Venturing Out

As I predicted, I got completely sidetracked and have only just remembered to make another blog post. There is always so much to write about that it seems overwhelming, but as I’m writing this, I’m on a plane back from Basel, Switzerland and I’ve heard the songs on my downloaded playlist a few too many times. So, now’s as good a time as ever. And with that, let’s talk about my first trip outside of the UK this weekend.

To start, I really thought that travel within Europe once I got here would be so much cheaper but turns out Aberdeen is JUST small enough of a city that it is actually pretty expensive to go anywhere but London or Belfast. Even still, I wanted to get to the mainland of Europe for a few reasons. First, my friend Char from back at Kalamazoo College is also studying abroad this fall in Germany, and we had talked so much about how one of us was going to visit the other that I couldn’t not, you know. Second, even if it’s not the $20 flights I was told about and anticipating, it’s still so much cheaper to get around once I’m on this continent, so I would be throwing away a great opportunity if I didn’t travel somewhere else other than the UK. Not to mention I don’t have to fight jetlag now that I’m adjusted. Third, I sort of wanted to experience the scared helplessness of being in a country that speaks a language I am in no way familiar with. I don’t know, sounds fun. Sounds like a cool adrenaline rush.

So anyway, why did I settle on Switzerland? No specific reason actually, it was just the cheapest flight that got me to closest to my friend, Char. But as someone who has been nowhere in Europe except for Aberdeen and Edinburgh, I am really willing to go anywhere if it means a chance to explore and see more than I had when I started. So Switzerland it is!

The flight there was nice and relaxing, which was a bit surprising to me because that was my first time traveling internationally completely alone. But honestly, I think I prefer it that way. I can go at my own pace, I have nobody to wait in line at Starbucks with, I can pee as many times as I want, and I have nobody to tell where I’m going. It’s freeing, really. Just put your headphones in, full steam ahead. I also think I might’ve gotten a bit of a tan on my face from the sun, since being on the plane was the first time in a couple of months that I wasn’t under cloud cover for more than five minutes. Gotta love Aberdeen.

But anyway, it was of course very exciting landing in the Basel airport, and I found out that Char had come to the airport to “pick me up” and was waiting outside for me. Thank God they were there, because that whole German-speaking-country thing really caught me off guard. Some things are in English and plenty of people speak it, but I was not about to be expecting everyone I talked with to speak English for me. Just feels a little rude, I’m in their country right? But Char was my saving grace this weekend, and it was so cool to see a good friend that I’ve known for almost a year speak a completely different language. I know they don’t think so, but I was super impressed with how they could carry a conversation, be so natural while ordering a coffee, and navigate the bus and tram system without having even been to the city before. It just motivates me to keep trying with other languages, even if I’ve never been particularly good at picking them up.

It felt very refreshing to be in such a different culture of Europe. I know of course that there are so many other (and probably better) cities to experience that would be more enriching, but it was exciting to be in a city that felt more like the classic idea of “Europe” (though I’m slowly learning that you really cannot sum up the culture of the continent with that one word). But when I was first thinking of studying abroad, I pictured myself exploring cities like Basel. The day I flew in, Char and I went to grab food in the older downtown area, and there was a very calming energy to the city, especially at dusk. Small streets ran up and down a hill, winding in all directions with all kinds of hidden alleyways and cobblestone staircases. There were dozens of little restaurants, bakeries, chocolate shops, and candle shops that glowed warm yellow light onto the sidewalk. The air was perfectly cool, chilly enough that each store pulled my brain in to come in, sit down, look around. The restaurants had wooden tables out front that sloped and fit naturally with the hill of the street, each table fitted with a tea candle and each chair draped with cloth or faux fur. In classic European fashion, groups of all ages sat around in the candlelight with trails of cigarette smoke snaking from their mouths or puffing out in calm conversation. All of this, plus being with my friend for the first time in months, made me feel very peaceful.

I think that the word “peaceful” would be a great way to describe the whole weekend, too. We filled our time strolling through history and art museums, seeing pieces from Van Gogh, Monet, and Warhol. We stopped at corner coffee shops to get cappuccinos and croissants (Basel is right on the border of France so of course both were delicious), and we took our time to enjoy them and enjoy the environments of each café. We took our time to walk by the river and take in beautiful sunsets while the sound of a woman playing the accordion echoed in the background. We stopped at all things that drew our attention, in no rush to make a schedule and knowing we wouldn’t be able to see everything. We stopped by a local festival for mulled wine and sat on the steps of a church to people-watch kids and families brave their way through carnival rides. It was my favorite kind of travel trip. We really had nowhere to be but where we were in each moment, and I felt like I could just simply enjoy each place for what it was in that moment.

Now, if anyone is reading this and is saying to themselves “wow Ale, that sounds great, I think I want to go to Switzerland now”, I would say you should except for the fact that it was so. Damn. Expensive. So maybe think twice. And you know, my sister and my dad warned me that Switzerland was going to be like that, but I’ll be totally honest and and say that I thought they might be exaggerating because that’s kinda what they do sometimes. Sorry y’all. But the thing that really drove it in for me that they were not, in fact, lying was when we went to dinner on the second night. Or I should say, sat down about to have dinner and immediately left after we got charged about ten dollars for two glasses of water. That was one of the most glaringly obvious “we are Americans who don’t know what’s going on” moments we had while we were there. Even Char, who speaks great German, was having a lot of trouble speaking with our waitress, who apparently spoke very heavy Swiss German. I don’t know the difference between Swiss German and “German” German, but according to Char it can be quite drastic, and that moment made me realize it. So anyway, great city, great country, but proceed with caution.

