I'm sure you've all missed me! Maybe not! None the less, that doesn't matter. I've been up to a lot lately. I'll start off by just apologizing for the lack of blogs lately. I'm sure if you've been paying attention you would know that blogging does not consume my life...nonetheless, I was a bit lazy. So, lets go ahead and get this show on the road.
The semester is rolling on and we're past "midterms" here in Oslo. I recently had two papers due in both of my history courses. Relatively pointless information at first, right? Well, I pulled a typical Brent move and submitted the same paper for both classes on accident. I received an email informing that I had failed the paper for one of my courses and, to say the least, I was shocked. Being the person I am, I immediately went to reread the paper that I submitted online to see if I could notice any large mistakes that would warrant a failing grade. That's when I realized that I submitted a paper about Viking age kings in stead of a paper on the influences on technology during Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Either way, I was able to resubmit the real paper.
Now, why don't we move onto the stuff you actually want to read then... travels!!! Please, just try and hold your excitement in. I've been to two new cities within the last month and I've revisited one. The first of these, Stockholm, was a much need scenery change. Although Sweden is somewhat similar to Norway, their respective capitals are, in my eyes, quite different. Oslo is a relatively small capital to be honest. Stockholm on the other hand is fairly large. Unlike Oslo, Stockholm also seems to have a richer cultural personality. Oslo has this feeling of a completely a functional city. Sites such as the Akerhus castle and the folks museum are certainly nice, but Stockholm was really a beautiful city with a lot of Scandinavian feeling, much like Copenhagen. Anyway, I'll let you enjoy the pictures below now!
Royal Palace of Stockholm
Vasa Ship @ Vasa ship museum
To be honest, I don't have very many photos from Stockholm, so its hard for me to really give you an idea of the city. Either way, it was fun.
After a brief three day return to Oslo, two friends and I headed out to take a short trip in Amsterdam followed by a nice reunion in Hamburg with some old friends. Amsterdam was much more enjoyable compared to my previous visit (mainly because I was there for more than 6 hours). Although we only stayed in Amsterdam for one full night, it was still plenty of fun! The weather there was beautiful! We set out to see parts of the red light district, went to a park, enjoyed some local beer, and sat by the canals as the sun set. It was truly a great trip!
Beer sampler in Amsterdam. Go there. Try their beer. You will not regret.
Just me acting casual in Amsterdam. The canals make a great backdrop
The group in Amsterdam!
As I said earlier, we headed to Hamburg after Amsterdam to meet up with some friends for a reunion. The reunion was a blast! It is a bit strange to think that I may never see some of these people again. With just around 40 days left here in Oslo, I must admit that I will miss all of this more that I can describe. I have made some of the best friends of my life and I've experienced so much! Okay then, lets continue with Hamburg. We spent our days sight seeing and our nights enjoying Reeperbahn, a street in Hamburg known in English as "The most sinful mile on Earth". The area has a feeling slightly similar to Amsterdam. However, I would say that the previous title might be a bit of an exaggeration. Either way, it was still great to see all of the old group again and to enjoy a few drinks with friends. I couldn't have asked for a better crowd!
The Rathaus in Hamburg
Those of us left from last semester! (Alicia, Me, Daniel- bottom and Jorge-right)
Boat tour in Hamburg
Most of the group in Hamburg. Picture Courtesy of Shooter's bar.
This basically sums up my life as of recent. I plan to do some hiking this weekend with some friends in Lillehammer, a small town outside of Oslo. I'm also looking at heading to London or Copenhagen in Early May! Keep your eyes open for another blog and start the countdowns. There won't be much more after this blog folks!
Grab a blanket, turn your heaters up and take out a travel planner. As my time here in Norway comes closer and closer to an end, I find myself reflecting a lot on what made these last 6 and a half months so amazing. It is nearly impossible for me to put to words how amazing this experience has been. Still, I'm going to do my best to explain as to why all of you -even the broke students who take the time to read this- must travel. I'm going to list only 15 out of what is probably around 100 reasons as to why you need to drop everything and travel. NOW. Let's get to it!
1. The people you meet. Honestly, have you ever sat down in a kitchen with a group of people from literally all over the world. During my brief period here I have made friends from Germany, Switzerland, France, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Austria, New Zealand, Austalia, Iran, Italy, Canada, Ethiopia, South Korea, China, The Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and more. Take a moment to think about how many names I've had to remember. I tell you, the struggle is real. Honestly though, these people are all great!
2. Now that you've taken a moment to think about what kind of cultural setting you're immersed in here, take another moment to imagine all the places you go with those same people. I've traveled to 6 different countries with the intention to head to at least 2 to 3 more this semester. Why not go see a friend in Berlin? Maybe you can head to Madrid to meet some old pals. Shoot, while you're at it, take a bus to Sweden and A cruise ship to Denmark.
