#lovleg: gunnhild's notes

[lovlegskada]

Note 39 April 12

“Who do you believe you are?” assignment Norwegian

You can come up with several terms if you are to define yourself as this assignment asks. You can say something about looks, social status or astrological sign. You can emphawise sexual orientation, gender or what kind of home you have grown up in. We are always asked to define ourselves. Who am I really? Lately I have thought that I will never really find out. Yes I can hang parts of my personality up on hooks like everybody else. And each of part will be correct and each part will tell you something, and I do not want to be ashamed of any of the parts. But none will say all of it either. I am a strange, colourful, embarrassing, poetical, queer girl from the countryside who says the wrong tings all the time and sometimes is terribly egoistic and sometimes is the kindest person in the world. I make some smile and laugh and some hide their face in their hands and ask me to be quiet. I spent a lot of time thinking that I ought to be quiet and pleasant, ordinary, someone everyone could look at and think “that is who I am”. But now I am beginning to understand, slowly, that everybody does not need to fully understand me and I do not need to be only one thing. I can be many different things at once and what really makes me me, is what happens when I meet other people. I have spent so much time thinking about what I am like, and whether that is good or bad. But I do not exist in a room alone with a mirror.

Right now the head of my best friend is resting on my shoulder. We are going to my home for the Easter holiday. She is drooling a little. I am trying to sit perfectly still so she can sleep.

When I met her I thought that we could never be friends. I thought that she was a popular girl who fit in and cared about clothes and makeup and selfies. And it was not like I suddenly realised that all of that was wrong. That it was one big misunderstanding. No it was actually correct, but there was just so much else there as well. A whole universe really. When I met my ex girlfriend I thought that she always knew what she wanted and was going to do and think about everything. And in a way that was true and in a way it was not. I understood that when she seemed most certain, was when she was most uncertain. When she gritted her teeth and insisted that the world was going to be like she saw it it was because she was scared. And now when it is over, at least for now, I am thinking that I have learnt and grown so much because of her. That the bad did not erase the good but that I learnt so much from being loved and it was worth it. Because now I am a slightly different person, and she is a slightly different person while we still are ourselves. Even though it hurts I am looking forward to seeing her after the holiday because I feel like I actually see her now, and the other way around. I don’t know. Everyone I have met since I moved away from home has been exactly who they were at first sight and still so much more. And I am thinking that the whole point of it all, if there was one, probably was to understand that nobody really knows, and that you need to be generous to each other, and honest and kind. That you should try to find those who are different from yourself, not those who are precisely the same. Those who are strange in their way. Everybody is strange. I do not know what will happen from now on or who I will end up being. Some times I picture that I have cables from my heart to many other hearts I never see. That it is like powerlines over mountains and through valleys. That they end up somewhere where they warm someone I may never meet. Or turn the light on. Or maybe give them electric shock so they get hurt. But at least there is some sort of connection there. Not just to those I spend time with every day, but that the line goes out to places I have never been. Maybe they are there to pull me in that direction one day. That one day I will get to hear their stories, what they think about right and wrong, what they feel, what matters to them, what upsets them. And I do not know who I will really end up being in a year, or two or ten. But I am thinking that I just want to be something to somebody. That maybe I can help somebody. And that is the most important hook I can hang my personality up on. That the one I most of all think I am, is a friend.

Translator’s note: there are some misspellings in the original text, and I’ve tried to translate the intention of those. It’s written in an assignment-like style, so I’ve tried to make it a little more formal than usual.

[alterlovleg]

how can you sleep

in moonlight

when blue comes down

is (like?) a shower

andgives goosebumps

all over the body

and that the hair on the body

stands up

wakes up and wants to do things

how do you sleep then

[lovlegenglish]

Lovleg S02E04 Clip 1

Spoken word

She cannot know that every word

you choose to say

ran a marathon in your imagination.

That for every possible combination

of words that win and make up a sentence

you’ve weighed every possible outcome

so her reaction never

lives up to your expectation.

Perfection’s not important, it’s a lifeline,

and you’re in deep waters.

The waves pull you under

you fight your way up, need to reach land

You swim backwards and look up

at the sky, and it’s filled with sand.

As if the sky is taunting you:

the safety you’re seeking,

is above you,

not ahead.

Are you there?

The sky asks.

You stop swimming.

Is everything OK?

