Inhale the light

The week that disappeared

2012-03-03T07:19:00.001-08:00

Spices for sale, close to The al-Azhar Mosque. I didn't buy anything, but stood there for a while, mesmerized by the colors and the smells.

The streets in the older parts of Cairo are absolutely beautiful, with old buildings and mosques at your left and right. Feels like you've traveled back in time.

One of the few fruits I know how to talk about in Arabic - bananas and oranges! ("Maoz" and "borto'an".)

These young girls approached me, and wondered if I could take a picture of them. I agreed, and as I told them they looked beautiful in Arabic, they giggled as they walked away.

The previous week has gone by without me even noticing. Arabic homework, a fantastic birthday party, a trip to Alexandria (greeted by all the wind and waves the Mediterranean Sea could conjure in honor of our visit.) And poof - the week was over. "Busy" doesn't quite sum up my day, but it's a good start. As a result of this, I'll just treat you with a bunch of pictures from the last week. Fantastic!

Recovery, strawberries and little bit of wine

2012-02-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I recall coming home to my own apartment as Cairo was waking up to a new day. Long nights with wine, discussions and music are downright wonderful, but they do take their toll on you. So, this weekend I'm all about recuperating my tired and sick body, giving it patience, love and a lot of good food. As a result of this decision, this night has been awfully relaxed - and awfully good.

After a good dinner at our usual place (one month in Cairo, and we have "a usual place", that's kind of cute), we bought some wine, some cheesecake and went home. To our apartment. We lit candles, slouched on the couch, put on some good music and read all the books and articles that might be appealing. And ah, if there ever was a thing my body needed, it was this. Cheap Egyptian wine, a chapter about the pillars of Islam and a little basket of strawberries. The usual recipe for relaxation, you know.

Youth knows no pain

2012-02-24T02:11:00.000-08:00

Lykke Li is singing how youth knows no pain. So I've decided that neither will I. I'm like a vitamin piñata at the moment - filled to the brink with all kinds of yummy fruits and pills. Birds are chirping outside my window, and I've got some fantastic music on the speakers. All in all, this look like it's going to be one fine day in Cairo. And when you decide that days will be good, they usually get a lot better.

Hectic tick tock

2012-02-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

Compared to my previous university, student life in Cairo offers quite a different beat and rhythm. The readings are longer, the classes more frequent and the days more hectic. The grasp of the Egyptian winter is still squeezing on Cairo as well, so in the end it's not a surprise that my body decided that a little break would be very much welcome. And when my body wants a break, it simply takes one.

So, after a night of fever and shivers, there was just not a single cell in my body that was eager to attend the Arabic morning class that I start most days with. Somewhat dizzy in my haze of paracetamol and coughing, I decided to check out the medical center of AUC. And man, welcome to the services of a private university. Within an hour, I'd been examined, handed a bag of medications in all kinds of bottles and pills, and found myself on a bus back to my part of Cairo. The security guards at the entrance did not support my plan to take a taxi across the Egyptian capital - "oh, not safe madam, please not" - so after a few minutes of jogging around, they found me a bus. Yes, I got my own bus, just me and my smiling driver.

And now, now I'm just sitting here, as a ball of blankets, pills and tea. Got my fingers crossed for a calm weekend, insha'allah.

Freedom

2012-02-20T06:12:00.000-08:00

One of the words in my Arabic class today, was حرية - freedom. My professor laughed, and tried to explain the word:

-"Horreya"! Freedom! We tried one year ago, but alas, nothing. Suppression, suppression!

And then she laughed some more, shaking her head, and continuing the class. Outbursts like these tend to pop into conversations every now and then, and I never quite know how to react - do you laugh or do you shake your head and say "better luck next time"?

It's allright to be tired

2012-02-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

It's allright to be tired. It's okay to spend some time alone. And it's perfectly fine to light some candles, listen to some music and just let your heartbeat come down to a steady rythm. Egypt follows a Friday-Saturday weekend, which means my actual school week is over for now. Reading will continue though, that's how life goes. But for now, I'll just stay here in my bed, with wonderful music in the room and scented candles on the nightstand. Feminism and development in the post-colonized Middle-East can wait, the same goes for arabic adjectives and nouns. For now, I'll just crawl up into some blankets and listen to a good song. And it'll be just perfect.

Explosions in the Sky - First Breath After Coma

A quiet voice in my ear

2012-02-16T06:42:00.001-08:00

Last night,eager to get home from a long day amongst the library walls, I took the bushome to Zamalek. The clock was around eight, so the sun had set and nighttimeembraced Cairo. Then, as I huddled up in my scarf and headed towards myapartment, a young man snuck up behind me, mumbled to my right shoulder andtook off. “Fuck you”, a quiet voice sounded next to my ear. “Fuck you”.

Before Ihad the time to come up with a sharp answer in Arabic, I was alone again. Andit’s not uncommon to have things like this happen to you; no matter howconservative my outfit may be, no matter how much I focus my eyes into the distance or onto the dusty ground. A part ofme whispers "accept the culture, accept the rules, relax, resign" -ethnocentrism isn't all that appealing after all. And then there is the part ofme that shouts "culture is not something permanent, something cut instone; it's something dynamic, a part of the world that includes and excludesnew signs, habits and norms as the time floats by".

Episodes like this doesn't make me want to pack my stuff and go home though. It makes me want to put my chin out and walk some more. These streets are just as much property of the women, as they are for the men. Having old men purr at you when you walk by can be demotivating in exploring a new city. Me? I just grow more defiant.

A day on the balcony

2012-02-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

The sun is bathing my balcony in light, painting my face with a temporary drizzle of freckles. Down on the street a few men are drinking tea, chatting and looking at people passing by. They've been there for hours, just mumbling into the air in a language I still don't understand. After a little while, the rhythmic call of the midday prayer - dhuhr - fills the air with the chanting of "Allahu akbar", and suddenly the city is filled with echoes from various minarets. "God is great, God is great". Cairo is called the city of a thousand minarets, did you know that?

Today has just been a relaxing day on my balcony in Zamalek, my district in Cairo. The weather's wonderful, life is just pretty allright, and the fresh smell of sweet tea has been lingering since I woke up. Life's good.

The pyramids of Sakkara

2012-02-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

After almost a month in Egypt, I finally took the time to see a pyramid. It is simply one of those things I feel is mandatory when living in this country, and at least if one is located in the chaotic capital of Cairo. As the strike and all the commotion around the weekend suddenly left us with empty schedules and a few extra days on our hands, we headed south from Cairo, and to the old burial grounds of Sakkara (Saqqara/سقارة)‎.

It is not at all at grand as I imagine the pyramids of Giza will be, but then again, extravaganza and awe isn't always what we're aiming for, is it? The step pyramid of the old pharaoh Djoser is one of the oldest buildings in the world, and even predates the pyramids of Giza. In its glory days of ancient Egypt, the pyramid reached about 62 meters above the ground, but I believe that the teeth of time and sandstorms have done some to those numbers.

"They don't look like much", you might say. It's not all about what your eyes perceive though. These grounds have seen humans come and go for more than 4600 years. Think about all the different kinds of people that have walked in this sand, all the life and death that these stones has witnessed. Imagine that there was a civilization here, that had the means and imagination to build constructions that still would stand, after several millennia. And then try to tell me its not impressive.

A city within a city

2012-02-12T00:45:00.000-08:00

So, we went to a mall yesterday. Or another country, hidden inside the borders of Egypt. I'm not quite sure, as it was so big, so crowded, so.. much. The City Stars Mall is located in Heliopolis in the eastern parts of Cairo, and apparently also has a hotel. And a cinema. And just wow.