3. America the beautiful, your beauty has its boundaries. Trust me, I've seen the skyline of Seattle from the space needle, the ocean from Florida and Texas, and watched the sun set in the Black Hills on my motorcycle and more. I'll separate this matter into about four other numbers. Europe is amazing people.
4. So, on the subject of beauty have you ever seen the sunrise as you go dog sledding in the Arctic Circle? Have you drank a beer under the Northern Lights? Have you stopped on the side of the road near a lake backed by snow capped mountains to watch a group of reindeer in the sunset? I have. And it. was. beautiful.
5. Have you watched the night set in atop the Eiffel Tower? Have you ever seen way too much of the Louvre in one day? Have you eaten true baguettes in France or purchased a Heineken at a McDonalds? Do all of this and more. Most importantly, do it with someone special. I remember asking myself why the Eiffel Tower was even romantic. Then I saw it light up and I knew. I'll be back Paris!
6. Have you ever rode your bike through the streets of The Netherlands after a night out with friends? Actually, have you ever gone bike riding anywhere at any time in the Netherlands? Either way, Amsterdam and the bike filled cities of the Netherlands will surely give you a great experience. It's like heaven for bikes and bike riders... anyway.
7. Go to Berlin. No, stop thinking about it and just do it. This city is a cultural wonderland. Imagine yourself drinking a true German beer, or walking along what is left of the Berlin wall. Visit the many museums and take time talking to the locals. Berlin has a city scene unlike any other and the experience will leaving you wanting more and more.
I apologize for all of the rhetorical questions so far. But please, do all of this and more if you come here. You will see beauty all around you.
8. Food. Yes, I am American. Yes, I do like to eat. Regardless of any of the negative eating connotations that may come with being American, everyone can enjoy true Spanish, Italian, German, Swiss, or foreign meal in general. Best of all you can enjoy it from the comfort of your new friend's kitchen :)
9. You WILL learn the value of language. Honestly, I've had some of the most interesting and meaningful conversations of my life here in Norway. English may be an international language, but I know now that friendship and the help of the word "thing" can bridge any language barrier out their. Also, I find this video about the German language to be hilarious but completely incorrect. Enjoy.
10. You will learn more about your own culture abroad than you probably ever would in American culture classes. I finally know what the youth of the world think about me, my fellow Americans, and the choices we make. I will always remember speaking to Iranian friend about his view of the relationship with the middle-east the west. Did you know that one of the main currencies in Iran is the US dollar. And you thought they all hated us. Shame on you (and me).
11. Family. Please, take another moment to consider what truly matters to you in life. I never realized what my family meant to me until I sat down and though about all they sacrificed for me. I can tell you this much, if you ever hear me yell at my parents again I want you to grab me by the arm and just say "Remember Norway? Yea, apologize now".
12. Scheduling. Okay, I must admit that I have a poor track record when it comes to being punctual. I can say after running to catch my fair share of buses, planes, trains, and more that public transport can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Either way, spend two weeks traveling and you'll practically feel like an official travel professional. At least I did.
13. You can blog! I'm kidding. Blogging is time consuming and my fingers hurt. Okay, now I'm being silly. Number 13 is actually dedicated to the unimaginable amounts of experiences you'll be a part of abroad. As I read my old entries, I find myself realizing more and more that I will never be able to properly put to words what I've been a part of here. Go ahead and read what I write but don't take my word for it. You owe it to yourself to see if first hand.
14. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. I hope I don't sound like some sort of bleeding romantic. Really though, being here made me appreciate so much. Once I pay off the copious amounts of debt that I've accumulated here, I will get to enjoy nights with those who seemed so ordinary in my life back home. Leaving Norway will be hard. I've already come to realize that some of my closest friends will be miles away from me for the rest of my life. But I take comfort in the fact that I can come home to a group of family and friends who seems to be missing me more everyday! (and that, my good readers, is what we call professional brown-nosing)
15. You will use your camera so much less than you planed and that is beautiful. The many things I share with all of you are mere snapshots in a larger album of such a wonderful time. Quite frankly I'm glad for that. I don't try to capture it all because I know that is impossible. In stead I get to live in these moments in the here and now. When I get home, I'm going to ride my motorcycle down a long and empty highway. I'm not going to do anything when I stop, but stare. I'm going to watch the wind slowly blow over the grain filled fields. And as I sit there, I'm going to crack out a smile. Because I took the time to find the world in my life. I did it. I don't want to be harsh here, but I truly cannot explain what awaits you if you just look! The reason I'm telling you this is because I want YOU to do the same. Stop trying to capture everything in 240 characters on twitter. Stop staring at instagram. Quit looking at pictures on Facebook. I want you to go out and watch the snow fall. I want you to see the sun set on a warm weekend's night. I want you to live like I have. It's not my life that captures your imagination. What it is, is the fact that your life is one short step away from being everything you've wanted.
