A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN!
The student village where I live is very close to Nordmarka, the big recreation center here in Oslo. Forget about Wash Park (in Denver) this is the REAL deal! There is a large lake, all natural and great trails that take you into the forest. It is seriously a 3 minute walk and then BAM, you're in heaven. The trail around the lake is 4 km and often times you get whiplash because of all of the beautiful Norge men running circles. Right across the street from my student village is a sports training facility where many olympians train. So, I'll be hanging out there often. Norway takes their Olympics serious!! Did you know that Norway has won more winter olympic medals than any other country?

I will be headed to another piece of heaven tomorrow. A few of my classmates and I will head to Bergen where the big fjords jut out of the water. Lord of the Rings type of scenery. It will take us about 7 hours on the train, then 5 hours on a boat to arrive in Bergen where we will stay in a hostel for 2 nights. Then back home...Woohoo! I'll post more later! Ciao!

MELTING POT of OSLO...
I was in the melting pot of Norway on Saturday, a neighborhood called Gronland, close to Oslo Sentrum (the center of Oslo), where you truly get a mix of every nationality. I journeyed there with a few of my classmates. We stopped at the market where all sorts of treaures could be found (one man's trash is another man's treasure!) Dad, you would have loved it...there were russian stamps, lamps, china, used cell phones, used electronics, jewelery, furniture and clothes. I asked a man the price of a used cell phone and he said, "1000 kroner", then I heard him tell an african man, "500 kroner". Ladies & Gentlemen, I have the wonderful stamp on my forehead that says, "I'm American, take me for all you can!" Hence, the reason I don't have a cell phone right now. All of my classmates think I'm crazy...I'm the only one without a cell phone and I'm supposed to be from the "high tech"/wealthy nation. Whatever, I like to rebel against stereotypes and I will hold out for the best deal. Plus, Nokia resides in Finland and I'm hoping to purchase a new & sassy phone there.

Soon after getting eaten alive at the market, my Indian & Pakistan friends chose a delicious Indian eatery for lunch where I devoured Chicken Tikka. Yummy! Another fun day! Now off to study...we have 600 pages of reading to do in about one week and a 10 page paper to write.

Photos: At the market...top 2 photos. My Indian friend Pritt, making a funny face at the market. The lunch crew at the Indian eatery. And the last photo, my Vietnamese friend from Hanoi, Lan, she bought many lamps as she wants to combat the dark winters!

American BASHING!
Forget the classroom...many of my ah-ha moments are happening in my flat at the dinner table. I have a group of flat-mates that aren't afraid to speak their mind and voice their opinion on Bush, how the western world has stripped culture from many countries, how American politics are based on money and just how much they think American domination sucks. It is quite concerning and refreshing all at the same time...and I'm trying very hard not take it personal. I would rather have the people I live with be real and speak their mind, but it is hard to hear how much foreigners hate the American power. I want to defend it, but I can't, as I am perplexed at all of the variables of why America has it's hand in the Arab and African world. As I listen to these perspectives, I have to ask, why don't we hear these perspectives in America? Let me answer my own question...I believe that we all live in our comfortable worlds and don't even bother to read the international section of the newspaper. I am the first to admit to this...but now, believe me I am reading the Herald Tribune, I am watching the BBC World news and I'm listening to the perspectives of others who live around the world. It is truly fascinating how naive we have become as a nation when it comes to world politics. However, I have to give props to a few of my dear friends in the great land of the free...as I know there are a few of you who pride yourself on keeping up with the world happenings.

The best part about this experience is that after a heated dialogue about politics my flat-mates and I can eat Norwegian ice cream together and laugh together and be together much like a family unit.

Photos: My building in Krinsja! The other photo is my name on the door telephone to my building. For some reason, they think my middle name, Marie, is my first name.
The last photo is a quintessential European telephone booth.

