parlay

Parlay, I like how that word rolls off the tongue.  Random, I know. 

Last semester I was invited to be one of the 4 inaugural 'bloggers' on the NHH student blog.  So, I parlayed my experience from my personal blog into a slightly more professional blogging gig.  Fancy.  The blog just went live last week so I'll be blogging from there on and off before I complete my studies in June.  Click on the image below to check out the new NHH student blog:

Update:  there were NO northern lights last Friday.  Bummer!  It was still fun to think about.  The quest continues.

Last weekend kicked off 'Uken' at NHH which is a 3 week long festival of music concerts and events.  As you can imagine, there's a fair amount of beverage consumption involved but it's also quite a school spirit and community oriented event. 

There is a 'actors' group of 10 NHH economics students who write, stage and put on a show which is a collection of sketches as one of the Uken events.  It's a competitive audition process and a big time commitment for the semester.  My flatmate from last semester, Knut Anders, was selected as an actor so we all went to support him and enjoy the show last Saturday evening.  Yes, it was in Norwegian, but I got the gist and was VERY impressed with the performance level.  And, there was plenty of singing and dancing for this ol' musical theater gal to be loving it.  There's a whole crew of student volunteers doing all the behind-the-scenes work and the show was quite professional.  This is a super fun memory I will have from my NHH days.  Here's a few photos to give you an idea of the show (note- I only wish I skills and camera enough to take these photos!).

I'm hoping we shake the rain soon.  It's been overcast and drizzling for weeks!

raindrops keep falling on my head,

lisa liv

A little music for your Friday

Hello from the library at NHH!  I thought I'd switch up the media for a friday post and share a live track of a Bruce Springsteen cover I played at a show last summer.  I was invited to open for 'Thunder Road', an awesome Spingsteen tribute band, at the Belly Up in San Diego and this was one of the two Boss covers I played.  Some intoxicated lady from Jersey told me she loved it later in the evening.  Nice!

A little lisa o music for you. It's downloadable if you like.  Enjoy!

happy friday,

lisa liv

home stretch

I've wrapped up 4 classes and have one more to go.  My new favorite study place is the University of Bergen library.  My school, NHH, is about 3 miles away from the city center which is a nice walk on a sunny day or a short bus ride on a rainy day.  But, it's still simpler to head to 'HF'.  And, I meet my friend, Martha, at 8:15 which is *great* motivation to get me up and going.  Keep in mind the sun doesn't rise these days until 9:13 a.m.  Ahhh higher latitudes!! 

And, this has been the library entrance the past few days.  Sorry it's a little burry- phone camera..

Welcome to Bergen!

For some memories of just over a month ago and my last 'relaxing' weekend before hard core finals studying started.  I give you, Italy!  Ahhh, such a great weekend.

Hiking in Cinque Terra

Vernazza- where we stayed for the weekend

On the Mediterranean with Jamie!

Friends from NHH in Milan!  Joe (Minnesota), me, Stefano (Italy) and Coni (Germany)

The Duomo in Milan

And, kind of fun, I've been selected (hired?  I get money at the bookstore- nice!) as a 'blogger' for NHH to write about being an international master student :)

god natt!

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