dream country

Originally posted at auromheim.net

Here’s one of my weirder hobbies: I love going over my study plan, adding new subjects and moving others around. At the moment it looks like I might be taking four subjects next semester: two Chemistry ones, one in Physics and one in Maths. The last one is disposable, in case I find it’s a bit too much work (I’m also getting a job next semester). Oh, and the last semester of my bachelors degree might be spent at the Humaniora faculty, taking Gender Studies and French. Just for, eh, fun?

On Friday, my group finished our lab project in Organic Synthesis and Analysis; our last lab of the semester. I have sort of mixed feelings about being done, because that lab proved to be very interesting, but at the same time it was a lot of work (basically writing laboratory logs from I got home till I went to bed on Thursdays, and still not being done). We still have a project report and an exam left in the subject, but despite that, and being behind on every other subject because of said project, I’ve spent most of the weekend sitting in our faboulous pillow-filled sofa, watching Sex and the City.

I love, love, love living in this apartment! The girls are great, the place is great, and best of all: it really feels like a home. I can see myself living here for the rest of my time in Uni.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

I really wish getting up at 7am after a weekend of sleeping in didn’t destroy half my brain. I shall attempt to cure it by a big cup of cinnamon tea.

I’m moving again. This shall be the third apartment I live in this school year, but I think I’m staying put in this new one for a while.

You see, up until recently, I was pretty satisfied with the place I lived in. It was cheap, and close to both school and city centre. But now I’ve grown tired of roommates who can never seem to do their dishes, and neighbours who smoke right outside my window and steal my umbrella. Other reasons (that I’d rather not publish, though they’re not as serious as I just made it sound) have made me even more grateful to the two friends of mine I’m moving in with.

They live in a big apartment with a balcony overlooking Bergen. It’s gorgeous, but also really expensive. The two of them have been paying the rent for three rooms since before Christmas, so I think I’m doing them a bit of a favour moving in there.

I’ve previously balked at the idea of paying 4600 NOK a month in rent, but now I’ve come to the point where I’d rather pay extra to live somewhere nice with people I like spending time with, than somewhere cheap with people I hardly ever speak to. I’ll just get a job, and the money won’t be such an issue.

Moving in there on Sunday. Can’t wait.

Else, this weekend was spent locked up in my room doing laboratory logs. That, and watching Deadwood.

I started watching this series last autumn with my friend Kristine. She then went ahead and watched an entire season and a half without me (boo!), but now I’m catching up, thanks to teh boyfriend. And yay for that: the series is awesome. I can’t quite put my finger on why - but I think a lot of it has to do with the great acting. There’s not one mediocre actor in the series, and especially Ian McShane (Al Swearengen) and Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane) impress in every singe scene they’re in. My favourite character, though, is as always the sidekick: Sol Star, played by John Hawkes.

Misogyny is rampant in a series where more than half the female characters are prostitutes. This does however not annoy me, as it makes the series realistic. Misogyny, as well as other types of prejudice, was the norm back then. I love the series’ realism. And it does have some tough women - my favourite being Trixie.

So now I think I’ll give up organic chemistry for the time being, and finish season two.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

I went to the doctor on Tuesday, told the nurse behind the counter what I wanted to check, including iron deficiency. Then I get called in to the doctor, and he proceeds to tell me that they don’t DO blood-tests there. You see, since I’m a student, and don’t have an appointed doctor here in Bergen, I went to the emergency room. And apparently they don’t do blood tests unless it’s an emergency. I kind of feel the nurse could’ve told me that before I went in. Anyway, the doctor tells me it’s probably just stress, I leave, and have to pay almost 300 NOK ($60) for something I knew before I went there in the first place: I stress too much.

So, yeah, I still have no idea if there’s anything physically wrong with me. But I won’t be going to the doctor again any time soon, as something I’ve done this past week has helped immensly. I got up at 7am on both Thursday and Friday, and though I felt a bit tired in the morning, it was nothing like the bone-weariness I’ve felt before. I’ve had loads of energy, and been in a generally much better mood. I think it’s due to a) the onset of spring and the longer daylight or b) the fact that I’ve started taking vitamins.

