To the Arctic and beyond!

On Friday we got up early, drove to Gardemoen and flew to Northern Norway. We took a 1 1/2 hour flight.

From there we drove 2 hours and a 20 minute ferry to Holmstad, where my host Dad comes from. It was snowing when we got there, so most of the way we couldn't see anything, but when we could it was so amazing! The mountains up there are spectacular!

On Saturday we went for a tour around the area. We saw the most amazing scenery I have ever seen in my whole life! It was so beautiful! We drove around to all these little towns and fishing villages. It was so pretty! There was quite a lot of snow the previous day and overnight so it felt like Christmas!

 

 

On Sunday we went the Christening of my host familys relative. It was pretty much the same as they do in Australia, with a few different things. After that we drove back to the airport. We took a different route back and it was so beautiful! The lakes and mountains are so amazing!

It was a really amazing trip! Northern Norway is definitely my favourtite place in the whole world now! :)

It feels like Christmas!

Northern Norway is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. There is quite a lot of snow up here at the moment and it feels like Christmas! (Or what we see in all the American movies anyway!)

The Beauty Of The North

Off to the North

So tomorrow we head North for the weekend! I'm so excited!! But unfortunately we don't think Its going to be very good weather. Anyway, I'm going to go to bed, gotta Get up really early tomorrow!

Sweet 16!

On Monday I had my sweet 16th! Well it was more of a 3 day celebration!

On Saturday night I had a birthday party with my friends. It was so much fun! We had tacos, opened presents, played charades, had cake, talked and watched a movie. It was a really fun night. My friends wrote me the sweetest cards and letter and it nearly made me cry!

On Sunday night we had a party with my host families. It was a nice night. Then on Monday it was my birthday! My host family made me breakfast in bed and they came in singing happy birthday (in norwegian of course!).

At school we had a little party during art. My friends had cake and candles and they sung. It was great! On Monday night we had Rotary. One of the Rotarians had made a birthday cake and everyone sung. It was nice.

I had a really great birthday! But I tell you what, I don't think I've ever eaten so much cake in my life!

One of my presents, I love it!

Råde Park Festival

Last weekend there was a festival in Karlshus. On Saturday, after going to an art exhibition in Gamlebyen, we went to the festival.

There were so many people about! There were a lot of stalls with people selling different things. There was a big tent with a stage where they had concerts over the few days. The tent was lined with food stalls. We had this really good lamb for lunch.

Høst ferie!

Straight after the Autumn meeting in Hamar, my host parents and the US exchanger headed off on Autumn break. We travelled North up to a place about an hour South of Trondheim.

On the way up there we drove over mountains. We were above the tree level. It was really amazing scenery. The high mountains were snowcapped. It was so beautiful! We stayed at this little old school that had been converted into a little hotel.

Then we drove to Trondheim. We spent a few hours wandering around Trondheim. We first looked at Nidaros Cathedral. It is a really amazing cathedral. We walked around Trondheim for a while, then went and got lunch.

Then we headed for Hell! There is a place in Norway called Hell. We went down to the train station and got pictures in front of the sign. So I can now say that I've been to Hell and back!

After a short stop in Hell we drove to Åre, just over the Swedish border. We stayed in a really nice spot by the river and surounded by mountains. The first day we went for a walk halfway up on of the mountains. It was pretty amazing scenery!

The next day we climbed to the top of a mountain! 986m above sea level! It was so amazing! It was really beautiful from the top. The next day we went out to the biggest waterfall in Sweden (which quite frankly, wasn't particularly big!).

The next day we went for a forest walk by the river. It was quite pretty because the Autumn leaves are all out. The last day we were there it was bad weather so we headed to the pool. There was quite a large pool area there and saunas. The sauna part was good. They had all different types of saunas. We went in one then went up jumped in the ice pool.

We went a different way home. It was forest most of the way. It was a really good week, but the traffic home was pretty bad!

Høst mote

So after the excursion to Oslo my host Dad and another exchange student from the US picked me up. We had time to spare so we went over to the castle and had a look around there.

Then we went over to the train station. We met up with some of the other exchange students and we caught the train to Hamar. We first met all the nrebies and caught up with the oldies. It was really great to see the Australians and the Argentinian again! And to meet all the newbies!



Some of the rebounds and a Mexican

We had dinner, then headed over to the tivoli across the road from our hotel. There was a concert going on and some rides. It was fun.

On Saturday we had to be in the district conference for 2305. We were only in the actual conference for only half an hour. After that we had to go into a room and organise a show for the last hour of the conference. We had to create skits, dances and presentations. My group did a presentation on the stereotypes of our countries. I said that I'm Australian, but I can't surf, the other Australian said she doesn't ride kangaroos, the Americans said they're not fat and don't eat mcdonalds and the Brazilians said that they don't speak spanish or brasilian and that they can't samba. One group did a dance and sang to 'What Does The Fox Say'. The skits were about some awkward moments in Norway, with the lnaguage and the culture. They were pretty funny.

Saturday night we had a gala dinner. It was a nice night. All the girls dressed up in nice dresses and heels and the guys in white shirts and black pants.

On Sunday we went for a walk through Hamar. We went around the river and headed to the ruins of a church. It was really nice down by the river. It was really pretty with the Autumn leaves. It was a nice day. It was sad to say goodbye to the other exchange students because it was our last Rotary event for the year! :'(

What does the Fox say!

What Does The Fox Say!

Ok so I have to do a blog about This song! Its been Stuck in my head for so long!! So This song was made by Two norwegian Guys, who were asked to make a song, but they didn't want to make ot seen like they were trying too hard so they made a stupid song. They thought it we rubrikk and were so surprised when it became such a hit! :) Click on the link and watch it :)  

Oslo

So the other Friday my class went to oslo for an art excursion. It was a great day! We had free time when we first got there so me and some friends walked down Karl Johans and got starbucks.

We first walked around the normal part of the National Gallery. We saw paintings from picasso, manet, monet, degas and others. It was really great to see some of these as I have studied them in art in Australia.

Then we had free time for lunch. We walked back down Karl Johans, bought pizza wraps (as it was quite cold) and sat by this pond thing.

Then we went into the Munch 150 exhibition. That was really good to see. I can now say that I have seen 3 of the 4 versions of the scream!

It was a really great day! :)

Rewind a few weekends

Sorry I haven't been blogging, I've been so busy!!

Well I can start with a few Saturdays ago. Me and my host Dad were home alone so we went for a little tour in the forest. We rode bikes out to a lake in the middle of the forest. Don't you just love how in Norway theres random lakes everywhere! From there we walked to these old mines and a bit further into the forest. It was nice :)

Then on the Sunday I had my districts conference in Gardemoen. All the exchange students from 2260 went there. There was me and Holly (both oldies from Australia), then there was the newbies, one from USA, one from Tawain and 2 from Brazil. Also there was a rebound who had gone to Melbourne last year. We had to listen to a heap of different presentations then we all had to introduce ourselves på norsk.

So a relatively interesting weekend.