Hello again friends~Here I am, back in Lillehammer after a delightful weekend in London. Yep, I get to spend my weekends abroad, exploring foreign cities, eating good food, seeing beautiful historical monuments. Yep. This is indeed my life. Crazy, huh?
My time in London was phenomenal! I spent Thursday with a dear friend and fellow Cobber who is living in London for the year. We got an opportunity to catch up, share travel stories, reflect on our time abroad & marvel at the beautiful sprng day we shared. IT wasso wonderful to see her and as the day passed, we both realized that though we have spent a great deal of time together through shared classes, similar circles of friends and shared interests, we never succeeded at making and keeping a coffee date. It literally took us both uprooting our lives, moving across the world and a great deal of travel (me from Norway to London, her by means of lots of tube and bus rides in order to meet me) in order to finally meet for a koppa. But we did~and it was spectacular! I am so thankful to have shared a beautiful spring day in London with the beautiful Kari Beth Shobe; it was just what I needed!
The rest of my time in London was equally wonderful; lots of sightseeing, miles and miles of walking, multiple attempts at navigating our way through streets that changed names and weren't perpindicular to one another, and countless moments of awe and wonder at the beauty around us and the lovely warm weather--I got to run around in flats and a short sleeve dress; a far cry from my uniform of late consisting of boots, jeans, sweater & outdoor gear...it felt so good to have sunshine on my face and wind in my hair (wind that doesn't bring snow and freezing temps with it!). A definite highlight of London was seeing Les Miserables. I have literally waited six years to see the show, after having played the role of Gavroche my freshman year of high school. I was nervous about seeing it; after all, what if I had built it up too much? But I was blown away and it was perfect. I am so glad to have seen it, to have the music echoing in my ears and my heart as I traveled back to Norway where snow and ice still abound, though admittedly the thaw is beginning to speed up!
And now, back in Norway, I am realizing how little time remains here. I have two weeks before I leave for Germany for class, and from there spring break will commence, taking me to Scotland and France. Upon returning to Norway I will have a day to prepare before sitting exams, the weekend to pack, then off we go again for a whirlwind tour of Norway & Denmark, taking us back to Lillehamme for the 17th of May celebrations (independence day here in Norway), then I'll be home again the 19th. I have 50 days left here in Norway. I'm not sure how I feel about that...I am torn between wanting time to slow down so I can soak in Norway and speed up so I can finally hug all of the beautiful wonderful people back home ♥
But seven weeks remain. Lots of homework, travel, springtime (I hope!) will fill these 50 days and soon, soon, soon, I'll be back in Minnesota, preparing for a summer in God's Great Northwoods, catching up with friends and exploring what being home looks like. Before any of that can happen, however, I have some classes to attend--I'm off for now, see you all soon dear friends!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sunday Night @ Nordre Ål
Ooookay, so maybe it doesn't quite roll of the tip of your tongue the way Sunday Night @ East (excuse me, Concordia) does, but in many ways, the evening felt familiar to the community and the service I am used to in Moorhead.
Since moving to Lillehammer, I have found a lovely community in Nordre Ål kirken; literally, the North Church, here in Lillehammer. Anne & Oddgeir, the pastors there, are a lovely couple with BEAUTIFUL children who have sort of adopted me and extended hospitality and welcome to this wide eyed wanderer during my time in Norway. Anyway, Oddgeir asked me if I would be willing to share a bit of my faith journey with the congregation last night and I agreed, opting to return from my weekend trip to Oslo a few hours early for the sake of participating in this service of meditation, sharing, music, and prayer. The service was done in the style of Thomas Mass, meaning it was full of different components geared towards personal reflection and prayer.
The whole energy was familiar: the checking of mics, the talking through of the worship order, listening to the musicians prepare for the service. In those moments, in a place far far away, I was home.
I am still marveling at the opportunity; I got to share a bit of my story in this country where I have just happened to be for a short window of time. I get to be a part of this community, these people have become a part of my story. How often will I get a chance to share and grow in these ways? I feel so blessed to have had a chance to be open to these opportunities, and moreso, to be open to the people that have come into my life in the past few months.
This journey has not been an easy one; in all actuality, I think this may be the most difficult thing have ever done, uprooting my life, moving across the world, leaving those I love and cherish behind for a season. But it's also the most life-giving and altering thing too. I have gained a tremendous amount of independence, confidence, and willingness to try new things, meet new people, and be open to where life will lead.
