Norway

First ‘topptur’ or ‘summit’ trip ON SKIS

I am not going to lie, I have been dreading my class’s first ‘topptur’ trip. Despite everyone agreeing that mountain trips are so much better on skis, I have been hesitant all year. This morning I rolled out of bed, got dressed, and made my make-shift dirty chai latte. When I was sufficiently loaded with caffeine, I loaded the bus with my ski gear: skis, ski boots, ski poles, backpack with: shovel, avalanche probe, helmet, down jacket, skins, and lunch.

Shameless selfie

The trip was overall great. I can’t say they same for my ski skills though. I really struggled with how to go up the mountain. People seemed confused by it, but I didn’t know how to move gracefully with these long things on my feet. I’m sorry people, I’m only 25% norwegian which means I wasn’t born with skis on my feet. Well, maybe only 25% of skis on my feet, (aka just large feet.) In the few (treeless, bump-less, iceless, bush-less) areas I got the hang of it and really enjoyed it. And then we ran into more trees, bumps, ice, and bushes and I was back to looking like a fish out of water (or should we say, a Virginian on skis.)

Once we made it to the top we ate lunch and began avalanche safety training. Janie Therese knows her avalanche information, which is reassuring. At Nordfjord Folkehøgskule, we set beds on fire during fire drills in order to learn how to put them out. We had (the most realistic looking) fake blood, broken bones, and burns on actors that refused to break character during our first aid training. So naturally, we buried someone 1 meter under the snow in order to learn how to find and save them during our avalanche training. Just kidding, we just buried a backpack. I guess there is such a thing as a line.

Going back down the mountain was a lot more fun for me. Yeah, I fell a couple times, but it was worth it. I even managed to avoid all trees and rocks (sometimes just barely, but that counts.)

So now that I have tried it, I’ll admit: summit trips have some benefits when on skis, but it will take a few more trips to decide if it beats out walking.

P.S. Special thanks to Janie Therese for #1 being patient with my lack of skill, #2 teaching me tips and tricks, and #3 not completely freaking out when I almost plummeted off the side of a bridge. (I promise I’ll try my hardest not to give you a heart attack this ski season.)

RUSSEFEST: Something only Norwegians can completely understand.

http://youtu.be/VOszKC5EhE4

Check out our X-Russefest 2014. Stealing things, dancing, and champaign in the face, what could be better? Contrary to many ‘Russ’ things, this is most definitely PG rated, and school-appropriate.

DISCLAIMER: This is a parody. No real alcohol was consumed prior, during, or after the filming of this video.

30 minutes of phenomenal light.

Today I was blessed with phenomenal lighting– so phenomenal I grabbed my camera, hopped on my bike, and set out to capture something in the beautiful light. If only I had had a willing model on hands.

Peddle, stop, snap, peddle, stop, snap. The moment didn’t last long, but then again neither did the blood and warmth in my hands. I can only hope for more 30 minute windows of this inspiring light like I found today.

 

*All photographs taken with a Nikon D5100*

Dates, Dinner, Dancing… Christmas Ball 2013

Before we could say ‘farewell’ and ‘see you next year’ we celebrated the holidays with the utmost class– a Christmas Ball. For the first time (in oh-so-long,) I got all dolled up– rocking that junior year homecoming dress that carries with it so many memories.

The night began with an elegant church service in the white steeple church down the hill. The co-ed choir graced us with angelic voices. And I’ll admit it, we all swooned at the sound of the men’s choir.

When the service was over we opened the church doors to cold air and rain. I didn’t own a proper coat for such a festive occasion, so I neglected to wear a jacket of any kind. After all, my mom has always told my sister and I: “beauty is pain.”

After briskly walking up the never-ending hill I hurried inside to dry off and defrost. We exchanged our flats for heels and powdered our noses before meeting downstairs to greet our dates. The couples were called one by one to walk to their table together. I was greeted by Knut with a rose– gotta’ love that ‘hunting and fishing’ swag. The dinner consisted of traditional Norwegian Christmas foods: ribbe, pinnekjøt, poteter, and kålrot.

After dinner we gathered to watch a show over coffee and cake. The show was very nice, but the best parts were the teacher’s acts. Similar to what they had done after the Revy, the teachers made fun of different students by impersonating them. It was pretty hilarious.

Unfortunately what happened next is not pictured. All 150 (ish) of us gathered to sing and dance around the Christmas tree. We even sang the norwegian songs my family (attempts) to sing each Christmas. Both “Så Går Vi Rundt Om En Enebærbusk” and “Glade Jul” sounded much different, (better,) last night than when we sing them.

After the dance floor was cleared of the Christmas tree the swinging began– and it didn’t stop until well into the morning. They say Norwegians are born with skis on their feet, but I say they come out swinging (as in dancing, not punching.)

Now I’m off to spend a few days with family, and following that I will be headed back stateside. So for now I say: “Hade bra Norway… catch ya on the flip side.”