Finals week is here. Aka the week of tests that you think you studied enough for but in reality you just gotta wing these things and hope you pass (sorry mom, that's the reality of it!). And as I sit here in the library, partial procrastinating and partially studying, I start to think back on this semester. So much has happened. I won't go into detail on some stuff but what I can go into detail I will....
Our friend group has grown drastically. Not only in the sense of adding of people but friendship wise we have all grown. The beginning of the semester brought many trials that placed us in some uncomfortable positions at times. Thankfully though we have all grown and moved on from these. It was hard, it wasn't easy. But we got through it.
On the actual size growth of things I have one word. Norway. Seriously if you thought I was a little Norway crazy before, you should see me now ;) I am literally down at Magnus and Ynghild's apartment close to every day. They are probably sick of me by now x) They have introduced me to How I Met Your Mother and needless to say I am slightly addicted! I love those two to no end and I am so excited that I do get to spend one last week with them in So Cal before they head back home to Norway. All the other Norwegians- Simen, Kristen, Trude, Adrian, Pieter, Jon, Ylva,Anders and Oddbjørn- that I have met and hung out with have all been a blast. Seriously if you had to chose people to befriend from another country, make sure they are from Norway. They will be some of the funniest, most awesome people ever! They are very blunt though, so you have been warned! This brings me to another topic....
I am planning on studying abroad. Can you guess where? If you guessed Norway you are correct! i don't plan on going until 2014, but I do plan on it. Yes I am partially going there because of the new friends I have made, but also because they do have a marine program and have you seen picture of Norway??? If not go to Google right now and type in Bergen or Tromsø or Oslo. See those gorgeous pictures?? Yeah, not too shabby huh? Besides how many people can say they have been to Norway? Honestly it never struck me to go there, like ever, but now, I really REALLY want to go...
Also check out these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76d6JTLCc9g
If you didn't laugh... I am sorry... you need more Norwegians in your life then!
Yesterday I went hiking to find some lava. Now before you think I am crazy going to hike into a field of lava then well... No actually I am crazy. Here is the thing, when you see lava in the movies you see it gushing from a mountain or rolling down a hill. Spoiler alert- It is not like that in real life. I mean ya sure SOMETIMES you get to see it all pretty and flowy but majority of the time you don't. Most of the time it is subsurface flow aka in a lava tube. And guess what we were walking on... Ya ~1000C (~2000F) is still hot under a layer of rock. Anyways I didn't get to use my lava poking stick to poke the lava or pop the jiffypop but we did see a faint glow in a lava tube! Though I did get to eat a marshmellow cooked by the lava thanks to Simen! Was super fun though. Seriously you have not lived until you think you are about to fall through the ground into molten rock! Mind you this wasn't a paved trail out to the lava. Oh no, it was 5 miles as the crow flies of tromping and climbing over lava rock. Round trip was about 10hours of hiking (roughly 20km round trip). It was not for the faint of heart and 4L of water, couple scrapes, a blister and slight sun burn later I can say I have seen lava up close and personal! (Sorry Morgan for using not all the proper terms ;) )
Ok enough of the reminiscing part...
On to the advice!
I wish starting off in college someone would have told me about the friends I could make. Normally all I was told about the horrors of having a crappy roommate... Nothing about making and keeping genuine friends. Here is one thing I would recommend- make friends with people who are definitely from another country and are not from your state. Why? Well if you moved away from home to experience something new, nothing screams new like people from another country. If you are staying close to home, even better. You will get to experience a new way of life without having to leave the comforts of home!
But here is a warning- they are going to leave. If they are on exchange, they are going to leave. It's the hard truth I am facing right now. I really don't want to but I have no other choice. It is the reality. People come into our lives, and they leave. They choice you have is how hard are you going to work on keeping them a part of your life. If they are genuine friends, this will be easier. If not, well... Mind you I say easier, not easy. Nothing is easy when trying to keep up long distance friendships. Even trying to keep up with my friends back home has been a challenge. And honestly I only care to keep in touch with a few. Hey the rest of them, well if they haven't said anything to me in my whole 9 months away who cares? Most of them were from high school. Oh! Here is another tip- people from high school don't matter any more in college. Seriously. Those old fake friendships with people going nowhere. Forget about them. They aren't worth the trouble or ibuprofen spent on trying to relieve the headache you are going to give yourself. Sounds harsh I know. But most people who have been through this and those of you who will go through this will agree.
There is one piece of advice I cannot give but need to experience myself. And that is saying goodbye. My family knows I hate saying goodbye to places I fall in love with. I have yet to experience a genuine goodbye with people. (Sorry friends back home, but when I know I am going to see you in a couple months and when we are planning for you to come see me or since we live in the same city, state and country, me leaving after summer and Christmas don't count exactly).
When you fall in love with people and have to say goodbye, especially when they are from another country, that is tough. I don't know how I am going to handle it, but I am sure it is going to be a long plane ride home full of chocolate, tissues and sappy music/movie. I hate saying goodbye to place I love. I can't imagine saying it to people.
Ok I think I got most my thoughts out for the evening, now on to actual studying for finals week!
Oh here is some more Norway/ Swedish fun :)
This song rocks... especially when all the Norwegians start singing it ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Cn8Gfiz90
And for lessons on how to dance at a rave in Swedish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrctMvIWpG0
