away to friends. - Lex
5. Get a group together to go door-to-door collecting canned foods for your local soup kitchen/shelter. - Lex
6. Take a homeless person to dinner and actually sit/talk with him. - Lex
7. Stop being lazy. Find a way to do your job better so that you can save an hour a day, or be that much more productive. - Alex Shalman
8. Stop buying junk to make yourself look pretty and donate it to homeless people and hungry people. - Craigsnede
9. Make flyers to stick in the local library. - Craigsnede
10. If you have a musical instrument you no longer use, donate to the still-struggling musicians and students in New Orleans, who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. A few great organizations that will accepts musical instruments are Tipitina’s Foundation (www.tipitinasfoundation.org) and The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund (www.nomrf.org/donations.html).
11. I’m interviewing a Capuchin monk vowed to Poverty about his work with Detroit’s poor for my blog, and I’m trying to arrange a fund raiser with my author and PIVTR radio station friends.
12. Find a gripping picture or video having to do with poverty and publish it on the Web.
13. Stop drinking Coke and bottled water for a day and save on plastic. Will save a lot of plastic if each of us does it for only one day.
14. Share your skill or knowledge, so they can improve their knowledge to increase their life/prosperity.
15. Visit an orphanage.
16. Stop being lazy.
17. Give comfort to the poor.
18. Donate.
19. Check your closet and make sure that anything you have not used last winter is taken to a charitable organization. Ask your friends and neighbors and volunteer to pick up the clothes, launder them and deliver them to those organizations. They will do no good in your closet and a world of good to someone in need.
20. On one day only eat food that you have asked someone for directly or for the money you need to buy it. Pay attention to the feelings.
21. Have a “sponsor me” day. Donate money to a poverty relief cause for everyone who leaves a comment on your blog that day.
22. Designers for Blog Action Day group on Flickr. Submit your designs: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bad2008design/
23. Organize a Hunger 101 Program for a local youth group. Our Girl Scout community learned about what they could do to help the working poor in our community. http://spedr.com/da5f This inspired them to organize several Take Action events: http://spedr.com/krfw
24. Add the “Women Rock” badge to your website or Facebook page.
25. if any of us knew or aware about any organisation which can help educate them, like, skills centre, entrepeneurship centre..u know, stuffs they do to help these pople actually do something to improve their life, we might try to collect name carsd from these organisations (NGOs or ministries), and walk around and passed these cards to them, with of couse, maybe some donations of any supplies.
26. Skip a weekly trip to the grocery store and donate the money saved to a food bank. I do this once a year for my family of 5. For that week we only eat what is left in the pantry or fridge. By the end of the week, pickings are slim and we get a sense of what it feels like to not have the luxury of tasty, well balanced meals every night.
27. Make a personal fundraising page in 5 minutes on Firstgiving.com. Raise money securely online for any US-based nonprofit committed to ending poverty in the US or around the world. Here’s an example page: http://www.firstgiving.com/bapbwm.
28. Have dinner on the floor and make it a very small meal (like chicken broth, watered down milk, and maybe a small piece of bread?) Talk about the blessings you have and that the meal represents those who don’t get to eat “big” on a daily basis.
29. Volunteer at a soup kitchen!
30. Play freerice.com!
31. If you have take out coffee, skip it for an entire week, donate the savings!
32. Give 5 bucks to a homeless person who looks hungry!
33. Talk with your children about poverty and who it affects.
34. Save your old stuff and sold it for charity
35. Support charity organization in your country. Reducing poverty may start in your nearest region.
36. Do something to touch 3 people or to reach out to 3 people and get them to pay it forward.
37. Give a gallon of water to each of 3 people who need it?
38. Give a $10 gift certificate to each of 3 homeless, single mothers so that she and her children can have one hot meal at a fast food restaurant?
39. Ask 3 entrepreneurs to each make a donation to 3 people or causes?
40. Holding perhaps daily or weekly community classes for imparting knowledge from our side and educating the local masses is something we all can do by coming together at grass root level.
41. Avoiding overconsumption.
42. Contributing to relief funds which can assist this cause.
43. Host a 1 day famine and collect donations. With the donations, pass it to a Welfare/Poverty Organisation.
44. Plan a pot luck/BBQ or a get together inviting close friends and neighbours, to bring awareness and also to raise funds for a shelter home. Funds can be used to purchase the necessary groceries for the home.
45. Pray for the comfort and safety of the world’s poor. Pray for the strength, wisdom and courage to help each of them find prosperity.
46. Combat corruption!
47. Don’t just talk to your kids about poverty - get them involved by having them go through their toys and clothes to find concrete things to pass along. The next time they want you to buy something for them - talk about what that money could buy for someone who had no food… then follow through and donate the money you didn’t spend.
48. Donate your time and expertise to teach a class to those trying to find a new way to earn a living.
49. To add to the previous suggestions, rather than just donate money to homeless people, why not use the money you would use on yourself for a coffee to buy one for someone else. If you get coupons for free beverages or meals, keep them with you and give them to someone in need.
50. As you find organizations to which you like to donate food, clothing, etc., spend some time volunteering for that organization. Contribute to the organizations you are already supporting in other ways.
51. Educate others. If you are a teacher, talk to your students about poverty. Get their opinions. Inspire them. If you work in other areas, strike up a conversation with your colleagues in the lunchroom or lounge. Get educated so you can answer questions and provide information that might spur others into action.
52. Visit The Hunger Site every day and click the link to feed the hungry. It’s fast and it’s free and there’s absolutely NO excuse not to do it every day you’re online!
53. Be compassionate.
54. Invite friends to watch documentaries how poverty destroyed ones life,family and their future.
55. Do not waste water on that day.
56. Express your love and compassion for one street child by having an enrollment conversation with her.
57. Ask your child to share her food with the child of your maid on that day.
58. Make a list of five items you haven’t used for long and have no plans to use them in future either. And distribute them among local poors with all humility.
59. Compose a poem on the theme ‘Making Poverty A History’ and get it published in a local magazine or paper. Also, ask your baby to recite the poem in her school.
60. Talk to your five relatives about the poverty issue and invite them to come up with their suggestions to eradicate poverty.
61. Organize a drawing competition for kids on the poverty theme and exhibit their works in a local school or community centre.
62. Do not overeat on that day.
63. Save electricity on that day and contribute the equivalent savings to a local charity.
64. Contribute your one day salary to a child rehabilitation centre.
65. Get a few friends, gather all your unused items, sell it and buy something a meal for the poor in your neighborhood.
66. Si tan solo los gobiernos hicieran mucho mas por este flagelo, la pobreza se reduciría en un 70% por no decir 100%. Observo como a algunos gobiernos que han prometido en sus campañas electorales que acabarían con este mal, luego de llegar al poder y por motivo del oro negro les entran grandes cantidades de dinero, ¿y que es lo que han hecho con el, en vez de ayudar al pais? Financiar con ese dinero (que se supone es del pueblo), proyectos políticos solo para sus intereses personales… da tanta tristeza ver cuanta gente tirada por la calle, sin tener que comer, o donde dormir, mientras estos señores se gastan el dinero de tantos ciudadanos, comprando poder para satisfacer su ego.
67. Travel to a poor country or area. Look for ways to make a difference on the ground there.
68. On your next off day from work, go to a homeless shealter and help serve food to those who are there, talk with them, listen to their stories, you will find that they were at one time, alot like yourself.
69. Let’s learn to love and respect one another, and to give to those who have less.
70. Pictures. It’s one thing to say that the milk my son spilled at lunch this afternoon was more than some kids get. But some people don’t see how real that is unless they’re looking at a picture.So, I’m looking for them.
71. Talk about poverty.
72. To most Americans, it’s not real unless we see it. I’m going to be revamping my blog so that poverty is prominent, and I’m talking about it more often.
73. Don’t stop at the generalities. War, famine, corruption, etc. all happen, and should be resisted. However, let’s dig deeper and go into the specifics. Not just talking about thousands of people dying of thirst … let’s talk about a real person.
74. Pull out the hearts of the readers, and make them confront what they know is right and wrong.
75. Instead of video games and other toys, give your neighbors and friends gift certificates for classical music lessons. For every $1 spent on music education, by my calculations, you get a $4.57 return on your investment from age 4-22 and that investment can never be taken away from you. Throughout one’s lifetime it pays much, much more. Take the money you save and give it in music lessons to the next person.
76. Go to your school board meetings and demand better music education. The arts are part of the core curriculum of “No Child Left Behind” and as I’ve been telling people for a few months now, the less we have to pay for health care and crime, the more we have to spend on food and shelter and doing good for our neighbors.
77. The more intelligent we are and the more productive we are, the more fruitfully we can spend our time, and the more we can produce to give away.
78. The reason why poverty still exist in Indonesia is because people is giving cash money to the poor at the streets and those money usually being used for things that usually destructive/not good (buying drugs, etc.) In order to stop poverty, the government already got their program to fight it but it didn’t go successfully for people still think that they are better off at the streets and there’s this what-so-called ‘mafia’ that organize these poor people at the streets.
79. In order to fight this, the people started to give food/meal/clothes to the poor instead of cash money so it would stop the process.
80. I think in order to stop poverty is to give what the people really need, not just giving it away for the sake of ‘being kind’ ;)
81. Fund educational programs for women.
82. Ensure that women have legal protections.
83. Educate people about the plight of women around the world.
84. Educate yourself on one aspect of poverty that affects women, whether it’s educating yourself on what’s going on with rape or abortion legislation in your own local area, or finding out what you can do to help women in other countries attain the basic human rights they deserve, by doing research on organisations that help women and contributing to those organisations in some way.
85. Do a campaign of creative advertisements for public awareness and a call to action. Do a poster, do an ambient campaign, write a radio or TV spot.
86. Breadline Africa is launching a Blogger Bake Off to help raise awareness and funds. If you want to do something on Blog Action Day, you should turn your talking (which is very worthwhile) into action: donate to a charity. Organisations that use funds directly in poor communities will be using your money where it can do the most good: at the grass roots level.
87. Educate yourself.
88. Prepare a space in your home for the poor to stay as needed.