I hope you've all enjoyed this blog. I'm going to let Forest Gump take it away from here. "My mamma always said '"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get'". Take a chance, get rid of that chocolate box guide this Valentine's day and dive in without any regrets. When you do, you might just end up one step closer to the rest of the world.
I hope that everyone enjoyed the last blog entry. Things are changing quickly here as the new semester begins. I have three new roommates. One is from France (Sarah), one is from South Korea (Juhan) and one is from Norway (Mona).
I'd also like to give a shout out to Leah while I can. For those of you looking for another great read about the lives of students living abroad, I suggest reading Leah Black's blog. You can find the link here: http://livingthelifeoflizziemcguire.tumblr.com/
Now, I'm sure that those of you who have been reading up on your Dr. Suess literature know all too well where I stole the title for this blog from. However, I wont be entertaining you with a quaint graduation speech today. Instead I want to show all of you the splendors of Europe, many of which I plan to see before I leave. I can say, with the utmost confidence, that you should- no, you must- see at least one of these places before your grandchildren steal all your money! (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa :])
I'll start with some of the places I've been, and finish with some of the places I hope to go. Let it begin!
Number one: Kjerag
The treacherous climb up a steeply inclined, quite large 'hill' in the rain was well worth seeing this beauty. You betcha. I'd give an arm and a leg to go back to this place. Take a look for yourself on the world wide web, in tourist books, or in a magazine. But be sure to immediately follow up your research with a real life mountain expedition on the western coast of Norway.
Number two: Tromsø
Uffda. This place is amazing. As you travel throughout the outskirts of the small northern city of Tromsø, you will find yourself in pure awe at the surroundings. Tromsø has mountains, lakes, rivers, fjords, dog sledding, northern lights, and a brand of beer only sold in the northern parts of Norway. And let me tell ya what, it's worth every penny in your piggy bank. For real.
Number three: Paris
I'll be darned if I never make it back to Paris again. Honestly, I loved Paris. The greatest thing about the city is probably the strangest thing about it. That 'strange thing' happens to be nothing other than the Eiffel tower. This large metal structure towers over... oh, who am I kidding? You all know what it is. But really, who would have ever thought that sitting in front of a large metal structure could be so breathtaking? Equally great is the fact that everyone around you is in awe. You're all caught up in a moment you'll remember forever and that is great. While you're there, you may as well go to the top to see a view unlike any other.
Number four: Poland
I'm all out of silly Norwenglish sayings, so bear with me here. Poland is a large area to try and narrow down, especially if you've only been to one city like I have. But, I can say this: the flights are cheap, the food is cheap, the beer is cheap, the loddging is cheap, the clothing is cheap.... Once again, you get it. If you're looking for a cheap place to party, with a few large cities then I suggest Poland. The flight I took to AND from Poland was $17. Think about that for a moment. Now think about the fact that a beer in Oslo costs around $15 dollars. Pretty easy choice. (Pictures from the city Poznan)
Places I want to see and will see (and places YOU should considering seeing too!)
Number one: Rome
When in Rome, right? That's right. I plan to live life beyond it's fullest and do as the Romans do. Now, I've heard Rome is essentially a giant museum with gelato. As we all know, the gelato is reason enough to go. But honestly, who doesn't love seeing one of the ancient world's most well know cities? If you answered "me" to that question, may the gods frown upon you. In all seriousness, Rome has a lot to offer. With over 400 km of aqueducts spanning across the city, the great Colosseum, the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica and the Catacombs Rome may just be my dream city. I hope to find out soon.
(catacombs)
Number two: Trolltunga- The Troll's Tongue
Trolltunga comes in at a close second to Rome on my list of places I MUST see. Trolltunga is another rock structure located near Odda, Norway. (Southwest Norway) From what I've seen and heard, this massive tongue shaped cliff is a must see here in Norway and I can't wait for the chance to have my breath taken away one more time. I never realized how beautiful the world was until I went hiking throughout Norway. Oh, the things you learn!
Number three: Amsterdam
Now, if you've actually been paying attention to some of my recent blogs, you'll know that I've already been in Amsterdam. BUT, I was only there for around 6 hours and I didn't really get the opportunity to experience the city. However, what I did see was absolutely different. I'm not talking big city different or even Europe different. I'm talking Amsterdam different. I'll spare you the gritty details and say this: Amsterdam is the definition of culture shock. (I don't think that makes as much sense as I think it does, but you get the point)
Number four: Spain
I've decided to choose another country rather than naming a specific city. On paper, Spain has almost everything a tourist could want. Looking for a large city scene to enjoy a party filled weekend? Try Madrid on for size. How about a historic experience filled with castles and more? Try Castillo de Loarre near the French border or Castillo de Gormaz in north- northwest Spain. If this doesn't fancy your liking, you can enjoy the beach scenes along the coast of Spain! Endless opportunity, endless fun for all. ¡Viva España!