Now, going into the rest of my time here, I am looking to do more to explore Scotland and the places local to Aberdeen. I keep on needing to remind myself that a) it is ok to not be SO on top of school if it means I’m truly experiencing the place that I’m in and b) I need to actually start taking advantage of being here because I really won’t be here much longer. So with that, you can expect my next blog post to really focus in on what it is to be in Scotland. I will talk to you all soon. Cheers!

Late Start to Aberdeen

Well, here it is! The long-anticipated first blog post is finally here. Just like how I promised myself to write in my journal at least every other day, the promise to keep my friends and family updated through the legacy of Lemus Study Abroad has gotten overshadowed and pushed to the side by other experiences. Honestly though, I can’t complain. The fact that I come home every night exhausted and can’t seem to find time to sit down at my computer to write about what I’ve been doing is far from a disappointing. The fact that I do not plan to refine this post or look back over my grammar is a refreshing break from the rigidity of academic essays. For me, this just means that I have been prioritizing and filling my days with the right things. I knew when I came here that although I want to remember as much as possible, I refuse to distract myself from missing how it feels as I’m living it. I’m trying not to care so much about how other people are viewing my time here, if they think I’m “living” enough, if they think my experience is worthy. My time here is meant for me, and if I spend too much time trying to record it for my future self, I’m not going to feel how it feels to be here in the first place. So with that, here is a somewhat messy but very real summary of what has been most important to me since being in Aberdeen!

Somewhat ironically, I think the best place to start is with my first trip OUTSIDE of Aberdeen, to Balmoral Castle and Stonehaven. To be completely honest, I was scared to go and considered backing out the night before leaving. I’m not a huge fan of group travel or enclosed vehicles, and a chartered bus ride full of people totaling 3 hours of road time combined both. I remember thinking that I could call it success enough that I even made it to Europe in the first place without throwing up, and that I didn’t have to do more if I didn’t want to. But I did want to, and I still want to. I’m only living in Scotland as a 20-year-old once, so why would I rob myself of these experiences just because I’m scared of what, getting from one place to another? A silly little car ride? Nah, I can’t let myself do that. Even if it took all kinds of preparation like packing myself puke bags and having strong anxiety medications on hand, I was going to go and I was going to have fun dammit! Don’t worry, this story ends well.

I’m not going to lie, the bus ride to Balmoral Castle was rough. Multiple vomiters, bumpy windy roads that made my head spin, and a little dry heaving myself. Sorry for the detail, but I must tell my truth! But anyway, as soon as we arrived, it started to sink in that I was in the place that I’d been googling pictures of since February. This was SCOTLAND Scotland. Oh look, that field is covered in little white dots of sheep fleece. Oh look, in that one is a sleeping orange cow, with a crow stretching its wings on a moss-covered stone wall. And how could I miss the beautiful rolling hills, lush and deeply green, surrounding us in every direction? Are you kidding me? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about, that’s what I’ve been anticipating for the past 6 months. Finally, I’m here.

And so began our hike. Sadly we couldn’t make it to the castle itself, which was disappointing for me because I was sort of hoping to catch a glimpse of a ghost queen. We can’t always get what we want I guess. But I can’t complain about what we did instead. When I tell you the scenery was EXACTLY how I’d been imagining it, I mean I could barely take it in as I was looking at it. The hike was steep and rocky, and I was pretty scared that if I didn’t stare at my feel the whole time I would catch a loose stone and go tumbling. But I’m glad I took the risk of looking up. You know in the movie Brave at the beginning when Merida is running through the forest on her horse and looking all heroic shooting arrows and jumping over mossy trees and huge stones? That was not my best description, but I felt like I was there. It was truly gorgeous. To top it all off, it was a crisp sunny morning, barely 10 am, and the earthy smell brought on by a recent rainfall really drove in where I was. Our hike ended at the top of the hill at a pyramid built by Queen Victoria for her late husband. For me, the pyramid was hardly the attraction compared to the view of the trees, cliffs, and farms at the top. We were given about an hour to relax, take pictures, and mingle with the group. Our conversations were nothing special, but being there with my friends is what made it for me. The simplicity of just existing in a place so beautiful and enjoying the company and even silence of each other was my favorite part of the trip. The peace I felt on that hilltop almost let me forget the three times I fell on my way back down.

Next was a drive back towards the east coast, to a smaller town called Stonehaven. This drive was much smoother, more relaxing, and I was able to take in the views of the countryside as I was far more relaxed and willing to look out the window. It is strange sometimes to experience a ride through the country in a place that feels like home but that you know is so different. If I didn’t think too hard about it, there were times where I could imagine I was back in Michigan. I mean, a tree is a tree, a sheep is a sheep, a field is a field. But I am determined on this trip to not let myself get so comfortable as to not appreciate the beauty and newness of where I am. My sisters will make fun of me for it, but I really find that listening to dramatic folky acoustic music (yes, Hozier) really snaps my brain into my reality. In general, I think that music speaks to a part of your brain that you can’t access otherwise, so listening to something that that deep part of my brain responds to is basically a foolproof way for me to not take my surroundings for granted.

