Cultural Experiences

Sometimes I forget that I'm a diplomat. Not that I forget to show up to work, or that I suddenly start screaming anti-America slogans in the middle of the street.  What I mean is that I forget that I am a very lucky, privileged person that gets to experience this country and the world in a very special way. But the last few weeks have been filled with reminders that in addition to being a humdrum bureaucrat, my job is more than just writing reports and taking notes at meetings.

I had one of those days this week. Bouncing straight from a meeting on trade issues that I had to cover at the last minute (with almost no prep), to an Arctic policy roundtable, and then to a presentation to 20 high-school seniors on the U.S. political system, I felt like I was living the stereotypical foreign service officer day. Returning to my desk to do the write-up from the trade meeting and get it into DC before close of business, I was exhausted but also happy, because I knew that I had chosen the right career.

Outside of the office, I've been lucky to score some amazing invites to some great events. First on that list was the Season 2 Premier of the Norwegian/Netflix show Lilyhammer. This was my first red carpet event, and in true Norwegian style, it was a low-key affair where the cast was mingling with the other guests over wine. We got to see the first two episodes of the show, which is now in it's third week here in Norway and will be coming out on Netflix sometime in December for American audiences.

Completely unrelated to my ability to get cool invites through work, I've also enjoyed plenty of dinner and game nights with friends. I can't be thankful enough for the amazing people that I have in my life, both friends from college that I have reconnected with and new friends that have made these past 9 months (!) so wonderful and full.  I love that Norwegians fully embrace a low-key evening at home with friends over a simple home-made dinner followed by coffee and a rousing game of Ticket to Ride. I was warned more than once that Norwegians can be a tough group to break into, but I've yet to see the evidence of that.

Lilyhammer Season 2 Premier Party

Lobster dinner with friends (followed by an oh-so-nerdy game of Dominion)

A Polish Embassy hosted Accordion Concert 

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winter is coming

A trip to the north and now I'm part of the Barent's Liberation Army

Hello friends and family, and apologies once again for going offline for so long. Partly it was due to self-preservation in light of the 16 day government shut-down and the need to keep from publishing personal thoughts online about the unfortunate situation that I might regret. Well, the ugliness is behind us now (for the next couple of months at least) and I can continue on with musings about life in Norway.

And while I was taking a break from the whole blogging thing, the sunshine seems to have left Oslo, until at least March I'm told. The days are shortening by about 10 minutes a day and the blue skies have been replaced by low, sad clouds with a constant Seattle-like drizzle. I guess after the last five months of very lovely weather, I've earned what's coming. So I have picked up some firewood, stocked up on candles, and brought out the knitting and wool blankets. Norway winter, I'm ready!

Also, since I wrote last, I got the chance to another visit to Norway's northern wilds. This time I was able to visit the interior of Norway's Arctic, the sparsely populated home to Norway's indigenous Sami. Cutting from the Russian border, across Finland, and through the heart of the reindeer herding highlands. It was fascinating and a very unique experience.

Kirkenes (the last time I saw this view it was midnight sun times)

Entering Finland

Sami Parliament in Karasjok. The Sami are Norway's indigenous group and have their own Parliament which collaborates with the National Parliament. 

Inside the Sami Parliament - the building is absolutely beautiful. 

The Finnmark Vida (Plateau). 

Juhls Jewelry shop in the Kautokeino - a random piece of architectural amazingness in the middle of nowhere. 

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Here comes fall...and a shutdown

 

Ruby enjoys a cozy evening in front of the fire

Wow, how time flies. My fun few weeks of visitors flew by, and now it's fall. Woohoo! Fall! The weather has been staying beautiful while at the same time the days are shortening by 10 minutes a day. Norway elected a new government while my own government seems unable to do its very basic job of staying in business. I'll refrain from ranting further about this, but for now we are still going to work using multiyear funds, but no idea how long that will last. I can only send my thoughts out to my friends and former colleagues who got the dreaded "non-essential" memo today.

But politics in DC can't keep me from enjoying the amazing outdoors here in Norway. While the fall colors aren't quite as dramatic as the east coast of the United States, they are beautiful none the less. The cooler weather has finally given me the excuse to use my fireplace and I'm looking forward to cozy evenings inside reading, knitting, and catching up on all these TV shows I keep hearing about (Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones I'm coming for you).

Old dam at Bjornholt in Nordmarka. Mid-point on a 20 km hike. 

A beautiful trail, but man that was a long walk up.

Fall colors, evergreens, and way off in the distance Oslo Fjord

View of downtown Oslo from Ekeberg park

Enjoying the new sculpture park at Ekeberg

Celebrating Norwegian elections with the winning party

"watch for falling leaves"  = I love fall

The Last Month: Visitors from Afar

What a terrible job I am doing of keeping this thing updated. I can only blame the continuing fabulous weather, friends stopping by to say hello, and traveling. Which is all to mean that I'm having way too much fun to be distracted by my computer.

So after arriving back from the wilds of Svalbard, I had only a week and a half before hopping on a plane to Iceland. Waiting for me there in the middle of the Atlantic were my two of my favorite people in the world. We had a wonderful, whirlwind weekend of Reykjavik fun, complete with running a 10k in the mist of the North Atlantic, visiting the local public pool to soak with the locals, celebrating culture night around town, and finally stopping by the famous Blue Lagoon on our way to the airport. Despite the Blue Lagoon being very tourist-oriented, it is absolutely a must experience for Iceland - the whole experience was absolutely perfect!

Inside the Reykjavik Concert House

Journey to the Sun Sculpture 

Reykjavik Cathedral

Panorama of Blue Lagoon

Amazing Landscape around Blue Lagoon

After Iceland, we came back to Oslo for a week of vacationing, both for me and my friends. We did the Norway in a Nutshell, a day in Bergen (they stayed one more) and then back to Oslo to celebrate together a mini college reunion/pirate-themed birthday party.

It was sad seeing them go, but I didn't have too much time to be down, because just a couple days later a couple more of my favorite people arrived from Washington, DC. While my vacation was over, it was still wonderful to come home to dinners cooked by my friends, catch up on life, and of course participate in a secret marriage proposal plot (she said yes :-)).

A Pirate Birthday Party

Now, halfway through September the pace at work is going up, up, and up and the weather is slowly but surely going into fall/winter mode. This really has been the most amazing summer, so while it's sad to see it go, I know that I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Norwegian summers and am looking forward to the season that truly defines this wonderful place.

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