"just a little bit stronger,
just a little bit wiser,
just a little less needy
and maby I'll get there.
Just a litte bit pretty,
just a little more aware,
just a little bit skinny
and maby I'll get there...."
Maria Mena
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Okey, where to start.
I am NOT A FUCKING TOURIST ATTRACTION!!!!!
I am sick of being looked at where ever I go! I am sick of people talking about me as a Mzungu (white person in Swahili) and especially when they don’t think I understand. When people are sitting around me talking in Swahili and I hear mzungu, see them looking over at me and laughing, I know they talk about me. And they sometimes seriously think I don’t understand. Okey, I don’t understand everything, but that word I know. And at the moment I HATE it!!!!!!!
I hate when people treat me like a queen or something because I am white. I hate when I am offered something better than the people around me because I am white. I hate when people here don’t think I can handle anything because I am white. I hate the way the teachers here threat their students. I hate when my host mother tries to force me to eat, I didn’t come to Tanzania to get fat. I hate when people talk to me in Swahili when they know I don’t understand, and especially when I say I don’t understand and they still keep on talking in Swahili. I hate it when everyone looks at me wherever I go because I am white. I hate when small children comes up to me and asks for money because I am white. I hate the fact that people look at me as a money bag just because I’m white. I’m not rich. Actually, at the moment I’m quite poor. I’ve used all my savings to come here to work for free. Why don’t people understand that?
I used all my savings to come and live in a small mountain village where the toilet is a hole in the floor, where the shower is above that hole, where there is only cold water, where I have to brush my teeth above that hole in the ground, where we only have electricity two whole days a week, where there is absolutely nothing to do at all in the week ends and the afternoons…I could continue this list for a long time still. But I am going to stop.
I actually like it here, and I am happy. I am just whining a bit. I need it from time to time. I am so frustrated right now, nothing is going the way I want them to.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I need to scream out really loud, to hit something, to get out some frustration, to cry and I need a big hug. Then, maybe I’ll be better tomorrow and see thing from a brighter side…
I am NOT A FUCKING TOURIST ATTRACTION!!!!!
I am sick of being looked at where ever I go! I am sick of people talking about me as a Mzungu (white person in Swahili) and especially when they don’t think I understand. When people are sitting around me talking in Swahili and I hear mzungu, see them looking over at me and laughing, I know they talk about me. And they sometimes seriously think I don’t understand. Okey, I don’t understand everything, but that word I know. And at the moment I HATE it!!!!!!!
I hate when people treat me like a queen or something because I am white. I hate when I am offered something better than the people around me because I am white. I hate when people here don’t think I can handle anything because I am white. I hate the way the teachers here threat their students. I hate when my host mother tries to force me to eat, I didn’t come to Tanzania to get fat. I hate when people talk to me in Swahili when they know I don’t understand, and especially when I say I don’t understand and they still keep on talking in Swahili. I hate it when everyone looks at me wherever I go because I am white. I hate when small children comes up to me and asks for money because I am white. I hate the fact that people look at me as a money bag just because I’m white. I’m not rich. Actually, at the moment I’m quite poor. I’ve used all my savings to come here to work for free. Why don’t people understand that?
I used all my savings to come and live in a small mountain village where the toilet is a hole in the floor, where the shower is above that hole, where there is only cold water, where I have to brush my teeth above that hole in the ground, where we only have electricity two whole days a week, where there is absolutely nothing to do at all in the week ends and the afternoons…I could continue this list for a long time still. But I am going to stop.
I actually like it here, and I am happy. I am just whining a bit. I need it from time to time. I am so frustrated right now, nothing is going the way I want them to.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I need to scream out really loud, to hit something, to get out some frustration, to cry and I need a big hug. Then, maybe I’ll be better tomorrow and see thing from a brighter side…
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Usangi
Imagine a small mountain village with red, dusty, bumpy roads, green hills filed with small houses, smiling faces wherever you turn, chickens in the streets, laughing children that eigther runs and hides when they see you or tries to say a sentence or three in english, goats, feelds, women in colorful clothes that carries heavy burdens on their head, mango and banana trees in the garden, sun and idyllic surroundings.
And in the middle of this I am going to live for 2 months!!!
And in the middle of this I am going to live for 2 months!!!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Frustrated
Im supposed to learn Swahili in 10 days before leaving for my host family in a village called Usangi. I don't get it. It seams to me to be a language made out of consonants and weird, unpronounceable sounds. My head hurts and im constantly tired. I want to learn!!!! Why cant there be a way to program your brain to so that you can learn the languages you want. Just connect it to a machine aor something?? angry!!! stupid, stupid language!!! im sooo lost....
Thursday, August 17, 2006
24 hours in Split
I wake up at around 9 am in a small apartment just outside the center of Split. Me and my friend Ingrid shares it with 5 Australians. We both hurries to take a shower and get dressed before they get up. We go outside and head for the supermarket just across the street to buy some breakfast. Bread and bananas it is. Like it has been for almost 2 weeks now. Poor students back packing gotta settle for the cheapest, and we like bread and bananas as well! Anyway, we go back up to our room to eat. Now the Australians are starting to move around in their room after a heavy night out. As we finishes our breakfast the Australians emerge from their room and we leave for town.
Our first post on the program for today is St. Dominus' bell tower that is 60 meters high and dates from the 13th century. The tower is not hard to find as it is higher than most of the other buildings in Split and can be seen from all over town.
At around 10 we arrive and start to climb the tower. We enjoys the view as we get higher and higher up. We're exhausted as we reach the top and off course we blame it on the heat, what else could it possibly be?!? The view is magnificent!! We can see absolutely everything there is to see so we take some time up there to really enjoy the spectacular view before we head down again!!!
As we get down we walk a bit around the town to see the small, narrow alleys that this town consists of and aswell the hundreds of shoe stores that we plan to visit this afternoon. After almost half an hour of wandering we decide to leave the city center and walk across the park called Marjan that is situated just outside the city center. We have had enough of stone towns for the moment and wants a bit of peace and quiet.
The park turns out to be perfect. Green hills, threes that throws shadows on us as we climb the 1005 m high mountain inside the park. Birds and grasshoppers is all we can hear, and from time to time we also hear something in the bushes, snakes i think. There are white benches every 50 meters or so, it gives me a feeling of serenity, it's so calm. We sit down every now and then, not because we're tired, but just too look, to take in over us the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.
After maybe an hour walk we reach the top, and yet another beautiful view opens up before us. Blue sea, white beaches and even more green hills! We decide immediately which beach we will go to, to cool down as soon as we get down. The sun is shining and the day is at it's warmest. We descend, descend and descend until we reach the beach we had chosen. We leave all our stuff on the beach, takes our clothes of and runs into the cooling water. Wonderful!!! We lay down on the white pebble beach to dry of before we head back to Split.
On the way back we start to get hungry as it is now nearly 2 pm so we stop at this small store and buy water, bread and bananas. Our beloved meal. It's what we eat for every meal except for dinner. We eat in the shadow of some threes and watch a couple throw sticks at their dogs that run around near us.
At around 3 pm we're back in the center of Split, tired after the long walk. My friend decides to go back to the apartment to have a siesta before we start on our shoe shopping round. I decide to lay down at the Riviera under the palm threes and relax there. I brought my book, my music and my camera which is more than enough to keep me company. I lay there just watching people pass by, looking at all the birds that flies above me and admiring the palms and the beautiful view of the city walls. I absolutely love the city of Split!
After 2 hour's I go back to the apartment. I walk bear foot and notice that people look at me like I am some kind of weird person. But I like it. I like being that backpacker that walks around bear foot and that looks poor, but happy! And I look back at the people like they are weird because of some reason, and it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. I smile as I walk through the city all alone and bear foot.
I take a quick shower and get dressed again, cus now I'm going shoe shopping! I am a girl, and I love shoes, even though I walk without them whenever I can...Split is absolutely the best city I've ever been to if you wanna find a pair of good, nice and cheap shoes! We find shoe stores on every corner and we go crazy. There are too many shoes to choose between and since I don't have much money, I can't buy more than one pair eighter...We find a pair each after having been through what feels like a hundred shops and head for our favorite restaurant!