Learning.
Listening.
Sharing.
Growing.
Pondering.
Wandering.
All I can be is fully and wholely me. And I'm discoverin more and more each day who I am becoming and where this path is leading. Life is all about the journey, and these four months are proving to be an uphill climb, complete with awe-inspiring beauty, victories large and small, and companions who will help me on my way....and the view is breathtaking! The journey is still underway, still worth every step, and has provided me with time to reflect and discern more about who this wide-eyed wanderer really is.
Since moving to Lillehammer, I have found a lovely community in Nordre Ål kirken; literally, the North Church, here in Lillehammer. Anne & Oddgeir, the pastors there, are a lovely couple with BEAUTIFUL children who have sort of adopted me and extended hospitality and welcome to this wide eyed wanderer during my time in Norway. Anyway, Oddgeir asked me if I would be willing to share a bit of my faith journey with the congregation last night and I agreed, opting to return from my weekend trip to Oslo a few hours early for the sake of participating in this service of meditation, sharing, music, and prayer. The service was done in the style of Thomas Mass, meaning it was full of different components geared towards personal reflection and prayer.
The whole energy was familiar: the checking of mics, the talking through of the worship order, listening to the musicians prepare for the service. In those moments, in a place far far away, I was home.
I am still marveling at the opportunity; I got to share a bit of my story in this country where I have just happened to be for a short window of time. I get to be a part of this community, these people have become a part of my story. How often will I get a chance to share and grow in these ways? I feel so blessed to have had a chance to be open to these opportunities, and moreso, to be open to the people that have come into my life in the past few months.
This journey has not been an easy one; in all actuality, I think this may be the most difficult thing have ever done, uprooting my life, moving across the world, leaving those I love and cherish behind for a season. But it's also the most life-giving and altering thing too. I have gained a tremendous amount of independence, confidence, and willingness to try new things, meet new people, and be open to where life will lead.
Learning.
Listening.
Sharing.
Growing.
Pondering.
Wandering.
All I can be is fully and wholely me. And I'm discoverin more and more each day who I am becoming and where this path is leading. Life is all about the journey, and these four months are proving to be an uphill climb, complete with awe-inspiring beauty, victories large and small, and companions who will help me on my way....and the view is breathtaking! The journey is still underway, still worth every step, and has provided me with time to reflect and discern more about who this wide-eyed wanderer really is.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I Feel Like Walking the World...
...Or at least Lillehammer!
Sorry for the lack of posts in recent days...life has been full, days have been long, and this girl has been busy learning, listening and growing.
This past week was a delight, as I got a visiter from home...by means of Scotland! My dear friend Biz (who is living in Scotland for the year) opted to celebrate her birthday with me in Lillehammer, so I got to explore my city in a new fashion: on foot! We did a lot of walking, as the weather was warm, spring was in the air, and a strolling tour seemed more conducive for seeing as much of Lillehammer as possible in just four or five days. So walk we did! To and from Storhove, which is my home, all over the city, to the Olympic Center, Maihaugen...such a treat!
And beyond the opportunity to explore this place, it was such a blessing to have a familiar face-someone I know and who has known & loved me for a long time-share in this experience. To share news, stories, memories & laughter...so wonderful! And of course, many of these conversations took place over coffee, either accompanied by Oreo Deluxe cake at Dolly Dimples (my new favorite resturant in Lillehammer!) as a midafternoon treat, coffee from the kantine here at HiL, or even a cuppa from 7-11as we walked. We sipped, strolled, laughed...one of the most life-giving weekends I've had here in Lillehammer.
Aside from visits from home, the past week has been filled with epiphanies, great conversation and lots of walking. I'm not sure if it's the imminent springtime (YAY!!!) that is drawing me outside, but I've been relishing my walks throughout the city, often solo excursions which have provide time for reflection and thought. And from all of this walking, I've realized that I have finally fully landed here in Lillehammer. I am no longer clinging to the other nine Americans, have gained confidence and courage to venture out alone & create my own exeriences and beyond that, realized that it's okay for me to do things outside of the group. It's been such a treat to realize this, to settle into myself again, indulge my independent spirit and embrace this city and all it has to offer.
