I’ve Arrived! Pt. 2

——– continued from pervious post ——-

I then took the train and then walked about 2 blocks to Blindern, which is like the main campus of University of Oslo, to pick up my key. Keep in mind I had both my bags with me weighing almost 50lbs each and it was super hot out. Oslo is definitely not flat like North Dakota! I was literally dragging my bags up the sidewalk up a hill at turtle pace because they were so heavy and I was exhausted from the travel. I got my key and went back down this hill to the train to go to Sogn, which is the area my dorm is. There was a couple people I met at Blindern getting our key who are at Sogn as well, so we all struggled with our luggage together.

When I picked up my key, the guy had asked if I wanted to be on a high floor or lower floor or if I had any preferences and I couldn’t think of any at the moment. So he gave me my keys and said it was on the 7th floor but like it’s not really 7 complete flights of stairs. I didn’t think anything of it until I got to my building…There are no ELEVATORS!! So here I again struggle with my bags. I was literally dripping in sweat when I was done carry my bags one at a time. I then realized why he asked if I had a preference and said the 7th wasn’t as bad as it sounds. 😉

When I got to my room, non of the other “roommates or flatmates” were there so I just started unpacking my stuff a bit. (I still have all my clothes in my suitcases, I just haven’t felt like finding places for them. lol eventually it will happen) The buildings are set up so that there are 5 rooms on each floor and we share the like hallway, kitchen and bathroom. So far I only have one roommate who’s from Germany named Finn. The others have not arrived.

After a while, my roommate and his friend from Germany, I can’t remember his name, went to Ikea, the cheapest places to buy like the basic things for the rooms. There’s a free bus that runs from the Oslo Central Station to Ikea so we road the T-Bane, what they call the subway/train, to the Central Station and got on the bus, which was packed with students. I got a pillow, a blanket, a mirror, a lamp, and a couple other random things. I was so tired by the end of it that I literally was bobbing my head on the bus pack about to fall asleep.  This was like going on hour 36 with out sleep. So I got back to my room and unpacked my stuff and then realized I hadn’t ate so I walked to the grocery store at Sogn. It’s just down the block not far. I bought a frozen pizza to eat. I went to turn on the stove and realized I like had no idea how to use a European stove. I somehow figured it out, not sure if it was the correct way, but it ended up cooking. I had a couple pieces, then Skyped with my aunt, mom, and brother and then went to bed. I slept in the next day until almost 1:00pm in the afternoon.

I will end this post here, even though I have much more to write about. (:

I’ve Arrived!

I arrived at the Minneapolis airport around 10:30am thinking security would take a while and they suggest that for international flights you arrive 3 hours early. My aunt, mom, and brother dropped me off. I said goodbye to them though I had a few tears when my mom started crying. Having lived at home for all previous 19 years of my life this experience was something completely new to her and everyone. I checked both of my unfortunately heavy luggage bags. One was 49lbs, just a pound under the limit. Thank goodness, but at the end of the day I wished I hadn’t had them that heavy. -more on that later-. I went through security without a hitch and there was no line at all! So much for arriving 3 hours early. I went and to exchange $200USD to get  Norwegian Kroner. That’s about $1200 Kroner. And it does not go far at all. My flight from Minneapolis to Detroit was no problem though I was in the middle seat, which always sucks. The older lady behind my was from Grand Forks and we talked for a bit. She noticed my “Sioux” sweatshirt I had on and asked if I was a Sioux fan. I told her well yes and I’m from Grand Forks. She wasn’t on her way to Norway, but she said she was there last summer visiting some relatives and it was absolutely beautiful. I arrived in Detroit with about 40 mins to spare before boarding to Paris. The first ever international flight was to Paris and it was so long. I had an isle seat, much better than the middle, but it was still uncomfortable for that long of time. I read a whole Sarah Dessen book, watched part of a movie, listened to music and attempted to sleep. I probably slept for 2 hours and that was not solid sleep by any means. I arrived in Paris at 7:00am (which was 1:00am MN/ND time) So it basically was a new day starting when I should have been going to bed. I had an hour or so in the Paris airport and I bought a lemonade, French candy and French magazine which I still haven’t read yet…but I will. My flight from Paris to Oslo, I was exhausted. I attempted to sleep the whole 2 hour flight. I got to Oslo Gardermoen airport at noon local time. I found my luggage right away. I hopped on the train to the Oslo Central Station. My bags were so heavy that this Norwegian guy had to help me lift my luggage onto this train… I arrived at the Central train station and met the people from BI.

——–  This post is already long but, I will finish it later  ——–

*I need to work on summarizing everything better*  (:

48 Hours – Introduction

I’ve never written a blog before so please bear with me with the first few blog posts. (:

I leave in a little less than 48 hours and today is my last day in Grand Forks until December. Tomorrow we’re driving to Minneapolis to stay at my aunt and uncle’s house and my flight leaves Thursday afternoon from Minneapolis.  I can’t believe it’s almost time to hop aboard the plane and start this adventure. I am honestly not really nervous at all… I’ve almost been finding it weird that I have no nerves as I am about to leave the town I’ve called home for these past 19 years and live in a country I’ve never been to before, where I know no one. I have come to the conclusion that it really means I am ready to do this.

I’ve spent the past week or so organizing and getting things ready to pack. Finally last night after about 4 or 5 times of repacking and organizing my suitcases I got almost all of my stuff together. I hate packing all together – whether it’s just for overnight or a week long vacation I hate it. So packing for 5 months was a challenge. I am someone who almost always over packs and I need to have a lot of choices when it comes to what clothes I am going to wear. Before I started packing I looked at lists online of what other people suggests bringing for studying abroad. I can tell you a lot of them said like only a few pairs of jeans, a pair of dress pants, and like shirts to last about a week. I can tell you that for sure there is no way I could live with that few of clothes. (; I really just suggest pack what you are comfortable with and what you think you will be able to manage carry/wheel throughout the airport and when you arrive if you have to take public transit to get to your dorm or host family’s house. I’m checking two suitcases and carrying on a backpack.

The only packing I have left to do is organize what I am going to take with me on the plane in my carrying on. So far I have my laptop, headphones, ipod, camera, 2 books, a set of clothes, and all my paperwork.

If you want to learn a little bit more about me take a look at my about me page titled ‘behind My Oslo Experience’. (link is on the top menu bar)

I can’t wait to take you on my journey and share  stories, pictures and videos with you throughout my entire study abroad.