Ski Jumping

Yesterday we went and saw ski jumping. It was at the largest ski jump in the world.
It was heaps of fun. We had to keep brushing ourselves off because it was snowing. The Norwegians didn't win, but it was fun all the same:)

When we got home there was so much snow! We had to go out and shovel it away. There was heaps! Mina and I made a pyramid out of snowballs and put a candle in the middle.

Tonight is my first Rotary meeting. Should be interesting.

The ski jumping

The hill

Me and Mina climbed up this snow hill........Then I slipped down

Shovelling the snow

Our snowball pyramid:)

First Day At Kirkeparken

So my first day of school is over! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I'm not sure why I worried so much. I'm in 2 different classes. One is for my Norwegian and its a group of kids who aren't fluent in Norwegian. The next class I will be with for English, Maths, Art and Design.

Today I had Norwegian and English. So in Norwegian I couldn't understand a single thing. They are halfway through the school year here so the kids are halfway through learning Norwegian and I'm at the start:/ The lesson started at 9:50 so I had between 8 and 9:15 to sit at Mortens office. Then we went back into school and I spoke with my counsellor and got my timetable sorted.

After Norwegian I had lunch. Then I had English. The kids in that class are so nice. They were speaking to me and some girls asked me to sit with them:) We were doing stuff on American history. The lesson ended at 1:45 and then we went home, because we had no afternoon lessons. In Norway if you don't have a lesson you can just be at home, or wherever you like and then just be at school for your lessons. So on Monday I can take the later bus into school.

The major downside to the day is that I'm sick. I'm hoping its only a cold and not the flu, but I feel terrible.

School

So right now I'm sitting in Mortens office in Moss before I start school. My first lesson isn't until 9:50 and its Norwegian. I'm kinda freaking out about school a bit. Its a little scary, because apparently most people don't like speaking English because they don't want to embarrass themselves and the fact that the school is so BIG! I'm really nervous about the whole thing. And to make things even worse I'm sick!:(

Norwegian Breakfast

So Norwegian breakfast is a lot different to what we have in Australia. I've had a soft boiled egg and bread with raspberry jam, salami, fish pudding, this potato stuff and roast beef, brown cheese, this other cheese, cucumber and tomato.

Brekky

The Seaside

Today we went to the seaside. We went to Oslofjord. So it was pretty cold and part of the ocean was frozen! We didn't walk on it because its too dangerous when its not fully frozen. It was quite pretty though. There was all these old fishermans huts there.

After the seaside we drove to this lake. It was almost completely frozen! We went walking on it. There was one spot where there was this big crack because under the ice there was just air. There was this guy who was skiing on it, with his dogs pulling him along. It looked really cool. When we got home we had hot chocolate, because it was so cold!

Part of the ocean here is frozen!

You can see the steam coming off the water

Some of the old fishing houses

The frozen lake

You can kind of see the man skiing with his dogs through the trees

Smiley face on the lake:)

Walk

Yesterday afternoon we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We went to this school. It was a boarding school where they kept horses. One the way we stopped and talked to Sigruns neighbour. His wife works at Kirkeparken, where I'm going to school. He travels a lot with work and he said he could take me places:)

The horses at the school

We walked through a small patch of wood. I nearly slipped over in spots because under the snow was just ice! Its been really cold, although the snow is amazing!:)

Finally In Norway

I'm finally in Norway!!:) It was such a long flight! I left Tamworth at 9:45 to Sydney. From there I met up with the rest of the exchange students heading to Europe. At 4pm we flew to Singapore. We got there at 10pm and me,Kate and Matt found our flight to Frankfurt. The flight was delayed for an hour so by the time I got to Frankfurt I'd missed my flight to Oslo. Then I was told to go to this gate. I went there and there was no flight to Oslo! Then I had to find an information desk, then this other desk then another one where I finally got a ticket to Oslo. I didn't leave Frankfurt until 12:30.

I finally arrived in Oslo about 3pm. It was SNOWING!!!!:D I met Errol, Maria, Morten and Sigrun at the airport. We then drove to Rade. I'm staying at my counsellors house until Sunday.

View out my bedroom window

Last Day In Aus!

So I'm leaving for Norway TOMORROW!! How the time has flown! My suitcase is packed, documents are signed and I've just got home from the last family dinner for 12 months. Everythings good to go.

Last Family Holiday

Ok, so guys, I'm leaving on Wednesday.

On Tuesday we went to the Hunter Valley. They have an awesome pool there, so Alma, Fred and I went swimming for over an hour:) That night we went to the Christmas lights at the gardens. They were cool.

Wednesday we drove to Sydney and wandered around Darling Harbour for a while. We went into Chinatown and then went to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was so good! It was really funny. Thursday we just went into the city and did a bit of shopping. We went to Lowenbrau for dinner. Its this German restaurant in the rocks. It was so much fun. We were on these communal tables near the band. Alma got up and was playing the bells and doing the chicken dance. I came second in the nail hammering competition and Dad was pro and won the nail hammering competition!

Friday morning we went to Centrepoint tower and did the Skywalk. It was awesome. The few days were really good, but it was my last family holiday.

There was extra good news when we got home, Steffi (our daschund) had puppies! They are so cute:)

So, my holidays have been good. I caught up with Alice (my bf) for a week and we went skiing, fishing, wandered around the creek and watched movies.

Its so close! Wednesday! Four sleeps!:D

Going to miss this place

As much as it seems boring at times, I think I'm going to actually miss Willow Tree. I'm so excited to go to Norway and see its amazing scenery. Its a little sad to be leaving for a year. I'm mostly excited though! 11 days!!:)

2 weeks

Wow, I only have 2 weeks left in Aus. That is so weird. I've said goodbyes to my friends, to Grandma and Grandpa and today to Great Grandma (as well as Aunts and Uncles, cousins etc).

I'm going to complately pack this weekend, as I won't really have time to do it later. We're going skiing on Monday and Tuesday. Going to Hunter Valley on Tuesday night and to Sydney on Wednesday.

It seems really weird that I'm leaving in ONLY 2 weeks. I'm a little nervous, but mainly just really excited!!:)