Step by step

No guts. No glory

My first month in Tønsberg.

When I woke up this morning I have thinking about this month ago and how it has been. For sure, I didn't think that my first month in my dear noway would be like this. I imagined that all would be much more easy but not.

All of you have to know that the beginnings are not easy, are not funny and some times becomes hard. I have to adapt to them because I am in a foreign country, foreign culture and of course with a foreign language... this is not new I know, but If you don't live it you can't feel it.

The old trite about scandinavian people is true in my own opinion, they are so cold, too shy and never try to establish any link with exchange students. Obviously, always there are some students trying to know you and go out to do something, but unfortunately are few of them.

This is the main reason that do I would be a little bit sad. I hope in a few weeks it changes... the temperature is rising and the sun shines every day. Perhaps they need to do the photosynthesis and after begin to speak, I don't know... I think that I'm a little bit crazy. Take it as a joke please.

The spanish people try to do a survival group, I mean, if we don't help ourselves who it will do? The problem is that we are eight spanish here, but actually we don't know us to do all! The opinions are always different and each of us think different. In fact, I cannot understand the others and the others cannot understand me. I have to adapt to general opinion and general way but I can't be really really me. I can't do my typical jokes... oh shit! I can't be sarcasm! haha Don't worry, they are good actually.

Furthermore, my friends forgot my skype meeting with them the other day and I really needed but they didn't imagine of course... So, sweethearts don't do it again please -_-' You are a disaster!

But all is not bad news...

Today, in the evening I've had the opportunity to speak with some guys from my residence. They insist in their shyness and also they told us that the spanish people are so much open mind that we inhibit them unintentionally... How I have to understand it? Please! We are greeting to them all the time and we don't receive any answer... It's quite difficult to understand it... I can assure you -_-' Anyway, today we got see a movie with three norwegian people finally. I hope tomorrow morning they will be able to tell me 'God morn Laura, hvordan har du det?'

If not, 'ikke problem', tomorrow night there is a 'carnival' in Jernet, the students bar and then they will be the most nice persons in the world for sure! It's ridiculous.

In conclusion... my last thought have been 'Ok Laura, you have to try again and again. Speak with anybody. Don't fall. You wanted to go to Norway and you are in Norway. You can't spend your time thinking about how are norwegians. Come on!'

So, don't forget it my friends, I won't do it: "No Guts. No Glory"

Laura

Tromsø - Northern lights - No words

The sky gives me the best I have ever seen

When I knew about my Erasmus here I had imagined how Norway will be. Snow, ice, cold people, amazing landscapes ,etc.

In some sense, all of that I have found it in Tonsberg but Tromso is better. Spectacular.

An hectic trip:

We took the flight in Oslo Gardenmoen Airport at 11.45 a.m. In theory we only had to take a bus from Tonsberg to Holmestrand and then a train to Oslo Airport... haha what a joke! We take the bus to Holmestrand and while we were on the way, Alex sent us a sms saying that there was an accident in the rails and we cannot take the train in Holmestrand (Alex was in other bus). Ok. We arrive in Holmestrand and change the bus to go to Drammen (I have to visit Drammen yet). In Drammen we can take the train to airport... haha an old old old train!

The important it's that we arrived on time to take the flight!

Tromsø:

The first impressions there was really good. Actually, I didn't think that it would be so nice! Streets was very nordic style. All full of snow! I have never seen too much snow in the same place! Oh my God...!

Tromsø is situated in the Tromsøya island and our camping (Tromsø camping) was in the mainland. We have stayed there in a cabins without bathroom haha You can imagine the panorama wearing pajamas and tracking shoes! So fun...!

In Tromsø we visited the Bibliotek, Arctic Cathedral (of course), Polaria and obviously the center (Sentrum). I put some photos about tromsø place! Go on:

Ishavskatedralen - Arctic Cathedral.

Constructed by architect Jan Inge Hovig and completed at 1965.

One typical house in Tromsø

Tromsø church. This kind of church is frequently in Norway. They are nice because some of them are made of wood.

In the photo above, a part of Hurtigruten cruise you can see a building with some circles. That is the Bibliotek. I don't have photos of this building... I don't know why neither haha

This bridge is Tromsøbrua completed in 1960. We had to pass it everyday... Around 20 minutes walking... And the most of the times snowing. This photo is from the last day in Tromsø, the only sunny day in all trip.

