Colors

Colors - it is Autumn! It came so fast! I was on vacation in New Mexico for 4 days and when I came back it was suddenly here. And after just a week, it looks like it is almost over! The leaves have turned and many are falling. We are enjoying the fresh Autumn smell and the beautiful red, orange, yellow colors while they last.

No Net - we ordered internet 8 weeks ago. No luck yet! We are trying to squeeze in a couple minutes from work or go to friends' houses.

Coming home - So on the New Mexico trip I mentioned, I experienced for the first time coming home to Norway. It did not feel 100% official, since I still am a US citizen and stand in the non-European line at customs. In one way, I feel no where is my home (I am not European, but I do not live in America) and in other ways I feel I have two homes, since it feels great coming back to visit the States, and feels wonderful to come home to Norway too. Americans seem less serious. I like that. Norwegians seem more cosmopolitan, and I like that too.

Halloween - thanks for your ideas. Charlotte is going to be a ladybug! I managed to pick up a costume while in New Mexico. As for Nils and I... hmm... Kim had a good suggested. A tree and a leaf! Charlotte's buddies in New York sent her a pink leopard costume that is super cute, so she will get to be a leopard too. It is a warm one so she will use it for trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Thanks, Luka and Lily!

Liver

Liver - Yes, liver. Does the thought of eating liver make you feel hungry? Or does it make you feel sick? For little mouths around Norway it is the former. Kids everywhere eat liverpate and love it. Many eat it just about every day! Think of it as Norway's peanut butter. It is smeared on bread and gobbled up (though not with jelly!). If you don't think you would like it, I challenge you to come over for lunch. You might be surprised!

More about lunch - This one is for you New Yorkers who eat lunch at 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The general lunchtime at Norwegian businesses is 11:30. Sometimes even as early as 11! And it is a quick affair. No lounging around for an hour or more. It is still a social time and lots of fun to talk with colleagues, but I have found that it is best to pick food that requires little chewing so you actually have time to talk. Soup it is!

Like to cook?

Do you like to cook? If you do, this is the place for you. It is not so typical to eat out. We have changed our dining ways... from going to the gym in lieu of dining together to now cooking and eating together every day. Every day! Maybe not so revolutionary to most, but a change for us. We draw up a menu every Saturday, do our grocery shopping on Sunday, and eat simple meals all week. Tomorrow the Hoivik household will dine on grilled chicken, wild rice, and mixed greens salad with a creme fraiche dressing. Do you have a special dish that is super easy to make with few ingredients? Send our way.

Wedding - Nils' sister got married yesterday. Big day for the family! She was one big smile the whole day.

Speaking of sisters - Happy Anniversary Lindsay and Jason!

New Job

New Job - on Monday I began my first job in Norway as a project leader for software installations. Very exciting. It feels like two jobs right now since I am learning the language while I am learning about the business. My team is very helpful, and so far so great!

Halloween - any ideas for what Nils, Charlotte, and I can be for Halloween? I need to get outfits together... keep in mind there are not really stores here that sell outfits so readily like in the States.

Coffee - some things never change, even across the ocean. Everyone here drinks as much coffee as everyone in New York did. There is something about work that seems to drive us to drink... coffee that is. There is often a morning coffee, an after lunch coffee, and a late afternoon coffee. Very good coffee I might add. It gives Flavia a run for its money, and then some (that is for you PwCers).

Grøt

Grøt - pronunciation hmm, well, it sort of rhymes with foot, book, look. This is a food, sort of like a porridge. I am not sure exactly what time of day and on what occasion it is normally eaten, but I know there is a sour cream grøt or rice grøt (like rice pudding) served around Christmas time. But people also say that it is kind of a Saturday lunch, or something to eat after you have been out in the cold skiing. It is delicious! Rich and satisfying. There is even a semolina grøt that tastes kind of like cream of wheat. Usually sugar and butter are put on top and sometimes cinnamon. And it is tradition to drink black currant juice (kind of watered down) along with it. Charlotte eats it every Monday at daycare. She looooves it.

Ice Cream - we had a parents meeting for our daycare last night. The caregivers were telling us about a birthday party they had on Monday for a boy who turned 1. They thought it would be so koselig (you read my prior blog entry about this word, right?) to have ice cream cones together, everyone sitting around the table and celebrating Philip's birthday. Well, one girl started touching the ice cream in front of her with a face full of surprise since it felt so cold. Charlotte dove in and tried to eat it all until she realized how cold it was, which was when screaming ensued, and the birthday boy did not have any interest in it whatsoever! We had to laugh.

Helly Hansen - you might have seen this brand of outdoor gear before. It is the premier brand in Norway, made here and adored here. Charlotte is now fully equipped from head to toe in HH rain gear and winter mittens. Why do we buy the best things for our kids but not ourselves? Maybe I will cave in and buy myself a nice HH jacket for winter.

Valg 2007 - it is election year here! Vote 2007. I am learning about the political parties and leaders. A very good time to be introduced to the country's politics. You may have heard of Jens Stoltenberg. He is the prime minister of Norway. Some of the parties are the Worker party (Jens is the leader), the Right, Christian, FRP, Center, Socialistic Left, and Left. There was a school election and the Right won. We shall see what happens in the real election!

Walking

Charlotte is walking! - Last week she took her first steps and now is going full speed all over the place. Steps and bumps are a challenge, but she manages to fall pretty gracefully most of the time.

Winter in August? - Yes, Norway is cold. If anyone had any doubts, I can report that yes, it is cold. The last week of August was particularly chilly with night temperatures almost in the 40s. Our bedroom is the last room to get a heater installed, so brrr! But, Norwegians believe there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. It is true. If you wear enough clothing to bed, you sleep sound as a hound.