We order what we have ordered every day for dinner; one pizza margarita to share and a beer each. Around 8 dollars we pay for this. That I call cheap!!!
We sit, eat and watch the people that seek cover for the rain that suddenly started poring down, feeling very happy that we are under roof. Old women pass by with white plastic bags on their head so that their hair won't get wet. We laugh and have a good time.
As the rain stops we pay and head for the Riviera. That's where things happens at night time. We sit down by the water and watch the people pass. I like that. Just sitting down looking at people, wondering what they are going to do to night, why they are here and what they are thinking about...Weird, I know. After some time we decide we want an ice cream. They have the best ice cream I have ever tasted here and they have every flavor you can imagine! My favorite is definitely "cookies and cream"!
Back at the Riviera we sit down again and enjoy the ice cream as we plan the next few days of our holiday. It has been a good day, and when midnight approaches we go to bed. More adventures are waiting for us in the week to come...
Our first post on the program for today is St. Dominus' bell tower that is 60 meters high and dates from the 13th century. The tower is not hard to find as it is higher than most of the other buildings in Split and can be seen from all over town.
At around 10 we arrive and start to climb the tower. We enjoys the view as we get higher and higher up. We're exhausted as we reach the top and off course we blame it on the heat, what else could it possibly be?!? The view is magnificent!! We can see absolutely everything there is to see so we take some time up there to really enjoy the spectacular view before we head down again!!!As we get down we walk a bit around the town to see the small, narrow alleys that this town consists of and aswell the hundreds of shoe stores that we plan to visit this afternoon. After almost half an hour of wandering we decide to leave the city center and walk across the park called Marjan that is situated just outside the city center. We have had enough of stone towns for the moment and wants a bit of peace and quiet.
The park turns out to be perfect. Green hills, threes that throws shadows on us as we climb the 1005 m high mountain inside the park. Birds and grasshoppers is all we can hear, and from time to time we also hear something in the bushes, snakes i think. There are white benches every 50 meters or so, it gives me a feeling of serenity, it's so calm. We sit down every now and then, not because we're tired, but just too look, to take in over us the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.
After maybe an hour walk we reach the top, and yet another beautiful view opens up before us. Blue sea, white beaches and even more green hills! We decide immediately which beach we will go to, to cool down as soon as we get down. The sun is shining and the day is at it's warmest. We descend, descend and descend until we reach the beach we had chosen. We leave all our stuff on the beach, takes our clothes of and runs into the cooling water. Wonderful!!! We lay down on the white pebble beach to dry of before we head back to Split.
On the way back we start to get hungry as it is now nearly 2 pm so we stop at this small store and buy water, bread and bananas. Our beloved meal. It's what we eat for every meal except for dinner. We eat in the shadow of some threes and watch a couple throw sticks at their dogs that run around near us.
At around 3 pm we're back in the center of Split, tired after the long walk. My friend decides to go back to the apartment to have a siesta before we start on our shoe shopping round. I decide to lay down at the Riviera under the palm threes and relax there. I brought my book, my music and my camera which is more than enough to keep me company. I lay there just watching people pass by, looking at all the birds that flies above me and admiring the palms and the beautiful view of the city walls. I absolutely love the city of Split!
After 2 hour's I go back to the apartment. I walk bear foot and notice that people look at me like I am some kind of weird person. But I like it. I like being that backpacker that walks around bear foot and that looks poor, but happy! And I look back at the people like they are weird because of some reason, and it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. I smile as I walk through the city all alone and bear foot.I take a quick shower and get dressed again, cus now I'm going shoe shopping! I am a girl, and I love shoes, even though I walk without them whenever I can...Split is absolutely the best city I've ever been to if you wanna find a pair of good, nice and cheap shoes! We find shoe stores on every corner and we go crazy. There are too many shoes to choose between and since I don't have much money, I can't buy more than one pair eighter...We find a pair each after having been through what feels like a hundred shops and head for our favorite restaurant!
We order what we have ordered every day for dinner; one pizza margarita to share and a beer each. Around 8 dollars we pay for this. That I call cheap!!!
We sit, eat and watch the people that seek cover for the rain that suddenly started poring down, feeling very happy that we are under roof. Old women pass by with white plastic bags on their head so that their hair won't get wet. We laugh and have a good time.
As the rain stops we pay and head for the Riviera. That's where things happens at night time. We sit down by the water and watch the people pass. I like that. Just sitting down looking at people, wondering what they are going to do to night, why they are here and what they are thinking about...Weird, I know. After some time we decide we want an ice cream. They have the best ice cream I have ever tasted here and they have every flavor you can imagine! My favorite is definitely "cookies and cream"!
Back at the Riviera we sit down again and enjoy the ice cream as we plan the next few days of our holiday. It has been a good day, and when midnight approaches we go to bed. More adventures are waiting for us in the week to come...
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Angelique Kidjo
Angelique Kidjo is Africas coolest woman!!! And her concert is the best one I've ever been to! For those of you who don't know who she is, check her out, it's worth it!!!!!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Croatia in a nutshell
Sun, green hills, white pebble beaches, palm threes, red roofs, stone houses, friendly people, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets, big cities and small villages all in a perfect idyllic mix. That's Croatia! 
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Venice
As the ones of you that read my blog regulary know I've been on holiday in Croatia for almost 3 weeks now...Since Venice is not very far from the northern part of Croatia we took a 2 day trip there. Venice is beautiful, but unfortunately, crowded with tourists and pigeons...
Walking around alone in Venice is perfect. Small bridges everywhere, canals, gondolas, narrow alleys, beautiful buildings and so much more. You just feel so small in the chaos of this gorgeous city. But it's okay. Because for every corner you turn, every new street you go down or every new canal you follow, breath taking views are awaiting you, and that makes it all worth it. All the sudden you don't care that much about all the tourists and the million pigeons that are everywherer.
Everyone should go to Venice once in their life!
Walking around alone in Venice is perfect. Small bridges everywhere, canals, gondolas, narrow alleys, beautiful buildings and so much more. You just feel so small in the chaos of this gorgeous city. But it's okay. Because for every corner you turn, every new street you go down or every new canal you follow, breath taking views are awaiting you, and that makes it all worth it. All the sudden you don't care that much about all the tourists and the million pigeons that are everywherer.
Everyone should go to Venice once in their life!Thursday, June 22, 2006
I'm leaving for now!
So I'm leaving.
Not for good, only for 3 weeks.
I'm going to Croatia on summer holiday. Summer, sun, sea, beaches, warm temperatures, great trips, lazy days, good books, places to visit, pictures to take and absolutely no worries (exept for mony, I always worry about money)!! These are only a few of the things that are awaiting me in the beautiful country of Croatia!
Not for good, only for 3 weeks.
I'm going to Croatia on summer holiday. Summer, sun, sea, beaches, warm temperatures, great trips, lazy days, good books, places to visit, pictures to take and absolutely no worries (exept for mony, I always worry about money)!! These are only a few of the things that are awaiting me in the beautiful country of Croatia!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
I love my necklaces
The quality isn't the best I know, but couldn't use the flash because of the mirror...
Friday, June 16, 2006
Do you know the feeling when you're home alone and have nothing to do? When there is absolutely nothing to watch on TV and the movies that you have just don't seem interesting anymore? When you can't get hold of any of your friends and you're sick of being in front of the computer all alone without actually having something to do? When you're too tired to pick up a book because you know you're going to fall asleep, but you still don't want to go to bed? When you have nothing useful to do at all because everything is already done? When you know you should get up and out and do something, but can't seem to get your self to move? When your head hurts and you can't wait for a more interesting day to come?
Well, that's how I feel right now, and it sucks...
Well, that's how I feel right now, and it sucks...
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
The botanical garden in Oslo
some pictures I took when I was walking through the botanical garden in Oslo with my aunt a few weeks ago...I'm not usually person who likes pink that much, but I just love these threes with pink flowers=)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Couldn't come up with a good title for this post.
