Marte Martilla Midtgarden

Coming and Going

2011-04-25T17:45:00.008+02:00

Time went by too quickly. Good moments come and go. Like a wind, my time in Kenya passed. It was so real, stormy and pleasant while it was going on. Now, it sometimes feels like it never happened. Like the wind setteld down and everything is back to normal. But if I think about it, there is still a storm going on on the inside.

I am back in Norway.
Leaving Kenya was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do.

I feel like I am being pulled between to different points:
• Norway and Kenya
• Enjoying Norway and longing for Kenya
• Feeling content in Norway and feeling like I’ll only be content in Mathare
• Accepting the fact that I'm staying in Norway and feeling like I'm supposed to be in Kenya
• Feeling like Kenya is real and as if it is distant
• Loving Norway and disliking Norway
• Being grateful for my family and missing friends in Kenya
How happy I am that is it allowed to have two emotions at the same time!

What do you do when you don't know what to do?
-Keep going, and somehow things work out.
What do you do when there is no way out?
-You move deeper in, and try to recognize how you really feel.

Leaving is a challenge, but being left feels very bad too.
Knowing that I am left behind children and people that have depended on me, one way or the other, the past few months, was tough.
Seeing the tears and face expressions of the people I have interacted with when I left, made me feel like I am loved. Beign loved is the best feeling in the world.
Kenyans don't express many feelings, so when they do, I know it is genuine. Knowing that I am loved and allowing myeslf to enjoy that, has been one of the greatest things I have ever learned.

How can I say goodbye?
How can I say good bye in a way that leaves me with no regrets?
How do I say goodbye without leaving the children with the feeling of being abandoned?
How can I express my gratitude to my friends in Kenya, when the word "Thank you" doesn't describe how grateful I am?
How do I carry all my experiences with me?

I am now back in Norway, and I was able to leave with a feeling of no regrets. I interacted one on one with the people that really matter to me. I expressed my gratitude and cried for them. But I have still not been able to say bye in my heart because I know that I will go back one day.
But, I feel so distant and far away. Everything at home is so normal, and I go through everyday life in an automatic manner. As if I never left. It is painful to think about how far Kenya is from Norway.

Just last week, my presence in Kenya was so real. I was able to appreciate a good Kenyan handshake from a close friend. Having a child from Matahre sitting in my lap and smiling at me, was a possibility. Now, it seems impossible. It somehow feels like it never happened. My time in Kenya was an adventure beyond what I can imagine. I don't even know what is real right now. My life keeps moving, and so does life in Kenya.
Walking through life, there are so many factors that affect me. I know that every person I meet has shaped me into who I am. So, I do know that who I am today, has been shaped by Kenya and the people I have met there. I am carrying my experiences from Kenya in me. The moment right now is reality, and everything that has brought me here is also a reality. Thinking about that comforts me somehow.

This adventure is over, and I need to move on. The only problem is how!?

I still want my friends in Kenya to know that I care, and I would like people in Norway to know that I have been affected by my time in Kenya.

It is a challenge. How do I learn to love the challenges God wants to give me here in Norway? When will I be content where I am, rather than looking forward to what is coming next?

The Story of Ngacha Ronald

2011-03-26T19:39:00.006+01:00

I have met many amazing people in Kenya, who have been willing to invest their time in my life to influence and shape me. One of these people, is my friend Ronald. He is the Chairman of the CU in Kagumo College. Ronald is a true man of God, with a strong character of integrity, rooted in the word of God. God has blessed him with wisdom and humbleness, so he is a good person to be around.
But, God has taken him on a long journey to get him where he is today.
Ngacha has allowed me to write his story, which is an honor.
I hope you will be touched by his story and learn something from the life he has lived.

His life is a powerful testimony of how God can transform the heart of a broken and hurt boy, into the loving heart of a man who honors God.
Ronald’s life is also the story of a small boy, fighting for his right of a childhood; a childhood where he could belong and feel appreciated by the people closest to him. Unfortunately, life hit him hard with resistance from a broken world. As a 12 year old, Ronald already had more life experience than someone has in a life time.

Ngacha

By the time Ronald Ngacha was 2 years old, his mum could no longer take the abuse from his father. She had endured for a very long time, for the sake of her children. At one point, when Ronald’s mother was pregnant with him, the father even abandoned them. An uncle had to pay the maternity bill in the hospital.
The father worked in Mombasa for a while. Whenever he came back home, he would beat them and sabotage for them. An uncle tried to help him start some businesses, but the broken father was unable to keep it going. The father would sell the few animals they had that gave milk and a small income. As soon as the harvest was over, he would sell the food they gathered from the farm. Sometimes he would even make holes in their sufurias (cooking pots), using nails.
Already from a young age, the father had problems, and was unable to deal with them. Instead, he transferred all his brokenness to his family in the form of abuse.
The mother ran away. Soon after, Ngacha’s father left, leaving 8 children behind. Being the 7th born, Ronald was taken care of by his older siblings. Some of them dropped out of school to take care of the remains of the family. It didn’t take a long time until the group of siblings was branded the “thieves” of the village. They received the blame for everything that disappeared. Resisting the pressure and gossip in the village is hard, and it can be shameful.

Ngacha and his mother

After a few years, their mom came back for them. She had remarried and established a home in Kitale, a different part of the country. She took her children to live on the small farm, where they kept chickens. Ronald’s mother has become a strong woman. She has been hardened by life through carrying 8 children to the world, being abandoned, abused and sinned against. Having the courage and character to rise from something like that is admirable.

Mama Ngacha

However, the children moved from bad to worse. The new father in the house did not treat them well. He would also beat and abuse them.
Ngacha started class 1 during this time. School was finished at noon, and he was expected to be home by 12:40 to take care of the goat. The school was 4-5 km from the house, and a small boy is not able to do that walk in 40 minutes. Every time he arrived late, there was a through beating waiting for him.
One day after he came running home and was very tired, he took the goat out to take care of it. Since he was so tired, he tied the rope of the goat around his leg, and fell asleep. While he slept, the goat dragged him along. When he woke up, he was in the middle of a stream, right next to a large black snake. The little boy was terrified! Luckily, the snake was not hungry, and left the river to relax in a tree.
If Ngacha came home, and the goat still seemed to be hungry, he would be beaten. The step father would blame him for tying the goat somewhere, and leave it, while the boy played around.
Being young, Ronald could not remember his biological father too well. When his other siblings revealed the reality about their father, Ngacha would defend him. He wouldn’t believe that his own father could hurt his own family. In his mind, the boy kept a memory of a good father.

One day, Ngacha cooked an egg in the kitchen while the step-father was out. When he came back, finding Ronald in the kitchen, he beat him badly. The little boy was 6 years old at this time.
Ngacha could take no more. He didn’t want to see his mother, brothers and sisters suffer any more. He decided to move to the street in the town of Kitale, 1 hour away from his home. For a few months, he faced the tough life of a street boy. The first night on the street was scary. He was only a small boy, barefoot and wearing a shorts and t-shirt. He spent the first night at a gas station. The place was well-light and he could watch the people coming to fuel the cars. But it was cold and the little boy was hungry.
In the morning, he was given some tea by the owner of the gas station. Then he was taken to the District Comissioner’s Office, where we was to be taken care of by the secretaries that worked there. But they were very annoyed, and called him bad names. They took him to the police station. In this place he was slapped, beat, and there was no food. After 2 days, he didn’t want to take more of this, and ran away.
To earn some money, he carried people’s bags. Then he found a place where they sold oranges. In this place he was able to work a little bit, and he started spending time with other street boys. In the evening, they would light a broken tire, and sit around the fire to tell stories. The smoke from the fire, made their clothes and skin very black and dirty. Sometimes they would sleep there, but they wanted the darkness of night pass quickly. There were some older street boys that would sometimes chase them and steal their little money or few possessions. During the night, the young boys would see many things that are not meant for the eyes of small kids. People were robbed, raped and prostitution was obvious.
One day, he ate some oranges he hadn’t paid for. The owner beat him with a stick. Ngacha decided to find another place to reside for a while. A man offered to take him to a nice place in Uganda. Being a small boy, he didn’t see the danger of this. They travelled together in the man’s car. When they reached the border, the border police luckily started asking questions when they saw Ngacha. The man said Ngacha was his son, and that he had just found him on the street. But, the officers didn’t believe him, so Ronald has to step out of the car to be asked some questions. Ngacha confessed that he didn’t know the man. So, the man was interrogated and it turned out that he was a cannibal. By the grace of God, Ngacha escaped being eaten.
After a short time, he was taken back to the police station. Compared to the street, the police station didn’t seem so bad anymore.
His mother searched for him, and she was able to find her boy. One day, she walked past the police station, seeing some children there she tried her luck to see if she could find him. The reunion was joyous. The little boy was happy to see his mother.

But, Ngacha refused to go back to the house with his mother. He wanted to go to his biological father, thinking that he was a good and responsible man. The father was staying somewhere in Nairobi. Arrangements were made for the 7 year old Ronald to move to the big city.
Looking forward to meet the father of his memories, he was hoping to finally find the life he deserved to live, in a home where he was loved and taken care of, in a place where he didn’t have to fear abuse.
Finding his father drunk in Huruma, an area close to the Mathare slum, Ronald soon discovered that life would not get any easier for him. However, he found a surprise there. One of his brothers, Mwangi, was staying with the father also. But, the joy didn’t last for long. Life was tough, and everyone needed to fend for himself. There wasn’t much help in the brother at that point. His father didn’t care what Ngacha did. In fact, he didn’t care about the little boy at all. The father was a drycleaner, so people would bring clothes to him to have them washed. The dirty clothes of these people, full of lice, were used as mattresses for Ngacha and his brother. The father would bring ladies home during the night, and have sex with them. Since all of them were staying in the same room, the little boy was again exposed to the reality of this world.
The hurt of the father had now brought him deeper into irresponsibility and carelessness. The willingness to repent or make a change had left him. In fact, Ronald can never remember his father using the word “sorry”. The man was absorbed in selfish drunkenness and self-pity. The 7 year old boy was again disappointed with what life had to offer him.

Taking matters into his own hands, Ngacha again decided to try the streets. Abandoned by goodness and far away from someone to love him, he lived a rough life on the streets of Nairobi for a while. Life on the street is very tough and you have to learn how to fend for yourself. It seemed like he was invisible to everyone. No one cared about him. Though the freedom of the street was the best thing about living there, it was also lonely and left a feeling of abandonment. The first few days were tough. He was beat and chased by older street boys. Ngacha had not yet learned about survival on the streets of Nairobi, so he was hungry the first few days. But, he was able to search through some garbage to find some chicken bones to “feast on”.
Joining a gang of street boys, he started making a living. Taking care of people’s cars after they were parked, gave a small income. Staying around the areas where white people were found, was a source of money. Telling stories to Mamas to be given some food, was one way of surviving. At night, he would give some of the security guards money to let him sleep on the stairs where they kept guard. One night he had urinated in his sleep, and when he woke up he felt so ashamed. People were walking past him as if he were dead. He put his sweater somewhere to dry. When he came back for it later, it was gone. He was now only in a t-shirt. Nairobi can be cold at night!
In the evenings, the street boys would engage in fights. In one night, Ngacha could be involved in as much as three fights. One night he was beat so badly and he was bleeding to the point where he thought he would die. But, again, God saved him from death.
Ronald had been able to buy some shoes at one point, but an older street boy tricked him to give them away. Making life on the street was tough. The friends he found were loyal to the point of death, but others would never become friends.

One day, he had been given money by a “mzungu”. They would just throw anything they had in their pockets to the street children. He received a 500 shilling note, which is a lot of money. Very happy with the income of the day, he went to a café to get something to eat. But, he was chased away. The guards told him that is was not a place for a street boy. He felt ashamed. Going somewhere else, other street boys had figured out that he had money. The street boys would take a nail and hammer the tip to make it sharp like a knife. The older street boys held this knife to his throat and forced him to give whatever he had. Ngacha also made himself a knife.
Ronald would steal from other street children as well as rich children. Seeing a loaf of bread, that bread belonged to him. Scaring the rich children, and trip them over would do the trick. By the time anyone realized what happened, Ngacha would be long gone with a meal for the day. He knew that their mothers would buy a new loaf. No one would buy him a loaf of bread, so why should he feel guilty? However, one day he punched a boy who had a loaf of bread. This boy fell into a ditch. Ngacha ran of with the bread, but he felt so guilty. Sitting down on some stairs, he wandered what had happened to that boy. He felt so ashamed, that he left the bread there.

Indians would never give them anything, but one day there had been a party in a temple. Ngacha found out about this, and he knew the Indians would not be jovial, and he hoped to get some food from them. Instead, he had a horrific experience. The worst incident he had on the street. A young Indian man raped him. At the beginning of that evening, he had felt so hopeful of getting something to eat. Little did he know that something would happen, that scared him for life. Being abused and violated that way, is the worst someone can do to a little boy who has already experienced the rejection of this world.

Knowing that life needs to go on, Ngacha again started making a living. He had found the best place to get money. This place might have been one of the most immoral places he had encountered. Around Florida 2000 Hotel, the luxurious prostitutes would meet with white men. The white men would have so much money, and there was always someone willing to give there. Ngacha witnessed a lot of immorality around this place. The things street boys witness ruin their mind. Their mentality changes. Nothing matters, as long as the stomach is full.
When there was an international function in Nairobi, all the street children would be “cleaned out”. A truck came to pick them up, and they were locked in until the function was over. Then they were released.
One day, idling in the streets, Ronald was arrested by the police. To this day, he doesn’t understand exactly why he was arrested. The police were brutal and tough. They slapped the street kids and were very brutal. His father had to come for him, to pay an amount of money.

Going home with his father, Ngacha was again hoping to somehow start over.
In the area they stayed, there was a Muslim lady who would take care of him on one condition. He had to become a Muslim. Being given food and schooling for becoming a Muslim seemed like a good idea for Ronald, so he was able to join class 2. He went to school for a few hours every day.
The time he was not in school, he tried to fend for himself. His father would give him 10 shillings per week, which is not even enough money to buy a soda.
In the area close to Huruma, many big trucks with garbage from Nairobi would pass. Ronald and some of his friends would climb onto the trucks, find some useful stuff and jump off. They would sell the items they found.
In the process of doing this, one of his friends fell and was run over by the big truck. Ronald witnessed the death of his friend. In the friend’s fight for survival, he died brutally.
Seeing his friend die, made him to never go close to the trucks again.
Instead, he got involved with a gang. During the day, he would keep their guns, bullets and weapon brushes. Assuming he was a small and innocent boy, the police would not assume he kept a gun. Keeping guns is illegal in Kenya.
The gang would pay him some money to take care of the weapons. His father didn’t really care what he was doing, so hiding the gun was not a big problem. However, one day the gang got into a conflict with the police. There was shooting. Ronald was pulled into the confrontation, and escaped death.
Having a scary near death experience, Ngacha didn’t want to have anything to do with guns ever again.

Ngacha and his brother Mwangi

He told his older brother, Mwangi, about the place they could earn a lot of money. During the day, they would go to town together to beg from the white men that came to see the prostitutes. They became good friends and helped taking care of one another. While walking with his brother one day, he was knocked over by a car. He hurt his leg and hit his head. Waking up, his brother was holding him. They again thought he would die. But, God’s protection again saved Ronald from a near death experience.
His brother went to Nyeri one day. In the streets of Nyeri, he coincidentally ran in to their mother. She was happy to tell Mwangi that she had now divorced the abusive step father, and established a new home. Hearing this, Mwangi went back to Nairobi to take Ngacha home.
Ronald was 12 years when he moved back with his family. Finally, he was able to find the new beginning he had longed for. He started attending class 5. A teacher counseled him and taught him about life. There was so much in the little boy’s mind that needed to be removed. He had to learn to respect his mother and other people. To care about the people around him. After the freedom on the street where you fend for yourself, interacting with other people was difficult. But, by class 6, he had adapted to life in school and in his family.
All this happened before he was even 12 years old.