Well, what are you waiting for? Pick something from this list. Go NOW. Do it.

Do it.

And the world will be richer in mind and body.

Nationaltheater

2008-10-11T14:53:00.005+02:00

I went and actually did something today... Whoo me!
Really that means I went to the national theater.
If any of the drama kids read this, then maybe I should point out that Ibsen was Norwegian (and the writer of Romershlom{I can't spell})

Anyways, I have pictures for you to enjoy... Don't forget that there are more at the Picasa Album.

To add to this... I also was surprised to find something like the Farmer's Market on the street... It's not the same as most of the products are high end, organic, specifically cultural items... Plus it's only for about a week. But I got a bunch of samples of odd things. This included odd fish and brown cheese.... Neither of which I really wanted... Thought about buying moose sausage though.

Pictures from that!

For anyone wanting to go abroad

2008-10-10T15:22:00.003+02:00

So, if you know me... then you know that I am an utter MISER. I hate to spend money and I love to make budgets. It's a sick, sick hobby. That comes in handy!

Here is the gist of what I have spent and project to spend in Oslo:

$400 USD for rent @ 5 months = $2000 USD
$100 USD for food @ 5 months = $500 USD
$100 USD for etc. @ 5 months = $500 USD
$60 USD for trans@ 5 months = $300 USD
---------------------------------------------
$250 for books for class
$100 for supplies for daily living
$800 to get to Norway
$550 to get to Dallas
$100 for random airport fees and transport

THAT'S A LOT OF F%¤"King MONEY! at least for a college student like me.

GRAND TOTAL: $5100 dollars
This is the total if I ignore the extra excursions I will be taking

In other news, I signed up to take a light cruise to Riga (in Lativa) for a day or two (in november... let's hope I enjoy it)

PLUS, next week I go to Ås for the ISU national convention. I hope that turns out well.

No pictures this time... Nothing really to get excited about... I'm too tired to really try harder

News about my fahter: He's doing no better but no worse. Just the same thing... He might be out of the hospital in a few weeks... But still I really have no clue where my life is headed right now. In a way this is really a chance for me and my family to break free from some old habits and lifestyles. Then again with the economy and such, I think everyone is going to have to do that... at least we have an excuse to cry about it, eh? Still, he has STOPPED dropping weight (because my mother spends most days there with him, annyoing both him and the nurses to give him food and not let him 14 hours without food again...) plus he can walk (if only to the toilet) a little. Trying to liquidate assests has proven diffcult, and so money isn't coming in like we would like... Still my contributions, my friends, and my family's earnings are getting us barely by... However, in all honesty, I don't know how long we can make it last.