SCAVENGER HUNT! The Department of Education sponsored what they called a "social". It was an opportunity to meet other students who are pursuing a graduate degree in Education. They split us into groups of about 10 and gave each group a list of landmarks that we had to find around Oslo. It was a blast!! We had 6 hours to complete the scavenger hunt and find the secret dinner location, which was hosted at the African Cultural Center. In our group, we had the lovely Sofie, from Oslo, who became our feerless leader and toured us around Oslo, dodging the rain and navigating the buses, boats, t-bane and tram. She was full of insightful information as we toured Vigeland Park (naked statues), Uff (2nd hand store), Bygdoy (island with many museums), Gronland (cheap area of the city where many immigrants live) and the City Hall. Our group was an international infusion of FUN...a fun group of educators from around the world including Elena from Russia, Jack from Vancouver who loves Miranda on Sex in the City, Henry from Uganda, "Milk" from Ethiopia, Primrose from S. Africa, Jessica from U.S., Nitsuh from Ethiopia, Denise from S. Africa and the Tanzanian who is really an American (he LOVES Jessica Simpson and has watched all of the American films), Ameir or "Zanzibari".

Leasa's FUN FACTS about OSLO!

1.) Norge men have audacious hair. They invest in and squander hair product. Spikey hair with the sides pushed forward is quite hot!
2.) Black & white checkerboard vans are making a HUGE comeback in Oslo.
3.) It's better to sit in the subway (t-bane) facing the direction you are traveling, rather than face backwards and feel like your inner cavity may explode.
4.) I'm considering taking on a new oral fixation...smoking! I might as well, I'm breathing in all of the second hand smoke of the perfunctory European smokers.
5.) Try saying this one, it's a mouth full...Forskningsparken. It's a subway stop near campus.
6.) People get in "que" not in line.
7.) America is FAT! I have only seen 2 obese people in Oslo. For all I know...they were American.
8.) If the Norwegian voice of GOD comes over the speaker, while on the subway, and everyone else proceeds to get off...follow them! More than likely the subway is temporarily out of commission. First hand experience!
9.) BBC World News ROCKS! I get 15 channels, including Showtime, Norge MTV (they actually show music videos), Discovery, Animal Planet, BBC Prime & other Norwegian channels I don't understand.
10.) Norge like to ask english speakers how to pronounce a local beer, "AASS pilsner". Then, they proceed to make "ass" jokes for the remainder of the evening. "I need to get myself another piece of ass." "Can I touch your ass?"
11.) Fishpudding is an interesting dish here in Norway...
12.) I have a prediliction for autumn in Oslo. The temperature is about 60-70 degrees...just beautiful!
13.) I find myself counting on my fingers to figure out what time it is, especially in the evening. Norway is on military time.
14.) You must pay for bags at the grocery. What a smart idea to conserve plastic! As you are checking out, they will ask you if you need bags then tack on .70KR (10cents) per bag.
15.) Takeaway is cheaper than eating in. At the cafe, a chai is 45KR (7.50US) if you plan to hang out and enjoy the cafe environment and only 36 KR (6US) if you takeaway.
16.) Norwegians believe that trolls live in the forest. Hence, the photos.

TIME FOR SCHOOL! Many of you have been asking about school...you know the REAL reason I am here in Oslo. Well, here is the low-down. I started classes on Monday and have been quite impressed with the curriculum, the professor and my classmates. Someone said that Peter Maassen, our professor, is the "POPE" of International Higher Education (HE) and we should cherish our time with him. He mentioned to us on Monday that we are the "future champions" of International HE administration and also the most diverse Masters programme in HE in the world. When he said that, I got chills up and down my spine. Truly, this is the most diverse experience of my life. My classmates reign from all around the world, I think we have about 25 countries represented. The learning that will come from just my classmates alone will be enough to quench my thirst for international knowledge. We will also have visiting professors from Japan, the U.S. and the Netherlands who will teach the class for a short period of time.

The material is quite interesting and challenging all at the same time. For the past 10 years, I have focused on student affairs and student development and this program is so much more expansive. It is all about globalization of Higher Education (HE). We will study the building blocks of HE and then move into the study of different systems. Everything is focused on the administration level; funding, policy, governance, etc. Amazing!

Photos: Subway stop & inside of subway at student village, Kringsa-the student village where I live.

