Moved to Boogie!!! The most beautiful place in the world.

Baugetveitvegen "Boogie"

I have moved more times than I can count.  Each new place has brought it's own adventure.  I was taking a trip down memory lane the other day, thinking about the places I lived over the last 10 years.  Out of all of them, all over the world, with all kinds of crazy people, this one is the BEST!

2003. 834 19th street
My house in Boulder, Colorado where I lived through college with my best girlfriends.  Only a lot of studying and no craziness in that house (because CU is well known for being a study school).

2005. The MV Explorer
I lived on board a cruise ship that was converted to a University and sailed around the world...then got hit by a 60ft rouge wave and nearly capsized the ship.  My room was a tiny box, but it didn't matter when a brand new country to explore was right outside the the front door.

2006. Bangkok, Thailand
I had the cutest little studio apartment.  But, it would get so hot and air conditioning was expensive, so I had 3 fans and would regularly wake up and sit half asleep in the dark for 10 minutes with the AC on, just to cool off a little.

2007. Uptown Denver roommates
I found the cutest house in Denver but with two quirky roommates I found on craigslist.  They loved hoola hooping in the front yard, burning man and burned incense constantly.  Loved the house, and also loved moving out!

2008. My own uptown apartment
The first time and only time I ever lived alone! I loved my little one bedroom.  Everything was perfect, except for the neighbor in the apartment building next to mine.  Randomly in the middle of the night, he would go outside and yell profanities over and over and over again, while picking up gravel and throwing it at his building.  I called the cops a few times, until they gave me the non emergency number and said I should try them.  Great.

2009. Sarajevo, Bosnia
Very interesting.  I was terrified every time I took the elevator because I could see the rope through the cracks and was pretty sure it was weakening each time the elevator was used. We had a couch in our kitchen and mortar shell scars covering the outside of our building!

2010. Wash Park roommates
I took the risk again and found a place on craigslist.  2 girls and a brown lab.  One of the best risks every because they are still great friends of mine.  Lots of great times in that house!!

2012. Edvardsens gate, Bergen, Norway
The majority of my family has lived in this apartment at some point.  It feels like a right of passage.  And living with 3 boy cousins was always an adventure.

2013. BAUGETVEITVEGEN!!!
I am now sleeping in the house my grandparents lived in.  My father was born and raised here with his 4 sisters, brother and mom and dad.  My Grandma still lives at the farm in a cute apartment right next door.  The house sits at the base of a mountain and is surrounded by beauty everywhere.  The house is old and full of character.  I love every squeak and crack.  At night you can hear the house talking to you. There is no true way to describe how it feels to be in a place with so much family history.

There is only one good way to describe the move here...and that is through pictures.

My little kitchen bed where I stayed between moves. Not sad to say farewell to this.

My stuff

My cousin's stuff

Just a "quick" trip to IKEA

The house

Another picture of the beautiful house

The barn entrance

If I'm going to be a farmer, I have to have a tractor

Inside the barn. It needs a little work...and this is only 1 of 3 levels!

My BIG, beautiful kitchen that overlooks the mountainside!! 

I'm ready for some cookin'

The old wooden staircase

My farm bedroom

Cozy living room/dining room

I am in love with it here.  I just want to hang out at home and organize, decorate and farm.  I know there is already so much love in this house, and SO much history.  I can't even imagine how much the next few years will bring!!  I can't wait for the family get togethers, farm life and new adventures!!

I'm moving (again)!

People who know me well might read the title of this post and think "oh, where are you moving to now, Liz?"  7 years ago it was Thailand, 4 years ago it was Bosnia, one year ago it was Norway.  Well, this time I won't be relocating to a new, far away country.  It is an easy and close move, but by far one of the biggest ones I have ever made.

I am moving to Baugetveit.  My family's farm in Bergen, about 5 minutes from the Åsane shopping center (15 minutes from where I live now).  My dad grew up there with his brother and 4 sisters and my Grandma has been living there for over 60 years.  It is a beautiful farm and the best place I can imagine waking up to every morning.