In other news... I'm considering doing what I have done before and be "homeless" for my last year at AC.... I wouldn't be that hard except the need for food... which with a car should do me well... Not going to try that yet, until I am in my last year when I can find places to stay at over the long breaks.

Lazy Bum

2008-10-08T13:55:00.003+02:00

So I finally got around to contacting someone that I had been following on their blog

http://leasa.blogspot.com/

and she was kind enough to give me some info and link about a program that I want to do for grad studies (given I can)
Though that's just one option.

Also, I found out that one blog that I really enjoy (due to the alarming amount of Tex-Mex on it) is written by an AC alum. Crazy.....
-
http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/

It's a small world.

Other than that, I've been a bum. It's so dark and cold here that I generally just enjoy sleeping until all hours of the afternoon, then I wander the city streets like a BUM...

Urge

2008-10-04T17:10:00.001+02:00

So, my sister will be particularly happy (I think) with what I plan to bring home for her...
If she reads this, she can let me know if she wants it.

Back in the day there was a soda that was called Surge... you may or may not remember it. Anyways, it seems that this soda didn't do so hot in the states.

What I didn't know what that Surge is actually from Norway. Though, it is called Urge.

Well, in 2001 all sales of Surge finished because Coca-Cola stopped making this drink. EXCEPT in Norway. So, yesterday I bought a large bottle of Urge and enjoyed some great times of the late 90's.

So why mention my sister? From what I can recall, she really LOVED Surge. So, if she wants a big bottle, I'd be happy to bring one back, or at least mail it to her?

Tight and Bright

2008-10-04T00:06:00.001+02:00

So we had our first Party as the ISU... Tight and bright was the theme...
Again the idea is so that International (and Norwegian) students can come and find one another and hang out... Instead of sitting in their rooms, like I do....

Looks like it went really well.... I went there a few mins ago and will head back at the last call to see how things have turned out (as well as make sure that everything it ok)

But it looks great and that's good I guess...
I'll put some pictures up at some point.

Total Economic Failure

2008-10-02T11:04:00.004+02:00

Ok...
Soooo I know this is bad but I checked what my money was worth today and I got a nice surprise...
Due to the situation in the states, we've managed to tank the Euro and rape the NOK...
Case in point:

So, now my 20 dollar hot dog is more like a 16 dollar Hotdog...

In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it'll help me that much. But alas, at least I get my silver lining if only for a few moments.

Now awesome linkage...http://www.maptube.org/map.aspx?s=DCw5pjlTjBiphDdcGVwKXBwKdowKEi

A little less creepy

2008-10-01T12:10:00.002+02:00

From your 40 subscriptions, over the last 30 days you read 5,444 items, starred 26 items, shared 499 items, and emailed 0 items.

That would be my reader on google.... I need a life my friends.

This week, I have to go to a seminar this afternoon about soviet prisoners and their loyalty to communism.

ISU tight and bright party this Friday (I dun wanna go)

And my mom called me last night:

So, my dad is still in the rehabbing place and they might want to switch him to another medication.... This may or may not be bad....
He's walking again, but still dropping lbs. However he's still around 150... so that's more normal range... he's not yet underweight... I hope my mother will take some pictures (nudge nudge)
Other than that.... I dunno maybe, maybe.
Still they say he won;t leave for at least another 3 weeks. So maybe he'll be out in time for Halloween, He can go as a skeleton?

Woke up late

2008-09-29T14:12:00.002+02:00

Sooo, class got canceled and I decided to sleep in. Maybe I'll go somewhere... it's a really sweet day.

Nothing to really report, so I'll throw some facts out.... Because as some of you may or may not know, I am a bit of a crazy hippie....

About drying clothes (cause I don't pay the $2.80 here for the dryer)
# Electric dryers use five to ten percent of residential electricity in the United States
# There are 88 million dryers in America, and if everyone converted to lines 1/2 the year it could reduce residential output of CO2 by 3.3%.
# Clothes last longer when air dried
# Indoor racks can humidify your home in dry winter weather
# Clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually

About water usage:

The pre-warm shower water can be used for anything... Keep a bucket in the shower... or if you are me.... Take the dirty dishes with in the shower... cause there is nothing better than the soak and scrub.

Urine can be used on plants as a fertilizer (and kept out of the sewage system) BTW: Urine is STERILE... Just make sure to dilute.

Conservation of water is important because --- Survey says
energy expenditure, Chemicals in use, etc...

Now don't get me wrong, people has taken past hut days. I like my laptop too. My main reason for being so "eco" is because I'm cheap... I like my money, it's consumption in my experience that is the biggest waste...

Some food for thought... later luvs.

The return of PiCKLeS

2008-09-28T16:21:00.003+02:00

So guys, if you keep up with this,
I'll be back state side at apprx 2:30 pm on Dec. 30th 2008 from the DFW airport....
So I miss X-mas but I'll be around for new years (at home)
then figuring out what to do for jan-term. Work, maybe a course... I dunno.
I'm hoping to take a course, if anyone has a couch I can crash on, just leave me a message. I've got a few lined up... so we'll see.

Anyways, I have picture for later to put up. Hehe, it's a surprise, but if you are nerdy you'll think it's funny.

No update from my mom, my sister says things are ok.... as OK can be... if that means much.

Still having trouble making friends.... The beer intolerance and the fact that I am in gender study/sociology courses (IE FEMALE DOMINATED) means I rarely see men (which I tend to make friends with more than women)
Then there is the tendency to collect with one's own "kind"... meaning the asians stay with asians, etc..... but I seem to dislike most North Americans I meet (ok, Matt you're a good guy) but meh.....maybe I'm just picky.

Unsociable

2008-09-25T10:38:00.002+02:00

"I'm Socially Unacceptable, Unexceptional, Unsociable"

More MSI obsessing. .... UGHHHHH
No worries, I like to post song lyrics on occasion...
SOOOOO, I think my tummy is going to explode... hurts like hell.

Anyways,
I'm bored... again.. as always.
My Norwegian still sucks, I'm too embarrassed to try at home... though I may soon. Mainly to be an ass.