Now, maybe it’s because it is the only real castle I’ve visited so far on this trip, but I think that walking through the ruins of Dunnottar Castle really takes the cake of my favorite experience here so far. I honestly can’t really describe what it felt like to see it. I suddenly found myself in a postcard, and even though we were there for about two hours I still don’t think I fully processed what I was seeing. There was so much to take in that I was dizzy almost the whole time we were there. Dizzy in the best way though, and I actually stayed upright this time. And to be completely honest, I don’t really want to try to write out what it felt like to be there, because I think no matter what I’m not going to be satisfied with my description and I will accidentally end this entry with disappointment. So instead, I’ll just attach some pictures on here. Enjoy!

Like I said, I am not looking to make these entries particularly coherent or well-written. Of course, MUCH more has happened since I’ve been here than what’s in this post, but right now I think I’d rather keep having those experiences than focus on writing about them. I’ve been here for almost a month, but still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what can be done. So with that, it’s time for me to go and collect more memories and more snippets of life in Aberdeen. Love you all and hopefully I will have another post soon!

Weekend Excursions: Rennes and Normandy

Knowing my study abroad is taking place in the COVID era, I had the expectation for myself that I would limit my traveling outside of the country in order to minimize risk of COVID, as well as risk of getting stranded in another country if situations were to change and borders to close. Even so, I know that one thing a lot of people regret after studying abroad is not exploring their home countries enough, which is exactly why I want to take the opportunity to do so.

The first trip I took was a day-long outing in Rennes with some friends from IES. The capital of France’s Brittany region, it was only about one hour from Nantes by train. The city is well known for its half-timbered houses dating nearly 2,000 years, and it was fun to spot the ancient architecture hiding in between later-constructed buildings.

My favorite part of the trip had to be an art installation we came upon. The piece, entitled S E C R E T S de Rennes was constructed by Dan Acher. Made up of giant wooden letters spelling out the word ‘secret’, the general public was invited to write their own untold sentiments and stories on a piece of paper, which they could either hang immediately on the wooden blocks or put in a box to be hung later. At the end of the installation, which was the day after we left, the blocks and papers attached to them would be burned.

It was especially interesting to walk around the blocks and read all of the anonymous notes. Some were love letters, some concerned politics or identity, some revealed regrets, and others were just unpopular opinions. It compelled me to reflect on the reasons we chose to hide the parts of ourselves that we do, and consider what would happen if we decided to expose those things. Though pictures of the secrets themselves were prohibited, we were able to take photos from afar.

The next weekend trip that I went on was a trip to the northern region of Normandy. This was a trip with IES, so it included some more cultural experiences provided through the program. First we spent our Saturday in Caen, a village known for its buildings dating back to the reign of William the Conqueror, the first Norman monarch of England from 1066 to 1087. We learned more about his history through our visit to the Tapestry of Bayeux, an embroidered fabric from 1066 reaching 70 meters in length that depicts the events of William’s conquests. I loved seeing the old architecture in the bayeux region and the history they held. It was a charming place, and as I said to my friend there, they just don’t build houses like that anymore.

Our last day was spent visiting the Memorial Museum of Caen, as well as the American Cemetery of Normandy, Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc. The day was heavy with emotion, as we reread and saw in greater detail the absolute atrocity and human carnage that took place during WWII. Lunch was a relief to spend with my friend that day, talking over our thoughts during the visit and how our opinions on war were brought to light.

Later it was a rainy, aggressively windy walk through the cemetery, where I ended up finding the headstone of a soldier from Michigan. I wondered about his thoughts when he stood in the same place, and if he also told his friends that the ocean there looked exactly like Lake Michigan. Our final stop at Pointe du Hoc was the shortest, but it was again sobering to see the ground still so torn by bombs that we seemed to be surrounded by giant molehills and tiny valleys.

The last thing I took away from both of these trips were my feelings upon returning to Nantes. It’s been surprising each time to notice my renewed sense of comfort when my train pulls into the station or our bus to the entrance of IES. More and more Nantes has felt like my landing place, and I am grateful to have a home to return to after my adventures.

Also, if anyone has a new word for ‘adventure’, please let me know.

Write again soon,

Isabella

En Français, S’il Vous Plaît

Hello family, friends, and random readers!

It’s officially been a little over a week since I’ve arrived in France, which is a little later than I anticipated writing my first blog post. Adjusting to typing on a French keyboard definitely does not help my timeliness! Of course, the keyboards have not been the only big adjustment here, and part of my hesitation to write has come from my indecision on what exactly I should write about first, so I think I will start with the most obvious; the language.

Since arriving, my brain has been split. For most of the day, I spend my day at the IES Center with other students, where we are required to speak French. In fact, the first thing you see when you enter the center is the doormat which reads ‘En Français, s’il vous plaît!’, a very common phrase here if you’re caught speaking English. I also speak French with my host family, who I typically see each night when we have dinner all together. My only English breaks come at home at the end of the day, where I might go on social media or talk to family and friends, or outside the center if I go for a coffee, shopping, or out with the other students.

When I say my brain has been split, I really mean it. Every time I switch from French to English throughout my day, I feel the connections rewiring. Sometimes my friends and I forget words in English, in French, or in both languages at once so we’re left to struggle through giving a description of the thing like a spontaneous game of catch phrase.

