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Norway trip -- 2004-07-08 Just wanted to add some journal entries I wrote when I didn't have access to the internet... Missed you all, and if you're still reading, thanks! --- Tuesday, June 15th, 2004 Debbie and I are finally in Norway. The journey here was long for various reasons, mainly that both she and I were terribly sick (her with dizziness, and me with a chest virus and asthma flareup). Neither of us were really prepared, although we’ve known about it for so long, things kept happening at home preventing us from getting ready, packing and otherwise preparing like we should have. Needless to say we were packing up to the last minute, and were stressed up to the time we got to the airport on Friday night. The flight to London was not good. I felt panicky, and spaced-out when I got on the plane, seeing that many people. I was teary, and emotional. Debbie held my hand pretty much the whole flight, and was very good to me. I had to take an ativan, which helped me get through my anxiety. I don’t know what happened, I have flown so many times before. I think it was a combination of many things, including the fact that I was sick and spaced out on prednisone. The flight was turbulent, and Debbie said she would have panicked had I not been there. We were there for each other, supporting and loving each other, and that was what got us through it. After a four hour wait in Heathrow Airport, which was really cool (!) we boarded a flight by Scandinavian Air and flew to Norway. Thankfully that flight was uneventful, and I was much more relaxed, probably because I was so tired. I had not slept since waking up on Friday morning, so I caught a bit of a nap on the plane. Arriving in Oslo was wonderful, because I knew the hotel was not far away, and I would be able stretch out on the bed. All I could think about was sleep. Wheezing makes me so tired, and having confused my sleeping schedule that much, I felt only sicker. Thank God for Debbie, she waited in line for the car rental, arranged it all, and got us out of the airport and drove us to the hotel (SAS Radisson) without much trouble at all. Her navigation skills are amazing! While I was reading the map, she was winding the car down the streets like a pro. At the hotel we rested for a moment, then went to eat in their restaurant. We had a fabulous pork meal, and a cosmopolitan as well. The relief at finally being at our destination was remarkable. We were both smiling and giddy, and of course, over-exhausted. We went back to our comfortable room and fell into a deep sleep. I slept pretty much straight for ten hours. The next day we drove to Arendal. It took us about five hours to get there, which was worth it for the scenery alone. Winding roads, hills and green everywhere, we were driving through the mountains, but seeing farms as well. It certainly is a beautiful country. Although I was sick I appreciated the views that we had as we drove. We saw some small fjords as well. Arendal is a small harbour town, with a lot of boats, and water, seemingly surrounding it. There are two nearby islands that a ferry goes to as well, and the homes are stuck in every nook and cranny, in the hills, surrounded by trees, and in every available space by the water. We are staying in a flat provided by Gard, right next to the building, and the water. It is tolerable, very small, and with very few appliances. It certainly wasn’t what we expected, and a far cry from a hotel room. Still we have a kitchen table and chairs, a nice couch, and pretty good view, an iron, separate bathroom, and stovetop. So I guess we can’t complain. We get to see the speed boats and sailboats moving into the harbour, and the swans swimming around them. I’m not really complaining, it *is* wonderful to be here. Imagine being in Norway! It’s a small town though, and it is very different from the bustle of Oslo. --- Monday June 21st, 2004 It’s a quiet night, Debbie is napping in front of “Absolutely Fabulous,” playing on one of the few English tv channels we have. BBC, naturally. It’s a life-saver. I didn’t realize how much I would miss English culture! We don’t have any North American channels, but at least we have one that carries Will and Grace, and some sitcom re-runs. It’s almost nine p.m., I’ve got a nice cup of tea, and I’m looking out at the most wonderful sunshine. It doesn’t get dark till about 11:30, perhaps a bit later, and the sun is up again in a few hours. We are coming up on the longest day of the year (Wednesday), when there is a big celebration here, there will apparently be bonfires, and individual parties on all the boats. We don’t know anyone with a boat here, so I doubt we will get to go out on the water, unfortunately. Still it will be nice to see. So far we’ve been