- "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." ~ Groucho Marx
- I. love. Oslo. I hope that is sufficient explanation for my complete neglect of my blog :p
- I spent the last two weeks in summer school and exploring Oslo, and today I officially start my semester classes with Digital Documents and Norwegian languages classes : ) I live within walking distance of the university, city centre and harbor. Even better, a 20 minute ride on the metro takes me out of the city into the forest, where their are miles and miles of trails winding around rocky terrain, woods, and lakes! I even went swimming in one of them (yes, it was *very* cold!)!
- I am doing a ton of walking, sleeping, cleaning (I swear, my room becomes a mess every 5 minutes), dancing, and singing. No, I haven't been karaoke-ing yet, though, I taught my group 'Rain, Rain, Go Away' and am determined to turn us into an a cappella group before the next two years are over. I don't know if they'll go for it, but I like to think if there is anyone who can force others to sing and dance against their will, it's me.
- The weather here is even more spaz-tastic than Nebraska. Twice in one day, I went outside in sunshine and, much to my dismay, five minutes later, it was raining. Apparently, the Norse gods are a little moody this month.
- Yesterday, however, was absolutely gorgeous. Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow! Of course, I spent a large portion of my day in IKEA testing out couches and beds and debating whether or not to buy a plant and name it Stew. No, I did not buy one. Perhaps next time ;)
- Woot, this morning was incredibly productive. I rearranged and cleaned my room, attempted to decorate it a bit so it doesn't look quite as much like an institution for crazy people, and here I am updating my blog! Don't act like you're not impressed. And now, I must get ready to go to class. Wish me luck (I'm going to need it, I don't even know where my classroom is....slacking already ;)!
- Loving, missing, dreaming, adventuring, learning,
- JennyWren
- P.S. I can now count to 10 in Italian :p can't spell them, but I can say them. I will show it off the next time I Skype, so be prepared to be AMAZED!~j.w.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Cinque!!!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Travel...and karaoke, o'course (well, lack there of...)
I have a vendetta out against West Drayton. It seems to have conspired against me and my karaoke aspirations! This evening I saw a sign that said: "Karaoke Friday" and I thought NOOOOOO!!!! I missed my shot at showing off my karaoke prowess in jolly ole London. But Lo!, I got online and searched for West Drayton karaoke, and what do you know? There it was, Saturday night karaoke at The Fox and Pheasant. Brilliant.
An hour and one wrong turn later, I arrived at F&P, and was very pleased by what met me. *Excellent* dancing music, and yes, very cute accent-speaking boys. Unfortunately for me, that is where the wonders stopped. Having been outside the EU for over a year, I forgot to specify that I wanted water water, not carbonated water. And then, the worst, most appalling thing in the world: the lovely waitress informed me that the karaoke machine....was not working properly this evening. Oh, how did my plans to sing some Pat Benatar sink into the muddy Thames. So, I completed the Sudoku puzzle on my phone (Level: easy, Time: longer than I'm willing to admit), forced down the remainder of my gas-y water, took a stop by the loo and danced along to the rockin' music, before fixing my hair and reluctantly exiting the bar. Maybe one day I will be able to, you know, strike up a random conversation with a random person. Tonight was not that night.
I would hate for you to believe that the entirety of my trip to date can be summed up in the half-hour of mild disappointment I experienced when my perfect plans came to naught. What follows is a semi-short sum-up of my life since flying out of Omaha's Eppley Airport.
Flight 1: To Chicago O'Hare
Yes, O'Hare, we've met before, but last time you were far nicer to me! I got massively lost while visiting. Thank goodness for a long layover! I finally found the transport to Terminal 5, waited in line forever to go through security again, and off I went on Aer Lingus 124!
Flight 2: To Dublin
Long flights are definitely not my cup o' tea, but I was well rewarded when I arrived in Dublin (where, ps, it was about 55 degrees) and found basically the easiest airport ever. Though, I did have to go through a passport check and security.....again. I got to board my next plane on the tarmac :o, which is always fun. Makes me feel like a star. And off I was to London!
