northern lights....

... there's a chance there will be some tonight in Bergen.  Sooooo excited!!  I'm not holding my breath, but some chance is better than no chance. 

My friend, Marius, lives on a boat just off gamle Bergen (old Bergen) and is having me and a couple of other people over for dinner tonight.  I know, I'm pinching myself.  Salmon dinner on a boat on the west coast of Norway with the potential of seeing northern lights?!  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the powers of the universe, you are so good to me.

fingers crossed,

lisa liv

Småbruket Weekend

/Småbruket/: the farm

/Små/: small

/Bruket/: consumption, farm, agriculture, factory 

I love how the Norwegian language puts words together to make new words.

This last weekend I was lucky to be invited to the NHH cabin in Kvamskogen.

/Kvam/: hollow

/Skogen/: forest

Here are a few fun photos from a weekend filled with snow (seriously, we are talking a good foot of new powder over the two days we were there), beautiful Norwegian mountains, cross-country skiing, games and fire time in the cabin.  And, of course, good food, drink and excellent company.

photo by Andrea Boyco

photo by Andrea Boyco

photo by Andrea Boyco

And, now, back to the books! 

warm hugs,

lisa liv 

late night study aids...

.... My flatmate Kenneth got a wild hare to make some 10:30pm waffles on Sunday evening.  What a grand idea indeed!  He made the batter from scratch and didn't have to ask Ida, Bjornar or me twice to help him polish them off.  And, standard Norwegian heart shaped!

yuuuuum

And, Norwegians cover surfing too!  This was in the weekend paper... quite a big wave ride.  I of course told my flatmates these are the kind of waves I surf all the time.  Riiiiiight.  Though, I will admit I can't wait to get back in the ocean when I'm back in San Diego in December

Back to the books.  Finals- they just keep coming.  I'm done December 6th.  I can't believe this is semester number 3 down?!  Woah, it feels like just yesterday I was applying to programs.  And now I'm eating waffles at 10:30pm on a Sunday night in Bergen, Norway.  Goes to show you really just never know where life will take you if you are open to it.

xoxo, 

nerd girl

ps. gossip girl is a little indulgence here and there, especially during finals period :) 

pps. my flatmates and I are doing a Thanksgiving dinner on Friday!  So excited!

Mitt lille land

'my little country'

Regardless of where life takes me, I will always feel Norway a very special part of me.

I saw the video below today and had to share.  One the things I continue to enjoy and savor about Norway is the incredible beauty of the country.  Check it out....

The Water from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Also, in the Norwegian theme, I thought I would share a beautiful Norwegian song's lyrics, 'Mitt Lille Land'.  I a lovely tune and I think it shows a lot about the Norwegian people.  See English translation below

Norwegian lyrics….

Mitt lille land

Et lite sted, en håndfull fred

slengt ut blant vidder og fjord

Mitt lille land

Der høye fjell står plantet

mellom hus og mennesker og ord

Og der stillhet og drømmer gror

Som et ekko i karrig jord

Mitt lille land

Der havet stryker mildt og mykt

som kjærtegn fra kyst til kyst

Mitt lille land

Der stjerner glir forbi

og blir et landskap når det blir lyst

mens natten står blek og tyst

Mitt lille land

Et lite sted en håndfull fred

slengt ut blant vidder og fjord

Mitt lille land

Der høye fjell står plantet

mellom hus og mennesker og ord

Og der stillhet og drømmer gror

Som et ekko i karrig jord

English translation…

My little country

A little place, a handful of peace

thrown out among mountain plateau and fjords

My little country

Where high mountains are planted

among houses, people and words

Where silence and dreams grow

Like an echo in barren earth

My little country

Where the sea pats mild and soft

like it’s caressing from coast to coast

My little country

Where stars glide by

and becomes landscapes when it gets lighter

while the night stands there – bleak and silent

My little country

A little place, a handful of peace

thrown out among mountain plateau and fjords

My little country

Where high mountains are planted

among houses, people and words

Where silence and dreams grow

Like an echo in barren earth

For a listen, click here

hugs from B-town,

lisa liv 

Sunday Skyping

When I am in Norway, my Sunday evenings are dedicated to catching up with family and friends in the states.  I always call Mom and Dad and usually have a nice talk with some other friends and family.  It feels like 'the good ol' days' (or what I imagine them to be)  when people truly took Sunday as a day of rest and would 'call' on each other... stop in for a lemonade and piece of cake or something.  I don't get the lemonade or cake but I do get some good dedicated catch up time with people, and I love it.

This was last weekend skyping with my brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Breaks Selection:

 

I would like to personally thank Skype for making this easy and inexpensive.  Innovation, I salute you.

klemmer,

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 

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

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

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

sum sums summertime

What a whirlwind of a month.  I wrapped up finals, wrapped up life at Hatelberg (my home for my first year at NHH) and made my way back (taking the long way due to volcanos and hurricanes) to sunny San Diego for the summer time.  And, since returning home, I've been keeping busy.  But, for those of you who know me, I'm sure that's not a big surprise :)  Now that I'm settled back into life in SD, I'm looking forward to blogging much more regularly.  There's so much I want to share! Just so little time to sit down and gather my thoughts.  

