Åre!

Last weekend I was lucky enough to join my host family up to Åre in Sweden! For those, boring non slalom skiers (Kidding... mostly ;) ), Åre is a really large ski resort that the World Cup for skiing has been held at and is absolutely gorgeous. I really had a great weekend and it was so great to get back on skis again! I used to race when I was really young so I spent a good amount of my time on skis as a kid, but it had been a while since then, so I was worried about jumping back on again. Thankfully though it was just as easy as it was when I was nine and I had a lot of fun. Didn't break anything, didn't fall... to much, rented a perfect pair of skis, stayed in a "Ski In-Ski Out" appartment and spent my weekend with amazing people. So yeah, I think I'm pretty darn lucky :)

My host family on the slopes! 

Looking over at the lake Are sits off of from a ski run

You Can't Have a Rainbow Without the Rain

Hallo alle sammen or hello everyone! This last week has been a little wild, like when AFS said "You'll experience some roller coasters on your exchange", they really were not joking around. Of course though that was completely expected and metaphorically, I was the kid to decide to jump on right upfront and put my hands in the air, or I suppose that's how it feels. Luckily though, my host family and friends have been a great support system and have really been there for me through the good days and the ones that I've felt the roller coaster took a little bit too quick of a drop. In an exchange there are a lot of high points, but along with that, there are as well a few lower ones as well. The good thing about those at the time, oh so horrible downs though, is you learn a whole lot from all of it. In all honesty, I'm just as happy to have had the little bit more difficult experiences just as much as the easy and fun ones. Although the fun experiences are a hell of a lot more enjoyable, with lack of another less-cheesy expression, "You can't have a rainbow without the rain."

So yes, that's been my week, good and tough, but mostly good. Hope everyone else is doing good as well. :)

Here are some irrelevant photos.

Ok, so in Norwegian the word farts, means speed. Now, I probably should be more mature and try to not find the sign that says "30 farts" on the side of the road so very funny, but come on. Its kinda great.

Always Something to See

Quite a bit has happened since my last blog post and my last months here are filling up and going fast. My most recent "large experience" has been recently traveling to Røros, an old mining town that is just beautiful and full of history. I was a little disappointed because I forgot my camera and my cell phone had a break down.. so sadly I don't have too many photos, but I had a great time! Met with great people, saw a beautiful town and ate great food. Even got to taste the very traditional "Rakfisk", a fish left to ferment in a airtight place for a few months and then eaten in a variety of ways. I think its a bit of an acquired taste, but hey I'm not completely viking yet, right?


My other experience was traveling to Sweden over winter break! One of the really awesome things with being with AFS and coming to Norway is that I am allowed free travel as long as I comply with certain rules and guidelines, so a couple weeks ago I took advantage of that when I traveled to Stockholm! I stayed with my Swedish relatives and had a wonderful time. Stockholm is so beautiful and my relatives were more than hospitable, as well as just a joy to be around. In Norwegian I would definitely say my visits were "Koselig." Instead of taking this entire post trying to explain this wonderful word, I found another blog that explains it completely. Yes, I know its a bit long, but you have to promise to read at least the first paragraph, its kinda great.

http://afroginthefjord.com/2014/02/02/how-to-make-things-koselig/

I used every day of my trip to the fullest which was wonderful. In the seven days I was there I got to visit five different museums, met so many amazing relatives, saw a few of the many subway art displays, ate wonderful food and got to view almost the whole of Stockholm! Its a place I can definitely see myself returning to, even with my full week, I don't think I even put a dent in what in what Stockholm has to offer. Yesterdays old city meets with the industrial modern architecture of today and supports all faces of the matured city flawlessly, with small boutiques tucked into buildings from the 1700's and tall aged trees tucked between some of the most industrial squares. If you ever have a chance to visit this historic, wonderful city, I would without a shadow of a doubt suggest it.

I've put some pictures from my travels so far down below, but I think that this is where I will be leaving this post! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed watching Norway kick butt in the Olympics, haha, HEIA NORGE! ;)

By the seaside in central Stockholm

Gamla Stan

View at lunch at Modern Museum, looking through a glass.

Drottningholm Palace

Out to lunch in rural Stockholm 

Summer home in Brama, at a not so summer time.

Shops tucked into tight squares in Gamla Stan 

Roros Church

Shopping square 

Old homes leading down to the old mining location