It did feel a bit strange to head out to a monster-mall, knowing that some parts of Cairo were getting ready for the first anniversary of Mubarak's ousting. But that's how life is in this city and country at the time. There will always be things going on, and we can't participate or know all about it, all the time.

Finally online in Cairo

2012-02-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

For the first time in history, I am now able to report live and direct form my apartment in Cairo. After numerous insha'Allahs here, and a bit of "no, speak Arabic, no English" there, we finally managed to get this place online.

I understand that a few of my friends and family have worried a bit about our well-being here in Cairo, as the medias presentations of the last days seem rather dramatic. And they are. The situations can be dramatic - but not for us. I personally feel 100% safe here, and even though I've talked to people who'd experienced a few uncomfortable situations, our neighborhood and streets are calm. At times you can feel tension and anticipation, but I've not once felt threatened or stressed.

If you do want to stay updated though, I think Al Jazeera's live blog from Egypt is okay, in addition to their general news section. For now, I'm going to get a sweet cup of tea, and try to catch up some more news.

A city of extremes

2012-02-03T06:36:00.000-08:00

Cairo has it all. Poverty to your right, and designer bags to your left. Revolution at Tahrir Square, and expats drinking cappuccino in Zamalek. The world has many extremes, but in Cairo they're so obvious it feels a bit overwhelming at times.

My bus ride to school takes about one hour in the morning, an hour where we pass through areas with embassies, and then the dusty streets of Downtown. Looking out of the window we stare at the peripheral areas of Cairo - the City of the Dead - where both living and dead reside among the graves. Minutes later we face New Cairo, an immense building project of malls, offices and private houses with exteriors that has connotations closer to embassies than to a private residence. And then there is our university. Out there, in the desert, with fountains, enormous buildings and a gym the size of a shopping center.

And when the day is over, you jump back on the bus. You look at the whole scenery once more. And then it overwhelms you all over again.

Uptown to downtown

2012-01-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

At the moment we're living in Zamalek in Cairo: an island on the Nile, covered in lush trees, embassies and restaurants. And it's all nice and cozy. It does feel a bit isolated though, separated from downtown Cairo, where the life of Tahrir Square, various shawarma shops and... people in general, make the town come to life in a whole different way.

So today, we returned to downtown Cairo, mostly to visit the Egyptian Museum, but also to sneak a peek at Tahrir. (To my dearest mother: we are ever so careful, I swear, so don't hold your breath in despair.) Some students went there yesterday, on the actual celebration, but we decided to stay at home. We stick out like sore thumbs in this city, with both our gender and Scandinavian appearance, and decided that the daily dose of sexual harassment and staring is enough. (Which is one of the reasons why downtown will not be where we're settling down for the next months.)

Still, I like it downtown. I like the atmosphere. I'm just not that into walking down the streets, feeling like an indecent dressed piece of meat.

Moving around

2012-01-25T01:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we moved from our cat-crowded, freezing, somewhat charming rooftop hostel, and into the dorms of AUC. The university kindly offered us to move away from Tahrir Square, which is practically next to where we've been living so far, and into their own premises. Not a permanent solution, but a rather good deal, as it has hot water and heated rooms. Compared to the luxury offered by our previous "home", this feels like a five-star upgrade. (We started at rock bottom when it comes to housing, so it's only getting better from here. And that's a nice thought.)

And how is Cairo at the moment? Anticipating, I think. There will be a lot of things happening at Tahrir Square during the next 24 hours, but I'm not sure what it will be colored by. The older people I've talked to, grin and talk about the night as a joyous occasion. The younger tend to talk a bit more grimly about sacrifices and revolutions, but still don't fail to mention that it's going to be a night of celebration.
What do I expect? I honestly don't know. But it will be interesting to stay in Cairo now, that's for sure.

Rise and shine

2012-01-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

Today's my first day at campus. I've been up since six listening to the city, looking out over the rooftops and just enjoying the morning. And now, now I'm heading out to catch the school bus. Sounds like I'm six again. But I like it!

Exploration time - Cairo style

2012-01-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

Today, we went out to catch a cup of tea, both to kill some time and to heat up. When the sun sets, Cairo is actually freezing this time of year. (And it's on the border to chilly while the sun is up as well.) As we'd been sitting still for what seemed like hours - on concrete - the situation called for a nice cup of chai. So we headed into the streets, not sure where to go, but never doubting that the journey would end up with tea. And it did. It just took four hours of adventuring to get there.

What happened? Well, we were wandering about in the streets of downtown Cairo when we started talking to an old man. Born and raised a skeptic, I wasn't quite sure about why he wanted to tag along with us, and even less why he wanted to buy us tea. But hey, prejudice never served anyone good, and we went with the flow. A flow of tea cups and cake, sweet drinks and markets. And, my very first visit inside the majestic halls of a mosque! We got to see the charm of the old streets of Cairo, the bustling life of the souq (local market). We stared in awe at the citadel, and laughed at the enthusiastic old man, greeting people to the left and making jokes to the right. To sum it up - we went to buy a quick cup of tea, and ended up with an adventure for hours. And I'm loving every second of it. (I would, however, just about do anything for a good woolen sweater now.)

Finally in Cairo

2012-01-20T02:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Cairo. My new home for the next months.

At the moment I'm sitting on the roof of my hostel, listening to the sounds of the Friday prayer spreading across town. The sun's bright and somewhat heating - quite the contrast to the freezing temperatures of the night. Not sure what I'll be doing the next days, but at least I'll be in Cairo. I'm finally here.

On my way!

2012-01-19T02:45:00.000-08:00

Allright! Location? Oslo Airport. Destination? Istanbul. And then, then it's Cairo baby!

My stomach is full of butterflies, and my eyes sore from crying. (I don't really handle goodbyes too well, haha.) But I'm on my way! Part scared and part giggly - and incredibly ready to get my chilled behind away from Norway. (It's amazing how -15 degrees Celsius can motivate you to take the final leap, and leave the country.)

Ah, well, see you later, got to run for my check-in.

China pt.5: The Great Wall

2012-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

Realized I never posted enough pics from the wall we pranced around on in China. So here's a whole bunch!

And this is how charming I looked as I practically inhaled 1,5 liters of water at the end of the hike:

Note to self: I you're planning on walking for hours in the scorching sun on a stone wall ever again, bring more water. Bring a horse carrying tens of liters. Or at least another bottle.

And wait, it's not over yet! Here's something less green and blue for you as well:

Boom-bada-bing - blogging again

2012-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

So, I'm leaving for Cairo on Thursday. And about an hour ago, I was cornered by my mother, asking/demanding me to blog a little bit down in Egypt. So, I'll try to blog a bit again.

Moving to Cairo, hey? Yesss. The American University in Cairo, AUC, is waiting for me - somewhere between crowded streets and an amazingly interesting culture, and the Arab Spring. Six days from now, and I'll most probably be located in a cheap hostel in the middle of Cairo, eyes wide and backpack full. I'm not quite sure about what courses I'll be taking, not sure what to expect of the enormous city - but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.

I'll try to take a few photos in a while, but for now, I'll let you enjoy a few wonderful gems I found at Flickr:

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5

If you like these, head over to Peter Gutierrez' profile at Flickr - there are loads more, and they're niiice.

Hi and bye

2011-10-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ah. "So, I've got a blog", I suddenly remembered. Actually, I've even got two. And I'm not quite sure what to do with them at the moment. For some reason, it's more inspiring to write in Norwegian nowadays. And well, for that, I've got this blog. Because really, is there anyone reading my blog out there, that doesn't understand Norwegian?

Have a nice day, lovely people!

Hiatus?