Let me start with my super last weekend in Norway.  My birthday was May 20th and my dear friends Bea (Germany), Vale (Italy) and Martha (Norway) organized a fantastic weekend to Stavanger and hiking Preikestolen (or the 'Pulpit' rock.... you will see why below).  We are a little posse (all ENE majors) and have a great time together causing trouble..... but mostly being nerds.  Martha's bday was May 16th and this was our last weekend together until next spring.  It was the perfect wrap up to our year together.

We didn't take this photo but just to give you a different perspective

my BV gals!

Isn't Norway beautiful?!  I really loved all of the outdoor activities this past year and I'm looking forward to more hiking this fall. 

I also wanted to share a neat graphic I came across at the end of the semester.  I think this is a great visual of something one of my classes looked at this semester- potential energy from natural resources.  The amazing thing is how much energy the sun gives us- really enough to cover the energy we consume it's just a matter of harnessing the power (goodness that sounds like a bad movie line).    Check it out:

Some interesting numbers I just saw from the EIA (source EIA) on electricity generation numbers over last year in the US:

solar generation in march 2011 up 37% over march 2010

wind generation in march 2011 up 20% over march 2010

hydro generation in march 2011 up 52.2% over march 2010 (and up 28.9% from Feb 2011)

natural gas generation in march 2011 up 5% over March 2010 (up 0.5% from Feb 2011)

nuclear generation in march 2011 up 1.6% over March 2010 (up 1.3% from Feb 2011)

Next up I'll write a little about what I've been learning about being back in SD.  Hello algal biofuels!  Also, I've been enlisted to help on my parents kitchen remodel and I might end up teaching surfing?  Ahhhh, never a dull moment.  Oh yes, and last Monday I ran up to LA to play a show at The Mint.  All good things.  I'm grateful for my opportunities.

Heading off to the San Diego Wind Energy Symposium tomorrow.

hugs from sunny (with some June gloom popping up) So Cal,
lisa

beeeeeeeveeeeeee

Easter 2011

More to come but I had to post a few pictures from the past weekend.  I just got home and must get to school work but these are a few photos from a very special weekend in Hallingskeid, Norway.  Truly an unforgettable Easter 2011.  11 friends from NHH (representing countries- USA, Germany, Italy, Norway, Austria and Peru) went to a true Norwegian cabin (we are talking no running water, etc) and spent time cross country skiing during the day and cooking, laughing, playing charades and drinking some wine/beer together at night.

8 of the 11... 3 left yesterday

Our playground

Me and Bea- so warm we could short-sleeve it!

A perfectly refreshing weekend and now back to the books.

Dreaming of Hallingskeid,

lisa liv 

Composed last night......

I was hoping to enjoy my first ‘Hansa’ beer tonight but one can’t purchase alcohol after 8pm.  Note to self.  Instead I sit at my desk warmed by the view of the sea at dusk (at 10:19pm) and a cup of Roibus tea, also a purchase from today and my favorite tea varietal.  Students pass under my 4th floor dorm window and the tambour of Norwegian flows.

I headed back into ‘city center’ today to take care of my residency permit at the Alien Office.  Yes, I’m an alien.  Quiet in the peanut gallery.  My trip was a success and I wound back through the lovely cobblestone streets of Bergen to the ‘Torget’, or market square and fish market... oh yes, after a stop at McDonalds for free internet.  I purchase as little as possible to not feel guilty using their WiFi.

But, when one must eat, eat fresh fish!  Today’s pick was a salmon open-face sandwich.  Nothing fancy but oh-so-yummy.  Just some bread and freshly cut and seasoned salmon.  Perfect.  

Winding back over to the ‘Bryggen’ (BREW-gun), the old Hanseatic trading center and the colorful A-frame buildings you see in my picture post from two days ago, I happened up the corridors between each building discovering the inner-workings of the buildings.  Eire and fascinating!  Thank goodness for Mr. Steves and the kind guide book gift from Erik and Stefi.  I was able to read about these colorful buildings and all of the history.  The wood planks holding up these buildings have seen a lot.  

A little history if I may.... Bergen was the Hanseatic League trading capital for Norway in the 12th and 13th centuries.  While the city dates from 1070, little survives before the last major fire in 1702.  As such, Bergen’s Fortress is the city’s main reminder of it’s medieval importance.  I will tour it soon! 

Back to 1702- the German Hanseatic league mariners inhabiting the tenements (the colorful buildings!) finally figured it out- fires and candles in wood buildings= disaster.  To prevent future fires, they built communal houses behind each building tenement which were the only buildings one could use any fire.  These communal buildings were where people cooked, studied and partied. 

All of this is to explain my imagination today of men and women working, laughing, crying, huddling for warmth or running from fires through these corridors.  Who knows?  I’m sure the good, the bad, and the ugly.  These were hard working and hard drinking men we are talking about here.

Pleasantly the current day corridors reveal artisan shops built into the tenements.  Local craftsmen and women display their work and tourists happily play tourist prices.  Handmade Norwegian sweaters, jewelry, fine art, and eating establishments.  The shop below was lovely handmade lace and linens, it reminds me of my great aunt Guida’s beautiful creations back in Minnesota.  He father, also my paternal grandfather’s father, came over on the boat from Norway!

Just like Guida's lace

I continue to meet nice people and feel ever resourceful.  Today was misty but cleared for a wonderful sunset....  

View from my dorm room at 9:30pm