Weekend Getaway Prequel

Our friends, Ann Kristin and Thor Gunnar, invited us to spend the weekend at their cabin in the mountains.  I am very excited to go.  Tove and I visited them there a few years ago during the summer.  It's a charming, cozy little place.  I'm charging camera batteries as I write this.  Photos to come.

Will you still love me when I'm 100 yrs. old and still on the road?

You may recall that a few weeks ago, I applied for a Norwegian Driver's license.  Under Norwegian law, had I come from Hungary or Japan (!?), I would have qualified for a Norwegian license immediately without an exam.  But, because I come from the US, I must take a driving test!  They confiscated my CDL and gave me a temporary license.  They said they'd send me some paperwork once they ran a police check on my identity. 

So a week, or so, ago, I got the papers from the Norwegian Dept of Highways.  They contained instructions on getting training through a traffic school.  Here's the "kicker":

Once I past my driving test, my Norwegian license will be valid until April 14, 2053!

Norwegian Tacos

In the 70's when I was a student in Bergen, there were no Norwegian tacos.  Maybe there were some Texans living in Stavanger who made their own tacos, but there were no Mexican restaurants and no "taco kits' in the stores.  Now, however, taco kits and advertising for taco kits, and for enchilada kits are ubiquitous.  Tove does not remember when "tacos came to Norway", she guesses that maybe when her kids were teenagers.

My American readers would recognize the kits.  Different brands but just like Ortega in California.

Check out this ad for Old El Paso Mexican food kits:

So Tove and I made tacos!  We used ground chicken instead of beef and I had some Tapatio sauce.  They were delicious.  We watched the soccer match between Norway and Denmark while we ate.  Fun.

24 Little Hours Later . . . .

The next-door neighbors are remodeling their home.  The carpenter came yesterday and parked his VW van on the street just beyond our back yard.  Here it is this morning:  (A note to my readers:  photos are "clickable".  Click once on the photo and it opens in another screen in a bigger size.  Click the photo again and it expands to almost original size.  If you haven't done this yet, go back to my earlier photos and click on them -- it's a whole new experience!)

Here's a photo that gives you an idea of the recent snow fall:

I got my Norwegian grammar books in the mail yesterday.  So, today, I'm doing some grammar exercises.  Then, Tove and I are going to the "movies" to see "The King's Speech".  We'll top it off with Norwegian tacos tonight.  I'll explain Norwegian tacos later.  It's a good story.

Winter: "I'm baaackk!"

A few days ago Spring had sprung.  Snow was melting, streets were flooding with all of the melted snow.  Then, WHAM! The temperature dropped down to below freezing, it started snowing, and right now as I write this, it looks like a full-blown blizzard outside!  Huge snowflakes are blowing this way and that as the wind swirls fiercely.  It's been snowing fairly steadily for 3 days, now.  What's strange, though, is that about 10 minutes ago, I took the following photographs from our living room, looking out into the back yard:

Tove hangs a sheaf of grain ("nek" in Norwegian) in the tree every winter to feed the birds.  The birds LOVE it.

Coffee at Uncle Einar's and Aunt Gerd's

Sunday we visited Tove's aunt and uncle.  We were invited for coffee.  Tove's mom, Kitty, was also invited, so on our way to the city center we stopped and picked her up.  Gerd is Kitty's sister.  Gerd and her husband, Einar, live in a small, but comfortable apartment condo for seniors.  They are very sweet and kind people.  Gerd and Kitty's brother, Willy, was there for coffee, too.  He's in his mid-70s and a world-class seniors athlete.  His sport -- ice skating.  He's been to Calgary twice for competitions and will go to Holland and Germany this year to compete.  Very interesting guy.  He was a ship's captain for decades and has travelled all over the world.  I enjoy his company very much.

Coffee began with delicious brewed coffee and CAKES!  At least 3.  One cake, called the "World's Best Cake" (literally translated from Norwegian), was delicious.  Aunt Gerd baked it.  Here's the recipe from the following web page: 
* * *
http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/2157147-kvaefjord-verdens-beste-kake-also-known-as-world-s-best-cake-
Ingredients:(printable recipe)

1 stick and 2 tsp of butter

2/3 cup sugar, plus 1 cup for merengue

4 extra large eggs (separate the yolks from the whites)

3 Tbsp milk (or substitute half & half)

1 cup of flour

1 tsp of vanilla extract or vanilla sugar.

2 Tsp baking powder

4 oz of split almonds

Vanilla Pudding

1 cup whipped cream

Start off by making the filling:

I had the advantage of Norwegian family sending me packages of Kakefyll, which is a pudding type filling, but you can substitute vanilla pudding with 1 1/2 cups of milk and chill. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup of whipped cream and fold into chilled pudding recipe.

