Winter Darkness in Norway isn't a joke.

When I tried to wake up this morning, I literally couldn't.  I could hear my alarm going off at 6:25 am like usual, but I couldn't get up.  My alarm went to automatic 10-minute-snooze after a minute of ringing.  I kept telling myself that I needed to get up and get to school.  Just before it was time for the alarm to go off a second time, I got all of my strength and "awakeness" and turned off my alarm.  I wasn't going to make it to school today.  I feel totally exhausted. 

It is a little after 9 o'clock here and it is finally somewhat bright outside. 



11 o'clock sun. yup, that low in the sky.

 Lately, when I get on the bus a little after 7:30 am, the starts are still out.  I remember driving to school at this time last year and the sun was definitely above the horizon.  Here, you can see a faint light over the mountains to the south-east nearby, but the moon is nowhere near setting.  The sun used to be annoying on the bus in the morning, but now it is still not up when I arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:25.  It is lighter outside, but it still hasn't made it over the horizon.  During first class the sun decides to come up.  There is a building right next to the classroom in which I have most classes, so I can't see the sun or the brightness anyway.  The roof is see-through on the top of the school, but it is covered by snow so there is close to no light coming through there.  When I stand around with Martine, Alice and Sondre waiting for the bus most days after school, the sun is just above the horizon (seemingly in the same place) to the south-west getting ready to set.  This is only at 3:30.  By the time I arrive home between 4:15 and 4:30, there are already stars in the sky and the moon is out again. 

The darkness in Norway is intense... and I'm in the southern region!  I can't even imagine going up to Seløy at this time of year or even to the top of Norway (plus, it's colder there).  They have little or NO light during the days now.  On December 20/21 (I can't remember which day) the days will start going the opposite way.  But, we have a week left before that happens. 

I'm excited because in June are days when I can go outside and sunbathe at 1/2 am :D  I don't want it to be June, mind you, but I know that if I get through these extremely short days, I have the long ones to look forward to. 

The dark in Norway is really getting to me.  I feel tired all the time.  Yes, I'm still learning a pretty difficult language during the day which is very tiring, but this seems to just get worse everyday.  Like I said, we're about one week away from the shortest day of the year (AND ICE BATH IN FARRIS) but it has already taken over me.  (I suppose the ice bath is another way of waking up in getting ready for longer days again?)

Although the darkness of Norway and I are not friends at the moment, night in Norway has something to offer: Aurora Borealis/The Northern Lights. 

I typed in "Norway Northern Lights" into Google and this is what I got.  This was the color I saw in Seløy so I thought it would be appropriate to use. 

Now it's time for Noellen to go back to bed so she can recover.  Glad I got this down "on paper" before I forgot the next time I wake up today.