Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Found my blog,)
Randomness. Found this old blog. And :* @ Google for keeping me logged in all these years,) whew. Test post if this still works,)
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Blog is in progress but public finally, add photos when time...
Thanks for your patience! Please start blog from the beginning, where most of the photos are.
I´ve blogged this beginning with things I had photos of and wanted to show, and then was going to blog as usual daily/weekly/monthly, seasonally as things came up naturally.
I´m blogging in between studying, when time. As this is a public blog, I´ve mostly tried to not show my family and friends in photos, as this blog is also about things to do here, not us:).
To update, this blog is from Norway where I live. I´ve tried to show local culture, architecture, colourful wooden homes, rustic stone and rock roof tiles, seasonal fruits and berries, local gardens, food, recipes, explanations. Free walks, using the bus and public transportation to find local walks and various things to do. Changes seasonally. Local islands. Traditions, celebrating local holidays and such as our family might do, as we merge different varied cultural traditions.
A few of my fave blogs from here that I like, are:
http://transplantedbaker.typepad.com
http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/04/having-a-baby-in-norway/
(will add to this list when time permits)
and a few new blogs, I just found trying to find the URLs of the favourite ones:
http://amongthevikings.blogspot.no
http://tressainnorway.blogspot.no/2008/12/as-norwegian-momi-suck.html which I laughed at, as yes we foreign mothers get mentions of the most bizarre bits and pieces of culture; properly dressing our kids in what locals think is appropriate by usually calendar date more so than actual temperature; etc. Mentioning this, so I won´t forget where to find her blog when I have time to read it more:)
---
another one was a vegan mother who blogged and had a yoga place somewhere obscure in Norway....
will add, updates as time. And YES I am adding PHOTOS and VIDEOS, which I realize are lacking. But as you can see I started this blog ages ago, and well it´s still not ready, still not perfect, and if I don´t just say go now, when am I gonna?
I started twitter today for the first time, which reminded me to finish...erm make public, finally, this blog.
------
The Reason I started a twitter account finally today, after never any interest at all, was as I was organising the cellar rooms, putting up bookshelves for my plethora of books...I found one of my many kitchen/cooking/architecture related books. An old kitchen, of Anne Quatrano, inspired me to wonder if she was still cooking...and lo and behold she was on twitter. Their kitchen was so organic melded quietly, yet boldly, the two polar opposites of wood, metal, glass, open spaces with intimacy, living and working, whilst enjoying both freely, mixed, intertwined.
It was the architecture, the food, the sustainability....the book.
SEE this is why I keep all my books! I can barely imagine not. Sighing, at those who ask why am I yet again reading this or that book, again, again, again. Sånn. We´ll see how twitter goes. Not sure I´m cut out for all this time consuming, during studies, but then it did look a bit fun when I saw all the chefs, foodies, museums, architects...etc, and found about 60 or so to follow immediately. That´s probably my limit, mind you.
----
It´s a holiday this month, nearly all month (just kidding, it´s not, but it feels like it), which includes Monday. So, Tuesday, since everything is shut, am going to see the new Star Trek movie.
Way back when, a little girl sitting in my Dad´s comffy comffy rocking swivel chair, so close to the tv I had my feet propped on the wall, waiting for Dad to tell me off being so close to that boobtube...as I watched daytime episodes of something called Star Trek, a novelty to me as I rarely was anything but outside, I never imagined all we´d have today. Technology OTT everywhere.
I wonder what my Dad would think of it all....he´d bitch...but secretly, I bet he´d like it. All the knowledge, science stuff...not the commercialism, non-stop entertainment celebrity of it. Possibly he´s rolling over in his grave now, that I have my first twitter post or few up,)
Enjoy my Norway. Or, not. The best thing about it all, is all the choices, the off button, the scrolling past if it ain´t your thang....
I´ve blogged this beginning with things I had photos of and wanted to show, and then was going to blog as usual daily/weekly/monthly, seasonally as things came up naturally.
I´m blogging in between studying, when time. As this is a public blog, I´ve mostly tried to not show my family and friends in photos, as this blog is also about things to do here, not us:).
To update, this blog is from Norway where I live. I´ve tried to show local culture, architecture, colourful wooden homes, rustic stone and rock roof tiles, seasonal fruits and berries, local gardens, food, recipes, explanations. Free walks, using the bus and public transportation to find local walks and various things to do. Changes seasonally. Local islands. Traditions, celebrating local holidays and such as our family might do, as we merge different varied cultural traditions.