2011-08-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

Books, beers, giggles, stress, people, planning, school and life. I've got a lot of things going on right now. I'm finally starting my semester, and as I'm frantically trying to gather together all my curriculum, I'm also part of a group in charge of guiding new students through their first semester at the university, in addition to the fact that my deadline to apply to an exchange university is disturbingly close, together with the Arabic class I'm thinking of picking up again.

Dizzy yet? I am. So, even though it's rather sad, I'm giving the blog a little break. (Not that it has overwhelmed anyone that last months anyway.) I'll be back though, just need a little time.

Until then, thanks for sticking by, hoping I'll see you again!

Resembling equilibrium

2011-08-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

White wine, raspberries, friends, a trampoline at night, awful sunburns and lots of giggles. One of the best weekends of the summer is over, and my working hours are yet again scribbled all over my day-planner. As saying I'm busy nowadays, is the understatement of the year, I'm not ranked as #1 of Active Bloggers of The Year. But hell, it's summer. I'm having a good time, and even though Norway still is holding its breath, I hope your lives are somewhat good as well.

Oslo

2011-07-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've spent hours at work, talking to the kids about war, about death and about pain. We've talked about weapons and we've talked about cruelty. It's not how I would prefer to entertain young children, but this day opted for little else. For everyone that's lost someone today, or has loved ones hurt: all of my thoughts and sympathies go out to you.

Det gjør vondt å se Oslo og Norge slik. Og det er enda vondere å se alle som lider.

Exchange

2011-07-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Exchange student. I want to be one. So bad. Ever since I started looking at various university subjects, the exchange semester has always felt.. important to me. And if I'm leaving my own home, driven by the academic ways of the world, I sure as hell want to have something to exchange as well. Sure, Norwegian culture has a lot of quirks that solemnly belong to us mountain and forest folks. But leaving for a European country has never tempted me. It's not different enough, it's not tempting enough, it's not.. what I've been looking for.

I've been dead sure that Japan was my dream country, up until a few weeks ago. Reflecting and thinking things over thoroughly feels like such a bad thing. The ability to think seems like the shittiest tool given to mankind, at times like these. I was, at least, sure that Asia was my part of the world. I'm not even sure about that anymore. The deadline for applying to various universities abroad is the middle of September. That's damn close, when you think about it. All I know, is that I want to go. But where?

Posting things I know nothing about: yay

2011-07-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

I rarely post anything about fashion. Simply because I have no idea about the damn thing. I like to buy clothes, shiny things and all that attracts my eye. But I don't know anything about designers, about catwalks or anything in that crowded blog street. Got enough thoughts in my head, don't have the space for good seams and couture. I do however like to lurk around at a few fashion blogs. Just to.. see. It's still interesting, even though I'm a fashion dimwit. And today I stumbled upon something super super pretty. Not sure how I feel about the clothes, as I just nominated myself to be fashion illiterate of the year. But it looks so nice!

The NON SS 2011

ALCHEMIA MYSTERIA

God, I could really hang this on my wall. Use it as wallpaper in my living room. Tattoo it on my back. Okay, too far. But still. Pretty.

China: pt.4 - Shanghai

2011-07-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I thought Beijing was a big city. I was convinced that Beijing was crowded, filled with smog and packed with cars. Man, was I wrong. It was like a rural village compared to Shanghai. (Or well, maybe not that bad, but the difference was none the less striking.)

Originally, we had planned to take the train both back and forth to Shanghai. Sadly, we were a tad late on ordering the train tickets, and all that remained when we came to the station were "standing tickets". 11 hours of standing in a crowded train suddenly seemed like a long night. And as my Mr.Man was convinced we'd be locked up in a wagon with goats and other funky animals, we decided to book a flight down, and then take the train back to Beijing. In retrospective I think this was smart. Smarter than smart, actually. Genius.

So, how was Shanghai? If I have to compare the two cities, I left my heart in Beijing rather than in the pulsating chaos of Shanghai. But it was a striking city! Born and raised in Norway, I'm still a bit awestruck when I'm standing in front of a skyscraper. Staring up at all the tall buildings in that city can make your neck sore. At left and right I could spot Chanel, Cartier, Gucci and Armani. In the streets I was looked at by beautiful Chinese women, in killer heels and perfect make-up. My 170 centimeters suddenly felt so incredibly tall and clumsy, haha.

I read a few places that Shanghai can be said to be Asia's New York. And even though I've never been to the US, I can understand why someone would describe it in such a way. It's the world's biggest shipping harbor, and one of the major financial centres on the planet. It's shiny, it's bright, it's pulsating, and it's a strange kind of mix between capitalism and communism, covered in dazzling neon lights.

So, how did we spend our time in such a metropolis? Well. We did pretend to be filthy rich, sipping at a drink in the sky bar of China's 2nd largest building. A drink does taste a lot better when enjoyed at the 57th floor. (It better, as the price easily could have bought us a good dinner for two at a simple restaurant. Maybe even for four.) A lot of the time in the city was spent walking, looking at the mixture of old art deco buildings and shiny skyscrapers disappearing into the clouds. The neon lights and the historic architecture blended together into something.. interresting. And very Shanghai.

To sum it up, Shanghai was huge. Overwhelming, to someone like me. The people were remarkably different from those in Beijing, and so was the city. And that's one of the reasons I'm really happy we went there. I've only seen a fraction of China, but at least I've seen a few different aspects. Would I recommend anyone else to go there? Gods, yes! Just to stare at the lights, the buildings, the fashionable people and the expensive cars. Just to pretend you're filthy rich, just to stare at the ridiculous consumerism and expensive things. Just to see, and be there.

This, by the way, is one of the waiting rooms at the train station we departed to Beijing from. Just one of them. Taking a train in Norway will never be the same - it's as if we're one step behind in the evolution of travelling humans. The train was superb, the beds had TVs in them and the Chinese businessmen we traveled with were more than polite. (I think. We didn't understand a single word they said, and vice versa.)

Gorgonzola and Severus Snape

2011-07-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

Before engaging in things that may take its toll on you, you need to prepare. So before I dragged my Mr.Man to see the last Harry Potter movie last night, we had a little Italian feast - pizza, panna cotta, espresso: everything that makes my tummy happy. (And aaah, gorgonzola on pizza is so good. I die a little every time.)

And while I've mentioned death: Sweet Buddha on a broomstick, I cried so much when Snape died. Dumbledore? Psch, I could handle that. (And a few of the deaths in the movie went by ridiculously fast. "Ow, Ron's brother died, let's not talk about that too long".)

Harry Potter's just the typical, slightly troubled protagonist, Voldemort the ultra evuuhl antagonist trying to take over the world. I am, and have always been, rooting for the yummy characters on the side. Ron Weasley, Severus Snape, Neville Longbottom - this one goes out to you. You're my kind of guys. So yeah, I wept like a child when Snape's lights went out. And as my 3D glasses were shaped like Harry Potter's for the occasion, I'm sure I was a sight for sore eyes. (And for those of you who applauded or laughed when Snape died: I'm sure you're just inbred, was dropped on your heads as babies, and in general can't help your behavior, even though you truly wish to behave.)

To do something on your own

2011-07-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I packed a bag of clothes, some food and a hella lot of tea, and decided to leave civilization for a while. So I took my rusty old car and drove into the woods, my destination being a little cabin at a lake. No electricity, no internet, just... silence.

My next door neighbor was a jittery squirrel - a bushy tail that never seemed to stay still for more than a few seconds. But I guess that's what being rather close to the bottom of the food chains does to you, isn't it? Another acquaintance I made was a bit more self-confident: the beaver. Holy hell on a fish stick, who knew they could swim so fast? It was like a little boat/submarine that crossed the lake, somewhat molested a few bushes and continued into the moonlight.

