September 16
Even though I am REALLY behind with my Genetics reading and copying notes, I still really like the seminars that we have for the class. These are different than lectures, where a guest speaker comes and presents on a topic that we are learning about and current research going on in the field. Today, we had a grad student come in and talk about fusion genes. It was pretty interesting and it is nice to get a break of normal lectures from our teacher. After working out, doing laundry, and starting some homework, Frieda got a notice that the package that her brother had sent her finally arrived and that it weighed more than 30kg! That is like half of me! And it was at the post office in the grocery store waaaay down the hill. So Lotte and I, being the wonderful roommates that we are, helped her go get it. :) Luckily we were able to catch the bus coming back, when it would have been uphill and carrying the ginormous box, but we were able to bring it back. She opened it and it was STUFFED with all sorts of German food. (hint hint mom and dad :) just kidding) She did give me peanut butter for my troubles though, so it was definitely worth it! (Made in America, but packaged in Germany?) Speaking of peanut butter, my roommates had never heard of celery and peanut butter combined before!? What?! I then had to explain that you could even add raisins and call it "ants on a log". They just looked at me like I had a third head or something.... must be an American thing.
I had posted in my USAC program Facebook group that I was interesting in going to Bergen for the weekend and asked if anyone was interested and one of the girls messaged me and said that she was! We spent two hours researching, messaging back and forth, and then finally booking everything for this weekend! I am so excited! We will leave late Thursday night and then get back Sunday afternoon. I am glad I have someone to go with!
After booking all of that it was pretty late and my brain was absolutely fried, but then Jessica, who is studying abroad in Spain this semester, asked me if I wanted to start looking into Paris and booking things. I had to Skype my mom so that she could help me with basic math skills to find out what my travel budget is for the semester since my brain was not cooperating. We found out that I could probably squeeze out 4-5 bigger trips or 3-4 bigger trips and then a couple of smaller trips within Norway. This was surprising to hear, but I guess the only necessities I have here are rent, food, and my metro pass... I definitely want to go to Paris and Rome and then maybe visit Jess in Barcelona? I don't know where else yet, but I am excited to start planning everything!
September 17
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!!! My baby brother is 18! If I had any embarrassing pictures with me I would have posted them, so you got lucky this time! ;)
After classes in the morning, I printed off everything I need for Bergen this weekend and did some homework. I feel like the classes here are not very organized. My Psychology course, for example, has three different professors and they all kind of just talk about random things that are sort of related to the course, but there isn't even a book, so it can be difficult to follow along. Hopefully they will be easy graders!
After classes, I headed over to the gym where they are offering free classes. A few days ago I did Zumba and so today I wanted to take a step class with Eva and Zita. It was a pretty tough workout and was pretty much Zumba with obstacles. If I wasn't coordinated enough before..... Oh boy. It was a lot of fun though!
After heading home, Jess contacted me and we spent the rest of the night planning out our Paris trip and looking at flights and hostels! I am trying out CheapOAir, so I really hope everything goes smoothly! We are booked to go there on October 9-12 and I can't wait!!! We should get there late Thursday and then leave Sunday afternoon, but I have a 9 hour layover in Amsterdam that is making me a bit nervous because it is in the middle of the night. Hopefully I can just sleep in the airport? Is that even allowed? Then I get back Monday morning and have class five hours later. Lovely! :) But I am really excited that everything is getting planned and I can start exploring the world!
September 18
No class today, so I have been busting my butt trying to get a bunch of homework done because I leave for Bergen tonight!!! I am as caught up as I can be for psychology, I have my books that I need to read for Political Utopias for the train ride to and from Bergen, and Genetics..... Yeah let's not go there. It will happen eventually, just don't know where to start. Other than that, it has just been last minute packing and getting everything ready for my weekend away!
We haven't really decided what we are going to do there yet and it is smaller than Oslo, so hopefully we will find enough inexpensive things to keep us entertained for three days! I am glad I have someone to go with, although I don't know how or why going with a perfect stranger makes me feel any better... Let's just hope she doesn't turn out to be a crazy ax murderer who kills me in my sleep! Fingers crossed and wish me luck! Bergen here I come!
