chocolate!

Norwegians love chocolate.  The company 'Freia' has a good lock on the market here and have some yummy varietals.  Kvikk Lunsj (sounds like /quick lunch/) is the official hiking chocolate.  Anyone who's anyone has Kvikk Lunsj on the trail.  It's just like a Kit-Kat bar-

My dear friend, Erin, gave me some Chuao Chocolates as a going away present, and I decided to bring them to Norway to share with my new flatmates.  Chuao is a super crafty artisan chocolatier local to San Diego.  They've come up with some unique mixes such as 'dark chocolate with caramelized honey' ' dark chocolate with chipotle, salt and popping candy' (yes, this on is like pop-rocks in your mouth) and 'dark chocolate with pasilla chile, cayenne pepper and cinnamon'.  

This is what my flatmate, Bjørnar, thinks....

I quite agree.  Check out Chuao here.  Tonight it's coffee, chocolate and some Corporate Finance all set to the soundtrack of Ray LaMontagne and Andrew Bird, two artists my flatmates are unfamiliar with.

Next week is the 75th Anniversary of my school, NHH, and the King will be at school.  Wahoo!

klemmer,

lisa liv

Kreklingsus

/Krekling/ like a blueberry but not a blueberry for that is blåbær in Norwegian.  Google translate is saying 'crow berry'?  Is there such a thing?  Either way, this is krekling-

/sus/ something along the lines of wind

I've just arrived home from a weekend away at Hallingskeid for the BSI hiking group's opening weekend trip, Kreklingsus.  Kreklingsus is a hiking and music festival to kick off the semester and they asked me to play some music.  I was thrilled at the opportunity.  

We took the train out on Friday afternoon and had a mellow evening of grilling dinner and some evening music.  Yesterday, Saturday, was full with a day hike, afternoon games, dinner, evening games, music and 'nattspeil' (after-party).  It was neat to be back at Hallingskeid because it's the same cabin I went to for our Easter trip in April (see an April/May post to see the same place covered in snow).  It's pretty wild to feel familiarity in a place here in Norway.  I often feel like everything is new.  Every new destination is something unexplored.  All of a sudden, I'm becoming a local.

I borrowed these pictures from a lovely new friend from the trip, Marita Fløtre.  Apologies for the facebook business on the lower left hand corner. 

I believe there were about 50 people participating in Kreklingsus, mostly because the event is limited to the amount of people that can fit in the cabin for music at night.  Most were Norwegian with a handful of internationals.  While I spoke mostly English, my Norwegian is coming along and I continue to learn new phrases such as 'helt sykt!'  This most closely translates to 'crazy!' or 'insane!' or, our favorite word of the weekend, 'awesome!'.  My new Norwegian friends liked to point out how much we Americans use the word 'awesome'.  I am the worst, I use the word all the time.  I need to find a new go-to adjective.  I don't know if I will ever use awesome without thinking of Kreklingsus, we had some good laughs at my slip-ups.

There were some different activities planned on Saturday including multiple hiking options, a fishing trip or blueberry picking.  I opted for one of the more mellow hikes.  It was still a good 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) and a really nice group of students studying at all different universities around Bergen.

 

And, the music!  Playing music on Saturday evening was very special.  I got to play a mix of originals and covers by candlelight for one of my most attentive audiences ever.  No amplifiers...no electricity for that matter.... just a one room cabin in the middle of nowhere Norway with 50 people.  They sang with me when they knew songs and were engaged with my original material.  One of life's dear memories.

Ida is playing and I'm to the left

Now to prepare for the week ahead.

thankful for a wonderful first week back in Norway,

lisa liv 

jet lagged but good to be back in Bergen

I had the strangest experience yesterday, my first morning waking up in Bergen.  I woke up, and, for a good 2 minutes, I thought I was in San Diego.  It was one of the most bizarre things.  I thought I was downtown and needed to move my car out of a meter so I wouldn't get a parking ticket.  What?!  I was wracking my brain to figure out where I had even parked.  Wow, wow, wow.  Needless to say I had a good laugh at myself when I realized I was in Norway. 

