Show and Tell

So for the most part life around Oslo has been relatively laid back and normal as of late. I have really been able to settle into life as a Norwegian, complete with a regular schedule and regular commitments. But starting with last weekend my life has been and will be a bustle of activity, travel, and visitors. This past weekend, a good friend of mine from the University, Laura, came to visit me in Oslo. She is studying in Paris this fall and originally we had planned to meet up somewhere in Europe really cool (like Istanbul or Rome or Prague or something), but since I have been raving about Norway since the plane touched down, we decided to rendezvous here in the super cool, western-most Nordic country.

And I was excited for her to come for two reasons...one, it would be really good to see her and spend time with a good friend...someone I hadnt seen in many months. And two...do you remember the feeling that you had back in elementary school when it was show and tell day and you got to bring in your favorite toy or possession to share with all your classmates? Do you remember the excitement and joy you felt as you were able to share with you 4 foot tall friends one of the things that made you the most happy? Well thats kind of how I felt about having Laura come to Oslo...now I am not still in elementary school, Oslo is not my prized possesion, and I am definitely not 4 feet tall anymore, but the feeling of excitement and joy at the chance to share one of the things that makes me most happy was present nonetheless. Having her come was providing a great opportunity for me to show someone from home a little bit of what I love so much about Norway. I can write in blogs, I can take pictures, I can tell stories, but there is an element missing in all of those and that is the element of personal experience. It is very hard to grasp how massive a glacier is unless you are at the edge of it. It is difficult to try and get to know the awesome, awesome people I am meeting here unless you have met them in person. And while I am doing my best to paint the most realistic and accurate picture of those things and my life in Europe possible through my blog, my pictures, my stories...it is just different when you see it in person. So I was thrilled to have Oslo and Norway to show and tell.

Anyways, so she arrived on Thursday night and from then on it was a truly epic and awesome weekend. First of all, the weather was beautiful all weekend, which made showing off Norway very easy, because when the weather is nice here it is one of the best places on Earth. So with nice weather, we went hiking up near and around a lake in the hills just north of Oslo. The nature was pristine and we even stumbled upon a second lake that I did not know exsisted...ha hah! We also saw most of the main sights in Oslo (there were a few museums and such that cost some money, and as college students in Europe we decided against those options), including quite a bit of time in Vigelandsparken (it is a famous scultpure park in Oslo with interesting and compelling statues). We had a small cameo/extra role in the longest running Norwegian soap opera, "Hotel Cæsar". We hung out with my friends here in Oslo having tea, making meals, seeing the sites, dancing, and otherwise just chilling....basically it was just a great weekend.

I think that in the end, I was able to adequetely share and show my new city, my new friends, and this life that I have been living and loving for the last few months...my elementary school teachers would have been proud.




* ed note: While at Vigalendsparken, we (Laura, myself, my friend Kate, and my friend Kristina) were sitting on some steps enjoying the sun and the view, and the soap opera was filming near by. Then at one point the director came up to us and said, "Just so you know, you are in this shot, which is fine, but please dont look at the camera, just conintue to talk amongst yourselves and act like the actors arent there." And so they continued to shoot the scene, with us, two Americans, a Canadian, and a Norwegian as extras...so yeah, I have been in a soap opera.