Resolutions, Norwegian Style

I've made a list of new year's resolutions that I really want to keep. They might be like most resolutions you hear people talk about, but mine are also a little different. They are based on positive things that I've noticed about the Norwegian culture that I want to apply to my own life. With that in mind, this year I want to:

Eat like a Norwegian
No, I'm not going to start eating lutefisk regularly. There are other Norwegian habits that make more sense. Here's what I mean:

Norwegians are fairly adamant about enjoying unhealthy food only on the weekends. I learned this after one of the first lunches I took to school in the fall included potato chips. I am used to having potato chips with my sandwiches in the States so I thought nothing of it to bring them in my matpakke (Norwegian lunchbox). But when I produced the chips from my backpack at school, the response from my new Norwegian friends was nothing short of, "What the heck are you doing?" and "Are you crazy? Potato chips are Friday night food!" I ate the potato chips in defiance that day, but their reactions stuck with me. While I have eliminated potato chips from my matpakke, I still tend to eat junk food whenever I want. I'd like to change this and limit my treat-eating to weekends and special occasions, an un-American as that is.

Eating like a Norwegian will also mean eating more fish, which will mean buying fish and learning how to prepare it. And to round out my blossoming Nordic diet, I will be eating more fruit, vegetables, eggs, and whole grains instead of other bad stuff. That was my obligatory diet-related resolution. Now, some others:

Practice hospitality
Norwegians are a welcoming and generous bunch. They love to have people over for a delicious dinner, or just sit and chat over a cup of coffee. I've been blessed by the hospitality of countless Norwegians since I've been here, and it's made me realize I need to be more hospitable. I want to take the initiative and invite more people over.

Speak Norwegian

My Norwegian comprehension is good, but my conversational skills are lacking. I can have simple conversations and I am nearly professional at following conversations in Norwegian (depending on speed and the dialects being spoken). But I struggle to keep up quickly enough so that I can contribute, and I don't always know the words I should use. The next step is learning more so I can actively participate and rely less on English. I've found that being able to speak someone else's language lets you connect with them in a whole new way, and it helps you get to know some people you otherwise wouldn't.

Each day I've been teaching myself a few new Norwegian words to improve my vocabulary and it is already paying off. I need to keep it up and make the effort to speak more in everyday life. Since my Norwegian is far from perfect, I often shy away from asking things in stores or other public places unless I know exactly how to say it. I need to be more courageous and willing to make mistakes if I'm going to improve. Still, when I speak, people are usually surprised and impressed that I've lived in Norway for less than six months. That means I've come a long way since I got here and is a big encouragement to keep going. A huge thanks to all the Norwegians who have helped me learn the language so far!

Gå på tur (Go for a walk)
I want to get more exercise, but I don't want to join a gym. Instead, I'd like to walk more. I find that walking is a great (and free!) way to get to know your city and get moving after sitting most of the day. I walk to the store often and home from school once in a while, but I want to do it more often and explore new areas in Trondheim. How is walking Norwegian? I can't explain it right now, but trust me, it is.


Blog more
of course!

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

When I initially planned to write a blog post every day for 12 days, a small part of me actually thought I could do it. I mean, how hard could it be to write a sentence or two to document my Christmas break, if not a few long posts about things past? I thought that with all my free time I'd be able to write like never before. But now this idea seems terribly foolish. I neglected to realize that I wouldn't want to spend a ton of time writing. It is a bit of a chore for me, so when given a choice between it and almost anything else, writing loses.  I had an exciting and exhausting fall semester, and afterwards I needed a break from focused work. Instead of writing my brains out, I've been enjoying time with people and time alone with God. 

Right now I'm in Stavanger, in southeast Norway. I've been hanging out with my friend Julie and her family for the past few days and it's been a wonderful time of rest and relaxation. Normally, I'd be really excited to see the sights in a new place, but the weather has been stormy so we've stayed inside most of the time and just hung out. And that's the great part about this break. I haven't felt pressure to get a bunch of stuff done or check things off my to-do list. I've been living more in the moment and enjoying the little things each day brings. Good, meaningful conversations. Laughs about cultural differences. I'm thankful for the chance to get to know people better and to rest my mind.


So that's why I haven't blogged as frequently as I would like. I would rather experience life and maybe have time to write about it later than miss out on life but have everything perfectly documented. I will still be blogging as much as I can, but my life is not a blog, and yours isn't either. We are real, live people with limited time time on this earth. My life is a gift, and in the past five months in Norway, I've learned to appreciate this gift more.


The point is, I've had not only an amazing Christmas break, but an amazing time in Norway so far. The joys and challenges are equally good, and I'm growing in faith in Jesus like never before. I'm grateful to be here, and to have even more time here. Tomorrow I head back to Trondheim where I have a few days to get ready for school to start again. I hope all of you have had a restful and joyful Christmas season as I have, and that it extends into 2012.


Pictures from Stavanger:

Julie and her sister

Side note: We are eating at Peppe's Pizza,

only the second time I've eaten at a restaurant since I've been in Norway.

Julie's parents and my temporary parents :)

Happy New Year!