A few of my fave blogs from here that I like, are:
http://transplantedbaker.typepad.com
http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/04/having-a-baby-in-norway/
(will add to this list when time permits)
and a few new blogs, I just found trying to find the URLs of the favourite ones:
http://amongthevikings.blogspot.no
http://tressainnorway.blogspot.no/2008/12/as-norwegian-momi-suck.html which I laughed at, as yes we foreign mothers get mentions of the most bizarre bits and pieces of culture; properly dressing our kids in what locals think is appropriate by usually calendar date more so than actual temperature; etc. Mentioning this, so I won´t forget where to find her blog when I have time to read it more:)
---
another one was a vegan mother who blogged and had a yoga place somewhere obscure in Norway....
will add, updates as time. And YES I am adding PHOTOS and VIDEOS, which I realize are lacking. But as you can see I started this blog ages ago, and well it´s still not ready, still not perfect, and if I don´t just say go now, when am I gonna?
I started twitter today for the first time, which reminded me to finish...erm make public, finally, this blog.
------
The Reason I started a twitter account finally today, after never any interest at all, was as I was organising the cellar rooms, putting up bookshelves for my plethora of books...I found one of my many kitchen/cooking/architecture related books. An old kitchen, of Anne Quatrano, inspired me to wonder if she was still cooking...and lo and behold she was on twitter. Their kitchen was so organic melded quietly, yet boldly, the two polar opposites of wood, metal, glass, open spaces with intimacy, living and working, whilst enjoying both freely, mixed, intertwined.
It was the architecture, the food, the sustainability....the book.
SEE this is why I keep all my books! I can barely imagine not. Sighing, at those who ask why am I yet again reading this or that book, again, again, again. Sånn. We´ll see how twitter goes. Not sure I´m cut out for all this time consuming, during studies, but then it did look a bit fun when I saw all the chefs, foodies, museums, architects...etc, and found about 60 or so to follow immediately. That´s probably my limit, mind you.
----
It´s a holiday this month, nearly all month (just kidding, it´s not, but it feels like it), which includes Monday. So, Tuesday, since everything is shut, am going to see the new Star Trek movie.
Way back when, a little girl sitting in my Dad´s comffy comffy rocking swivel chair, so close to the tv I had my feet propped on the wall, waiting for Dad to tell me off being so close to that boobtube...as I watched daytime episodes of something called Star Trek, a novelty to me as I rarely was anything but outside, I never imagined all we´d have today. Technology OTT everywhere.
I wonder what my Dad would think of it all....he´d bitch...but secretly, I bet he´d like it. All the knowledge, science stuff...not the commercialism, non-stop entertainment celebrity of it. Possibly he´s rolling over in his grave now, that I have my first twitter post or few up,)
Enjoy my Norway. Or, not. The best thing about it all, is all the choices, the off button, the scrolling past if it ain´t your thang....
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
language: online norwegian links (copy)
Copy of original post from beginning of blog, which is where anyone should start.
Currently, I´m studying to be fluent in Norwegian (6 hours a day), and Italian (one hour a day, as Norwegian is my main goal first), and half an hour a day misc (German, Swiss-German, French, Spanish). And if ever time, a bit of Russian and Portuguese. It´s a lot, but I live in Europe where it is helpful, and I like learning the languages for many reasons. Such as there´s an Italian Horticulture Design course I´d like to take in Florence or Rome.
So, hopefully, this blog helps others, and try to start at the beginning. Most posts have just photos of local islands and mainland. Some of the blog ended up being family stuff, but I don´t have time now to edit things much, other than add photos and deleted posts when a little free time. Though, when I´ve free time, I obv like to spend it with my family, 4 kids and T etc, esp as it´s now winter holidays! I had a fantastic time in Florence, Rome, Vienna etc with family, friends, and will be going back soon.
God Jul, Buon Natale, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, Felice Anno Nuovo, Godt Nytt År! From Italy and Norway:)
------------------
Currently, I´m studying to be fluent in Norwegian (6 hours a day), and Italian (one hour a day, as Norwegian is my main goal first), and half an hour a day misc (German, Swiss-German, French, Spanish). And if ever time, a bit of Russian and Portuguese. It´s a lot, but I live in Europe where it is helpful, and I like learning the languages for many reasons. Such as there´s an Italian Horticulture Design course I´d like to take in Florence or Rome.
So, hopefully, this blog helps others, and try to start at the beginning. Most posts have just photos of local islands and mainland. Some of the blog ended up being family stuff, but I don´t have time now to edit things much, other than add photos and deleted posts when a little free time. Though, when I´ve free time, I obv like to spend it with my family, 4 kids and T etc, esp as it´s now winter holidays! I had a fantastic time in Florence, Rome, Vienna etc with family, friends, and will be going back soon.
God Jul, Buon Natale, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, Felice Anno Nuovo, Godt Nytt År! From Italy and Norway:)
------------------
Norwegian, bokmål (as opposed to nynorsk) is mostly what I´m learning. The kids also speak in a bit of both plus mixed dialects, as Bergen and the local islands have various and numerous dialects.
