Never say never again

Alternate title: Will she never learn?

I have a love-hate relationship with winter sports. I snowboarded for a couple years, but never got good enough so that I could go without getting beaten up. I swore off snowboarding after I sprained my knee on a bad fall two years ago. Then last year some friends talked me into going snowboarding in Sweden, their treat. Bad idea. Sweden was nice, but the icy terrain was unforgiving, and being a year out of practice didn't help. The pain outweighed the fun, so I swore off snowboarding again and other winter sports along with it. I was sick and tired of it all of getting hurt.

You probably see where this is going. I should have listened to myself, to my body. There's a lot of reasons I should stop trying, but something keeps bringing me back to the snow. I should have started learning when I was younger, but I didn't and here we are. So against my better judgment, I've been out cross-country skiing the past two weekends. Norwegians ask me all the time if I've been yet and I got tired of saying no. Plus, it's supposed to be easy, right? While the skiing itself was easy enough, it's the dang downhills that get me.

Cross-country skiing was also pretty fun and a great workout. The nice thing about living in Trondheim is there is good terrain in close proximity. You only have to drive about 15 min from where I live in the center of town to get to the great snowy outdoors. The pictures below are from last week's trip, complete with campfire. Here's hoping the memories outlast the physical harm done!

Norwegians (born with skis on their feet):

Bjørn, Håkon, Nathalie, and Camilla

 "Imitate Kathleen"

Haha! I personally think Bjørn's rendition is the best

A glorious day to be out!

Aw yeah, gettin' the hang of it

At one point we stood at the top of a hill that was steep enough for me to stop and think about how I was going to make it down. My friends pushed off and quickly disappeared behind the turn ahead. The next thing I knew, an old man, probably 70 years old, was skiing up the hill at full speed. As he got closer he greeted me, "Hei hei," and I greeted him back. But instead of blowing past me he slowed down a little and seemed to stare at me for a moment, probably wondering why I was just standing there, all alone. "It's my first time on skis," I said. He stopped and laughed, "And your friends just left you?" We had a short chat (he guessed I was from the Netherlands), and he gave me a few pointers.

Lots of times Norwegian strangers are reserved and can seem cold. Other times they are the sweetest people you will ever meet. If you want to find them at their friendliest, head to the ski slopes. The old man jokingly scolded me for waiting so long to try cross country skiing, we laughed, and then he was off again. I sat down on the backs of my skis and sledded down the hill. If I've tried everything else and still fall, I find that to be the safest and fastest way to get down.

After two and half hours, it was time for a break:

Bjørn makes himself useful. I stand and take pictures.

Håkon and Camilla also make themselves useful

Can you find the hotdog?

I'm starting to understand why they like to go skiing

As we sat next to the fire, I asked what they liked best about going skiing. Here's a few of their answers:

"Not to go anywhere in particular, but just to go for skiing's sake, just to be out here"

"I feel more Norwegian doing this than anything else"

"Bringing along an American who's never been before"

I've never snarfed down three hotdogs so quickly

 Håkon boils water for coffee and hot cocoa

Good folks to spend an afternoon in the wilderness with

They told me I did really well for a beginner (I know that's at least half true because I kept up and completed the 10 kilometer trip). And I could feel I was a little better the second time than the first. Though I have to agree with that old man. I waited too long to try. I wonder if late really is better than never. While I still vow never to snowboard again, maybe I shouldn't have thrown the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to winter sports. I'm glad I've gotten out there and tried, but I don't know how much more I'll pursue cross-country skiing. It'd be nice to get a little better, but a girl can only take so much pain. And if, as the old saying goes, Norwegians are born with skis on their feet, I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Norwegian superiority in unexpected places

It is a well known fact (right?) that Norway is the best country in the world. There's the United Nations numbers and standard of living blah blah blah ...does all that even matter? What does it really mean to be excellent? How does that play out in everyday life? Why is Norway better than your country, wherever you are, and why is this the best place on earth to live? I'll tell you why: The Norwegian Birthday Song.

Now, if you'll allow me to explain. I am proud American. But I know when we've been bested. Let's face it, "Happy Birthday" is more of a durge than a celebration song. But after years of dealing with it, what I didn't realize was there are other choices available. And I don't mean just translating "Happy Birthday" into the language of your choice. There are other, unique birthday songs sung in other parts of the world. In my opinion, the Norwegian birthday song is head and shoulders above any other one out there. I don't even need to hear the rest, I know I've found the best. Obsessed with the best... I'm sounding like an American again, aren't I?

The point being! The Norwegian birthday song is fun to sing and even more fun to have sung to you. It is much less awkward than "Happy Birthday," which gives the birthday boy or girl about 20 seconds to self-consciously half-smile and bob to the slow beat and think of a wish while everyone stares at you. In contrast, the Norwegian song has a upbeat melody and lyrics with meaning, and more than six words. Once it begins you know you are celebrating someone instead of wondering if you're sending them to an untimely death.

OK, I'm done trying to explain it, you just have to hear it to understand. I had a birthday recently and so got the pleasure of having this delightful tune directed at me. I wanted to record the whole thing but alas, my friends were too fast so I only caught the last half of the song. You get the idea, at least!

Just try and tell me that didn't put a smile on your face.

The lyrics were written about 100 years ago, so its old, but it still works. Here's my best English translation: 

Hooray for you, the one who has completed your year!
Yes, it's you we congratulate!
We all stand around you in a circle
and look, now we're marching!
Bowing, nodding, curtseying, turning ourselves around,
dancing for you with hops and leaps and bounds!
With heartfelt wishes for all good things,
tell me, what else could you want?
Congratulations!

Pretty good, huh? Seriously though, I never (see below for exception) want to hear "Happy Birthday" again, so everyone back home better start the Norwegian version. I know when we've been outdone and trust me, fellow Americans, this is one of those times.

Bonus material:
I will gladly listen to "Happy Birthday" as sung by a small child, especially a relative! My two-year old nephew sang to me (after first singing to his baby sister, haha) over Skype on my birthday. Nothing really beats that. I'm so thankful for the technology that lets me enjoy these special moments. I shouldn't get to experience this being as far away as I am, and yet I do, amazing!