I hope all is well back home! Christmas and The New Year have all come and gone and life really hasn't slowed down too much here in Oslo. I'll start with the 'boring' information and save the juicy stuff for the end today. I need to make sure you actually read the whole blog ;)
To begin, I have FINALLY finished the semester and I am now awaiting the results for two out three classes from the previous semester. The majority of my friends, and by that I mean all of them, have gone home for the semester break. The first left before December 5th and the last of them left on Sunday the 22nd. It is crazy how quickly a student village can quiet down! haha I know that I will miss all of them, but this is part of the experience. With Christmas approaching, I started to plan a Christmas dinner with any students staying in Oslo. The group was around 12 people and lowered to 6 by Christmas day. It was nice to be with others on Christmas. At the same time, I never really realized how much being with family on Christmas meant to me!
Now, why don't we get down to the real business here. As you can hopefully tell from the title of this blog, I was recently traveling through central Europe. If you weren't instantly interested, then you should probably sit down for this one. For real, Paris was an amazing trip! I headed out with my roommate Sarah on the 15th of December. We arrive in Paris exhausted, but still excited to see all that Paris had to offer! I'm going to try make this blog as short as possible, so for large sections I will use picture intertwined with small descriptive sections.
Let's head to Paris! Sarah and I went to Paris on the 15th through the 18th (19th). We saw what seemed like everything in Paris from the Louvre, to Napoleon's grave, to the Eiffel tower. Below you'll see pictures of all of this and more with captions.
Giant Christmas tree @ Lafayette
Sarah and I just doin' some beauty shots
Eiffel Tower fist night
It's not that much taller than me...
View above the Louvre, famous for its unique design and the Mona Lisa
Me feeling short
Smile, Mona!
Brent...never mind, I'm just gonna take the picture..Notre Dame
Inside Notre Dame
Napoleon's Dome
Napoleons Casket. Big chair for a little man to sit in....just saying
Paris for the Eiffel tower
Eiffel tower from the base
So for the most part, you can see what my Paris trip consisted of! Sarah and I were set to come home on the 18th of December. However, as we all know, if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all! We missed our flight and had to re-book our flight for the next day. A 3 hour trip home became a 33 hour trip. Sarah and I make jokes about it already...well, I do..... (had to include that part just for Sarah!) haha.
I was in Oslo throughout the 26th and on the 27th I headed out to Berlin for my first solo trip. Berlin was equally as nice as Paris. I was able to see a large section of the still standing wall, Check Point Charlie, The Radio tower and so much more. Here's a picture preview of the city.
Famous Section of Berlin wall. Google "East Side Gallery" and you will undoubtedly find out more about this section.
The captions read "Moscow, China Everywhere else and Berlin" and was meant to compare the world they lived in.
Large free style art section
Another famous section. Like I said, Google can tell you so much more than me. My apologies.
Jewish memorial with German Flag in Background
Memorial to the Dead Jewish of Europe.
Crowd scene around Brandenburger tor
Berlin Radio Tower
"Are you dying to live of dying?"
Berlin was a great time. I ended up meeting with a good friend in Berlin, Nils, and he invited me to a small New Year Celebration. It was great and the people were amazingly friendly. It was a great feeling to know that people from other halves of the planet can still find so much in common. If any of them read this, I just want to say thank you again! I had a great time in Berlin. After Berlin, I headed to the Frankfurt am Main area to meet up with Manon and Marius. Frankfurt was nice and I spent time looking around the city know for its sky scrapers. Manon, Marius and I also headed up to Heidelberg. Heidelberg, a small city near Frankfurt, is known for its Castle atop a small 'mountain'.
Outside of Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäu
Inside of Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäu
Römer Strasse in Frankfurt
Römer Stasse
Römer Strasse
Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäu
View from Heidelberg tower
Huge Keg from Heidelberg castle. Bringing it home for Amber and Andrew's new bar haha
Castle from Below
It was a great time seeing Marius and Manon again and I hope to see both of them and the rest of the Germans again! After the Frankfurt am Main area, I headed to Groningen in the Netherlands to see my Sarah (my roommate) Eva (friend from the Netherlands) and Miriam (friend from the Netherlands. I chilled with all of them for a few days and was able to wind down before heading home to Oslo. I went to Amsterdam my final day in mainland Europe. I didn't really take any pictures in Amsterdam. But, I can say that the city was crazy! I mean, Amsterdam was even crazier than I ever expected. I plan to also head back to the Netherlands so hopefully I can spend more than 5 hours in the city haha.
I certainly hope this entry wasn't too long nor too short haha. You'll all hear more about the beginning of this semester soon.
Thanks again for reading and as always look forward to more Adventures of Norway!