Flight 3: To London Heathrow
I was warned that Heathrow is the busiest, most chaotic airport I will ever see. Thankfully, I was completely misinformed, at least it certainly wasn't the most difficult leg of my long journey. Not by a long shot. Signs pointed me precisely where I needed to go. I found my luggage, a place to exchange money, and the taxi que, where there was absolutely no one in line. I'm pretty sure it took longer to check in to my bed and breakfast than it did to make it out of the airport. I imagine there are times when Heathrow can be very chaotic, but I was lucky enough to miss out on that!
I am staying in the Oakwood Bed & Breakfast in West Drayton. It is certainly not the Hilton, but has cheap rooms and wifi.
Alright, I know that what everyone really wants to read about is my trip to London. It's really just a lot of me getting lost, but I will detail it better later on. Right now, I think I should probably attempt to sleep -- only in Europe could I ever stay up until 3 am....
Loves and laughs and thoughts and dreams,
your rambling jennywren
An hour and one wrong turn later, I arrived at F&P, and was very pleased by what met me. *Excellent* dancing music, and yes, very cute accent-speaking boys. Unfortunately for me, that is where the wonders stopped. Having been outside the EU for over a year, I forgot to specify that I wanted water water, not carbonated water. And then, the worst, most appalling thing in the world: the lovely waitress informed me that the karaoke machine....was not working properly this evening. Oh, how did my plans to sing some Pat Benatar sink into the muddy Thames. So, I completed the Sudoku puzzle on my phone (Level: easy, Time: longer than I'm willing to admit), forced down the remainder of my gas-y water, took a stop by the loo and danced along to the rockin' music, before fixing my hair and reluctantly exiting the bar. Maybe one day I will be able to, you know, strike up a random conversation with a random person. Tonight was not that night.
I would hate for you to believe that the entirety of my trip to date can be summed up in the half-hour of mild disappointment I experienced when my perfect plans came to naught. What follows is a semi-short sum-up of my life since flying out of Omaha's Eppley Airport.
Flight 1: To Chicago O'Hare
Yes, O'Hare, we've met before, but last time you were far nicer to me! I got massively lost while visiting. Thank goodness for a long layover! I finally found the transport to Terminal 5, waited in line forever to go through security again, and off I went on Aer Lingus 124!
Flight 2: To Dublin
Long flights are definitely not my cup o' tea, but I was well rewarded when I arrived in Dublin (where, ps, it was about 55 degrees) and found basically the easiest airport ever. Though, I did have to go through a passport check and security.....again. I got to board my next plane on the tarmac :o, which is always fun. Makes me feel like a star. And off I was to London!
Flight 3: To London Heathrow
I was warned that Heathrow is the busiest, most chaotic airport I will ever see. Thankfully, I was completely misinformed, at least it certainly wasn't the most difficult leg of my long journey. Not by a long shot. Signs pointed me precisely where I needed to go. I found my luggage, a place to exchange money, and the taxi que, where there was absolutely no one in line. I'm pretty sure it took longer to check in to my bed and breakfast than it did to make it out of the airport. I imagine there are times when Heathrow can be very chaotic, but I was lucky enough to miss out on that!
I am staying in the Oakwood Bed & Breakfast in West Drayton. It is certainly not the Hilton, but has cheap rooms and wifi.
Alright, I know that what everyone really wants to read about is my trip to London. It's really just a lot of me getting lost, but I will detail it better later on. Right now, I think I should probably attempt to sleep -- only in Europe could I ever stay up until 3 am....