A solitary vacation without a laptop, good cell phone reception or anything as fancy as a toilet you can flush, might seem like a dull thing to do on your days off. But nay. I caught, killed and cooked my own dinner (but must admit that the size of the fish kind of forced me to be generous with the vegetables on the side), I finally got to read a few books I've been eager to plow through (ah, nothing like reading a good book on gender mutilation on Norwegian/Somalian girls, or a family drama from Iran, stretching over a few decades), and I realized that the radio plays a lot of shitty music during a normal summer day.

But you know what? It was good. Both my body and mind needed some relaxation, some silence. I've grown up in these areas, and I do feel at home here. However, you can get too much of a good thing, so tonight I'm trying to even it out. Oslo, Harry Potter, dinner out, romance - here I come. Yum.

Summer strawberries

2011-07-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Summer, the real core of the summer time, begins when the Norwegian strawberries are not only edible, but also sweet and juicy. As they are now. The sun may scorch (but hah, since when was that a persisting thing in a Norwegian summer?), the grass might be green and the sky might be blue. But it's not quite there, not quite, until I've got strawberries in my hands, in my mouth, all over my face, everywhere. And now, now the summer's on for real.

So I'm going to pack up my backpack with books, strawberries and happiness, and head to a cabin in the forest for a few days. Fishing, swimming in the lake, generally loving life. I even envy myself a little bit right now. Hope you all have some wonderful days yourselves - go buy a basket of strawberries and smile a little, go, go, go!

Dulled

2011-07-11T01:04:00.001-07:00

It's as if I'm wrapped up in cotton - the sounds are muffled, my senses dulled. But there's no bubble around me, no cotton. I'm just damn tired. Falling asleep on your own is awfully hard when you're used to someone holding around you at night, when the silent breathing on the pillow next to you is absent. It's strange how easy you get used to things, how easy they become a part of you. Ah, I'm going to make some tea now. And listen to Opeth. Opeth is always good.

And I was so sure I'd never do one of these

2011-07-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Eyes?

Somewhere between grey and blue. Standard Scandinavian.

Hair?

A total mess with curls, waves and tangles.

When was the last time something made you angry?

I'm angry every five seconds, and cheerful the next. I'm very easily provoked by things in the news, ignorance, injustice, you name it. (The things most people should, and probably would, be angered by.)

What's the last thing that made you cry?

This. Every time it's on tv. (But I'm a crybaby, haha.)

Which movie or CD means the most to you?

Who knows? I don't stick to one movie or album for too long, I'm not patient enough. Every time I see Baraka, I feel a little different though. But frankly, I'm not sure.

Favourite song?

Don't know, changes from day to day, from mood to mood. If you want a clue however, last.fm does suggests that I'm more than average into Ikimonogakari - Blue Bird, little by little - Kanashimi wo yasashisa ni and Slipknot - Snuff. When it comes to bands, I guess I can say that I've done my share of listening to In Flames and Pendulum lately as well.

What are you good at?

Talking, if i'm with the right people. Laughing, kissing, drinking tea and daydreaming. I'm also quite the dedicated worker and student, when there is need to be something like that as well.

What do you wish you were good at?

Self-discipline could be good at times. But ah, life goes on good without it. And, there are times I really wish I had some musical talent. Sadly, I don't even think I could beat two sticks together to make a steady rhythm.

Who were you five years ago?

I don't know, and I sure as hell didn't know back then. Sixteen, huh? I was insecure, in need of fitting in and everything you can expect of a teenager, if I remember correctly.

Favorite place on earth?

Ah, yes. With this immensely tiny planet we're living on, it's a breeze to pick out just one spot. I'm not sure, to be honest. Right now, I dream of Asia again - a lazy beach in Sri Lanka or a small restaurant with quirky people in China. (If I am to pinpoint one specific place and time, it would be that one night in Kenya, when I fell asleep to the sound of goats and camels, with an African mama taking care of the fireplace, and a little Samburu girl cuddled up against my back. The smell of hides and the burning firewood, the heat and the little hut. Just... that.)

Three things you want to do before you die?

Look back on my life and be pleased with it. That's it. My dreams and wishes tend to change from day to day. I want to see the world, and learn about its people. I want to taste the food and smell the air. I...I'm too indecisive to just mention three things out of the blue. "Live". I think that's it.

Superfast jellyfish

2011-07-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

When I grow up, I'm going to be a jellyfish. Because then, then I'll be awesome. And as I suspect them of lacking the ability to think much (but what do I know, I study social sciences), it's got to be a rather relaxed life. If they know they're living, that is.

Pictures are taken at the Beijing Aquarium.

The end of the rainbow

2011-07-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Get off work at 23, and begin the next day at 07. Coffee cups, coffee cups, coffee cups. In a ever so distant future, there is a big pot of gold waiting. But damn, right now, the end of that rainbow seems far away.

And ah, it's almost a month until I'm a student again. There should be alarms howling "geek geek" with a red flashing light at the moment, but I actually miss university. (I will deny having uttered anything close to this when I'm up to my neck in books and papers though. I'll deny it like a frenzied ferret. Rrrrahh.)

Oh god. I should sleep a little while.

Compliments

2011-07-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

"You know, you are such a pretty girl. And so kind! I'm blessed to know someone you!"

It doesn't matter that it comes from a lady that hardly remembers my name. It's not relevant that she might tell every person walking in the door the same line. In that moment, it might be the most heartfelt thing in the world. "The real truth is spoken by children and drunkards", we say where I'm from. But I like to think that it can be found in old people as well. It makes my days a lot better.

Girl crushing

2011-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Totally girl crushing on Lykke Li these days. Not really my kind of music. Or maybe it is - I'm not quite sure what "my kind of music" is anymore. Sure isn't anything static and unified, that's for sure. Tonight, it's Lykke Li. Might be my Swedish genes shining through.

Lykke Li - Get Some

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

Lykke Li - Dance, Dance, Dance

Never said I was faithful

2011-07-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

I'm a notorious cheater when it comes to my various projects. That's how I roll, I suppose. Yesterday I decided that even though I need this blog to be in English, partly to pratice on the language, and partly because my mothertongue doesn't seem to cover all the needs I have in a language - I can't seem to find one language that fits all my needs. There are certain ramblings I feel more comfortable to do in Norwegian. Don't know how long it'll live, don't know how good it'll be. But I'm giviv it a shot all the same. I'm guessing this one's more interesting for Norwegians though, (but google translate is a wizard if you're desperate.)

Well. Click here and it'll take you there. If you're interested.

"And he took the loaf of fishes, he looked at his disciples and said: fuck it, we´re going into the whisky business"

2011-07-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

What you see here, is alcohol and prostitutes, guns and dresses, ruthless men and pure bred bitches with lipstick on. It's pain, it's love, it's voilence and it's beauty, located during the Prohibition in the 1920s. It's Boardwalk Empire, ladies and gentlemen, and if you've now discovered it yet - get going, shoo!

Gah, I tell myself I'm not cut out to watch tv shows, and especially those with a duration surpassing 20 minutes. I've got the patience of a 4-year-old with ADHD on a sugar high, and I'm well aware of it. Yet, it's just so damn good, I keep trying. And so far, I'm still in love with this 20s fling.

Little moments

2011-07-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

When I turn my head, you've fallen asleep. We were just resting for a while, listening to the whisper of the waves, the chanting of the gulls. Over our heads the sun was scorching, I think about sunscreen for a millisecond, but then I realize I don't give a damn. The air is humming with insects, with the scent of flowers and the occasional breeze that makes the heat bearable. No, scratch that. You make the heat bearable, we make it bearable. The dulled sound of waves lazily hitting the rocks makes it bearable. So I close my eyes and let the gentle unconsciousness of sleep take me away, while your head moves by the rhythm of my breath. You're resting your head on my stomach, I'm rested by the fact that you're with me, and I fall asleep.