Ngacha and his 90-year old Grandmother

His parents have taught him a lot about life. Deep in his heart, he has forgiven his father who has now passed away. Taking care of him in the hospital and giving him an honorable burial, shows how much Ngacha has grown. I admire Ngacha for treating his father like an honorable man, after everything his father made him go through.
Ngacha will not let the evil brought upon him through his father affect the life he is living now. Ronald has never had the opportunity to live in a whole and complete family, and he has learned about the dangers of a broken world the hard way. But he knows, he will never be irresponsible in taking care of his family. The effects of having an irresponsible father, is painful and Ronald still has to deal with that. His past is a reality, but knowing how to use his life experience to let God shape him, is very valuable.
Ngacha Ronald has taught me that the choices I make for myself determines who I am. When I am sinned against, it doesn’t define who I am. Our identity is in Christ, and he has the power to make us whole. His grace is sufficient for us.
Ronald has taught me, that no matter how harsh the world seems to treat us sometimes, we can always rise.
God creates new, but he also recreates. Whatever is broken, our God is able to make whole.
I thank God for Ngacha and the friendship we have.

Ngacha and I at his home place

Visitors

2011-03-14T18:14:00.010+01:00

”Mueni” is my Kenyan name. It is from the Kamba tribe and means visitor. Most people here call me Mueni. I have really identified with the name.
A couple weeks back, “Mama Mueni”, “Baba Mueni”, “Auntie Mueni” and “Uncle Mueni” came to visit me from Norway.
My friends here have told me that they must love me very much since they are coming all the way from Norway to see me. I also think this must be true.

We spent a busy and exciting week, rich on memorable experiences. Being able to introduce “my” Kenya to family and friends was really an honor. Though, I felt like I was pulled between two different worlds. I have been “kenyanized” the past 5 months. But, by my visitors I was also reminded that I am Norwegian.
Going to Mathare was the most special part of our experience. That place and its people have changed and enriched my life. Introducing such a personal place was a big step.
I was anxious to go back because it had been a month since I was there. Pre-school was outside playing when we came, and they gave us the best welcome we could’ve hoped for. About 30 kids came running to embrace us as we entered the “Mathare Worship Center” (MWC) compound. My visitors enjoyed spending time in Mathare. They were impressed by the commitment of the people at MWC and overwhelmed with the happy children.
Pastor Steve and Charlie P helped me introduce Mathare to my visitors. We walked around the church, school and day care. Then we visited the pupils in their classrooms. We took a walk in Mathare and visited Mama Virginia in her house.
Being among my friends and the amazing children in Mathare, gave me great joy. Enjoying it together with my visitors was truly special.
After spending a few days in the Nairobi area, we went on a roadtrip for 5 days. Our very competent driver Bob, took us to Masaai Mara, Kisumu, Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Nyahururu and finally Nyeri.

Going from Mathare one day, to living the “Mzungu lifestyle” the next, was quite a challenging transition to me. Although I enjoyed our travel a lot, I struggled with some kind of culture shock.
We drove along Rift Valley, which is the most fertile part of Kenya. There is a lot of food in this region. In other parts of Kenya, people and livestock are dying from hunger. There is a draught going on. It made me sad to see this with my own eyes. Kenya has so many resources, why is mobilizing them a problem? Kenyans have so much potential in terms of personality, wisdom and friendliness. What is the problem?
Kenya is a country I love a lot because of how God has used my experience here to transform me. It was devastating to see how broken this country is, and how it hinders its people.

Masaai Mara was beautiful. Kenya has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty. Seeing the wild animals in their natural environment was a mighty experience.

In Kisumu, we saw Lake Victoria. It was beautiful, but affected by pollution.

Lake Naivasha was also a beautiful and special place. This is where a lot of the flower industry in Kenya is based. Some of the flowers that we buy in Norway come from this place. We were also able to take a boat ride on the lake, where we came very close to hippos and a wide variety of birds. There are many flamingos in that area.

A volcano crate, a water fall in Nyahururu and the equator were the last stops before coming “home” to Nyeri.

Introducing my parents and friends to Mum and my student friends, was enjoyable. They were able to see where I live, and what kind of work I am doing. We attended the Sunday service with the students. They were excited to meet my family.
The week went by too quickly. It was packed with experiences from so many different parts o Kenya. I was very happy to share “My Kenya” with my visitors. I have been privileged in my life to have family and friends that care about me and are interested in what I am doing. It is something I don’t take for granted. Having the support from my parents to come to Kenya means a lot.
Thank you for a wonderful week. May God bless you.

Student Work in Nyeri

2011-03-02T14:24:00.003+01:00

My internship in Kenya is an exchange program with “Fellowship of Christian Unions” (FOCUS). It is a large and vibrant organization that reaches out to students in colleges and universities. A “Christian Union” (CU) is a fellowship of students in a university or college. It is like a church run by the students, for the students. FOCUS staff act like a resource for the CUs; training, developing and counseling leaders, as well as preaching and helping where it is needed.
This part of my internship in Kenya, is as a staff for FOCUS, in the Mt. Kenya region.

On January 12th, I arrived in Nyeri. It is a small town north of Nairobi, where a “Mzungu” (white person) is a rarity.

I now live with Mum in her lovely home on the Kagumo Teachers College campus. She has welcomed me into her house like a daughter, and I feel privileged to live under her loving care. Kiuna is my team leader, good friend and mentor. He has helped me to understand the ways and wonders of student work. Kiuna is a true man of God, and has a lot of wisdom to pass on. It is a blessing to be able to work with him.

Separating from my Norwegian teammates, moving to the “village” and working with students brought me into a culture shock. The foundation of familiarity I had built in Nairobi was gone, and it seemed difficult to fit into life and work in Nyeri.
Students seemed shocked to see a creature from another world. Every time I walked into a fellowship, there would be some kind of amazement. It was difficult to interact with them, and they seemed a bit scared of me, though interested in figuring out what kind of creature I was.
In the matatu, the driver would spend more time staring at me than the road. Walking around in town drew too much attention. People wanted to marry me, hold my hand, declare their love for me, pull me into different matatus, sell me things, and use any means to draw my attention.
I was tired all the time. But, I really appreciated feeling some kind of culture shock. It means I am growing, learning and adapting. Now, I have become a somehow natural part of the environment.

The students now know me and are happy to see me. They have so many things to teach me and share with me. I enjoy making friends that are my own age, who come from a completely different background. Sometimes I stay overnight in their rooms. These are times I value a lot. I can interact more deeply and learn more about their lives and backgrounds. Through this, I have become more accepted as ”kenyanized”.
When I walk in town now, people recognize me. I still get attention, but people are friendlier. The matatu conductors know where I am going, and they seem to appreciate me, rather than look at me as an arrogant “mzungu”. The women at the market know me, and are happy to give me normal price, rather than “mzungu price”.

The student work is usually in the evenings because the students are in school during the day. That gives me quite a lot of time to myself. I am able to spend time with God, reading the Bible, writing, praying and reading books. I have become more confident in my identity in Jesus and learned more about God and what he has in store for me. This is a unique opportunity for me to learn about God and myself, as I develop my character.
The student work has also challenged me, as I have to preach and do trainings. This requires research, knowledge and concentration. I enjoy it a lot. My belief and way of living out my faith has been challenged as well.
Interacting with a different Christian lifestyle has taught me a lot. I have questioned how spiritual I am, how I express my passion and how I present myself as a Christian. These are good discoveries and experiences that have expanded my perspective. Noticing behavioral patterns, has lead me to question culture within Christian fellowships. Are we Christian by conforming to how fellow Christians behave, or are there higher standards set by God?

God has a purpose and specific plan for my life, just as He has for yours. It is exciting to discover what it is. Sometimes though, it doesn’t really matter where I am or what I do, as long as I take care of my relationship to God. To shape myself into who God has created me to be, so He can use me to work among the people around me. When I am able to develop myself into who God created me to be, my life bears fruit.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

– Proverbs 3, 5-6

The Children of Mathare

2011-01-28T17:21:00.004+01:00

The children of Mathare have changed my life.

It is amazing how much a little child can teach me, just by being who they are, shaped by where they live.

For many, life is tough. Yet, the joy these children have, never seems to end. How they share with one another is touching. Their strong fellowship of uncoditional love is so accepting.

The Children of Mathare...

Together...

...and alone

Hurt...

...yet strong

Joyful...

...and hardened by life

Loving...

... and abandoned

Tough..

...and in need of love

Independent...

...yet accepting

So much potential!

Philippians 4:8: "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever i pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, is there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

I think about The Children of Mathare

Meru

2010-11-29T15:03:00.011+01:00

We were invited to go to Mama and Pastor Karau's village this passed week. Pastor Karau is the main pastor in Mathare Worship Center were we work. Mama is his wife. The two of the have dedicated the passed 30 years of their lives to serving the people of Mathare. They also run to orphanages with 11 children in each. The two of the live with the children. It is truely a priviledge to spend time with these people. I have learned a lot from their passion and dedication.

The beautiful scenery of Kenya

Visiting a tea and coffee plantation

We took tons of bananas with us back to Nairobi

Coffee plant

Some of the bananas we brought

Mt Kenya in the distance

Pastor Karau dedicated this church to God two years ago. It is on their land.

This is the house we stayed in

Mama Frida cooked really tasty food for us.

Eivind and our good friend Charlie P

Beautiful flower

Too cool for school...

Cool for school

Visiting Mama's 110 years old Mama

Tea plantation

Another beautiful flower

The neighbor

Where?

2010-11-10T20:27:00.009+01:00

Is it really possible to eradicate poverty?

This is Mathare

Where do the poor people live?

Who are the poor, and are they poor if they don't know that they are poor?

Where is this world heading?

I have been told that if we really wanted to, we could eradicate poverty! The money and resources are there. Our problem is that it takes a lot of sacrifice. People are not willing go to that extent.

In this kitchen 2-3 ladies make food for 200 people...

This hallway hosts 168 students from 4-14 years old...

"Sharing is caring" is something we learn from we are very young, but in the western world this doesn't come out of genuine and natural generosity. The willingness to change is just not there, and I think this has its root in how corrupted wealthy people are. Corruption is not only about money. It is about morals and values. If I don't do my very best to protect another person's integrity, I am corrupt. I think that stealing someone's integrity is worse than a bribe measured in currency. My integrity is what builds my character, and if that is taken away from me, who am I? Not being corrupt, means to live with purpose and dignity in our everyday lives. This is hard, when we might find greed deeply rooted in our hearts.

This is a day care that takes care of about 25 children...

Mathare Worship Center, where we work. A very blessed place!

A few years back, I read a book called "1984" by George Orwell. It is a really good book that talks about a world where everyone is equal. There is an elite that controls the society, who of course, are wealthier than the rest. It is kind of a communist regime taken to the extreme. Everyone gets the same rationing of food, clothes, and other material things. People are assigned jobs, apartments, who to live with, etc. Human relations are not appreciated. Love to the state is the only form of emotion allowed to express. There are cameras everywhere, even in people's homes. It is from this book the phrase: "Big brother is watching you" comes from. People are oppressed, there is no freedom of speech, and children are brainwashed from a very young age. Propaganda is everywhere. If anyone does anything suspicious that seems to condemn the state, they are imprisoned and tortured until they have no will to resist.
People in this society are not happy or content.

Is this what the world would be like if we were to be equal? I don't think anyone wants to be exactly like everyone else, and if we want to be different from one another, we can't be equal. Maybe some people have to struggle in poverty, for others to live in wealth? I think so, because we are sinful people living in a broken world, not capable of loving one another unconditionally. I am a corrupt human, and I think there are too many people like that in this world. Maybe if there was no corruption and people loved one another with love from God...

Do I believe that we will eradicate poverty? I am not quite sure. I do believe that we can improve the lives of many people, and we might be able to treat some of the symptoms of poverty. It is possible to show someone love that can have a lasting effect. Education creates awareness and improvement. Learning from history gives us new wisdom. I believe that there are many things that can be done, and that are being done. There is hope in development work.

This is the great cildren of class 5

It doesn't feel so nice to be in Mathare, knowing that I might be the reason why so many people struggle with issues of poverty. It makes a difference whether a person is born in Mathare or in Fyresdal. Why should it matter where we grow up?

Here are my friends in class 5 and I

Who?

2010-10-22T20:57:00.006+02:00

The pictures in this blogpost don't really have anything to do with the post in itself. They were taken on a trip to a town call "Ngong", where we visited Kalisha. He was a student at Hald last year.

The world is a broken world. There are no perfect countries, cultures or people. There are both positives and negatives about everything. We will only reach perfection when we enter into the kingdom of heaven.

From a bus on the way to Ngong

God has created everyone in His image, and so it is our responisbility to live out what he has created. I am created with certain qualities that only exist in me, and only I have the ability to contribute the way I can. But, there are also aspects of my personality that are affected by Norwegian culture, my family and friends, travels and experiences. But, by growing up (mostly) in Norway, I have been affected by the Norwegian society's values and principles the most.

Norway is a task oriented culture, where time dictates us. The whole society is built up around systems that, pretty much, work smoothly without being monitored. Education, health, transportation, work places, stores, etc, are made to be efficient. If there is a problem somewhere, there is a back up plan. If an accident were to happen, emergency teams will be in place very quickly. If I go bankrupt, the government will provide for me. The people in govenrment, usually do what is best for the people. In Norway, we don't know what it is to struggle and fight to survive. There is no way I can fathom the pain people go through to provide for just one meal.

A wise man that we visited a couple weeks back asked us: "What do Norwegians have to pray for? I mean, everything works so smoothly..!"

The market in Ngong

On the way to Kalisha's house

The way our siociety is built up, affects people. We bring the ideas of time and efficency into our personal life. I think a lot of Norwegians are stressed out because there is always a rush to "make it on time". This again might sometimes create shallow and superficial conversations. The time span between the life changing converstations, is often long. Maybe because there is so little time for sitting down with one another. It takes time to build up deep relationships that really bring meaning into out lives.
Another reason for this, might be the mentality of: "If you mind your business, I will take care of mine!" Maybe people feel like interferance in their personal life is to admit failure. On the inside one might be thinking: "Do you think that I can't handle this on my own?" Fear of being dependent on others seems to be unthinkable for some. To show vulnerability and humbleness takes a lot of courage in Norway. I don'tquite understand this. Being able to show weakness, is a great strength, and it builds relationships.
One of my friends told me last week, that who a person truly is, is confirmed in what he is, does and feels when he is alone. In this situation, I think a lot of Norwegians would feel lonely, insecure, scared and incompetent. There is a lack of deep and meaningful interactions that encourage and build up.
This is what Norwegians should pray for, and where prayer is really needed.

On a short walk to a view point

One can kind of see Nairobi in the distance...

So, who am I, in a warm culture where society revolves around building relationships?
Someone is always ready to invest time and wisdom to build you up and bring out what is best in you. Kenyans are humble in their approach to asking questions and in the way they pass on knowledge. This is a place where you should not be ashamed of being proud of your strengths and open to improve your weaknesses. People go out of their way to help, support and encourage one another. It is a truth here, that everyone needs to be dependent on somone to survive, and it is something that seems to be considered a security. Sharing what God has taught you the past week, or talking about struggles in your personal life, is normal. Faith is not private, it is something that is shared with all other brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is a part of every aspect of life, and he comes naturally into conversations.

