how convenient

A Norwegian band, Kings of Convenience, have a popular song in America 'I'd Rather Dance with You' and just released a new video for their song 'Me In You'.  They are from Bergen and decided to record the video on Eirik's, one of the two members, rooftop.  Not only does this video give you a stunning overview of Bergen, I realize Eirik lives blocks away from me.  Indeed, my residence makes an appearance in the video.  Enjoy some pretty music and get a really good look at where I live :)

The mountain at the end is 'Floyen', the mountain I tend to reference a lot in my blogs recently.

la la la loving the music,

lisa liv

chasing the sun

Finally, some rays of sun last Friday and Saturday!  I must say, Bergen is really beautiful... when it's not raining :)  Eh, even when it is raining it's a beautiful little place, just a bit trickier to enjoy (like my very wet ill prepared feet today... I thought I could get away with flats. Negative).  The result of all the rain is a very serious enjoyment of sunshine when it comes.  It seemed as if everyone in Bergen was out in full force on Friday afternoon.  I loved the sense of joy and community in the air.  As I walked past restaurants people were at outside tables enjoying each other, sunglasses and a beer.  

I arrived home from school on friday afternoon to my flatmates orchestrating a little BBQ for the park.  We grabbed a one-time-use grill, some burger makings, beer, blankets, veggies and my guitar and headed over to the park.  What a great evening!

Bjørnar, Ida and Knut Anders readying the feast

2 of my 3 fantastic flatmates-Knut Anders and Bjørnar 

Then, to enjoy a little more fresh air and the local mountains around Bergen, some good friends from school and I did a nice local day hike, 'vidden,' from Floyen to Ulriken on Saturday.

Martha, Anette and Eli

Vidden success!  A celebratory beer atop Ulriken looking down at Bergen

Alas, the rain returns.  And so we study until the sun shows up again so we can then scamper outside for some more fun, sunglasses and afternoon beer.

klemmer,

lisa liv 

back in the Bergen groove

There's a saying along the lines of 'there's no bad weather in Bergen, just poor clothing.'  I didn't really get it last year because the city had a particularly nice fall.  Now I get it.  Hello rain!  It's rained almost daily since I returned.  But, I should say it's usually just a little drizzle, never a serious downpour.  Oh, it's good for these SoCal bones right?!  Riiiiiiight.  A little adjusting but, as usual, I'm good to go.

Sorry for my delay, I never intend to go this long.  But, school is picking up and I'm now in the groove of daily life so it takes a little more to make interesting posts.  But, there's always something to share.

Last weekend marked the first PAC-12 football game ever.  Weird.  I don't think I can ever really feel comfortable with the number 12 behind PAC.  It's 10, people.  Dare I point out PAC stands for pacific and I think we are using that term rather liberally with the new additions to the conference.  But, what do I know.  I'm an economist in the making. (I'd also like to point out USC won the first PAC-12 conference game!  Fight On!)

Last weekend also marked the first NHH American Football game ever.  NHH, my school here in Norway, decided to start up an 'American football' team in the spring.  The movement was lead by Norwegians and the team is almost all Norwegians.  My friend Michael from America, also here in one of the international masters programs, played QB in high school and at a small college so he's stepped in at QB. Sticking to my cheerleading roots, I had to go support my team (but I will leave the cheerleading glory days to my high school years).  Check them out, they are in the blue and white-

Just got back from a swim at the student center with my friend Martha.  Time for bed, Thursdays are my longest day with 6 hours of class back to back.

sove godt og søte drømmer

(sleep well and sweet dreams)

lisa liv 

some new lisa liv music

Here's a live recording of a song I wrote and recorded last weekend.  I wrote the lyrics while I was at Kreklingsus and fleshed out the song over this past weekend.  I was laying in my bed at the cabin thinking 'this is all really wonderful and I wish my dear friends and family could be here to experience it with me.' I'm loving meeting new people but a part of me longs to be able to share these memories with friends and family back home.  The quality is a little rough (i'm no audio engineer) but I wanted to share.

I Think of You by LisaLiv

i think of you,

lisa liv 

on tur

Vi går på tur means 'we go for a hike' but I like how in english it sounds like 'go on tour.'  How very appropriate- we go on a tour of the mountains.  

My new flat is at the foot of Floyen, one of the 7 mountains around Bergen.  Floyen has lots of roads/trails up and around on top.  There's also a funicular, the Floybanen, for people less interested in a good uphill walk and more interested in the great view from the top.

Floyen has become my training ground. Here's some pictures from my run last Thursday (click on the photos to enlarge them)-

a good breather and stretch break at the top

I live by the little pier all the way in the harbor

on the way back down the mountain

This weekend has been rainy so no running or walking up Floyen.  I did find my way to the pool at the student center and have decided swimming is one of my new favorite things.  Reason 267 why it's so much better living in city center!

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

Wet hugs from rainy Bergen,

lisa liv