The Top Ten Reasons to be a Norwegian

After four days in Oslo, Norway and a visit to Lilleström, Mark declared a need for a blog post about "Why I want to be a Norwegian when I grow up," in honor of his new favorite Scandinavian city, Oslo. The list was meant to be TOP 20, but in the interest of time, we're doing 10.

We celebrated Norwegian Independence Day, on the 17th of May. It rained. But the vikings were undeterred in their march to the royal castle to greet and honor their king, who, with the royal family, waved from the balcony of the castle as he recieved the cheers of his people. We stood just below, and like good Norwegian off spring, Isak and Elina with 25% pure Norwegian blood in their veins, dressed up in their bunads, too.

NUMBER TEN: Long hi-tech tunnels. The kids loved them.

taken from the bus on the way to Oslo

NUMBER NINE: Really old, awesome looking buildings

NUMBER EIGHT: Fjords.

NUMBER SEVEN: Modern bathroom fixtures are common, and a fraction of the cost in the US

water off

water on
(taken at Victoria's relatives Kjell-Erik and Aase's house)

NUMBER SIX: Space saving shower 'stalls'

Not in use
In use
(captured at Anita and Johannes house)

NUMBER FIVE: Unequaled National Pride.
NUMBER FOUR: Bunads.

NUMBER THREE: Superior hosting

compliments to Aase, ever the perfect hostess

NUMBER TWO: The after-meal treat.

at Anita and Johannes'

NUMBER ONE: Wonderful women.

Three sisters: Liv, Inger and Magna (two are missing)

Elina and Ingunn (the latter being 100% Nowegian)

Not to forget more watered down versions: Annia 25% Norwegian, and Victoria at 50 %.

A Town Called Underwear

A street in the town of Trosa

We packed the whole family onto a train and went to see our friends, (and former residents of Norman, Oklahoma) Linda and Johan and their two children Sara and Holger. They live at the outskirts of a town named Trosa - which also is the name for panty in Swedish. Going by train is really very comfortable, but Isak and Elina fought the whole way there, or so it seemed.

getting along on the train - for the moment

as per the two pics above: trains are usually outfitted with a restaurant and a playground

During our two and a half day stay in Vagnhärad (by Trosa), we discovered that Isak's second favorite sport in the world (after sailing) is orienteering. This is bitter-sweet, as it is an awesome sport but only exists in a few pockets on the east coast in the US, from what I know.

meal time at Johan and Linda's

orienteering: running through the forest, from station to station (orange and white traingle) guided by a map and a compass, and at each station stamping your card as proof you were there. Isak caught the vision of this immediately and raced the whole way.

Sara and Elina studied nature and collected snails, Elina's new favorite thing. She has kept snails for pets for over a month a now.

Johan and Linda (it was Johan's birthday)

Elina and mom in Trosa (the canal empties into the sea half a mile later)


fare well at the train station

looking out at the end of the train

Family

We were blessed to be here to attend my aunt Marie's wedding, as she married her Peter, in Ödenäs Kyrka. I am so glad to have been here for that, since I usually miss the major birthdays, graduations, christenings and other occasion that mark the passage of life. Here are a few pictures taken that day, of that which matters most: family. I may post some videos, later, of some serious dancing that took place after dinner, at the reception. The party lasted late, but we left right before midnight, though the kids were still having a good time.

Oh, and my sweet sister caught the bouquet, bless her! No contest.

First: The Happy Couple.

inside the church after the ceremony

cutting the cake

Ossian (w/ Annia hypnotized in his arms), Daniella, Ingunn, Mikael, Mark, Victoria
front row: Elina and Isak

Daniella, Ingunn (mom), Mikael (dad), Victoria

mother and her daughters

The bride's side of the family

Sailing in the Archipelago

Isak is named for my great grandfather, Isak Akselsen, fisherman and boatsman from Herjangen in northern Norway. There are more sea people in my geneaology than I could ever count. On my Swedish and Norwegian side there are oodles boat craftsmen and both my grandfathers (Swedish and Norwegian) were sailors.

Perhaps this is why Isak has taken to sailing so passionately and easily. To be fair, Elina was not far behind. Completely fearless they climbed on the rocking boat. This would surprise people who know my kids. They are more cautious than most children. They both suffer from fear of heights and are not dare devils like some kids I have seen. Isak watches from the ground when others take on high climbing on the playground. Elina is generally the slightly braver one, but on the boat Isak was in his true element. We finally put leashes on them for fear that they would topple overboard as the boat leaned a fair bit, but Isak protested so heavily we relented after a while.

The weather was beautiful as we sailed from Kullavik to Styrsö (an island in the Gothenburgian archipelago) with my aunt Hanna and her Captain, Lars.

Mark - considering switching political parties

Lars and Hanna

Elina

Annia's first boat ride

Isak, future Captain? (note: my old life jacket!)

the banner

Victoria

Kullavik harbor


The sail from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.



gothenburg archipelago from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

The CIRCUS

Circus Maximum came to Alingsås and Mormor (grandma) declared that the circus is a special occasion in a child's life and generously paid for our visit there. The kids were enthralled! I felt like a kid myself. Elina and Isak rode camels, but it was hard to get good pictures.

Isak, Elina och Mormor

Souvenirs from the Circus. They spin and glow in the dark.

Nature's Bingo and Other Adventures

play date: Isak, Elina, Ebba and Saga

play date: Elsa, Elina, Isak, Arvid

right before Isak slipped on the gooey cliff into the freezing lake...

play date: Tuva-Li, Saga, Elina and Isak

The kids had a Primary Activity on May 3rd. They played Nature's Bingo where the board was filled with words such as "dry leaf" "funny stick" "rock" "flower" and the first to fill a row, well you get the point. Then they played another game and made a rock troll with moss hair (see picture of Elina). Mark was grill meister for the hot dogs.