Julestemning :)

Jul!
Jeg var veldig spent til jul, norsk mat, tradisjon, og feiring. Julen var kjempe flott, alle sammen rundt bordet, og juletreet. Vi spiste mye MYE deilig mat, sang sanger, åpnet gaver, og ga MANGE klemmer etterpå! Norsk Jul har mye tradisjoner, og jeg var så glad for å oppleve dette, jeg har ikke savnet de hjemme veldig mye denne julen... Jeg savner familien min i Seattle, men jeg elsker Norge veldig mye og jeg tenker på dette som hjemme allrede. Familien min her, er så snille! og det har vært veldig koselig denne julen med alle norske søsken her, og mye annen familie. Vi har vært på mange mange mange mange MANGE juleselskaper, og det er kjempe artig! Jeg skal aldri glemme norsk jul, fordi det er så koselig og det har veldig rike og morsomme tradisjoner.

I dag er nyttåraften, i kveld skal jeg og familien min dra til onkel, tante og søskenbarn og ha middag der. Etter på, vil det være mye fester og fyrverkeri. Det skal bli en kjempe artig kveld!

Det er litt rart å tenke på at jeg skal være i 2011, når familien min I Seattle skal forsatt være i 2010... haha bare litt rart synes...

God jul alle sammen! og ha et kjempe hyggelig nyttår!


English:

I was very excited for Christmas, the Norwegian food, the tradition, and celebrating. Christmas was amazing, everyone around the table and Christmas tree, we ate delicious food, sang songs, opened presents, and gave many hugs afterward. Norwegian Christmas has much tradition involved, and I was so excited for it, that I did not miss home that much during it. I miss my family back in Seattle, but I love Norway so much and I already think of it as a second home. My family here is so nice, and it has been so nice to have all my Norwegian siblings here, and other family all celebrating together. We have been to MANY Christmas parties and they were all so fun! I will never forget Norwegian Christmas, because it was so nice, and they have such rich and fun traditions.

Today is New Years eve, tonight my family and I are going to our uncle and aunts and cousins house for dinner :) After dinner there are many parties and fireworks. I think it will be alot of fun!

It is a little bit weird, thinking that I will be in a different year then my friends and family back home for 9 hours... just a little weird i think...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas is FAST approaching!

It has been awhile my dear ones! So..... Basically, the year is going at a pace I cannot keep up with, and to be honest it is rather scary! I am having such a rich and wonderful experience that it is hard to slow down at moments to catch a breath. I have been very busy with multiple activities, socializing with friends, learning norwegian, and trying my hardest in school and playing two sports. It is alot, but if you know me, I like to keep moving and don't really like having to much sit down time (or else i get antsy and start squirming).

Ah! Ok so, if you know... I love Ultimate Frisbee, and it has really been hard to separate my self from it this year. But in fact I do not have to do that! I have managed to find a group a kids (who already happened to be good friends) and got them excited and into the sport. At the moment they are all working on their throwing and catching abilities, but every single one of them are incredibly talented and are learning the throws extremely quickly! We are also in the process of finding a hall to rent out, because it is too cold to play out side... It has been so exciting for me to get to share my love of the game with people I really like spending time with. SO HURRAY!! :D

An update on the language. The progress is really starting to pick up, just in the past week I feel that I have really grasped ahold of alot more. I am pretty sure, and I think my norwegian Fam will agree with me on this, but it is because I am stepping up and getting past my fear and embarrassment of trying to speak it rather then just listening and thinking that I will learn it that way. I speak primarily in norwegian on Facebook now, with a few exceptions here and there. My norwegian friends and to die for! They are soooooooo supportive of me learning the language, and they work me through the challenging steps, speak only to me in norwegian and give me helpful feedback when I make a mistake. They are also always complimenting me, which is of course always nice. I have been sitting down with sisters Sunniva and Stine quite often in the evenings, and we have been working one on one or two on one with learning sentences and words I do not know. They give me a sentence in English and I have to repeat it in norwegian, and then they correct whatever it is that needs correcting. Sunniva has also started a list of words I need work on (one mistake and another word is up there!) It is getting long Sunniva :( haha, but no all of it has been extremely helpful! Thanks Ya'll!!

Christmas is fast approaching, and I am starting to get really excited for all the things that surround Christmas here! Family all around, suiting up, going to Christmas parties, and most of all the delicious food!! :D

Well I need to leave you now, I am headed out in the cold for a fun filled adventurous day! :D Hope you all are having fun, enjoying life and are keepin' it real! Love to all! I am putting some pictures up, the last three are from my extremely powerful experience with spreading Stan's ashes, and two are of the beautiful sky here.

