Norway.

I have about 150 Norway Pictures, this is a link to my facebook page where I posted about half of them.  The rest are the same pictures with different angles for scrapbooking purposes.  (Here, I posted them to photo blog too...)There's a lot more to the blog than what I'm posting here, but that's because I'm still processing... it will probably be posted to my my inspirational blog as it's more about my ongoing struggles with God and David and all of that blah.

Okay, here we go... It's taken quite a few days for me to process everything that happened, it was the longest-shortest week ever!  It started around 4am, when I woke up because I was too excited to sleep!  I also had a little chat with Stanley, explaining that I'd be back home in 7 days, and that he'd be just fine with Mom & Dad.  (I know, it's silly.  I think it was more for me!)

SeaTac was uneventful.  Turns out you don't have to pay for suitcases if you're flying internationally, so that was good, as the Easter Bunny had me bringing goodies for Camilla and her family, including a DVD player that was carefully packed in my carry on.  Alaska Air does charge for individual media players, so I listened to my Zune and played Henry Hatsworth on the DS- although I had to put Henry Hatsworth, aka crack, away because I was finding it hard not to swear with this game... anyone who's played it can attest, it's crack and it inspires foul language!  I was able to sleep for a few hours, but for the most part I was too excited.

I got to Boston, and with a 4.5 hour layover, figured I'd get checked in and crash somewhere... ha ha ha.  Logan has different wings to their airport, and the international flights were departing from what seemed like an afterthought!  It was on the other side of the parking garages, on the other side of the freeway, and had its own security that I had to go through.  (that means unpacking and repacking the DVD player again... once at SeaTac, once at Logan).  When I got to Terminal E, there was no carpet, there were no benches to lean back on, and "Free WiFi" really only means free Logan Int'l Airport intranet, it was $7 to connect to the world wide web for 24 hours.  Instead I picked out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and started reading.

As it got closer and closer to the departure time for Iceland Air, more and more Scandinavians started showing up.  I swear, I haven't seen so many skinny jeans tucked into converse hightops since the late 80's!  I tried to get some pics, but there wasn't really a way to be cool about taking pictures of everyone at the airport.

I highly recommend flying Iceland Air if you can!  Their seats are a little larger, super comfortable, and they have free media entertainment, individually on the back of each seat infront of you.  It was really nice.  And the flight attendants were really nice too.  It was odd, though, being surrounded by people who were speaking a language I couldn't even pick out words here and there!  I mean, I speak Spanish, can pick words out in Italian, French, and Portuguese, but man... I was LOST!  The flight to Iceland was uneventful, thank heavens.  No getting struck by lightening, no medical emergencies, it was nice and peaceful.  I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the volcano as we flew in, but it was overcast that morning.  As we're taxi'ing to our terminal, they announce that everyone will have to go through security before reaching the connecting flight gates, so I had to unpack the DVD player for a THIRD TIME.  UGH! 

Now, why am I bringing this DVD player half way across the world?  Because Camilla mentioned that the coding on electronics in the US is not compatible with European electronics, so they can't watch the majority of their DVD collection...

As we filed through the gates to get to Norway the flight attendant tells me that my carry on is too big for their planes.  I explain that it was fine on the first Iceland Air flight, and that I have a DVD player that can't be jostled around with cargo.  She said she would allow me to take the DVD player out and then stow my carry on under the plane.  Unpacking the DVD player number FOUR.  I swear, if I didn't love Camilla so much, I would have left the damned thing in Iceland! 

When I get to Norway, I started wondering, "Where do I find Camilla?  Will she be at baggage claim?  Will she be sitting outside in her car somewhere with Daryl and the kids?  I can't call or text her, how will I find her?!  Will I have time to repack the DVD player so I can surprise them?"  I mean- I haven't seen her for almost 8 years... not that either of us had really changed, but still...

I don't recommend trying to grab luggage off the carosel while holding electronics, especially after traveling for 14 hours. 

I started following the flow of people towards the signs that said "UT" which means Exit... and there were Camilla, Daryl, Audrey, and Ashley!  Adriana stayed behind with her grandpa, as there isn't room for 6 people in the car.  It was SOOO good to see Camilla!!!  And to meet her beautiful family!  I'd met Daryl once, but had never had a chance to spend time with him or the girls.  Audrey was so excited, she grabbed onto my suitcase and "helped" Camilla with it.  We all piled into the little car and headed through Oslo.  When we got to the house, it was like we'd gone back in time- it was later that I found out it's considered a National Historical Monument!  The property is right on the fjord, the rocks in the landscape have fossils from the last iceage, it's just surreal. 

Camilla shows me the downstairs apt where I am supposed to stay, and it's reallly neat- old family photos on the wall, fabulous detailing in the woodwork... and then we get to the bedroom, and there's a painting with a scary lookin' girl holding a basket of berries.  It took me almost the whole week to pin what it was that was so freaky about her- the artist painted so the eyes follow you around, just like Mona Lisa.  I told Camilla that I would sleep upstairs in their home, on the living room couch.  That painting still gives me the chills when I think about it! 