Things that are on my mind right now.
last week of school:
I've started the last week of high school for this year. Not only for this year, but for ever, since I'm leaving school after this year...I've been looking forward to this week, and these last few days where we do nothing at all because no one is in mood for learning, but I have just realized that it is kinda sad too. I don't have the same relationships towards my class as the rest of the people do, because I've only been attending this school for one year, and most of the other people in my class have been here for 3 years, but still it will be sad leaving my class. It's not the fact that I'm leaving my class that makes me sad, but more the idea of never ever having a class again (well, not like I have now anyway). It's strange, 12 years of school is over and I'm free to do whatever I wanna do...
water:
I like water! It's tasty, refreshing and very healthy=)
French / France:
I hate my French teacher and the French classes. I don't feel that I'm learning anything useful. Okay, I might know a thing or two about French poetry from the 17th century, but like I care! It couldn't be any less interesting. I wanna learn French, like in the language French, I wanna know how to talk it and write it, but I don't give a shit about their stupid old, dead poets!!!
Yesterday it was a year since I've seen some of my friends in France. I miss them so much!!!!
oral exams:
Except for the oral exam that I'll be having next week, school is over. There is no point starting to study anything because I don't know which subject I'll have the exam in, and I won't get to know until Monday...I need to do well on that bloody exam, I HAVE TO!!!!!!
my friends:
The thing that makes me the most sad at the moment is of course, the thought of leaving my friends... Some is staying right here, some is leaving to other cities and countries, I'm going to Oslo to study. We'll all be separated, and I hate leaving friends not knowing for sure that I'll see them again!!! I'm getting used to it by now, but that still doesn't mean that I hate it any less...
Australia:
It's decided. I'm going to Australia next year!!! Lene, a good friend that I'm going with, and me have been checking out plane tickets today and are almost ready to order them, we just have to figure out which date we wanna go...We decided to stop in KUALA LUMPUR, it was either that or Vienna, so the choice was easy!!! Imagine that, I'm not only going to Australia for a year, but I'll also get to visit KUALA LUMPUR!!! I'm so looking forward to going. I'll get to see friends that I haven't seen in more than a year. I'll get a whole year off doing nothing, well, except working to pay rent and food and other necessities. But I'll probably get to meet a whole bunch of new people that I'll have to say good bye too when I'm leaving the country...I hate that part though, good byes always suck!!!
uni and Africa:
African studies at the university of Oslo. That's what I'm gonna study when I come back from Australia. Or, that is at least what I want to study, I just hope that I'll be accepted...
I love Africa, everything about it (almost)!!!!
letters:
I have sooooo many letters that I should have written ages ago...I really need to get my finger out and start writing!!!
summer, sun and socialism:
This summer is going to be great! First I'll be going to Croatia with my family and a good friends family for 2 and a half week, we'll be backpacking around the country so that we can see as much as possible. Me and Ingrid, my good friend that I'm going with, are going to leave our families and travel alone for a week so that we can do what we want without depending on 6 other people. And 2 and a half week only with our families can be a bit much I think, I just get so sick of them sometimes!!!!
Well, after Croatia, I'll be working for 2 weeks, and then it's time for SU's summer camp. SU is a socialistic youth group in Norway, it's THE socialistic youth group! There will be tons of political stuff, but also a lot of cultural and social arrangements. I'm sooooo looking forward to go, what can possibly be better than summer, sun and socialism???
last week of school:
I've started the last week of high school for this year. Not only for this year, but for ever, since I'm leaving school after this year...I've been looking forward to this week, and these last few days where we do nothing at all because no one is in mood for learning, but I have just realized that it is kinda sad too. I don't have the same relationships towards my class as the rest of the people do, because I've only been attending this school for one year, and most of the other people in my class have been here for 3 years, but still it will be sad leaving my class. It's not the fact that I'm leaving my class that makes me sad, but more the idea of never ever having a class again (well, not like I have now anyway). It's strange, 12 years of school is over and I'm free to do whatever I wanna do...
water:
I like water! It's tasty, refreshing and very healthy=)
French / France:
I hate my French teacher and the French classes. I don't feel that I'm learning anything useful. Okay, I might know a thing or two about French poetry from the 17th century, but like I care! It couldn't be any less interesting. I wanna learn French, like in the language French, I wanna know how to talk it and write it, but I don't give a shit about their stupid old, dead poets!!!
Yesterday it was a year since I've seen some of my friends in France. I miss them so much!!!!
oral exams:
Except for the oral exam that I'll be having next week, school is over. There is no point starting to study anything because I don't know which subject I'll have the exam in, and I won't get to know until Monday...I need to do well on that bloody exam, I HAVE TO!!!!!!
my friends:
The thing that makes me the most sad at the moment is of course, the thought of leaving my friends... Some is staying right here, some is leaving to other cities and countries, I'm going to Oslo to study. We'll all be separated, and I hate leaving friends not knowing for sure that I'll see them again!!! I'm getting used to it by now, but that still doesn't mean that I hate it any less...
Australia:
It's decided. I'm going to Australia next year!!! Lene, a good friend that I'm going with, and me have been checking out plane tickets today and are almost ready to order them, we just have to figure out which date we wanna go...We decided to stop in KUALA LUMPUR, it was either that or Vienna, so the choice was easy!!! Imagine that, I'm not only going to Australia for a year, but I'll also get to visit KUALA LUMPUR!!! I'm so looking forward to going. I'll get to see friends that I haven't seen in more than a year. I'll get a whole year off doing nothing, well, except working to pay rent and food and other necessities. But I'll probably get to meet a whole bunch of new people that I'll have to say good bye too when I'm leaving the country...I hate that part though, good byes always suck!!!
uni and Africa:
African studies at the university of Oslo. That's what I'm gonna study when I come back from Australia. Or, that is at least what I want to study, I just hope that I'll be accepted...
I love Africa, everything about it (almost)!!!!
letters:
I have sooooo many letters that I should have written ages ago...I really need to get my finger out and start writing!!!
summer, sun and socialism:
This summer is going to be great! First I'll be going to Croatia with my family and a good friends family for 2 and a half week, we'll be backpacking around the country so that we can see as much as possible. Me and Ingrid, my good friend that I'm going with, are going to leave our families and travel alone for a week so that we can do what we want without depending on 6 other people. And 2 and a half week only with our families can be a bit much I think, I just get so sick of them sometimes!!!!
Well, after Croatia, I'll be working for 2 weeks, and then it's time for SU's summer camp. SU is a socialistic youth group in Norway, it's THE socialistic youth group! There will be tons of political stuff, but also a lot of cultural and social arrangements. I'm sooooo looking forward to go, what can possibly be better than summer, sun and socialism???
Saturday, May 27, 2006
I remember...
I remember the first day we met...
I remember the first thing we said to eachother...
I remember how easily we clicked...
I remember that time we ate frogs together...
I remember the stupid cows we made fun of...
I remember the times when you cried on my shoulders...
I remember the times when I cried on yours...
I remember all the fun that we had...
I remember the parties that we went to...
I remember the tequila that we drank...
I remember the friends that we made...
I remember the sleepovers we had together...
I remember the spirit board...
I remember the "pink girls" and how much fun we made of them...
I remember not understanding a word of what was going on around me...
I remember you not understanding with me...
I remember the foreigners...
I remember our time spent together...
I remember how crazy we were...
I remember the cow-books...
I remember the pretty pink balloon...
I remember when we realized that we knew french...
I remember mrs Cherry...
I remember the bus trip with school...
I remember us in Cannes...
I remember the last time I saw you...
I remember how much I cried...
I remember us making a promise that we would see eachother again...
I remember how you encouraged me all the time...
I remember how funny you were...
I remember the way you always smiled...
I remember your big bright eyes...
I remember your hugs...
I remember you...
I remember me...
I remember two good friends...
I remember us!
I remember the first thing we said to eachother...
I remember how easily we clicked...
I remember that time we ate frogs together...
I remember the stupid cows we made fun of...
I remember the times when you cried on my shoulders...
I remember the times when I cried on yours...
I remember all the fun that we had...
I remember the parties that we went to...
I remember the tequila that we drank...
I remember the friends that we made...
I remember the sleepovers we had together...
I remember the spirit board...
I remember the "pink girls" and how much fun we made of them...
I remember not understanding a word of what was going on around me...
I remember you not understanding with me...
I remember the foreigners...
I remember our time spent together...