On Friday, I was up early, around town all day, and went to a pirate-themed party at night. I didn’t feel tired for a second. It was fantastic.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

For most of this last year, I’ve been feeling increasingly tired and worn out, despite often sleeping for ten hours every night. During the easter holidays, even the mild exercise of a short ski trip or walking the 2 km uphill to my house was enough to make me exhausted. In the end, my sister suggested I go to the doctor and try to figure out if anything physical was causing the tiredness, because she didn’t think it was normal to be so tired all the time.

So tomorrow, I’m going to see the doctor, take a blood test, and hopefully get some answers. I hope it’s just lack of iron or something similar, and not something more serious.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

When I woke up today, I was in a lousy mood. I didn’t want to study for tomorrow’s midterm exam, and even further: I was doubting if wanted to continue Chemistry past this year. That last thought has been pretty predominant in my mind for a while, and I think it has to do with the fact that my fascination with science and how things work have been drowned in stress and school work.

Usually when I have mornings like that, I get up, eat breakfast, and hope the bad mood will go away by itself. Today I took a different route: I stayed in bed and forced myself to think about why I applied for Chemistry in the first place, why I took two years worth of High School Maths in one year just to get INTO Chemistry, and why I have up till now been convinced that it was the right route for me to take in Uni.

Because I love science. I like to watch everyday processes and know why they happen the way they do. And there really is no other Uni-course that appeals to me more.

After I got up and ate breakfast, I proceeded to read two chapters in my textbook, and I actually enjoyed it. This must be the first time ever that arguing against my feelings have actually worked.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

What’s all this fuss about “meeting the parents”? In media, they keep implying that it’s always an uncomfortable experience, etc, etc. Well, I spent yesterday, and the day before, at my boyfriend’s house, and it was nothing but enjoyable. Maybe I’m lucky that his parents are really nice and easy to relax around? (The whole family seems that way – we visited his sister today.) The only one I had problems with was the dog. And by problems, I mean she was terrified of me.

She (the dog) is four years old, but so tiny you can easily mistake her for a puppy. She loves her stuffed bird-plushie and whenever my boyfriend’s home, the first thing she does is take his shoes and carry them into her sleeping-box. She’s the most adorable creature ever, and I obviously wanted to pet her. But whenever I approached she cowered in fear, poor thing. I attempted to win her trust by giving her some cake, but by the end of the evening, she still didn’t feel safe around me.

The next day, my boyfriend and I took the dog for a walk up a forest road. It was lovely, apart for being bone-chillingly cold. Near 0 degrees C, and strong wind (it’s actually worse today, the landscape looks truly frozen). The view was great, and it was good to spend some time in the nature before going back to Bergen this Sunday.

When we got back, we made lasagna for his parents, and after eating we just relaxed in the living room. I almost fell asleep on the couch – that’s how comfortable I felt. The dog was also starting to feel more comfortable. Right before we had to leave to see “Arn – tempelridderen“, she curled up in the sofa between me and my boyfriend.

For about five minutes before she discovered I was there. Heh. Hopefully we’ll become better friends next time I visit.

“Arn – tempelridderen” was a fascinating movie, made more so by the stark contrast between Middle-Age Sweden and the Templar Knights’ Jerusalem. It’s an overly heroic story, and the lead man is a bit TOO perfect, but I liked it. Better than “Kingdom of Heaven”, anyways.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

Please, if I may ask the following:

• Follow today’s example, and give us loads of sunshine.
• Do what you can so I may get a relevant summer job.
• Money tree. Can I have one?
• Be warm. I am currently not looking forward to going back to my ice-cold room in Bergen.
• Do not drown me in University work. 12 hours of laboratory lessons a week? Phew.

and finally,

• Try being as good as 2007 was, if not better.

My dad’s playing Age of Empires 3 in the living room. With the volume turned up. It’s driving me insane.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

or, to be politically correct: Happy Holidays, people!

Now we’re off to eat rice porridge, and then later we’re having mutton ribs, mashed swedes, potatoes and sauerkraut. Mmm.

(And then we’re opening presents. Hurrah!)

Originally posted at auromheim.net

This past Friday presented me with two early Christmas presents.

First, I had an appointment with the dentist. I really dislike going to the dentist, especially sitting the whole time worried that he’s spotted a cavity (filling cavities is the worst thing ever). But at the end of the session I only got good news: no new cavities. So I was obviously elated.

Then I got home, and logged onto the student website to check if my spring term payment had registered. It had, and I randomly decided to check if any exam results had gone up. And surprise surprise - one had. I got an A in Chemistry!