Here is Baugetveit.  The barn and house.

You may be asking why it is such a big deal? First of all, I will be living in Norway.  Meaning, I am making a commitment to live here for more than just 6 months at a time.

Second, I am going to start farming.  Yes, Farmer Liz.  I will still be working as a teacher at the school but will take on farming as an additional "job".  With some help from my cousins, we are going to get the farm up and running again, pigs and all!  We will be planting lots of berries and vegetables this spring and will have a few baby farm animals!

I have a very, very big family and my hope is that everyone will be involved.  There is a lot of room at the house and an open invitation for family to come stay (or pick berries) any time they'd like!! It is in fact the family farm, so what better place to get the family together!!  

Life these days: From "Long Term Visitor" to "Resident" in Bergen

It's already October.  Not including the 8 weeks I spent in Colorado this summer, I have been living in Bergen for 9 months now.  It feels like it's flown by.

I took two big steps toward becoming a "resident" in Bergen verses a "long term visitor" in Bergen.  First, I signed up at the gym for 12 months.  Second, I signed a 12 month contract for a Norwegian phone service.  Finally, I can go for a run or go spinning and not get drenched in rain.  I can say goodbye to the old Blackberry and phone cards!!  And other than the phone and gym, I've also started working and living like a Norwegian.

One of the biggest struggles I've had since moving here has been employment.  I've been working as a substitute teacher at the International School of Bergen.  It has been inconsistent and challenging.  I am never guaranteed work, which means some weeks I work very little or even nothing.  Some days I'd work in the Kindergarten, other days i'd be teaching Norwegian or French to 9th graders.  Some months good, others bad.  Recently, things with the school have changed for the better (for me).

One of the teachers at school is sick and is now only working 20%, meaning she needs coverage for 80% of her work...as the ESL teacher and Coordinator for the lower school.  That's me!! So, I finally have a consistent job.  At least for the next month or so.  And, I love it.  I finished my first week of work (well, 33 hours of work) and came home on Friday with a smile on my face.  The last time I worked a full week of work, I was at the adoption agency in Denver and was used to being so stressed that I couldn't see straight.  It was amazing to come home after working all week and think about the weekend and fun things, rather than continuing to think about work and work, and more work.

I've mentioned before that people in Norway work to live, they don't live to work.  So, what about my life in Norway?  Well, it has been great!  I am finally at the point now where I feel like I know Bergen.  You know you know a place when you have options.  Instead of needing to go to the grocery store, I think, "which store should I go to".  I know the one that sells Siracha, the one with the cheap chicken, and the one that doesn't charge for bags.  If I need to get home, I consider which route I should take? Bus, bybane, walk?? Give directions to someone...ok, that one is still a little tricky but I'll give it a shot:)

One thing I do not do but really need to is speak Norwegian.  You know, the language they speak here yet I have still not perfected (not even close)!  I decided not to take the Norwegian course this September because it was so expensive so I am not even being forced to practice.  I am still figuring out a way to make it happen, but I have lost motivation.  My cousin's speak English so well, I teach English...so it's just easier to speak it!  I try to speak Norwegian to the cashiers at the grocery store and bus drivers and such, but they catch on and answer me in English.  I will learn, but it will take longer than it did my amazing sister (fluent after a year)!!

What comes next?  I'm planning to stay in Norway for Christmas so I can plan a trip to visit Colorado in January to meet my new niece!!  I'll be there for about 3 weeks, then back to Bergen.  I can't say I have any set plans for when I return in January, but who knows what will happen!!

And I don't have any pictures of anything very exciting, but do have some that I took with my new phone camera apps that I'll share...just to keep this post colorful:)

What to wear in Norway?

"There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing", says the Norwegian.

I checked the weather today and as usual, RAIN. 23mm of it before 12!  With a warning for Hordaland (Bergen): fra i kveld og først på tirsdag lokalt bye nedbør. Translation, from tonight to early Thursday heavy rainfall.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind the rain. I just don't like being cold and wet.