It's good to be back.  How can you not smile upon arriving to this?

True, sun would be better.  But, Bryggen (above) never gets old to me :)  And, I'm now living in 'Sentrum,' or city center, two blocks from it- yea!  Bryggen is also where I catch the bus every morning up to school.

And, the business school kids are so hip here in Norway.  Check out the new street art installation at my school for the program '...... capitalism?'  As the lead line asks 'what happens when you mash an elitist academic institution like the Norwegian School of Economics with the anti-authoritative counter-cultural street art movement?'  Check out more here

Classes are under way and I'm feeling pretty well settled in.  Is it bad I'm already getting stressed about the semester?  I think I'm going to go with some classes that I somehow feel intimidated by (hello Corporate Finance) but really just need to buckle down and make it happen because I'm sure I will learn a lot.  And, you know me, I somehow never like to make it too easy on myself.... 

I've already spent over $50 at the grocery store and feel like that's gotten me nothing more than bananas, nectarines, a few rolls, breakfast cereal, milk, herring (yea to be back in Norge!), cheese, lettuce, almonds and carrots. Mom and Dad, I promise I will put together well balanced and nutritious meals but you know how the prices go.  

And, if you've ever talked to me about food in Norway, you've most likely heard about Norwegian carrots.  I still maintain they are the best carrots I've ever tasted.

my new flat.... working on decorating

Today is typical rainy Bergen.  But, yesterday was lovely and sunny.  I even wore open-toed shoes and a skirt.  This is pretty big deal and rather clearly defines me as 'not being from Norway'.  I reveled in every minutes of my foot freedom.  And, I have to enjoy my golden tanned legs from the summer since in a few months time I will be back to pasty white.  *sigh*

A photo from yesterday as I walked home from the bus stop....

That's the update from Bergen for now.  It's been great to re-connect with friends and meet some new people.  I'm living with 3 Norwegians this semester and they welcomed me warmly upon my arrival.  We are having a flat dinner tomorrow :)

klemmer!

lisa liv

Time's a flyin

This is my last week in San Diego as I head back to Bergen on Sunday, August 21 (arriving August 22).  I'm working surf camp in the mornings because it's just darn fun.... yahoo, I'm back in the water (see last post)!  Then I have time to wrap other things up and see friends and family in the afternoon/evening.

More soon on exciting and positive things that happened this summer.  California is alive with energy... literally, dare I use a surfing term.... there is a exciting 'stoke' here on new technologies and the continued push for renewable energy sources as part of the energy mix.  I love it and I love seeing application for my classroom studies.

Here's to a week more of some lovely sunshine at my favorite beach, I'm savoring every minute.

hugs,

lisa liv

Shark Attack!

Ok, not really, but it was Shark Week last week... and I was attacked..... by another sea creature... the infamous stingray!  It's my first stingray hit ever and I somehow feel I've escalated to a higher echelon of ocean goddess-ness.  Though, I hope I never step on a stingray again.  It's one of the most painful experiences ever...... hot water works wonders in reducing pain.... and, the biggest bummer is one has to stay out of the water until the wound(s) close up.

Being a surf instructor seems glamorous, and it is.  But it's treacherous!   Here's me a few weeks ago with fellow instructor amigos/as Michael and Chelsea-

It's been a great summer back in San Diego.  I feel fortunate to have had this time at home with family and friends.  I'm also excited to head back to Norway in 2 weeks.  There are things I miss and I'm looking forward to more studies.  I totally dig what I'm studying!

And look at this fun little publication my Dad came across while I was home.  Sorry it's backwards (mac camera) but you can see 'Home Power' with articles all about alternative energies for your home.  Cool stuff!  Check them out at homepower.com

Alright, off for a ladies afternoon with Mom even if I must hobble.

cheers!
lisa liv