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Published: November 20th 2009
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Life in Norway...well here I am, writing yet another blog about this beautiful Scandinavian country and only two days after I wrote my last one. I guess writing kind of helps me, helps me clear my mind too. And I'm just sitting here in the comforts of my room, waiting on my Russian friend. Have you ever waited on a Russian? Well they are quite the characters as they give you a time, end up being about 30 minutes late, and then spend 10 minutes defending why it was reasonable that they should be late because we really didn't have to be there at the time they said in the first place. It's a very complicated web they weave. Nevertheless, I am sitting here waiting as we are off to buy some Tuborg and then come back here and gather the rest of our people before heading to a birthday party. We got invited over to a different student residence where some other Russians live to throw a party for the Italian girl, Eugenia. I don't know her all that well, but she was pretty funny the few times I hung out with her. Nevertheless, it should be a fun evening.
And of course I am sitting here thinking of my niece and not packing. My niece is getting so big and in her holiday concert she sang about fish and thought of Auntie Kari. Ah, I love here. And the packing is staring at me, just waiting for me to touch it. My plane for London takes off in T minus 16 hours. Ah, I'm such a procrastinator. I was thinking about it yesterday too and getting a little nervous. This is my second solo expedition while in Europe but my first one to a major city where I'm taking the Underground and the Hoppa Bus and maybe the Express and all of these other things and it's just me to figure it all out. Well at least they speak English. I'm going to be so excited to read a full, English newspaper. It has been so long! It's amazing the little things you miss when you come abroad. Yah know like being able to read the labels on food packages instead of guessing at what 10deciliters is, plugging your appliances into the wall without using adapters or converters, road signs...yah know, stuff like that!
Anyways, so I
was thinking about it yesterday. I got invited to a bonfire and am so happy that I went. Imagine 10 or 12 international students of varied nationalities tramping through the dark on a trail that is not very flat, all in pursuit of the lake and the small shelter for a bonfire. It was totally worth pacing through the dark and feeling a little lost. It was actually a bonfire for Marin, the french girl who is leaving next Tuesday to return home. And so we all ate marshmallows, explained to the non-Americans (aka most of the group) what a S'more is, learned that you can cook bacon on a stick over a campfire, tried French red wine which was just amazingly good, and looked up at the blanket of stars above us, anxiously waiting for the glimpse of those green lights. The Aurora Forecast was a 1 or 2, but we were all hopeful. And even seeing the stars was enough. Once you got away from those streetlights, you could see the millions of stars in the sky, the constellations shining bright above our heads as the cold windy air threatened to chill us but couldn't drive us away.
And around 10:00pm, we looked over beyond the lake and there they were. They had faintly been there the whole night, but around 10, they just took off. The green color shimmering across the sky, floating like ribbons and shooting up like fireworks in other places as though the were dancing to some unheard melody. And we all watched in awe, my roommate calling it a sign of God after she had tried "wooing" them to us with a pre-Northern lights beckoning dance. And we just watched in fascination, all of these guys and girls from all of these different countries all realizing what a beautiful world they live in.
It was quite a sight and quite a night. Well after it got pretty chilly and we had been out there a few hours talking and laughing, I headed back with the first group in the dark. And as we stumbled along, we looked back and were excited to see the lights take off again, traveling across the sky and moving on their way. And as Tomomi, the Japanese girl, and I watched, a huge bright shooting star struck across the darkness too. It was amazingly bright, looking almost
The Northern Lights
Picture by Tomomi, she let me borrow it since my camera couldn't capture it :) orange as it rushed across the sky. What a sight it was! We were all very proud of ourselves when we got back to Hog and no one had fallen. And I said "Ha det bra" to my international companions and headed back here to my room. And I was pleasantly surprised by an email when I got back. I had been awarded my Alaska EPSCoR grant again to study Coastrange sculpin genetics in the spring. And along with my award letter, they included the judge's comments and it just brought a smile to my face. It's nice to hear that you have good grades and show a promising future as a biologist from people other than your mother. And it makes me feel good to know that I'm working hard for a reason and that it might pay off as I submit all of my graduate school applications in the coming weeks.
So all-in-all, my spirits were renewed by the Aurora borealis, good company, and kind words making me optimistic of the future. I have a lot of things to do and see and experience in the next year and I can't wait for it all to come.
And now I must say goodbye and head off and maybe finally pack before the party. And tomorrow...well, I'll be flying solo yet again and loving every minute of it! Will update you all again when I return from England! =) Ah, I'm GOING TO ENGLAND!!
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