Prepare Dough:

Beat butter and 2/3 sugar together, then add egg yolk one at a time.

Add milk, flour, vanilla and baking powder, beat to make dough

Spray or butter oblong baking pan using  parchment paper to cover the bottom. I used a 9x12 inch pan.

Spread the dough on the paper, in one thin layer.

Prepare merengue: Whip the four egg whites until stiff, beating in remaining 1 cup of sugar. Spread eggwhites on dough

Sprinkle Almonds on top of merengue mixture when finished spreading

Bake in 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, let cake cool, cut into two equal pieces. Add cream filling on one side of cake, add second part of cake almond side up on top of filling.
* * *
After several pieces of cake and numerous cups of coffee, we enjoyed an apricot liquer, and some fresh red grapes.  THEN, pepsi and salty snacks (like potato chips, etc.).  While we were eating and drinking we talked about everything from TV shows to ovens and electricity bills.  It was all in Norwegian, which really helps me to learn.  I think I understand a little more than half of what is said, so I feel like I'm getting better day by day. 

Winter Fights Back, Increased Daylight Helps Spring

After a week of sunny, beautiful Spring weather,  Winter decided that it "would not go gentle into that good night" and (with apologies to Dylan Thomas) that it would rage, rage against the brightening of the light.  So, yesterday, it snowed all day.  Today, a bit of snow this morning, but now, bright and sunny. 

Speaking of sun, starting today, there is more daylight here than in Southern California.  This trend will continue until around September 20.  It is so odd how quickly it changes.  When I moved here just 7 weeks ago, the sun rose at 9:00 a.m. and set at about 4pm.  Now it rises at about 6:30 a.m. and sets at about 6:30 p.m.

Thanks to the sun, Winter will eventually lose and Spring will not be denied.

Reading Fine Print on a Norwegian Spring Day

Under Norwegian law, because I am an immigrant AND over 55 years of age, I qualify for up to 250 hours of Norwegian language education administered by the Municipal government of Trondheim. All I had to do was complete a simple application and bring it to the Adult Education center on the East side of town.


So today I took the bus to town. I stopped at the University to pick up the printed app I had completed the night before. I had emailed it to Tove's email address so that she could print it at her office. Then I took the #4 bus to the east side of town. Well, I "overshot" where I was supposed to get off by about 4 bus stops. So, I exited at the next stop, walked across the street and waited for the #4 bus enroute to the City Center "Sentrum". While I waited, I called Tove for help regarding which stop I should exit at. Comforted by her help I boarded the bus and got off at the correct stop.

OK, I've wasted maybe 35 minutes, tops, so I'm feeling fine about my adventure. I find the Adult learning center, saunter in, and in my best "norsk" ask at the information desk if this is the place to register for my Norwegian classes. "Ja, men registrering er bare på mandager" Yes, but registration is only on Mondays!

I believe that had I read the web page with an eye to details, I would have discovered this little fact. Lucky for me it is a beautiful Spring day. I took advantage of my location to walk to "Solsiden", which literally means "the sun-side". This area used to be a ship-building area, but has been renovated with a shopping center and numerous condos, restaurants and bars along the waterfront:



Solsiden Cafes



There's still ice in the harbor



Bridge from Sentrum to Solsiden



The River Nid and the Radisson SAS Hotel on the left



Karlsen Sisters Cafe







Inside Solsiden Shopping Center



Library Security and Barnas Skidag

I am slowly getting more settled. While I was in Germany the formal notice of my "person number" arrived. I needed this to open a bank account. Opened the bank account on Monday. Then, on Wednesday, I went to the public library to get a library card. The librarian asked for "legitimasjon", which means documentary proof of my identity and right to be in Norway. I showed her my passport and visa. "But this doesn't have your 'person number'!" OK, how 'bout if I show you my letter from the Tax Department assigning me my number? Not good enough. "Do you have a bank card?" Apparently these have your "p n" on them. No, not yet. "OK, I can give you a card that is good in Trondheim, only, but for a national library card, you need to show me a form of i.d. like a bank card that has your 'personal number'." OK.

What's interesting to me is that the paper from the tax department was good enough for the bank, but not for the library. I ordered a bank card from the bank, which I will then take to the library to get my national library card.
***

Today was a beautiful, Spring-like day. The "mark" (wilderness) we walk in is still laden with snow, but the trees, which had been covered in snow a month ago, are snow-free and their green limbs make a beautiful contrast to the white-white snow. Under the trees, a lot of snow has melted and the undergrowth is coming to life.

