Food & Friends

Hei Hei!!
It's been a great week here in Bergen filled with, as the title of this blog states: food and friends! I would first like to announce that I can make crepes. To some people, this isn't very exciting. But the fact that I can make something entirely from scratch is a BIG deal for me. My dear friend Michael was heading back to Germany for a week, so we had a special dinner together before he took off and I COOKED!!! I took pictures for those who won't believe me.



On Monday night, I joined my friends Bernhard and Morten for dinner at our mutual friend's house, Kjetil. He lives in a little apartment in the city centre that was very cozy! He prepared a wonderful meal for us: pasta with salmon and vegetables. For dessert, we had ice cream and my favourite Norwegian chocolate: Firkløver! The evening was filled with laughter and great conversation- mostly about dating, love lives, and relationships. For those who know me well, this is a usual occurence as I am ALWAYS interested in people's love lives ESPECIALLY when they are men and have a completely different thought process when it comes to romance.

On Tuesday, I joined my friend Mathilde and her roommates for dinner. Mathilde is my "Bergen Buddy". At the beginning of the semester, I signed up for a program that matches up an exchange student with a local student depending on interests, hobbies etc. Basically, she is AMAZING and I love her. She is an avid skiier and loves hiking. She also is just really great to talk to and it's fun hanging out with a true Norwegian. She prepared a traditional meal for us all on Monday: kjøttkaker i brun saus AKA delicious meatballs with sauce. Her roommates Ingeborg and Katrine were also wonderful and it was fun to eat with them. For dessert, I prepared my favourite: banana with peanut butter (which they don't eat very often here, by the way) with vanilla yogurt and honey. I was a little nervous because it was very different than what they usually eat, but they seemed to like it!
On Wednesday, I was supposed to go out to a popular pub, "The Scottsman" for international quiz night, but I threw up instead. Needless to say, I stayed home and am feeling better now.
Friday night was another night filled with food. More specifically, CAKE! Lots of it. I joined a group of people from NHH for a "cake party" at one of the Navigator members house. Although most of the conversations were in Norwegian, I piped in from time to time and had some great one on one conversations with people who took the time to speak English with me which was fantastic. :) I often think about how I'm seen as somewhat shy because I don't speak very often at these functions for obvious reasons: I can't speak Norwegian...yet. However, in the corner there was a piano...and I played it...and then people realized that I wasn't so quiet. haha My friend Erik played guitar, and we had an awesome jam session! It was the first time I had played/sang since I got here and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!!!
As a side note, the weather has been beautiful this week! I was able to capture a photo as the sun was setting, and thought I would share it with you!

The days are getting longer, and I can't wait for SPRING!!
Last night there was a "traffic light" party for the exchange students. Here are a few snapshots from the night:




Today I am studying and packing for Oslo. My flight leaves tomorrow and I am so excited!! Before I leave, however I will leave you with a story.
I spend quite a bit of time at the gym here since it's so close, and I've really come to enjoy lifting weights. I am usually the only girl lifting weights, but I go right up to the front where the buff guys and lift my 6 kg weights proudly. One day, I saw a guy out of the corner of my eye clearly looking for some weights. He was talking to his friend in Norwegian and all I could understand was that he was looking for the 6 kg weights. In Norwegian, the number "6" is prounounce "seks". So actually when anyone says it, I take notice because it's not something that finds its way into my everyday conversations in English. Anyway, after I was done I thought I would be nice and give them to him. I went up to him, holing up the weights and said "Do you want these?". He looked confused, so I pointed to the number "6" on the weights and said "Seks. Do you want the seks from me?". He started laughing which makes sense because I said everything in English excpet for the word SEKS. He said that he would take the weights, but wasn't on the market for any sexual encounters at the time. We both laughed, but I left the conversation a brighter shade of red than him, THAT'S for sure.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I wanted to wish you all a lovely day! This would be an appropriate time to say "Jeg Elsker Derre Alle" and appreciate all the love and encouragement I've received from you all since I've been abroad!! Even if you don't have a significant other, as my Dad says, "Jesus loves you, and so do I" and that's all that matters. Anyway, celebrate the gift of LOVE!! I will most likely celebrate by going on a shopping spree...DBJ.
Updates to come after Oslo Fashion WEEK!!!!!
Sending hugs, love and smiles from Norge. :)
A