Suddenly I find myself caught up in a hundred and one things all at once, and with the end of my exchange in sight I am beginning to try to take advantage of everything far more than ever. The result of this is time flying by almost scarily.
I have been cooped up all weekend writing my final assignment for my Norwegian Academic Written course: we have to hand in two examples of our own writing, a bibliography (which sounds simple but having been taught the ins-and-outs of such things, really isn't at all, worryingly) and finally, an essay a few pages long about our development throughout the course. I know they're only trying to guage how we've really progressed language-wise, but writing such things bores me to tears! "I have learned to use the passive tense less often" and such sentences do not make for an exciting assignment! However, I am now finished with it and shall hand it in this week. Although only worth 5 ECTS credits, passing with a good mark would give me scope for picking my best points to apply to my Edinburgh transcript. Thinking about things like that is rare whilst on exchange, but now seem ever more important with term back in Edinburgh a not-too-distant thought!
Recently things have been great here: it's very much a case of only really beginning to know the value of a place and people and opportunities once the time nears for it to be left behind. On Friday we took advantage of the good weather (sunshine until 9pm, glorious!) and went to an island just off Oslo, Bygdøy. We barbecued and played more of that rather dangerous but entertaining game I mentioned in my last entry, Kubb, and afterwards headed by into town to a friend's flat for a few hours:
It was so lovely, but like I say, bitter sweet! Anyway, if the weather remains how it has been recently, I see no reason why there shouldn't occur a few more days like this before we have to go anywhere.
I have majorly lost touch with new and films and the likes at home, but a big one out here at the moment is the Swedish 'Män som hatar kvinnor' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvksrEhVvJ0), originally a novel by Stieg Larsson translated into English as 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' I saw it a few weeks ago with friends and can quite easily declare it to be the most scarring few hours of my love (and not just because my Norwegian brain was working in overdrive to keep up with the Swedish language.) It is essentially a crime novel/film, but the presence of numerous murders and disappearances and Neo-Nazis and gothic hackers and rapes and attacks and any number of things made it perfect for the Scandinavian audience who seem to go crazy for this kind of things. Whilst I was scarred, the 12 year old sitting behind me seemed quite happy most of the way through. Maybe it's in their genes.
Before I wrap up, I feel compelled to mention one more Scandinavian offering to the world (once again Swedish, for shame), but can safely assure everyone that no language skills are required to enjoy it to its fullest. The video is a saucy clip from Sweden's version of Britain's Got Talent and will most probably leaving you wishing that the UK's version was quite as exciting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXRWvJjcdkk. ENJOY.