However, one of my favorite things about this experience has been this forced weakness. All of us students started with the same anxieties, and for the most part the same range of vocabulary. Our conversations are slow, but that means I am really, actively listening to the words being spoken, as well as telling my stories and sharing my thoughts carefully.

With my family, I feel very encouraged. I am given the time and patience to speak, and every successful story is an encouragement to keep going. Going to stores and ordering food was another obstacle. But again, with each purchase I feel more and more confident in my abilities to navigate the new world I’m in.

Today, I was finally placed in one of the four French classes IES offers to its students for the semester. I cannot wait to continue building and practicing my language skills. My friend put it precisely in a way that stuck with me. Up until now, we’ve been using our French grammar and language skills we learned weeks, months; and years ago. We’ve been receiving so much input here though, and now these classes will give us the grammar structures to be able to form the sentences we need.

Until next time, which will hopefully be much sooner!

Isabella

Lessons I’ve Learned While Living in Norway

Quiet Doesn’t Mean Rude

Living in a city known for it’s “cold” personalities, I have gained a new appreciation for personal respect and privacy. While it was tough to adjust to minimal small talk and social contact with the residents of Oslo, I have started to understand why this is an accepted social norm. In the past, my extroverted personality would jump at the chance to speak up and ask lots of questions of others (while also speaking quite a bit about myself). After living in Norway, I now find myself taking a step back and allowing others the chance to grow comfortable with me before engaging. Respecting the privacy of others can be as simple as not asking too many questions in the grocery store or in line for the bus. Recognizing when others are taking time for themselves has allowed me to reflect more on my own thoughts and feelings while also soaking up more of my surroundings.

A Norwegian Bus Stop
Source : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/286963807486305593/?lp=true

Every City has its Challenges

At first glance, Oslo could easily be described as an ideal city. It is located in the world’s richest country. It is sustainable. It is gender equal. Having lived in Oslo, I would agree that many of these things make the city a pretty awesome living spot!

At the same time though, I have also attended several conferences and had some fairly skeptical professors over the semester. The discussions that ensued have helped me understand some of the struggles that Oslo and Norway are facing while maintaining the image of an ideal city. These struggles include gender employment inequality (only 60% of Norwegian women are working full-time compared to men), high taxes, and the moral dilemma between using oil as a main export while also establishing a sustainable society. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that I would go back to Norway and work full-time in the country if given the chance, but I also can say that I have a new appreciation for the reality of life in a Nordic country.

Candles can get you through Winter

The terms “hygge” and “koselig” are beautiful ways to describe the cozy feeling experienced when snuggled up in a blanket with a warm fire and candlelight. It is more emotional than our english term “cozy” as it is something that really gets into the soul. The evenings I have spent warm in my Norwegian apartment reading or watching Netflix might be some of my favorites from the entire trip. I have learned to embrace the dark seasons of the year by adding light and warmth into my home instead. Rather than forcing myself into the snow, I began to appreciate the beauty that an apartment can have when filled with the yellow light from candles and adventures from my latest book.

Certainly upon my return, I expect to buy many more candles which have helped to survive such dark and chilly winters. I know it sounds cheesy but I challenge anyone reading to find a good book and cozy up to a candle-lit evening wrapped up in your preferred blanket and you too can feel the warmth of a koselig moment!

The view in my apartment on a koselig night in

Change up Your Routine

When studying abroad, it is rare to be bored or have to do the same thing twice. The ability to always experience new things has been one of the best things for my personality which craves newness and adventure. I have also found that I rarely let myself fall into habits for fear of letting my days feel mundane or slow. This could be as simple as taking a different bus home or walking down a new street to get to my university. These little changes were neither hard nor time consuming. While I recognize that my life in Kalamazoo might not have quite as much opportunity for new experiences as in Oslo, I have learned the importance of finding new things to appreciate in life. Returning home, it will be important to spice up my scheduled weeks and months to be sure that I am living life to the fullest!

Patience Patience Patience

One of my biggest advantages in life is that I speak English as my first language. One of my biggest disadvantages is that I do not have much language capability beyond preschool Spanish and a handful of Norwegian phrases. This semester I was in the shoes of both a teacher and a student countless times. As a teacher, I would help my exchange friends (from across Europe) edit their essays, refine their sentences, and correct their grammar as requested. I was always in charge of proofreading and had the responsibility of making sure our work was up-to-part when it came to how our thoughts came across on a page. As a student, I was constantly trying to learn new words from my friends who seemingly could understand one another based on the languages of their home countries. I have been forced to learn to be patient and intentional with my communication. The lesson of patience has also come across in my tolerance with myself, espcailly as I have pushed myself to learn elements of a new language. My impatience typically results in getting frustrated and quickly quitting. Having seen first-hand what wonderful progress can be made with dedication over time, my drive to improve my patience has been growing and can continue to improve throughout my life.

The folks who have helped me expand my appreciation for the many languages of the world!
In this photo alone we can speak 8+ languages in total!

Stay Humble

One of my favorite Nordic ideals is called the “Law of Jante”. This is essentially the mentality that within a society, there should be an emphasis on collective accomplishments and well-being rather than individualistic success. This is a big reason why teacher’s (even when holding their Doctorate degree) are only to be called by their first-name and students work in group projects far more frequently than solo. There can be some faults to this ideology, specifically when it comes to innovation and competition, but regardless the Law of Jante aims to foster a culture of collectivism which supports the society at-large. In business, this has helped me understand why it is so difficult to “network” with Scandinavians in the braggy way that usually is standard back home. The Law of Jante has taught me to keep in mind how my actions impact others and how to continue to stay humble as it can bring greater success over time.

