Real Snow

Well.... Hans' Aunt Britt sent me a photo of the current snow in their part of Norway... (edit 15.05.14: this is my picture, not the one Britt sent - after Picassa deleted all my photos I found this one)

Kirkenær snow... not fair :(

Makes our England snow look a bit...hmm...crap. BUT it's still the best snow we have had for ages and ages and ages - since I was 9 years old :) I am ignoring the fact that it has dissapeared now and we are left with the standard english grey clouds and rain/drizzle.

Still really missing Norway - everyone keeps asking me how it went over there and the more I talk about it the more I miss it! I am more and more excited to think that in a couple of years I will be preparing to move there (REALLY need to start studying the language again)

I have been so busy here lately - started back at uni full time, back at work, not to mention the cooking and cleaning and attempting to get to the gym... not really settled into a routine yet so will have to sort myself out and fast.

Speaking of which, have to go and cook now!

This is England!

I think I brought a little bit of weather back from Norway (well, hardly in comparison) but I have really started to miss being in Norway, so the recent wonderful weather here has been somewhat of a comfort; (or as the newspapers are putting it, the worst snowfall to blight England in 18 years!)

I decided to take a slow walk home from uni today (yes I am back at uni now!) so took a few pics to upload as it is a bit of a rare occurance - to be honest it's not a particularly large amount of snow in the city - but some parts of the country - particularly rural England - have LOTS of snow - it's still going too and apparantly will be with us for a few days...

The view from our apartment

Derby University

Broadway

I am really missing Norway though, I sometimes wish we could just go back there now (together!) but it's not the right time... I am missing everyone, especially Anita, Maria and her family (and the cats!) it will be so nice when I get to see them again. I am pleased to be back at my university though - it's such a great experience to be on an exchange programme but I do prefer the style of learning more here - I guess I will talk more about that as the semester goes on!

A few pictures from Christmas...

The scenery this Christmas was just as beautiful as previous years - although alot of the snow had dissapeared by the time we arrived from Bergen.

We went ice fishing (again) and I attempted to skate (again) Ice fishing is a typical thing in winter. I love doing this its such an experience for an english city girl, so amazing.. there were no other sounds around for miles it was so beautiful and peaceful... maybe too quiet at times when you can here the thunderous cracks of the ice breaking!

Hans' uncle Finn - looking very much the image of a typical 'outdoorsy' Norwegian 

Hans here, enjoying some ice fishing...

Hello and Happy New Year!

Well it's a bit late, but Happy New Year to everybody!

It's been a while since I posted, but after getting back to England I needed a break from everything that had happened the last few months and to concentrate on Hans and my home and getting settled back into my routines! I shall be catching up on my friends blogs (had a holiday from those too, sorry!)

It's getting there now, and Bergen sometimes feels like a dream - I have mixed feelings - I miss Norway generally (but then I always do!) and I really, really miss the friends I made sooo much - but I don't miss living at Fantoft (I have even had nightmares that I am back in that room!) and to be honest I am not missing the school yet - in fact I am really looking forward to getting back to uni next Monday and seeing all my friends and my more familiar teachers. Anyway, I shall save this stuff for a proper post reflecting on the experience - I have a feeling that over time and the more I get settled back into things here my feelings on the exchange will change... we shall see. I really miss the internet connection speed though. ALOT.

So, I have changed the name of the blog from 'Lost in Translations' to 'There and Back Again' which is apt, since I have been there and am now back again... and it is also part of the name of Bilbos book in Lord of The Rings. Ha ha, still a geek. I changed the name because I feel that the blog itself has changed - I focussed before specifically on the exchange and now it will be more general - about my life and studies and learning the language and hopefully a way to keep updated and in contact with my friends in the North, as well as friends here and any other person who happens to find this interesting!

So again, happy new year!

Goodbye and Merry Xmas

Well, the end is here.

I must be brief, we are on our way to catch a plane now. I shall be back with beautiful pictures of christmas but for now everybody - merry christmas / god jul!

Take care

Bergen by night

I haven't taken many pictures at night (purely for the reason that the camera doesn't like it) I managed to get a couple of ok ones when I went to the gym with Ida on Sunday - though it wasnt actually night technically - it was about 5pm.

The Christmas Tree out on the water in Sentrum

A boat all lit up at the port

The decorated trees surrounding the water, and the houses lighting up the mountainside

Ida getting impatient!

Some of the lovely buildings in Sentrum

A restaurant I always think looks quaint :)

The Christmas Stars on the main street

Bergen

I was in Bergen yesterday, an area of the city I don't normally visit often so I thought I would take some pictures as it's a pretty area and I don't actually have that many of Bergen itself.

View towards Bergen Centre from Johannes Kirke

Johannes Kirke (I think it's called that)

Pretty cobbled streets - very common here

Bergen Museaum (not yet visited - will try and visit with Hans at the weekend.
They have a whale skelton!) it's HUGE apparantly...

Outside the museum

The 'posh' houses, a really pretty street I thought.

I took some more at night but I will do another post for that at somepoint.