Only grey rain clouds to be seen on the forecast.  No surprise there.
 

So, I begin my task of getting dressed for the day.  What do you wear in Norway, where there is an average of 88cm and 275 days of rain each year (Seattle is at about 36cm and 158 days per year)??  Well, what would you wear if you had to get in the shower and stay dry and warm?  You may laugh, but really, it sometimes feels like the same thing.

There are some "regularly" warn items here in Norway that I would have laughed at a few months ago.  Today, I wish I had one. Oh, wait, I think I do!!

The "Norwegian Jumpsuit that has been dubbed the adult babygro".  Ok, people don't wear this out normally, but I have seen it at least twice (in public).  I won't lie, if I had one of these, I might even wear it.  It looks cozy.  

Look closely, and it's warm outside???

Since, I don't walk around sporting this fabulous one piece, I try and find an alternative.  I look at it as a two part equation, the under layer and the outer layer.  The under layer simply consists of what I would wear out on a chilly day anywhere.  I have learned that the outer layer jacket and shoes are the most important. 

My rubber rain boots have become the most useful pair of shoes I own.  Sometimes walking to the bus stop (downhill) in the rain can be like walking through a shallow stream.  Only rubber boots will keep your feet from getting wet.  And of course, I bring my other slip on shoes with me to school so I don't have to walk around in boots all day.

A waterproof jacket with a hood is the best. An important thing to remember is that Rain in Norway doesn't always come from above.  Rain pants are also very important, especially on the days I have to stand outside with the kids and the rain is coming at you sideways.  

An umbrella.  I love my umbrella.  Unfortunately, I can't always count on it to work.  Another important reason to have your rain jacket with a hood!  It can get windy and there is nothing worse than a bent backwards umbrella.  Bergen is sometimes called the "umbrella graveyard" after all of the broken and sad umbrellas people leave on the streets.  Poor, sad umbrellas. 

I'd like to think that my pretty, flowered umbrella will brighten any day, but as you can see...still gloomy. 

Another umbrella having seen the end of its days.

  

My last, very important item is a big bag.  I prefer a big purse that I can fit my book, extra shoes, socks, lunch and my wallet inside.  As long as it can squish comfortably on a crowded bus and fits all of my stuff, it works for me!!

If you're going running outside, just expect to get wet.  Run harder and the chill might feel good.  And if you're going out to the pub, just disregard all of the above.  Rain, sleet, hail, snow.  It's all the same.  Wear a dress, leggings and heels of course.  Because it's not cold or difficult to walk downhill on cobblestone streets in that!!   

Stages

Over the last 8 years, I've left "home" and moved abroad a number of times.  Once to move on board a ship which sailed around the world (Semester at Sea, everyone should do this if they can), the second time to teach English in Bangkok,Thailand, the third time for an internship in Sarajevo, Bosnia and most recently, to Bergen, Norway.  After leaving and returning so many times, I have learned that there are stages an average person experiences when moving to a new country. Never anticipated, some good, and some bad.

Stage 1: Best place on earth!!!

There has always been a feeling of euphoria when arriving in a new country.  Everything is new, fun, exciting and perfect.  The food is great, the people are interesting and there is always something fun to see.

Stage 2: SHOCK!

There is one moment.  It always occurs when you are not expecting it and shocks the hell out of you, reminding you that you are somewhere new, experiencing something totally unknown to you.  On Semester at Sea, it was when our ship was rocked by a 60 foot wave and we were stuck in life vests, ready to experience a real life Titanic.  In Thailand, I enjoyed a meal for 3 nights in a row and it wasn't until the 3rd night that I learned I was eating a stir fry consisting of intestines, stomach, liver, and clotted blood.  Yep. I was in Thailand.  In Bosnia, I visited a war museum and noticed pictures of my work place and neighborhood on display...destroyed by mortars and gun shots.  During this trip, it was my receipt from my normal trip to the grocery store.  Check this out and if you live in the US, you may be shocked too!

