projectblognorway

[projectblognorway]

This. Stuff. Right. Here. It's probably my favorite Norwegian food. It's like a holiday cookie that's really sweet. It's delicious. Try it.

[projectblognorway]

Getting some stories up

It took me a while to get all my pictures from my phone and camera onto my laptop (sorry!). I'm trying to post some with the stories I've connected to them- again, might take a while. I've been back in the States for about 2 weeks now. Norway seems like so long ago! I came right back to some New England snow, but its not nearly as much as Norway. I definitely will not be jumping off any roofs here. Sometimes I still think about Norway and just kind of grin. It was the best trip I've ever been on by far. Everyone was so welcoming, and I get that not everyone finds a foreign country as homey as I did. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to the Norwegians for this. Tromsø is a third home to me- I've got Seattle, school, and now a Norwegian city on that list ❤

[projectblognorway]

I never got a picture of jumping off of the house, so here's real life proof that we jumped off the house into snow. It's from before I got there, but believe me. I jumped. It took some convincing (if you count pushing me off as convincing), but I did it! It was crazy. I didn't think that doing things like that should even be possible, and I stood on the roof and watched Henrik and Harald jump off before I'd even get close to the edge. It was rough. (I'm a giant baby.) Eventually Henrik just pushed me off, and after that it was like any fear is had before was just.... Gone. It's like jumping into a pool in the summer, just colder. And harder. The snow was surprisingly hard. Ow.

[projectblognorway]

This stone filled with small holes is caled a ‘Skålgrube’

it is from the Bronze Age, Sweden

Skålgrube - ‘cup marks’ - are special kind of rock carvings. They have been found throughout Scandinavia, and was in older times in Sweden called ‘älvkvarnar’ - small elf grinding mills. It points toward the former has been used in a ritual context which has sacrificed food (maybe butter) in these pits for elves. It is uncertain how old this practice is and how long it has been in use

[projectblognorway]

Goodbye, Norway ❤

[projectblognorway]

Burying myself in Norway

It's already my last night! I stayed off tumblr to really experience my last week here. Right now, it's like 3 am and I'm sitting in the living room with Henrik. Some weird drama is playing real low on the TV, I'm wrapped up in a Norwegian flag blanket eating the last krumake and playing Kaizers Orchestra. If I could be typing in Norwegian, I would be. It's been an unreal month, and it's killing me to leave. I mean, I'm going back to school for winter term which is super fun but n o r w a y. There are no words to describe how easily Norway became like home. The Joakimsens were nothing but warm and loving and frankly, like family. This included a lot of teasing but I'm a dumb American so I guess that was to be expected. Henriks friends were amazing and funny and so, so welcoming. I'm so grateful to everyone here. It wouldn't have been the experience it was without them with me every step of the way. Even though you'll probably never see this blog, I've gotta say it- I love you guys so much!!! ❤❤❤ I'll miss everything about Norway- the people, the weather, the bread, the chocolate (oh my god the chocolate!!!) but mostly I'll miss my Norwegians. I'm so amazing lucky to have been able to reunite after 2 years. Seems like a dream, or a fairy tale. Anitra, Ragnar, Harald- you guys are indescribable. I think the tiredness is making me sappy. There may or may not be some tears (just a little bit). Time to peace out. Next time I check in, I'll probably be back at school, maybe the airport 😔 I'll treasure this forever. Deuces, Norway ✌

[projectblognorway]

It’s not everyday that you find yourself so near the arctic circle. So Genevieve and I took advantage of our northernly latitude, and traveled to Tromsø in search of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

Tromsø is Norway’s most populous northern city, and lies within the arctic...

[projectblognorway]

Ankunft in Tromsø, Hauptstadt der Arktis.

[projectblognorway]

[projectblognorway]

[projectblognorway]

1 week left :(((((

[projectblognorway]

[projectblognorway]

[x]

A fine representation of Norway.

[projectblognorway]

JAMMIN

Right now I'm being a giant nerd and blasting Norwegian music really really loudly while Henrik makes food lol. Most of it is Kaiser's Orchestra, this really cool Norwegian band. Henrik showed it to us when he was in the States, and Haley's been obsessed ever since. I'd never tell her, but sometimes I get in the mood to listen to them on repeat. It's just cool to listen to the words sometimes. It's relaxing because you can't understand the lyrics so you just listen. Your brain isn't actively trying to memorize the chorus, even though by now I know some parts of a couple songs. A lot of Norwegian culture has kind of absorbed American music and movies and such, so when I'm here I've found it really fun to see and hear things distinctly Norwegian. Last night we watched a movie that translates into "Trollhunter" or something like that. I had to read the subtitles, but it was pretty good. A bunch of Henriks friends were over so sometimes they'd translate so I could actually watch. They made fun of me a fair deal but I figure that's fair because I'm horrendous at Norwegian. I can't even get through the extra letters at the end of the alphabet without someone laughing! There's one letter that's supposed make like an "eugh" sound but I can't do it and I've been told multiple times I sound like a cow. Well. Wowowowow I'm sitting in the kitchen corner charging my phone while Henrik makes food and it smells so good I think it's time to get off my phone and pester him for scraps. Deuces ✌

[projectblognorway]

Kaizers Orchestra - Hjerteknuser

[projectblognorway]

First things first - Wardruna. This band is phenomenal, and gives you a real sense of Heathen spirit. It makes you feel like you have been transported to the old days. This song is Heimta Thurs. If you watch Vikings on the History Channel, this will sound familiar. This plays in Season 2 during (SPOILER) the blood eagle rite.

[projectblognorway]

Scandinavian settlement and Viking activity

Though the word ‘viking’ appears in Old Norse sources, it is mainly used to describe an activity. Men and women went ‘on a viking’ – a commercial trip or raid. People seem to have referred to themselves as a Viking only when involved in this activity. This map shows the wide extent of Viking activity and Scandinavian settlement across Europe and the North Atlantic from the 8th to the 11th century.

Image: The Swedish History Museum.