Great Day

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Our internet connection is very low at the hostel, so that is why the updates have been less frequent over the past few days! I hope everyone is doing well.

Today we went to the International Children’s Museum in Oslo. It was very difficult getting there due to some confusion from the map + ice, but we made it, and it was fun! That last sentence has been pretty much a summary of the whole trip. Anyway, this museum is a place to display children’s artwork, that is, anyone under 18 from anywhere in the world. There were paintings, drawings, sculptures, puppets, dolls, instruments, and more on display throughout the building. I could not take pictures inside the museum, but they have a website if you are interested in seeing some pieces. (www.childrensart.com) After touring the museum, we got to play traditional African drums with a man from Tanzania. It was so fun to play around and make beats together!

Next, we took a walk to Vigeland’s Park. This destination has many sculptures which depict a few themes: the life cycle and the freedom and restraints of life. All of the sculptures are of nude men, women, and children. Some of them were really cool and interesting, but also it was strange to see sculptures of people in their barest form. Oh well, neat experience.

Then, we walked to a lady’s house from Oslo University College. She had us over for lunch and we ate vegetable soup. Her house was very lovely and decorated with fine antiques. The bathrooms had heated tile, and after walking in wet, cold boots (Mom, I was wearing the original bootsies on that day!) the warm tile was such a soothing relief!

After that, we headed to a souvenir shop in downtown Oslo. It was a very tiny store, but it was full of many hilarious souvenirs, like the trolls! I did not realize that trolls were iconic to this country, but they are, and they are everywhere! I got some postcards and a tote bag at this store. While we were downtown, we also stopped by McDonalds! YUM! It was delicious to finally have a taste of home/something that was recognizable! At McDonalds in Norway, they have onion rings! They are delicious by the way. McDonalds in Norway is home to the 10 Kroner menu (which is like our dollar menu, except 10 Kroner would be about $1.50).

Later in the night, we attended a reception at Oslo University College which was for international students. They served a traditional Norwegian meal (which I ate SOME of), had live Norwegian folk music, and the rector gave a short speech. It was very nice, and I was glad we were invited. Afterwards, some of us went out to see downtown Oslo at night. It was a ton of fun, and we were glad to be “out on the town” with each other.

When we finally got back to the hostel, you might think that we would have went straight to bed after a jam-packed, busy day. Almost, but first, we went sledding down a huge hill outside of the hostel! It was quite exhilarating! (It was also slightly scary!) To complete it all, my roommate Chastity, another girl in our group named Ashley, and I rolled down the snowy hill. I went only about half way and stopped due to dizziness and a lack of desire to climb completely back up, but Chastity rolled completely to the bottom, and from what I have heard, she went fast! It was fun and child-like; I loved it. It was the perfect ending to a very fun day!

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