My teamates and our friends/guides

I don't know what I am doing here, and it is taking time to adapt to this kind of a siociety. I have a lot to learn from the strong bonds that people have to one another here, and it is something I wish to adopt into my personal life. I don't quite understand what I am doing here. I will only feel at home in my own culture, and it is the only one that I can understand completely. It is hard to be a "Mzungu" (foregin person) because in many ways, I represent materialism, money and efficency. Some people here ask me to sponsor them, give them money, or provide for their children. How do I deal with that?
What do I have to contribute with? Who am I to walk aorund in the slum and observe how people live? Who am I to pretend that I know what people are going through, when I cannot even fathom what it is like?

I do know though, that God has a plan. He is Alfa and Omega. He was there before creation, and he will remain constant through the end of time. My God planned the end when he started the beginning, and he will fulfill the works that he has started in me. Only He konws why I am here, and it feels good to rest in His promise.

Here is a verse from the song "I Will Go", by Starfield:

Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing
You've poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change

Sanctuary of Hope

2010-10-15T20:05:00.008+02:00

We went to an orphanage today. Here we are ready to go:

Eivind and Elise

Vårin and I

The children in this orphanage were found in the slum by the most amazing woman I have ever met. She has dedicated her life to serving the people of the Mathare slum, and she has a special call for the children there. For the past 28 years, she has devoted her own life to making the lives of other people better.
Right now she runs (among a lot of other things) two orphanages for 22 children from 5-9 years old. These two orphanages were started in 2006, and is called "Sanctuary of Hope".

All the children were either left by their parents, have parents affected by HIV/Aids, were really sick or all of the above. The stories she told about them were very touching. All the children are now very healthy, happy and loving. They take good care of each other by teaching eachother to walk, talk, love and play. One of the girls had meningites when she came to the orphanage. She was unable to walk and talk, and her brain was a little damaged. The other children walked with her, encouraged her when she fell, and were with her all the time. They taught her how to speak. The grown ups didn't interfere or teach her anything, and the child didn't need any physiotherapy! These kids are beyond what words can describe.They do have a lot of quiestions about their past and they still struggle mentally in their everyday life. They still have to face a lot of struggles, even if they have been lucky to come into this orphanage.

The first thing the children did when we came to their house, was to sing a welcome song. Then they recited Bibleverses by heart, and followed by praying a prayer about being "An African Child". All of them were eager to say their names, greet us and wanted to hold our hands. There is something that happens inside me, when I meet a child's eyes, that finds it the greates honor to just hold my hand.

Laban was one of the children that really touched my heart. I have been thinking about him ever since I left the orphanage. I can't quite explain the feeling of becoming so attached to a child in just a few minutes. It was just something that happened. He wanted me to be his sister. All I want to do is go back and spend more time with him. Laban is 6 years old and super smart, charming and funny. There is just something about him that made me fall in love with him!

Laban

When we left, we were able to pray for the children. When asked if they wanted to say something to us, they said:
"Thank you for coming to visit us."
"We will be praying for you."
"God bless you."

God's work is apparent through this project. The loving and blessed atmosphere in "Sanctuary of Hope" is supernatural, you can feel God there. The people that work there are people of God and they are open to his guidence. I am humbled by the passion they have for the people around them, and I admire theit work. I have so much to learn...!

Matatu

2010-10-11T16:44:00.002+02:00

(Picture from google images)

Travelling around Nairobi, we have been using Matatus. These are Toyota Hiace veichles that work as small buses. Some people say "Matatu Madness", and I would like add "Matatu Exhiliration" to that. I think the mentality of the matatus must be: "As many as possible and as fast as possible". The drivers must think something like: "Why drive on the road, when you can go off the road?" and "Most likely, the other cars will let me through if I just move fast enough". They come with built in rocking chairs and amusing/alarming noises. Your head will most likely hit the roof so hard that your jaw hurts because the roads are very bumpy. If you get on while the veichle is still at a stand still, you are quite lucky. There is always loud music playing, usually reaggae or hip hop. If you are lucky enough to sit by the window, it is nice to stick your arm out for some air, but just be careful not to get hit by other matatus, cars, trucks, buse or motorbikes rushing past.
It is fantastic! Why have so many regulations when you can power through without them?

What?

2010-10-11T10:28:00.012+02:00

Nime furahi kuwa hapa (I am glad I to be here)!

It has been 5 days since we arrived to beautiful smiles and friendly greetings here in Kenya.
The Kenyan smile is one of the most radiant and gorgeous sights I have ever seen. Kenyans smile with their whole face, showing a maginificent row of white teeth. A playful, kind and mischevious spark quickly spreads to their eyes. It is very often followed by a happy laugh.

People around me keep asking me what I think about Kenya and how I feel being here. This is a very difficult question for me to answer because we haven't been around much. I believe our contac person, Joseph Namutala, wants us to feel familiar and safe at the the FOCUS center, where we live, before we are thrown into the more challenging situations. I feels very greatful for this. The people that work with FOCUS have invited us over for dinner and lunch, so we are never alone or hungry. The people here are taking really good care of us, and it is overwhelming to experience their love, hospitality and genuine friendliness.
We have had some classes in development, culture and Kenyan geography.

I am trying to learn swahili. It is quite difficult, but I do believe that it is important to learn as much as possible. We have been writing words and phrases on our hands to learn. Hopefully, by the time the writing is washed off, we will have learned them.

George and Rahab, two absolutely wonderful student workers, have been taking us around to help us get some necessities. I am very greatful to them. We are now equipped with cell phones, appropriate curch clothes and suitable shoes. They took us around the city a little bit, and helped us bargain at a second hand market. I bought a pair of shoes there, and it was harder than you might think. This is a conversation between me and one of the salesmen:

"These are too small."
"No, no, this is your size!"
"Yes, but they are too small."
"No, it's ok, it's your size."
"They are uncofmotaly small."
"I think they look ok."
"Maybe I can try another pair."
"Yes, it's ok, you can take two pairs!"

We have been to two different universities to go to services with students. Kenyans love visitors, so they want us to introduce ourselves and tell them a little bit about ourselves during the service. This has been a little scary and intimidating. I have been introducing myself with both my Norwegian name and my Kenyan name. The latter is usually followed by encouraging smiles and welcoming laughter. After the services students approach us with smiling, wanting to get to know us.

Why?

2010-10-08T11:17:00.006+02:00

I have now been in Kenya for about 24 hours. The people here have welcomed us with beautiful white smiles, much laughter and kind words. It feels great to be here, and I am already starting to feel like home in our room and at the FOCUS center.
We haven’t been around much yet, but so far I enjoy the laid back atmosphere and happy people.

It does feel surreal to be here, though. For 6 weeks at Hald, we have been experiencing, learning, and preparing to live in Kenya. However, I haven’t really thought about Kenya a whole lot until now. It seemed so distant and different. All of a sudden, though, I find myself waking up inside a mosquito net in Nairobi...

Why and how did I end up here?
I try to make sense out of this question, but it really is kind of hard.
There are several reasons, many which I can’t quite understand myself. But, I really do believe that God lead me here.

A part of me wants to save the world and make the big difference. I feel guilty to be a privileged and spoiled Norwegian, and I feel like it is my duty to give something back to the rest of the world. I am happy with my life and way of living, and I feel sorry for people who have other standards.

But, I know how ignorant, arrogant and insulting these attitudes are. It is a little embarrassing to admit it to myself. No one needs me to trample on their integrity by feeling sorry for them. Who am I to offer help to someone I feel sorry for? How insulting is it, when I offer help out of duty?
There is nothing I can contribute with here in Kenya, that a Kenyan cannot do himself. I can’t solve a problem I don’t own myself.

I know that I am not here to help Kenya or to make a big difference in this world, by pushing my ideas on the people around me. I am here to learn and to change my own attitudes, and to turn my ignorance into a wider and more realistic world perspective. I can only be responsible for changing myself, and keeping my focus on track. It is my humble hope, though, that God can use me through that process.
I know that I have so much to learn from the people here, and it gives me great motivation and excitement. But, it is also with intimidation and humbleness that I try to give in to whatever Kenya has in store for me.

It is my belief, like Gandhi said, that: “You have to be the change you want to see in society.” I believe that change starts with me. I am here for God and myself, primarily. But, through that, I hope to be able to show God’s love to the people around me. I would love to learn to become more dependent on God and listen to what he has to say. It is my hope and prayer that he will give me the courage and strength to walk into his plan for my life, everyday.

Only I can offer the world what God has given to me, and I want to learn to be responsible for those gifts. Jesus told us to love God, ourselves and our neighbors. He told us to do this with all our heart, might and soul. No matter where I am or what I do, this is what it comes down to.
Therefore, I believe that to be able to change myself and my attitude so that God can use me to influence the people around me, I need to take responsibility for my relationship to God. Maybe that is what my life is about, whether I am in Norway, Kenya, or anywhere else in this world..?

Here are some pictures from the first few days:

What I thought was a well-packed suitcase.. Need to go shopping tomorrow!

Enjoying the flight

The girls' closet

The girls' bedroom

The girls' bathroom

Thinking we'll spend a lot of time here...

The kitchen and hostel (where we are staying)

The FOCUS office

Our favorite place to relax...

We are now connected!

After a walk!

City on our Knees, TobyMac

2010-10-02T23:10:00.001+02:00

This year...

2010-09-27T14:25:00.006+02:00

For those of you who don't know, I am at student at Hald Internasjonale Senter this year. This is a school run by 3 different Christian organizations who each have an exchange program between Norway and other countries all over the world.
There are about 80 students from 15 different countries here. We learn about international work, cross-cultural communication, development work, Christian values, personal and spritual growth, and how to live in a different culture.
On October 6th, we will all start our internship. The international students here, will be working for their organizations all over Norway. The Norwegian students will fly south to represent their organizations.

I am going to Kenya with 3 teammates to represent LAGET, which is part of the international organization IFES. This is an organization that works in schools and universities.
Their vision is to:
"Make Jesus known, loved and followed in schools and universities."

I will live in Nairobi at the FOCUS (LAGET in Kenya) headquarter the fisrt 3 months. My teammates and I will work in the Mathare slum, volunteering at a school or at a day care.
The following three months, we will be partnered with Kenyan FOCUS workers and move to different cities to be a part of the Christian fellowships at universities. I will not be together with my teammates during this time.

My departure date is in 8 days, and it feels very strange. There is a kind of emptiness inside me these days. Maybe I am a little scared and intimidated. We really don't know what we are going to or what we will be doing.

Am I prepared for something like this?
I guess the only thing I need to be prepared for, is to follow God. He will provide for me and protect me. It is comforting to know that he is almighty and in control.

Summer

2010-08-25T14:39:00.021+02:00

A new summer has come and passed. I am back from America, but I have already started on a new adventure. So, it feels comforting and satisfying to reflect back on a summer filled with friendships and exciting adventure.

There are so many people in my life that make it worth living. I have been able to spend time with friends and family around Norway, while hiking, kayaking, swimming, fishing, picking berries, cooking Norwegian food, eating delicous meals with good company, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Norway. It seems like God created all this just for me to enjoy. He makes me feel loved and close to him through all this. I surely have experienced God's amazing grace and blessings this summer.

I want to share some pictures from my vacation with all of you.

My mom has 7 siblings, and there are about 25 cousins on this side of the family. Every year, we try to get together, as many as possible to enjoy eachother's company. We usually rent an old guesthouse on a little island. We eat tons of good food, play together, have good talks around the fire, and do activities together. Here are some pictures from Engesund this past summer:

4 of the 8 siblings
Eating breakfast in the morning

My Mom and Arthur kayaking

Rebekka and Guro fishing
Everyone playing games together

My sweet cousin, Ingeleiv Helene and me

Celebrating my cousin Lovise's birthday

Getting ready for eating on of this summer's best meals

My cousins, Jan and Teodor, kayaking

Some of my amazing cousins :)
Some of my aunts and uncles

Me kayaking

One of the first weekends after I came home from America, we decided to spend some quality time just with the family. We walked up one of the rivers close to where we live, and fished along the way. It was super fun!

Walking up the river

Talleiv fishing

I lost one of the hooks at the deepest part of one of the little ponds, so I had to swim...!

Talleiv and Jørund working on getting a fish into the scoop net

Talleiv and Jørund working on catching a huge fish with their hands

Jørund finally caught it after both of them worked on it for a while!

Fishing

My wonderful parents

We have a fireplace on our deck. On nice evenings, we light the fire and enjoy the beautiful sunset, view and some food, just enjoying eachother's company.

My grandmother and I

Waiting for the sunset

One of many delicouos meals, after fishing the whole day!

The view from our house one evening

Some of the houses on our farm

Eating "feitegraut" and "rjomegraut", traditional Norwegian food.

Kåvskinnsbrøti, our log cabin in the mountains

I spent quality time with my family at our cabin in the mountains close to where we live. We went fishing.. again!

Coming back from putting out the nets

Breakfast!

The highest mountain (Roan)in "Fyresdal", where I live. This is right by our cabin.

One of the lakes we went fishing in

Very happy :)

My dad catching a fish

Lunch for the day

Me kissing a frog, hopefully my prince will come along soon..hehe!

My mom making pancakes for supper!

I wish I could show you all more pictures, or even better, experienced my summer with all of you... And this surely does NOT give justice to all the other wonderful people that weren't mentioned, that were part of my summer break...! Thank you all for a wonderful summer:)

Home, Sweet Home

2010-06-30T22:07:00.005+02:00

People keep asking me: "How does it feel to be home?".
I actually don't quite know what to say.
Leaving America was harder than I thought it would be. I threw up when I got to the airport. This is what I do when something is difficult.
Then, we were stuck on the plane for about 2 hours before we were able to take off. So, I had a lot of time to think about all the people that have made a difference in my life, while I have been in America. I made a list of the people I will miss, and there are about 135 of them. If you ever met me in America, chances are you are on "the list" ;) It is just a lot of friends to leave behind..

While taking off, I was watching a sad movie and I cried like a little girl. I pretended to be crying because of the movie, for the sake of the people sitting next to me..hehe!
I felt like I was in a movie. It was a full moon when we took off. I was sitting next to the window, looking at America disappearing in the distance. Tears were streaming down my face.
It was quite dramatic and redicolous, when I think about it. But, the point is, I finally cried. I guess what I want to say is, that is was hard to leave all my friends and relatives, and it was sad to say bye to the amazing people in Van 9. My experience in America would just not have been the same without you!

The rest of the trip went by pretty quickly. I was on Iceland Air, and Islandic is quite similar to my Norwegian Dialect. I had a lot of fun trying to understand Icelandic. Soo funny!

The menu

The sunrise was beautiful!

Landing in Norway was rather strange after being gone for 13 months. I have been home for 3 days now, and I don't quite understand what I am doing here. Everything is very familiar, so it feels good to be home, but it's strange.
A lot has happened to me since I was last here, but everything here is the same. It feels good to know that I have grown, changed and had many adventures.

One of the first things I did when I got home, was to enjoy a beer and take in the peace and quiet of Hauggrend. It was only me, the view, birds, the occasional sound of a tractor and the smell of home. This is one of the places I feel the most content and happy.

So, to answer the question at the beginning of this way too long, sentimental and cheesy blog post, it was sad to leave America but good to be home. I bet you kind of regret reading this whole blog post now... hehe!

New York

2010-06-30T02:53:00.009+02:00

New York is a very cool city. It is super busy, there is a lot to watch everywhere, there are too many people, the buildings make you feel tiny, and everything looks just like in the movies..!