PUB CRAWL! Here at the University of Oslo, it is tradition to go on a pub crawl the first night of classes. Hence, a few classmates and I decided to take on the challenge. The drinking age here in Norway is 18 and therefore they have many pubs located throughout campus, in various faculties (meaning school/college). So, we have a pub right here in Helga Ens Hus, the School of Education Building. How convenient! We only made it to 3 pubs because the last one, in the Physics Building, is so COOL! It is a little piano bar with old, comfy couches and the hosts are dressed up like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland with a lot of flare. I saw a group of young men who were singing all of the words to "Brown Eyed Girl" and I decided to join them. From there, I discovered they know all of the words to many Beatles songs, Metallica and Pearl Jam. So, we became the life of the party...singing, laughing, etc. Those Norwegians know how to party. Everyone handles their alcohol quite well and the only person who was hurting was the other American in my programme (see pic). I don't think he normally drinks all that much. OUCH!! Of course the crazy Aussie shut down the pub.

A rather SOGGY day in OSLO...yes, it rains in Oslo. In fact, it rains a lot in Oslo. However, people are still active regardless of the weather. I quite like it. Yesterday I met up with Jessica, a Fulbright from Minnesota. We had e-mailed each other before coming to Oslo and it was very nice to finally meet up in person and tour around the city. She is married to a Norwegian and lived in Boulder for a short period of time, so we have a lot in common. She even has curly locks. We decided to purchase some rubber boots to combat the soggy streets of Oslo (see photos). We paid 99 kroner=$16US and they are sassy to boot.

These boots are made for walking & that's just what they'll
do!"

We walked about 5 miles in these rubbers. We even got to experience a nearly naked viking man in the coffee shop. It was quite funny. His buddies were taking him around the city for some "bachelor party" antics. They were nice enough to have a blanket for him in the rainy conditions, but that didn't take away the "shrinkage" effect. Ha, ha!

As our rubber boots made it to the pier, we stumbled upon an international festival, where we got a FREE henna tatoo. FREE is always a good word in Oslo where everything is so expensive. We were happy to find a FREE symphony concert on this huge stage that was actually a large boat that pulled into the pier. Sorry dad, you missed out on this one!!!

Today is sunny & I have finally found a cafe with wireless. Woohoo! No internet in my room yet, hopefully this week! Classes start tomorrow and I have been busy reading the literature which I am finding quite fascinating. I am excited and ready to get a routine in order with my classes, studies, travel, workouts, etc. I plan to join the Uni's gym (about $100US for the entire semester). They offer drop in aerobics and cycling, all in Norwegian, which will prove to be another experiment with the Norwegian language. Ciao for now...I'll write more about the classes, curriculum, etc. this next week.

My DAD wants U 2 READ THIS!!! My father wrote this in an e-mail to his friends...

Our middle child has left us.
1). She quit her job at CU.
2). She rented out her townhouse.
3). She sold her Xterra
4). She farmed out her kitty Kili.
5). She hugged and kissed us goodbye.
6). She flew to London/Heathrow on the worst day ever.
7). She now resides in Oslo, Norway.
If you have any interest in her experience, go tohttp://leasa.blogspot.com

This is funny! I enjoyed it so much I wanted to share it with all of you. Thanks pops...this really put things in perspective for me. I must be crazy, yet I am feeling so resolved with this decision to leave my life (temporarily) for 2 years. I am living my wildest dream!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! My day ended with a birthday celebration for Greg, the crazy Aussie, who turned 29. We met up in the student village for some pre-party eats, drinks and laughs and then headed to campus for some beer garden action (yes, I put campus & beer in the same sentence, crazy huh?) Greg tried out his charm on some Norwegian ladies and got shot down. The Norwegians are known for their cold and reserved demeanor towards foreigners and birthday boy, Greg, learned this the hard way. Poor mate!

A SUNNY day at the SKI JUMP! Holmenkollen is the name of the Norwegian ski jump and it is about 10 subway stops from the center of Oslo. I have heard a great deal about this ski jump and you can see it glistening in the mountains as you are walking around town (click to enlarge the subway photo and you can see the ski jump up on the hill.) I was so excited to check it out because it is the most popular and well-respected sport in Norway, the Royal Family has been supporting this sport since the 1800's. It started back in the 1866 and since then the ski jump has continued to grow in length and height, it has been re-built 15 times.