Take a Walk, or a hike, or a ski…just get into nature!

Oslo is a capital city that is surrounded by nature and I don’t just mean surrounded by a couple of trees. Oslo has a forest, rolling hills, lakes, islands, rivers, and even a fjord! The beauty of this might not be apparent when standing in the city center but wander just a few hundred meters away and you can come across Akerselva, the city’s old mill river. Hop on a subway and in less than 30 minutes you can hike up Kolsåstoppen or Vettakollen for a fantastic view of the city. Float your way through the Oslo fjord and get acquainted with the five islands surrounding the city.

Since most everything is closed on Sundays in Norway, I have learned to embrace nature and dedicate my Sundays to the exploration of the natural beauty that surrounded me! I am so glad to have been given a day off from shopping and chores on Sunday because this day allowed me to relax and recharge while soaking up some fresh air and the occasional ray of sunshine. I have learned to slow down and appreciate the healing powers of nature and will seek out more natural methods of stress relief upon my return.

My Favorite Spots in Oslo

After nearly four and a half months of living in Oslo, I have begun to notice there are locations that have become more familiar to others. Certain parks, streets, and cafes seem to bring me an extra dose of happiness which is why I seem to have gravitated toward and revisited them throughout the semester. If you ever find yourself in Oslo, here are a few locations that you certainly cannot miss!

Mathallen

Literally translated as “the food hall”, Mathallen offers a collection of food stalls offering all sorts of delicious things! Here is where I first tried reindeer sausage and have enjoyed lots of samples (rare in Oslo). This is the place to go when you don’t know what you want to eat and enjoy trying new foods!

Frognerparken

A park literally designed to showcase the work of Gustav Vigeland. Frognerpark (also known as Vigelandpark) is filled with statues showcasing raw human emotion and looks equally beautiful in all seasons! Check out the angry boy…one of the most famous of the park statues and you can rub his hand for good luck!

Kulturhuset

It’s a bar, it’s a cafe, it’s a cultural center and one of my favorite places to meet up with friends to enjoy a beer, game of shuffleboard, or study break. Kulturhuset is a great spot as it is filled with people from all walks of life and is conveniently located near the city center.

Sognsvann

Sognsvann is the perfect place to unwind on a Sunday (when literally everything else in the city is closed). This lake is only 25 minutes train ride outside of the city center yet is one of the most peaceful spots I have ever been. If feeling adventurous, you can wander off the main loop of the lake and explore countless hiking trails or even make your own!

Icy waters are still beautiful for sunset views

Norsk Folk Museum

The perfect spot to brush up on Norwegian history and learn a little more about how the country has its culture. This open air museum was first constructed in the late 1800’s when Norway was still in a union with Sweden and is the a beautiful collection of buildings from across the country.

BI Norwegian Business School provided a free tour of the museum for exchange students

Nobel Peace Center

Despite my short time in Oslo, this is one place that I bought a membership and it was ABSOLUTELY worthwhile! Oslo is home to the Nobel Peace Prize which is given out every year on the 10th of December (tonight!). This center pays tribute to previous winners and showcases the causes that they fought for. Currently, there are exhibits about climate change and sexual violence in war but soon there will be a new exhibit featuring the work of Abiy Ahmed and his work in Ethiopia.

The golden image is of the newest Nobel Peace Laureate

Grefseskollen Restaurant and Hike

This place is great because depending on if you are up for a hike or just want to enjoy the views, you have options! On weekends a bus runs and takes patrons to the top of Grefsenkollen where there is a restaurant, cafe, and basement bar all with a fantastic view of the city. On warmer and week days, you can take the 20 minute hike up the hill which is also quite rewarding but definitely tiring on the legs. Regardless, the view is one you shouldn’t miss!

Group hikes certainly make the time pass more quickly!

Oslo Opera House

Whether you are a fan of the arts or not, the Opera House is a staple in the city of Oslo. Sitting next to Aker Brygge, it looks as if it is melting into the Oslofjord, especially in the winter when it is surrounded by icy cold waters. There are constantly shows running which include ballet, opera, and other dance shows and are only $35 for students, a steal in a capital city!

Floating saunas get a great view of the Opera House

Aker Brygge

The port near the Opera House and the main Oslo bus station has housed many fun activities on land and on the sea! From party boats to saunas and fjord swimming, this is one of my most memorable spots in Oslo

We didn’t flip the boat which was quite the success

The best way to celebrate a 21st birthday

Nationaltheatret

Technically this is a location and a neighborhood and I certainly prefer the surroundings than the theater itself. Nearby you can find the Royal Palace, Storting (parliament) and shops. In the winter there is even a giant holiday market.

The view of the street ending with the Royal Palace

The Royal Palace…the flag is up so the King is home

Kolsåstoppen

This is a more difficult hike and a bit further out of the city, around an hour, but absolutely worthwhile. When finally arriving at the top, you can actually feel the difference in temperature and can get a fantastic view of the entire city!

SALT

A sauna house and collection of cafes, SALT is the ideal place for an evening of music and interesting characters. When paying for entry to the sauna, you actually can go into four different saunas which hold anywhere from six to 150 people! Be sure to check out their weekend events which often host dj’s!

Yes…this is a sauna and yes, we were inside!

