Hiking in the forest

These are some pictures from Sabine and my trip into the forest next to my apartment. We were out for a total of 6 hours and probably walked 7-8 miles. I was telling Sabine about the trip to Yosemite when I threw a fit about hiking there. Let's just say I've come a long way since I was 15. It was really nice to be out in the fresh air all day. When we left it was probably 60 degrees outside which is perfect for a hike. But by the time we got to the top of these mountains, we were FREEZING. And I felt that most of this trip was uphill... but when I would say "Man, does this hill ever end?" Sabine would respond in the most perfect way: "It'll give us good asses!" hahahahaha... this is just one of many reasons why I love this girl!

My Dinner Party

Julius (Lithuania), me, and Max (Russia)
Ingrid (France), Elsabe (South Africa), Kazia (England)
Carla (Germany), Marthe (Germany), Bernhard (Germany), Sabine (Germany)

Gregoire (France)

My day...

Consisted of walking past this disgusting, crowded flea market...


And looking for decently priced boots that will be nice in the winter when it isn't super snowy... what do you think? A bit combat-boot-ish, but I think I could work them...

Reminding myself

I will not forget to take pictures of my party tomorrow.
I will not forget to take pictures of my party tomorrow.
I will not forget to take pictures of my party tomorrow.
I will not forget to take pictures of my party tomorrow.
I will not forget to take pictures of my party tomorrow.

Tomorrow is practice, Gronland for vegetable shopping, downtown with Carla for tights and boots shopping, ICA for groceries, and home for potluck at 830. Maybe some practicing in between there? I don't know. I'm starting to think a day off is imperative. Maybe not.

More pictures

Nissa and Hidayah. Two of my Singapore girls!
Vidya! She is super cool.
Linda! She is so sweet.
This is Karl Johanns Gate on Saturday afternoon when the weather was actually decent. This is the most popular shopping road in the city.
And this is where I decided to sit and watch people. This was some cute little outdoor cafe with 36NOK lattes.........$7!!!!!!!!!! But I enjoyed like I enjoy every other expensive thing I buy here.

So anyways, those are a few pictures to keep everyone updated. Everything is going pretty well now. I finally have made 3 hours of practicing a day a habit that is usually pretty easy to attain. Tomorrow my first class is at 12.30 and it's historical dance. I need to be careful because last week my calves were KILLING me a couple days later. Then I have brass class at 15.00. Followed by a 4 hour rehearsal starting at 17.00. Boo. I think a 4 hour rehearsal on 2 fairly simple pieces is a MAJOR waste of time, but maybe the standard for music making here is much higher... that point hasn't been proven to me quite yet, but I'll be open minded. On Tuesday I have hornklasse at 13.00 and a piano rehearsal at 15.00. Then another 4 hour rehearsal on the SAME 2 pieces. At that point I will probably ask God to spare me... we'll see.

Hope everyone is alive and well. The homesickness is under control now but don't think that I don't miss you all. I really do. :)

Lactose Intolerant?

This is a personal post, so if you can't deal with the thought of gas, read no more.

Ever since I got here (and I can remember a few times before), if I drink milk my stomach goes on the fritz and I get really uncontrollably bloated and gassy. I have been drinking a lot of milk here and have noticed it happens whenever I finish a meal that is milk based. For instance, I just had coffee (with milk) and cereal (with milk) and the gassiness has come! Unfortunately I haven't seen soy milk in any stores here, but even if they did have it, it would cost not only an arm, but a leg.

Any ideas? Like my mom said, sometimes it is just nice to be diagnosed even if there is nothing you can really do...

Anyways, I'm off to go practice and have a lesson. Then I imagine I will practice a bit more and then home SWEET home. <3

This weekend

Could be fun.

My room mate and I are talking about driving to Sweden to go grocery shopping. How AWESOME is that? I can just get in my friend's car and go to SWEDEN! Apparently groceries are about half as expensive, which at this point sounds pretty amazing. So... it's ok to be jealous. I would be too.

Also, the girls from Singapore are talking about going to the islands off the harbor of Oslo and going "island-hopping." This also sounds like fun to me. The ferry is free and will take us to various islands to go exploring on. There isn't really anything in particular on any island just random things we might happen to find.

I'm finally feeling good about being here and that makes me very happy. I have been here almost a month and while it feels like I have been here forever, it also feels like I just got here yesterday. I'm not sure how this works, but it does. :)

New Pictures

This lake is about a 2 to 3 minute walk from my apartment. It has a nicely paved trail all around it and my goal is to, like every other Norwegian, be able to run around it by the time I leave... I better get started on that...

This is Daniel. He and I share a bathroom and I must say he is the cleanest guy I have ever come across. He is more obsessed with keeping our bathroom clean than I am!

This is Nissa and Linda. Two of the 5 girls from Singapore I share dinner with usually every night. And this is in our terribly unhomely kitchen. I think it could use a little... something!

Benjamin and me. He is from France. He studies voice at the Paris Conservatory. He is actually very charming, but somehow this picture doesn't let on to that... haha.

And this is Gregoire. Also from France. He is also a horn player. He and his girlfriend Ingrid are very good friends of mine.

Well that's it for now! More pictures to come... sorry I haven't taken more. I'm just doing my best to blend in here and whipping my camera out in the middle of the side walk is a dead giveaway!!!

<3 jo

Norway...

We are apparently enemies.

I go to get my student card and wait in line for an hour and a half for them to tell me they won't accept my international student ID as proper identification. SO, here I am getting my passport and going back.

I feel like crying. Or screaming. Neither of which I should do while waiting for another several hours. Looks like I may miss my first class. Don't care at this point.