But above the beauty of the landscape was the beauty of dozens of small children on cross-country skis, out on the trails with their brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Today was Children's Ski Day ("Barnas Skidag") at Granaasen Ski Center. There were races, apparently, because many of the children we saw were wearing the "contestant number" bibs and sporting their medals. Each had a brand-new "Barnas Skidag" backpack.

I had my camera with me. NO EFFIN' SD CARD! Too bad, because it was quite nice to see so many families out with their kids enjoying the good weather and the beautiful surroundings.

Month of March comes in like a lion, goes out like a . . . .

Spring is attempting to break through, but Winter is not going without a fight.  For example, yesterday it was 43 in the middle of the day, but dropped to 25 by 8 last night.  This morning found new snow on the ground and blue skies -- beautiful!  21 degrees.   It warmed to about 28 and the sunshine was bright, no wind and blue sky.  It was so beautiful with the new snow, I walked down to the post office to mail a letter.  It's about a 15-20 minute walk on walking trails the whole way.  I nearly killed myself when I took the trail through the underpass under the road -- slick ice -- no snow coverage. 

On the way home it was warm enough to unzip my coat.  Probably 32 degrees but with no wind and the sun in my face, it felt great!  When I got home it seemed so stuffy inside I opened some windows to let in the fresh air.  I think I'll video the walk the next time I go.

CeBIT Nights, or Prosit! Prosit!

Within the Fairgrounds of the Hannover Messe is a beer hall sponsored by Lowenbrau.  The hall serves German food, bucket-sized glasses of beer and features a oompahpah band complete with men in lederhosen.  The band was very entertaining, playing everything from "Roll Out the Barrels", to ZZ  Top covers.  At our table were 5 people from China, 2 from Taiwan, 1 Frenchman, 2 Portuguese, 1 Italian, one Norwegian and 1 Icelander.  The hall announced a Jagermeister drinking contest, but our table declined to participate.  The winning table was comprised of Danes.  They drank 165 bottles (2 oz.) of the schnapps.  Yikes!

The Munchener Hall

Guess what I ordered.

Hint....

Yes.  We'd like 6 more buckets of beer, please.

Yes, this is what I ordered.  Called Roasted Pig Knuckles it is actually a pork shank.  It was delish.

Prosit!

Uh, next time, order me a BIG beer, like "this" high.

Danes do drink.

The Band

They were singing "I...haddd.....the time of my li-ii-ife...."

the table cloths made for great "conga line" connectors

Chinese girls just wanna have fun.

"I only had 2 beers!"

CeBIT Days

CeBIT is not as large a trade show as it used to be, but it is still huge.  This is one of 20, or so, halls that were filled with exhibits.  It took me 20 minutes of brisk walking to get to the Hall that was furthest away from our Hall.

Hall 2 at Hannover Messe

The show's hours were 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  It ran 6 days, Mon-Sat.  Miyake-san and I had tickets to the opening ceremony on Monday Night, but decided not to go.  The speakers were Chancellor Angela Merkl, Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, and, last but not least, the CEO of IBM.  If Jobs had spoken I would have gone.....

Miyake-san Explains the Crush Box



German Litigation Management Software Booth



The View from Our Booth



Digital Art

What.

We stayed in a tiny apartment in a Russian immigrant neighborhood off of Niedersachsenring.  It was comfortable and convenient.  

CeBIT The Bite

Chinese Cheaters Caught

Traveling on the city subways and tram-trains in Hannover is based on the "honor system".  Last Thursday, Miyake-san observed that it seemed to him that the Germans were not buying tram-train tickets for the tram-trains we take to get back and forth to the convention grounds.  I explained that I had seen some buy tickets, but that most had monthly cards, probably, as the fine for traveling without a ticket is 500 euros.  Friday, on the train from our apartment to the central train station, a ticket inspector boarded and started asking for tickets.  There were 5 Chinese on board who did not have tickets.  The inspector/policeman rounded them up at the central station and as we took off for the convention center, they were in animated discussions.  We did not have tickets, but as exhibitors at CeBIT our Exhibitor passes are good for free public transport.  I knew this, but Miyake-san did not!  He thought we were freeloading.  He was quite nervous until I showed my Exhibitor Pass to the inspector and told Miyake-san to do the same.  He was very relieved......

CeBIT by Bit

I left Norway for Hannover, Germany last Sunday.  Miyake-san left Tokyo the same day, but had to change planes in Munich.  We had agreed that whoever arrived first would call the Apartment agent to get the keys to the apartment Digital Streams rented for the show.  When I got to Hannover Airport, I proceeded downstairs to the Subway train that would take me to downtown.  2 minutes after arriving at the train platform, Miyake-san greeted me!  Nice coincidence.  More later......

Setting up at CeBIT

Finished

Band at the Munchner Halle Restaurant at CeBIT