In the middle of the sea, there is a heaven

2011-07-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

What you see here, is summer perfection. It's tiny islands, it's the sea, and it's the sun. It is the Åland Island, in the western archipelago of Finland. And it's where part of my family comes from. Over the years it's been the base of everything from pirates to munks, fishermen and tourists. It's amazing, and tough at the same time. (When members of your family die out there, you have to dig the grave yourself, ring the bell by your own machine. Do it yourself - or it won't be done.) Sounds like a brutal place, but I can assure you - it's heaven.

Personally, I have my base at an island called Kökar. A unique kind of scent seems to linger there - flowers and dirt, cows and trees. Everything that's good in the summer. While I was out there, I think I mainly lived on a diet based on tea and ice cream, as Finland kicks Norway's ass in the making of ice cream cones and things to put in them. That, and liquorice. Finnish people make some mean liquorice. Ah, there's so much good to say about this place, but I think I'll just let you see the pictures and use your imagination. Do it.

Just like the world is ours

2011-07-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

You know it's gonna be a good weekend out, when the first thing you hear upon entering a place is "can I get you ladies a drink?". Gentlemen: that's a great way to start a conversation. And a night.

Another ingenious way to boost a night out, is a game of chess. While dancing, laughing and being a generally wonderful collections of girls, we were suddenly approached by a guy who wanted to play chess with us - and who were we to deny him that pleasure? By the time the doors started closing, we could clap our hands together, giggle and yell "checkmate!". Did he let us win? Sweet mother of kittens, I surely hope so, because I suspect we were awful. Did it boost our confidence up, up and away? Yes, yes, yes. So thank you, chess man, you were awesome. And so was this weekend, yum.

How was yours?

Edit: haha, I love how we appear to be the geekiest bunch of kids ever to hit town.

Obsession

2011-07-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

I don't know what triggered it, but lately I've been immensely obsessed with colors. Strong, saturated, acidy colors. In everything I edit or write, listen to or watch, there's always a small part of my brain focusing on rainbows, contrasts, little spatters of paint and indecent saturations. Why? No idea. My brain might be starved on the thing, after solemnly taking in dry theory during my exams. Marx, the bottom of coffee cups, and linguistic psychology from the 70s might not be the most stimulation at that point, now that I look back at it. Could it be the sun, the heat, the holiday? Possibly.

But do I mind, dreaming of seeing everything in tie-dye swirls or pixelated fields of color? Naah. (And while I'm all rambling about color and everything nice, check out the new layout on Sushibird's blog. I mean... yum!)

And the summer days come and go

2011-07-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hope you're all having a wonderful summer out there, I know I am. Just got back from Finland (or the Åland Islands to be specific), the most wonderful archipelago in Scandinavia. Do I have pictures? Of course! Will I post them? Duh. I'll just have to sort out the bunch first. And the rest of those from China. It's strange how you seem to have all the time in the world, yet never get anything done. It's summer, that's just how life goes at this time of year.

Ah well, I promise I'll be a more disciplined blogger one day soon. But not now. It's a summer night, it's one of my days off, and life's good. Can't spend a night like this stuck inside, all sober and dull, now can I? Toodeloo.

What up, what up?

2011-06-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Aloha! Or aasalamu aleikum (السلام عليكم), which might reflect my day a tiny bit better. Just got home from work, a day that contained both go-cart driving, some cooking and lot of loud music. Things are good, I'll give you that. Awfully sorry that I haven't been able to update more about China, but I'll take things at my own pace. No matter how good working is, I am still there. And it takes up a lot of my time nowadays.

So, what have I been up to lately then? Ah, I love how I honestly can answer with "nothing". Nothing at all. It's been a month now, since my last exam. And the days have just withered away. Top four interesting peaks of my last couple of days?

Found a good way to make ice tea, and drank an indecent amount of it. (When this is on top of "exciting things I've done lately", you know for sure that life is moving slooow.)
Watched Chris Medinas' music video, and realized I'm a total wuzz that cries over nothing.
Got to pretend I was a Formel 1-driver when I toyed around on a go-cart at work. (Ah, yes, that's how you pass days at work, when you've got it good.)
Discovered, yet again, how little sugar it takes before I make Pokémon sounds at my boyfriend. In a few days, we're crossing Sweden by car. Gonna be interesting.

Ah, good days, yes?

PS: I've been off academic writing and reading for a month now. Look how intelligent and interesting my posts are becoming. It's amazing. Next time, I'll paint a wall, film it while it dries, and then post it.

Work, work, work.

2011-06-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've begun working at two new jobs recently. And I'm loving it. One's at a home for old people, and the other's at a centre for young kids/teens coming alone to Norway from various places on this planet, mostly areas of conflict. The jobs are incredibly different, yet a lot of what I do seems the same. I am to be patient and supportive at both places - and I get to drink a lot of coffee. Neat, isn't it?

A lot of young people seem to have a lot of demands for where they find it convenient to work. "Ah, that's boring", "Boo, I don't get enough money there", "Boohoo, they'll make me work at weekends and inconvenient hours." Seriously? You think you'll get your dream job and cash in on the big bucks, just like that? Oh, honey. Honey, honey, honey. My two jobs probably aren't what people would write at the top of their "Jobs I dream of"-list. But I love them. They can both be challenging, they're interesting and I learn new things just about every day. And to me, that qualifies as a good way to spend your summer. (And if I want to spend my money on travelling, I sure as hell need to earn them first. Simple logic.)

Anyone out there working this summer?

Uh-huh, oh yeah, uh-huh

2011-06-16T06:12:00.001-07:00

Three weeks ago I went through a gruesome, horrible and stressful exam, and ever since that day I've hated how I chose to solve the damn thing. Well, apparently I've got no clue on how to judge my own performance. Because it went awesome! And all I can do is giggle and dance and jump around.

I'm awfully sorry for being one of those "I'm so awesome, all hail me"-kids. Won't do it again. But now, I'm so happy I'm just gonna daaaance!

China: pt.3 - Beijing Aquarium

2011-06-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

I realize I didn't start my little "how I experienced Beijing/China"-series in the most positive way. That will change though, pinkie swear. It got better after the zoo. A lot better.

After walking until our feet (and my heart - pardon the cliché) hurt in the zoo, we finally found the Beijing Aquarium. It has huge, as things apparently tend to be around there. And, even though we were a tinsy bit scared of what we'd find, (I personally fantasized about whales lying in a puddle in concrete boxes, and fish gently floating on its back in various aquariums), we finally decided to go in. The blistering sun ushered us in as well, I'll admit. And man. What a different world, compared to the outside zoo.

Fishies! And in so many colours! I got my diver's license in Sri Lanka last year, and one of the best parts of it was so just follow small fish around the corals. Just staring at the rainbow of colours found in both the tiny things swimming around me, aswell at the plants and corals, was an awesome way to spend a day. And now, there were fishies everywhere!

I'm not sure I can say, with my hand on my heart, that all the little creature we stumbled upon in the aquarium had the optimal sized area to move in. Freedom would be the optimal size now, wouldn't it? But consider this: while a panda is stuck on the ground, a fish held captive in the same area would also be able to move up and down. To be rational about it: they're using their given area more effectively. I don't support putting everythig we see in cages and boxes. But when I'm presented to all these things that the world has to offer, I'm still baffled by its beauty. And so many things in the aquarium cannot be described in any other way. Simply beautiful. I like aquariums. They let me see a world I don't belong in, a party of colours and shapes I'm not invited to but still get to peek at.

