5-26-2010 Hassleholm Sweden Road Trip

Last weekend Elin, Tessi and I took a road trip to Hassleholm Sweden. We packed up the car and drove 8 hours south east into Sweden to stay with her father over the weekend. Her father lives in the middle of the forest where he has many open fields and trails through the woods. It is a beautiful place. Here are some of the photos I took of our trip.







Elin and Tessi playing in the water







Elin and Tessi on the path we took to get to the lake






This is the back yard of Elin`s father`s house







Elin`s fathers house in Sweden





Tessi and Tia in the back of the car... thank God only Tessi had to ride back there.






Tessi trapped under the blanket

5-22-2010 Oslo with Jonas and Hassleholm Sweden

So Thursday was a "man date" day with Jonas. I met him in Oslo at the train station and we wondered around Karl Johan`s Gata and ate some lunch at Egon`s, which might be my favorite Norwegian restaurant. So I spent most of the afternoon in Oslo with Jonas.

Friday Elin and I drove from Asker all the way to Hassleholm Sweden to see her father. It was about an 8ish hour drive. We brought Tessi with us too. Her father lives out in the middle of the Swedish forest and it is quite beautiful here. Today I ran, Elin biked, and Tessi ran about 5 kilometers to a lake where Tessi and I went for a swim. Then we came back and grilled out with her father and her brother Christian and his g/f Erica who also were staying with us in Asker for the 17th of May. Here are some pictures from our last few days.








A little surprise I got for Elin






The Parliament building on Karl Johan`s Gata






This is Karl Johan`s Gata in Oslo.. looking down to the palace where the King lives






Tessi






Elin making Tessi swim for a stick





This is the walking path on the way back from the Lake






This is Elin`s father`s back yard






Elin`s father`s house

20-5-10 Maria`s Badehus

Yesterday Elin took me into Oslo where we went to see Holmenkollen and then to paint her grandmothers deck/balcony. We work well together I think. So that was yesterday....

Today Elin and I went to Maria`s badehus... which is right down by the Oslo fjord. I went for a swim like I normally do... but a difference in today was that it was 80 degrees outside... very nice. Elin got a nice sunburn today... haha. She`s taking it like a champ though. A funny story... I got pulled over by the police today! It was crazy... I accidently cut off this car because I drove down the wrong street (it was a one way) and then of course, coming down the damn one way was a police officer.... ok so none of that happened, they just had cops on the sides of the road just outside of Elin`s home, and they check to make sure people have their license, people speeding, and registration.... so we passed! No problem. Tonight, Elin`s mother took us out to eat at The Big Horn Steak House... the chicken was great! Then we came back and I won one of the 3 card games... I cant remember who won the other two though? But I am in bed now.. good night. Enjoy some of the pics.





Holmenkollen, famous ski jump in Oslo.






Tessi and I reading a book.







Sunset in the backyard.






What would Norway be without jumping into the ocean?






Cruise ship






One of my favorites.






Elin and I

5-14-2010 Borg Finale!

Thursday was the last day at Borgund Folkehøgskole! Elin, her mother and I drove from Borg all the way to Akser (near Oslo) for about 9ish hours... we got home at 4ish this morning! Long drive but it feels good to be home. So now we are settling in for alittle bit and getting ready for 17th of May. Here are some pics of Elin and some fellow Borgers on the last day... all or most of the girls were dressed in their traditional Bunads. Here the pics....



All of Borg










Elin











Jonas and I











Elin and her Sør Amerika class


Top Row L to R: Mari, Marlin, Annette, Bodil, Tiril, Chathrine, Ingrid Elise, Rikke, Hanna
First Row L to R: Nina, Elin, Stine, Marianne, Synnøve











Elin and Maria (her roommate)












Elin and I







The Norwegian Flag!

13-5-2010 Borgund Folkehøgskole

So again, today I was in Ålesund at Borg. In the morning when I woke up, it was nice outside, blue skies and decent temps, maybe a touch too chilly, but a good day for a hike up to Høkubben none the less. So I went up the mountain. I got some more amazing pictures of this amazing place... all of which are on my other blog many times, but I will soon be posting more on this one because the view never gets old. Elin`s mother came to Borg today. Tomorrow we are taking the 9 hour journey back to Asker (near Oslo). This evening we had an elevkveld for just the students and teachers. I miss those elevkveld evenings. Tomorrow we will pack the car, then at 2 have a great dinner with all the parents and students, and following the dinner we have a final good bye in the gym for everyone. So it will be close to 19.00 before we get out of Borg and on our way to Asker... it will be a long day! I get to split the driving time with Elin`s mother, so I need to be rested up and ready for the long drive!

12-5-2010 Huka with Ottar

Things are going very very well. I finally woke up alittle bit and Elin made me go to lunch and talk to all the students again.... good call on her part. I was invited to Ottar`s house for an end of the year tipp topp party. I will get to that in a moment though. Today I drove in Norway for the first time ever... in a manuel.... and I only killed it like 3 times, but we got to our destination. Elin, Maria and I went out to eat at a pizza place. And I believe that was my first time going out to eat in Norway as well. After that, we came back and hung out... then I went to Ottar's for some svele, tipp topp slide show, some Norsk movie and the Huka. I have smoked out of a huka before, but again this was my first time in Norway so yeah. Tomorrow is the last full day at Borg, so lots of cleaning and packing going on tomorrow. Im tired and heading to bed soon...

11-5-2010 Back at Borg

Today was my first full day back in Norway. The flights were long, 23 hours in total of traveling when I reached Vigra in Ålesund where I was surprisingly surprised by Elin! What a great g/f. It is a good thing she there because in Gardermoen Airport in Oslo, my debit card did not work in the atm. So I had no way to get money for a bus ride to MOA and then eventually to Borg, so high five to Elin! It is great to be back... I do not think it has really hit me yet... It feels really normal to be in Norway, even though I feel awkward around the Borg students for some reason. I almost feel like I missed out on half of the year (well, I actually did) but that is when everyone really gelled here, and I just do not quite fit in... oh well... a few days I will be on my way to Oslo with Elin! I tried out my new camera today... took some pictures of "the spot". The cool sun glasses I am wearing are Elin´s. Overall I am really really glad to be back in Norway.

Woops, my bad, so something happened when I transferred pics onto Elin`s computer and I can not upload them now. I will get them up sometime tomorrow or very soon.