For various reasons, though I first moved here in 2005, I´m only just now having the sheer luxury of time to learn Norwegian as I was always pregnant and/or taking care of our kids full time by myself, both abroad and here. When E was born, I had N who was about a year old at her birth, and had my first two classes, which were about a 40 minute drive away in each direction. As I was breastfeeding, I had to nurse immediately before my drive to class, and then leave before the class was over, in order to get home to breastfeed again, as it was painful to not breastfeed every 3 hours or less! (I barely made that, and after 2 classes was in tears how painful it was feeling like my boobs would burst, as milk leaked out, and even just the two 3 hour waits caused me to have extreme mastitis which was excruciatingly like burning razors, to put it mildly!)
TMI, sorry, but I do get fed up with people giving me the evil eye that I´ve not learned Norwegian yet, when they do not fully know what my circumstances are, do not bother to ask, and assume it is because I am lazy and/or think I am too good to have to learn a foreign language expecting locals to just speak my language. I get tired of people assuming I should have been able to learn Norwegian via osmosis or by having gone to two one-hour classes. Though, to be fair, in those two one-hour classes, without any time to actually study outside the class, I learned to count, tell time, two chapters, some grammar, some very basic vocabulary, and some very basic communication such as saying hello, my name, where I´m from, etc. But two hours is not enough, and I want to be native fluent, which is why I study now 6 hours a day, when I finally can.
I´ve got my residency permit, so I do not have to take Norwegian, but now that I finally do have the luxury of time to have class, let alone to gasp actually study, I am! (I also took care of the kids by myself from the time they awoke at around 6am til they went to sleep at around 7pm, and if my husband/their father was working, so I had no time either before rushing to class or after rushing home from class, to do anything but breastfeed, watch the kids, maybe eat or take a shower or pee!)
Every day I study 6 hours a day. It´s only been about few months I´ve had this luxury, but slowly it is making a difference. I teach myself, and then when I´m closer to fluent, near what is called C level (native fluency) I will get a tutor.
6 hours entails anything and everything from reading actual books (which are what officially-recognized language courses use), to grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, social studies and history of Norway, repeating, trying to speak from memory (which I find most difficult), and such. (And, yeah, there are still days when I´m exhausted or don´t have time to spend 6 hours, but I do what I can! This was first posted on APRIL 9th, and I am only now actually writing the contents, OCTOBER 1st, so by a few months, I mean since today October FIRST not April! )
Currently, I´m somewhere between A and B levels. Here is a link which better explains it:
Usually, I´m either at home online listening to Norwegian, to practice reading whilst listening to dialects, or often I´m out at different restaurants or cafes studying. The restaurants and cafes I go to are at the hours where obviously the lights are not dimmed, and they are quiet mostly even if full, or between busy hours. It´s nice, as the staff consider me a local not an intruder, they often help me or discuss it with me, give advice, and I get to enjoy some time out even though I´m studying. Sometimes friends join me, and we study or take a break to chat and catch up. And, obviously to make it clear, I do buy drinks and food, not just sitting there studying. Usually I get coffee with cream, cafe au lait, fika (juice or coffee with cake or pastry), lunch, or rarely a glass of wine or a beer (once!).
So, for those of you who wish to hear or maybe even learn a bit of Norwegian, I´ve added a few links, in order of level, from basic to higher up, that I use online:
Grammar Norsk Grammatikk Cappeldamm
there are many youtube videos also, including a youtube vlogger/blogger Crienexzy and her friend Lindy, who are both Norwegian and teach Norwegian in their videos for fun. They´re really nice to do this, and it really helps to hear the Norwegian, as opposed to simply reading it! It helps to hear different dialects and sources. She has about a hundred videos up, because she likes helping others, and it has helped lots of us who are learning! She´s on twitter, FB and other sites blogging, answering questions etc. I´ve compiled a YT playlist of her Norwegian videos, and other videos in Norwegian such as music with lyrics in Norwegian, which also helps me learn. The dialects I practice range from NorNorge (Northern Norway), Trondheim, Stavanger, Oslo, Kolbotn, Bergen, local islands, and others (both text and speaking). And such random things such as news, entertainment and documentaries in Norwegian, which help me learn, and give me, I hope, a more rounded study for my time. Good luck!
This YT video list is good too. Totally different dialect, but helpful none the less. Also on my playlist:
Just like any language, there is no one correct way to speak in Norwegian, but hearing different dialects can help you get the idea of the rhythm of the language and its melodious rounded way of being spoken.