While the tropical fishes and corals were nice and dandy for a good while, what we found next held up captive for an indecent amount of time. There were colours, and shiny lights and aquariums so big I felt like a little kid just staring into the water. "Why", you might ask. "What can be better than little fishies in shiny colours? Hmmm?". Well. They had this:

JELLYFISH! After seeing this video a few months ago, I've been just a tiny bit obsessed with the mindless little lumps of jelly. Because, even though they're probably not so self-conscious about it, they look absolutely stunning. They way they swim, the way they float and the way they seem to just not give a damn about how we struggle with gravity while they magically float around - the little girl inside me wanted to jump up and down, clap her hands and yell "prettyyy!". (Let's not discuss if the older girl on the outside did the same.)

And hold on tight, because there will me more jellyfish up soon. I have too, I've got some many photos of these little jelly monsters that I should be ashamed of myself.

China: pt.2 - Beijing Zoo

2011-06-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

One of the first things we went to see in Beijing was the aquarium. And the zoo, since the aquarium is located within the area of the zoo. "A nice and relaxing thing to do for two jetlagged kids from the other side of the planet.", we thought. And the whole thing was.. interesting. Zoos can be many different things: they can be lush gardens where animals can be, well, animals. And they can be concrete boxes that simply hold an animal. Beijing Zoo can be said to be of the last kind.

The park in general was beautiful at times. Small lakes, big and fresh trees - it would've been a nice place to just go for a stroll. The weather was fantastic, allthough so hot we had to drink water continously in order go be able to stand up straight. But, it was a good day. It was.

Before we headed for the aquarium, we had planned to see how the pandas in the zoo were doing. We were in China, there were pandas. "Allright, gotta see it." The road there was long though. As both Beijing and Shanghai proved: if you're going to do anything, you've got to do it big. An ideology that was reflected in the zoo aswell. It was huge! So we walked, and we walked, and came to see a lot of.. well. Various animals in various conditions.

I can, for example mention the "Penguin House" that we agreed to pay a few extra yuan to enter. I guess you can say what we paid for - it was a house. With penguins. That just stood there behind a wall of glass. Some were so still that my Mr.Man was convinced the zoo had a real' good taxidermist, just trying to hide that a few of them had called it the day. (They did shuffle around a few millimetres after that, but that was it. The life of a zoo penguin.)

After that we tried to head a little more straight to the pandas, wanting to see at least what we had planned. It took some time, and on the road we hurried past a lot of different animals in different boxes, cages or fields. We found the pandas in the end though. And, as the main attraction of the Beijing Zoo, I'd read that they'd be treated like royals compared to the remaining inhabitants of the zoo. Royals? Well, I'm not sure I'd say that. But they had a significantly better place to stroll around in than most other creatures we saw. They did seem just as stressed and understimulated as I would, living my life with a whole bunch of people staring me down from the other side of a transparent wall. It is, however, a beautiful animal, and I'd love to see in out in the wild. Free. Sitting in its furry ass, being chill and eating bamboo.

Having found the star of the zoo, we decided that enough was enough. It was time to get out of the place, and find that aquarium that was supposed to be somewhere in that zoo. We grabbed some bottles of water, picked up a somewhat comprehensible map and left the furry bamboo-chewing panda. We left little turles in little glass boxes, and we left tigers in concrete cages. There and and then, we'd had enough zoo. Do I regret going there? No, not at all. Did I feel comfortable there? Again: not at all. But I don't believe in only going places, seeing things that pleases you. To be able to know and express what I like, I think it's equally important to experience the things I don't like. And this day held some of both sides.

I'm awfully sorry for starting my experiences in China like this, I know it seems harsh and brutal and.. well, awful. But as I'm writing this, I'm also looking through my photos from the aquarium, which we finally found. And that, that is a whole different story. Promise!

China: pt.1

2011-06-13T15:12:00.001-07:00

I live in Oslo, Norway's by far most populated city. Compared to Beijing, however, it's an empty little dot on the world map. The only place I'd been to that I'd dare compare it to before I went, was Bangkok. "Ah, big Asian city, lots of cars, lots of people." Had to be somewhat similiar. As I got out of the airport, it hit me though: "Oh, oh, oh. This sure ain't Bangkok." So, to put it short. Beijing was nothing like anything I'd been to before. Because never, ever had I been to a place with so much people. Everywhere. (And man, you can say the same thing about Shanghai.)

The people were, mostly at least, a great bunch of friendly faces. Sure, we didn't understand a damn word the other said at times, but with sound effects and frantic waving of hands, communication is easily made possible. In short, I learned to say only two phrases in Mandarin: nǐhǎo (hello) and xièxie (thank you). If you're able to smile and laugh at yourself, those two are at least somewhat sufficient. At least in the process of ordering dinner, or asking for basic help and directions. If you want a taxi however, just give up. We did. And then we tried again. And gave up again. And so it went on. To put it short: we basically lived down in the subway system.

There's a lot of things I'm eager to show you; the places we lived at, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and our visit to the zoo/aquarium. There's Shanghai at night, and there's the resaturants in the alleys of Beijing. There's crammed experiences at the subway, and there's seriously strange visits to the supermarket. But.. Where do I start?

Never content

2011-06-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

I should be banned from staying up late at night. Lurking around facebook, blogs - everything. Because it makes me realize that there's so much in life I've yet to do, so much in the world I've yet to see. And it makes me furious! (Says the girl who just came home from China a few days ago. Never content, are we?)
The things is, there more I learn about the world, the more I want to see, the more I want to know. And the more I want to contribute. Scrolling up and down various pages on the web, I read stories about how people go to the most remote parts of this very planet - and how they help others, how they make a difference. And I feel so.. passive. It's annoying, this gnawing feeling. Ah, I don't know. Maybe it's just a bit too late for me to be up. Or maybe I'm just a bit nervous as I'm starting a new job tomorrow. I'm just frustrated. I feel there's so much I could and should do, and yet I just.. don't.

Ni hao!

2011-06-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

I'm baack. Dead tired, in a cloud of jetlag and with my hand buried in a 1 kg bag of M&Ms from the taxfree shop. Can't say I'm hating it. To put it short: China was great! I'm aware that I've only seen a fraction of it by visiting big urban areas like Beijing and Shanghai, but the little taste I've had really makes me want to explore the rural parts aswell. People were usually really friendly, allthough communication with the locals usually were limitied to frantic gesturing and odd sounds. My non-existent Mandarin was as good as their English, so at least we were on even terms.

At the moment I'm trying to rest up and sort some of the massive amounts of photos I've taken, so lean back and expect some photobombs to hit this blog soon. In the meantime, have a cup of tea or something. I've got my kitchen full of various bags and cans of tea I've got to try myself, in addition to a cute little teapot and some matching cups. It's strange, how I always come home with lots of tea, no matter where I travel. See you soon, now it's teatime!

Hello! And goodbye!

2011-05-28T13:44:00.001-07:00

Hello, every beautiful one of you out there! Awfully sorry that posts on this blog have become rather.. rare. I've been working, sleeping, drinking, laughing, sleeping some more and getting ready for China. I'm leaving tomorrow morning, and can't waiiiit.

I promise though, (pinkie swear!), that I'll be a #1 Awesome blogger of the world when I get back. And when I'm not eating things I probably don't know what is, at a place I most probably don't know where's located - I'll even try to take some pictures. Gonna be awesome, promise. I'll see you in a little less than two weeks. Hang tight.

And oh, while I'm all energetic and high on life: thank you, everyone single one of you, that reads this blog. And for those who comment aswell: I'm sending you virtual kisses over the net. It's heartwarming to see how people keep visiting, even though I've been too busy to actually blog. I like you, yum.

Caffeine with some extra caffeine on the side, please

2011-05-25T14:59:00.001-07:00

....ah. Forget all I ever mentioned about not having to inhale crushed coffee beans dipped in Red Bull anymore. I forgot that I am a career woman; busy, busy, busy.