P.S. I will be writing my blog in both norwegian and English from now on. (attempting to write in norwegian) :D

The joy continues

So, where to start? Let me begin with saying how appreciative I am of my wonderful Norwegian family and friends. I honestly feel more at home then I ever thought possible. I feel that I have really grasped ahold of some amazing friends, and become very close with my Norwegian family. I can't tell you enough how incredible people here are, they have welcomed me into their groups, invited me to social events and some even say they love me ;) I feel that I have already made lifetime friends that I plan on visiting and hopefully having them visit me. I have only been here a little over 2 months and I feel that I have been here forever. I don't think that this would be possible if it wasn't for the warmth that the people around me give. So you Norwegians reading this now TUSEN TAKK! Dere er alle fantastisk og jeg elsker dere! <3 Dats wazzzzup! ;)

The long awaited blog post!

Sorry to you all that it has been so long since my last update, I hope you all can understand that me not writing is also a good thing, because you can know I am occupied with enjoying every moment of my life here. I feel that now is a good time to write because I just finished my first one week break on Sunday, which I spent doing many things. At the beginning of the holiday, I went with my family to their house in Bjorli, where we went on a beautiful walk, went bowling, swimming and enjoyed the extreme luxury of their exquisite house. Bjorli is a beautiful place, with so much to do. From the front door, I can see the ski slopes where we will ski, of course we have to wait for the snow :( I hope it comes soon! The rest of the week I spent hanging out with friends, seeing movies, have dinners, relaxing and of course much sleeping! It was really hard to adjust back into the normal school mode, in fact I woke up 20 minutes before school started yesterday because I slept threw my alarm clock. I had to rush to school, luckily I live so close! (I made it on time) My parents have decided that there will be no internet after 11 o'clock, I think this will be very good for me, and it will help me get good needed rest for school. They are really fantastic parents, and I trust their method of parenting entirely. After all they have raised 4 amazing children whom I love dearly!

I came here with two tasks that I needed to accomplish, and in fact one of them I have already managed to fulfill, that is eating with a knife and fork. I thought it would be impossible, but it just happened, now I do it without thinking about it. The second thing is the language, I have been really frustrated lately that I havn't been able to understand the conversations around me. The people here all speak close to perfect english, so it is no trouble having a conversation with them, but its not being able to join in one that they are all having together. So yesterday I told my family and many of my friends that I only want them to speak Norwegian to me, and if i don't understand then I want them to repeat it again slower, so that I can find the words I do know and try and form the sentence. I feel that it is very important to learn Norwegian as fast as possible now, because as the year goes on, everyone will expect me to know the language, especially in school. This leads me to my next topic, school.

School has really begun to feel natural here, the teachers know who I am, they expect me to do most of the things that all the other students do, and I have already taken a few tests, which were extremely difficult. I am trying my hardest in school and hopefully I will know Norwegian soon, so that I can really apply myself to the academics. I always knew I was mean't to be at a big school, with many kids. I love seeing lots of new and old faces everyday in the halls, I love saying hi to all the people I have either met once, or the ones I consider friends. You all probably know how loud and social I am, so its nice to get to be like all the time. I have to admit I really miss Waldorf and all my Waldork friends and teachers! They are my home, and always will be. I hope they are all doing well, and I bet its quiet and peaceful without me there ;) Just be prepared for when I return, senior year is going to be CRAZY!!! :D Ok back to Norway, Norway is Fantastic, THE END!

I hope all is well with everyone, I miss your faces, your laughs, your hugs and kisses! I will try and keep up to date with my blog but please forgive me if I can't find the time. Just know that I am doing well, and that I have been and will continue enjoying my life here!!

Much love to you all, Noah!

FRIENDS!

My social life in Norway has been fantastic. The people here are all wonderful, infact I am currently sitting here at my dear friend Ellen's house with her and another amazing friend Ida :) We are watching TV, talking, looking at pictures,and eating candy all while Ellen is chewing on a plastic snake (shes weird... :p). Everyday here is awesome, I havn't had a chance to feel homesick, or lonely in a long time, which I think is a farely good thing... don't you agree? ;)

I must admit I am a tad bit scared about how fast time is flying by, I have already been here for 10% of my year and the days go by faster then I can keep up with. I know this is a good sign, it means I am having a great time and enjoying my life here but it is sad to think I only have 9 months left... It sounds like alot, but if i think about how fast 1 month went by, then 9 will go by in the blink of an eye.

