Hello from Holland!  Some good friends from the music community in San Diego are here in the Netherlands touring for 3 weeks and I had to take the opportunity to visit.  A place to stay, a country I've never visited, some music and good friends- sounds great to me!  And it's been fantastic.  The Dutch people are warm and welcoming.  And, it's fun to connect with old friends outside of our normal environment.  Gregory, Josh and Sky had shows Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.  Each has been special in it's own respect but yesterday was particularly so being in the chapel of a monastery.  I didn't know quite what to expect for the weekend and I've had a total treat seeing little towns,  flat landscapes, abundant waterways, bleak vistas, narrow roads, old music halls and tulips.  I love tulips.

Today was a day off and we've been hanging around Schrool (sp?) and we took a bike ride into 'town'  Gregory and I biked while Josh jogged.  Here's some photos of our afternoon adventure.  Tonight the kind couple who own the house and live next door, Anna and Paris, are making us dinner.  Yum!

downtown Schrool

a little video from my phone camera......

Check out Gregory Page's music at www.gregorypage.com

Tomorrow we will spend some time in Amsterdam and then I fly back to Bergen, Norway tomorrow evening.

Hugs from Holland,
lisa

The days grow longer. 

We actually had light until after 5pm today- amazing.  The last few days have been clear skies and sunshine.  A real pleasure.  I will never take the sun for granted again.  Well, I’m sure I will, but, at least I will be slightly more conscientious and thankful moving forward.

After two weeks of gloom and darkness, my friends Bea, Kevin and I decided we were hiking- with the weathers blessing or not.  We couldn’t handle being cooped up any longer.  We decided to hike up Floyen, a popular Bergen mountain and well-maintained path/trail.  It was sprinkling but we all have good gear so we were good to go.  Until (Dad, stop reading here and go to the next paragraph), upon reaching higher altitudes, the trail became completely ice covered.  There is railing so we decided to keep on going up.  We’ve all hiked this trail many times before and knew what to expect.  Still, a dicey decision but… come on, we are young and invincible right?  While we did have some good laughs slip-sliding around, we thankfully didn’t have any falls on the ice (or worse yet, off trail).  I’m so glad I have my Keen hiking boots!

School is picking up.  And, just before class work gets all consuming, I’m heading off to Amsterdam for a long weekend.  My good singer/songwriter music friend Gregory Page has some recent successes with music released in the Netherlands.  So, he and his band are touring for 3 weeks.  I’ve never been to Amsterdam and figured a fun reason to get there.  Sights to see by day and music to enjoy by night- magnifique.

Singing with Gregory Page at Lestats in San Diego on Jan 5, 2011

Momentary Thoughts:

My hallmate Paul has never had a piece of pie, a whole pie, anything pie related.  It’s true they don’t have pies here but I was flabbergasted.  So,  will bake a pie for him at some point this semester.

Two new hallmates- an Italian guy and a Spanish guy.  They are fun and love to cook- did I mention they made me salmon dinner one night in return for some live music?!  Heaven.

There was a Dad grocery shopping with his two teen sons today and it was really sweet- after sports practice or something.  A nice demonstration of the egalitarian society.  Men teaching guys how to grocery shop, what a concept.  

My Mantra- from my hallmate Paul

Off to pack my bags,

lisa 

And I’m back!

After a wonderful month at home with family and friends I’m back in Bergen for my 2^nd semester of studies.  It’s not hard to think about where to begin with my most recent observations- the darkness.  Fortunately the days are getting longer.  Currently the sun rises at 9:15am and sets at 4:26pm.  Not horrible but it’s been so overcast I’ve hardly seen the sun since I returned.  We’ve had snow which turned to ice.  I’m practically ice skating to school.  I’m trying to take it in stride and chalk this one up to ‘good life experience’.  But man it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning and some days my energy is zapped.  Thank you Erik and Stefi for the ‘artificial sunlight’ for Christmas to fake my body into believing I’m getting more sun exposure then I am.  Ahhh technology.

From San Diego Jan 6, 2011

to Bergen Jan 9, 2011

Many wonderful days in San Diego over the holidays which made leaving a little harder this time around.  I’m thrilled and thankful to pursue life opportunities and adventures, but, it was a real pleasure to be home in SD.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for taking care of me and making it a true ‘vacation’.  Thanks to Erik and Stefi for the best Christmas present…. Baby Dane, not the artificial sunlight (though it’s good too).  Thanks to my wonderful friends for fun times down south and up north SD.  And, thanks to the super SD music community for continued support and creative opportunities. 

A few great memories-

Lestat's Show Jan 5th with James Albers on bass

Beach walk at LJ Shores with Mom

Irish New Years with Camille and Genna

Proud Papa and Grandma with babyDane

Erik, Stefi and baby Dane Dec 21, 2010

   

I’ve now wrapped up week two of classes and I’m sticking with these classes for the time being (allowing myself to drop one if it all is a little too much):

Alternative Energies in Physical and Economic Perspectives

Land Use and Natural Resources

Design and Operation of Deregulated Electricity Markets

International Economics

Distribution Channels and Business to Business Marketing

Norwegian 2

So far, interesting stuff!

That's all for now.  I *promise* to post more frequently this semester.  

Hope the year is off to a great start for you all.

hugs,

lisa

PS. On a philosophical note- Arriving back was a bit more of a shock to the system than arriving in August.  I didn’t have the survival things to consume my focus- where am I, grocery store, getting around, etc.  I realize how different my life is here.  My life now appears to me more Jeckle & Hyde.  Neither is better or worse, both are wonderful and full.  Just different.  Sunny and pleasant to cold and dark, car mobility to walking and bus mobility, busy social calendar to more free time, flip flops to close toed shoes, big city to small city, over committed to not, sugary foods to fish.  Life's reflections.

Re-entry.  I'm on my way!  I head back to Bergen, Norway this Friday morning (via DC and Copenhagen) I've had just shy of a month in San Diego at home with family and friends and it's been a real treat.  A whirl-wind of holiday parties, catching up with old and new friends, playing some music and, most importantly, welcoming my new nephew Dane Thomas Olson into the world.....

... one of the hardest things to leave.

I'll get back on the posting wagon once I'm back in Norway.  Stories from the dark, cold winter!  Did I mention my brother and sister-in-law got me 'artificial sunlight' for Christmas?  For realz.

hugs,

lisa