It links the Tromsøya with mainland!

Round trip/Runtur:

The second day we went to the tourist information to asked them about the possibility to see the northern lights, where and how. They suggests us that we can do the round trip. It consists in a trip 8 hours run taking buses and ferrys, and finally going tromsø with Hurtigruten company. It costs 370kr for the studens, around 45 euros.

The probability to see the Aurora Borealis on wednesday was low but the sky was clear and we had to try it! I show you the round trip around Tromsø - Skjervøy and come back to Tromsø:

We took a bus at 1600 p.m in Tromsø and went to Breivikeidet to take a ferry. In this part of the tour we could see the Lyngen Alps... Wow! Precious snowed mountain chain. All of us became crazy with the views. A chain in the middle of the Lyngen fjord! All full of lakes, isolates houses... world apart! We couldn't take photos because we only passed with bus and the photos are not good.

In the second part, we took a ferry to Svensby. In 20 minutes we crossed and took another bus to Lyngseidet. In this part we could see the Lyngen church built in 1755. This church as used by the Germans as a stable during World War II. It's one of the most nice wooden church in Norway. In Lyngseidet we took the last ferry to Olderdalen. There we took the las bus to Skjervøy In the middle os this way we passed near of the Uløya island. In there we can see Havnnes and old trading centre owned by the Giæver family since 1795.

Finally we arrived at Skjervøy at 1945 p.m approximately. There the only that we could see was the Skjervøy church. She was built in 1728 and is the oldest in the diocese. Skjervøy town is the largest village in Nord-Troms county.

Unfortunately in the photo it's not possible to observe the real appearance. It seems poor and dark but it's because of there was a lot of purple lights illuminate her.

Finally we took the Polarlys Hurtigruten to Tromsø. I show you one photo of her docking maneuver.

The ship is the one you have could see in one of the photos above.

During all of four hours of the come back trip we was in the aft deck trying to see an aurora and we got it. We saw few little white auroras, like withe and cloudy arch in the sky. In fact, the auroras begins like a cloud in the sky and suddenly they change and become green in the north pole. Unlucky, we only could see this auroras in that trip and a little green aurora in the middle of the sky, but she leaves fast! However, the emotion of all of us in that moment was really really hard, we began to run over the deck to see the aurora and we shouted for joy! I don't know how to transmit the sensation, it was unique!

We arrived at camping at 0100 a.m. very very tired but happy!

Polaria:

In Thursday we went to Polaria, the aquarium. We could see seals and more kinds of marine animals that live in northern waters. In true, we paid 70kr.- to enter inside and if we would known before we wouldn't paid for that... Polaria is a little place. I think that in one hour or less you can see all. I show you one image of the Polaria building and one photo of one seal.

Northern lights chase:

In the afternoon we was talking about northern lights and three of us decided go to the tourist information and review the excursions about northern lights chase. The majority of these are too much expensive and we were a little bit sad for it but... finally we paid for the only opportunity that we had to see one bright aurora! The probability was moderate and the sky in Tromsø was not good but... The bus that we had to take bring us to the best place to see one. and the best place too see an aurora that day was in Skybotn, 30 minutes ride of the Finland frontier...LOL!

But the most important! WE GOT IT! We got see an spectacular aurora in front of us!!! WOW! I could take some photos with my compact camera. All of us thought that I couldn't take a photo but I did it!!! Fortunately we carried one reflex camera to take photos and we have nice pictures of our northern lights! Moreover, Oliver, one of our guides, took photos of us with the aurora behind of us! IT WAS INDESCRIBABLE! I remembered that in the first moment I was seeing the aurora becomes green I became aware that my eyes were full of tears!

All the poeple should see one northern light in their life, for sure! Enjoy it:

YES, IT'S MINE! :D

:)

I saw this... Incredible!

Cable car:

After the emotional night with the northern light some of us decided take one cable car and see the aerial views of Tromsø and the fjord! The views were hallucinants! The zone is really beautiful... This is the Norway what I hoped!

Troms fjord

"Like one onion"

My experience in Tromsø finsish in this moment. I glad to us to go to this too beautiful place. I hope come back again some day and repeat these days... I recommend you go there or some similar place... You will enjoy a lot for sure.