Glögg and reading is a lovely way to enjoy a chilly evening

So there you have it…a collection of fantastic spots in Oslo! While there may not all pop up when you google “Things to do in Oslo”, I certainly hope you will add them to your list and you can understand a bit more of what the locals enjoy in this nature-loving and eclectic city.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Abroad

I love the holidays! Ever since mid-October I have been playing holiday music while studying, cooking, and just walking through Oslo’s city center. The chilly air was really helping me to get excited about the upcoming holiday season, especially after visiting snowing Tromsø and returning to a while Oslo as well.

The one thing that has made me a bit nervous about this time of year is knowing it is my first holiday away from home. Even while at WMU, home is only 20 minutes away which means I have shared every holiday of my life with my mom, sisters, grandparents, aunt and newly added uncle. To me, what makes the holidays special is spending time with close friends and family as well as baking on the daily (I’m obsessed)! The way that I decided to cope with missing out on an American Thanksgiving this year was to plan one in Oslo.

I quickly learned that few of my exchange friends, most of whom are European, have never before celebrated the holiday of Thanksgiving. It makes sense really, why would Europeans celebrate a holiday commemorating the mass immigration of many of their ancestors to a new land? Regardless, I wanted to take advantage of the chance to host my very own Thanksgiving feast and show all of my friends what makes the event so fun!

One month prior to the holiday, I created a Facebook group and added around 15 of our closest friends here in Oslo. Since Thanksgiving is a holiday all about food, I posted a list of dishes that each guest could bring and I committed to cooking a turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie (thanks Mom for sending canned pumpkin <3). The menu was to include mashed potatoes, green beans, cheese and crackers, lingonberry jam (the Norwegian version of cranberry sauce), salad, and lots of sweets!

As the date got closer I began to face an unexpected challenge…the turkey. Honestly, I had just assumed I could find a turkey at a local grocery store as we do at home, not considering the fact that Norwegians don’t prepare turkeys around the holidays. Here a traditional holiday dish would consist more of pork rib, fish, or lamb. Since meat can get pretty pricey around here I began to sift through the local butchers shops and found a GREAT deal on chickens amounting to around $12 for three chickens. This might not seem like that great of a deal but in Norway, a pound of chicken breast can easily cost $6 so this price was a steal. A bit impulsively, I decided to order nine whole chickens and planned to pick them up Thanksgiving morning to have room to keep my normal groceries in my fridge in the meantime.

Thanksgiving morning finally came and one more challenge came with it…cooking pans. For both the nine chickens and my pumpkin pie, I was going to need baking tins. This resulted in a final grocery run to a neighborhood called Grønland which is known to have low prices on vegetables and kitchen items. Grønland is actually home to many Pakistani immigrants who are trying to built lives in Norway and this allows for them to sell items at much lower prices than other large chains in the city. Lucky for me, this is where I was able to find disposable baking tins and a cheap clay pie round which were exactly what I needed to make Thanksgiving a success.

Before any of the guests arrived, I spent my afternoon elbow deep in chickens and herbed butter (rosemary, thyme, and garlic make a FANTASTIC herb combo) and I assembled what looked to be enough food for a small soup kitchen. It is worth adding that I decided to rein myself in and only cook six of the original nine chickens ordered which now means I can eat chicken meat until I go home. The great thing about living in an apartment complex near many of my friends was that I was able to borrow a few friend’s ovens which made cooking all of the birds much less of a challenge. Every 30 minutes or so I would walk up and down my hall, knocking on doors and turning the chickens before returning to my home base apartment.

The final step was the table. Our BSN apartments here are Oslo are cute. Don’t get me wrong, on a normal evening they are perfect for my roomie Paula and I to cook dinner and chill while having enough space to veg out and unwind when needed. However, these apartments are not the best for hosting company. With the exception of a small table and three wooden chairs, we aren’t provided with much in the way of common space which meant we had to improvise to ensure all 15 of our guests could enjoy this dinner comfortably. Again, the luck of having so many of said guests living on the same floor as me meant that we could borrow their tiny tables and wooden chairs to make one giant table in my bedroom. Paula’s room became the coat room/storage room for my bed and viola, we had a dining room! I am honestly a bit disappointed that we never thought of this arrangement before because it turned out to be far more comfortable than expected!

Two American cooks (Lauren and I) prepping for dinner

Around 7pm, our friends began to arrive and filled our apartment with lots of delicious scents and chatter. We were able to quickly set the table and began our Thanksgiving feast!

The thing that was must amusing to me was learning that very few of our guests had a clue what Thanksgiving was or why we celebrated it. This was even true for our Canadian friends who celebrate Thanksgiving themselves though a month earlier than the US. Myself and Lauren, a fellow WMU student, shared a brief version of the “pilgrim and indian story” with our guests and then required everyone to share one thing they were thankful for before digging in. The general themes were being thankful for the success of our study abroad (Erasmus) experience, new friendships formed, and fun! Personally, I felt most thankful to have a family of exchange students to celebrate my first holiday away from home alongside.