I remember how crazy we were...
I remember the cow-books...
I remember the pretty pink balloon...
I remember when we realized that we knew french...
I remember mrs Cherry...
I remember the bus trip with school...
I remember us in Cannes...
I remember the last time I saw you...
I remember how much I cried...
I remember us making a promise that we would see eachother again...
I remember how you encouraged me all the time...
I remember how funny you were...
I remember the way you always smiled...
I remember your big bright eyes...
I remember your hugs...
I remember you...
I remember me...
I remember two good friends...
I remember us!
I miss you more than words can say...
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Crazy Norwegians!
I'm tired, worn out, broke, sooo behind in all my school work. The reason for this is that I haven't slept properly for 17 days because I have been partying like crazy for 17 days!
Yes you heard my right, 17 days!
From the 1st of May until the 17th of May, the graduating class in Norway completely transform from perfectly good and normal students to the craziest people that you may meet! And we are no longer called students, we are called RUSS. I have no idea why we are called it, but we have been for the last 100 years. This tradition we have date back to 1905 and that's quite old!
I didn't know much about the story behind this celebration, so I looked it up on the net, and this is what I found out: The modern Norwegian russ tradition dates back to 1905, when the red russ caps were introduced. The caps were initially only used by boys, and were inspired by German students, who in 1904 wore red caps when they visited Norway. In 1916, blue caps were introduced at the Oslo Handelsgymnasium, a high school specializing in economics.
Starting officially on 1 May, the russ festivities last until May 17, Constitution Day, which is the Norwegian National Day; the final exams are actually placed after May 17, however. Those who fail might even become russ again the year after. (In earlier years, exams were held ahead of May 17, but they were moved in an attempt to reduce the extensive russ celebrations, with little luck.)
The clothes that I'm wearing on this pic is the traditional RUSS clothes. I am a red-russ and you can tell because I'm wearing red pants and a red cap. On the cap we write in white the RUSS name that we are given by our class mates. It is a sort of nick name that is supposed to describe you in some way or be typical you if you understand what I mean. This name can be anything you like as long as it fits on the cap...As you can see we draw on the back of our coats. Everyone draws whatever they want and also this is supposed to represent them in some way or the other. As I am an Africa fanatic, what is more logical to have on the back than me on top of a pink elephant on top of
Africa??? :p
We start of this party night to May 1st. That is the date of the so called baptize that we have. For the bapize everyone have to bring some kind of alcohol, most bring beers, but there were also vodktequilaile, rom and other types of booze there!! The whole processess starts with you bringing your alcohol to the Russ-priest, he opens your bottle, takes a sip, then you take a sip and then he shouts out : I baptize you *insert Russ-name of every student*. After this you are officially a russ. The baptize sermony may change from school to school, but this is the way it was done on my school.
Attached to our cap there is a string and in the end there is a tassel. In this string we tie nots around different items as a reward for doing different crazy things. Every year a list with different knots is elaborated (the list was introduced in the 1940's), and the list ios often criticized because some of the knots may be dangerous to do like drinking a lot of alcohol on a short amount of time etc. But most of the knots are only funny, like spending the night in a three (I did that and it was HORRIBLE), kissing 10 strangers on the cheek in 5 minutes, entertaining the audience befor the movie starts at the cinema, sleeping in your teachers garden, stand up every 5th minute during a lesson saying "cheers", sitting under the desk for one lesson. And there are sooo many more, I think it was like 100 knots or something this year so I'm not gonna list them all...We continue doing these crazy things during the entire russ periode and we party almost every day during the periode as well! We can do almost anything without people caring as long as we are wearing our russ clothes. The excuse we have is that we are russ!!! It's great!!!! During the russ period I acctually had an exuse to act like a carzy person:p
After celebrating for 17 days, we end the celebrations with a big parade on the 17 of may. In the morning there is a parade with every school in town (not only russ). The parade goes around in the streets in town, there are orchestras playing the people are singing and shouting and having fun. Everyone dress nicely for the parade and the ones that have a national costume often wear it. The exeption is ofcourse the russ. We wear our ugly and dirty clothes that we have been wearing for 17 days already. In the afternoon there is another parade, and this one is only with russ!!!
I think that was about it, don't know what else there is to write about the russ periode exept that it is GREAT!!!!!!
Long live the RUSS=)
Yes you heard my right, 17 days!
From the 1st of May until the 17th of May, the graduating class in Norway completely transform from perfectly good and normal students to the craziest people that you may meet! And we are no longer called students, we are called RUSS. I have no idea why we are called it, but we have been for the last 100 years. This tradition we have date back to 1905 and that's quite old!
I didn't know much about the story behind this celebration, so I looked it up on the net, and this is what I found out: The modern Norwegian russ tradition dates back to 1905, when the red russ caps were introduced. The caps were initially only used by boys, and were inspired by German students, who in 1904 wore red caps when they visited Norway. In 1916, blue caps were introduced at the Oslo Handelsgymnasium, a high school specializing in economics.
Starting officially on 1 May, the russ festivities last until May 17, Constitution Day, which is the Norwegian National Day; the final exams are actually placed after May 17, however. Those who fail might even become russ again the year after. (In earlier years, exams were held ahead of May 17, but they were moved in an attempt to reduce the extensive russ celebrations, with little luck.)
There are several different types of russ and you can see the differences between them on the color of the clothes that they are wearing.
Red (rødruss): Allmennfag (mathematics, physics, biology, history, literature, English etc); art, music, dance and drama; and athletics. This is by far the most common color.
Blue (blåruss): Allmennfag with economics
- Black (svartruss)
- Vocational courses (like third year electronics)
- Green (grønnruss)
- Agricultural courses
The clothes that I'm wearing on this pic is the traditional RUSS clothes. I am a red-russ and you can tell because I'm wearing red pants and a red cap. On the cap we write in white the RUSS name that we are given by our class mates. It is a sort of nick name that is supposed to describe you in some way or be typical you if you understand what I mean. This name can be anything you like as long as it fits on the cap...As you can see we draw on the back of our coats. Everyone draws whatever they want and also this is supposed to represent them in some way or the other. As I am an Africa fanatic, what is more logical to have on the back than me on top of a pink elephant on top ofAfrica??? :p
We start of this party night to May 1st. That is the date of the so called baptize that we have. For the bapize everyone have to bring some kind of alcohol, most bring beers, but there were also vodktequilaile, rom and other types of booze there!! The whole processess starts with you bringing your alcohol to the Russ-priest, he opens your bottle, takes a sip, then you take a sip and then he shouts out : I baptize you *insert Russ-name of every student*. After this you are officially a russ. The baptize sermony may change from school to school, but this is the way it was done on my school.
Attached to our cap there is a string and in the end there is a tassel. In this string we tie nots around different items as a reward for doing different crazy things. Every year a list with different knots is elaborated (the list was introduced in the 1940's), and the list ios often criticized because some of the knots may be dangerous to do like drinking a lot of alcohol on a short amount of time etc. But most of the knots are only funny, like spending the night in a three (I did that and it was HORRIBLE), kissing 10 strangers on the cheek in 5 minutes, entertaining the audience befor the movie starts at the cinema, sleeping in your teachers garden, stand up every 5th minute during a lesson saying "cheers", sitting under the desk for one lesson. And there are sooo many more, I think it was like 100 knots or something this year so I'm not gonna list them all...We continue doing these crazy things during the entire russ periode and we party almost every day during the periode as well! We can do almost anything without people caring as long as we are wearing our russ clothes. The excuse we have is that we are russ!!! It's great!!!! During the russ period I acctually had an exuse to act like a carzy person:p
After celebrating for 17 days, we end the celebrations with a big parade on the 17 of may. In the morning there is a parade with every school in town (not only russ). The parade goes around in the streets in town, there are orchestras playing the people are singing and shouting and having fun. Everyone dress nicely for the parade and the ones that have a national costume often wear it. The exeption is ofcourse the russ. We wear our ugly and dirty clothes that we have been wearing for 17 days already. In the afternoon there is another parade, and this one is only with russ!!!I think that was about it, don't know what else there is to write about the russ periode exept that it is GREAT!!!!!!
