i moved to norway the other day.

The day has come and gone. I've finally moved to Trondheim. I stopped for a few days in Oslo to visit my dear friend and her little girl. We walked in the forest, drank beer, drank wine, and took ferry rides to the city. We listened to classical music in the park. All-in-all a good time.

Then I made my way north to the middle of Norway...in a plane. It's been a bit non-stop since then. Although, not a stressful non-stop. Just a "oh wow, today-passed-by-quickly kind of non-stop. And it's incredibly light out for three in the morning." Hm.

So far, there has been lots of shrimp.

And views... (this one is from the "backyard" of my college campus)...

And actually, a lot of singing and musical instruments. And sun, and rain, and well... wine!

Come visit me! Later though, because I don't have my own place until August. And it'd be awkward to share my room in a house already shared by a number of people.

weather is relative.

Weather is so different from place to place. An obvious observation, but still--it resonates.

In Massy, right now, there's a thunderstorm! With lightening! (or as the French would say--with éclairs!) I was just reminiscing on how little lightening and thunderstorms I saw in Sydney. And really, there's not much of that here in Massy...although it LOVES to rain.

Strange? Maybe. I don't know.

But in Georgia where I grew up, there were thunderstorms and lightening all the time. Then in Sydney, I remember there wasn't so much of that kind of weather. Yeah, they had fires and cyclones and floods and... well, fires, and cyclones, and floods, ...and sandstorms!

Hm.

But not so much thunder. Or lightening. Eh.

Now, we're moving to Trondheim where I imagine the weather will be different still. A lot of sun. A lot of not-sun. A little warm. A lot of cold. Who knows?!

france cares about unemployed immigrants.

Actual phone conversation had between me and someone who (indirectly) works for French immigration:

me: Hello?

her: Hello. I blah blah, blah blah blah OFII blah blah.

me: What?

her: I work for blah blah for OFII. blah blah professional assessment.

me: Oh yes. I already did that last year.

her: blah blah.

me: What?

her: Yes, five months ago.

me: So.

her: blah blah blah blah.

me: What?

her: Have you found a job yet?

me: Oh, of course not. I am not looking for a job. It is impossible for me to work in France. And next week I'm moving overseas. So, no, I do not have a job in France.

her: Oh. Okay. I'll make a note. Goodbye.

me: Yes, okay. Goodbye.

* Disclaimer: This conversation was actually held in French, so above are my translations.

** This was my FIRST conversation with a French person on the telephone. I think ever. Go me.