Our makeshift dining room aka my bedroom

Our plates were full and for a rare moment with our friends, the room was very quiet as we enjoyed the dishes shared by the group. We ended up eating four and a half chickens and one of our friends was even able to take a whole chicken home as a “party favor” which was a pretty hilarious sight. By the time dessert came around, we were all stuffed but took small slices of pumpkin pie and Norwegian pepperkake (gingerbread cookies) along with small glasses of Italian limoncello, for digestive purposes only…

Celebrating an evening of friendship as our semester abroad in Norway comes to a close made for a perfect holiday! As we wrapped up our festivities (and rebuilt my bedroom) I couldn’t help but think that I didn’t want the night to end. I am so glad that my first holiday away from home was still spend surrounded by beautiful people who have began to feel like a family abroad!

Our beautiful exchange family ❤️

Maintaining Relationships While Abroad

I am a very independent person. Maybe in some ways that seems obvious if I voluntarily left The States to live in a new country for a semester but regardless this is a point I wish to make. Being independent does not however mean that I struggle with or lack having strong relationships in my life. I LOVE PEOPLE and have been blessed with a personality that makes it easy to connect and build relationships with others. I have also been lucky enough to be exposed to some pretty awesome people over the years who enrich my life with their unique ideas, experiences, and perspectives!

A challenge that I have been facing since leaving the USA is simply that it can be hard to feel as connected to those I love back home when facing challenges like different time zones and busy schedules. Of course, different types of relationships are maintained in different ways so in this post, I will give some examples of ways to communicate with loved ones while studying (or living) abroad.

Things to Consider:

Time Zones – This can be one of the biggest challenges, especially since I may accidentally call someone at 3am not even realizing the issue. The way the time difference between Oslo and Detroit works is that Oslo is 6 hours ahead of Detroit. That means that when it is noon in Norway, Michigan is barely starting their day at 6am. Funny enough, this also means that as the sun rises in Michigan around 8am, the sun is starting to set in Oslo around 2pm. Strangely enough, having the sun fully set at 4pm is not as bad as it sounds, but more on that another time. The best way I have found to battle the time zone difference is to schedule time for phone and video calls. While it might seem a bit extreme, it has been the easiest way to be mindful of the schedules of everyone involved.

Note: Daylight savings really screwed with my head as for one week Michigan and Norway were only FIVE hours apart rather than six. This was due to Norway switching their clocks back one week earlier than The States. Since I had a handful of important calls and interviews scheduled during this week, it was critical for me to understand how this difference worked.

A map of time zones for reference. Check out Australia if you want to see something really crazy!

Apps – Many phone companies in The States offer international phone plans for those leaving the country for a while. Unfortunately, those back home don’t always have the ability to make long-distance calls without racking up fees. A few apps that have come in handy for international communication are WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype. All three of these allow for individuals to make audio and video calls with internet or data connection. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger also allow for individual and group chats to be made. Our immediate family has since made a handful of group chats allowing us to share random details of our day with ease.

Sister skypes are always quite eventful.

Letters – Call my old fashioned but I LOVE to write letters home. There is something so timeless and romantic about knowing a piece of paper is physically crossing an ocean to get to its owner. Besides, I have yet to meet a soul on this earth who doesn’t appreciate finding a note for them in their mailbox. For this reason, I try to send notes home to different individuals on a weekly basis. The way I see it, postcards are a cheap and easy souvenir and it can be fun to take time seeking them out with a particular person in mind.

Letters from Florence, Italy all the way to Michigan and Iowa.

Social Media – It can be easy to view social media as a waste of time but since removing myself from my close friends and school organizations, platforms like Facebook and Instagram have really helped to bridge gaps in communication! I currently maintain an Instagram page (@lemusstudyabroad) which is dedicated to my study abroad experience and I have gotten loads of positive feedback from friends and family about how nice it is for them to see my photos. At the same time, I have had to limit my social media use at times to avoid experiencing any FOMO (fear of missing out) when seeing events back home. It is great to have a platform for mass sharing of information but I still prefer Facebook and Instagram direct messaging to actually catch up with people.

While it is not always easy to keep in touch, I feel very lucky to be living in an age when I can call up my loved ones with a press of a button. We just have to keep working on matching up our schedules so that they can answer!

Learning to Navigate While Abroad

#FollowCat

One unavoidable aspect of travel that has caused me some pre-trip worries (and general frustration, even back home) was navigation.

This may sound silly because our generation is fully equipped with technology to give directions and even real-time traffic updates but nonetheless it has always something that has frustrated me.

Surprisingly, when I arrived to Oslo this concern quickly disappeared. Not only was I able to understand the Ruter app which give in-depth information about public transport routes, I found at times I didn’t even need the directions at all!

During the first few weeks in Oslo, when the honeymoon phase was in full swing, my friends and I were eager to explore every inch of the city to better understand our new home. The biggest challenge was the one person always had to be a designated navigator otherwise our group was sure to stray away from the path. For some reason, I volunteered to be navigator (what better way to improve than be forced to learn, right?) and the joke #FollowCat formed.

Since my friends were enjoying being able to follow someone who seemingly had it all under control, it became common to say that we would just “follow Cat” to our next adventure destination. It even became a hashtag that we started to use on Instagram as a joke among the group of us. I will also admit I have a tendency to be a planner so it was second-nature for me to search up cool places to visit and simply pitch them to my friends as group activities.

From the food-filled Mathallen to the waters in Aker Brygge and Huk beach, my friends would chat and joke away as I learned the city through navigating. It may sound like a chore but honestly I am so glad that I was given the responsibility of getting our friends to new places because it helped me to gain a better sense of direction while making fun memories!

Now that I have learned how to be better oriented in Norway, I have even been able to bring these skills to other trips.