Long live the RUSS=)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
My lovely socks=)
I got inspired by Rohit and his lovely post about socks that he posted some time ago!! I am, for those of you that didn't know, a sock freak! I absolutely love funny, colorful socks with patterns. Yes I'm crazy I know. But socks are a very important, they can brighten up an othervise boring outfith. Anyways, here are a few pictures of some of my lovely socks! You just gotta love them:)
Monday, May 01, 2006
I've been tagged...
Arg!!!!! My head and my body hurt. I don't know what i did last night that made it this way, my consummation of alcohol may have played a part. But my ass shouldn't hurt just because i drank a bit too much beer and vodka now should it? Last night was the start of a 17 day long party, what could be better than that?? Anyway, I'm not gonna tell about the famous "Russ"-celebration in Norway in this post, because I've been tagged by Nav...So here goes:
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
"Og jeg ble bare mer og mer sulten og til slutt så jeg ingen annen råd enn å lokke moren din i bakhold og kjøre den store kniven min gjennom skallen hennes" Yes it's a Norwegian book. The name of the book is Doppler and it's written by Erlend Loe. He's a great author, I absolutely love his books. Mabye I should translate what it says.
"And I only got more and more hungry and finally I didn't see any other solutions than to fool your mother and put my big knife through her head." The main character in the book is talking to a moose, and it's the moose's mother he has killed to find something to eat. I know it sounds completely crazy, but that's what I love about the book, the fact that it is completely crazy!!!!
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
I can't stretch it out, there's a door that is closed 10 cm to my left...
3. What is the last thing you watched on tv?
The news on FRANCE-2, a French TV-channel that I just realized that we had!!! *smihappilyilly*
4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
around 9.30maybemaby??
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
wow, I'm goodIt'sit's 9.32 pm=)
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
I'm listing to Kings of Convenience, and I'm trying to ignore my parents that are singing upstairs...
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
This morning/afternoon when I took my bike to town to go in the 1. of May parade
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
I was trying to do some homework, but I couldn't concentrate...
9. What are you wearing?
a white skirt and a green sweater
10. Did you dream last night?
I never ever remember my dreams...I've only remembered one and that was in like 5th grade and I dreamt that my house was the Titanic!
11. When did you last laugh?
Wow, don't remember. I laugh all the time...
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
What kinda question is this?? There is a shelf full with computer stuff, CD's magazines and stuff. And that's about it I think...No wait, there is a light switch here=)
13. Seen anything weird lately?
Ofcourse, I just saw my family!!!!
14. What do you think of this quiz?
quite boring actually
15. What is the last film you saw?
I saw "V for Vendetta" on the cinThursdaysday. Great movie=)
16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
I would have bought myself a trip around the world!!!! *smiles thinking about how great that would have been*
17. Tell me something about you that i dunno.
No, I don't wanna do that right now. Mabye later one day:P
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Hard one...so much things that I would have changed that I don't even know where to start!!!!
20. George Bush.
I think this explains very well what I think about this person..
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Having kids is so far of in the future, that I haven't given it a singel thought yet. I guess I'll figure something out...
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
See question 21.
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
I'm not concidering it, I'm GOING to live abroad, there's no doubt about it. I'm sick and tired of my boring country!!! Sorry Nav, but Norway is quite boring when you have lived here for 18 years...
24.What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
I'm a bad girl so I'm never gonna reach the pearly gates!!! And by the way, I wouldn't have let god say anything because I wouldn't have stopped yelling at him for his crappy way of "ruling" this world. I'm an atheist if you haven't figured that one out yet...
25. 4 people who must also do this meme in their journal.
I'm not gonna force anyone to do it. The ones who will can, and the ones who don't want to, don't have to=)
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
"Og jeg ble bare mer og mer sulten og til slutt så jeg ingen annen råd enn å lokke moren din i bakhold og kjøre den store kniven min gjennom skallen hennes" Yes it's a Norwegian book. The name of the book is Doppler and it's written by Erlend Loe. He's a great author, I absolutely love his books. Mabye I should translate what it says.
"And I only got more and more hungry and finally I didn't see any other solutions than to fool your mother and put my big knife through her head." The main character in the book is talking to a moose, and it's the moose's mother he has killed to find something to eat. I know it sounds completely crazy, but that's what I love about the book, the fact that it is completely crazy!!!!
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
I can't stretch it out, there's a door that is closed 10 cm to my left...
3. What is the last thing you watched on tv?
The news on FRANCE-2, a French TV-channel that I just realized that we had!!! *smihappilyilly*
4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
around 9.30maybemaby??
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
wow, I'm goodIt'sit's 9.32 pm=)
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
I'm listing to Kings of Convenience, and I'm trying to ignore my parents that are singing upstairs...
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
This morning/afternoon when I took my bike to town to go in the 1. of May parade
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
I was trying to do some homework, but I couldn't concentrate...
9. What are you wearing?
a white skirt and a green sweater
10. Did you dream last night?
I never ever remember my dreams...I've only remembered one and that was in like 5th grade and I dreamt that my house was the Titanic!
11. When did you last laugh?
Wow, don't remember. I laugh all the time...
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
What kinda question is this?? There is a shelf full with computer stuff, CD's magazines and stuff. And that's about it I think...No wait, there is a light switch here=)
13. Seen anything weird lately?
Ofcourse, I just saw my family!!!!
14. What do you think of this quiz?
quite boring actually
15. What is the last film you saw?
I saw "V for Vendetta" on the cinThursdaysday. Great movie=)
16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
I would have bought myself a trip around the world!!!! *smiles thinking about how great that would have been*
17. Tell me something about you that i dunno.
No, I don't wanna do that right now. Mabye later one day:P
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Hard one...so much things that I would have changed that I don't even know where to start!!!!
20. George Bush.
I think this explains very well what I think about this person..
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Having kids is so far of in the future, that I haven't given it a singel thought yet. I guess I'll figure something out...
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
See question 21.
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
I'm not concidering it, I'm GOING to live abroad, there's no doubt about it. I'm sick and tired of my boring country!!! Sorry Nav, but Norway is quite boring when you have lived here for 18 years...
24.What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
I'm a bad girl so I'm never gonna reach the pearly gates!!! And by the way, I wouldn't have let god say anything because I wouldn't have stopped yelling at him for his crappy way of "ruling" this world. I'm an atheist if you haven't figured that one out yet...
25. 4 people who must also do this meme in their journal.
I'm not gonna force anyone to do it. The ones who will can, and the ones who don't want to, don't have to=)
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Spring is in the air, or is it love???
It's almost summer, well, spring anyways=)
I love spring, it's like everything is coming back to life again.
The trees are soon becoming green
I have seen the first flowers of the year
And I can actually feel the sun warming again!
Isn't it great?
Everyone around me seems to be so happy
Happiness is contagious
So I'm happy too=)
Isn't that great?
People are falling in love around me
Everywhere I see I see couples
Everywhere I go I see couples
All the time
It's annoying
Isn't it great?
well, I don't think so
I'm happy for them, sure
But it sucks for those who keeps wandering alone doesn't it??
I still love spring though
And I'm still happy
I love spring, it's like everything is coming back to life again.
The trees are soon becoming green
I have seen the first flowers of the year
And I can actually feel the sun warming again!
Isn't it great?
Everyone around me seems to be so happy
Happiness is contagious
So I'm happy too=)
Isn't that great?
People are falling in love around me
Everywhere I see I see couples
Everywhere I go I see couples
All the time
It's annoying
Isn't it great?
well, I don't think so
I'm happy for them, sure
But it sucks for those who keeps wandering alone doesn't it??
I still love spring though
And I'm still happy
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
...
I've been walking around all day thinking, I think I have a problem I think I think too much! I seriously do. And these last few days have been like that, thinking, thinking and even more thinking. Thinking about the most stupid things., completely wasting my time and energy thinking about stupid and useless things...