Mina: Oh my God, thank you so much! Like, I still get nervous. Teacher: You know, that was awesome. Thank you. It was wonderful to listen to you. Teacher: Guys, if you’re thinking about taking part in her course, go talk to Mina. Mina: I can see some of you thinking: “That’s not for me”. But there’s different types of slam poetry. You need to find your own way of expression. In this course, we’ll find out what that means, and work on how to perform it. G: I would like to participate. Mina: Cool. G: Gunnhild Kvam. Mina: OK. Awesome. Bring the text you want to work with tomorrow, and we’ll take it from there. G: Tomorrow? So, do I have to read the text out loud…? Mina: That’s kind of what it’s about. But it’s going to be so much fun. Maybe you’ll get to know something new about yourself. G: I need to get better at expressing myself, so I don’t just blurt out things when I’m drunk. D: I can relate. Mina: You can? That’s good. So you’ll also participate? D: Yeah. Sign me up. David Ketema. Teacher: Mina, we have some sandwiches in the teacher’s room. Mina: Cool. Some danish pastry as well? G: All right, I’ll be going, then. D: I didn’t know that was your thing? G: It is. I write poetry all the time. Thanks for the support. D: Gunnhild, I was wondering if I could ask for your advice? G: Me? D: You’re together with Luna, aren’t you? G: Yeah, why? D: It’s just… Tina wants to move into my flat. What’s your opinion on that? G: That’s lovely, though. Luna and I technically live on top of each other, as she lives on the second floor. But do you want that? D: I just think it’s a bit too soon. But how do I tell her? G: Then tell her. She’ll notice you’re not keen. D: Just tell her straight up? G: Yeah, you know what? That’s actually what I would do.

Edit: Translator’s note

The actress who plays Mina is actually a slam poet named Evelyn Rasmussen Osazuwa. She did a talk at TEDxOslo and this is the description of the video:

Evelyn Rasmussen Osazuwa is a Norwegian-Nigerian slam poet, spoken word artist and actress. Born, raised and currently living in Oslo, Norway, she has appeared in various theatrical and on-screen productions since she graduated from Nordic Black Theatre Xpress in 2011. In 2017 she represented Norway in the Poetry Slam World Cup "Grand Slam Paris" and became the first Scandinavian as well as the first woman to win. At this TEDxYouth event in Oslo she is performing the spoken word piece "I Wish". (link to video)

The poem is in English, so if you want to get a sense of her style, we recommend you give it a watch!

[hjertetssunnegalskap1]

Hi! I keep seeing posts about lovleg but what actually is it? And could you sort of describe what s1 is all about? Thank you!

Hi! Thank you for asking!!

You might already know that Lovleg is a web series, just like Skam, and it’s a show about teenagers that feels real. It’s also in a format much like Skam - we get clips and extra material like Insta posts and chats in real time throughout the week. 

The clips end up in full episodes every Thursday. Also, the characters have social media profiles. Also, I must mention Gunnhild’s notes. I love Gunnhild’s notes. She writes what she thinks, almost like a diary, and it’s really good. They are really good, funny and sometimes even poetic. Another addition compared to Skam, is that the character Alex has a profile on urort.no where we can hear some of his music.

There are many similarities to Skam. However, unlike Skam, both season 1 and 2 seem to be about the same main - Gunnhild.<3

Here Gunnhild is in yellow and one of her new flatmates, Sara.

Lovleg is a really good show. It’s similar to Skam because of the format and the real feeling of it, but it differs in several ways, too. It’s kinda cringey and funny, but heartwarming and beautiful as well. The first season follows Gunnhild who moves to Sandane, a different town/ city, for her high school year at Firda. She has to live in a flatshare and adapt to the new place and all the new people while managing school.

Here are most of the characters (at least the ones in the flat share), from Sara’s Insta. Gunnhild is in the middle, in the white top. There are so many interesting characters, and they are all played by teenagers!!!!

This is a show you can relate to, with real issues. Season 1 is a lot about Gunnhild figuring out things. She feels awkward and struggles to find new friends. There are rumours about her from her home place that she wants to escape, and she basically wants a new start.

Gunnhild with Alex and Ivar on a little roadtrip.

Awesome scene with Alex.

During season 1 Gunnhild figures out that she’s stronger than she thinks and that others can have their own issues. I don’t want to spoil too much, but she grows a lot.

A scene with Luna from the apartment above Gunnhild. There’s some really good connection between the two of them.

So. Is this show worth watching? YES. And here’s why: It feels real. The characters are intriguing, believable and real. I love how Gunnhild interacts with all the characters and discovers friendships where she didn’t think she could find any.

Also, the show is well written, the dialogue is really good and I don’t know what happens next. The cinematography is amazing, especially in the most important clips. The soundtrack is really good. And the beautiful is often mixed with the weird, and good stuff with sad stuff, and I love that.

I have said it before, but I’ll say it again: I love how the show deals with subjects like feelings of alienation and struggling to fit in, having questions about legal age and consent, that boys can say no, too, the myth of “losing the virginity”, to be not seen and seen, the reality of abortion, what is to be loyal toward friends, and mental struggles like panic attacks. And it’s done in a very down to earth way. No spoon feeding, no pointy fingers.

Also, this:

Gunnhild flirting with Luna. :)

No spoilers, but there might show up some w/w in this show.

So, where can you watch this? This is the official website: https://lovleg.p3.no/

If you want to watch it in English you can catch up with season 1 here and follow @lovlegenglish and @lovlegskada for updates on season 2.