Nowadays in Tønsberg there's no snow and ice neither. It is light cold and I am better here... I don't have to change my wearing continuously...! The river is not frozen now I hope see ships sailing in front of me early!

Ses senere!

Ha det bra,

Laura

A present for ''Mover el bigote''

Until explode

Last wednesday, in my university there was a little exhibition of different food trademarks...

The offer was, you pay 50kr (6 euros more or less) and you can eat until explode... Suddenly, my friend and I looked at ourselves and said: "We are lucky!"

You have to think that Norway is extremely expensive, 50kr to lunch sounds like "Wow, I've won the lottery"... Obviously, for norwegian people this is like a present.

In that moment I thought in 'Mover el Bigote'. Before my coming here, one of the founders of Mover el Bigote asked me that if it would be possible that I do a report about our canteen in VUC. For who have no idea about what is Mover el bigote look at this: http://www.moverelbigote.com

I decided to do the summary, it was the perfect day!

First of all, we eat pasta salad with some type of sauce like 'cesar sauce'. I think that the pasta was made of spelt. It was good, not splendid but edible.

Moreover, in this picture you can see half of a sausage and an omelette. Specially the omelette it was really good. It's not like in Spain (Spanish omelette is better) but it was good. This omelette is like a crepe with omelette taste. Also, they put salami inside and after fold the omelette and eat it like a sandwich.

In another plastic dish I put different kind of meat. The madness arrives in that moment. There was meatballs! haha I have to tell you, the meat was really good! Some of the meatballs were made of meat with curry sauce, and the others were the typical meatballs. Also, there as another kind of meat, I'm not sure about the meat but it was good, with too much oil but good.

The sauce that you can see it's like mayonnaise, nothing special.

The fried part it's a chub of batter fish with cheese and pasta. Yes pasta... Here they put pasta into the fish and mixing it with cheese or some lactic sauce. In my opinion it was not good... Fried are not my devotion.

Finally, I have to confess something... At the beginning we toke only one dessert... When we saw all the desserts available to us we become monsters and I'm sorry... I don't have photos about desserts... Only one photo about a cereal bar with yogurt ^^'

Apart of this, you have to imagine mini Toblerone, Cookies of apple and chocolate, muffins of fruits and chocolate, and some other cakes...

Yes, I know... You can kill me :D

Hey, I toke some pieces of fruit too! haha but only to put in my bag and taking away at home... jiji

I can't update the blog in few days because I'm going to Tromso tomorrow! I want to see the Northern lights! :D this means that it's possible that in the next input appears some Aurora Borealis! :) I hope so...!

Take care,

Laura

A walk over the sea

Snowed beach. Frozen Fjord. A walk over the sea

We were in Åsgårdstrand last Sunday to see the beach and the Edvard Munch's house.

It was fun. I had never thought that some day I could walk over the sea! The Åsgårdstrand's beach was totally snow-covered and because of it's a rocky beach I had have very careful for my feet...but, nevertheless, the landscape was really beautiful.

The photo below shows a little part of the Åsgårdstrand's beach. The photo was taken on a rocky and isolate scrubland in the middle of the sea! I got reach there :D

The views from there were splendid! I could see the Oslo fjord in different status. The first part was frozen totally, the second part was only iced and the last part it was navigable. As you can see in next photo. There's two anchored vessels in the middle of the fjord. However, I assure that in most of the fjord the waters were unable to navigate...

We passed a little bit of cold, more than normal! My cap and my super jacket were not enough to overcome the wind and cold!

Also, I show you one photo of these day!

Hei Hei! I have soooo cold and the sun goes down and it's bothering me!

Can you see this?

I have to show this photo...

The gull was far away from us! Look at this photo and appreciate the zoom of my camera! I love it!

Someone wants to give a message to the world. Smile!

Finally we went to visit the Edvard Munch's house. If you don't know who is Edvard Munch... he was a famous painter. Probably, most of you know him for 'El grito' painting. His house is not a big house or spectacular place but was to be his house anyway...

Munch's house in norwegian is Munch hus!

To conclude, one photo that shows the big thick of ice! This is really iced sea... Remember that sea water freezes at -2ºC!