Student tip: Searching up a city’s local transportation app has been incredibly useful when visiting a new place and helps me to save money and waste by using an app rather than buying transport cards.

I think the main reason why I have been able to improve my skills is that in the past I have been able to blindly travel to places based on memorizing a route. In Oslo, I have been intentionally learning my surroundings as it is cool and new which has helped me to understand how public transport works. Gaining confidence in my navigation skills has helped me to grow on this trip and feel that I can achieve anything I set my mind to!

How to Dress Like a Norwegian

While many other European countries might be known for being stylish and colorful, I think it is fair to say that Norwegians lean more on the side of functional fashion. With October temperatures consistently in the single digits (at least for Celsius), it is imperative that a Norwegian dresses warm and with lots of layers in order to make the most of the day.

It is also starting to hit me that mid-October marks the half-way point for my study abroad experience in Oslo! Crazy to think how rapidly a city can feel like home. Having spent over two months in this city, it is also quite clear that I have had to do some clothes shopping in order to have a wardrobe that can withstand the chilly Norwegian nights, and days.

Back home in Michigan, I have always considered myself to be a lover of dresses, floral prints, and colorful fabrics but it has been interesting to see how my style is changing by being exposed Scandinavian style.

First of all, I would also like to point out that one of the values in Norway and in many Nordic countries in general is being able to conform. While individuals are certainly free to speak their minds and share ideas, Norwegians are known to actively try to blend into the crowd for the better and their style reflects that!

Minimalist and functional clothing certainly seem to be popular and there are several go-to outfits that will always be acceptable here in Oslo. The few staple items that I have noticed when admiring Oslo street style as well as my own personal wardrobe have included the following:

Neutral Sweaters

Island-hopping was much more comfortable in a warm sweater!

Black, brown, beige, grey, cream, and pastel sweaters are all the rage here. Walk down shopping streets near the Stortinget and it is clear that sweaters are an essential item! Nearly everyone wears them as a solo item or combined with a button up underneath (which looks extra classy).

Trousers

Back home, I might only wear these pants for work or special occasions. Luckily in Oslo, every moment is worth dressing well for!

I find it funny that nearly everyone here wear trousers or nice jeans daily in this city. Back home, when I wear cloth pants to class I am often asked if I have an interview to attend or am going to work. In Michigan, my peers find it hard to fathom why I would pass up the opportunity to wear leggings and sweatpants to class (which I have NEVER found to be attractive or comfortable) but in Norway this style is totally normal.

Black Straight Skirt with Black Tights

My friend Sylvi rocking a black dress with tights

This is one style that I am definitely a supporter of because back home I love to wear skirts and dresses but in Norway it is not always the most practical of outfits. Therefore, wearing black tights with a skirt and dark sneakers still allows me to be feminine but keeps me relatively warm and my feet comfy.

White Sneakers

This is one trend that I honestly do not understand and I think spans beyond Norway and even Scandinavia. Countless students (including those on exchange) can be seen walking the school with thick soled sneakers that are bright white. The main reason why this style choice is so perplexing to me is that Oslo is a pretty rainy city and you know what rain makes? Puddles…LOTS of puddles! Personally, I have struggled to keep my dark green sneakers clean and have sadly had to keep my yellow Allbirds on the shelf in order to preserve their beautiful yellow glow. I could only imagine the stress I would be battling daily if I was wearing bright white trainers!

Umbrella

This is a must-have item if you want your hair and clothing to stay dry! It rains nearly every day here for at least an hour which means forgetting your umbrella when leaving the house is one of the darkest tragedies.

A Heavy Duty Scarf

Copenhagen was beautiful but quite chilly so it helped to have a giant scarf to snuggle up in!

This is one of the first items I bought for myself in the fall and I wear it DAILY. Nothing makes life cozier than a soft scarf that keeps your neck warm and can become a blanket when studying in a coffee shop.

Wear Black. Seriously.

If you haven’t noticed a theme yet, Norwegians like the color black. I can’t speak for all other cultures but it does seem to be quite the trend with Europeans at large. In truth, I thought this color preference would bother me more but since black goes with EVERYTHING, it makes it easy to get ready for the day. At the same time, I still brought a ton of my colorful and flashy earrings from back home so I still try to add a little creativity to my attire.

Another thing that I have found interesting is that people don’t openly compliment one another very frequently. To compare, back home it is very common to speak up to a stranger to comment on the beauty of their hair or clothing but here people seem to be caught off guard if I take a moment to let someone know they look nice. I have two theories behind why compliments are less frequent here. The first is that Norwegians are shy and it is known that they are less open to speaking with strangers without reason. Not to say that complimenting isn’t a valid reason to speak to a stranger, but maybe its more difficult to step up and share a nice thought about a stranger when you would barely feel comfortable asking for directions. Second, if individuals tend to dress similarly here, maybe it is just harder to stand out and warrant a compliment? Norwegian men and women are some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen on the planet. Not kidding, many of them are tall, have attractive facial features, and work out regularly (hiking, skiing, etc.). If everyone here is so used to being beautiful and being exposed to beautiful people, maybe they don’t see the need to call it out. This might of course be a totally far-fetched idea but it’s certainly something I have noticed.

Though my closet is a bit less colorful and lot more warm, I am truly enjoying the exposure to Norwegian style and expect to bring many elements back home to Michigan in the spring!

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