Some music videos with lyrics, in Norwegian on my playlist:
This one´s good, for showing something not taught in courses: contractions. Contractions are spoken, but are officially not really supposed to be written. Saying something like I don´t know, which is Jeg vet ikke, written and spoken officially, is actually said Jeg Vet´kke. In the song, if you watch closely you will see another much used contraction: Kan´kke, which is short for Kan ikke (Can not, aka Can´t). This is how Norwegian is spoken, every day, but officially it is written out the long way. Something not taught in courses, or so I´m told.
-------------------
Teaching myself, I´m focusing first on learning the way the language is spoken, written, and not so much on grammar at first. But now, adding grammar a bit more, conjugating a bit more, focusing a bit more on the endings which I tried to memorize, so that now I can start focusing on the actual conjugating when speaking (what endings to put on the end of words, depending upon what the adjectives are and what the tense is, etc).
I´ve read through all the books lessons, and now am going back to focus more on each one individually, now I´ve got the main idea and am better at hearing people, being able to hear what they are saying. I had a difficult time being able to hear, distinguish what words were being said, as when speaking the language does not sound in real life as it does when hearing a single word at a time. Dialects change the way things are said. Many people speak in a combination of dialect, textspeak, slang, and cutting off bits of words or phrases, which I also have had a time to be able to learn, distinguish. Slowly I am improving, but my goal is to be native fluent. My first goal in that is, if I have to choose, to be able to understand what is being said even if I still have to answer in English. Which will probably be what I´ll naturally be able to learn first. The language output for me, to be able to speak as a native, will come later, but is not as important as my understanding in Norwegian what is being said.
So, that is my language schedule now, and my focus. Hope it helps anyone else trying to learn this or any other language. Total immersion, or partial immersion, even a few hours is what it takes to learn the language, and is easiest if you actually have the luxury of the time to do so, and when you actually live in the country whose language you are trying to learn.
Sorry, I´m turned off all comments on this blog. It´s not that I don´t wish to interact or that I do not care what others think, but more that I simply do not have the time to interact on-line much. But still I wanted to make this blog for me and for others who are interested in Norway, the language or what it is like to live here. I enjoy reading others blogs too, but rarely have the luxury of interacting. The few online communities I am a member of, are great, though again I rarely have the luxury of time that many do to spend each day all day interacting, but I still like reading and posting when I can!
----------------
Here are more links:
The Nordic eTax Norwegian/English dictionary with tax terminology.
Contact Association of Government Authorized Translators in Norway (STF) to find translator to translate Norwegian texts.
For General language help, contact Norwegian Language Council.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs translated government titles.
Online dictionaries, LEXIN, developed by the Norwegian Directorate of Education and Training and Skolenettet (NDETS), for immigrants to Norway.
NDETS website has further made Norwegian English Dictionary for the education sector made.
For translating Norwegian fiction and non-fiction, NORLA - Norwegian Literature Abroad. .
Info from SIFO on standard budget 2011, for households of various sizes, for Norway.
Norwegian Husbanken site in English and Norwegian.
Living in Norway info from Husbanken.
Norwegian language requirements 600 hours (550 language plus 50 social studies)
Norwegian Test 1 (norskprøve 1), Norwegian Test 2 and 3 (norskprøve 2 and 3) in the past before the new requirments of 600 hours (when 300 hours was the requirement), once passed, was considered the fulfillment of the 300 hours. The 50 hours of social studies is the study of Norwegian culture, and practical information about living in Norway. Slide share
PDF Social studies 50 hour courses Bergen Kommune
----------
MISC
klartale reading newspaper w podcasts to listen
links
Bergenstest language proficiency versus other such as spraktest sp link
Misc sentence structure and word options for everyday conversation link.
Misc sentence structure and word options for everyday conversation link.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Walkabout: OTELLO & Nordnes Book Cafe!
Fists up in the air in victory pose! Smile! yay y y!...cuz....I Found a new BOOK CAFE!
yeah I was that excited,). Yeah I do like books, and art, and book cafes with art galleries that much. Did I say it had a m a z i n g views of the Klosterets, Mt Fløyen, the sea, and Mt Ulriken?
So let´s recap:
BOOK cafe
with art gallery
free toilets
area with books you can read
area with books you can buy
FIKA (homemade cakes and coffee)
lots of large tables where you can study, read, talk..
or eat and enjoy the views
A few cafe cats from around the neighborhood, Mrs is the grey one:)
Mrs owner is very nice, we stood outside for a while talking about the snow, Ulriken, Mrs. The concrete sidewalk path and main concrete entrance where you walk in is heated, so Mrs and the other 2 cats like to sit there, as when it´s cold out, they are sitting on heated ground!:)
There´s crayons, markers and coloring books and paper for the kiddies too.
