My heart has a hole

Listen to this song.... it's awesome. And it describes how I feel about the loss of my dear Sasha.

Where did all the years go?

Take a look at this. It's me! I can't remember how old I was when this picture was taken... notice the fab 70's tile work in the background. But what has happened since those jolly childhood years in the 80's? Did I turn out the way I was supposed to? Have I made my parents proud? Have I accomplished my goals?

Yes!

Well, aside from a growing debt... unpaid medical bills (Thanks, Blue Cross!), dental bills (I need to stop drinking soda and juice), credit card bills, I think I have it pretty good. Of course, it's been a long and hard way to where I am today.

High school years... don't get me started. In one word: ANGST! In several other words; over-achiever, but not really achieving enough... make-up crisis, soul-searching, longing for that cool guy that was "just not that into me", family drama, friends coming and going, being hurt by loved ones, longing for that "better place", poetry writing, abstract acrylic painting, snowstorms, champagne at 5 am with my best guy friend, pissing off my flute teacher, pissing off my parents, pissing off my friends... being angry with myself. All in all, pretty normal for a teenager. I think for some people, it just takes time growing into oneself. I remember feeling so ugly at times that I just needed to hide. Isn't that sad?

After high school, I went to a make-up artist school in Oslo called "Nordic Institute for Scene and Studio", aka NISS. It was awesome. I learned to do classic make-up, as well as special effects for movies. I did some freelancing, and got gigs doing make-up for two major Norwegian rock bands, Briskeby and D'Sound. If I were smart enough to post you-tube videos here, I will. But for now, give me a rain check on that. The only thing that stopped me from following this career was... a waiting boyfriend back home. Ah, yes. Amore. What was right at that time, doesn't necessarily feel right today, but looking at the bigger picture.. I think all happens for a reason. Besides, I wasn't really THAT into doing make-up anyways. But I still have the experience, and if you want me to do a make-over...anytime, baby. I'm pretty awesome.

Then followed some hard years. I don't really want to go into details about those. Let's just say I spent some time in my hometown, unemployed for a while.... before working as a waitress at the local burger joint. I made some money, yes. But I also spent countless, endless hours faking a smile to drunk assholes that grabbed my butt, asked for my number, and wouldn't leave at closing time. Dream job? Hell no.
I also went to France briefly to work as a nanny. That sounds pretty counter-intuitive, because I am not really fond of kids. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind them. But I am just not one of those "dooby-dooby-dooooooooo" people who just need to tickle them. Work was fine. I stayed with an Iranian-French family, and they had the cutest kids. I learned some French, got to see Perros-Guirec in Bretagne, Rennes, Brest, Saint-Brieuc, Paris...ah, Paris. Such a lovely city. Too bad I didn't get to enjoy it more. I left after a month. It had nothing to do with France, but everything to do with boyfriend drama at home.

But let's fast forward a little. In 2003 I went to Bergen, and enrolled at the university there. What an eye-opener! This is what I had been looking for during my lost years. Academia! Linguistics! Literature! Post-colonial studies! I spent days learning to draw those damn syntactic trees, but in return.. they are now permanently tattooed in my brain. My friend Heidi and I could usually be found at "Kvarteret", discussing in detail the complexity of fortis and lenis, alveolar flapping, morphlogy, bilabial nasals, and our favorite, the glottal stop, and always fueled by those delicious mochas with extra chocolate and whipped cream.
Needless to say, I worked hard in school. I sacrificed sleep, food and movie nights in favor of doing research at the library. I needed those grades in order to snag a spot at the University of Oregon, my main destination. I applied for a scholarship through an exchange program, which means I don't have to pay tuition (yay!), and the cost of travel will be covered by our fantastic government. I still needed to take up a loan though, granted living expenses and school supply expenses would still be paid for out of pocket.

So here I am... in Eugene, Oregon. What was supposed to be a nine month study overseas...turned into over four years of career and immigration turbulence. What's the point in going to the US to study journalism that's culturally, socially and politically tied to the US without actually getting to practice in said country? It's the American Dream, baby! So I needed a job.. and I got it. I also met my wonderful husband here, Jamie. The love of my life.

I am proud of what I have done so far. There are times I wake up in the mornings wondering that the point of it all is. But then I think back. I could have been stuck in a small village in Norway, sans education and working at a factory. Nothing wrong with that. It's just not my cup of tea.

