Sorry I have not posted in a couple of days, but there has been some family stuff going on at home that makes it really hard to be half a world away. If everyone could please keep my family in their thoughts and prayers, I would really appreciate it. <3
August 19th
Today was... rough. Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology is going to be verrrry challenging to say the least! At least it was (mostly) in English and the book was only 759kr, which was less than expected! I was only supposed to take 30 credits worth of classes at first, but after talking to the University of Mount Union, USAC, and the University of Oslo, I think they will let me get away with taking 40 credits! I did not want to take three classes and then risk potentially failing Genetics and then only coming back with 20 credits (10 USA) and not being a full time student. But then I looked at my syllabus for my Introduction to Political Utopias class and saw that we needed 15 books?!? How?! What?! I will have to see how the next few weeks go before I make any final decisions about classes...
On the way back from classes, I stopped at ICA (grocery store, think of Giant Eagle mixed with Heinen's) and there were ENGLISH LABELS!!!!!!! YAY!!! I finally got laundry detergent and other food staples (real spaghetti sauce and more peanut butter). Speaking of which... how many days does it take one girl to get to the bottom of a jar of peanut butter? The world may never know... just kidding... its 13.... But I got another jar, so don't worry! For dinner I even branched out and made breaded-baked-eggplant! I know... you are impressed, I was surprised that it turned out half descent too! (Thank you Kate's mom for the inspiration!). Now I just need to learn how to cook for one person since my other roommates won't let us borrow the microwave :(. Frieda and Lotte both bought Norwegian Brown Cheese and didn't like it, so they graciously gave it to me. (Thanks!) So now I can have my family try it when they come to visit in a week! Other than that it has been pretty rainy here, so I have just been chilling and wasting time on the internet. Hopefully I can get out and explore more soon!
August 20th
Wednesdays are going to be brutal once my Norwegian language courses start next week, 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. :P. I had my first class for Introduction to Political Utopias today and I can already tell that I am going to love it! It is so different from all the Biology courses that I am taking and really interesting. Katelin, Henry, and Fan are in my class too!I also met some new people and I think we are going to start a reading group to discuss all of the books that we have to read. Speaking of which, the 15 that I thought earlier are actually just seven novels with a giant packet of articles to read... bad, but better than 15 individual novels! I will take what I can get! After that I ate lunch and then went to my psych course (Cognition, Emotion, and Language) which will be really interesting as well. I have a lot of reading and note copying to catch up on and I hope that since the weather is still kind of gloomy, I can get it done before this weekend!
August 21st
I don't have any classes and so I was supposed to get a whole lot done today..... but... I am too lazy. This doesn't seem like real school here yet, so it is hard to motivate myself to start the semester. I really need to get my butt into gear before I fall behind! I did do one productive thing today... LAUNDRY! :D It was very complicated to figure out, but I did it! My room is also decorated with wet clothes at the moment, but it gives it a "homey" vibe and that fresh laundry smell. :) I think I will start a new house decoration trend... Who needs posters when you can put your pants on display?
I got to skype with Michelle today and catch up since she just moved into her dorm room. It was fun to chat and laugh together. (English- God speed = God fart- Norwegian) HAhahaha Ohhhh Michelle :).
Later that night I also went with my roommates and Eva, Zita, Franzi, and her friend to Chateau Neuf where they had a presentation on how to be a Norwegian student (very funny) and free pizza! How could I resist?
I also received some troubling news from home, so I am stressing. It is hard to be so far away with limited communication when all you want to do is be there with your family. I love you!!
August 22nd
I only had my Genetics lecture today and then I am done for the weekend! :) Survived my first week of classes! My Genetics lecture went a little better today because I had the notes printed out, so it was easier to follow along, but I am worried because for some of the more scientific terms, she uses the Norwegian words. It wont be hard for me to learn them (hopefully), but if I am going to be a Biology teacher, I hope these are not important terms that I will have to turn and teach to my students. "Sorry kids! I took Genetics in Norway, so today we will be learning some Norwegian!".
I was really stressing out today and needed to get out of my room, so thankfully Frieda went with me to Oslo City, downtown and I got some yarn to start my craft for the winter! (*It is a surprise! :) *) I needed something to do before I go crazy. After that, we joined Lotte, Zita, Franzi, and Eva at Chateau Neuf for coffee hour. Soooo much coffee and cookies! I felt like I could run a marathon! (This is coming from someone who NEVER drinks coffee and rarely caffeine). So after 3 cups, I was bouncing off the walls. After that we all went to Eva's apartment and cooked dinner together. We made "pancakes" (more like crepes), but they were absolutely delicious and hanging out with friends was just what I needed to distract myself and get out of my head and room. I think tomorrow, the group of us are traveling to the oldest city in Norway together! It should be a lot of fun and I am really excited! I am planning on skyping my dad at 2 a.m. (my time), so hopefully I can get some homework done in the meantime!