Even though I am REALLY behind with my Genetics reading and copying notes, I still really like the seminars that we have for the class. These are different than lectures, where a guest speaker comes and presents on a topic that we are learning about and current research going on in the field. Today, we had a grad student come in and talk about fusion genes. It was pretty interesting and it is nice to get a break of normal lectures from our teacher. After working out, doing laundry, and starting some homework, Frieda got a notice that the package that her brother had sent her finally arrived and that it weighed more than 30kg! That is like half of me! And it was at the post office in the grocery store waaaay down the hill. So Lotte and I, being the wonderful roommates that we are, helped her go get it. :) Luckily we were able to catch the bus coming back, when it would have been uphill and carrying the ginormous box, but we were able to bring it back. She opened it and it was STUFFED with all sorts of German food. (hint hint mom and dad :) just kidding) She did give me peanut butter for my troubles though, so it was definitely worth it! (Made in America, but packaged in Germany?) Speaking of peanut butter, my roommates had never heard of celery and peanut butter combined before!? What?! I then had to explain that you could even add raisins and call it "ants on a log". They just looked at me like I had a third head or something.... must be an American thing.
I had posted in my USAC program Facebook group that I was interesting in going to Bergen for the weekend and asked if anyone was interested and one of the girls messaged me and said that she was! We spent two hours researching, messaging back and forth, and then finally booking everything for this weekend! I am so excited! We will leave late Thursday night and then get back Sunday afternoon. I am glad I have someone to go with!
After booking all of that it was pretty late and my brain was absolutely fried, but then Jessica, who is studying abroad in Spain this semester, asked me if I wanted to start looking into Paris and booking things. I had to Skype my mom so that she could help me with basic math skills to find out what my travel budget is for the semester since my brain was not cooperating. We found out that I could probably squeeze out 4-5 bigger trips or 3-4 bigger trips and then a couple of smaller trips within Norway. This was surprising to hear, but I guess the only necessities I have here are rent, food, and my metro pass... I definitely want to go to Paris and Rome and then maybe visit Jess in Barcelona? I don't know where else yet, but I am excited to start planning everything!
September 17
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!!! My baby brother is 18! If I had any embarrassing pictures with me I would have posted them, so you got lucky this time! ;)
After classes in the morning, I printed off everything I need for Bergen this weekend and did some homework. I feel like the classes here are not very organized. My Psychology course, for example, has three different professors and they all kind of just talk about random things that are sort of related to the course, but there isn't even a book, so it can be difficult to follow along. Hopefully they will be easy graders!
After classes, I headed over to the gym where they are offering free classes. A few days ago I did Zumba and so today I wanted to take a step class with Eva and Zita. It was a pretty tough workout and was pretty much Zumba with obstacles. If I wasn't coordinated enough before..... Oh boy. It was a lot of fun though!
After heading home, Jess contacted me and we spent the rest of the night planning out our Paris trip and looking at flights and hostels! I am trying out CheapOAir, so I really hope everything goes smoothly! We are booked to go there on October 9-12 and I can't wait!!! We should get there late Thursday and then leave Sunday afternoon, but I have a 9 hour layover in Amsterdam that is making me a bit nervous because it is in the middle of the night. Hopefully I can just sleep in the airport? Is that even allowed? Then I get back Monday morning and have class five hours later. Lovely! :) But I am really excited that everything is getting planned and I can start exploring the world!
September 18
No class today, so I have been busting my butt trying to get a bunch of homework done because I leave for Bergen tonight!!! I am as caught up as I can be for psychology, I have my books that I need to read for Political Utopias for the train ride to and from Bergen, and Genetics..... Yeah let's not go there. It will happen eventually, just don't know where to start. Other than that, it has just been last minute packing and getting everything ready for my weekend away!
We haven't really decided what we are going to do there yet and it is smaller than Oslo, so hopefully we will find enough inexpensive things to keep us entertained for three days! I am glad I have someone to go with, although I don't know how or why going with a perfect stranger makes me feel any better... Let's just hope she doesn't turn out to be a crazy ax murderer who kills me in my sleep! Fingers crossed and wish me luck! Bergen here I come!