The Big Move

I know that this entry should really be tribute to going home because that will really be the biggest move, and moving up the street doesn't really seem like that big of a deal, but it sort of feels that way. First, it is big because this is something we have talked about for months, and suddenly it is here, and I have a feeling that after I move, life is going to go into turbo motion and I will be back home in Steamboat before I know it. Second, this first host family I have lived with, the Voldens, have been so amazing I feel lucky that I got the chance to meet them. I expected living with a completely random family to be weird and awkward, but I was pleasantly surprised when I moved in here--I have 100% always felt completely comfortable here, and that is a pretty amazing thing! It is going to be really sad to leave, but I do have the solace of knowing that I live just up the street. I actually have known my next host family since I have lived in Norway, so they are definitely not completely strangers. My next host family is a dad, a mom, and four kids--I even get a little brother! I am very excited to experience some new things. I think that is part of the whole exchange experience--change and moving on from it, doing things on the spur of the moment, and finding yourself completely outside of your entire environment. Trust me, anyone who has ever been an exchange students has been faced with these things: it is a given in terms of exchanges.

Anyway! Enough of the sappy and sentimental. It is time for me to update you guys on what I have been up to! I have been doing a lot of activities with friends lately, and that has been really great :) I went sledding for the first time in Norway and saw the movie "Trolljegeren" or "The Troll Hunter." I have gone skiing multiple times--still pretty bad! A few of my friends have had birthdays and begun to turn 18!! That is pretty exciting for me--especially if they get their licenses :) one thing I have definitely been craving lately but haven't gotten to do yet is to swim in a swimming pool. I have always been kind of addicted to just going for a random swim--one thing I got to do a TON in the fall because the ocean is right there, but I'm not crazy enough to do that now!! That is wayyyyyy too cold if you ask me! So I am just craving a dip in a pool--I'm workin' on it! Trips in the making: Sweden, Trondheim, Tromsø, Bergen (with my school!!! So excited :D), Tønsberg, my new host family's hytta which I don't remember where it is but I'm excited!, Denmark (probably with my family), and just everywhere possible! Oh and don't forget winter camp and Europe trip! Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay so I was going to upload some pictures, but apparently this website isn't really feeling the whole picture thing right now and won't let me. Anyway, it's okay because I have exciting news. Since I last saved this entry, I have MOVED!!! We had a really nice lunch with both my families with PIE!!!! last Saturday, and then they helped me move my MASSIVE amount of stuff that I have collected in the last few months up the street (very far) to my new host family! I have a reaaaaaally adorable room, and a fantastic family! They are two parents, three sisters (one lives in Oslo: I live in her room), one little brother(he's pretty awesome), and a dog!!! It is really exciting and a really lively household. They eat gluten free, and I eat lactose free, so we are basically just a big allergic family...cozy. Haha :) But anyway, I just thought I would let everyone know that the move went really well, and although my last host family was FANTASTIC as well, I am loving my new host family :) Oh, and they have been missionaries in Azabidjan (which I have no idea how to spell), so the parents and eldest daughter can speak Azabidjansk which is very close to Turkish, and then!! their oldest daughter can speak Russian! How cool is that?! Anyway, next week is winter camp--pictures and a blog entry coming soon!!!!