Hordaland Art (forget the exact name) of the Kommune and county sponsor this art library book cafe, so that even when the gallery is closed they keep the cafe open! Students come during exams especially to study, artists obviously are there, and put up info posters too.
PHOTOS VIDEOS
-----------
The rest of the Walkabout Saturday yesterday :
Buses were fine on schedule all day, despite the cold, snow and ice. After a stressful kaotic Friday of all morning with no buses due to sudden winter snowstorms causing wrecks, lorries toppling over bridge barricades, cars sliding off roads, and roads both in the city and on the islands, I was grateful simply for having such a calm Saturday, normality of buses again, and a day of enjoying the beautiful weather and spectacular views!
I forget whatall I did, saw or went to, but the main highlights were absolutely the book cafe, and walking around Nordnes, looking as if it couldn´t decide what season to wear,)
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
Lots of autumn colors everywhere, blue skies, snow-capped mountains, black still sea, snow lingering over most things, a bit of ice though mostly slushy like someone had tried to freeze snowcones or crush ice.
Walked around Nordnes mostly, waiting til later when the doors at Kino (the local movie theatre) opened to let people in to see Otello. Live broadcast from The Metropolitan Opera in NYC. A new experience for me, seeing Opera in HD etc in a movie theatre, but, now in hindsight, I did really enjoy it! I especially enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes looks they showed between acts and scenes, of the changing props, lights, cameras, entire sets, etc. They interviewed the different actors (um is the correct term?), lighting team, props team. Amazing they have to, say last night, have everything ready for Otello, then have barely 3 hours later that night to then have everything ready for The Tempest showing in (their) evening. For them, Otello was shown in the day (which was our night).
----
Walking around the Kino to kill a bit of half an hour til doors opened, I took a few videos, including inside one of the local candy shops, which reminds me of that candyshop scene in the ORIGINAL Charlie and The Chocolate Factory movie with Gene Wilder. The best part was I found actual M&Ms, which imho are way better than non-stops and similar. I bought a few small bags to use on the halloween cake today.
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
VIDEOS of inside the Kino
------
Walking back at exactly 10:23 (giving me just enough time to catch a bus leaving at 10:38) it was suddenly bitterest freezing cold out! Even in my thick down coat I was C O L D! no gloves. and Remembered earlier in the day being annoyed with myself for wearing such a hot coat, as I was burning up in it! Walking briskly to the bus stop near Kino, through cobbled streets and alleys so narrow you could hold out your hands and touch the buildings either side, walking past people in full halloween costumes and makeup wishing I had my camera out too to take photos as others were, I still was distracted by how C O L D I was! By the time I arrived, I only had maybe 10 minutes wait outside, but I paced back and forth the entire time, trying to keep warm by not just standing round waiting. Helped a bit. So glad when the bus arrived, it was precisely on time as normal and not late as unusual, and they had the heaters full blast! warmth, ah!
-----------
OH YEAH! Earlier in the day, Spent a few hours walking around Torgallmenningen which was set up for International Week, with free concerts, fresh hot homemade food from various countries, and fresh hot music from Cuba singers so good people were dancing salsas etc in front of the concert; rap music, classical flute playing and lots of other music. Booths were set up for cultural awareness of various topics, with free info, free food, and some food for a small fee. I got Norwegian heart waffles, and some African fish stew. Everything was delicious, and hot!:)
I stayed and listened to the Cuban music, including asking the guys dancing where we could hear that music in Bergen, and they told me a few clubs just round the corner, and one over in the opposite direction near Bryggen. Will go, and post about it soon!
-----------
Again was thinking of the colors of homes being so close to the colors of the mountains, sky, earth, trees, etc here, and how it changes. In autumn for instance, last few weeks the black and yellow ochre homes were so close in color to the yellow leaves, black stone of the mountains, and black fjord. The colder temps now have changed the stone mountains from blackest black, to a deep dark green brown. In summer the mountains are lighter in color to either of these colors, more grey. Autumn here marks the time of year most colorful matching the colors of the bright varied colorful homes. See previous posts.
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
Today:
yellow ochre and black- echo the yellow trees black oaky wood and black stone of the mountains and fjord
blue echos the blue skies with wisps of white clouds
red and green, the colors of the trees, sky, leaves on the ground
yellow ochre and green, the colors of yellow leaves fallen on the green grassy grounds
purple, the deeper fading sky near night
black, all around if you really look--sky at night, starry night, moon in black sky, black stone mountains, black fjord
PHOTOS
yeah I was that excited,). Yeah I do like books, and art, and book cafes with art galleries that much. Did I say it had a m a z i n g views of the Klosterets, Mt Fløyen, the sea, and Mt Ulriken?
