The bus stages.

So as I take the bus to and from school most days I have started to notice something. Norwegians do not tend to like to sit/talk to people they do not know and this is demonstrated on the bus. Here I have drawn diagrams of the stages of being able to sit next to someone on the bus.

So in stage one, the person sitting in the seat will probably be quite happy to let you sit next to them.

The next stage is the person sitting next to the window with their bag on the seat next to the aisle. Here they are saying you can sit here, but preferably if there is another free spot sit there.

Stage 3, person sitting on the aisle seat whilst the window seat is free. Now this person is saying I really don't want anyone to sit next to me, so please don't ask.

The last and final stage. The person sits on the aisle seat with their bag against the window seat. This means do not sit next to me. Will not move obviously my bag has taken that seat.

P.S. This may not just apply to Norwegians, but is quite obvious here.

New future plans.

So I've changed my mind since my last update on my future decisions, so I thought I would inform.  I will be returning to Australia to begin a primary teaching degree, I always said I wouldn't follow what my mum had done, though secretly I always new that I would most likely end up teaching. Though being me that isn't it, the idea of spending four years in uni, is dreadful. And here comes the fun part. I have found that the university that I'm applying to has an exchange program with partner schools. They're in many countries, but I have chosen the US. Though there are may universities to choose from in the list, but at the moment Clemson University is my favourite. I wont be doing this until August 2014, so it is a while away, but it gives me plenty of time to find a job and save up lots of money to be able to go. I am also undecided about how long for, I would really like to go for a year but am some what uncertain, so I'm tossing and turning between a year semester. Hopefully this all works, if not I'll find something :)

Once I have completed uni and worked for a few years I have plans to go overseas and teach in another country for year, but that is a long time away so many things could change.

That's all my plans for now :)

First snow

“Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;

Strike the bell and bide the danger,

Or wonder, till it drives you mad,

What would have followed if you had.”

- C.S. Lewis

I stumbled upon this quote and decided to make it the quote for this year, even though it is almost over, it's always nice to have something to reassure yourself. So I picked this quote. I'm a person who loves to doubt my decisions and am very accustomed to regretting things, qualities I would very much love to change. So when I start to regret something I have done, I think about this quote and it brings me back to reality. Another thing I'm trying to do is look on the optimistic side of things instead of going in to a downward spiral. I mean I could be spending my time moping about leaving, but I'm trying to plan things with my friends here and really enjoy the last couple of months.

So what has been happening.... well at the moment my little brother and sister are sick with the chicken, which I have already had, so chances are I'm immune yay! Though that doesn't stop me thinking every itch is the start of it.

Last weekend was a meeting with YFU in Oslo, there was 21 of us all together. Now this wasn't the usual cosy hotel or nice B&B sort of stay. No, this was good old Norwegian style cabin trip. So my journey started on Friday, I went home with Belen (exchange student at my school) ate dinner at her house and set off on the three hour drive to her grandmother's house. On the way I saw 5 deer!! Damn I was so excited and they have fluffy white bums, sadly though I didn't get any pictures because we were in the car and they went by fast. During the car ride Belen's host father took it upon himself to be the tour guide (whilst I wasn't sleeping . He spoke in only Norwegian  which was a bit difficult because:
1. He had a different dialect
2. He was sitting in the front seat and I could hardly hear him
Though I still managed to understand most of it Wooo! And when I didn't I promptly replied with a jaaa or a kult. Which he seemed pretty pleased with.

After staying the night at Belen's grandmothers we caught the train into Oslo. We caught it in early so we could spend sometime looking around, sadly though we didn't end up with much time, so we quickly looked at a few things, bought a hot chocolate and rushed of to meet everyone. Though we ha no idea where in the building we were meeting but luckily whilst discussing ho we should call, we bumped into some fellow YFU people and quickly found the group. We all then hoped on the bus to the cabin. We arrived to a really beautiful cabin, even though it lacked running water and a proper toilet, it was really nice. Our bedroom was interesting to put it as it was the attic. This is were we slept probably 18 of the students with mattress squished together on the floor, though I must say it was cosy.

Really we didn't actually do that much on this trip, we mostly talked. They tried to get us outside to play games, though being out there for only 5 minutes, sort of makes you loose feeling in your toes.. so game plan was to stay inside. Inside we played many games including chubby bunny, which ended with plenty of slobber. When it came time to sleep, some people decided that there wasn't enough fresh air, so decided to fully open the window. Now keep in mind during the day standing outside for 5 minutes was freezing my toes off. Luckily I was on the opposite side of the room where the heater was on. So I remained relatively warm. After a not so bad sleep I woke up to people yelling snow, snow! So I quickly looked out the window and there it was the first snow of the season! It didn't last so long and it didn't stick, but non the less it was snow :D The next day went along quite the same as the last though, we had to leave the cabin, which was quite sad because I am not sure when I will see these people next. Though as we were walking to the bus stop from the cabin we must walk down some wooden steps, as I said before it had been snowing, which soon turned to rain so they were quite slippery. Just as the girl in front of me says "These are so slippery I hope I don't fall" BAM! Down I go, right on my ass. As of today I still have a bruise. I guess it isn't a proper trip until I manage to embarrass myself some how. After the incident I returned safe and sound home. Though on the bus ride back I decided I feel like coffee so I got a coffee on the bus, which was plain black coffee and found that I really enjoyed it, so maybe I like coffee now.