It was a great day. The rest of the weekend’s also been good. Meeting friends I haven’t seen in a while, and having my boyfriend over (whom I haven’t seen for over two weeks); going out partying with said people… And tonight we’re going to decorate the Christmas tree. And tomorrow’s Christmas Eve…

Yay.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

Mari Snow says:
I’m re-reading His Dark Materials

Mari Snow says:
got inspired after watching the Golden Compass

William says:
I’ve still not seen that

William says:
is it good?

Mari Snow says:
(which, among other things, tried to convince us that you can walk from Norway to Svalbard, LOLZ)

Mari Snow says:
visually, it’s stunning

Mari Snow says:
and the girl playing Lyra is awesome

Mari Snow says:
the story is all over the place, and slightly confusing for Norwegians

Mari Snow says:
(see point about Svalbard)

Mari Snow says:
also, in the scenes they have in Norway, the Norwegians don’t speak Norwegian!

Mari Snow says:
they speak this “it’ll sound Norwegian to English people” language

The movie is great for getting visuals of Lyra’s world, but else it’s somewhat confusing and irritating. I’m looking forward to reading the proper story as I get further into Northern Lights

Else, I am now home with my parents for Christmas. It’s very nice, but at the same time I feel myself reverting slightly back to my younger self - something I can’t say I’m pleased about. Still, it’s nice to be around nature again, after half a year in the city. Right now we have blue skies and a high-set mist which gives the sunlight an eery look, against the backdrop of towering mountains and the fjord. I love it.

Originally posted at auromheim.net

So, I finally moved out of the faraway apartment, and into the city centre. It means paying more for less (going from a big apartment to just a room in an ice-cold building), but it’s worth it. I can now walk everywhere, I live closer to my friends (and teh boyfriend), and actually, the room I have now is bigger than the one I had in the apartment. I also got loads of furniture from the people who have lived there before, among it a sofa and a table, so I can actually have people over to visit.

I do however wish I didn’t have to clean the bathroom the same day I moved in. I apparently have standards, and the layer of dirt on the floor did not meet them. I haven’t dared to clean the refridgerator yet - I think there might be something alive in there.

Else: I am now done with my first term at Uni. Had my Maths exam yesterday, and I think it went reasonably well. Yay for Christmas holidays!

Originally posted at auromheim.net

I have a major Chemistry exam this upcoming Monday. I should have been reading steadily at the moment. What am I doing?

• Surfing the Internet.
• Planning Christmas presents.
• Planning my moving out of current apartment. (December 15! Yay!)
• Drinking tea.
• Missing Boyfriend - who is currently at work in the North Sea.

And this despite my desire to get an A in the subject. Gah, I am hopeless.

Or at least just too used to not having to work hard.

ETA: Weirdest thing happened to me this morning. I’m woken up by a knock on my bedroom door. My roommate tells me the chimneysweeper is here, and if I can check if the chimney-hatch is in my room. I know it is, as it’s right by my bed, but I was under the impression that it was welded shut. Still, I open the door, and the chimneysweeper enters - giant brushes everywhere. It appears that the chimney-hatch ISN’T welded shut, and after I attempt to cover up my bed to avoid getting soot all over the place, he clears the chimney. Luckily there wasn’t much soot there, or else my bedroom floor would’ve been a complete mess. I just stand there bleary-eyed, and when he leaves I go straight back to bed.

When I later woke up, I had to check my floor for soot to convince myself it wasn’t just a weird dream. I wish someone had told me he was coming, but it appears communication is non-existant in this house.

This reminds me, I need to vacuum my bedrom floor…

Originally posted at auromheim.net

Oh, yay, snow.

Well, my limited funds finally snuck up and hit me, and now, I’m going to live on 200 NOK (about £18) for the next two weeks. Hurrah! I’m hoping to teach myself a little something about why you shouldn’t treat your scholarship as free money.

Only, I can’t really drive the message home, as it would appear I have hamster-tendencies. My refrigerator is full of potential dinners - some of which I can’t even remember buying. (Cheese schnitzels?) This very, eh, sensible variant of impulsive shopping means I’ll actually be eating really well in my two “frugal” weeks.

Still, that didn’t keep me from attending a two-hour “Applying-For-Work” course solely because it offered free pizza.