August 19th
Today was... rough. Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology is going to be verrrry challenging to say the least! At least it was (mostly) in English and the book was only 759kr, which was less than expected! I was only supposed to take 30 credits worth of classes at first, but after talking to the University of Mount Union, USAC, and the University of Oslo, I think they will let me get away with taking 40 credits! I did not want to take three classes and then risk potentially failing Genetics and then only coming back with 20 credits (10 USA) and not being a full time student. But then I looked at my syllabus for my Introduction to Political Utopias class and saw that we needed 15 books?!? How?! What?! I will have to see how the next few weeks go before I make any final decisions about classes...
On the way back from classes, I stopped at ICA (grocery store, think of Giant Eagle mixed with Heinen's) and there were ENGLISH LABELS!!!!!!! YAY!!! I finally got laundry detergent and other food staples (real spaghetti sauce and more peanut butter). Speaking of which... how many days does it take one girl to get to the bottom of a jar of peanut butter? The world may never know... just kidding... its 13.... But I got another jar, so don't worry! For dinner I even branched out and made breaded-baked-eggplant! I know... you are impressed, I was surprised that it turned out half descent too! (Thank you Kate's mom for the inspiration!). Now I just need to learn how to cook for one person since my other roommates won't let us borrow the microwave :(. Frieda and Lotte both bought Norwegian Brown Cheese and didn't like it, so they graciously gave it to me. (Thanks!) So now I can have my family try it when they come to visit in a week! Other than that it has been pretty rainy here, so I have just been chilling and wasting time on the internet. Hopefully I can get out and explore more soon!
August 20th
Wednesdays are going to be brutal once my Norwegian language courses start next week, 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. :P. I had my first class for Introduction to Political Utopias today and I can already tell that I am going to love it! It is so different from all the Biology courses that I am taking and really interesting. Katelin, Henry, and Fan are in my class too!I also met some new people and I think we are going to start a reading group to discuss all of the books that we have to read. Speaking of which, the 15 that I thought earlier are actually just seven novels with a giant packet of articles to read... bad, but better than 15 individual novels! I will take what I can get! After that I ate lunch and then went to my psych course (Cognition, Emotion, and Language) which will be really interesting as well. I have a lot of reading and note copying to catch up on and I hope that since the weather is still kind of gloomy, I can get it done before this weekend!
August 21st
I don't have any classes and so I was supposed to get a whole lot done today..... but... I am too lazy. This doesn't seem like real school here yet, so it is hard to motivate myself to start the semester. I really need to get my butt into gear before I fall behind! I did do one productive thing today... LAUNDRY! :D It was very complicated to figure out, but I did it! My room is also decorated with wet clothes at the moment, but it gives it a "homey" vibe and that fresh laundry smell. :) I think I will start a new house decoration trend... Who needs posters when you can put your pants on display?
I got to skype with Michelle today and catch up since she just moved into her dorm room. It was fun to chat and laugh together. (English- God speed = God fart- Norwegian) HAhahaha Ohhhh Michelle :).
Later that night I also went with my roommates and Eva, Zita, Franzi, and her friend to Chateau Neuf where they had a presentation on how to be a Norwegian student (very funny) and free pizza! How could I resist?
I also received some troubling news from home, so I am stressing. It is hard to be so far away with limited communication when all you want to do is be there with your family. I love you!!
August 22nd
I only had my Genetics lecture today and then I am done for the weekend! :) Survived my first week of classes! My Genetics lecture went a little better today because I had the notes printed out, so it was easier to follow along, but I am worried because for some of the more scientific terms, she uses the Norwegian words. It wont be hard for me to learn them (hopefully), but if I am going to be a Biology teacher, I hope these are not important terms that I will have to turn and teach to my students. "Sorry kids! I took Genetics in Norway, so today we will be learning some Norwegian!".
I was really stressing out today and needed to get out of my room, so thankfully Frieda went with me to Oslo City, downtown and I got some yarn to start my craft for the winter! (*It is a surprise! :) *) I needed something to do before I go crazy. After that, we joined Lotte, Zita, Franzi, and Eva at Chateau Neuf for coffee hour. Soooo much coffee and cookies! I felt like I could run a marathon! (This is coming from someone who NEVER drinks coffee and rarely caffeine). So after 3 cups, I was bouncing off the walls. After that we all went to Eva's apartment and cooked dinner together. We made "pancakes" (more like crepes), but they were absolutely delicious and hanging out with friends was just what I needed to distract myself and get out of my head and room. I think tomorrow, the group of us are traveling to the oldest city in Norway together! It should be a lot of fun and I am really excited! I am planning on skyping my dad at 2 a.m. (my time), so hopefully I can get some homework done in the meantime!