Uff Da

This week has been quite the journey for me.  With arriving to Harstad, experiencing jet lag and fighting off a cold.  It has been very draining, but every moment has been fantastic.  Orientation wrapped up today, and I must say it was a huge success.  Kathrin, who organizes the orientation did a great job of ensuring that we know everything we need to know about Harstad, and every day life.  Simple things such as going to the bank, getting our permits, and where to eat and even where to get the best deal on food and such. 

Thursday we had a run threw on SiHa info, which is the Student Welfare Organization here. They are responsible for the housing, cafe, and activities.  They are also responsible for the on campus bar.  I must be honest, after going to MSU for three years, I forgot what it was like to have an on campus bar.  There is a Bad Taste Party there tonight, and most of the international students will be attending.  We then had a session on Digital tools, where we went over the equivalent of campus connection and blackboard here in Norway.  It is very user friendly, but I will not have to be using it much. 

After that was all done we had some free time, and a group of use went for lunch at a local cafe.  The reality of Norway then hit me.  My meal was approximately 25 dollars, for a burger, fries and a hot chocolate.  Looks like I will be eating ramen noodles frequently.  I must say though it was better than the average meal in America/Canada.  After that we went and looked at the gym in town, and the pool is actually dug into a rock wall, and it is so beautiful.  I haven't decided if I will get a membership there yet or not, but am strongly considering it. 

Later that evening we went bowling, and it was an absolute blast.  The bowling alley here is quite dated, but that did not mean we didn't have a good time.  I met some more international students, who were all extremely nice. Here is a picture of the group.

Today, we had a Norwegian Language and Culture class, and this language is tough, but fun to learn.  I am struggling with pronouncing stuff, and I am having a hard time remembering to not read everything off as it were english.  With practice, I should be able to pick up simple sentences, and when interacting with the kids, I will likely pick up more. Also, today we learned about what the term "Uff Da" meant.  I actually laughed in the middle of the class, because of how often I hear this in North Dakota, but I never actually knew what it stood for.  I now know :)