So let´s recap:
BOOK cafe
with art gallery
free toilets
area with books you can read
area with books you can buy
FIKA (homemade cakes and coffee)
lots of large tables where you can study, read, talk..
or eat and enjoy the views
A few cafe cats from around the neighborhood, Mrs is the grey one:)
Mrs owner is very nice, we stood outside for a while talking about the snow, Ulriken, Mrs. The concrete sidewalk path and main concrete entrance where you walk in is heated, so Mrs and the other 2 cats like to sit there, as when it´s cold out, they are sitting on heated ground!:)
There´s crayons, markers and coloring books and paper for the kiddies too.
Hordaland Art (forget the exact name) of the Kommune and county sponsor this art library book cafe, so that even when the gallery is closed they keep the cafe open! Students come during exams especially to study, artists obviously are there, and put up info posters too.
PHOTOS VIDEOS
-----------
The rest of the Walkabout Saturday yesterday :
Buses were fine on schedule all day, despite the cold, snow and ice. After a stressful kaotic Friday of all morning with no buses due to sudden winter snowstorms causing wrecks, lorries toppling over bridge barricades, cars sliding off roads, and roads both in the city and on the islands, I was grateful simply for having such a calm Saturday, normality of buses again, and a day of enjoying the beautiful weather and spectacular views!
I forget whatall I did, saw or went to, but the main highlights were absolutely the book cafe, and walking around Nordnes, looking as if it couldn´t decide what season to wear,)
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
Lots of autumn colors everywhere, blue skies, snow-capped mountains, black still sea, snow lingering over most things, a bit of ice though mostly slushy like someone had tried to freeze snowcones or crush ice.
Walked around Nordnes mostly, waiting til later when the doors at Kino (the local movie theatre) opened to let people in to see Otello. Live broadcast from The Metropolitan Opera in NYC. A new experience for me, seeing Opera in HD etc in a movie theatre, but, now in hindsight, I did really enjoy it! I especially enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes looks they showed between acts and scenes, of the changing props, lights, cameras, entire sets, etc. They interviewed the different actors (um is the correct term?), lighting team, props team. Amazing they have to, say last night, have everything ready for Otello, then have barely 3 hours later that night to then have everything ready for The Tempest showing in (their) evening. For them, Otello was shown in the day (which was our night).
----
Walking around the Kino to kill a bit of half an hour til doors opened, I took a few videos, including inside one of the local candy shops, which reminds me of that candyshop scene in the ORIGINAL Charlie and The Chocolate Factory movie with Gene Wilder. The best part was I found actual M&Ms, which imho are way better than non-stops and similar. I bought a few small bags to use on the halloween cake today.
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
VIDEOS of inside the Kino
------
Walking back at exactly 10:23 (giving me just enough time to catch a bus leaving at 10:38) it was suddenly bitterest freezing cold out! Even in my thick down coat I was C O L D! no gloves. and Remembered earlier in the day being annoyed with myself for wearing such a hot coat, as I was burning up in it! Walking briskly to the bus stop near Kino, through cobbled streets and alleys so narrow you could hold out your hands and touch the buildings either side, walking past people in full halloween costumes and makeup wishing I had my camera out too to take photos as others were, I still was distracted by how C O L D I was! By the time I arrived, I only had maybe 10 minutes wait outside, but I paced back and forth the entire time, trying to keep warm by not just standing round waiting. Helped a bit. So glad when the bus arrived, it was precisely on time as normal and not late as unusual, and they had the heaters full blast! warmth, ah!
-----------
OH YEAH! Earlier in the day, Spent a few hours walking around Torgallmenningen which was set up for International Week, with free concerts, fresh hot homemade food from various countries, and fresh hot music from Cuba singers so good people were dancing salsas etc in front of the concert; rap music, classical flute playing and lots of other music. Booths were set up for cultural awareness of various topics, with free info, free food, and some food for a small fee. I got Norwegian heart waffles, and some African fish stew. Everything was delicious, and hot!:)
I stayed and listened to the Cuban music, including asking the guys dancing where we could hear that music in Bergen, and they told me a few clubs just round the corner, and one over in the opposite direction near Bryggen. Will go, and post about it soon!
-----------
Again was thinking of the colors of homes being so close to the colors of the mountains, sky, earth, trees, etc here, and how it changes. In autumn for instance, last few weeks the black and yellow ochre homes were so close in color to the yellow leaves, black stone of the mountains, and black fjord. The colder temps now have changed the stone mountains from blackest black, to a deep dark green brown. In summer the mountains are lighter in color to either of these colors, more grey. Autumn here marks the time of year most colorful matching the colors of the bright varied colorful homes. See previous posts.