I don't know if there are words to describe how delightful the Miller family is!  Daryl is wonderful with the girls, letting them put barrettes and bows in his hair, and Camilla and I had a blast coloring with the girls.  Adriana is the oldest, Audrey int he middle, and Ashley is the youngest.  They had me laughing and giggling so much!  Every morning they would take turns climbing under the blankets on the couch with me, and eventually it turned into a pig-pile.  Ashley and Audrey rarely kept clothes on, and it reminded me of my friend Sara's blog, all the pictures of her Addie running around half-naked too. 

I got to drive.  Drivers in Norway are scary!  As are the round-abouts, aka "idiot sticks".  But I got us where we needed to go!  Easter Vigil, in Norwegian.  All of the church services were in Norwegian, but it was good for me, good prayer and meditation time... and, being Catholic, no matter what language it's in, the mass is still in the same order.  I was really surprised I remembered it after not going to church for so long!  The service was beautiful, and I actually caught parts of it, and the music, because there was a fair amount of latin.

The Easter Bunny found me in Norway, and I got lots of marsipan goodies.  The Easter Bunny also brought over a bunch of little plastic eggs for the girls, and American candies... so much fun!  I downloaded skype onto my laptop and we called my mom, the girls loved seeing my mom and Stanley.  Dad was... I don't remember where Dad was... I think he was still getting dressed.  Camilla told me that Audrey asked if she could come live with me because I have a dog.  It was very sweet. 

Everything was closed until Tuesday for the Easter holiday, so we spent a day on the beach exploring.  I have always been fascinated by rocks, but these in Norway are like none other I've seen!!!  Waking up and seeing this every single morning is such a blessing, I wish I could have taken it with me- the sounds, or lack of- the smells, it was so serene, so peaceful.

Camilla and I ended up spending most of the time in town Tuesday at a TGI Friday's restaurant, just catching up on the last 8 years.  It was the fanciest TGI Friday's I'd ever seen!  And they're everywhere in Oslo, advertised as the American Bar.  I also found a Texas restaurant, and had to take a picture for Kristan and her family... There was an absolutely delightful toy store, and if it wasn't an arm-and-a-leg for things, I would have brought home so much!  I felt like I was a kid again, giggling and squealing with ever discovery.  I did buy myself a little wooden frog prince, sort of a good luck charm... we'll see.  When I left for Oslo, people kept telling me to bring home a Norwegian... this is as close as I got, and I'm okay with that.

After another mass in Norwegian, the priest invited the congregation to dinner hosted by one of the church groups, and aside from the priest, we were the youngest there by a good 20 years.  It was so much fun!  A little German nun called me over when Camilla had gone to talk with the priest- she said "you're all alone, come talk with me."  She was so cute, I just wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home!  The priest reminded both Camilla and me of David... I swear, he (David) was thrown into my face quite a bit during that week I was there... *sigh*shrug* There wasn't really a way to avoid him.  But I'm okay.  Really.  I survived. 

Camilla found out that a reporter would be interviewing her, part of a series on a week in the Catholic Church, or something like that- It was illegal to be Catholic in Norway until just a short 200 years ago!  It made Wednesday a busy day, especially for Camilla- confession, news interview, conversion.  Yikes!  I discovered the Catholic Bookstore while Camilla spoke with the priest, and then we went to a delightful cafe to meet the reporter.  She was quite taken aback that I was the sponsor, and said "I expected someone older."  She then actually thanked me for not using my hands to eat pizza!  I guess she was thinking I was going to be the stereotypical rude and crude American in Europe?  Idunno... I didn't take any offense to it.  I was completely lost for most of the interview, as it was in Norwegian, except for when she asked me about the sex-scandals in the priesthood.  It turns out that an article had been published that day revealing that it happened in Norway too, and all the media was covering Camilla's confirmation!  Poor Camilla... she'd chosen a mid-week mass so she could keep it low profile, and here we had our own paparazzi at the church, and ended up making front page! 

After mass on Wednesday I got to meet some of Camilla's friends, and I met who we decided was her Norway- Melinda, and I'm the American-Gunvor Johanne.  I realized that I really miss having a group of women to share faith and fellowship with.  PLU Catholic Club was the last time I had that...

I had such amazing experiences when I was in Norway- I feel like my blogging right now isn't doing it any justice.  Once Wednesday night was over, the rest of the week was like running downhill- it all flew by in a blur!  Thursday, Thursday.... what did we do on Thursday?  We talked about yarn, knitting, tried to hook up the DVD player- which didn't work because the TV couldn't read it, but with Daryl & Camilla's dad's help, we got the laptops connected to the TV to watch some American movies.  Gunvor came over and we watched Julie & Julia, so much fun! 

... And then Friday was there.  It's amazing how the week seemed so long when I got there, and in a blink it was gone.  I promised myself I wasn't going to cry when Camilla and I parted ways, and I didn't- until just now.  She waited until I got through security, with the DVD player again, and every time I looked back she was just a little farther away... Now she's back on the other side of the world... Why does international travel have to be so expensive?! 

The trip home was uneventful as well.  I caught a cold in Norway that followed me home- I definately do not recommend being congested at 35,000, and I'm definately glad that I gave myself a full weekend to recover from leaving Iceland at 5 and arriving in Seattle at 5:45.  Gotta love time differences... ?!?

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I'm hoping that life allows us to see each other again soon.... right now, the expected plan is to travel the British Isles in 2012, and hopefully Gunvor and Camilla will meet me there.  I'm crossing my fingers that they make it to the States before then... Or maybe I'll head back to Norway in 2 years, who knows!