[whatadaze]

what is lovleg about and how do i watch it?? :))

hi anon! well i’m glad you asked :-) lovleg is a norwegian series with a similar set up to skam and follows a young teenage girl named Gunnhild. she moves into a flatshare with three other teens and begins attending a new school in a town called sandane. the show basically follows her pov as she adjusts to this new school and makes new friends. 

i’m only on episode 4 but i’m going to rewatch it from the beginning again and follow along with the note entries, text messages, and other social media posts. there is SO much detail put into these posts and i highly encourage that you follow along with all the entries while you watch the clips. it’ll help you have a better understanding of the clips + you also get into gunnhild’s head when reading her note entries (they’re SO cute jalsjfla) 

you can follow along with all the posts + clips here

go watch it! it’s sooooo good and i’m kinda late into the game so i’d love to have someone to fangirl with <3 

[shaydixons]

Please watch Lovleg. The first season does not have an actual plot, but it's still great. The second season is about this lovely wlw couple. One of the characters has just released a song on Spotify. Gunnhild[the protagonist] writes poetic notes on her inotes and we are allowed to see them. It's so great. Watch it now

kjhgfgh ok queen i will!

[lovlegskada]

Note 38 April 6

I have a pillow heart its soft and sinking I want to feel your head and the entire world in there rest on it and take a break do you want to close your eyes for a while? come and rest on my heart and when you get up and go out into the day it bounces back to the same shape isn't there something strong in this being soft?

and do we have magnets inside us? in the lungs maybe on the edge of the stage feet dangling just want to breathe don't want to see only feel you thought it ceased to burn and I thought it ceased to burn until I leant in and now we're here words tumbling out waves against the rocks

or does it work or not? the light is flickering here in the waiting room

NB! we'll see each other anyway. same house and same school.

[alterlovleg]

[aimitis]

sketching pad? <3

Okay, so the best part of having lots of stuff in your queue and forgetting about them, is that you get to return from a tumblr hiatus (ish) to an inbox full of asks! Tricky ones too, been thinking about them for quite some time now… I’ll gve it a try :)

sketching pad: describe yourself from a stranger’s point of view -You know what, I was thinking about this the other day when watching Lovleg and reading Gunnhild’s notes. Gunnhild is so damn clever and funny. Humour and intelligence are very strongly connected, after all. But she’s also awkward and childish-looking and sometimes inappropriate, and that’s what people see! I’m not saying I’m like Gunnhild, because I’ll never be as ballsy as she (sometimes) is, and I’m pretty sure she’s smarter too :P But I’ve got humour, and I’m not completely dumb. BUT, I’m socially awkward and not very interested in clothes and make-up and things like that, and that’s what strangers see! The quiet one, with unflattering clothes, who occasionally makes lame jokes. So yeah… that. Haha. Thank good for internet friends.

Send me stationary themed asks!

[lovlegskada]

Note 25 February 19

reasons why I like you

you're the smartest person

you're not afraid of things

you speak up about your opinions

you look at me that way

I just feel like my heart is bigger

that it has room for everything because of you

thinking about you missing you. don't know what's right? what do I do? what's going on.

have puked too

three times

[lovlegskada]

Note 24 February 16

never had it like this

never felt like this

just those cm between us are the entire universe.

don't know what to do with myself!!

aaaaaaaa.

[lovlegskada]

Note 35 March 27

what am I doing in your room I am looking for something that I have lost what am I doing in my own room looking for that I haven’t yet received

[lovlegskada]

Note 26 February 22

think about it

think about it

think everything

that I feel tougher and softer merely by lying next to. the heart beats fast and one isn't afraid to die, only afraid it will slow down. that one kind of becomes friends with it again just then.

open, that's possible. why is it difficult? think about it.

S. I'm so lucky to have people who understand.

just one year ago I had nobody.

[lovlegskada]

Note 19 February 7

The title of the note is hjartespy, which means heart vomit

[lovlegskada]

Note 37 April 1

haven’t seen you since. were probably at home this weekend.now the hallways in school feel narrow again. just little tubes you have to go through with vacuum. and you’re somewhere around here, but this time I shall not avoid. enough crying. you say things I think you don’t mean it, but then you say it why? is it because it makes it easier. do you tell yourself that, or to make mew alk faster or maybe not that you don’t mean it/mean it, but kind of like a hypothesis. that you throw things out to see if they fit. looked so different. looked so small with that ball in your hands. like you held an entire planet. but anyway it was like you threw it on my stomach. no. does it matter anyway. okay I’ll show that I’m still me no matter what happens. I have enough on my mind actually. I won’t think about it. I’ll just be like “what? me? oh I just live moves on, like” I can be tough. I can say hi. rise above it. just have to keep the lump down.

a just seems like nothing happens while he’s packing. say like are you ok and he just “why shouldn’t I be ok?”

no I’ll fix it.

enough crying. I am a ninja.

[lovlegskada]

Note 33 March 13

friend