Before going into the city, we went to a beach to touch the Atlantic Ocean. We started out trip by touching the Pacific Ocean in San Fransisco.

It was exciting to go to New York, but it was also sad because New York meant goodbye for us. I had one night and one day in New York, before going home.
We checked into the hostel, and then went about exploring. Central Park was the main destination for me. It was nice and calm to walk around in the park. I think I would spend a lot of my free time in Central Park if I lived in New York. There are so many weird people to watch!

Walking around

Art at the beginning of Central Park

In Central Park (no jumping because of the short dress..hehe!)

Jodie and Daniela in Central Park

High buildings...!

Daniela, Jodie and I by one of the ponds in Central Park

In the evening, we met up for dinner at "Famous Dave's", which was really nice, and then we walked around Times Square for a while, before we went to an Irish Pub to celebrate our trip. I had to say goodbye to some of the crew before we went to our hostels to sleep.

Dinner

Daniela and me in Times Square

Holly and Sarah in Times Square

Cheers for the last time...!

My last day in America was kind of sad. I got up early to say goodbye to the rest of the group, and then I went to the Norwegian Seaman Church. It was a beautiful service that I really needed at that exact moment. The minister talked about grace and forgiveness. She was really amazing. After eating "kringle" and drinking coffee, I walked over ti the UN building, and then to Central Park. I relaxed in Cetral Park until I had to leave...

On my way to Sjømannskyrkja

The Norwegian Church

By the UN Building

The Met

It's the end..! Thank you so much, Van 9! What an amazing group of people to travel and make memories with. I wish we could travel another 3 weeks together, but I appreciate the adventures we were able to enjoy together. I hope we all meet again some day..!

Washington DC

2010-06-30T02:26:00.007+02:00

I knew that when we reached DC, our trip was close to the end. But, I don't think I was quite prepared for it. I just didn't want the trip to end at all! The "Van 9 Crew" is just amazing. We've had so much fun together. Leaving them was just not something I wanted to do.
But, we did manage to enjoy our last few days together.
The two days in DC were great. There is so much to see. The city is grand. There are just so many amazing buildings, memorials, museums, statues and famous structures. The city seems to be well planned because everything seems to fit well together.
We walked around "The National Mall" the first night. It was nice to see the monuments lit up at night. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial and Vietnam War Memorial.

Taking pictures of The Washington Monument

Happy in front of The White House

The Washington Monument at night
WW II Memorial

The Korean War Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial

The Washintgon Memorial in the Reflecting Pool

The next day, we had a free day to do whatever we wanted. We split up into groups according to what we wanted to see. Holly, Sarah, Steffen and I went to The pentagon in the morning. That was pretty cool, but we weren't allowed to take too many pictures there. We coudln't really see a whole lot either because the Pentagon is so big that you can only really see one or two sides at a time.

Saluting in front of The Pentagon

We went on to see The Jefferson Memorial. It was under construction, but we still got to see it.

The Jefferson Memoirial

Then Steffen and I went off to see the Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial, and after that we walked around for a really long time. We saw a lot of stuff, including the impressive Capitol Building.

The FRD Memorial

The Capitol Building

We had dinner at camp and enjoyed our last evening together. We had fun, but it was sad to know that it was the last evening were we were all together!

Sarah and I somehow had trouble keeping our tent neat for the whole trip. I miss our mess!

Tennessee

2010-06-29T23:40:00.008+02:00

Memphis was a cool city, but it was really hot!
We spent one night there at Graceland RV Park and campground, which was right next to Graceland.

Sarah and my tent

Memphis is the city where Elvis, Jonny Cash, B. B. King, etc. They created and formed new generes like rock 'n' roll, blues, gospel, country and crunk. Sun Studio is where many of these artists played in their first records. We went there to check it out. It was super cool! Some of us even took a tour of the studio.

Sun Studio

Daniela inside Sun Studio

By a jukebox in Sun Studio

Jodie and I went to Beale St while the others got a tour of Sun Studio. We walked around Beale St while sweating in the heat. It was a cool place to walk around and it was fun to enjoy it with Jodie!

Beale St

Elvis Presley

The next morning, we went to Graceland. We went to see Elvis's plane and some of us took a tour of Graceland. It was a cool place, and it was fun to know that we were walking in Elvis's footsteps.

Graceland

Living room

Music Room

Gate

Nashville was our next stop. The country music capital! This was a super fun place.

We went to set up camp, and then we went out.

We dressed up, cowboy style, and went out to listen to music and learn how to line dance. It is also where Jack Daniels is from, so we HAD to drink Jack Daniels and coke..! We went to a few different places to listen to live music and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Nashville.

The Nashville skyline

Taking pictures

Holly and I, cowboy style

Jack Daniels and coke

The band we learned line dancine to

Holly, Daniela and Sarah

Becky, me and Jodie

Dancing and having fun!

New Orleans

2010-06-29T22:46:00.004+02:00

I absolutely love New Orleans!
There is music on every corner, interesting shops, beautiful little houses, colorful people, great food, fun places to go out and a lot of stuff to see. I enjoyed the laid back atmosphere in the city.
We stayed at an interesting hostel, pretty close to The French Quarter. It was nice to have a bed, AIR CONDITION and a clean bathroom.
We had 2 nights in New Orleans, which is just enough time to know that I have to go back one day.

Our Hostel

The first night, we went to Bourbon Street, which was awesome. There were people and music everywhere.

Bourbon St

We enjoyed Preservation Hall and Pat O'Briens at first, and then we went dancing. Preservation Hall is a really old bulding that hasn't been maintained too much. There are people playing "old school" jazz there, and it is amazing. The old building, dim lights and paintings created an indescribable atmosphere.

Preservation Hall

Pat O'Briens is an Irish pub, that was super fun. There were two pianists, in one of the rooms there, that played and sang requests from the audeince. They would sing anything from "Hit the Road Jack" to "Poker face".

The second day, Holly came with me to The Norwegian Seaman Church. My aunt and uncle, Kjersti and Stian, used to work there. It was fun to see where they lived and worked. It was nice to go to service again, and Holly impressed me by receiving communion and singing in Norwegian. After the service, we were invited to a birthday party for 95 year old Lars. The food was amazing and we met very friendly people.

Sjømannskyrkja

After church, we took a ferry ride across Mississippi and then walked around for a while. In the evening, we went out to dinner with Brian and Steffan and then we went back to Pat O'Briens.

Holly and I on the ferry

Teh skyline

What an amazing and diverse city. I am looking forward to going back!

Monument Valley

2010-06-19T22:44:00.006+02:00

The Navajo Indians have lived in Moument Valley for a very long time. Monument Valley is a national park with a lot of interestin rock structures that were formed by water carving into the mountains. It is a very fascinating and beautiful place. There are so many different shades of colors that change according to the light.

The amazing group

The Navajo Indians take tourists into Monument Valley on guided jeep tours. This was a great experience, although it was a little rainy during the bumpy ride.

Each structure has a story and a name.

View point

Our guide was Carlos. He was a great story teller and a good guide.

Carlos and me

Carlos and Steffan

Monument Valley is something very different from anything I have seen before. It was so peaceful and spectacular.

Carlos took us into a kind of cave. We lay down on our backs and looked through a hole in the roof, while he played the flute and the drum.

This is the cave

Carlos

After we had been driving around for a while, we came to a ready made dinner. Some lovely Navajo women prepared a deliscious meal for us, that we enjoyed outside in the sunset.

Dinner

After it got dark, the Navajos told us stories, sang and danced for us. We were also able to join in.

Byron is a "gras dancer", which means that he dances for all the people that are incapable of dancing.

Carlos took our group to a "Hogan" to sleep. That is the traditional house that the Navajos live in. We went on a walk in the dark, just enjoying the peace and quiet of Monument Valley. Then we sat down by the fire to listen to more stories while eating "S'mores".

Some of us slept inside the Hogan and some of us slept outside enjoying the stars.

At 5 in the morning, right before sunrise

Holly and I slept outside

Jodi, Becky and Steffan ready for sun rise

Good morning:)

Sun on the rock structures

The entrance to the Hogan

Beautiful

The amazing group outside the Hogan

On the back of the jeep on our way to breakfast

Good bye Monument Valley

The Grand Canyon

2010-06-19T21:41:00.007+02:00

Seeing the Grand Canyon was amazing. I think it might have been one of my favorite parts of the trip.

The amazing group ready for the Grand Canyon

We left Las Vegas in the morning, and came to The Grand Canyon in the afternoon. The contrasts between the two places are indescribable. Las Vegas reflects all the desires of mankind. It is very much a man made place that will take your soul away. I loved it, and ejoyed it a lot, but I was exhausted by the time we left.
The Grand Canyon, however, reflects the beauty of God. It is mighty and spectacular. Sitting at the edge of the Grand Canyon restores your soul. It gives new energy and a new perspective.

My first view of the Grand Canyon

I took a helicopter ride over and into the Grand Canyon. That was amazing!

Koby

Koby and me

Happy at the edge of The Grand Canyon

Beautiful

Contemplating life

We also hiked into the Grand Canyon, which was stunning as well.

Hiking

The last night we were there, we were able to enjoy the sunset, which was amazing.

The amazing group in the sunset

Daniela, Sarah and me

We did get some rain while we were there, but it didn't matter. The Grand Canyon was fascinating and beautiful!

Our last view of the Grand Canyon!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

2010-06-11T09:06:00.009+02:00

There are no words. I have never been to a weirder place before. Las Vegas is awesome, strange, fake, flashy, exciting, hot, amazing and so much fun.
There are signs, billboards, huge buildings, happy people, casinos, slot machines and food, everywhere!

Happy by the Las Vegas sign

We have spent two nights here, two amazing nights. The first night we were here, we rented a "party bus" together with another Intrepid Suntrek group. There were about 16 of us. A party bus is basically a bus that looks like a limousine inside. We played music and danced inside the bus, while the bus driver took us up and down the strip. He let us off at different locations, to see light shows, water shows and other important Las Vegas stuff. Afterwards, we went to "Margaritaville" to dance some more to live music.
What a night! Las Vegas is so much more fun than I had imagined.

The party bus

Sarah and I in the party bus

Having fun!

Sarah and some ladies who invited us into a casino

Holly in the casino

Holly and Becks rocking the slot machines

The Eiffel Tower with a water show (a water fountain "dancing" to the Pink Panther song)

Caesars Palace

The Strip/Las Vegas Boulevard

Today, we've had a rather calm day. The blog has been updated and we got some laundry done. There was also time to soak up some sun before hitting the strip again. We have been walking up and down the strip to see everything and feel the Las Vegas atmosphere. There are so many weird things to look at.
I ended the night by playing Black Jack Switch, in a casino. I went in with $20 and came out with $30. I understand that people can get addicted..!

By the Eiffel Tower outside Paris

This picture is taken inside the Paris

Excited to explore The Strip

Testing the slot machines. No luck, though!

A "Jelly Bean Statue of Liberty" in "New York New York"

New York New York

The super heroes

The huge Caesars Palace

The Strip

Paris

Caesars Palace

Venetian

The ceiling inside the Venetian

Inside the Venetian (the ceiling is painted)

I wish I could spend a few more days here, now that I have found my gambling talent, but we are moving on. It will be nice to enjoy the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon the next couple days.

Sierra Nevada and into Nevada..!

2010-06-10T20:02:00.009+02:00

We've been making our way towards Las Vegas. On the way here, we spent one night at a campsite kind of close to Mono Lake.
The scenery after Yosemite has been amazing. I have never seen anything like it, at all! We crossed Sierra Nevada to come down to Mono Lake. Everything is really dry and the mountains have spectacular formations. It is also VERY hot...!
We've barely passed by any civilization at all. There are just vast spaces of very dry, but at the same time colorful, muntains and plains. The vegetation is scarce, but interesting.

Crossing Sierra Navada

Mono Lake was an impressive lake. It has is 10% salt content. Calcium, from underwater springs, combines with carbonates in the water, forming cacium-carbonate limestone, called Tufas. Very cool.

Happy by Mono Lake

Mono Lake

Beautiful

Death Valley is the driest area in the US. That was a very cool place.

Entering Death Valley

In Death Valley

Death Valley

Drving through Death Valley

Ice Cream break in Death Valley

Happy at "Devil's Golf Course"

Devil's Gold Course

We also passed by the highest mountain in "the 48 states", Mt Whitney. This is in Sierra Nevada.

Mt. Whitney

After just a few more hours, we entered death valley, which has the lowest point in the US in it! We had 42 C in Death Valley...!

Bad Water Basin, below sea level

The lowest point in the US

Lunch break in Death Valley

We've been driving quite a lot, but it is super fun. we listen to music, sing, talk, laugh, rest and sleep on the bus. The group I am travelling with is really fun! We get to know eachother pretty well, since we spend so much time together and take care of eachother.

Our van!

Our next stop is Las Vegas... "Sin City"...!

Yosemite National Park

2010-06-10T19:26:00.005+02:00

On Sunday morning at 8, I met with the group I am travelling with.
It really is a great group! None of us were travelling with anyone else, so we've just become one big group of friends! Our tour guide, Brian, is a great guy. He's taking good care of us.
There are 3 girls from England, 1 girl from Szitzerland, 1 guy from Germany and one guy from Korea. It is an interesting mix of people, from 18-29 years old. We all have different stories, travel experiences and backgrounds.

The first two nights of the trip, we stayed in Yosemite National Park. Being surrounded by a spectacular scenery, wilflife and the peace and quiet of nature, made me feel like home.
We stayed at the smae camp ground the first two nights. It was a very nice campground in the middle of the forest. All food and toieltries had to go in "Bear Boxes" at night, so that if there were a bear walking around our camp, it wouldn't get into out tent.
While we were in Yosemite, we enjoyed nice campfires, hikes, waterfalls, views, bonding time, good food and beautiful lakes.
Holly and I even swam in a lake, mostly covered with ice.
Here are some pictures from our time there!

Group Photo!

Beautiful View

Happy in Yosemite

Upper Yosemite Water Fall

Rattlesnake on the side of the trail

"The Half Dome"

Taking a break on the way to Mirror Lake

A water snake in Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

Playing cards at the campsite

Making S'moores

Another beautiful view

This is where we went swimming!

The San Fransisco Area

2010-06-06T04:44:00.007+02:00

I came down to San Fransisco on Wednesday, after staying with Marta and Sven. Leaving "home" was sad and weird. It seems like I'll just be gone for a few days and then come right back. I already miss "my" boys! Spending the night at Marta and Sven's before leaving, was really nice. They always take such good care of me.

The Golden Gate Bridge gave me a foggy welcome when I flew into San Fransisco, but Steve gave me a warm welcome when he came to pick me up! It's always nice to see family.Steve took me to Paul and Deanne, where I stayed for a couple days. Neil took me around Berkley and he showed me the view of beautiful view of The Bay, from Oakland's finest hills. He was a good host along with Paul and Deanne.

The view of the bay

On Thursday, I took the BART and the ferry to get over to Marin County. This is where some of my lovely Kalve relatives live. Kari picked me up at the ferry terminal, and then we went straight to meet her daughter, Erika, and beautiful new born son, Morgan.

San Fransisco seen from the ferry

Alcatraz with the Golden Gate in the background

Morgan, Erika and Kari

After dropping off my backpack at Kari and Ole's beautiful house, Kari took me for a drive.
We were headed to Sonoma, but all of a sudden we were on our way to Napa Valley. So, we took a drive to see all the wineries and vinyards. In St Helens, we had a cup of coffee before we headed back to Sonoma and then home.Kari and Ole took very good care of me. I was fed well and I slept good. I had the privilege of meeting Valla, Travis and Taylor the next morning.