The funny and wonderful part of these recent days is that my walking has coincided perfectly with the beginning of Lent. I have never been one to give up something for Lent, nor have I ever felt the need to. This year, away from my communities of faith, family and friends though, there is something comforting about the practice of walking that connects me to those I am missing. I'm missing the youth and staff of Friends in Faith, my family, my dear friends and all that is happening on the other side of the world. It just hit me that I'm missing out on all of that. BUT...I'm also growing from this opportunity. Experiencing the chance to be strong in myself, make my own path and create my own story...even if that story is a bit different than those of my fellow travelers, or even what I could have ever imagined for myself.
So I'll walk. To and from the city. Up and down the slopes of Lillehammer.
And as I walk, you can be sure that I'll be thinking of you all...thankful for your love, prayers & support on this journey. Amazed at the blessings that each of you are in my life. Astounded and befuddled at the way our bodies work well enough to walk (I mean, our feet are pretty small...especially mine! How in the world can they support our bodies and balance and move and not topple over?!?! So interesting).
I feel like walking the world....
Sorry for the lack of posts in recent days...life has been full, days have been long, and this girl has been busy learning, listening and growing.
This past week was a delight, as I got a visiter from home...by means of Scotland! My dear friend Biz (who is living in Scotland for the year) opted to celebrate her birthday with me in Lillehammer, so I got to explore my city in a new fashion: on foot! We did a lot of walking, as the weather was warm, spring was in the air, and a strolling tour seemed more conducive for seeing as much of Lillehammer as possible in just four or five days. So walk we did! To and from Storhove, which is my home, all over the city, to the Olympic Center, Maihaugen...such a treat!
And beyond the opportunity to explore this place, it was such a blessing to have a familiar face-someone I know and who has known & loved me for a long time-share in this experience. To share news, stories, memories & laughter...so wonderful! And of course, many of these conversations took place over coffee, either accompanied by Oreo Deluxe cake at Dolly Dimples (my new favorite resturant in Lillehammer!) as a midafternoon treat, coffee from the kantine here at HiL, or even a cuppa from 7-11as we walked. We sipped, strolled, laughed...one of the most life-giving weekends I've had here in Lillehammer.
Aside from visits from home, the past week has been filled with epiphanies, great conversation and lots of walking. I'm not sure if it's the imminent springtime (YAY!!!) that is drawing me outside, but I've been relishing my walks throughout the city, often solo excursions which have provide time for reflection and thought. And from all of this walking, I've realized that I have finally fully landed here in Lillehammer. I am no longer clinging to the other nine Americans, have gained confidence and courage to venture out alone & create my own exeriences and beyond that, realized that it's okay for me to do things outside of the group. It's been such a treat to realize this, to settle into myself again, indulge my independent spirit and embrace this city and all it has to offer.
The funny and wonderful part of these recent days is that my walking has coincided perfectly with the beginning of Lent. I have never been one to give up something for Lent, nor have I ever felt the need to. This year, away from my communities of faith, family and friends though, there is something comforting about the practice of walking that connects me to those I am missing. I'm missing the youth and staff of Friends in Faith, my family, my dear friends and all that is happening on the other side of the world. It just hit me that I'm missing out on all of that. BUT...I'm also growing from this opportunity. Experiencing the chance to be strong in myself, make my own path and create my own story...even if that story is a bit different than those of my fellow travelers, or even what I could have ever imagined for myself.
So I'll walk. To and from the city. Up and down the slopes of Lillehammer.
And as I walk, you can be sure that I'll be thinking of you all...thankful for your love, prayers & support on this journey. Amazed at the blessings that each of you are in my life. Astounded and befuddled at the way our bodies work well enough to walk (I mean, our feet are pretty small...especially mine! How in the world can they support our bodies and balance and move and not topple over?!?! So interesting).
I feel like walking the world....
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Flying time, Sparknotes, Northern Lights, and Legal Residency....
So time really flies by.
I've been in Norway for over a month...nearly a month and a half now. Wow...it's going so unbelievably quickly! Two months and I'm home; I'm nearly a third of the way finished with this adventure. Kind of incredible. Yikes!
