throw a party

On a long train ride yesterday, Charlotte shows Brian with her three fingers how old she will be this year. Brian naturally asks, "will you throw a party?" and Charlotte replies "No, I not throw up. I am very not sick now."

hole in the middle

Reb and Brian commented that the Norwegian coin with a value of 1 krone that has a hole in the middle is neat. I remember my mom saying the same when she visited. And I have never thought about it, but it is neat. How can there be things so obvious yet we just don't notice? Like Little Denmark. There is a little tiny island just off the shore of the town Sandvika near where we live. I drive the stretch of road that passes the island every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. But I never noticed there was an island there. On Denmark's national holiday, there were some Danes celebrating on the little island. I had a friend in the car as we drove past and she said it looks like there is a party at Little Denmark. I look out the window and am dismayed to find there is an island there that I have never once noticed!

sankthans

Last Tuesday was mid-summer night - or Sankthansaften as it is called here - which is celebrated mostly on the water or the beach. We were lucky to get out on the water and see the "baal" (bonfires) dotting the shore, see all the other boats (it was a solid traffic jam out there), and participate in the pagan indulgence that is good food, good friends, sun, and swimming on the longest day of the year. Of course this used to be a Christian, religious celebration that has now turned into more of a beach and boat party. Charlotte got to sit out on the front of the boat with me, so her day was complete.

My professor

I am the proud wife of a PhD. A doctor. A professor. And the latest souvenir of my talented spouse is a chapter in the book Advanced Millimeter-wave Technologies. So, if and when you get your hands on the book, check out chapter 12 "MEMS Devices for Antenna Applications." And though, if like me, you may not understand a word of it, you will be just as proud of the author.

milestone

I will have mastered Norwegian when I pass the 4th milestone. But today is a celebration of the 2nd milestone. I can read and understand the Norwegian newspaper! I celebrated the milestone by investing in a 14-week subscription to Norway's premier newspaper Aftenposten. I no longer have to rely on New York Times, though it must be consulted to get a pulse on America now and then. Milestone #1? Eating lunch with colleagues and actually following what they are saying, not just nodding and laughing and then saying "huh?" when the conversational abruptly charges in my direction. Milestone #3 and #4 are a ways a way. #3 - dreaming in Norwegian. #4 - having a sense of humor and making jokes in Norwegian. It will be years before I can really have my own personality in the language. And it may be an eternity before I can make jokes, because I never mastered that in English to begin with!

a good neighbor

I am not so sure location, location, location is what real estate and owning a home is all about. I think it may be all about neighbors. Good neighbors. With them, life is much easier no matter what the location. We are lucky to have good neighbors all around us. Quiet neighbors, helpful neighbors, neighbors with kids who play with Charlotte, neighbors who watch our for our place when we are gone, who take turns with us to shovel snow in winter and weed in the Summer. Yes, it is all about neighbors, neighbors, neighbors.

de negen straatjes

Or "the 9 streets." This is in the center of Amsterdam where three canals and the streets around them make up 9 streets famous for specialty shops and a "gezellig" atmosphere. Best experienced by bike first to feel like a local and get your bearings, and then by foot to get a closer look. I fell for the charm of this area and nearly all of Amsterdam really, on my recent trip. Dutch do it right.