Haha, naaah. I'm actually just standing around at shipping arrangement, smiling at business people and showing lost men in suits where they're supposed to be. "Champagne to the right, boats to the left, enjoy!" Could get your money in far worse ways, I'd say. Well, then. I'll snort a box of coffee powder and run to work. Toodeloo, beautiful people.

"Where they go hardcore, and there's glitter on the floor."

2011-05-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ah, summer! I'm finally done with my last exam, six hours of my life I'll never want to talk about again, and I'm not yet grasping the feeling of not having to study, not having to concider injecting coffee into my arm to make it more efficient. Aaah.

The past few days have been wonderful; I've been drinking cava, eating strawberries, running down the streets with my friends while making dinosaur sounds and in general dancing around like a idiot to silly music. The concept of planking? There have been attempts to grasp it. Jumping on notebooks and school articles? Yes, yes, they've seen tough times these last days. Oh, summer. I think I can like you.

On a sugar high

2011-05-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

Thumbs up to the Starbucks-guy that entered my university yesterday, put an indecent amount of ice coffee on the tables and then left. Just like that. A few hours later I discovered that consuming more than three units of the nauseatingly sweet mix of coffee and chocolate milk will make your heart beat faster than a hummingbird's, and your general state of well-being will.. well, go straight to hell. I felt seasick until I fell asleep.

But oh man, the time before I crashed down from my high - I was a super student! Thank you caffeine! Three more days of chasing the bottom of coffee cups and working on those panda eyes slowly growing more visible. Three days - and then my final exam. Teehee.

There is a real life, and it's good

2011-05-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

The last ten hours of my life have been spent in a sugar and caffeine-provoced frenzy, with a hint of bloodshot eyes and low speeches primarely made up by swear words and curses. I'm not complaining; I've chosen this myself. But sometimes, it's good to know there exists a life where I can see my friends without panic, books and academia:

Happy birthday Norway - you be so awesome

2011-05-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

So much cava, so much food, so many strawberries consumed. But it's okay, it's allright - on the national day of Norway it's actually socially accepted to drink champagne from early on. And then cava is totally accepted as a companion to your brunch, lunch and dinner aswell. Hope you all had a great day, I sure know I did.

Bubbles and giggles are such a great way forget about the upcoming exams one might be frightened by!

Sky blue

2011-05-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

The other day, I walked past a really old wrinkled lady, with white hair and a rather conservative dress. And sky blue cowboy boots. I loved it! And I kept fantasizing about why she would wear something like that - because you have to admit, blue leather it not usually what you'd think of when someone says "old lady". I don't, at least.

And, as I walked home, I started to think that maybe she'd been married to a strict man, one that followed the rules and dresscodes of society to the extreme. A perfectionist. And then she'd hidden those boots, (that she'd once seen at display in the window of a fancy shoe store, and just had to buy), in the back of her closet, for years, ten years, more, maybe even fifty. Every time he'd been away on a business trip, because he was a business man of course, she'd taken them out, danced in their perfectly furnished living room for a few minutes, and then carefully tucked them back in at their usual spot. It had been her escape from a life so full of routines, it could kill a man; a life so correct a nun would appear inappropriate. But she was not cruel - neither was he: he treated her kindly, so she could not leave him, people didn't leave husbands that didn't hit them, or drink too much, or gamble money on horses and football maches. And he didn't; he just lived his life, their life, correctly.

No matter how well he followed the rules though, he, as all people will once day, died. No well-groomed hair, no neatly buttoned shirt could help the man when his heart just decided to call it the day. Maybe she'd heard some sounds from his office that day, maybe she's noticed a thump, the silence that followed. But routines were made to be followed, and she'd kept still in the living room, working on her embroidery - a very correct and suitable hobby for a woman with respect for herself. And when she had walked into his office to tell him how dinner was ready, 4 PM as every day, he'd already been gone, far beyond gone even. And as a correct wife does, she kept calm, called the ambulance, put the dinner into the fridge so it wouldn't go bad, and then sat down and waited.

After the burial was done - done in a very correct and normal manner, mind you, she'd gone back home. She'd walked upstairs, slowly, her pink slippers carefully carrying her to the second floor. They'd been there, as always, at the back of her closet, behind perfectly ironed suits and folded socks. The word "correct" seemed to dissolve as she kicked her fuzzy slippers across the room, and let her toes feel the shape of perfectly sized blue leather boots that took care of them. As the jumped down the stairs - two steps at the time - they seemed to know they were out of the closet for good, the boots I mean, and they looked brighter than before, the colour more radiant than when they were new - ten, or was it fifty, years ago. And then, she walked all over the word, the cage labeled, "correct", and let her blue boots carry her onto the street - damn the dresscodes, the looks of strangers, the thoughts they might have! Because right then, she felt so young and free and glamorous, Hollywood seemed dull - she was shining, she was a million bucks and more.

...or maybe she just was a odd old lady with a strange taste in shoes. But I like to think otherwise. I think it's good for your imagination. (And wow mama, where did all these words come from?)

"My ancestors sent a little lizard to help me?"

2011-05-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

Ah, I watched Mulan the other day. (Well, yesterday to be precise. But "the other day" sounds awfully much more casual.) And it makes me want to burn all my school books, dance around the fire and become a totally kick-ass Chinense warrior heroine.

Sometimes I wish we could switch between living in two different worlds; this regular one, and then one with more colour, more action and less realism. Things in movies always look so much better than this dull place we're stuck in. But, I guess the trick is to make the "normal" world we live in, become a more magical place. I won't have a little dragon like Mulan, but I guess it's possible to add a little more colour and action no less. Can't be too hard, can it?

This one goes out to my friend Linn. Because I'm sure she needs something to rest her eyes on:

And Blogger.com has been half dead and buried the last few days, so it seems like my previous post is.. gone. Don't know what's up with that.

The holy trinity

2011-05-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Coffee, sugar, music - the holy trinity of goodness that I'll be leaning on this last night. I've fought Karl Marx, I've wrestled the theories of postmodern media consumption; my neck is sore after far too many hours spent in front of the computer screen, and my eyes are tired after scanning the screen for typos and funny words. I'm not pleased - I never am at this stage - but I'm almost there anyway.

Ah, student life. It's charming, in it's own bizarre, caffeine-infused, insomnic way.

Enter: three days of awesome

2011-05-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Good morning, beautiful people! The sun is up, my tea cup full and my heart beating like a black metal drum kit; today, I'm starting my first exam. Media- and culture theory - a three-day adventure of coffee, angst and writing. Or something closely related to that. During the next days I'll giggle, I'll cry, I'll shout and I'll crawl on the floor, of this I am sure. I will however, convince myself that I am in total control of the situation. This will be fantastic!

Please excuse me now, while I jump around my kitchen, enter the cool zone and do the awesome-dance like M.I.A.:

My plan is, if nothing else succeeds, to make a living by dancing like this around the university. Feed me coffee, and I'm up for it.

Sunday secrets

2011-05-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday, I visit PostSecret for an update in the love and hate, the anger and funny quirks that people share. Sometimes I just scroll down the page, other days I read every secret like it's the last thing I'll ever do in my life. But I love the concept of the blog. If you've never been there before; now's your chance.

"You and I are just pawns on a chessboard"

2011-05-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Ah. I just watched House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian fai fu), and it's so beautiful I don't quite know what to do next. The costumes are wonderful, the actors good. But the whole visual impact, the aesthetics? I swear - I was squirming, clapping my hands, giggling, shouting, all because it looked to damn good. Hollywood, can you hear me out there? This is why you're just not all that amazing:

If you haven't seen it before: go, rent it, get your hands on it, just go. If you have seen it before; why the hell aren't you watching it again?