Not much from home, the same ol` same ol`... It's been week 5 now. He might start trying to walk for the first time since he was admitted.

Nothing else really, just wanting to waste some time at home between classes.

The card from Morgan

2008-09-24T21:33:00.001+02:00

So I checked my mail and had a nice surprise... THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Diva Cups

2008-09-23T00:21:00.002+02:00

So I'm awake... and I should go to sleep.

Than again... I'm obsessing over MSI... Specifically the song, "Bed of Roses"

Nothing today, just another ISU meeting, cleaned the flat, and photographed another book.

I worry that sometimes I say something, or do something that might upset my flat-mates. I tend to to think out my thoughts that well. Stuff just pops out... and the shiny stuff calls to me. I hope I'm not that annoying... Though I have to be, it's they way I am, but I'm working on it. Though sometimes I just can't understand anything that is said to me... English or otherwise.... and I feel like and ass-hat trying to explain that my brain is .... screwy... so randomly... you can talk to me and I don't hear you... I swear it sounds like everyone is underwater... or it sounds like it is being played backwards. I can't even understand English. Makes me sad.

So... mental check. I'm still lonely. Jered may come to visit in Oct. Let's hope. I'd love to show him the city before it gets cold.

BTW: My Norwegian flat mate is a pussy... he was upset that left the door/window open, because it was "cold." NO JOKE..... Actually, at least I'm not the only one. *sigh*

"My life has never been a bed of roses... Don't feel sorry for me, feeling sorry has been my life's devotion... Anyway"

Hiking Hurts

2008-09-21T19:56:00.003+02:00

So, I went on a hike today (and I was planning this long before Jered was, so Bah!)

About my dad.
He's in rehab... so it's looking a lot better, given we were pretty sure that he was going to die. Then again, I forgot that his last name is Faulk.... They say it's hard to stop a train, but it's harder to kill a Faulk... ok, so I made that up. Still...
If I were to name off all the times we've come to near death experiences, you'd see the grounding for my hypothesis.
So, I think he'll make it to x-mas.... Lets hope the rest of my family can keep it together, with all the bills and such. I wonder what life will be like when I get back. I never thought we would lose our house... and we might not if things will work out. Still. Everything is now nothing like when I left. Life I guess.

THE HIKE!!
Long. I was out for 6 hours. I am tired... though at some point I need to clean the flat. Anyways, it was nice. I enjoyed the atmosphere. I got to talk to the Iranian guy and his roomie. Nice guy, if not a little bit of a handful.
We looked a mushrooms, including some that a pretty damn deadly. Plus Smoking them (see pictures) cause that's how we roll here in the woods.
Met a few more people... but nope, I can't say their names let alone spell them.
Cool pics. Pretty views, I'll have to go back. Besides, walking in the woods is free, and easy. But now my butt hurts... a lot.
One thing that I thought was cool. The guy from Iran complained about the lack of public transport in Tehran which I could parallel in the states. In fact some of observations were very similar. Then people are people. No matter where they come from.

UPDATE: I'm not sure why, but I kinda went crazy and completely destroyed my room. Nothing broken but a wall plate. Still. I had to take a walk.. but this guy from Djibouti decided to randomly talk to me and follow me for a while... So I wandered back to Sogn.

Jalapeno Tree

2008-09-18T18:56:00.000+02:00

I crave it!!!!! The green sauce calls to me... First meal back in the states.... Gotta be that tree.

Nothing new... Going to Nordmarka saturday so more pics then. Also heard from my mom.

Dad's still in the hospital, has a blood clot, and had more surgery. Still alive so far as I know. Other than that.. Nothing much.

I'll update later.

Nothing New

2008-09-16T22:54:00.005+02:00

So,
Had another ISU meeting.
Our first official party will be the 3rd of October. Not a lot of time to do much. Also, the theme will be "Tight and Bright." Plus cheap beer. I'll get a chance to relax here and have some beers with the guys.
Other than that Farshad (one of the uys from Iran) came and talked about the national convention (I will be going 2 weeks after the T&B party.) It's supposed to be a lot of fun.
Classes are a snooze. Other then genocide. It's fun to think through and hear about all the things the US has done to contribute to genocide (but we aren't the only ones) given that most teachers I have ever had seem to overlook that fact. Plus, the debates on how punishment should occur.
Oh and the gender class is awesome. Fact: an official in France is pregnant out of wedlock, Muslim, and the press leaving her alone. I thought that was cool. Where as Palin is called a MILF and people are obsessed with her pregger daughter... Look at the statistics on teen pregnancy, look at the normal age of children of politicians, and think about the fact that abortion is pretty hush hush anyways. I personally am not the GREATEST fan of her... but that's because of her views and perceived ability not because she is a normal person (FACE IT, the nuclear family is a pile of lies and BULLSHIT. If you think about anyone you know like that, they either scare the hell out of you, or sexually abuse their kids behind closed doors. Hell, the most normal person I know still has some dirty secrets from his childhood.) Maybe I'm biased because I hate yuppies... with a PASSION and they go against nearly all things that I believe in. But that's them.

Gomenasai...

Soooooooooooo, I really want Andrea and Jan to get back. I'm bored. Very bored. Plus, I bet they will be drunk. Drunk Jan is fun... and kinda stupid. It amuses me so.
Also, I miss my sisters. You guys rock. I wish you were here so we could do stupid, embarrassing, and awkward things together.

Also, to my family. I'm still a hoping and a praying for your safety. Tell Dad I love him and that he has to hang on till I get back. I lied about the making til the end of high school deal.

Updatation:
I'm bored. I figured Jered would at least be awake until 10ish. But nope. Makes me sad and needy. Must find someone to talk to. Sad face pie.
Well, I've made a lot of friends. But hanging out tends to cause problems. 1 = the past 2 weeks have been hell. 2 = one of them skipped class today so I didn't get to talk to him. 3 = I don't have money, nor parents, nor other forms of cash to go out, but I haven't met anyone who just likes to chill. 4 = I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE YET!

Dad

2008-09-15T17:38:00.003+02:00

Still alive and doing good. I got an e-mail from my mom. It looks like that he's out of ICU but still in the hospital. Water is still in his lungs but he's looking better.

My mom couldn't get a hold of me because they had no power.

Again, I'm sorry mom, I was upset and nervous.