And as I'm sitting here in front of the computer, desperately trying to get some of the tons of homework that I have done, I start thinking again. You may think that thinking is a good thing when you're trying to get your homework done. But no, not for me. My mind just keeps wandering of and it don't want to concentrate on what I really need to concentrate on. I keep thinking about how I'm looking forward to the Easter holidays, how much I'd rather would want to be outside then to be stuck here. I'm thinking about how I miss Africa and would like to go back as soon as possible and how much I would like it to be summer. I'm thinking about my finger that hurt cus I burned it on the stove earlier. I'm thinking about how desperately I want chocolate right now (I'm a chocoholic!!!) and how much I would like to just don't do any of the papers I have to give in soon!!! That's just a few of the useless thoughts that's spinning inside my head right now. Complete waist of time! So is this post. A complete waist of time and space. But just had to do something else than just to sit and stair at the paper that I can't manage to write....Angry, Angry, Angry.
And as I'm sitting here in front of the computer, desperately trying to get some of the tons of homework that I have done, I start thinking again. You may think that thinking is a good thing when you're trying to get your homework done. But no, not for me. My mind just keeps wandering of and it don't want to concentrate on what I really need to concentrate on. I keep thinking about how I'm looking forward to the Easter holidays, how much I'd rather would want to be outside then to be stuck here. I'm thinking about how I miss Africa and would like to go back as soon as possible and how much I would like it to be summer. I'm thinking about my finger that hurt cus I burned it on the stove earlier. I'm thinking about how desperately I want chocolate right now (I'm a chocoholic!!!) and how much I would like to just don't do any of the papers I have to give in soon!!! That's just a few of the useless thoughts that's spinning inside my head right now. Complete waist of time! So is this post. A complete waist of time and space. But just had to do something else than just to sit and stair at the paper that I can't manage to write....Angry, Angry, Angry.
Lamp posts in the dark...
I have a tendency to carry my camera with me everywhere I go and as I walked home from my dance class the other day, I took a few pictures of a lamp post...Don't know why, just felt like it. Here's the result!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
how to save the world
The other day I bought a book that's called "50 ways to save the world". The more I get to know about how unfair the world is, the angrier I get, and the more I wanna do something to change it! When I went to Tanzania and actually got to see the big differences in the world with my own eyes, they got wide open, and have stayed open since. Seeing it does something to you as a person, you change, and you'll never go back to being who you used to be. After having seen people starving because they don't have enough money to get the food they desperately need. Meeting a population where a whole generation is most likely to die of aids in the years to come because an American company has taken a patent on the aids medication, making them so expensive that the countries that need them the most can't afford them. Seeing the slum areas and the big differences in countries where a few people have all the capita in the country. Seeing what the economy led by the WTO, USA and the EU have affected the poorest countries in this world, making the poor even poorer and the rich richer then what is good for them. Seeing how big international companies privatized the most basic needs of people in development countries like schools, hospitals and even clean water!!! Knowing that Norway has earned millions by selling oil to the world and polluting our planet without the smallest attempt to clean up after what it has done. Knowing that it's the world riches countries that sits with the power in this world, the power to do what they want, the power to "abuse" the poorer countries, but also the power to change the situation in the world. It's the last fact that makes me so extremely angry, makes me see red and wants to harm all the people sitting with the power to change the world for the better! Because they don't! They don't do a thing!!!!! I can't understand how anyone can live with themselves knowing that they make money on other peoples misery! It beet's me...
But all of this makes me wanna do something, help changing the world for the better. The only problem is that I have no idea what little me can do to change the world, so I thought that buying this book could help me out. And actually it did=) According to the author, Annicken Vargel (she's Norwegian), the smallest things can change the world if only it's enough people doing it! Annicken have in her book listed 50 things that you can do to "save the world" as she says. She gives good explanation to why you should do each of these things, and what it may change. I thought i should list some of her suggestions, maybe someone else would start doing some of it too, maybe someone else would help me saving the world a bit before it's too late...
But all of this makes me wanna do something, help changing the world for the better. The only problem is that I have no idea what little me can do to change the world, so I thought that buying this book could help me out. And actually it did=) According to the author, Annicken Vargel (she's Norwegian), the smallest things can change the world if only it's enough people doing it! Annicken have in her book listed 50 things that you can do to "save the world" as she says. She gives good explanation to why you should do each of these things, and what it may change. I thought i should list some of her suggestions, maybe someone else would start doing some of it too, maybe someone else would help me saving the world a bit before it's too late...
- shop less, go to a restaurant instead.
- give a part of your self, donate your organs when you die.
- recirculation of glass, plastic and paper
- turn of the light as you leave a room
- turn of the water while brushing your teeth
- buy feartrade products
- use the car as little as you can
- give away your old clothes instead of throwing them
- take care of one another, be a nice person
- don't carry guns and don't have them in your home
- volunteer
- go to www.thehungersite.com and help feed the worlds hungry people
- engage yourself in politics
- don't smoke
- eat less meat
- don't buy products made by mahogany and other wood coming from the rain forest
- plant a tree
- don't talk about dieting
- be a good example for others=)
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Why I hate the post!
I hate the post! Not the post you get in the mail, but the post office, I absolutely truly HATE the post office! Well, maybe not the actual office, but the people working there...First of all, they work in a place where they have to relate to people, meaning that they should smile, say hello when its your turn, be friendly and helpful. But no, the oh-so-mighty post workers are nothing like that, and I mean, absolutely nothing like it at all!! They are slow, they're so not friendly, actually quite rude if you ask me, they speak so low that you can hardly hear them through the glass window that's in front of them and then they get mad at you and give you even worse service if you say "pardon, but I can't hear what you are saying", they work so slowly that you could fall asleep while you wait in line before it's your turn, and even though there's like 20 people waiting in line, they still take their time. Oh no! For gods sake, don't hurry, because we, people waiting in line that actually have a life and something more useful to do than being in the post office, have all the time in the world!
Can they hurry? Just a little bit? No they can't...And does it bother me? Does it bug the hell out of me and turn me into an annoying, mean and evil person? Yes it does! I try to pull myself together, I try to be nice (even though they're not), I try not to be sarcastic, I try to be cool and calm and I try to keep my self from bursting out with something really mean. But do I manage to be a friendly non sarcastic person?? No I don't...I'm almost as bad as the people working there, but hey, it's not my fault that they get on my nerves, I'm not forcing them to be slow, rude, unfriendly and so annoying! Okey, I'm going to stop talking bad about the post people, I'm sure they are nice, friendly, loving and hard working people, when ever they're NOT at work. So if a post worker happends to read this post, I have one thing to say to her/him: at least try to make it look like you're having a good day, like you're a nice person and that you're actually making an effort to get your job done!!!
Thank you and good night from the girl that hates the post workers=)
Can they hurry? Just a little bit? No they can't...And does it bother me? Does it bug the hell out of me and turn me into an annoying, mean and evil person? Yes it does! I try to pull myself together, I try to be nice (even though they're not), I try not to be sarcastic, I try to be cool and calm and I try to keep my self from bursting out with something really mean. But do I manage to be a friendly non sarcastic person?? No I don't...I'm almost as bad as the people working there, but hey, it's not my fault that they get on my nerves, I'm not forcing them to be slow, rude, unfriendly and so annoying! Okey, I'm going to stop talking bad about the post people, I'm sure they are nice, friendly, loving and hard working people, when ever they're NOT at work. So if a post worker happends to read this post, I have one thing to say to her/him: at least try to make it look like you're having a good day, like you're a nice person and that you're actually making an effort to get your job done!!!
Thank you and good night from the girl that hates the post workers=)
Sunday, March 12, 2006
pics from my trip to Kenya and Tanzania
green hills
the dessert is spreading
admiring the contrasts, black and white
some maasais at a cattle market...
kids outside the Mosque
Batilda and Rasmus outside the school
kids from a school in the Mathare slum in Nairobigathering around our car as we were leaving
two kids we met at a pottery in Usangi, Tanzania
class room
The street in Usangi
two kids we met at a pottery in Usangi, Tanzania
class room
The street in UsangiMonday, March 06, 2006
What am I going to do with my life????
Hello again!