Vinyard

Kari and Ole's house

Travis and me

Kari and Ole's pool

Ole and me

I sure have some super friendly, welcoming and nice relatives, and I sure have beeb lucky to visit with them.

Right now, I am at the Red Roof Inn. We will start our trip from here tomorrow.
My roomate is a great girl from Newcastle! We will be "tentmates" for the rest of the trip.

Taking the bus to the Red Roof Inn

The Beginning

2010-06-03T19:38:00.004+02:00

On June 5th, I will embark on a new journey! I will start in San Fransisco on June 5th and arrive in New York on June 26th.

The End

2010-06-01T18:12:00.005+02:00

On June 1st 2009, I departed Norway for an adventure in America.
On June 1st 2010, I depart my host family for a new adventure in America.
Today is the end, but it's also the beginning.

One year ago, I had no idea what it meant to be an au pair. I left Norway with no expectations, not knowing who I would live with and work for, for a whole year. I was excited to experience "The American Dream". I just knew very little...

Now I know, that an au pair's experience depends on what her host family is like. It is also determined by how welcoming the other au pairs are, and what kind of a social circle she has outside the "au pair sosciety".

It didn't take me very long to realize how lucky I had been. Throughout the year, I have heard stories and known au pairs that have not had a good experience here. That has made me realize even more, how lucky I have been.

I am very greatful for my host family.
My first day here, Marina told me: "As of now, we consider you a part of this family, so please feel like home." It didn't take me very long to feel like home here. I felt trusted and appreciated from the beginning.
My first couple weeks here, I fell in love with Henrik and Martin. I even forgot that I was supposed to get paid!
Throughout the year, though, there were some weeks were the weekend coudln't come fast enough! During these weeks, I especially appreciated KJ asking me every morning: "Coffee?" He has saved my day so many times with that freshly brewed cup of coffee.
The freedom and encouragement Marina and KJ have given me, to do what I want and experience as much as possible, have helped me alot. There might have been one or two weekends this past year, where I have stayed at home...! They have wanted me to "get the full experience", and that has really been something I have valued.
The granny, Pat, has also helped me through this year. She told me to "be brave". This little saying has stuck with me the whole year. Pat has been an incredible support and help for me. She is a fun lady to be around.

Henrik and Martin might be the best twin boys in the world. Saying goodbye to them this morning was really hard. The only thing that keeps me from breaking down, is that I will see them in Norway this summer!
I admire their ability to make me happy and frustrated. They make me laugh and smile, and they know how to get me angry. I love those silly and wonderful boys so much!

"The Au Pair Sisterhood" has saved my life several times. What would an au pair do without playdates? How can an au pair get by, without meeting the sisterhood for a cup of coffee or an ice cream, half way through the week? The support and enouragement an au pair can offer an other au pair, is very important! But, the au pairs around here, are excpetionally amazing. They are my sisters and friends. I will miss them so much!

Then there is Canyon Hills Community Church. I have grown so much through being a part of this godly, christian fellowship. God has supported me, encouraged me, disciplined me, and revealed himself and his word to me. What would I do or be without Him?The friends I have made through church have saved my day many times. They really have touched me with their willingness to experience the true american experience with me. They have included me in their lives and adopted me as a friend throughout this year, and I am so greatful for that!

While I have been here, I have also met friends from Nepal. Farah and Tania have lived close by. Having the priveledge of reconnecting and spending time with old friends, is something special. Their friendships are strongly valued.

My relatives, Sven and Marta, live just south of Seattle. They have invited me to events and to stay with them at their house. This has been special too. Having relatives close by, gives a sense of safty and security. They are a part of many good memories from this year.

Saying goodbye to all these amazing people, is really hard. There are many people I know I will see again, but there are probably people I will never see again too. Everyone has made a difference in my life and taught me new things myself and the people around me. They have been a part of my journey. Leaving that all behind, is not something I do easily. I have gone into survival mode the past couple weeks to be able to deal with it. I have only been thinking about pracitcal matters. I have stayed organized, and focused on that. I have not slept well or had a great appetite. I am emotionally and physically drained.
If I have seemed detached and untouched by all the goodbyes, it's beacuse I have been in survival mode. I am very much touched by all my friends here, but I can't allow myself to feel the sadness until I have left.
I can't express my gratitude enough towards all these people!
It is hard to leave, but I am ready to move on to a new adventure.
Thank you.

Visdom for denne veka

2010-05-24T23:44:00.002+02:00

HIPP, HIPP, HURRA i Seattle!

2010-05-21T02:33:00.020+02:00

Det var merkleg å feire 17. mai i eit anna land utan familien!
Eg hadde ei super feiring, på norsk vis, med ein amerikansk vri.
Bunaden var på i 12 timar, og det var stas, kokvarmt, tungt, slitsomt, artig, spanande og ubehagleg.
Klokka 11 reiste eg til Ballard (den "norske" delen av Seattle"). Fyrste stopp var The Nordic Heritage Museum. Her traff eg Sven (Besten sin fetter), Marta (kona til Sven) og Danni (ein slektning frå Australia. Me åt norske smørbrød, og kikka på utstillingane.

Det var ikkje så mange som hadde bunad på seg her, men seinare på dagen traff eg på mange staslege bunadar! Det avr moro å ha på seg bunad, for det var så mange gamle nordmenn som synest det var stasleg å sjå. Dei hadde behov for å snakke litt norsk (eller, dei trudde at dei snakka norsk), og å slå av ein prat med ein "ekte nordmann".

Seinare på dagen tok me turen ned til "Bergen Place", eit lite torg. Her satt me (i steikande sol med bunad på) ei stund og høyrde på folkemusikk. Det var mange kjende og ukjende "norske" tonar som vart framført.

Folkedans på "Bergen Place"

SOLO!!!!

Norsk brus, norsk jente:)

Mannskor som song "kjende norske nasjonalviser"

Danni og meg

Utanfor "Sons of Norway" - ein norsk klubb - i lag med Sven

Henrik med lusekofte

Martin med lusekofte

Folketoget/paraden byrja i 6 tida od varte i ca 2 timar. Det var mange norske bunadar og flagg å sjå, men òg ein del andre artige ting. Det var politimotorsyklar some leda an. Deretter kom Dagfinn Høybråten og co. Det var drill team, skulekorps, gamle bilar, gamle brannbilar, folk på rulleski, folkemusikk, leikarring, Skotsk klubb, Irsk klubb, osb. Storarta!

Politimotorsykkelshow

Dagfinn Høybråten

Drill team

Korps

Mannskor

KULASTE Minien!

Nordic Heritage Museum

Norsk klubb

Skotsk klubb

Det var ingen som spela "Ja, vi elsker", så det var jo litt merkleg, men elles var det svært underhaldande, og det var eit overraskande godt oppmøte!

Seinare på kvelden traff eg på ein gjeng frå menigheten som kom for å "heie" på Noreg. Det var kosleg. Me gjekk for å ete på "Red Robin". Der var det ingen andre som hadde på seg bunad..
Eg kom heim, ganke sliten, klokka 23.00.
Nøgd med dagen:)"
Gratulerer med overstått!

Seattle

2010-05-21T02:15:00.010+02:00

Forrige helg tok eg avskejd med Seattle by. Mange delar av byen er i grunnen kosleg, og eg kjem til å sakne stemninga i hvisse bydelar. Her er nokre bilete frå Seattle!

"Happy" med Seattle i bakgrunnen

Mt Rainier, Safeco Field og Qwest Field

Seattle og meg:)

Pike Place Market

Chevie, Thais, Leanne, Melissa og Noemi

Chewing gum wall

Fruktmarked

Ferske krabber

Freemont Troll

Vekas Lovsong

2010-05-16T20:47:00.001+02:00

Victoria, Canada

2010-05-16T20:27:00.013+02:00

Forrige helg var eg opå roadtrip til Victoria i Canada. Victoria er "hovudstaden" i delstaden Birtish Columbia, og ligg sør på Vancouver Island, like ved sjøen.
For å kome til Vancouver Island, må ein ta ferje. Så, me var oppe kl 06.00 for å sikre oss plass på ferja. Etterkvart byrja sola å verme og landskapet rundt oss bada i soljos. I vest hadde me utsikt til ei fjellkjede som heiter Olympic Mountains, og i aust såg me The Cascades. Ferjeruta tok oss sakt men sikkert nordover, innom San Juan Islands, før me ankom Vancouver Island.

Farah, meg og Colleen med San Juan i bagkgrunnen

Farah, Colleen og meg byt sola på dekk

Ein av San Juan øyene

Olympic Mountains

Etter ein kort biltur inn til Victoria, var fyrst stopp ein Irsk Pub, deretter tusla me i dei koslege gatene i Victoria, kosa oss i sola, var innom "The Empress" (dette hotellet er eit kjennemerke for Victoria), gjekk langs brygga og åt is, og kikka på "The Parlament Building".

Irsk Pub

Tusling..!

The Empress

Happy!

Blomstring

Liv på brygga

Parlament

Me tok ferja over til Vancouver på veg heim. Eg kom heim kl 00.59, og var klar for ei ny arbeidsveke om berre få timar!
Det er jammen fint i The Pacific Northwest!

Vekas Lovsong

2010-05-05T07:47:00.001+02:00

Washigton State ♥

2010-05-05T06:46:00.015+02:00

No gjeld det å få mest mogleg ut av kvar dag, og ikkje minst kvar helg. Det nærmar seg slutten på mitt liv som au pair, og det eg har framleis mykje ugjort og usett. Men, med nokre fleire helger på meg, skal eg nok ordna det.

Denne helga var heilt super! Eg har fått gjort, sett og opplevd mykje.

Som del av bursdagsgåva mi, tok Kjetil og Marina meg med på vinsmaking. Washington er ein av statane i USA som produserar mest vin, og kvaliteten på vinen her er visst ok høg.Så, me tok turen til 3 ulike vineri for å smake på det Washington har å tilby. Eg har aldri vore på sikkleg vinsmaking før, så det var ei oppleving med god smak!

Martin, Marina, Henrik og Kjetil

Henrik og med utanfor det eine vineriet

Familien Storaker utanfor det eit av vineria

Ein vakker påfugl me såg

Etter vismakinga var eg på besøk til "The Gallaghers". Dei hadde ein "Gallagher Birthday Dinner" for meg. Det var rett og slett rørande. Eg fekk sitje på enden av bordet med ein tallerk der det stod: "You are special today". Alle tok tur og ba for meg før me åt, og det var veldig rørande i seg sjølv. Etter ein nydleg "kjokling" middag fekk eg bursdagskake med "Spaceneedle" på, og ein rungande bursdagssong i lag med div gåver. Så sa alle kva dei ynskjer at eg må få oppleve i livet mitt. Det var rett og slett rørande det òg.

Bursdagsbordet hjå Gallagher

Sarah med kaka

Eg blos ut alle ljosa!

Etter middag, køyrde Sarah og eg til Julia. Ho har bur med eit lite vatn. Me laga bål i hagen i lag med ein liten gjeng frå kyrkja, og så satt me å skravla og lo til lang på natt.

På sondag tok eg og nokre andre au pairar (Melissa og Thais frå Brasil og Noemi frå Tyskland) ut på biltur til Deception Pass. Det er ca ein 2 timars biltur til Deception Pass. Turen tok oss med ferje over til Whidby Island, og så nord til ei stor flott bru, med vakker utsikt. Me åt lunsj på ei Thai restaurant og besøkte ein festning frå WWII.
Det er lenge sidan eg har ledd og hatt så mykje moro på ein dag.

Thais, meg, Noemi og Melissa på ferja

Brua på Deception Pass

Happy:)

Festning

Vakkert, sjølv om det er grått og surt!

Takk for turen, Thais, Noemi og Melissa

Me rakk akkurat tilbake til gudsteneste på kvelden, og det var eit flott avslutning på ei super helg!

Vekas lovsong

2010-04-30T00:00:00.001+02:00

Corvallis

2010-04-29T06:30:00.014+02:00

Forrige helg var eg på biltur med Farah og far hennar, Nick. Det var rett og slett supert!Me sov fyrst ei nått i huset deira på Vashon Island. Det er ei nydlig lita øy utanfor Seattle. Der bur dei i eit flott hus i ein fredful skog.

Dagen etter køryde me sørover til Corvallis, Oregon, for å besøke familien deira.
Fyrste stopp var "Grandpa Don". Han var ein imponerande og kul mann. Han er 80 år og spelar tennis kvar dag. Når me kom på besøk servera han steikt aure, som han hadde fiska kl 5 den morgonen. Han hadde ein vakker hage, som han plantar og steller sjølv.

Så reiste me viadre til "Grandma June". Ho er litt norsk, og ho er kusina til mammaen til BJØRN DÆLHI! Dødskult!

Me sov hjå "Uncle Chirs". Han budde i eit fint og kosleg hus i lag med kona si. Chirs er kanskje verdas beste popcorn poppar, og et meir popcorn enn eg trudde var mogleg. Me fekk utdelt kvar sin "family size bowl" med smør popcorn som har poppa ferskt i sin eigen popcorn poppar.
Chris likar òg motorsyklar, og han driv å mekkar på ein sykkel til Nick.

På Sondagsmorgon køyrde me heim att, etter et super kosleg helg!

Ei kjapp oppdatering

2010-04-17T01:16:00.008+02:00

I helga var eg i Bellingham på besøk til Farah. Det var supert. Det er alltid moro å treffe att vener frå Nepal. Me kosa oss med god mat og vin, tok ein tur på stranda i finvêret, gjekk på kino, og skravla om alt og intgeting.

Farah tok heime permanent på håret mitt.
Det vart dødsbra.

Eg kjøpte meg nye sko

Eg var òg på eit "au pair" møte på sondag. Alla au pairane i område samlas ein gong i månaden. Denne måndaen hadde me eit sjølv forsvars kurs (som eigentleg var eit foredrag om å vere fornuftig). Etterpå tok me turen til ei strand i nærleiken for å gå ein tur i finvêret.

Forrige veke byrja eg på "teikning". Kvar måndag har eg 3 timar med teikning. Det er super spanande.

på tysdagar reiser eg vanlegvis i kyrkja på ungdomsmøte. Men, tysdag denne veka, reiste me til "Sky High" i staden for. Det er ein stor lagerbygning med trampoliner på golvet og veggane. Det er òg ein eit området der ein kan hoppe frå trampolinene og lande i ein haug av "skum-svampar". Det var DØDSKULT. Me haldt på med dette i ein time, og så spela me kanonball på kanonballbanetrampoliner etterpå.

På onsdag var eg på konsert på "Nordic Heritage Museum" i lag med Marta (Besten sin fetter si kone). Det var super bra! Me var begge einige i at konserten burde ha vart nokre timar til.
Storm Weather Shanty Choir kjem i frå Stord. Dei syng livlege "røvarviser" frå livet på havet.

I kveld skal eg på kino i lag med Malin, ein svensk au pair. Me skal sjå Shutter Island.

Eg håpar det står godt til med deg òg:)

God helg!

Påskehelg

2010-04-09T04:34:00.015+02:00

God overstått påske!
Dersom eg skulle velje, ville eg nok reist på "heia" i påska. Hyttesteming, skiturar, familekos, brettspel, sno, gule påskekjuklingar, fjell og vidde.
Men, eg fekk oppleve ei annleis påske utan familien, og det er kanskje noko ein treng å oppleve for å kunne setje pris på det som ein synest er viktigast i livet.
Påskehelga var super-duper.
Eg fekk med meg eit bryllaup på laurdag. To vener frå menigheten gifta seg. Dei var eit vakkert par, og det var god stemning på festen.

