I HAVE ARRIVED

I'm using Jon's laptop to write this right now, so I will make this quick.

My flights were both delayed, the second one more severly than the first one, but I got to Norway without any other problems.  It should take about one and a half hours to drive home from the Oslo Airport, but it took us nearly 3-4 hours because we hit rush hour and stopped a few times.  NORWAY IS BEAUTIFUL! 

My host parents Kristian and Merete and my youngest host brother, Jon, who is 13 came to pick me up at the airport.  It was pretty cool: at first I met a girl who approached me at baggage claim who was once an exchange student to Finland.  Then, we thought that our bags didn't make it onto the plane, so we both were a little worried.  Then we found them on another baggage claim belt that wasn't labeled from Reykjavik.  I was so happy she was there.  She introduced herself as Caitlin.

There are so many tunnels through mountains on teh roads all near here. 

When we arrived in Larvik, we stopped near a train station where there was a large gathering and found Eirik, my other host brother who is 15.  From there, we went grocery shopping quickly.  At the seafood end of the Grocery store, there was a big tub of cooked shrimp where we could just take one out and eat it!  Believe me, it was great!

We arrived in Kjose at lake Farris to my host family's home.  They had a giant sign on their house that said "Welcome Home Noellen" and also two American flags.  I had a tour of the house, was introduced to my room, and played their WHITE BABY GRAND PIANO.  (forgot my music at home...)

We went down to the lake to bathe because their well is almost dried up and then ate a lovely dinner outside of crab and shrimp.  (It was a very messy meal!)

The only problem I have so far, which will hopefully sort itself out, is that my host family is speaking to me in English.  If, a few days from now, they have not stopped, I will let them know that I would prefer them to speak only in Norsk.  It is nice for the first few days, but after this, when I am settled, they continue, I will talk to them about it.

Other than that, they are very welcoming and nice!  They also had a birthday cake for me last night and some presents. 

I am slightly overwhelmed, but it will wear off soon enough.