Smiles All Round

A Very Proud Boyfriend. I give you Marianne BSc MSc.

 Regular followers will recall that a big occasion was coming. Marianne's graduation and the meeting of all her immediate family and my Mum and her husband Dave. (I shall ignore the fact I know all regular followers were actually therefore present, making the previous statement redundant)

Safe to say it was an amazing few days, truly something I will always remember. The graduation itself was a great ceremony that I am thoroughly looking forward to taking part in myself in a few months all things being equal. Everyone looked amazing and an insane amount of pictures were taken we shall all treasure.

The rest of time was equally brilliant, everyone seemed to have such a great time and get on famously. I knew they probably would, but to actually see the first joining of families go so splendidly I actually found touching. We all really bonded and I know my Mum for one is very happy to have gotten to know the family that have so kindly accepted me into their ranks.

With every day I look forward more to moving to Norway and starting the next chapter of my life and everything is moving brilliantly in the right direction. Just need to get the final stint of Uni out the way, should therefore probably stop writing this and get back to it . . . .

All 8 of us having what was an exceptional meal as always at the Black House Grill Chester.

        Left to right: Bodil (Marianne's Mother), Ivar (Marianne's Father), Me, Pal, 

Tia, Marianne, My Mum and Dave

University Challenges'

Today was meant to be the start of my new hardcore 8 week plan to ensure I actually finally pass my degree. Instead however a teacher kindly asked me to repay a favour by talking at a Uni open day about my experiences. It took like 3 hours of my day but has left me feeling positive and contemplative.

University has not surprisingly been the biggest and most important part of my life so far, leaving home, meeting new life long friends, learning lots, having fun more and of course leading to my decisions in life now by meeting Marianne and deciding to emigrate.

Its not been a smooth journey, I failed my first year almost completely after what was an essentially 3 months as a drunken muppet. I laugh and joke about it, but in the end I learnt some important life lessons and a lot about myself. That said however  it was put simply, 'Not Big OR Clever'. I may sugar coat it sometimes but I generally don't forget my errors in life as I believe they are a part of what make you. I don't think 'everything happens for a reason' but I do believe that if you were to go back and change it, the person you would become might be very different. For that reason, I embrace past adversity and accept without that I would not be in my current situation which if I'm honest is generally pretty great and I would not go back and change a single thing if I could. 

On a lighter note, generally University has been one big party. I look back at how much time I spent studying and struggling, compared to all the fun time I've had and the ratio is comically in favour of the second. I will have a few more opportunities to look back and talk about Uni when I finish my work, graduate etc. I would just like to say at this point, before all the real grind of what is undoubtedly a copious amount of work that will be a massive challenge. It's been a giggle!

The Vikings are Invading!

Got your attention? Good, sadly it is a slightly inaccurate title as all the history I have studied suggested that it was Danish Vikings that always pillaged Britain rather than the Norwegians. They were pre-occupied with Iceland and Ireland, never the less I am never one to let a slight historical inaccurate ruin the opportunity for a dramatic blog title.

Anyway, Marianne and I are eagerly awaiting a visit from her family (Mother, Father, Sister Tia, and Sisters Boyfriend Pål) to attend and celebrate her graduation after passing her Masters in Public Health Nutrition. A massive achievement for which I for one am very proud. Hun er kjempe flink!

I am looking forward to for the first time hosting all of them rather than being the hostee as they have been so great to us when we have spent time with them in Norway. This visit is however made more interesting still as my Mother suggested she and her husband Dave take this opportunity to also spend a few days up here to see me, have a weekend away as it is her birthday and to meet the family that have helped to convince me that moving to Norway is a great idea.

I should mention that typically nerves around meeting people and introducing others is almost never an issue for me, I'm a very social person and I am always confident in the success of any social gathering. That being said, yes this time, I am a little nervous. I am 100% confident that everyone will get on great as they are all interesting, funny and intelligent people but I find I'm saying to myself "This is the first meeting between your family and the family that you will soon be emigrating near to and eventually marring into". Even for the cool calm and collected, that's pressure! Thankfully Marianne's family all speak very good English and I don't foresee much of a problem their although I do sympathise with them as I'm sure it will not be the easiest and most relaxing thing to spend so much time listening to and talking in English. They can all blame Marianne for choosing to hook up with an Englishman, I'm taking as little responsibility as possible.

Slight nerves aside I am very excited and looking forward to all spending some time together which will of course largely revolve around some very tasty meals, wine and many good laughs I'm sure. It will also provide me with plenty of photos and things to blog with after I imagine.

TROLL!

Me with a Troll at the top of Fløyen mountain in Bergen Summer '11

There are a couple of really really core things I associate with Norway, trolls is arguably the top of that list, hence the name of this blog. I'd heard a bit about it before I went over for the first time but I think I was really surprised to see how wide spread it was. It isn't just stories for kids or an excuse to sell memorabilia to tourists, far from it. 

Norwegians just love Trolls! 

I'm not sure what it is and from my experiences nothing in England can be compared. Its just a fantastic child like obsession with this great collection of myths that take a huge number of forms and all welcomed with open arms. I almost cant bring myself to say it but I'm going to have to to make the point. "Of course they know they don't really exist". However I'm not sure you'd hear many Norwegians saying it willingly, for the simple reason, pretending is fun! Yes we are all sensible logical people who can separate fact from fiction, but sometimes why bother? Personally I love the whole thing and you will catch me playing along with as much enthusiasm as any Norwegian.

One final thing, I can't discuss Norway and Trolls without plugging Troll Hunter. Amazing Film! A little creepy, largely funny, all in all very entertaining. At first I thought maybe it was bias from Norwegians and then even from myself as I have close links with the country. Then I watched it again and spoken to lots of other English that have seen it and everyone agrees its just a top film!