It would appear that the first half of 2007 looks like this:

- Work to save up some money. (Talked to my boss today, and he said there's probably work for me this spring.)
- Study 3MX Maths.
- Possibly go to a My Chemical Romance concert in Copenhagen. March.
- Visit friends in and out of the region.
- Apply for Uni.
- Become bored to death at home with parents.
- Roskilde festival in July.

It's a jumbled plan, and I'm a bit anxious at the lack of proper structure in my life. And it's weird to be living at home for the first time in 3 1/2 years. But I guess I'll become accustomed to it sooner or later.

( 2006 Survey )

OK, a few days later I am reconciled with the fact that the exam went bad, and I'm starting to not feel so stupid after all. Partly thanks to seenyuuko for reminding me that an exam really is just proof of what you are able to dig out of your mind under pressure. Just because I have a mind that doesn't work under pressure, doesn't mean I suck at Maths. Because I feel I do understand most of the curriculum for the 2MX course. (2MX is the term for second-year, advanced Maths. I might be taking 3MX next year.) And I like it. And I won't let the exam ruin that for me.

Although I am anticipating a going-utterly-bugfuck reaction to getting the exam results in January. I'm betting I got a 3.

Oh, and annoyance of all annoyances, I just learnt that I had guessed the answer to one of the difficult questions correctly. Only I didn't deliver in that answer, because I was guessing. Argh. That's some points straight out the window.

gotohelltriognometricequations

Helped my self-esteem, though, because how to solve those type of equations is one of the things the writers of my text book forgot to mention.

Well, this is, what, the third in a row of Maths-entries. Perhaps I should write about something else.

Today, the whole student body of my Folk High School were in Bergen to collect money for charity. We all had our own little bucket, and were supposed to ask people for donations. Problem is, I have a block of sorts against that sort of thing. I'm not afraid to talk to people, usually, but when I'm actually asking them for their time and their money, I become very uncomfortable. And so it took me one and a half hours to dig up courage to start.

That, combined with shyness and bad luck, resulted in a mere 100 NOK ($14/£8) in my bucket. Most people gathered 600+. I feel really bad about it, because I did want to help. I'm just weird.

Hopefully that weirdness will excuse all the home-made Christmas presents I'll be giving out this year. (Don't worry, Linda, you're not one of the unfortunate ones!) One of the classes at my Folk High School is an Art and Design one. Their classroom is always open, and as far as I know, the rest of us are allowed to use the materials that aren't locked in (or in the students' cupboards). So, with some Decoupage and some fabric scraps, I've made a small bag, and a couple of sew-on decorative patches. In addition, I've knitted two scarves.

I like being creative, but I'm not so sure the people receiving the gifts will be quite as pleased. XD

Let's see if I can make a less cryptic and uninformative post.

Folk High School is...an incredibly social place to be. I live in a dorm with ten other people, thankfully with my own room, and it's a rare occurrence to walk into the common room and NOT meet another person. This was actually pretty scary at first, but now I find it nice.

The only non-nice thing about living in a dorm is when people play Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" at 12am. And your room is right next to the common room.

As for the subjects... Well, Folk High School is incredibly relaxing. The only thing they demand is that you're present in the classes. Which means that, if I'm feeling uninspired one week, there's no punishment for not delivering in an assignment. In theory, it means you can go the whole year without delivering a single text to the teacher. Or spend every class lying on the couch. :) Most of us have too strong a sense of commitment to actually do that, though.

We've had two assignments this far, one just had to include the words "red nail", the other is a short text for stage (that the music and drama class is going to use) that we're working on at the moment.

Having this work-in-progress going on, means loads of classes where the teacher just tells us to go off and write. And since I've finished my text, and since my sense of commitment's not THAT strong, I spend these classes in my room doing Maths.

Why? Cause on December 6th, I have to go to Bergen to take a Maths exam, as part of my plan on getting into Chemistry at Uni. I'm actually not too worried, cause the studying is going well. I understand most of it, and I'm finding to my joy that I haven't forgotten as much of the previous Maths I've taken, as I thought I had. Plus, I actually find it kind of fun. There's just something about the...straightforwardness of it. That there are definite answers to everything, even when it's, say, an equation where the answer is everything above zero.

(And now you're all shocked at the simpleness of the "Advanced Norwegian Maths"...)

I'm hoping I'll not find the rest of the curriculum too difficult. *knocks on wood*

And that Folk High School continues to be fun. *knocks on wood*