Julia, Krystal og Jenn ventar spent på brura og brudgomen

Kaka!

Sarah, min date:)

Jentegjengen!

Erik og Katlyne's fryste dans som Mr. and Mrs. Sansburn

Det lykklige paret

Sondag tilbragte eg dagen meg vertsfamilien min, heime hjå "vertsbestemor", Pat.
Me var i kyrkja frå morgonen av, og det var rett og slett fantastisk. Canyon Hills Community Church er heilt utruleg. Det vert tungt å forlate meingheten min. Koret var ein stor del av gudstenesta. Det vert vått i augekroken når 110 fargekledde amerikanerar synge som om det er den beste dagen i deira liv. Sterke songar med dyktige solistar.
Pastor Steve hadde sjølvsagt ei livsendrande preike, som endra mitt syn på påska.
Han fortolde oss litt om dei to kriminelle som hang på korset i lag med Jesus, og korleis dei reagrer til Jesu liv.
Seinare på dagen køyrde me sørover til Pat for å ete påskelam. Det var ein nydleg middag, med "lammekake" til dessert.

Eg fekk besøk av "påskejasen", to gonger!

Lammekake

Henrik og Martin i finstasen

"Granny" med vikingforklede

Martin og Henrik

Martin les avisa

Henrik prøvar gyngestolen

Questions and Answers

2010-03-31T06:23:00.001+02:00

I asked for Strength...
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom...
And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity...
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage...
And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love...
And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors...
And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted...
I received everything I needed!

-Anonymous

Vancouver 2010

2010-03-18T05:38:00.009+01:00

Akkurat no, bur eg ca 3 timar frå OL byen Vancouver, og då var det rett og slett obligatorisk å ta seg ein tur dit under OL. Eg fekk ikkje sjå nokon renn, men eg fekk kjenne på den unike OL-steminga.
Det var mange folk, flagg over alt, god stemning og blide andlet over alt. Candarane var gjestfrie og verdige vertar. Det har vore ein draum for meg å oppleve OL, og sjølv om eg ikkje fekk helsa på Northug eller Svindal, følte eg at eg var ein del av noko stort likevel.
Me var ein del downtown for å kjenne på stemninga, beundre kunste rundt i gatene, og kikke på alle dei rare folka som samlas under eit OL. Det er mange som tek heilt av med flagg, ansikts måling, parykkar og andre duppedingsar. Det er spanande å vere på ein plass der det er så mange land samla for å vise fram patrioten i seg og for å heie på sitt eige land. Det er moro å ha venlege diskusjonar om kven som er best, "mobbe" dei som tapar og samanlikne prestasjonar. Det er akkurat som om ein sjølv deltek i konkurransane.

Me sjekka ut OL ilden, og eg fekk måla eit norsk flagg over auga. Eg smaka ein "Jappa dog" som er den beste "hot doggen" eg nokon gong har smaka. Dette var visst eit "must" i Vancouver.
Det var utruleg moro å vere i Vancouver då Canada spela is hockey. Det var skjermar over alt, og folk samla seg rundt for å følgje med. Ein trengde ikkje å følgje med på kampen for å vite når Canada scora, elle om motstandaren scora. Lydnivået nådde ut til heile Vancouver.

Det er alltid moro å høyre kva folk har å seie om Noreg. Me nordmenn er kanskje litt for patriotiske og stolte over landet vårt, men det er jo moro når me gjer det så godt. Dei fleste visste kven Northug og Svindal var. Mange var imponerte over at eit så lite land gjorde det så godt. Eg traff nokon som meinte at dei norske langrennsjentene var dei flottaste i av alle, og meinte at dei hade imponerande "thunder thighs".

Eg hadde fleire samtalar om "klovnebuksene". Ein canadisk kompis av Tania helsa på ein av klovnane. Det var rett etter at Noreg hadde tapa mot Canada. Dette visste ikkje canadaren, så han spurde om dei vann. Nordmannen trudde at Canadaren var hoven og ironisk, og svara ja. Dette vart litt pinleg for Canadaren då han seinare fann ut av resultatet.

Det var òg moro å møte Tania og andre bekjente att. Me feira bursdagen til Tania sin kompis og var på K’naan konsert.

Peace and Love

2010-02-13T03:08:00.004+01:00

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
-Lao Tzu

But, how do we find peace in our hearts?
I think we need to love and to be loved to find peace in our hearts.
Love God and people around us.
Be loved by God and people around us.
I have been thinking a lot lately, about how important it is to allow other people to love us and care about us.
I used to think that it is more important to love others and be strong for the people around me, than letting other people be my friend. However, this overshadows my true emotions.
If I don't allow people to love me, I end up with broken relationships to people who care about me. It is selfish to keep other people from giving love.
I think taking the risk of opening up to people, and let them listen to me talking about my true feelings, is the first step to allowing people to love me.
I also believe that a lot of people struggle with this today. I feel like society is telling people to keep to themselves and not bother others with personal stories.
But, I also do believe that anyone of the people around you, would want to listen to what I have to say, if you asked them to.
I believe people are waiting for opportunities to show love, not only to recieve love.
Maybe we should help each other out with just that.
Accept and allow people to love you.
Take the risk of opening up...

Examine your heart

2010-02-01T05:50:00.002+01:00

Do you want to know whether you love God, and have a relationship with Him?

Examine your heart.

What do you love?
What are your deepest desires?
What do you feel toward God?

You can be sure that your deepest desires reveal important truths about your spiritual condition.

"Do I Know God" by Tullian Tchividjian - a book worth reading.

San Diego

2010-01-30T20:30:00.015+01:00

Vertsfamilien min tok meg med på nok eit eventyr forrige helg.
San Diego er ein by som ligg nesten på grensa til Mexico, i California. Marina tilbragte delar av barndomen sin i San Diego, så me flaug sørover for å besøke familie og vener.
Vanlegvis er det blå himmel, sol, tørt og varmt i San Diego, i motsetning til våte, kalde og grå Seattle.
Men, då me letta torsdagskveld frå Sea-Tac International Airport, fekk me vita at det var storm i San Diego. Det var ikkje sikkert at me kunne lande, men me skulle gjere eit forsøk. Heldigvis gjekk det veldig bra, og me landa til lyn og tordevêr. I 01.30 tida var me installert på hotellet, og klare for å legge oss. Gutane oppførte seg sjølvsagt veldig fint, men var heller trøta dei siste timane.

På fredag tok me turen til akvariet, etter at me hadde kikka på huset Marina budde i. Det var spanande for gutane, og dei lærte seg nesten å seie "fisk".

Me fekk ein liten hagleskur midt på dagen, men det gjorde berre utsikten frå akvariet, mot horisonten, ednå meir dramatisk.

Når ein vert sliten på slutten av dagen, smakar bror sin smokk betre..!

Seinare på kvelden møtte me gode vener av Marina.

På laurdag tok me turen til dyrehagen. Det var eit poeng å gjere barnevenlege ting. Dette var òg spanande for gutane. Dei kan brøle som ei løve og lage apekatt lydar. Elles var det spanande for dei å kikke på alt som bevega seg.
Dyrehagen i San Diego er verdskjend, då dei fokuserar på å avle trua dyreartar. Det var ein imponerade dyrehage.

Double Trouble

På kvelden åt me mexicansk mat med slektningar av Marina.

På sondag hadde me avgang utpå ettermiddagen. På dagen åt me pizza med Marina sine livlege vener, for så å ta ein tur på stranda og ut på piren. Vêret var sjølvsagt fint den siste dagen. Det var deilig å kjenne vinden i håret, skue ut mot horisonten, og kjenne på lukta av havet. Det er ei herleg fridomskjensle å kikke ut over horisonten.

Flyturen heim gjekk fint, då gutane sov heile turen.
Takk for ein fin tur:)

Hakkebakkeskogen

2010-01-27T02:33:00.002+01:00

Bakermester Harepus til Bakergutten:
"Du er jammen lurer enn du ser ut til, du!"

Bakergutten:
"Ja, man er gjerne det!"

Light

2010-01-19T22:36:00.001+01:00

"The eye is the lamp of the body.
If your eyes are good,
your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad,
your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light within you is darkness,
how great is that darkness!"

-Matthew 6,22-23

Travle tider for Frk. M.M. Midtgarden

2010-01-14T06:48:00.003+01:00

Eg jobbar frå 7.00-17.00 måndag til torsdag, og 07.00-12.00 på fredag.

Måndagskveld: keramikk-timar på college #1
Tysdagskveld: møte i kyrkja
Onsdagskveld: spansk-timar på college #2
Torsdagskveld: Bruce Lee kamsport-timar på college #3

Helg: møte alle vener eg ikkje har tid til i vekene.

Kvar dag: pleie eit ferskt avstandsforhold til Washington DC.

Det vert moro med nye utfordringar i ein allereie travel kvardag. Dette vert 10 intense veker.

Dance With Me

2010-01-07T21:33:00.002+01:00

by Evan C. Earwicker

Many songs will fade away,
And few things will remain.
Melodies and harmonies will change;
Melodies and harmonies will change.
But I'm hearing a new song;
But I'm hearing a new song.

I'm beginning to hear the angels cry, "Holy!"
Oh, love song of God, rise in me!
I'm surrounded by You,
Here in Your glory.
Oh, love song of God, rise in me!

I want to be romanced by the King of the Ages,
I don't want to sing of a passion I've never known.
I want to get lost in the beauty of Jesus,
To dance through the night around Your throne.

I want to be romanced by the King of the Ages,
I don't want to sing of a passion I've never known.
I want to get lost in the beauty of Jesus,
To dance through the night around Your throne.
To dance through the night around Your throne.

So dance with Me,
Dance with Me;
Dance with Me,
Dance with Me.

I want to be romanced;
I want to be romanced...

I want to be romanced by the King of the Ages,
I don't want to sing of a passion I've never known,
Want to get lost in the beauty of Jesus,

To dance through the night around Your throne...
To dance through the night around Your throne..

I just want to dance with You,
Another time around Your throne...

Høyr songen her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Uti-C5prY

Nytt år i Vancouver

2010-01-06T07:03:00.009+01:00

På onsdagskveld tok eg Greyhound bussen til Vancouver i Canada for å feire nytt år. Det venta det meg 13 vener frå tida i Nepal. Det var ubeskriveleg å sjå alle saman att. Mange hadde eg ikkje sett på 4,5 år, og det er mykje som har skjedd desse åra.
Det vart lite svevn, dårleg med mat og døgnet vart snudd heilt rundt. 11 av oss sov i ein leilghet med plass til 4, så ein var heldig dersom ein fekk litt madrass eller ein sofa.
Me var saman så mykje som mogleg. Mimringa tok av etter at trøytleiken passerte ved daggry. Latteren satt lett, og det var berre herleg å vere samla.
På den store kvelden var me ute og dansa og telte ned til 2010. Klokka 00.00 dala det eit hav av ballongar ned frå taket, og stemninga var på topp. Ein fantastisk gjeng og byrje ny-året med.
Det var trist å reise "heim att" og vite at eg kanskje aldri kjem til å sjå fleire av desse flotte folka att. Venskapet ein får når ein har budd saman utanlands, er svært særskildt. Det er sterke band som held oss saman.

Chandani, Josh, meg og Tania
Linda og meg

Tania og meg

Josh, Sammy, Tanzing og Silas

Silas, Tania, meg og James

James, Adish, Linda, Sudip, meg, Tania, Josh, Silas, Swati og Sammy

Advent og jol på ein annan stad

2010-01-06T06:40:00.003+01:00

GOD JOL OG EIT VELSIGNA NYTT ÅR til alle mine lesarar.

Då har eg feira mi fyrste jol i utan familien, og det har i grunnen gått ganske bra. Eg må innrømme at eg kjende på heimlengsla for fyrste gong, men det hadde eg rekna med. Jola i USA er ikkje heilt som jola i Noreg, og eg må vel seie at eg føretrekke norsk feiring.

Heime på Midtgarden (og stort sett i Noreg) byrjar me feiringa i byrjinga av desember, og kosar oss ekstra til 20. dag jol. Det er ei travel tid med baking, vasking, matlaging, førebuing og planlegging. Men, det er òg ei tid der ein set pris på familien, ventar på det som skal kome, stoppar opp og fokuserar på det som er rundt ein, og det er ei tid for refleksjon. Det vert mange kaffikoppar med småkaker, lefser og anna "snissigt", og stearinljos forbruket aukar kraftig. Det er absolutt ei tid eg likar. Steminga er god.

Her i USA, er det litt annleis. I byrjinga av advent er det akkurat som om kraftverka kastar opp og dekker alle husa med joleljos. Super happy jolesongar om rudolf, snomenn, nissen, sno, jolemat og kaker rungar over alt. Alle nynnar på jolesongar og det verkar som om alle er i godt humør. Dette har sin sjarm, og det er særskildt stemningsfult å køyre rundt i byggefelta å kikke på alle ljosa om kvelden. Alt er litt meir "PANG" og skjer fort, og det er kanskje litt voldsomt.

Eg prøva å ikkje fokusere så mykje på at det var jol i Hauggren, og då klarar eg eigentleg å nyte jola her òg. Det vart litt jolebakst på meg, og pepparkakehuset kom på plass. Joletreet vårt laga "grån-lukt", og dersom eg let att augo kunne eg kjenne eit snev av advent og jol.

Me var i kyrkja på jolekvelden, og det var fantastisk. Kyrkja eg går i er heilt utruleg (sjekk ho ut her: http://www.canyonhillscommunitychurch.com/). Deretter var me på ein familie fest med familien til Marina. Det var òg veldig moro.
25. desember opna me gåver og hadde ein fin jolemiddag.

Nepal

2009-12-16T21:21:00.002+01:00

Fakta om Nepal
Henta frå "Magasinet", 14. Novmeber 2009

Hovudstad: Kathmandu
Verdas høgaste fjell: Mount Everest (8850)
Antall innbyggjarar: 27 millionar, der 16 millionar er under 18 år
Over 100 ulike etniske grupper, som talar 92 forskjellige språk
7,1 millionar liver i absolutt fattigdom
36% av alle gutar, og 48% av alle jenter mellom 5 og 14 år jobbar regelmessig.
Nestan halvparten av alle born i Nepal lid av feil ernæring
81% av menn, og 54% av kvinner mellom 15 og 49 kan ikkje lese og skrive
BNP per innbyggjar i 2007: $290

Jolestemning i nærområdet

2009-12-12T20:44:00.007+01:00

Kaldt og krystal klart.

2009-12-11T06:31:00.004+01:00

Eg har akkurat kome inn frå ein spasertur ned til Starbucks og heim att. Den andre dagen trilla eg gutane på tur i ein time. Det er herleg å gå tur om dagen. No har me hatt minus grader i over ei veke.

Rim på graset. Is på dammane. Frost på bilrutene. Forstrøyk frå pusten. Krystall klar luft. Lukta av "kulde".

Det har vore slik blå himmel som ein berre ser når det er minus grader. Lufta er så klar at me kan sjå dei mektige snokledde fjellkjedene.

Det er akkurat som om all lukta i lufte frys til iskrystallar når det er kaldt. Lukta av kald luft er ein av dei beste eg veit om. "Stadspesifert" lukt forsvinn liksom, og det luktar berre frost. Eg kan lett lukke augo og innbille meg at er tilbake i Hauggrend på ein "vettersdag", at eg har skia på beina, eller at eg er på veg til hytta. Det er deilige tankar. Dersom eg bevegar meg ut på rimet i graset, kan eg til og med mane fram lyden av at eg trakkar i snoen, og det er ein av dei beste lydane eg veit om. ¨

Dersom det er sno, vert snokrystallane store og vakre i slikt vêr som dette. Snokrystallar er ein av dei vakraste fenomena eg kjenner til.

