3 weeks!!

Today marks three weeks until I leave my house and not step back inside for a year. The reality that I will be gone for a year is really sinking in, I will be travelling to the other side of the world to live with people I've never met (but who seem awesome) and will live the dream of being an exchange student. I am so grateful for my parents that they agreed to and paid for me to live my dream and that they are completely supporting.

I have boxed up my room, with the only items left being my clothes and things hanging from my walls. My packing is going well, being me I have sorted out everything I'm taking already, but am now facing the difficult process of cutting it down. Sadly enough the hardest decisions have been my shoes, which I am taking nine pairs and my hair products with crazy hair like mine it's a very hard choice :) But surprisingly when I roll it up and pack everything nicely it all fits but weighs 30kg when its only allowed to weigh 23kg.

50 Days and Flights

There are only 50 days left until I leave, the time is going so fast!! I have brought out my suitcase and have started dumping the things I'm taking into it. I honestly don't know how I'm going to stay under the weight limit, usually I'm good when I travel but that is only for two weeks and this is for a whole year, in one bag with room to spare for when I return! I bought a pair of hiking boots which is quite hilarious for a person who is as lazy as me, but I hope after this year I will come back a keen exerciser. My shopping for warm clothes is not going too well, I have resorted to online shopping because you cannot buy anything slightly warm in Australia when it's summer.

In other exciting news I have my flight itinerary :) This is a basic version of it:

1st Plane
Sydney-Melbourne (1hr 35min)

2nd Plane
Melbourne-Doha (14hr 16min)

3rd Plane 
Doha-Oslo (7hr 30min)

4th Plane(Maybe)
Oslo-Kristiandsand (45min)

So in total I will be flying for approx 24hrs 6mins and total travel time of 27hrs 15min (not including flight to Kristiansand. With my experience with flying and not sleeping much, by the time I arrive I will be sooo dead but I'm guesing the amount of excitement I have will over ride my tiredness.

First taste of Norway.

I had my first taste of Norway and it was delicious. Norwegian chocolate is amazing and is going to make me so fat when I get there, my host family was nice enough to send me a Norwegian learning booklet which I am failing miserably at and a block of chocolate (Which is already gone). I already love my host family they are so nice and helpful and I can't wait to meet them.

So yummy!!

I had my pre-departure orientation a few weeks ago. It was alright, wasn't greatly exciting but fun to chat with people who are in the same boat as you. We just sat in a circle and talked about expectations, culture shock and stuff like that. There wasn't any one else going to Norway there, though there was France, USA and Netherlands.

Also I got some exciting news today, I will be arriving in Norway on January 5th, which means I will be leaving on the 4th, which means there is only 64 days!!!! I don't have an itinerary yet because it is still being organised but I should be given options to choose from soon!!!

With everything almost in place it's beginning to feel real and I find myself thinking of all the people and things I'll miss, but then remember what an amazing opportunity this is and it's only a year and everyone will be here when I return.

I'm still faced with the problem of finding clothes, so far I have one pair of thermals. So I am in need of some serious shopping. Though my host family is letting me borrow some clothes because they don't think I will find something warm enough here, which I believe. I don't know if I could ever find something warm enough!!!!

Host family and Town :)

My name is Maddy and in about 3 months I will be going to Norway. I will be going for a year as an exchange student with YFU. For all of you who are interested this is the timeline that I have gone through so far:

• December 2010- Submitted initial application to YFU 
• June 2011- 4th YFU interview, 25th Submitted full application 
• August 2011- 8th Officially accepted to USA
• October 2011- 7th Offered Norway and took it, 14th found out my host family

I will be also having my pre-departure orientation on the 22nd of October, where I will meet other exchangers and learn about the programs and all that stuff :)

Host Family & Town:

I will be living in a small town called Arendal, which is located in South East Norway right on the coast. It has a population of approx. 40,000. I have also been told by my host family that it's very hilly, so no more lazy maddy :p My host family is made up of four members, two host mums and their twins babies (boy and girl), which are about 18 months!!! They are so adorable :) Oh and I can't forget they have dog named Tinka!

Here are some pictures and a map I found:

Arendal in summer

Arendal in winter

The big yellow building is most likely my future school.