Because sometimes I hate Blogger

2008-09-14T18:23:00.003+02:00

From Surviving In the Land of the $20 Hotdog

Went to medieval Oslo today. I had to force myself out of bed to do it. I was ok, but I think it could have been better. I blame Oslo, they don't put a lot of pride in their heritage.
Saw the remains of the Old Kings quarters, Church of St. Mary, Church of St. Halvard, and the Church of St. Olav. Plus the Monastery of Dominican monks at Oslo

From Surviving In the Land of the $20 Hotdog

There was also very rare paintings in the Dominican Monastery (see the pic). These are different Tropical birds. I think they are at least 500 years old. Maybe older.

From Surviving In the Land of the $20 Hotdog

It was nice to see a lot of people I already met. Katherine, Peter, and the Iranian guys who's name I can't say nor recall (he's the head w/o glasses in the above pic)

From Surviving In the Land of the $20 Hotdog

I didn't stay long though.

I haven't heard from my mom in nearly 5 days. I'm pretty upset. Either something has gone horribly wrong and they can't or don't want to tell me.

That or they forgot I existed...

Either way. I'm not informed at all. Thanks mom.

Theta Love

2008-09-12T18:55:00.003+02:00

A big thank-you goes out to my sisters and my friends. You guys make me smile, even when my pants are down. If you get the picture.

I know, it'll be ok. I've gotten pretty far given what kinda crap I've overcome. I will be ok, a little worse for the wear but all in all ok. My emo sometimes gets the best of me. Think of it as that.

As for Norway, It's cold. Think like 50 degrees. It's crazy. I haven't heard from my mom in a few days, so I dunno what is going on there.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to next semester, and being back for Theta-tasticness. I've encouraged some friends to get to know the other thetas, mainly cause they need to get out more, but also because I want some of my older friends to get to know the awesomeness of theta-bility and maybe be apart of my life again. Though I don't know if that will be the case or not. We'll see later. LAWL.

Also, I'm so flabbergasted at the amount of effort people have shown in concern for me. I'm getting messages of encouragement and concern. It blows my mind, but I am happy to have such awesome people in my life. I have to say it. I feel blessed.

I also just want to say that I'm glad that my brother and sister are home to take care of my mom, and help her. If you guys read this. Thanks. Even if I am terrible at apologies and thanks, I'm damn well trying. I wish I could do more.

Lastly, I didn't realize until now how appropriate the title of my blog is. I truly am surviving. Everyday is something new, and strange. Including sugar fights with my flatmates. Go figure.

Love guys and peace.

UPDATE: Can't sleep. Mom hasn't sent me an e-mail or called. I'm worried.

Can't find the motivation

2008-09-11T16:58:00.001+02:00

Jered is on his way to the airport. He'll be in Salzburg in a few days.

My father is still alive as far as I know... Havn't heard from my mum in a few days. Life looks shitty... Soooooooo shitty... As it seems we are in a time crunch. Let's hope we can keep it together for another month or two.

As for me, I think this confirms that my dreams are to be dashed, no matter how much I feel I deserve them. Remind me that self-fulfillment is a bullshit concept...

Haha, my Emo is showing.

Have a good night kids.

Updating

2008-09-06T18:19:00.002+02:00

My father is doing slightly better. He had surgery to remove some of the infection from his lungs and was placed on a ventilator. I heard though, that he is off of it and doing better at the moment. We still do not know if he is going to respond to the anti-biotics. There are only 4 that work on this strain, so we have our fingers crossed. There are other things that are turning out to be ... problems, but I leave that for another day. I'm just happy to know that my dad is still alive.

Something here or there.

2008-09-04T18:40:00.002+02:00

I assume that I should at least state this but I'll be vague:
My father is apparently in the ICU as of this past monday. My mother told me last night. No one knows what's going to happen, so maybe it'll b ok.

UPDATE: thank you for your prayers. I'm working on that too. I got an e-mail that said he's doing a little bit better, but not in the clear and he's still in the ICU...

my lack of skillz:

2008-09-03T20:12:00.002+02:00

So as I awaken from another round of bizarre dreams, I have come to a shocking realization. I haven't bothered to cook all week. This is probably not the best as my health requires I eventually consume pounds and pounds of fiber.
Anyways: Inspired by others
This weeks cooking: none...
Food consumption:
Carrots - 7
Apples - 1
Bread - 8 slices with occasional meat
Havenøtter- 1 bag
Milk - 1 liter
Chickpeas - 1/2 cup (leftovers from the week before)
Wasa krackers - 1 pack
Jarlsburg cheese - 1 small package
Strange food I be eating
however due to circumstances over the summer, I learned how to eat with only minimal concerns with taste and complication.
Now on to something good:

My day at the Holocaust Center in Oslo.
So, I got lost on my way there... several times making hops off the bus at the wrong times.
I get there and got to listen to a man talk about how bad history books may have lead to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. All of this was really amazing as he was a native to Rwanda. Again I sat back and let the little nerd inside of me take over. Then it got awkward. During the Q&A some question came across about the nature of the genocide. This was answered by the presentator, "It was without bounds, neighbors killed neighbors, Husbands slaughtered wives. My parents were killed by our neighbors... but in all I think that Genocide can happen anywhere at any time."
WHOAS! WAIT UP A MIN!! Yah, he just told us about his parents being killed... ok not so freaky for you, be he just threw to out to us like to was the color of his pants (the pants were black).
Really neat topic though and I have some good stories to go along.
Later and out

PAIN and Ketchup

2008-09-01T21:53:00.002+02:00

So, My head is STILL in horrific pain. This has been 24.. if not gone by tomorrow... I dunno.

Anyways... strange food of the week.
Cheese and Ketchup sandwich.
Also... somehow I am addicted to puffed wheat. I've eaten 5 bags in one month.

It's official

2008-09-01T02:45:00.002+02:00

I'm only going to stay one semester here in Norway.
My main reason is that classes are not working out like they should. My credits are being compromised by stupid people that don't want to be that helpful.
but also, as we speak I am rather ill (horrific pain, fever, and an inability to swallow correctly which I feel is connected to the abscess forming in my mouth.
plus a few more health related problems.
Lastly, cost. Because I need to have my teeth look at now, and everything costs 2 to 3 times as much as in the US, I'm fairly certain that I will be close to strapped for cash.
Let's hope I have enough to fly back to the states?

