2 months in Norway

Two months ago yesterday I returned to Norway. One month ago today I started working in the ER in Hamar. During this time the farmers have harvested the grain and bailed the straw. They have harvested onions and potatoes, plowed and harrowed and sowed winter wheat. The trees have long flamed a fiery gold, and rustled underfoot in ever growing drifts of dead leaves. The days are getting shorter, darker and cooler. Dawn about 7 am and dark at 7pm. There have been several frosts at night. I dread the winter. I miss Ithaca. The long mild fall. The festivals: apple, pumpkin, Halloween, Thanksgiving... Theatre trips with Mother and Father, Roland and Sharon. Contra Dancing. Having father for lunch on Thursdays, Sunday dinner at the Farm...

I love working in the ER though. I find I can use the skills I learned at Cayuga Medical, and even improve them. A colleague told me about how she took a Red Cross ambassador course and spent 3 weeks in Lebanon! There is so much to learn. I hope I will have more opportunities for learning.

Ingvild has started practice driving. She is actually quite good. This is the third time I'm teaching a teenager to drive and I find I am more systematic this time. There are especially 2 things I am emphasizing that are new. #1 Push in the clutch whenever you feel unsure what to do, and whenever I yell "stop". #2 practicing starting on a hill, both forwards and in reverse seems to make it easier to learn the to understand the relationship between clutch, brake and gas pedal.

I see Tormod and Irene fairly regularly. At least once a week. Helped Tormod move. Practice drive with both of them. Hardly any contact with Audun though. Apparently he is very busy with college, work, and his social life. I miss him though (and feel a little neglected I'm ashamed to admit).

Though I miss contra dancing and theater we don't just sit at home. Husband and I have started swing dancing every Wednesday. Last weekend we took his niece to watch the world championship in Agility, and we have also been to a dance performance: a kind of combo of traditional Norwegian and Street Dance. Facinating!!!