Dette er òg bra for skiføret!

No har eg det rektig så fint, sjølv om eg ikkje får ta del i den norske adventstida.

Sitat av C.S. Lewis

2009-12-06T22:19:00.002+01:00

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: wheras if you simply try to tell the truth (withou caring twopence ahow often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you wil not get either comfort og truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair."

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'"

"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world."

Mamma og Pappa i Amerika

2009-12-03T02:52:00.030+01:00

I dag er det 2. desember. Advent har byrja, og det er i grunnen fint.
Har eg jolestemning, så langt vekk frå familien?
Nei.
Men, kva er eigentleg jolestemning?
Hadde eg det i fjord?
Nei.
Men, jola kjem nok likevel. Dei har tent 1000-vis av ljos rindt om kring i Amerika. Ein kan nok sjå dette byggefeltet frå månen no! Det finn eg nok litt stemning i.
Det er nok viktigare å fokusere på det advent eigentleg handlar om, enn å leite etter jolestemninga eg hadde då eg var 7 år. Det vert spanande å oppleve ei annleis jol i eit framandt land.
Men, lat oss gå tilbake i tid. Pappa og mamma landa rett in i "the American dream" 14. november. 5 1/2 mnd er det lengste eg har vore vekk frå foreldra min, så det var utruleg kosleg å sjå dei att. Det var spanande å introdusere dei til livet mitt her. Dei vart sjølvsagt veldig glad i gutane eg passar, og dei sette stor pris på familien eg bur hjå. Dei fekk òg sett treningsstudioet "mitt", nærområdet eg bur i, og menigheten "min" som eg har vorte svært glad i. Me fekk unnagjort litt shopping og sightseeing i Seattle den fyrste veka dei var her. Spesielt interessant var "Nordic Heritage Museum" som fortel og syner immigrasjonen av skandinaverar til Amerika. "Musem of Flight" var òg spanande. Boeing er her i Seattle, så dei hadde har mogleiken til å samle mykje spanande innanfor flyging.

Den andre veka tok me ut på eventyr. Målet var San Fransisco. Me køyrde i 2 dagar nedover vest-kysten, gjennom Oregon, inn I Califonria og ned til San Fran. Bilturen var utruleg fin. Me hadde regn og storm mesteparten av turen langs kysten. Det var mektig å sjå bølgene bruse, regnet pøse og vinden suse, over vill natur; forlatte kalde strendar, dramatiske klipper og frodig skog. Vegane var imponerande, og det var moro å endeleg køyre på svingete vegar. I byane og på motorvegane er alle vegane heilt rette.

Det var kult å sjå dei store trea i Redwood. Dei gjorde inntrykk på desse innbarka heimføingane som er vane med fura i Telemark.

San Fransisco var sjølvsagt ein heilt fantastisk by. Me hadde 2 dagar å oppleve alt som skulle utforskast, før det bar strake vegen "heim att". Me budde hjå kjære slektningar som tok oss med rundt om kring. Det var moro å verte kjend med dei, og veldig godt å ha nokon kjende til å syne oss byen. Me gjekk over Golden Gate, og fekk sjå den fantastiske brua frå alle vinklar mogleg. Me fekk kjenne i beina at gatene gjekk opp og ned når me traska gjennom den spanande byen. Det var utruleg mykje moro å sjå på! Me ok den kjende ”cable cart” ruta, og såg ”Victoria-stil” husa.

Alctraz var høgdepunktet for meg. Det var spesielt å bli guida rundt ein plass som var så isolert frå resten av verda, der dei "værste av dei værste" var samla.
"If you break the rules you go to prison. If you break the rules in prison, you go to Alcatraz."
Det var strekt å høyre forteljingar frå fangar og vakter som hadde vore der. Ein plass med mykje lidelse, galskap, brorskap og isolasjon, der tida stod stille. Alt dette på ei lita "idyllisk" øy med den vakraste utsikten i heile San Fransisco.

Me avslutta opphgaldet vårt med ein heidundrande krabbefest med slektningane våre, før me tok motorvegen strake vegen "heim att".

Tilbake i Seattle feira me Thanksgiving i lag med gode slektningar. Thanksgiving er ein svært stor dag for Amerikanerane. Dagen handlar om eting, kalkun og familie. Det var heilt fantastisk mat, og me var i godt selskap.

Den siste dagen i Seattle, bruka me til å rusle rundt i Seattle. Det vart litt handling, men mest kikking og utforsking.

Det var ein litt vemodig avskjed etter ein så flott ferie. Eg sit att med mange gode minner, og er glad for at pappa og mamma har fått ta del i livet mitt her. No er eg klar for å ta fatt på det siste halv-året mitti amerika, for denne gong:)

Besøk!

2009-11-17T06:32:00.003+01:00

No er pappa og mamma på besøk.
Det er svært kosleg.
Dei er kjekke folk.
Me har allereie opplevd mykje saman.
Dei har tatt del i min kvardag.
Me ska utforske ukjent terreng neste veke.
Ei signing:)

2. Peter 1,3-11

2009-11-12T06:58:00.004+01:00

"Ja, alt vi treng for å leva i gudsfrykt, har hans guddomlege makt gjeve oss i gåve ved at vi kjenner han som kalla oss ved sin eigen herlegdom og styrke.

Dermed har han gjeve oss dei største og mest dyrebare lovnader. Ved dei skulle de få del i guddomleg natur når de har kome dykk fri frå forfallet, som kjem frå lystene i verda.

Set difor all dykkar iver inn på å la trua gå i følgje med eit rett liv, og det rette livet med innsikt, innsikta med måtehald, måtehaldet med tolmod, tolmodet med gudsfrykt, gudsfrykta med syskenkjærleik og syskenkjærleiken med kjærleik til alle.

For når alt dette finst hos dykk og får veksa, då blir de ikkje uverksame eller utan frukt, de som kjenner vår Herre Jesus Kristus.

Men har du ikkje dette, er du nærsynt, ja, blind; du har gløymt at du er reinsa for dine gamle synder.

Difor, sysken, må de setja endå meir inn på å halda fast ved dykkar kall og utveljing. For gjer de dette, skal de aldri falla. Då skal inngangen til vår Herre og frelsar Jesu Kristi evige rike stå vidopen for dykk."

Gud har gjeve oss tilgang til hans herleghet og heilage nærvær, ved at han sende Jesus. Dette har gjeve oss lovnadar som frir oss frå synd og korrupjson i denne verda. Dette er god grunn til å tileigne oss Jesu kunnskap. Difor bør me supplere trua vår med eigenskapar som hindrar oss i bere frukt og vere effektive.

Eigenskapane det er snakk om, har eg utheva i Bibelversa over.

Dersom me ikkje har desse eigenskapane eller prøvar å utvikle dei, er det lett å gløyme kva Gud gjorde for oss då Han sende Jesus. Det står òg i Bibelverset over at: "...gjer de dette, skal de aldri falla." og: "Då skal inngangen til vår Herre og frelsar Jesu Kristi evige rike stå vidopen for dykk."

Dette synest eg er viktige saker, og eg synest at det er verdt å tileigne seg desse eigenskapane. Ein lærer fleire sanningar om Gud, får del i Hans herleghet og utviklar eit spanande forhold til Han.

Faith!

2009-11-03T07:34:00.004+01:00

This post will be in English because I am able to express myself better in English on this topic. I will warn you now, that this is a long post, but it is also one of the most poweful I have ever written.
Faith is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. It has also been something Pastor Steve has been talking about in church, and that my amazing friend, Janne, has taught me about. This little passage has been in the margin of my blog for a long time:

Wondering..
How do we know that what we actually know is what we know, and how do we know if it is the true truth?I mean, the most serious scientists thought that the earth was flat, and those who didn't agree were not treated nicely. Scientists also believed for a long time, that the atom was the smallest unit to excist. But then they split it open and found electrons, neutrons and protons.. Then they found quarks! Scientists have been mistaken before, how much of what we think we know, is actually true? Why is it that people don't accept that there might excist other truths?

Janne gave me the best answer to these wonderings. She said "We don't know, that's why we call it faith!"

I try with all my heart to have faith in God, and to trust that he is in complete control of what comes next. The only thing I have to worry about is to recieve his guidence and diretion without consideration.

But, what does it mean to have faith in God? Pastor Steve answered that for me in his sermon last Sunday when he went through Hebrews 11!

It means to hope with absolut confidence in the word and the promises God has given us.
It means to know how it all started. The origin of the world, the meaning of human lives and our destiny. And to live in hope when everything seems hopeless and meaningless.
It means to rely on God to make us righteouss, and surrender our heart to living in His faith. To admit our unworthiness and rely on Him to provide what we need through Jesus, to become worthy of His presence.
It means to live for the joy of pleasing God by staying faithful because faithfulness is true success in God's eyes. To believe, when everything seems to go wrong.
It means to obey God when everyone else thinks we're crazy.
It means to willingly follow God's lead to unknown places. To prepare ourselves for the greater picture. All the places God takes us, are pit stops on our way to heaven.
It means to expect God to do the impossible because our impossibilities anre God's opportunities.
It means to value no human reltaionships above God.
It means to live for a greater reward, which sometimes replaces deliverance from pain on earth.

It means to believe that the resurrection of Christ, washes away our sins before God, so that we can come into his holy presence. This souns hard and demanding, maybe even unfair to humans. Why have faith in God, when you have to surrender your whole life to him?

I think there are muliple reasons good enough to answer this. To me, it is worth it because of what God did for me, to have an eternal relationship to me where I am worthy in his presence. God is so holy and perfect that there is no way I will ever be worthy of his presence by my own will and work. His love is so powerful and unconditional that I do not deserve it because of my sinful nature. Committing only one sin, makes me unworthy. Because he knows this, he gave me Jesus to lead me into His righteouss presence. By having faith, I have the privilige of being in the amazing presence of God, which also means to have an endless source of love, promises and patient guidence to prepare me for an eternal life. It is not me it is unfair for because I recieve this in exchange for only faith.

1. Peter 1,8-9: "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Romans 3, 21-26: "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Oktober stemning!

2009-10-19T21:43:00.024+02:00

Oktober er ein stor måndad i USA, då den byggjer opp mot ei heidundrande Halloween feiring i slutten av månaden. Haustfargane dekorerer landskapet langs motorvegane, og regnet har endeleg kome til Seattle. Eg har kasta meg med i opplandinga med ein tur til Vancouver, ein dag i dyreparken med tvillingane, ein dag på gard for bl. a å hente eit gresskar, og med eit tidleg halloween party utkledd som troll. Eg legg ved nokre bilete, då dei kan seie meir enn 1000 ord:)

Vancouver

Naryan, Tania og meg i Vancouver

I dyreparken i Seattle

Pause i dyrehagen (Henrik)
Kulaste leikeromet i dyrehagen (Martin)

Pingvinobervatørar

Glade og nøgde i dyrehagen

På "pumkin farm"

Kattunge på garden

Kjempe spanande med høner (Martin)...

...men endå meir interessant med eplejuice!

Henrik og Martin prøvar å skjønne kva som skjer

Traktoren me tok ut til gresskaråkeren

Henrik har bestemt seg

Martin er særs nøgd med gresskaret

Stilig gresskar

Au Pair Halloween Party

Troll

Mitt gresskar!

Nøgd:)

Mine gode vener!

"Sign Waving"

2009-10-11T05:18:00.002+02:00

Dette vert eit av dei meir politiske innlegga mine (der mista eg sikkert fleire lesarar...). Grunnen for dette innlegget ligg i to hendingar dei siste dagane.
Eg har gjort noko svært amerikansk, og Barack Obama fekk fredsprisen.

I dag var eg med mor til Marina for å reklamere for ein slektning av dei. Han er no inne i ein valgkampanje for å verte "Head of City Coucil" i Puyalup. Det vil seie at det snart skal vere val i Puyalup, og han vil vere ordførar. Dette føregår på ein annan måte enn i Noreg. I fedrelandet stemmer ein helst for kva partiet står for. I USA stemmer ein for enkelt personar som ser ut til å ha gode hensikter og planar for framtida. Det vil seie at desse enkelt personane er avhengig av friviljug hjelp til å markedføre seg sjølv gjennom valgkampanjen. Ein henger opp plakatar, set opp skilt, held talar, får media dekning, må ha økonomisk støtte, driv med "sign waving", osb.
Eg var altså ein "sign waver" i dag. Det vil seie at eg stod i eit ljoskryss med ein plakat som reklamerte for Tony Aho. I ein time hald eg denne plakaten synleg for dei som køyrde forbi medan eg klistra på eit stort smil. Dette gav underleg og overraskande stor respons. Folk smila, tuta, vinka, gav "thumbs up" og til og med sende sleng kyss... Ei interessant og amerikansk oppleving, må eg seie.

Barack Obama fekk altså fredsprisen. Grunnen til at det førre avsnittet leiar innlegget vidare til Obama, har ulike grunnar. Obama byrja i det små, akkurat som Tony Aho. Men, han klara til slutt å verte president i dette mektige landet. Kvar kom han frå? Kvar kom den økonomiske støtta for dette frå? Det er ingen som veit det..! Etter at han vart president har han ikkje gjort så mykje anna enn å bruke ufatteleg store pengesummar som USA ikkje har. Det vil seie at USA eigentleg er konkurs og låner store summar pengar frå bl. a. Kina, medan landet framleis brukar store mengder dollar og difor må printe fleire sedlar.. Dette ser då ikkje så bra ut?
Kva har han gjort for fred til no? Det veit eg ikkje så mykje om. Det eg veit, er at det vart nominert 2 veker etter at han vart president.
Kor mykje hadde han eigentleg oppnådd? Kanskje han har gjeve håp til mange. Kanskje han i utgangspunktet står for ein moral me ynskjer å følgje. Eller er det berre at han ikkje er Bush?
Eg veit alt for lite om politikk til å uttale meg om Amerika sin president. Eg meiner heller eigentleg ikkje å gå til åtak mot Obama, då det sikkert ikkje er mange som kunne gjort jobben betre. Det stod ikkje akkurat godt til med USA, då han vart president.
Eg fekk eit heilt anna syn på Obama då eg kom hit. I Europa vert han dyrka som det næraste ein kan kome Gud. Media elskar Obama, og det er ikkje mykje negativ som vert sagt om han. Men, det er ikkje alle her som ser slik opp til han. Folk er usikre på kvar han kom i frå, og difor kva hensikter han har. Sidan han i grunnen heller ikkje har fått gjort så mykje, er det få som skjønar kvifor han fekk fredsprisen. Dette er heller ikkje eit direkte åtak på presidenten, då det er urimleg å forvente at ein person skal endre eit mektig land som USA på berre nokre få månadar.
Er det då berre eit inderleg håp og ynskje at Obama er ein "reddande engel" denne verda treng? Dette er altså eit spørsmål til lesarane, så dersom de har kommentarar set eg pris på det!

CHICAGO!

2009-09-25T06:06:00.016+02:00

Kjetil og Marina spurde meg om eg ville vere med til Chicago på ferie i ei veke. Det svara eg sjølvsagt ja til. Betingelsen var at eg jobba. Å få lov til å henge med to av dei skjønnaste gutane i verda, var sjølvsagt berre eit pluss!Klokka 4 på morgonen køyrde me mot Sea-Tac flyplass, og me landa i Chicago 6 timar seinare.