WHAT THE ------!?

2008-08-29T20:43:00.002+02:00

Ok guys. Introducing the new Officer of Finance and New Webmaster for the International Students Union at UiO.... WTF... Don't ask me how this happened, I just came for the free cookies.

UPDATE:
So a little more to the story.
I went to the coffee hour, because I wanted free cookies... and I like going.
After devouring 2 plates of the little guys, I ended up talking to several guys (not students) who had come for cheap beer. 2 Norwegians and a guy from India. It was amusing, and many jokes about the election being a circus. So yah, happens that we were having the ISU elections as well. Me, not being me, decided to run for VP, ( you HAVE to be at UiO a year to be Prez, and due to the sit that I might not stay I opted out of) so I tried and wasn't voted... I would have tried for some other position, but some jackass behind me said (PROFANITY TO FOLLOW) "Fuck you, you stupid patriot!"
Thanks man, you're really open. So, slightly depressed (and near tears for about 12 seconds) I walked back to talk to the guys... In which we began to discuss the unhappiness of being American. Though one brought a good point that Israelis usually get it worse. I can't say that is comforting, but it did bring some new stuff to light. It was about this time that the guy who was newly elected Prez grabs me and says he wants me to run for Fin. Office. So here we are. Then afterwards I agreed to be webmaster as well. Given I don't have much else to do here.
Kinda cool, we went out for pizza and had a really good time chatting and talking about Texas (looks like the past Prez LOVES Texas and wants to live there.... so it was nice for once to be COOL) Then we made jokes about Austrians in Basements, Lebanese jokes, and talked politics. Mind you, the new prez is Austrian (and will be called the Prez-inator from hereforth) so it was all in good fun.

Updates on the inner workings

2008-08-29T12:43:00.003+02:00

So I've regaled you with my silly antics and hilarious mishaps. Now time for some introspection....
WARNING THIS MAY CAUSE CANCER:
So, being here for a while has lead to some interesting revelations.
1. I am not normal, anywhere in the world
2. Americans (the typical kind)piss me off
3. Everyone annoys me, including the Americans
4. I'm totally a child
5. Life is about making your mistakes look good
6. People in Norway all look the same (dress alike, etc..)
7. I spend way too much time in my room
8. I would get more out of my experience if I already knew the language (JERED do you hear me?)
9. I still can't decide to go to grad school, go to the military, or just get a job.
10.I really want to be an eco-hippie, that would probably still go Republican.
11.American Idol still gets discussed, even here.
12.I really like salty licorice

Now to explain some things, I need to relate some events.
It seems that every time I meet someone here from North American (this includes you damned Canadians) it just seems to me like they are utter idiots that I have to deal with all the time.
Exibit A: At the scavenger hunt yesterday I met a guy from Iran. Nice guy, he wants to be a graphic designer. I say, GO him! The guy next to him (representing Team USA) immediately pipes up, So... BLhalbhalbjahba The goverment makes us think that, blhalbhalbhalbh (insert rambling about how Iran is some back woods hell hole where you a beaten for thinking the color yellow) No other things were talked about. Now I don't know about you, but immediately jumping into that seems like a bit of an asshole move... At least get the guys NAME FIRST... Yah, little boy didn't even ask his name. I don't think he minded too much, but it's moment like this were people forget about basics, that PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
Exhibit b: All of the English speaking countries tend to band together ( and be rather conceited about it). I understand this. Most of these kids want to speak in whatever native language they know. However, that hasn't stopped me from hanging with gobs of Germans, Chinese, and Native Norwegians.
Other things that piss me off:
The general dislike of US. If I said I was from Canada, they could never tell. BUT, nope US, I must be an idiot war-monger. Again, people not thinking that people are just people, not their country, not a political leader.
Also, the American Paradox as I call it. This is the funny thing were people proclaim loudly that the US has too long been the earmark of the world. That we are too big and great, and "powerful". By this, they mean policy. and you're thinking... yah we are... we need to let the world in on this. Now, I ask you. Why then are we (meaning the US) chastised for not going along with certain plans... Let's say the Kyoto treaty... People are angry because the US didn't join... and that means it will fail... be cause we didn't join... Never mind Japan and all the other modern countries, THE US DIDN'T SIGN, OMG GUYS THIS THING WILL NEVER GET OFF THE GROUND. WHY ISN'T THE US TAKING THE LEAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING!!................
oh crap. wait. did I just say that the US should take the lead in this...
Ok, does this not contradict the first statement?
So now world. make up your minds, do we lead you or can we take a step back so that you can get off duff and do it?
Misconceptions about (insert anything): So when I say, oh I'm in a sorority. People get that Sad, oh god... look in their eyes... and why I say that we mostly do charity work and raise money for breast cancer (in odd ways) Their faces contorts into "WHat the .....!" So movies play a HUGE role of how other countries see us. I mean really, I don't want people thinking I am ANYTHING like Tom Cruise... Dear god no....... Maybe we should think more about what our media says about us?
I miss home, meaning America. I do. It's so nice to be so unique, and people not really care. I mean they do, but as an American I tell them to shove it. If I wanna wear a Mankini, I'll do it! Do you really think that the BORAT movies could be made in any other country?
There's a lot more but I won't get into that.. it seems like stepping into a minefield today would be bad.
There's my rant. Take it or leave it.

Scavenger Hunt

2008-08-28T20:45:00.005+02:00

So, think of me when you see a phone booth.
That's right. We had to find 20 things all around the land of Oslo. This included a picture of me and two other girls in our bras, jammed in a phone booth. On the bright side, I got paid 5 kroner by some random guy... He offered to pay more if we took the bras off... No thanks.
Also. More trees with Heroin addictions. Go figure. Then again this the same park that had a receptacle for used needles.
Let's see...
I acted like a monkey in a tree, and broke it.
Hugged a man that I had never met.
Asked about 100 men is their name was Olav.
Asked a stranger to explain lutefisk.
Got paid 5 kroner to be shirtless in a phonebooth.
Went to the museum with Munch's famous painting "The scream"
Did a belly dance in front of the opera house.
Went to a gay bar.
Collected random plastic bags.
Collected a random business card.
Took a picture with (a statue of) Ibsen.

There was more, but that was the things I did.

