Isbada i Kjose!

Today was ICE BATH!!!  Yesterday, Kristian went outside and cut a hole in Farris, the lake on which we reside, with a chainsaw.  Yes, he had to cut a hole because it is totally frozen.  Why did he have to cut a hole in the frozen lake?  For ice bath, of course!  Pssh, what else...?

So, isbada is a tradition here in Kjose for my host family.  Every year they host a party in "Stigs Gym" (or what I call "the barn" or "fancy Kjose movie theater") where they invite the members of the gym or people who want to be members to do ice bath and go through a ceremony and party!  I heard about this before I arrived in Norway and wanted to do it ever since I heard it.  So another Norwegian wish is fulfilled! Hurra! 

We helped set up the barn yesterday evening.  It was sooo pretty!  Everything was red and white and the middle of the table had branches from pine trees. 

This morning we prepared the food to get ready for this afternoon!  I made a salad.  Yup.. Well, it was good... that's all that matters, right? 



op.no

 Then around 2 o'clock people started to arrive.  I came downstairs into the kitchen and met some of the others getting ready for isbada and a journalist from Østlands Posten, the local paper.  He interviewed us and we went down to the lake!  I put on my bikini with my ski jacket and Solfrid's snowboarding pants and boots over it and went down to the lake, towel in hand. 

http://www.op.no/nyheter/article5420605.ece (The article, I was quoted, but as Noe Ellen Neisner which literally means Something Ellen Neisner xD )

Kristian read the list of rules, and Nina, "icewoman 2009" went first.  We each had to do five strokes of breast, back and free.  After her went Merete, my host mom! 

No one was complaining or seeming like they were in pain. 

Then Kristian announced that I was next and it finally hit me.  For the first time I thought, "Why am I doing this??"  But then I realized I am an exchange student.  I have to try everything!  Plus, I have told myself that I was going to do it for months, so I was going to "man-up" and do it.  I had the rope tied around my waist for safety and I was in the water.

It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be... I just noticed that I couldn't feel my arms or legs.  I did the five strokes of each, and then I added in butterfly, just for kicks.  (Jim, be proud.)  And I got out. 

I guess I hit my hand when I was doing butterfly, because someone mentioned how much it must have hurt, but I didn't notice it... pretty much because I was totally numb.  xD  But, now I notice it... a lot. 

I felt more cold out of the water that I did in, so I tried to dry myself off as much as possible and quickly put on my clothes.  But, let me tell you, that's pretty difficult when you can't feel any part of your body.  It felt like my skin was vibrating all over and wherever I would try to use my towel as friction to warm me up, I literally couldn't feel through my skin. 

All I could think after I was done was: DOES THIS MAKE ME A VIKING???  Not exactly, but I did earn membership into Stigs Gym!

We had a ceremony where the new members (only me) recieved a t-shirt that said "Member of Stigs Gym" on the front and "No Pain No Gain" on the back.  I think it was very appropriate.  I was "dubbed" into the gym with a sword while the President (Kristian) and Vice President (Paul) of Stigs Gym wore capes and read rules and whatnot. 

And, I was extra extra lucky, because I was chosen to be ICEWOMAN 2010!!! Paul got ICEMAN 2010!!!

I got another framed certificate and a smashing bathing cap that said "icewoman 2010" on it.

Let me tell you, I'm proud of myself. 

I'm not just proud that I jumped into a frozen lake for about a minute, no.  I'm proud because I didn't chicken out.  I'm proud because I feel like I am a part of a family here in Norway.  Never in a million years did I think that I would be this close to my first host family, or a host family in general.  My host grandparents were there too and I always like to see them and talk to them. 

Let's see... on Wednesday I went to a spa with Solfrid and Merete called "Farris Bad".  It is a mineral water spa with SO many things to do.  We went for three hours.  Lots and lots of warm water on Wednesday, and lots and lots of cold water on Saturday.  That's a good week if you ask me.  ;)  It was an early Christmas gift from Kristian and I thank him so much for it! 

:):)