But I feel like it's time to move on. As I am getting older, the need to be close to family surpasses the chase of that perfect job. To be blunt... I love my job. But I am not making any money doing it, which sucks. I could try to relocate here in the US. But I am still a Norwegian, and I miss home. I know that there will be great opportunities no matter where I choose to take this journey. And this time, I am not alone. I have a life partner who's ready to take the plunge with me. Together, we can only grow stronger.

And the list of achievements... will be longer.

A new year..!

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I last updated my blog. I blame ungodly hours and lack of zzzz's for that. Well, I am back! And I am going to try my best to keep writing in 2010.

I rang in the new year in good company. We enjoyed some free champagne at Agate Alley on East 19th. We made it there just in time to savor some sips before the ball dropped on TV.

Have you made any new year's resolutions yet? 2009 wasn't a very good year for me. I lost my dog, Sasha. It was very hard. I also dealt with some personal issues due to stress, and a bad living situation. Let's just say roomies with guns and rattlesnakes don't blend well with me. I was done with roomies a long time ago. But let's leave all that and the rest where it belongs... in 2009. This is a new year, a new decade. And this year, I will focus on my marriage, my life, my family, my happiness, my career... and teaching my hubby Norwegian! It's time to take the plunge and jump into the future. Consider this a fresh start, a clean slate.

What?!

I just read an AP wire story that claims foreign students at OSU think studying in the US is harder work. I have to disagree.

The story, which nicely adds that foreigners boost tuition revenue with more than $15 million a year, reports that OSU turned to an outside recruiter to help the foreigners adjust to American university life.

Now, read this:

On the board of a classroom at Oregon State University recently, new international engineering students made two lists about what it's like to study in the United States.
Under "hard," they wrote: "homework," "wake up at the morning" and "a lot of things to do and to read!" The "easy" list was blank.

(Source: Associated Press)

I was an international student myself at the University of Oregon, and I felt the studies were easier than those of my home college, University of Bergen. Waking up in the morning is nothing new, and I am definitely no stranger to homework! And - the finals here in the States usually involve multiple choice. We don't have that back in Norway!

Maybe OSU just didn't recruit enough smart Scandinavian students? :P

It's like, whatver

ANNOYING WORDS

(AP) -- What word or phrase do Americans find most
annoying when used in conversations?
It's, like, "whatever."
The popular slacker term of indifference was found "most
annoying in conversation" by 47 percent of American adults
surveyed in a Marist College poll released Wednesday.
"Whatever" easily beat out "you know." The other annoying
contenders were "anyway," "it is what it is" and "at the end
of the day."
"Whatever" is an expression with staying power. Immortalized
in song by Nirvana in 1991, popularized by the Valley girls in
"Clueless" later that decade, it is still commonly used, often by
younger people.
Pollsters at the Poughkeepsie, N.Y. college surveyed 938 U.S.
adults by telephone. The margin of error is 3.2 percentage points.
Whatever.

(Soure: Associated Press)

'Tis the Season!

It's barely the beginning of October, but Christmas decorations are already covering store shelves. Even before people can carve their pumpkins it's obviously time to cue the carolers.

I snapped this picture during a shopping trip at Rite Aid.

Americans ARE crazy about decorating for every occasion, but come on... The Thanksgiving turkey is still kicking!

What do you think? Is this too early?

Guilty Pleasures!

I admit it.... I don't have a lot of self discipline.



I am not good about diets, I don't get up early, and I am pretty lazy when it comes to housecleaning. But at least I admit it, right?



One of my favorite things is cuddling up in a blanket with a cup of tea, reading a good book. I welcome cooler weather just because of this.



Now, let's take a look at my Top 10 Guilty Pleasures!



1) I love reading glossy mags under the covers. Especially while eating popcorn. (Yes, it leaves a mess.)



2) Eating chocolate. LOTS!



3) Postponing chores..... I HATE chores. I'd rather surf the web and read about piglets.



4) Shopping!! (Savings account? Whaaaa..?)



5) Playing Super Nintendo.



6) Watching 90210! (Don't tell anyone, but I actually enjoy it. Love me some 90s retro action!)



7) Reading stuff that grosses me out... I know you like that too.



8) Pretending the bills don't exist. Out of sight, out of mind.



9) Iced Vanilla Lattes. (Daily. Don't tell hubby.)



10) Reading boring people's facebook statuses. I don't know why, but it amuses me.