Also, to note I got to meet a girl from Georgia, and a guy from Iran.

Bank stuff

2008-08-27T15:01:00.003+02:00

So I figured out how to pay my bills... and it will cost me 12 dollars every time... Go figure.
Other than that... Got a free key chain... WOOT!

UPDATE:
So this afternoon was the welcome at kringja... Interesting night... I had real Norwegian food.... and it wasn't that great... really bland. Ergh. Got some cool little lunch boxes out of the deal and some apples.
Other than that, I've been a bum.

And the crowd goes wild

2008-08-25T18:49:00.002+02:00

So. Nothing new to state. I've had serious problems with motivation...and $800 dollars of rent to figure out how to pay. Classes tomorrow that I don't want to go to. So the news... another soccer game at Ullevål Stadion so of course all I can hear is chanting screaming, drunken, Norwegians and whomever... Maybe one will show up at my door naked and I can throw him a towel...

Residence Permit

2008-08-23T11:20:00.005+02:00

So I was up at 7:00 this morning, to go to the police station.
Brutal. So very brutal. Just to get this.

So to detail my adventure, now that I am much less annoyed.
I awaken at 7:00am, realizing that I had less than 30mins to meet some friends to make the trip together. Anyways, it all worked out and we made it to the train station. And we waited. and waited. and waited another 30 mins. Maybe this is a sign to learn the schedules here. Anyways. Got to the Politi (police station) only to find that another 200 people had made it before me. However, it was time to wait. Officially I was number 131. That would be because Ania. Same one from last night, was nice enough to let us in front of her. So, had to wait an hour and a half. Now mind you, I finished my permit while still in the states. Thinking, "Oh, no big deal, I just need to bring the papers." However, if logic was on that early in the morning, it would have told me that nothing here is that simple. Looks like I needed more photos. Which I just happen to have from my rail pass. Oh wait, thy were at home. SoI shelled out another 40 kroner (8 dollars) to buy 4 more photos. Oh mind you, they use a digital copy of it. So I still have the photos. My thoughts here is why do they not have a digital camera, like the DMV does? But it's done. No wait. I still have to register for a number and the general schema. Grrrrr....

Polish Foods and Fire Alarms

2008-08-23T01:35:00.004+02:00

So, Went to Annia's house for food and merriement. Well more so. I dragged myself from bed, and went to the ICH (international coffee hour) then headed to Ania's house. I wasn't expecting to really enjoy it but again it seems like I like the Europeans more than the American's (they kinda are full of themselves) I think studying abroad tends to attract those kinds of people. Anyways, I'll have some pictures but it was great. I had delicious Polish food and Norwegian snacks. After a while of chatting we did get interrupted by the fire alarm (who knows?) but afterwards all was well. In all, it was a really good day. Let's see if the trip to the Police station tomorrow will be better?

Love hurts

2008-08-21T17:24:00.003+02:00

Now time for pics:

I'm in a lot of pain at the moment... I spent the last ... 6 hours wandering the streets of Oslo to obtain pictures... Over 200 of them in fact... The good ones will be on Picasa soon enough.
Anyways.
I think I managed to get my key fixed to my mailbox... let's hope...
Then I bought a book I needed from campus... Ugghhh , lets just say EXPENSIVE!!!

Anyways, then I went to the park and wandered.

Fisk Kake Experiment

2008-08-19T19:00:00.003+02:00

So I tried the kake today. I have to say, it's not terrible. However, the aftermath has not been good. It seems that several hours later my stomach is going to tear asunder. I still feel really ill. too bad I didn't get to eat my egg with it. I think I might scarf down so some cereal, or go buy some wheat crackers to settle the feud that is going on in my intestines.

I attended my first class today and the only one I will have for a few more weeks. I need to go buy the books for it, but I am lazy... That and the crowds of people have turned me off. Class was interesting. I will hae to say some people were shocked at having an attendance policy, and having several grades instead of just a final paper. As to put it, one student proclaimed "... It's nearly impossible to make a good grade with it spread out like that.." I dunno son, maybe if you study instead of party during the semester?
Pretty light workload compared to my AC experience: 1 paper, 1 group project, 1 midterm, one exam.
Really, I'm not surprised and welcome the similarities... I only wish they had let me take 4 classes instead of 3...
Looks like the class is done the 1st or second week of November too. SO, I don't have a clue that what I will be doing... Maybe visiting Jered?

Later when I get something new.

Salty Candy

2008-08-18T18:43:00.003+02:00

Had some licorice today, Salmiak flavored. Think salty, very salty. However, it's slightly addicting. I think I'll bring some back to the states...

Nothing really today. I did cave in and buy a railpass, at least for this month. Let's see how cold it gets here in a month.
Finally bumped into the last of my flat-mate - Tonelind (that could be HORRIBLY misspelled.)
Nothing going on. Just really thinking cookies would sound AMAZING!
Also, got some good dried beans and rice from the immigrant shops down town. Always a good find.

and another picture... This would be part of my student travel card. I had to go take a picture in these "speed booths" and I paid like $12. BAh!

Out~

Bussen about Oslo

2008-08-17T16:45:00.005+02:00

So, 1st things 1st... I had my first successful interaction in Norwegian. Some little boy wanted to sell/give (not sure which) a waffle and jam. After trying to say no in English... I realized that he probably wasn't that familiar yet. So, imitating my flat-mates, I said what I thought was the word for no. and it worked!

On the way to the bus I saw a sign for Krav Maga classes... to bad they are in norwegian...

Ok. So I took a school sponsored trip about Oslo. Got to see the Ski Jump, the viking ship museum, and Vingland park.
Pictures ensue:

Motivation

2008-08-16T13:40:00.001+02:00

So I should go outside. I will. Just let me take a _____ first.
All day I've been doing that. I wish I could kick myself in the butt to get this started.
People should leave comments of what they want pictures of so I can feel like I have purpose.

To add:
2 of my 3 classes (3 is the max course load... go figure) do not start until Sept. 1st
Travel much eh?