Krypinnet vårt under opphaldet var ein fin suite på "Marriot, Residence Inn" i nærleiken av flyplassen. Det var ei ny oppleving å bu på hotell med 1 1/2 -åringar. Brødbitar på badet, banan bak sofaen, gøyming av telefonane (bak sofaen og under hovudputer); ALT må utforskast!
Dei neste 7 dagane bruka me effektivt til å oppleve fantastiske Chicago.
For ein stiig by! Det var så mykje å sjå på, at det var vondt i augene på slutten av dagen. Eg trur kanskje Chicago er den største kontrasten til Fyresdal, i den vestelge delen av verda.
Me leigde bil, og køyrde difor mykje rundt. Ein får sett mykje på denne måten. Downtown Chicago var SVÆRT, og det minna om New York. Travle gater, mange HØGE skyskraperar (Sears Tower er ein av dei høgaste bygningane i verda), mange folk, aggressive bilistar, spanande arkitektur, mange folk som strenar avstad, folk frå ulike etniske bakgrunnar, skulpturar, blanding av ny og gamal arkitektur, osv. Eg fekk vondt i nakken av å kikke ut av vindauget i bilen då eg måtte skvise ansitket inn i ruta og kikke opp for å sjå toppen av bygningane.
Me oppsøkte Marina og Kjetil sine forfedres barndomsheimar (som tilfeldigvis var like i nærleiken av kvarandre).

Navey Pier vart utforska. Detta var ein svært interresant plass.

Pariserhjulet eg var i, var ein av høgdepunkta på heile turen.

Children's museum fell òg i smak for dei to skjønne små.

Martin og eg "køyrde" buss

Henrik på handletur

Vatn er særs spanande for tida

Det var òg spektakulært å sjå utsikten frå 103. Etg i Sears Tower.

Ein dag tok me ein bitlur til ein liten by som heitte Lake Geneva. Ein koseleg liten by ved Lake Geneva. Me tok ein båttur på innsjøen og fekk sett alle villaene langs vasskanten.

Buckingham Fountain var og eit høgdepunkt for meg. Det var ei flott fontene.

The Bean" var kanskje den kulaste skulpturen eg har sett.

Det var mange flotte parkar å tusle i, og som gutane kunne utforske. Me var innom ein gratis dyrehage, som gutane lika godt. " Me bsøkte òg familien til Marina, og det var særs kosleg.
Gutane var tapre under opphaldet. Dei fant seg i mykje, var blide og nøgde, hadde stort tolmod og klara seg fint. "Cheerios", eller "nam-nam" som gutane kallar dei, var ei redning for både oss og dei. Det var moro å reise på ferie med tvillingane, sjølv om det til tider var mykje arbeid. Det er ikkje alle plassar som er laga for breie tvillingvogner..! Gutane har ikkje heilt skjønt dette med innestemme, hvertfall ikkje på amerikansk-polsk museum. Det tek òg litt planlegging i forhold til bleieskift og mating. Det var godt å vere 3 om dette.
Det var rett og slett ei fin arbeidsveke for meg. Eg er jammen priviligert!

The Evergreen Fair!

2009-09-25T05:54:00.012+02:00

For nokre veker sidan hadde eg ein særs amerikansk dag.
I lag med nokre nye au pairar i området, tok me turen austover til Monroe. Her var det ein stor Dyrsku-liknande happening.
Karusellar, bodar-med-det-rare-i, mat-bodar, car racing, utstilling av dyr, auksjonar, lambruksmaskinutsillingar, grise-løp, tmmerhoggar konkurranse, tømmer-utskjering, osv. Legg ved nokre bilete av dette.

Eli (Norge), Erika (Finland) Fora og Bianca (Tyskland)

Øksekasting
Fyrstemann ferdig

Old School mot motorsag (Old school vant)

Fyrstemann til topps

Motorsag utskjering (eit stk tre)

Griseløp

Funnelcake, "søtt og gørr gøtt"

Der Ring des Nibelungen

2009-09-04T02:55:00.007+02:00

Eg har vore i operaen. Marina, "vertsmor" mi, tok meg med for å sjå Wagner's kjende "Der Ring des Nibleungen". Det var 4 operar som sklidra dramatikk og kjærleik frå Valhall og norrøne forteljingar. Eg ekk gleda av å vere med på to av desse, som varte i ca 4t kvar.

Dette var rett og slett ei unik og berikande oppleving. Før eg gjekk trudde eg ikkje at eg kom til å like opera noko særleg, men det va absolutt verdt å oppleve. Det gjorde så sterkt inntrykk på meg at eg vart heilt utslitt. Eg måtte ta meg ein lur midt på dagen, dagen etter, for å gjnopprette krefter!

Det fyrste som gjorde inntrykk var scene teppet; eit mektig og turkis syn. Det neste som oversteig forventningane, var musikke frå orkesteret; heilt vanvittig. Skodespelarane var heilt utrulege, med nydelige stemmer og kostymer. Kulissane var vakre og såg verklege ut. Alt frå skogar, fjell, borger, bekkar, hus, osb var svært gjennomført Ljos effektane var ubeskrivelege, rekvisittane var effektfulle, og detaljar var det mange av. Når alt dette vart sett saman til eit vart det "måpande flott". Det var dramatikk, ekte flammer, ein ordentleg hest, skodespelarar som hekk i vaierar frå taket, slossing, kyssing, humor og drap..

I den eine scenen var det 50 mannfolk på scenen som sang opera. Det var ganske mektig. Elles synest eg at det va kvinnene som hadde flottast stemmer.

Eg kan verkleg anbefale å ta ein tur i operaen!

Let it go

2009-08-24T05:20:00.003+02:00

Endå ein song av Tenth Avenue North so er verdt å høyre!

Let it go

I've been holding on so tight
Look at these knuckles
They've gone white
I'm fighting for who I wanna be
I'm just trying to find security

But You say let it go,
You say let it go
You say life is waiting
for the one's who lose control
You say you will be,
everything I need
You said if I lose my life
it's then I'll find my soul
You say let it go.

Well it's hard enough to hear
Harder still, to move beyond this fear
We know there's nothing I can bring,
So tell me what do you want from me?

But You say let it go,
You say let it go
You say life is waiting for
the one's who lose control

You say You will be,
everything I need
You said if I lose my life
it's then I'll find my soul
You say let it go,
You say let it go

What do I love?
What do I hate?
What will I lose?
What will I gain?
How do I save my soul?
What if I bend?
What if I break?
What will it cost?
What will it take?
For you to save my soul.

You say let it go,
You say let it go
You say life is waiting for
the one's who lose control
You say You will be,
everything I need
You said if I lose my life
it's then I'll find my soul

You say let it go,
You say let it go
You say life is waiting for
the one's who lose control
You say you will be,
everything I need
You said if I lose my life
it's then I'll find my soul
You say let it go,
You say let it go

Her kan du høyre songen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66njprg_fq8

Personlegdom

2009-08-22T05:50:00.003+02:00

Det å passe tvillingar har generert tankegangar i hovudet mitt.
Gutane eg passar har hatt heilt like omgjevnadar sidan dei var inni magen til mammen sin. Foreldra, maten, lydane, fargane, soverommet, oppdragelse, vogn, tåteflasker, au pair, reisene, kleda, stemmene rundt dei, stellebord, osb.. Dei har vore frå kvarandre ein gong, berre nokre timar, og det hender at dei er i forskjellige rom. Ting skjer stort sett på same tid eller rett etter kvarandre(avhengig av kapasiteten til au pair/foreldre/besteforeldre); mating, bleieskift, soving, trøsting, turgåing, leiking, osb.
Til tross for alt dette, har gutane utvikla særs ulike personlegdomar.
Den eine er roleg, den andre utforskande.
Den eine likar banan, den andre yoghurt.
Den eine underheld seg sjølv godt, den andre treng meir merksemd.
Den eine har eit rykande temperement, den andre er meir jamn.
Den eine likar å huske, den andre har alltid noko i munnen.
Den eine er særs sjalu, den andre ikkje så veldig.
Den eine er særs interessert i korleis ting fungerar, den andre er tankefull.
Den eine er skeptisk til nye ting, den andre synest det er heilt greit.
Den eine finn konstruktive løysingar, den andre er nysgjerrig.
Den eine klatrar over alt og set seg fast, den andre likar å tusle for seg sjølv.
Slik kunne eg helde fram lenge. Gutane er ikkje identiske tvillingar, men likevel overraskar det meg kor ulike dei er.

Eg har alltid uttrykt meg tydleg på at samfunnet og omgjevnadane påverkar personlegdomen til eit menneske i høg grad. Ein kan ikkje alltid hjelpe for korleis ein har utvikla seg, og ein kan alltid forbetre seg sjølv. I mange tilfelle kan ein heller ikkje styre sine eigne handlingar. Ein kan utvikle gode og dårlege eigenskapar ved hjelp av eigen kontroll.
Eg trur framleis at dette er sant - til ein viss grad.
Tidlegare tenkte eg at ein kan burtforklare mykje etter kva omgjevnadar ein har eller har hatt. Men etter å ha observert gutane, ser eg at eigenskapar utviklar seg særs tidleg, og ein er rett og slett berre født med ein eigen personlegdom. Uansett kor mykje omgjevnadane påverkar ein, så har alle eit unikt utgangspunkt; seg sjølv.

Dette har fått meg til å tenkje på Gud. Eg kan ikkje sjå nokon annan mogleik enn at han verkelg har skapt alle til unike individ som utfyller kvarandre. Det finst ein plan med kvart individ som fullførast ved at ein er seg seg sjølv.
Han har ein uverkleg fantasi og ei utruleg evne til å skape fantastiske personlegdomar, som me sjølv må ta vare på og leve ut. Det er viktig å tøre å vere seg sjølv og utvikle dei eiegenskapane ein har, men det er òg særs viktig å beskytte andre sin integritet og personlegdom ved å respektere og elske.
Gud har skapt og kalla oss til å vere anleis; til å vere oss sjølve.

Tenth Avenue North

2009-08-17T05:25:00.004+02:00

Dette er eit lovsongsband eg har fått augene opp for den siste veka.

Denne songen har gjort inntrykk på meg:

By Your side

Why are you striving these days

Why are you trying to earn grace

Why are you crying

Let me lift up your face

Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love

Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough

To where will you go child

Tell me where will you run

To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall

In the dead of night

Whenever you call

And please don't fight

These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side

They swallowed the grave on that night

When I drank the world's sin

So I could carry you in

And give you life

I want to give you life

(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you

I want you to know

That I, I love youI'll never let you go

(Chorus 2x)

Sjekk musikkvideoen her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHgNCj4DU_M

Kvardagen

2009-08-14T07:14:00.012+02:00

Sommaren byrjar å gå mpt haust, og regnvêret har kome til Seattle òg. Eg vonar at det ikkje har kome for resten av hausten og vetteren, men ein kan aldri vite når det gjeld Seattle, seier dei. Eg har visst òg høyrd "Don't get used to the nice weather.." mange gonger òg.
Det har nok skjedd litt sidan sist eg oppdaterte bloggen. Eg har no vore "heime" i Mill Creek i 3 veker, etter ein fantastisk Canada-tur. Dagane har gått mega fort, men det har ikkje vore mange daud-sekund, så det kjennest ut som ei æve sidan eg cruisa i Canada...

Tania, Yonten og meg

Fyrste helga etter at eg kome heim, var det store ting på gang i Downtown Seattle. Det var ein festiva som heiter "Seafair", der den amerikanske marinen har flyshow, båtrace, masse folk, god stemning i byen, god mat og fantastisk vêr. Tania (som eg besøkte i Canada) var framleis i Seattle, så eg tilbragte mykje av helga i lag med ho, ein kompis frå Nepal (Yonten) og Farah (òg ei god venninne frå Nepal).

Flyshow

Me snakka mykje om Nepal, såg det spektakulære flyshowet, åt god mat, og slappa av i Seattle. Farah avslutta helga med å overnatta hjå meg, og ho hjalp meg å passe dei nydlige tvillingane på måndag.

Eg har òg møtt flotte slektningar her i Seattle. Besten sin fetter but like i nærleiken (ein time sør), og det var utruleg moro å møte han her. Eg gledar meg til å sjå meir til han og kona hans i tida framover. Det var rett og slegg rørande, synest eg, å møte slektningar av Besten, som var så glad for å sjå meg!

Forrige helg tilbragte eg i lag med andre au pairar. Det var særs moro. I lag med au pairar frå Australia, Tyskland og Thailand, inntok me Seattle by. Me hadde det moro på eit musikk museum, og seinare på ein baseball kamp, for så å reise heim til ein au pair for å overnatte. Mykje latter og god stemning på kort tid! Det er moro å utveklse au pair erfaringar.

På musikk museum, med "puppet show" utstilling

Det var jammen ei oppleving i seg sjølv å vere på baseball kamp. Det er akkurat som på film. Seattle Mariners er laget, og det var med ei patriotiske kjensle me heia til ein fråverande seier...

Med "foam finger" og Seattle Mariners genser

Sprudlande gjeng!

Farah tok turen att den same helga, og då tok me turen til "The Campbells" som var lærarane våre i Nepal. Det var moro å treffe dei att, og vite at dei bur like i nærleiken. Eg er invitert med å Telemark køyring når vetteren set inn, og det gledar eg meg til!
Kvardagen min går veldig fort. Etter at eg er ferdig på jobb har eg sort sett planar. Lage middag, trene, møte au pair vener, reise på møte i kyrkja, møte vener frå kyrkja, osv. Eg har fått gode vener frå kyrkja, og det set eg pris på. Dei inviterer meg med ut på vift, heim til seg, i parken eller ut for å ete.

Eg byrjar arbeidsdagen kl 8. Då er det eit tvillingpar som ventar på frukost og å få skifta bleie. Kl 11 tek dei ein liten lur, og då spelar eg dei i svevn med norsk fløytespel. Kl 2 er det ein etterlengta lunsj, og halv 4 er det "snack time". Kl 5 er eg ferdig for dagen, og synest at det er heilt greit. Eg storkosar meg med gutane kvar dag, og eg trivast godt som au pair.

Gutane er særs aktive, og tuslar rundt omkring og prøvar å tøye alle grenser. Dei er glad i å klatre, tygge på alt, verte lest til, gå i motsett retning, krangle litt, høyre på musikk, lage lydar og ulydar, halde meg med selskap, verte underhaldt på eit eller anna vis, gå i parken, utforske hagen, osv. Dei har akkurat byrja å ete med skei, og det er veldig spanande, men òg litt frusterande for au pairen som må plukke opp skeia og matskåla frå golvet. Det må visst vaskast litt ekstra bak øyrene, oppover olbogen og nedetter leggen òg, etter kvart måltid.

Kvar torsdag reiser me på biblioteket på "baby reading". Bibliotekatren les i bøkar i ca 15 min, og så er det leiking i 15 min. Dette er ei oppleving i seg sjølv. Kl 09.20 er det mange foreldre og 0-2 år gamle ungar som ventar i spaning på at dørane skal opnast. Dette er foreldra sin mogleik til å skryte av ungane sine!
"She is only 10 months, but she walks!"
"Baby, what does the cow say?" ingen respons "well, she was saying it really well before!"
"Her latest word is "teryiaki". Baby, can you say "teriyaki"?" Ingen respons, "aww, she is just being shy".
Det er moro å kome seg ut av huset og møte andre ungar. Gutane er oppfører seg veldig fint ute blant folk, og alle synest sjølvsagt at dei er skjønne. Eg har vorte veldig glad i gutane, og dei gjer at eg gledar meg til å stå opp kvar morgon!