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
Today:
yellow ochre and black- echo the yellow trees black oaky wood and black stone of the mountains and fjord
blue echos the blue skies with wisps of white clouds
red and green, the colors of the trees, sky, leaves on the ground
yellow ochre and green, the colors of yellow leaves fallen on the green grassy grounds
purple, the deeper fading sky near night
black, all around if you really look--sky at night, starry night, moon in black sky, black stone mountains, black fjord
PHOTOS
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Culture: Halloween Weekend Otello, Aquarium, Museums
"Just" by seconds missed the bus, so, as I´ve an hour to wait, will quickly write a little Culture post. Halloween Weekend!
1) Today, Saturday. Othello at the movie theater. Live from the NY Metropolitan Opera. See previous post and link.
2) Sunday . Halloween Nightmare Before Christmas, supper, opening halloween pressies, wearing halloween costumes; and Halloween at the Aquarium:
1) Today, Saturday. Othello at the movie theater. Live from the NY Metropolitan Opera. See previous post and link.
2) Sunday . Halloween Nightmare Before Christmas, supper, opening halloween pressies, wearing halloween costumes; and Halloween at the Aquarium:
" 28. October we celebrate Halloween at the Aquarium. Dare you visit the Aquarium's slimy, crawling and coiled animals in complete darkness? Put on your scariest costume and bring a torch! The aquarium will be filled up by the creepy creatures that lurks in dark scenes, distributing witches brew and snacks and telling scary stories. There will be face painting and a close encounter with spiders and snakes.
Aquarium hosts Halloween in collaboration with Fana Folkehøyskole. The set of over 40 actors, makeup artists and decorators. This is going to put the character in the evening and make it special "
3) Monday: cafe coffee chat/ bus to Aquarium....then walk back through Nordnes, passing and maybe stopping at USF
4) Tuesday. Study. Study Study. Hopefully meet friends out for drinks at Dr Viesner´s:)
5) Wednesday. Halloween Night at the UIB Museums. See previous posts and links to UIB site.
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The Holiday season is long and filled with endless things to do! Lots of family activities mixed with cultural situations, such as celebrating halloween activities at museums. Lots of other activities, in general also, such as seeing Otello live from NY Met but here at the movie theater.
This weekend is also the end of hosting the International event, having such things as Soups & Stories (ordinary people telling their stories of life in war torn countries, whilst sharing soup with those listening); Stories and discussions on places from Darfur to Isreal; awareness of cultural and other events in the world. Music and food festivals including people from various countries, to share with others their native music and food, and the influence these have made on others countries.
The International (forget the exact name) event re work, included work info from various large and small companies; job fairs; and fun stuff to do, such as free concerts.
Free concerts to raise awareness and money for charities.
Reggae music disco in Festplassen for kids and parents/ who ever. Things like that, all over the sentrum in the last week til next. A usual thing here, there is always something going on--usually many things going on, too many to see them all. Many free.
PHAMPHELT PHOTO
3) Monday: cafe coffee chat/ bus to Aquarium....then walk back through Nordnes, passing and maybe stopping at USF
4) Tuesday. Study. Study Study. Hopefully meet friends out for drinks at Dr Viesner´s:)
5) Wednesday. Halloween Night at the UIB Museums. See previous posts and links to UIB site.
---------
The Holiday season is long and filled with endless things to do! Lots of family activities mixed with cultural situations, such as celebrating halloween activities at museums. Lots of other activities, in general also, such as seeing Otello live from NY Met but here at the movie theater.
This weekend is also the end of hosting the International event, having such things as Soups & Stories (ordinary people telling their stories of life in war torn countries, whilst sharing soup with those listening); Stories and discussions on places from Darfur to Isreal; awareness of cultural and other events in the world. Music and food festivals including people from various countries, to share with others their native music and food, and the influence these have made on others countries.
The International (forget the exact name) event re work, included work info from various large and small companies; job fairs; and fun stuff to do, such as free concerts.
Free concerts to raise awareness and money for charities.
Reggae music disco in Festplassen for kids and parents/ who ever. Things like that, all over the sentrum in the last week til next. A usual thing here, there is always something going on--usually many things going on, too many to see them all. Many free.
PHAMPHELT PHOTO
Friday, October 26, 2012
Culture: Otello NY Met Opera livecast in Bergen Kino
Bergen Kino (movie theater) is showing livecast Opera from the NY Metropolitan Opera, Today, Saturday´s, opera is Otello, which I´m going to 7pm tonight. Very excited, and have had a long busy week and weekend! Enjoyed a late night out "today" Friday /slash/ Saturday with friend with a boozy Curry chat night of a overrated very popular book, which ended up in quite a lengthy and loud boozy discussion, whilst the kiddies slept, and we all got a bit slightly sloshed on red and white wines, the other whatsit, and champagne, including my bottle of Cliquot whatsit. It´s nearly 2am, am off to bed! Up early, to get my tickets for the Opera at the Cinema!
