Field Study, Fountain Pens, Bank Loans, A Tank and a Package

What a week...

1.) Field Study
     - SO EXCITED!!! Kate Catherine and I talked to one of our new professors, Steiner, who works for Nansen Dialogue Center (where I am doing my field study) and now we are extremely excited for our field study. He told us all about what the center does and about the groups that will be there soon and about all the things we can study there. He also told us that we're only here once so why not just go for it and go to the Balkans and visit the centers we will be studying. He then pulled out his laptop and proceeded to look at flights for us. So it is decided, all we have to do is buy the tickets and we're headed to the Balkans!!! I haven't been this jazzed about my future since I decided to come to Norway. Things are really starting to work out in the direction that I wanted them to.

2.) Fountain Pen
     - While in Tondheim I bought a wonderful fountain pen from an antique store. Until now i havent been able to test it out because I have been unable to find ink anywhere. Catherine however found ink yesterday and the pen works wonderfully! Success!!!

3.) Bank Loans
     - Well... I just found out that I have to pay interest on my new loan every month, even while I am still in school. This was news to me, unfortunately it was 12 days too late and now I have a delinquent account... This is a great start to my life in debt...

4.) Tank!
    - Imagine Kate and I walking down the street to class. In the distance is a strange shape.
          (In my mind) "What is that thing? It looks like a space ship"
          (To Kate)     "What is that?"
                               "A.....Tank!?"
                               "holy shit, it is!"
                               "Is that a..... UN tank?!?"
                               "It is!!!"
       We then spent the next few minutes getting out of the way of the tank, contemplating why a giant white United Nations Tank equipped with 4 of 5 soldiers would be in Hamar and getting holla'd at by the soldier in Norsk.

5.) Package!
    - I got a PACKAGE!!! What a wonderful surprise!!! If any of the Wheelers read this... THANK YOU!!!! Is perfect!!!! thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!

-Noreen

3 Observations
1. I've sort of gotten to the point where this is home, and the novelty of somethings have worn out. Not because they aren't fun, but because they are no longer foreign... they are just normal. (I see this as a good thing)
2. The days are getting shorter, but I will not complain... I knew what I was in for when I signed up for this
3. I talked to Nathan (baby brother) and it made me miss him/home a lot.. first time I've been homesick since getting here...

LOVE YOU FAMILY!!!!