En god helg :D

This week, I was accepted into St. Louis University and not into Washington University in St. Louis, my dream school.  But, I have realized, as many times before, things will turn out for the best.  You know, maybe I wasn't meant to go to WashU, so I have decided to hold onto my acceptance into SLU, but check out schools HERE IN NORWAY!  Who knows? 

On another note...

We had another conference in Tønsberg yesterday, but this was because the President of Rotary International was there!  His name is Ray Klinginsmith, and he is a mutual friend of my uncle and grandfather!  It is so strange how small the world is today.  Especially with this exchange program - here I am, all the way in NORWAY and I meet the Rotary International President who possibly knew my grandfather.  . . . . . . It is just amazing.

It was really nice to see all of the exchangers again, too.  We all sat together and ate a fancy buffet-style lunch with really really really great dessert ;)  Then we performed the flag ceremony, got up on stage after Mr. Klinginsmith, and told a little about our experiences.  Tone asked Zak, Oscar and me to talk a little bit more about our experiences.  Zak is from Australia and is getting ready to go home; Oscar is a rebound who went to France; and I haven't even made it halfway yet.  Then, I was asked to play "Piano Man" (yes, again) while the other exchangers sang.  On the last verse, everyone joined in.  It really went with what Mr. Klinginsmith said about bringing the world together through the exchange program.  Music can do the same thing :D

Afterwards, Trond drove Nick (also from Australia) and me to Kjose.  We pretty much just hung out around the house and watched movies with Jon.  It was really great to hear about his experiences as an exchange student in Norway almost up until his leaving date (he leaves for Australia in only six weeks).  He is quite mature for only turning 16 a few months ago! 

This morning, we woke up around 8 o'clock and got to Oslo by train around 11:30.  Pretty much every shop was closed (being a Sunday) except the tourist shops.  I got Bauer something special (Mom/Dad, let Bauer know, because I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this hahaha) and a few others too.  We read on a sign the the stores were going to open around 14.00, so right when Didrik called and said that he could pick us up and bring us to his apartment for the party, we were psyched.  He picked us up at Oslo S. and we headed to the apartment.  We drank "gløgg" (i have NO idea how to spell that), baked pepperkake (gingerbread), made cards, made little people out of toilet paper rolls and did a Christmas quiz.  It was so much fun. :D

We left around 3:30 and Didrik drove us back into the city to "Oslo City", the shopping mall.  We shopped for a few more hours and then took the bus home. 

Here are a few pictures from this weekend:



The conference



my speech ;)



all the exchangers




President, me, Nick, Oscar



sing us a song...

Ray Klinginsmith