Loves and laughs and thoughts and dreams,
your rambling jennywren
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Ties that Bind
"Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now"
It can hardly come as a surprise that my most-heard phrase since receiving a full ride scholarship to study in Europe for two years has been "You are so lucky!" (followed closely by "Be safe" and "Don't do drugs!"). I certainly don't disagree. The serendipitous events that led me to apply; the prospect of meeting new places and faces at nearly no monetary cost to me; and the fact that I am, as yet, sufficiently untethered to career or relationship to allow me to make life choices 'purely selfishly' in my own self-interest, fully support the notion of my very good luck.
Yet, last night, as the karaoke blared under the Fairy-twinkle lights and hazy Nebraska sky, Miss Megan looked me in the eye and said wonderingly, 'You are so lucky!' and it took me far more than a moment to realize she meant my trip. I could hardly think of it all night. I smiled back and said "Yeah, I am," my thoughts on magical surprises, excellent food (shrimp and chocolate chip cookies!), the crazy, comforting company of family and friends, and, of course, karaoke. I could barely contain the joy (both peaceful and exuberant) of each moment and had none to spare for tomorrow, let alone Europe.
It was a brilliant party, and I send a thousand virtual thanks to my family for their planning of the whole affair -- absolutely inspired. Thank you to everyone who shared in my night and to everyone who was there in spirit. And a shout out to Uncle Jerry (I think you know why :). Don't worry, this does not replace the very real 'thank you' cards I will be sending.
As the Boss says:
"Now you can't break the ties that bind,
You can't forsake the ties that bind."
I am lucky, so very lucky, but not because I get to go adventuring. Because I am surrounded by such an amazing, incomparable love; a love that supports, encourages, teases; a love that can transform the dull pang of impending separation into a bright smile and a hearty laugh. These are the ties that bind me. These are the threads that hold tight my heart. These are the lines that anchor me when I travel far from home.
The ties that bind are long and strong, and very malleable - a bungee cord that will stretch and will not break, and will protect me as I enjoy a wild, wondrous ride before tugging me safely home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet the pain
It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby, your heart to mine
We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time
To face the ties that bind"
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now"
It can hardly come as a surprise that my most-heard phrase since receiving a full ride scholarship to study in Europe for two years has been "You are so lucky!" (followed closely by "Be safe" and "Don't do drugs!"). I certainly don't disagree. The serendipitous events that led me to apply; the prospect of meeting new places and faces at nearly no monetary cost to me; and the fact that I am, as yet, sufficiently untethered to career or relationship to allow me to make life choices 'purely selfishly' in my own self-interest, fully support the notion of my very good luck.
Yet, last night, as the karaoke blared under the Fairy-twinkle lights and hazy Nebraska sky, Miss Megan looked me in the eye and said wonderingly, 'You are so lucky!' and it took me far more than a moment to realize she meant my trip. I could hardly think of it all night. I smiled back and said "Yeah, I am," my thoughts on magical surprises, excellent food (shrimp and chocolate chip cookies!), the crazy, comforting company of family and friends, and, of course, karaoke. I could barely contain the joy (both peaceful and exuberant) of each moment and had none to spare for tomorrow, let alone Europe.
It was a brilliant party, and I send a thousand virtual thanks to my family for their planning of the whole affair -- absolutely inspired. Thank you to everyone who shared in my night and to everyone who was there in spirit. And a shout out to Uncle Jerry (I think you know why :). Don't worry, this does not replace the very real 'thank you' cards I will be sending.
As the Boss says:
"Now you can't break the ties that bind,
You can't forsake the ties that bind."
I am lucky, so very lucky, but not because I get to go adventuring. Because I am surrounded by such an amazing, incomparable love; a love that supports, encourages, teases; a love that can transform the dull pang of impending separation into a bright smile and a hearty laugh. These are the ties that bind me. These are the threads that hold tight my heart. These are the lines that anchor me when I travel far from home.
The ties that bind are long and strong, and very malleable - a bungee cord that will stretch and will not break, and will protect me as I enjoy a wild, wondrous ride before tugging me safely home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet the pain
It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby, your heart to mine
We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time
To face the ties that bind"
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