10 things I _____ about Norway

2008-08-15T20:26:00.001+02:00

So today, good for all I can ask. My flatmate is in the kitchen, so I can't cook dinner yet. Though I may go bother him.
Anyways:
I walked around and found some cool pictures. Then headed to International Coffee Hour at the Chateau Neauf. There I ran back into my buddy group and spent about 3 hours chatting about different gender treatment. For example. Jessica (from Sweden and 31, working on Chinese) and I (Yah, out of 1000 students and in a group of 17, there were 3 Jessica's.... mind you in Europe Jessica is pretty uncommon) talked about how though in our home countries there is some issues with women in the workforce, we can expect to be treated well. Then the Polish girl (I can't recall her name, nor pronounce it) talked about how her professors will say out loud that they think women have no place in college. Followed Inga and Katherine (both German)stating that though a prof. could never say that, they don't have women in the faculty at all.
SO:
Things about Norway that shock me:

1. NOTHING LIKE A WAL-MART, the closest thing is an Ikea, but you can't get food there. I have to go to three different shops for all my needs....

2. Men with BABIES... I see men alone with their children all the time.. Baby carriages, snugglies, etc...

3. Small meat market sections

4. Pedestrians don't look when they cross the street, they just blindly walk out with the expectation that traffic will stop... and it does.

5. EVERY THINGS COSTS A LOT!!!!!!!!! again... Land of the $20 hot dog.. but my housing is UBER-CHEAP... go figure

6. 30,000 students at this college...

7. 500,000 people in this city

8. No cheap off brands (except for one, first price, but it's hard to find)

9. People are BLUNT, no tact

10. It's really cool to accidentally discover a castle in the middle of the city

There it is, the first list about Norway. More to come.

Looks like there might be drugs involved. Talking to day, apparently Norway has a big drug issues. They blame the weather. I think that just might how you keep vikings peaceful... Joke.

A view of the campus.

Picturesque day

2008-08-14T19:02:00.003+02:00

...too bad I didn't have a camera working. That's right, I walked downtown today for 3 hours and saw Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace.
Mind you this was all by accident.
So it goes, I was done with registering for classes (and a little bummed because I found out that the one class I NEEDED, is only going to offered in Norwegian this year) so I wanted to take a walk. Well, by the time I thought about turning around I came to a really nice park.
"what the hey!" I thought and took a walk through it. Happens it was the surroing park to the Royal Palace. Since I knew I was at Karl Johan's Gate, I took a walk through downtown Oslo. After a bit I was tired and wanted away from the crazy street vendors and hoards of people. It was then I noted that down an alley I could see water. Curious, I headed that way only to find the bay and Akershus Castle. I went around it for a while. Took a fast nap in the yard (seems a common thing to do) and headed back with a day of fun, even if I have no pictures of the gorgeous weather to prove it. Oh and lucky me, as soon as I made it back to the apartment, it began to rain.

What, Speak up, I can't hear you!

2008-08-14T11:41:00.001+02:00

So, I'm here trying to figure out what to do about classes, and wasting time on a computer that someone else could be using. BTW the keys on this are strange. Example øæåµ are all within easy reach. Oh and this thing ¤ I will never understand this keyboard.
Anyways, the deal is there is an info session that I have to wait on to figure out why a class that the name is listed in ENGLISH (and supposed to be in said language) is listed as not.
I hate this "studentweb"
I think it will drive me mad!

More pictures from the great beyond

2008-08-13T20:28:00.001+02:00

Here are our first images

2008-08-13T17:37:00.002+02:00

So it begins.
That's my room, to inform you.
and the view from the window.

Here, Safe, and Alive

2008-08-12T16:32:00.002+02:00

So here I am, safe and alive I didn't die (somehow)
I've been fretting hardcore for the past few days but I think I am starting to calm down a lot as things are starting to make sense.
So here's the facts:
I live with 4 other people:
2 Germans
2 Norwegians
2 guys and 2 gals (one of each)
I live about 4 blocks from school so walking is easy
'm pretty lonely as it is hard to meet people, did I mention that there is a rumor that there are only about 35 Americans here
So, anyways, hard to make friends when everyone else is speaking a different tongue.

So I live in Sogn ("song") student village

Oh and to mention, the plane ride was easy I slept some, and zoned out most of it. The switch at Frankfurt was really easy. I had nothing else to do but sit and wait the 30 mins or so. The to Norway. The trains were confusing as trying to find the Subway (which was crammed somewhere in a corner) was difficult.

Anyways, yesterday I got most of my information and today I took some kind of tour (there was food)
Oh and the welcome ceremony. I'll include some pictures soon.

Because airplanes are soooo fun.

2008-08-02T02:21:00.002+02:00

T minus 7 days

2008-08-01T06:12:00.001+02:00

I'm tired... beyond belief.
I'm cleaning out my old garbage given I haven't been home in a good long time, nor the chance to clean out my room.

The current numbers are something close to:
1 and a half bags for Goodwill
3 bags of utter garbage.

I can't tell you where I managed to pack all of that away, but boy did I.

UPDATE:
So the trash is now up to 5 bags and the goodwill up to three bags.

T minus 9 days

2008-07-29T16:19:00.000+02:00

So, I'm off of work now and waiting for a few things to finish before I head back to the house in east TX. Tying up the last of a few loose ends...
One thing I am not looking foward to, seems that the heat wave in Norway has lead to record temperature of 90 degrees.... but luckily it'll be back down to 68 soon enough....

*that was sarcasm, I think I am going to freeze to death

T Minus 14 days

2008-07-24T17:05:00.000+02:00

Waiting for 2 weeks to pass till Norway.
Thinking I will post some info about what is going on.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Country: Norway
City: Oslo
University of Oslo (Universitetet i Oslo)

Language spoken: Norwegian
Currency: Norwegian Kroner

Duration: 6 months, possibly a year depending on external factors

Classes: In English, I won't know till I get there, but I will be taking intro Norwegian.

Dates: August 7th - flying from DFW
Return not yet decided, but no earlier than January

Reasons: Personal examination of the state welfare system of Norway.
and more

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Maybe that helps explain things a little better for everyone.
Other than that I stop working for AC this week (Saturday is my last day)
I will be returning home the following Tuesday.

Day 1 or AKA T minus 20

2008-07-19T22:53:00.000+02:00

So in 20 days I'll be on my way to Norway.
The plan is to blog as much as possible to update friends, family, and the occasional creepy stalker about my plans, fun, and fandangos in that cold, Nordic wonder called Norway.
I have gone through with everything else, but mailing my Giro... Cause I am lazy!
To my friends and Family: Love you guys.

And... GO!