From the 1. of May till the 17. of May here in Norway students celebrate that they are done with high school and that they are moving on with their life. And in this period of time the graduating class is called "russ"! (don't know where that name came from, but that's what we're called). During this period we dress up in a red pants (or black or blue, that depends what kind of "russ" you are, me I am a Red "russ", the best one of course=)), a white long jacket that you draw whatever you would like on, and a red (or black or blue) hat with a long thingy hanging down from it. I'll post a picture as soon as I get one so you can see how weird we are!!!! Anyway, during these 17 days in the beginning of May, we party, drink, have fun, don't do anything school work, but we do the craziest things to get funny items in the long thingy that hangs down from our hat! It's almost like a competition to get the most items and knots in it. Having a lot of them kinda gives you a higher status than a person that don't have a lot in her/his thingy hanging down from the hat. (I promise I'll get a pic so you can understand what the hell I'm talking about cus this must sound really weird...) If you have many knots that shows that you have had a lot of fun during your time as "russ" and done a lot of crazy stuff! And the whole point with this period in our life when we're "russ" is to have a lot of fun and do a lot of crazy things to celebrate that we are done with high school! No more, finito, finished, the end, la fin of our obligatory education!
Today I got the clothes that I am going to wear during my time as "russ". That means that I'm soon done with high school!!! What am I going to do with my life afterwards??? I feel so lost!! This entire year I've been looking forward to the day that I'm going to walk out the school door and never have to go back, but now, suddenly, it makes me scared. High school is safe and secure, you have somewhere to go, something to do that is the same for everyone. But what about that day in June 2006 when I no longer have to go there, what will I do then?? ahhhhhhh, I need someone to help me!
Until today, as I've said before, I was looking forward to that day in June, to the day when I am going to be free from all sorts of obligations concerning my education. I am going to uni later, but haven't decided when, where or what to study yet so I need help with that too!!! But after this so called unforgettable time at high school I wanted to something useful and untraditional with my life before going back to the oh-so-boring-school-bench...But what??? And then, if I ever do decide what to do later on, will I get good enough grades to do it? Will I have enough money to go study where ever I want to?? Will I be accepted to the place I've chosen?? And the list of questions go on and on...And even before I get to the point where I can worry about those things, I need to worry about what to do!!!!!! There are waaaaay too many things to choose between, I can't seem to make up my mind about it. I've always said that possibilities and several options to choose between are good, but now, as I'm trying so hard to figure out what to do with my life, I wished that there were less things to choose between...Why does things have to be so difficult?? But again, I know my problem is a luxury problem if you can say it that way. Not everyone has the possibility to worry about these things so I guess I should be happy that I can worry about them.
Well, anyway, my whole point with this post is to tell you that I'm scared what my life is going to be like in the future, that I'm scared that I'll end up somewhere in a tiny apartment, with only a lousy washing job to support my self and without a meaningful life... But hey, time will tell! Isn't that what people say??
From the 1. of May till the 17. of May here in Norway students celebrate that they are done with high school and that they are moving on with their life. And in this period of time the graduating class is called "russ"! (don't know where that name came from, but that's what we're called). During this period we dress up in a red pants (or black or blue, that depends what kind of "russ" you are, me I am a Red "russ", the best one of course=)), a white long jacket that you draw whatever you would like on, and a red (or black or blue) hat with a long thingy hanging down from it. I'll post a picture as soon as I get one so you can see how weird we are!!!! Anyway, during these 17 days in the beginning of May, we party, drink, have fun, don't do anything school work, but we do the craziest things to get funny items in the long thingy that hangs down from our hat! It's almost like a competition to get the most items and knots in it. Having a lot of them kinda gives you a higher status than a person that don't have a lot in her/his thingy hanging down from the hat. (I promise I'll get a pic so you can understand what the hell I'm talking about cus this must sound really weird...) If you have many knots that shows that you have had a lot of fun during your time as "russ" and done a lot of crazy stuff! And the whole point with this period in our life when we're "russ" is to have a lot of fun and do a lot of crazy things to celebrate that we are done with high school! No more, finito, finished, the end, la fin of our obligatory education!
Today I got the clothes that I am going to wear during my time as "russ". That means that I'm soon done with high school!!! What am I going to do with my life afterwards??? I feel so lost!! This entire year I've been looking forward to the day that I'm going to walk out the school door and never have to go back, but now, suddenly, it makes me scared. High school is safe and secure, you have somewhere to go, something to do that is the same for everyone. But what about that day in June 2006 when I no longer have to go there, what will I do then?? ahhhhhhh, I need someone to help me!
Until today, as I've said before, I was looking forward to that day in June, to the day when I am going to be free from all sorts of obligations concerning my education. I am going to uni later, but haven't decided when, where or what to study yet so I need help with that too!!! But after this so called unforgettable time at high school I wanted to something useful and untraditional with my life before going back to the oh-so-boring-school-bench...But what??? And then, if I ever do decide what to do later on, will I get good enough grades to do it? Will I have enough money to go study where ever I want to?? Will I be accepted to the place I've chosen?? And the list of questions go on and on...And even before I get to the point where I can worry about those things, I need to worry about what to do!!!!!! There are waaaaay too many things to choose between, I can't seem to make up my mind about it. I've always said that possibilities and several options to choose between are good, but now, as I'm trying so hard to figure out what to do with my life, I wished that there were less things to choose between...Why does things have to be so difficult?? But again, I know my problem is a luxury problem if you can say it that way. Not everyone has the possibility to worry about these things so I guess I should be happy that I can worry about them.
Well, anyway, my whole point with this post is to tell you that I'm scared what my life is going to be like in the future, that I'm scared that I'll end up somewhere in a tiny apartment, with only a lousy washing job to support my self and without a meaningful life... But hey, time will tell! Isn't that what people say??
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Africa, Africa, Africa
So, I'm back from this interesting, colorful, unbelievable, friendly, beautiful, welcoming, gorgeous, perfect country. But also from a poor, sad, sick, dry and lost country...This country is called Tanzania.
The contrasts that we saw there are huge, it's so sad and almost unbelievable. There were big and beautiful houses surrounded by big, solid fences or walls to make sure that no one could enter without the permission of the owner. On the other side of these big fences, there were small sheds made out of whatever the owner could find on the streets; cardboard paper, blankets, plastic and tin plates. It hurts to see that there are people having so extremely little living next to people having so extremely much! I wanna cry when I look around me, because I AM that person that have so extremely much. I know that me sitting here crying wont help anyone, but still, I can't help it...
One of the days we spent in a small village called Usangi, we visited a primary school there. As we got closer to the school we could here singing and people clapping their hands. And suddenly we could see kids standing on each side of the road singing for us "welcome, welcome how do you do? Happy to meet you, happy too great you! Welcome, welcome, how do you do?" The girls on one side of the road and the boys on the other smiling, clapping and singing! Someone came and took our sacks and carried it for us up to the school. As we passed the kids they gathered behind us and continued singing and welcoming us. If that doesn't touch a person, that person must have a heart of stone!!!! All 6 of us walked towards the school not knowing whether to smile or cry. It's a feeling that can't be described with words, I don't even know if it exist a word that could fit to describe it...
We brought one pen for each student on Karambacha primary school, and that made them so happy. The principal couldn't thank us enough. He said that if someone comes with one pen in their pocket, they come with one pen too many...We felt that we had done so little, we wanted to do so much more for these kids cus we know we can! But their gratitude they showed us was owerwhelming...
The thing that surprised me the most and that overwhelmed me the most with the people that we met, was that they were so extremely friendly, welcoming and even if they had nothing, they gave us all they could. Being invited to a family, the least that they would give you is a glass of water even though they don't have enough clean water for themselves...
We did so many things while we were there, I'm not gonna tell about all of it because then I would have to sit here for days writing. We've had good experiences, but also not so good ones. We've seen poverty in the big slum areas in Nairobi, school buildings that were falling apart, small kids begging on the street, dessert spreading in the north of Tanzania, dried out areas cus it hasn't really rained for 3 years, chattels that were so thin that there can't possibly be any food on them, failing crops because of lack of rain, met a population where 57 % has got HIV, seen people living on the streets, kids with nothing to eat...I could continue on and on with the horrible things we have seen, but the things that are going to stick to my memory is the people we've met. Their kindness, goodness and their hospitality! We were given the key to Usangi, we were given a family each there. So now I belong to the Maeda clan in Tanzania!!! In the end it's the good things that stick to your memory and that you will take with you as your life goes on. This trip has been filled with good things and experiences, and I'm going to keep them forever and ever in the part of my heart that I've lost to this great continent called Africa...