Olive Oil: $7
Flatbread: $4
Nectarines: $5
Chicken: $20
Eggs: $9
Milk: $3
Cheese: $8
Ham: $5
Veggies: $10
Total: About $90!!

This is what $90 in groceries looks like

Stage 3: Is that you??

I might be in a country on the opposite side of the earth from my friends and family.  But I swear that a few times a week, I see a close friend walking down the street, sitting on the bus or driving in a car next to me.  It is shocking how many doppelgängers are out there!!

Stage 4: Cravings

You can get just about anything, anywhere.  Subways, 7/11, McDonalds and Starbucks are worldwide...just about.  Grocery stores are stocked with the regular items for the most part.  Dove soap and crest toothpaste are seen almost everywhere and believe it or not, oreos too. But, no matter what or where you live and which store you shop at, there are always things you crave.  And I don't limit this list to food...

What I'm currently craving:
Iced coffee
Happy hours
Flat running trails
Ground turkey
Spicy food
Pedicures
Yogurt Guru!
DVR

Stage 5: In the US, we...

There is a stage at which a person begins nearly all sentences with "In the US, we....".  In the US, we have drive thru banks.  In the US, we have liquor stores open past 5, In the US, we eat out almost every night for dinner.  In the US, people do this and that etc, etc, etc...

I think this is a normal part of the adjustment process.  Comparing new things to the things you are used to.  Your "norm". What I've learned to be important is understanding that just because it's your "norm", doesn't mean it's better.  I think this is where a lot of people go wrong.

Stage 6: Homesick

It would be abnormal not to get homesick.  Family, friends, food, habits are all normal comforts of what you are used to.  What I have learned in this phase is that you must embrace it, be homesick and maybe even cry.  But then get over it.  It will be there when you go back to visit.  You can Skype.  People can send packages.  You will survive.

Stage 7: Not homesick

After the initial homesick phase, things start to settle.  You realize that you can live without those old comforts.  You find new comforts.  You find a way to communicate with those who are far, far away and you learn how to love where you are, not thinking about how it compares and what you are missing from that other place you come from.

Stage 8: Home

When the new place starts to feel like the old place, that's when you know.  I start explaining to my friends from afar that "In Norway, we only really need online banking" and "In Norway, the vinmonopolet is open until 5", "In Norway, we eat dinner at home together every night".  

I think there are people who move abroad and never feel like they're at home.  That makes me sad because this is truly the best part of being in a new place.  Knowing the unknown, embracing a new culture as a part of your own, loving what you never knew you would love.  

One month in Bergen: The view from my window

Yesterday was one month in Bergen. And it has been an amazing month. It feels so right that it's like I've been here forever, but it also feels like yesterday that I just got off the plane.

The one thing everyone in Bergen has in common is the weather. It is a topic that comes up in conversation daily. Yes, the weather is difficult, but I don't mind it. I've seen many pretty views of ugly weather from my apartment window.


Week 1: My first morning and first view from the window. Muggy, but what a beautiful view!!



Sun and blue skies!!



A cold, rainy day



Snow day!

Each day brings new things. At one month, I am now taking Norwegian classes, have a job (kinda), I'm searching for a new job and having a great time!!

I started at level two in Norwegian and it is still a review from what I learned years ago. It's a challenge, but I'm loving it.

I am a substitute teacher at the International School of Bergen. I've been with them for one week, but I haven't been called in yet. I am hoping next week will be the week, but not on Monday.

Monday I have a meeting with a very important man who may be able to help me find a job working at a foster care home for children, many of them immigrant children. I am crossing my fingers and toes that something will come of it. Help me out if you can!!

Things I miss at one month:
1. My family and friends. I am so happy for Skype!!
2. Loads of big, fluffy, white snow, with snow days, snowmen and shoveling.
3. Shopping for clothes.

Things I don't miss at one month:
1. Denver water
2. Driving in the snow
3. Stress
4. The view from my Denver window