By the way, if you click on photos you will see better the photos!

Keep in touch,

Ha det bra!

Laura

World's End - Verdens Ende

Our first excursion

In south of Vestfold there's a little town called Verdens Ende located in Tjome island. It means 'the end of the world' in norsk. Verdens Ende is composed of a lot of islets and eroded rocks. It shows a panoramic view of skagerrak (strait beetwen Norway and Denmark).

This morning we take a bus to Verdens Ende 30 minutes drive more or less. Although today have been a great sunny day, unfortunately it was quite wind and we passed so cold! But the views are precious and we had to go there.

The photo above shows the general view of 'the end of the world'. To arrive here we have had to jump over this rocks. I don't know if in the photo its possible to observe but there was a lot of ice between rocks and in some moments have been difficult to pass. However, it's the first place in Noway that I can see the fjord not frozen!

The town is actually small and there are only a few houses like what you can observe in the right photo.

Verdens Ende is totally a fishing town. You can see some fishing boats in next photo:

Finally, we have walked until this older lighthouse.

It's a replica of Vippefyr constructed in 1932.

Vippefyr is a type of lighthouse.

You can see some of us in the photo. I am the person leaned on the wooden lever!

At the moment, that's all. I will update the blog in few days!

Keep watch!

Laura

Campus Bakkenteigen

Today I show you my university!

Impossible to compare with my faculty in Barce

lona... Bakkenteigen is a campus, not an isolate building! Here we can mix with students of other degrees as nursing, education or nano and microtechnology engineering.

There are a great restaurant called 'Alimento', a great café and a lot of tables to study distributed throughout the university.

To arrive there we take the bus. It's just 20 minutes from Tonsberg and some of us take the opportunity and have a nap! I show you the trip:

This evening we have the first student party in Jernet (studentbar). I think that it's the best way to meet a lot of students that usually don't tell anything. Anyway, the most important is try to speak english and take more fluency. Actually, it's really hard speak with others when there are a lot of persons near...!

Norwegian course.

I'd done two classes of norwegian language and it's really fun try to pronounce like norwegian people. They have nine vowels! Some day I will try to speak norwegian by at the moment I have problems with an unique language... However, I have a norwegian friend that she tell me that I speak some norwegian with her... haha!

Take care!

Ha det bra :)

Laura

I'm in love with norway!

How to express?

Yesterday we were at the conference of our orientation day in the University. The guys from International Relations Office was explain us a lot of practical information about university, campus, live in norway, cell phones, and norwegian culture.

In this last part, a curious professor (with a even more curious bunch on her hair) told us about norwegian culture and their customs… It was the most important part for me because I can understand a little bit more their philosophy.

The norwegian people are very reserved, extremely I think. If I across with someone in the corridor of my residence I don't receive any greeting.. It's very sad but, well… That's all at the moment. Our classmates in the University are more open mind luckily! Also, norwegians are against the monarchy but in the same time, they are sympathizers with the royal family. This is because the royal family is not like Spain. Here the king and his family can walk alone for the street, don't use security, the king goes by bike sometimes and do a lot of regattas too. The majority have seen the king in the street and it's not considered strange.

The norwegian society is characterized because all of them are in the same social status. They are only between 6 or 7 millions of people and they think it's better that each one has the same. I love this philosophy!

Their cottages are precious. Cottages are constructed onto a big cement platform to keep off cold and snow. I add a pic that I find in Internet because I have not photos yet about it:

About food, I only show you the Matpakke. It's like a sandwich made of some type of bread (here no have bread like in Spain), salami and cucumber. They eat it in a breakfast time for morning. I haven't had the opportunity to taste one but I promise, I will do!

Now I show you our dining room and my views from my room others! It's spacious and where's we pass more hours...:

Now, my views!

And some photos from dining room.

There it goes!

Respect to classes... Well, today we start the second subject, Business English course. We have entered into a class and the professor have started to ask us a lot of questions in front if our classmates... Buf! At the beginning is very hard. The professor is always speaking with rhetorical questions and his humor is english. However, we think that its the best way to learn english. He doesn't leave us deconcentrated during the class. We are continuously speaking between us, it's a great dynamic class. I recognize, I'm very shy yet but I hope to be more open with the days...!

Take care family!

Laura