You can't tell someone about Africa if they haven't been there because they wouldn't understand. As a friend of mine once said: Africa can't be told about and explained, it has to be experienced!
The contrasts that we saw there are huge, it's so sad and almost unbelievable. There were big and beautiful houses surrounded by big, solid fences or walls to make sure that no one could enter without the permission of the owner. On the other side of these big fences, there were small sheds made out of whatever the owner could find on the streets; cardboard paper, blankets, plastic and tin plates. It hurts to see that there are people having so extremely little living next to people having so extremely much! I wanna cry when I look around me, because I AM that person that have so extremely much. I know that me sitting here crying wont help anyone, but still, I can't help it...
One of the days we spent in a small village called Usangi, we visited a primary school there. As we got closer to the school we could here singing and people clapping their hands. And suddenly we could see kids standing on each side of the road singing for us "welcome, welcome how do you do? Happy to meet you, happy too great you! Welcome, welcome, how do you do?" The girls on one side of the road and the boys on the other smiling, clapping and singing! Someone came and took our sacks and carried it for us up to the school. As we passed the kids they gathered behind us and continued singing and welcoming us. If that doesn't touch a person, that person must have a heart of stone!!!! All 6 of us walked towards the school not knowing whether to smile or cry. It's a feeling that can't be described with words, I don't even know if it exist a word that could fit to describe it...
We brought one pen for each student on Karambacha primary school, and that made them so happy. The principal couldn't thank us enough. He said that if someone comes with one pen in their pocket, they come with one pen too many...We felt that we had done so little, we wanted to do so much more for these kids cus we know we can! But their gratitude they showed us was owerwhelming...
The thing that surprised me the most and that overwhelmed me the most with the people that we met, was that they were so extremely friendly, welcoming and even if they had nothing, they gave us all they could. Being invited to a family, the least that they would give you is a glass of water even though they don't have enough clean water for themselves...
We did so many things while we were there, I'm not gonna tell about all of it because then I would have to sit here for days writing. We've had good experiences, but also not so good ones. We've seen poverty in the big slum areas in Nairobi, school buildings that were falling apart, small kids begging on the street, dessert spreading in the north of Tanzania, dried out areas cus it hasn't really rained for 3 years, chattels that were so thin that there can't possibly be any food on them, failing crops because of lack of rain, met a population where 57 % has got HIV, seen people living on the streets, kids with nothing to eat...I could continue on and on with the horrible things we have seen, but the things that are going to stick to my memory is the people we've met. Their kindness, goodness and their hospitality! We were given the key to Usangi, we were given a family each there. So now I belong to the Maeda clan in Tanzania!!! In the end it's the good things that stick to your memory and that you will take with you as your life goes on. This trip has been filled with good things and experiences, and I'm going to keep them forever and ever in the part of my heart that I've lost to this great continent called Africa...
You can't tell someone about Africa if they haven't been there because they wouldn't understand. As a friend of mine once said: Africa can't be told about and explained, it has to be experienced!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
My first blog ever...
Hey all you people who ended up here!!!!
This is my first blog ever,I'm actually kinda proud! hahaha.
Anyway, I never really wanted to have a blogg, but as I'm sitting here infront of the computer at 2 am, I decided to do something that I've never done before; BLOGG!!! Isn't it great?? You must be really bored if you're reading this, I feel sorry for you....
The reason that I'm not sleepin at this hour of the day, or should I say night???, is that in exactly 4 hours and 15 minutes, IM getting on a plane to Amsterdam where I'm going to catch another plane which will take me to NAIROBI, KENYA, AFRICA!!!!!! AFRICA. AFRICA!!!!I'm sooooo exited that I can't sleep, I've been looking forward to this trip ever since August! And now it's time to leave soon! Wow=) I cant think of anything else!!! Yesterday, or that will be two days ago now, we had this big test in Norwegian, and I couldn't get anything right cus I couldn't think about anything else than the fact that I'm going to Kenya...That sucked, but who cares??? Not me, cus I'm going to Kenya!!!! And after a few days in the beautiful country named Kenya, I'm headed for another gorgeous country called TANZANIA!!!!!!!!!! I love Africa, it's such an amazing continent. So many things to see, so much stuff to do! The diversity of cultures, people, languages, landscape, and the list goes on and on....
You might ask yourself what a person like me is going to do in Kenya and in Tanzania. And even if you don't, I'm gonna tell you!!!!!!!!!
My school has this exchange program with a high school in Tanzania, so we're 4 students and 2 teachers that are going down there for 12 days. I got to be one of the lucky people to go!!!! *soooo happy* We will be visiting all sorts of stuff like hospitals, the Maasai people, the Rwanda tribunal in Arusha, we're going on a safari in a national park in Kenya and lots and lots of other cool stuff! In April, 4 students and 2 teacher from Tanzania are coming to tiny little Norway for 12 days. It's gonna be soooo much fun. An experience for life that's for sure! You just gotta loooove, and yes I mean looooooove, LOOOOOVE, Africa=)
Well. I'm not gonna torture you anymore with my happy thoughts about my trip to Africa. I'm gonna go and not sleep in my bed, cus I'm not tired at all...maby I'll finish a book or three before my mom come and wakes me up??? Or maby I'll change the way I've organized all my stuff in the big, bright red suitcase that I have??? Or maby I'll just write a bit more?? I'm voting a big NO for the last suggestion, and the one before that actually..I like the way I've ranged my stuff, it looks pretty=)
I'm gonna go read a book now, and you can go do something worth doing like saving the world for example...
have fun, I'm sure I will!!!!
This is my first blog ever,I'm actually kinda proud! hahaha.
Anyway, I never really wanted to have a blogg, but as I'm sitting here infront of the computer at 2 am, I decided to do something that I've never done before; BLOGG!!! Isn't it great?? You must be really bored if you're reading this, I feel sorry for you....
The reason that I'm not sleepin at this hour of the day, or should I say night???, is that in exactly 4 hours and 15 minutes, IM getting on a plane to Amsterdam where I'm going to catch another plane which will take me to NAIROBI, KENYA, AFRICA!!!!!! AFRICA. AFRICA!!!!I'm sooooo exited that I can't sleep, I've been looking forward to this trip ever since August! And now it's time to leave soon! Wow=) I cant think of anything else!!! Yesterday, or that will be two days ago now, we had this big test in Norwegian, and I couldn't get anything right cus I couldn't think about anything else than the fact that I'm going to Kenya...That sucked, but who cares??? Not me, cus I'm going to Kenya!!!! And after a few days in the beautiful country named Kenya, I'm headed for another gorgeous country called TANZANIA!!!!!!!!!! I love Africa, it's such an amazing continent. So many things to see, so much stuff to do! The diversity of cultures, people, languages, landscape, and the list goes on and on....
You might ask yourself what a person like me is going to do in Kenya and in Tanzania. And even if you don't, I'm gonna tell you!!!!!!!!!
My school has this exchange program with a high school in Tanzania, so we're 4 students and 2 teachers that are going down there for 12 days. I got to be one of the lucky people to go!!!! *soooo happy* We will be visiting all sorts of stuff like hospitals, the Maasai people, the Rwanda tribunal in Arusha, we're going on a safari in a national park in Kenya and lots and lots of other cool stuff! In April, 4 students and 2 teacher from Tanzania are coming to tiny little Norway for 12 days. It's gonna be soooo much fun. An experience for life that's for sure! You just gotta loooove, and yes I mean looooooove, LOOOOOVE, Africa=)
Well. I'm not gonna torture you anymore with my happy thoughts about my trip to Africa. I'm gonna go and not sleep in my bed, cus I'm not tired at all...maby I'll finish a book or three before my mom come and wakes me up??? Or maby I'll change the way I've organized all my stuff in the big, bright red suitcase that I have??? Or maby I'll just write a bit more?? I'm voting a big NO for the last suggestion, and the one before that actually..I like the way I've ranged my stuff, it looks pretty=)
I'm gonna go read a book now, and you can go do something worth doing like saving the world for example...
have fun, I'm sure I will!!!!
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