2012!

So far 2012 has been a great year.
I learn more Norwegian, more about Norway and more about myself every day.

On January 2nd (the last day of my vacation) I spent the night at Thea's flat in Stjørdal with Thea, Ragnhild and Berit.
Now before I write about this, let me just say that I do know how to say "Happy New Year" in Norwegian. It's actually really easy: Godt Nyttår. I have said it about a million times.
Anyways, the four of us stopped at a store to buy some chips and dip because we were planning on watching a movie. Before we went inside I said that I hoped we didn't see anyone I knew because I looked pretty bad at the time. So we go in and do our shopping and when it comes time to check out, we go up to the counter and not one, but two of the checkouts are being run by my classmates.
Also they were the only two open.
Just my luck.
So we got in line and after we finished paying, my classmate wished me a "Godt Nyttår".
Ok Avery. Stay calm. You know how to say this.
What I tried to say:
"Godt Nyttår!"
What I actually said:
"Godturmg..(Oh shoot, keep it together) Neeeeeet? (realize defeat) oor..."
What the heck brain? Why can you function sufficiently when I am with my family and friends, but when I try to talk to someone I only kind of know you freeze and make me sound like an idiot?
Well.. Needless to say my sister and cousins got a kick out of my barely intelligible response.
As soon as we were out of the store they burst out laughing. So did I, but at the same time I was pretty embarrassed.
After that we went to Thea's place and watched a movie. Ragnhild and I had to get up early in the morning so we went to bed around midnight, but apperently Thea and Berit stayed up really late.

On Thrusday, January 5th I got another very special visitor up in Hegra. This time, however, it was not a surprise becaue I helped arrange it. As some of you know, my mother did an exchange year in Norway when she was around my age. Well last Thursday her host-uncle Bjørn, his wife and their friends came to visit me in Hegra! It was wonderful to be able to show them where I'm living and what my family is like. They stayed for dinner, but were on a busy schedule so they couldn't stay much longer.

Friday during school I made two trips to the mall in town (during my free periods) with a few of my friends who were buying snacks for their big weekend trip! What was this big trip? Well, my class went to Åre last weekend. However, I wasn't allowed to go because of some pretty strict AFS rules. Needless to say I was a little bit disappointed (as poor Pappa heard alllllllllllll the way home from school that day). However, I got over it relatively quickly when it finally occurred to me that it was my last weekend with Berit for who knows how long...
So instead of going to Åre for the weekend, I went to Kåret for the weekend. Kåret is the house where Ragnhild lives and Berit was staying for the holidays.
I didn't mean to be there the whole weekend... Friday night I went to visit them, figuring we would watch a movie or something, and I wound up staying the night. Then Saturday we went horseback riding and they invited me to stay for dinner. I didn't actually make it home until Sunday around noon. I had just as much fun with my two crazy cousins all weekend at Kåret as I would have if I had gone to Åre (maybe more?).
Sunday morning at like 5 am, Berit left for France. I was so sad to see her go, but so tired when I said bye all I could manage to get out was an almost-intelligible "Have fun, I'll miss you..."
Or something like that.

Now it is my turn to go on a trip!
In the morning I am leaving to go to Oslo, the capital of Norway! AFS requires that all their students do a week of work, just to see what it is like.
Remember Annette? The lovely surprise visitor I had a while back? Well she owns a store in Oslo and she agreed to let me work with her for a week. I can not wait! It will be so much fun!
I finished my biology homework, I'm all packed and I'm ready to go!

Hmm... I think I am going to miss my family. I've never been away from them for more than three days before...

I miss you Berit!