I tire of you, I do

2011-05-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I tire of all the popular blogs, especially the Norwegian ones. "Here's what I eat", "here's how I look pretty", "this is what I do to keep my body in perfect shape". Jesus. It's always written in such a way that it makes me wonder if there's another accepted way to live your life. When someone has to tell you how to look good, how to dress, how to work out, it's like implying that the way you're currently doing it just isn't good enough.

A semester of language psychology fucks up how I approach texts, that's true. But in a way, I think a lot of the blogs out there manage to fuck things up quite well without a deep analysis of language, implied norms and ideologies.

Image is linked to source.

Seriously people. Sometimes I tire of you.

I can dream, at least

2011-05-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm stuck with heaps of books, notes, theories, big words and long sentences, I can at least dream about travelling. And believe me, I do. As the days left before my first exam wither away, the daydreams about other parts of the world grow frequent. Luckily, I can find comfort in the small things aswell; the snapshots from places I've been myself, the movies from places I once wish to go. This one in specific, caught my eye and interest:

You know you want to go there, meet the people, smell it, feel it. I mean, ah, I'm itching to get out of this country.

Being a movie star for three minutes

2011-05-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when listening to a really good song, I like to pretend I'm in a music video. Or in a scene of a fancy movie. Some songs just makes everything seem like a whole other universe; the melody blocks out everything else, the lyrics just.. fit. If not, I make the world fit to it. I create stories to the people I walk past, I give them missions and parts of a play only taking place because the music makes it possible. There's a lot of songs that does that to me - quite often it's solely based on how I feel there and then.

Today, I felt like the star featured in the music video of this song:

Kings of Convenience - Gold in the Air of Summer

Why the weekend should last seven days

2011-05-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been the kind that you only seem to wish for, when your mind seems overloaded with academic nonsense and the road leading to your exams seems unaturally long. And yet - Friday came, the sun was shining and a few days off just seemed.. necessary.

Image walking down the street; the scent of flowers mixes with that of the dry road, you close your eyes and the sun makes yellow dots dance behind your eyelids. And it's all just so damn allright you don't know where to jump, dance, run or go. So I went everywhere. To a part of the city I rarely visit, to giggle and spend money on beer far too expensive for my taste - but just perfect there and then. I danced in the streets and I ate cookies in the night. I went to the park to eat strawberries, and I drank wine until our blankets couldn't keep out more of the chill of the night sneaking up on us. And I've met up with a lot of people - fantastic people, funny people, people I've missed and people I see every day. And, and, oooh!

It's just been so damned good I wish I could put it all into a little jar, and look at it and smell it and laugh at it all through the week. Sort of.

"On the contrary!"

2011-04-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

At the moment I'm writing my essay in psychology,and trying to escape the incoming academic meltdown, I'm taking small breaks to creep around on wikipedia. There, I stumbled across the article on Henrik Ibsen. I've read it a few times before, and suddenly I realized why:

"On 23 May 1906, Ibsen died in his home at Arbins gade 1 in Christiania (now Oslo) after a series of strokes in March 1900. When, on 22 May, his nurse assured a visitor that he was a little better, Ibsen spluttered his last words "On the contrary" ("Tvertimod!"). He died the following day at 2:30 P.M."

You live your life writing plays that can't be said to just be about sugar, spice and everything nice, pointing at how things never were as good as they seemed. And then he goes down like that. Nice.

Åh, til dere som ikke helt skjønner hvordan dere endte opp her; jeg har fått overført alle mine bloglovin-følgere fra min forrige blogg, og over til denne. Håper det er greit for dere fine folk.

Daydreaming? Pfft, never

2011-04-28T10:30:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I wonder how the world would appear to me if I was a bird. (No, nono, I've not gone mad, bonkers and downright crazy after all this reading and writing. I think of these things all the time. If that's reassuring.) I mean, I see the world like I do, because I know gravity holds me down. There are places I can go to, and others I'll never see, because I am human and stuck with my feet down on the ground. So, I wonder, how would I look at myself and the world, if I could just take flight whenever I fancied, if I could cross rivers and mountains and roads like nothing? It would be odd, to live with a whole other dimension to the world; to not only be able to go left and right, but to be able to suddenly just go up, in diagonals and swirls.

They're a lucky bunch, those pesky little feather-balls.

Come on, do the idiot dance

2011-04-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Listening to Pendulum after the right amount of coffee and good thoughts, just makes me want to throw my books out the window, drink an indecent amount of alcohol and dance like a complete idiot through the university facilities. Might be because I'm up far too early, might be because my brain's gotten severely injured just by being attached to.. well, me. Or it might be that I need to get out more. Whatever makes me seem less like a total nerd, and more like something awesome. Now, come on, let's dance like the idiots we are.

Drinking perfume

2011-04-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

If I could choose to smell like one drink in the world, it would be jasmine tea. It's like drinking perfume, it makes me want to bathe in it just about every time I take a sip.

The other day I found a small cart of a green tea with, yes, jasmine, lying in the back of my cupboard; part of the infinite amounts of tea I brought home from Sri Lanka last year. Curiously investigating the cardboard remains, I found nothing but crumbles and a vague smell of something far beyond good. And, now I could describe how I went about to get my hands onto some of this yummy tea again, how I ran around town with a frantic whisper of "jasmine, mm, yes, woo, I can drink perfume!". But no. I just went down to the city centre, bought a large box and held it like a idol over my head - all the way home to my tea cup and hot water. And glory, glory, it was good.

And that's it. My declaration of love towards jasmine tea. Yum.

In awe

2011-04-26T01:12:00.000-07:00

I'm in awe. It's so beautiful, I find it hard to believe it's even authentic. It makes me want to book a flight to a far away mountain and climb it, just so I can see more of this planet. And then I realize the only adventures I'll be doing the next month is climbing the ridiculously large pile of books I've got to read for my exams. The only foreign fields I'll travel, are the ones of theory and coffee so strong it could knock an elephant out cold. Fantastic.

Inhaling light, and all there's to it

2011-04-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

Just realized how the title of the blog might make me appear more saint-like and believing than intended. Don't know if it's just the way my own mind works, but it suddenly came off as semi-religious in my eyes. Which, well, it's not. I'm not really the one to dedicate my blogs to any higher force. (I could stretch to dedicate it to my own god though; the allmighty caffeine. Oh, how I pray to Thee and Thy power. Ah, well, ok.)

It is however, a tiny homage to one of my favourite bands: In Flames. Swedish people looking all manly and grinding on their instruments, just oh-so-right. "Inhale the light" is simply a line stolen from their song "Minus". And to raise the bar on this already awesome morning, here's another song:

The anger and shouting and the pointing of fingers

2011-04-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Quite often, while glaring at the books and articles I'm supposed to read and even worse - understand, I find myself asking myself "Why the hell do I need to read this? How on earth is this ever relevant for my education?" Mentally I spit on the authors, I dig up their bodies and punch them really, really hard. And then two, maybe three months go by, and I realize I need everything I've read. In the back of my mind I feel Marx and the whole crew smirk at me, with the I-told-you-so-attitude painted all over them. And I grind my teeth, clench my fists and jump head first into another text I don't see the point of.

I swear, being a student could've given a corpse high blood-pressure.

Fresh

2011-04-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Blogging, to me, is like a rollercoaster - ups and downs come frequently, my interest rising and going down again at what seems like an everchanging pace. Yet, I like it. It's fun, it's supplies me with a place to ramble and put up pictures of the tea I drink and the days I go through.

I'm giving it a go in English this time, as my mothertongue seems to lack a lot of the words I search for when describing things and thoughts. I'm not native in this language though, so we'll see how it goes. So, cheers, here's to a fresh start.