What an incredible place to spend a sunny day. It was 60 kroner ($10) to enter and they have this incredbile ski museum with old ski's/boots/binding systems that date back to the 1800's. I knew I would spend a good deal of time here, so I didn't ask anyone to come along. Plus, I haven't met anyone who is as passionate about skiing as I am and I didn't want to bore anyone. I brought along my books and studied at the cafe that overlooks the city of Oslo. It was truly a brilliant & sunny day!!!

FUTBOL, uh...er...you mean SOCCER? This is an open letter to all of my fellow Americans, we are missing OUT! Seriously, futbol is the sport that unifies the world and creates excitement among individuals from different countries. Forget war, let's have a futbol match between Bush & Saddam. Last night we went to a bar in downtown Oslo for some Norge/Brazil futbol action. (For the record, the Norge goalie is not only good but he is great looking.) One of my classmates is from Brazil, Ali, and she is quite a futbol wiz. She can talk for hours with the boys and she knows statistics and the names and stories of all of the players. Incredible!! Being an American, I realized how many international connections we are missing just because we don't know our futbol. Photos...I am sitting next to my classmates, Jason (from Ohio) and Ali (Brazil flag wrapped around her shoulders). The other photo is Greg (my classmate), the crazy Aussie, and Anna (Greg's flatmate) from Germany.

P.S. That Corona I am holding up cost me 60 kroner=$10 US. OUCH!! Needless to say, I only had one.

BUREAUCRACY! And we thought America had a great deal of red tape. Ha, ha! For the last 3 days I have been running around from this office to that office trying to get my life in order. I had to go to the police station at 7:30 a.m. to get my visa yesterday. There was a 3 hour wait and I forgot to bring an extra passport photo. Therefore, I was one of the lucky individuals who got to pose in front of hundreds of people via the Norwegian speaking foto machine. Humiliating! The best part, I had just rolled out of bed and my curls were all over the place. The picture on my visa will be with me for the next 10 years. Ugh! Nothing better than a bad hair day!

One of the students from my programme, Jason from Ohio, watched the whole thing go down and just laughed. He decided to wait for me, despite my bad hair, and we braved the next bureaucratic journey together...registering for our Norwegian national ID number. Jump on the subway, stop at a few cell phone shops to check prices, grab a water, back on subway and walk around for 20 minutes trying to find the National Registry building. After a 1 hour wait, we turned in the paperwork and were told we would receive the ID number in 6 weeks. Here is the deal, you can't do anything without this number-no bank account, no University ID, no University e-mail and no insurance. Welcome to Norway! In the meantime, I have registered for classes (on-line) that was written in Norwegian, paid my "giro" (bill) for housing that was written in Norwegian and turned in my insurance paperwork that was written in English-yeah!! It may sound like I'm frustrated but I'm not. I knew that was part of the deal coming in. Actually, it is quite fun trying to figure out things in a different language without a dictionary. (I just purchased a dictionary yesterday on Amazon.com.)

Yesterday I also got the student pass for public transportation. Check this out...I got a spankin' deal! For those of us that are over 30, we do not qualify for the student discount, however I somehow managed to pass for under 30. I was with Ali, from Brazil, and she is a ripe 23. We went up to the counter together and the woman didn't even ask for my birthdate. HA! So, instead of paying 700KR=112US, I paid 400KR=64US. That is a monthly fee that I will have to renew and I sure hope that age thing doesn't catch up to me! Jason, the dude from the U.S., is 35 and he went back 3 different times and each time they asked him for his birthdate. Hee, hee!

These photos are just a few beautiful sites to be seen here in Oslo. Enjoy! Most of them are taken off of the "main drag" in Oslo, Karl Johans Gate, which is a 10-block long touristy street that leads to the Royal Palace. It is very close to the Central Train station and there is a great deal of shopping & dining to be had. H&M! There is also a beautiful park as you get closer to the Royal palace (see fountains.)