Snowstorms kaos today
Waiting for 3 hours for the bus, due to sudden snowstorms. Everyone´s still got summer tires on their cars, it has been summery mostly even with the autumn colors...and our first snow was Sunday, very light melting soon afterwards. It´s snowed heavily all last night, and this morning again with thick blustery snowstorms, hail and mostly snow. We´ve got nearly 5 inches of snow in our yard this morning by the time I walked out to catch the bus.
I waited. And waited. Yeah I figured ten or maybe even 15 minutes off schedule. Usually the buses run within 1-2 minutes of schedule, if not precisely on time. But rare delays from ice, snow, wrecks do happen of course. 3 hours later, after looking online from a phone at the local newspapers, when the Skyss didn´t answer about when or if a bus was coming, showed why.
Total kaos! Cars with summer tires going off the road, huge trucker tankers sliding off bridges and down embankments, traffic backed up chock-a-bloc for miles along the random winding island country roads, and even in the city, which is used to bad snowy weather. Wrecked cars abandoned in tunnels. Buses and cars from Steinrusten to Ravnanger, with wrecks, cars slipping on ice ended stuck in the air on the edge of a bridge barrier, ice or too much snow on the roads (which are furthest out, and hadn´t been able to have time to be plowed and iced yet enough to make a difference), all meant most of the buses hadn´t been able to arrive, or had been stuck somewhere along their route!
Just a few random links to local newspaper stories. One is from Voss, but same thing happened here, I just couldn´t find the exact link I was looking for.
I´m meeting friends later for supper, so selfishly I hope this gets sorted so I can actually get there, as now I´m stuck sat inside, blogging, looking out the window at the beautiful snowstorms and snow everywhere, hoping I can atleast get to town afore the Vinmonopoliet sp closes at 5pm. Was going to bring a bottle or 2 of wine to share:)
Will try again in a few hours, it´s too late to run errands in Bergen and surrounding islands, AND get back home to change & drop off stuff, AND then be back in Bergen to friends outside Bergen in opposite direction. So, a few hours to kill, will study, and eat:)
Last night´s supper still a few leftovers. Barely. And some pie left.
Was going to also get a new winter coat today, as the sales are half price for Helly Hansen. Well maybe I still have time for that, will just have to carry my old one and wear my new one to tonight´s supper!
VIDEOS posted and PHOTOS when time!
I waited. And waited. Yeah I figured ten or maybe even 15 minutes off schedule. Usually the buses run within 1-2 minutes of schedule, if not precisely on time. But rare delays from ice, snow, wrecks do happen of course. 3 hours later, after looking online from a phone at the local newspapers, when the Skyss didn´t answer about when or if a bus was coming, showed why.
Total kaos! Cars with summer tires going off the road, huge trucker tankers sliding off bridges and down embankments, traffic backed up chock-a-bloc for miles along the random winding island country roads, and even in the city, which is used to bad snowy weather. Wrecked cars abandoned in tunnels. Buses and cars from Steinrusten to Ravnanger, with wrecks, cars slipping on ice ended stuck in the air on the edge of a bridge barrier, ice or too much snow on the roads (which are furthest out, and hadn´t been able to have time to be plowed and iced yet enough to make a difference), all meant most of the buses hadn´t been able to arrive, or had been stuck somewhere along their route!
Just a few random links to local newspaper stories. One is from Voss, but same thing happened here, I just couldn´t find the exact link I was looking for.
I´m meeting friends later for supper, so selfishly I hope this gets sorted so I can actually get there, as now I´m stuck sat inside, blogging, looking out the window at the beautiful snowstorms and snow everywhere, hoping I can atleast get to town afore the Vinmonopoliet sp closes at 5pm. Was going to bring a bottle or 2 of wine to share:)
Will try again in a few hours, it´s too late to run errands in Bergen and surrounding islands, AND get back home to change & drop off stuff, AND then be back in Bergen to friends outside Bergen in opposite direction. So, a few hours to kill, will study, and eat:)
Last night´s supper still a few leftovers. Barely. And some pie left.
Was going to also get a new winter coat today, as the sales are half price for Helly Hansen. Well maybe I still have time for that, will just have to carry my old one and wear my new one to tonight´s supper!
VIDEOS posted and PHOTOS when time!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
FIRST REAL SNOW of the year!:)
We´ve had a few tiny snow hail hours which mere mostly melted by the time it got close to the ground. But today, NOW, it´s really snowing proper! yay. So exciting! A snowy halloween. It´s so snowy you can barely see the mountains or trees!
ah yay I´m so excited.
VIDEO
ah yay I´m so excited.
VIDEO
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