A quick recap of the past week:
My weekend in Tromso was spent laughing, deep coversations, playing Legos & Polly Pockets, skiing, sledding, eating wonderful food, reminicing, and soaking in the presence and company of some dear friends. It was such a life-giving three days, refreshing me, rejuvinating my soul and spirit and empowering me to become more comfortable with travelling solo! What an exhilerating experience to fly/train/bus alone, make plans & carry them out successfully! What a drastic change from my mid-January (pre-Norway) airport experience in which I was nervous and anxious about navigating the airport...and that was in the company of two adept travellers and dear friends~and here I was, manuvering through check in, finding my gate, and making the journey all by myself. No mishaps, no(t much) worrying, and a wonderful experience!
And here we are yet again, poised on another weekend here in Lillehammer. This week has gone quickly; Monday was a travel day, followed by classes about an hour after returning to our flat (whew) and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (today) have been fairly standard days of homework, classes, hanging out with friends and marveling that we are in NORWAY! That's still such a strange thing to realize! I often catch myself surprised at how normal this place has become; it's another home. I'm comfortable here, cherishing these days and weeks of learning and engaging in conversations. Oh yeah, and we saw the Northern Lights: so incredibly beautiful! Funny story about that: It was Tuesday night, and we were all still sleep deprived from our weekend travels and a very long day on Monday, so I was headed to bed early. Lights out, dressed in my standard sleep gear: tie dye t-shirt and running shorts. This was at about 10. Around 11, I heard a HUGE commotion from the living room, complete with yelling, shrieks and running for the door. Obviously, I woke up, and went to see what was happening. Did I manage to throw on sweats or mittens before I went out? Of course not. So when I arrived beneath the dancing green glow of the Northern Lights, dressed in my winter boots, nice pea coat, running shorts, spectacles, and scary sleepy hair, it's no wonder that my fellow Americans gave me funny looks. Oh well, I got to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Win-plus it makes a good story to tell!
In other news....I'm officially a resident of Norway now! My visa came through early this week and I moseyed on down to the Lillehammer police station yesterday, answered the necessary questions, took a (terrible!) visa picture, and waited to get that beautiful sticker in my passport that allows me to live here--no longer a tourist! Yay!
I've been in Norway for over a month...nearly a month and a half now. Wow...it's going so unbelievably quickly! Two months and I'm home; I'm nearly a third of the way finished with this adventure. Kind of incredible. Yikes!
A quick recap of the past week:
My weekend in Tromso was spent laughing, deep coversations, playing Legos & Polly Pockets, skiing, sledding, eating wonderful food, reminicing, and soaking in the presence and company of some dear friends. It was such a life-giving three days, refreshing me, rejuvinating my soul and spirit and empowering me to become more comfortable with travelling solo! What an exhilerating experience to fly/train/bus alone, make plans & carry them out successfully! What a drastic change from my mid-January (pre-Norway) airport experience in which I was nervous and anxious about navigating the airport...and that was in the company of two adept travellers and dear friends~and here I was, manuvering through check in, finding my gate, and making the journey all by myself. No mishaps, no(t much) worrying, and a wonderful experience!
And here we are yet again, poised on another weekend here in Lillehammer. This week has gone quickly; Monday was a travel day, followed by classes about an hour after returning to our flat (whew) and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (today) have been fairly standard days of homework, classes, hanging out with friends and marveling that we are in NORWAY! That's still such a strange thing to realize! I often catch myself surprised at how normal this place has become; it's another home. I'm comfortable here, cherishing these days and weeks of learning and engaging in conversations. Oh yeah, and we saw the Northern Lights: so incredibly beautiful! Funny story about that: It was Tuesday night, and we were all still sleep deprived from our weekend travels and a very long day on Monday, so I was headed to bed early. Lights out, dressed in my standard sleep gear: tie dye t-shirt and running shorts. This was at about 10. Around 11, I heard a HUGE commotion from the living room, complete with yelling, shrieks and running for the door. Obviously, I woke up, and went to see what was happening. Did I manage to throw on sweats or mittens before I went out? Of course not. So when I arrived beneath the dancing green glow of the Northern Lights, dressed in my winter boots, nice pea coat, running shorts, spectacles, and scary sleepy hair, it's no wonder that my fellow Americans gave me funny looks. Oh well, I got to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Win-plus it makes a good story to tell!
In other news....I'm officially a resident of Norway now! My visa came through early this week and I moseyed on down to the Lillehammer police station yesterday, answered the necessary questions, took a (terrible!) visa picture, and waited to get that beautiful sticker in my passport that allows me to live here--no longer a tourist! Yay!
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