having a pretty good time in Arendal. One of Debbie’s co-workers at Gard invited us over for a texan-themed barbeque, which was full of Canadians and Americans. One of Kim’s guests, Frank brought margarita mix, and nachos and salsa from texas, and Kim made an excellent guacamole. The main course was barbequed meat, and lots of salads. The food was excellent, and so was the company. It was mostly workers from Gard, and we all sat down and talked. They included us in their conversation even though we didn’t know them very well, and it was a nice evening. Kim’s house was literally on the top of a hill, and we walked seemingly a hundred stairs to get there. We were winded by the time we got there. I would never be able to live in that kind of layout, it would be too dangerous for me in the winter! Her house was nice though, and they obviously have money. The house was apparently occupied by the Germans in WWII, though, and I would never be able to live there, knowing that. The Norwegians are very bitter about being occupied, and there is a stone monument and museum in Oslo about it that I want to go see when I return. This past weekend we drove to Stavanger to spend some time there. We stayed in the Clarion hotel, a nice hotel although very European in style. No iron in the room, and European style bedding. I loved the bed though, it was even more comfortable than the Radisson! We explored on Saturday throughout the old cobble-stone streets, and by the port. There were two cruise ships in, and a lot of tourists wandering around. It rained almost all day, but we were able to duck into some of the shops, and eat lunch in a great Greek restaurant to avoid the rain. Saturday night we just relaxed in front of the television, which had more channels than in Arendal. We made love too, and it was raw and passionate. Afterwards we were spent, and just flaked out. It was great, but our bodies just aren’t used to that much exertion! It rained the entire drive back, and it was very nerve-wracking. I think both of us were on edge, and we were just generally unhappy about the length of time it took us to get back. It took us over five hours, not including stops. Because it was so miserable we put off stopping somewhere to eat, and decided to eat in Kristiansand. Well, that was a bust, we couldn’t find anywhere to park, it was spilling out, and because it was Sunday, very little was open. We decided to drive back to Arendal to eat, and we were absolutely starving. Thankfully we finally got home, and went to a great pizza place for European pizza (tons of vegetables, very little pizza sauce, but a delicious garlic sauce for dipping) and beer. It made up for the day. Because we were more or less at each other’s throats for the second part of the trip, it was nice to relax. I haven’t done that much work here yet, and I’m not sure what is stopping me. I have read a few articles and almost finished the book I am supposed to review for Ethnologies. So that’s something. I am finding the book quite demanding to read however, and I’m sure that’s part of my procrastination. I think I am anticipating the difficulty I will have trying to write the report, which is making me not want to do it. I have until July 15th to write it, and I don’t want to be at it at the last minute. Debbie has noticed that trend in me, and it’s true. I don’t want to prove her right. But also I want to do a good job on the report, and hopefully get published. I need to take steps to publish and get known in the academic world if I want to get a job, or teach a few courses in the folklore department. I am full of concerns about my chosen path in academia, and my worries definitely take up more energy than I can afford to spare. I am trying to correct that problem, but I’m so unsure of myself! I read Dr. Burns’ Feeling Good book, which helps quite a bit when I do the exercises, but sometimes it’s hard to do them. I definitely fall into the trap of “do-nothingism” and obsessive worry. I mind-read/fortune-tell, both bad habits, and I overgeneralize and over-evaluate my past mistakes. I am my own worst enemy sometimes. I don’t want to be. I want to be confident and full of positive self-esteem. I want to be a friend to myself. I want to go ahead in my career, and portray myself as someone who knows what she is doing in life, what she wants. A confident person is a hireable person. And that is my ultimate goal. Obviously that is what I have to work toward. I wish I could see that all the time. Sometimes I feel like I can’t see the forest for the trees. I have made the decision to go back to therapy. I think I need to talk some things out, and get used to thinking in cognitive-behavioural mode. I hope Peter can help.
Norway trip - 2004-07-08 |
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