I am so greatful to be making such great friendships that will hopefully last a life time, and I am so excited to see lies ahead for me on this incredible journey.

Much love to all, Keep it real.

Noah

Letting my emotions flow.

I woke up this morning to a knock at my bedroom door, It was my host mother (Astird) she informed me that my mom was trying to reach me, but wasn't able to because I was asleep. Immediately I felt my stomach drop because I knew what It was going to be about. When I got on Skype my family and extended family and even my sister (who is living in Scotland) was on Skype there, we were all gathered around at my grandparents home. I was expecting to hear that my Grandfather had passed away, and that they wanted to make sure I knew. But he hadn't, he was right there along with everyone else, he was able to share with me how proud he was, how proud he was of me for taking this step in my life, by going to a foreign country and spending a year away from home. I told him how happy I was that I made this decision as well. His words have always meant so much to me, and they stay implanted in my heart and always will, so when he told me how proud he was it meant the world!

My uncle took the computer in the other room and shared with me the reason for the urgent call. He told me that my grandpa didn't have much time left maybe a few days, and the tears began to roll down my face. I talked with my dad after this and he told me a little more about the whole situation, he said that grandpa might not be here in the morning. I broke down crying, I told my dad to take me into my grandparents room where my grandpa was so that I could see him, he was in the middle of his nightly ritual just like any other night. I watched him get situated in bed, and then all the family came into the room, at that moment we all witnessed this incredible man pass away in peace. My grandma was holding his hand with her head on his chest crying, everyone was watching as he took his final breath. This is the way it was supposed to happen, it is the way we all wanted it to happen, with the family gathered, and him lying comfortably in his bed, it was the most peaceful thing I have ever witnessed in my life. Quiet and calm. Beautiful. I am more then grateful for the way it happened.

I will never forget the memories I have with this man, he shared his wisdom, his talents, his love of working with hands, and most of all his love. He changed my life and so many others in the best of ways. He was caring, thoughtful, compassionate, loving grandfather.

Grampa Fred, you will be in my heart forever, thank you for always being there for me, for caring for me, and loving me. I love you so much, we all love you so much. Rest in peace.

Moments likes these help us appreciate the things in life that we have now in the present, they help us to remember old memories that are stored inside. This moment now, allows us all to care for one another, to take a deep breath and realize that this man has been relieved from pain. Even though it is hard for us to say goodbye, it is time for us to let him free.

He will be remembered! He will be talked about for generations to come! He will be with us all forever!

Life in Norway

The days have begun to merge together, I am really getting into the "groove" of life here in Norway. I wake up 20 minutes later then I set my alarm clock for every morning, eat a quick breakfast and rush to school. Ok that might sound a little bad, but its not it only means I am feeling more at home, and adjusting to life here. I am enjoying school more then I ever expected to, and I have made great friends quickly. I can wake up with a good feeling in my stomach now, knowing that the day will be filled with many unexpected but enjoyable things. School is still very difficult because i still don't know the language, but i can really feel that I am going to grasp ahold of this incredibly difficult language soon. In school I usually sit in class listening to the teacher talk, and to me it really is just listening (no comprehension what so ever) but I am starting to be able to pick out words I know and and try and fill in the other words that i think might be right. I think this is a good step for me, it gives me confidence in this challenge of learning norwegian.

I am so grateful to be making friends in Molde, it has really made my life exciting here. The people here are all so kind and welcoming, they invite me to parties, soccer games, hand ball games, dinners, and my favorite is when they invite me to jump on their trampolines!

The days are going by so quickly now, I can already realize how precious everyday here is, and that I must enjoy every moment I have in this spectacular country. 3 weeks in and I can already say that this year is going to be remembered for the rest of my life. I am more then grateful to have been given this opportunity and I could never thank the people that made it happen enough! but for now one big TUSEN TAKK!! :)

I hope everyone is doing well, I miss you all sooooooooo much, but I am being strong and enjoying life to fullest! Please leave me comments, I love hearing from all of you!

Find the things you love the most and hold them close, enjoy life, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you and be appreciative of it. We can all find happiness in our lives, grab life by the hand and run free!

Much love, Noah!

P.S. here are some pictures of places I have been the past couple of weeks, doing the most incredible adventures!! ask me about some of them :