Home sweet home!

I'm happy to report that I'm writing this post from Elk Creek Road in Waterford, Pennsylvania! I got home late last night after 20 hours of traveling across the world. Everything went smoothly on my journey. It was actually a very fun trip, knowing that I was headed home to family and friends and Christmas and lots of love. I couldn't help but remember how differently I felt on that same trip in the opposite direction 4 months ago - nervous, lonely, and overwhelmed! Such a very different trip this time. When I stepped off the plane, a great wave of emotion hit me as I saw the sign, "Welcome to Erie, Pennsylvania". Then I saw my handsome dad standing and waiting for me, holding a bunch of bright pink flowers...what a happy, wonderful moment that was!!! I'll never forget how amazing that hug felt.

Now that I'm back at home, I've been bouncing off the walls with excitement ever since!! Every single thing about being home feels like a complete luxury. After living in a little room, sharing a kitchen with 7 people, and being without a microwave, dishwasher, TV, or car for the past 4 months, I sort of feel like I'm staying at a luxurious hotel now! My awesome brother Joel brought me breakfast in bed this morning - hot chocolate and a donut! He has only gotten more handsome, tall, and charming since I last saw him...my baby brother is now turning into a total stud / heart throb. Anyways, I've been happily lounging around the house all morning in my bathrobe, talking on the phone, unpacking, etc. It really does feel wonderful to be home. I know I'm going to miss Norway and all the great friends I made...but in the end, home is where my heart is :-)

So Many Thoughts...

It's the midle of the night here in Bergen - somewhere between 3 and 4 am. I wish I was asleep right now instead of writing this post, but I've been laying awake in bed restlessly for the past hour or so. So many thoughts are running through my head tonight - the wheels just won't stop turning! I'm hoping that writing some of them down will help me relax and drift off into dreamland soon...

Tonight I had my final performance here in Norway. I've been preparing and practicing so hard for this performance for the past month and a half. I've basically felt like I've been living and breathing this music!! Sometimes when I'm working really hard on a piece of music - one that challenges and consumes me completely - its almost as if it becomes part of me physically. I feel the rhythms in my muscles at night as I fall asleep...I hear and play the melodies in my mind as I walk and move through the day...my hands and fingers itch to play the keys even when none are in sight.

This particular piece of music was a true challenge for me. It's a very contemporary piece that requires the pianist to do many unusual things. Special effects are created through whistling, knocking rhythms on the iron beams inside the piano, playing with the strings inside the piano, chanting, and more - all while playing the keys too, and collaborating with 4 other players! My professor asked me if I would play in this ensemble, and I agreed - not quite realizing the amount of work I was in for. Because the piece involves such strange and unnatural movements, it required a great deal of practice in order for these movements to become natural. For a while, I regretted agreeing to do the piece...I felt like it was taking over my life! And while trying new things does have its rewards, the learning process is not always easy or fun. Many times, when feeling overwhelmed, I wished there was some way I could back out of the ensemble and escape my commitment!

Performance day finally arrived. As usual, I felt nervous and sick to my stomach all day long. You would think being over half-way through a masters degree in piano performance would mean that I love to perform...but the truth is I still get scared to pieces every time!! Thoughts of self-doubt and fear haunt me. I wish I knew a way to quiet those thoughts, but as of yet they still consume me before practically every performance. Tonight, trying to calm myself as I waited to go on stage, I prayed for peace. I prayed that God would help this experience remind me why I do what I do and reassure me that I am pursuing the right thing with my life. I walked on stage, hoping and praying for the best...

Twenty minutes later, it was all over. The audience clapped and clapped, and somehow I knew their applause was truly genuine. Something special had happened on stage...somehow, I forgot my fears. It was almost like being in a trance - living inside the music, creating and bringing it to life on stage with the other members of my ensemble. I actually kind of even forgot that the audience was there! And that is no small thing for me, because it is the very presence of an audience that normally makes me so afraid while performing. Afterwards, I felt such a rush of happiness...such a natural high from the sucess of the performance. Tonight meant so much more to me than just a performance gone well, though - it was reassurance in myself and in my craft...reward for the challenge of trying and learning something new....and encouragement and confidence for future performances.

I can't believe I only have 2 more days left in Bergen. Looking back, it seems like it all happened so fast - it can't possibly be over already! I'm sad that my adventures are coming to an end...its been such an amazing experience in so many ways. As one of my favorite sayings goes, though, "Don't be sad that it's over...Just be glad that it happened." A chapter in my life is ending, and its exciting to know that new ones are waiting to begin and be lived. And while its hard to say goodbye to Bergen, its also exciting to know I'm returning home to people, places, and things that I love and have missed.

Feeling ready to try out this sleep thing again...sweet dreams, and lots of love.

"Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

Today I got to try something fun, new, and very Norwegian....glogg! Kind of a silly-sounding word, but very delicious nonetheless. Glogg is a traditional Norwegian Christmas drink. Its warm, spicy, and full of yummy flavors such as cinnamon and ginger. Somehow, the interesting combination of flavors really does taste like Christmas and Norway rolled into one!

Every day, I discover new signs of Christmas around every bend and corner of this city. The Norwegians are very serious about their Christmas decorating! Every shop and store window boasts an elaborate Christmas display...white lights are strung through all the main streets and along the outline of every building....and Christmas trees are everywhere! The sound of musicians playing Christmas carols in the city square can be heard wafting through the air all day long. My favorite is an accordian player who always seems to be playing Silent Night when I go by.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!



And one more thing...for anyone whose email address I may not have, consider this your invitation!

What: Piano Recital
When: December 18th, 2006
Where: Luther Memorial Church, Erie, PA
Time: 7 pm
About: Come and listen to some beautiful music I learned while studying in Norway! Get in the holiday spirit with some Christmas music too :-)
Who: Everyone is welcome - spread the word please!!

God Jul!

Last night I experienced my first Christmas celebration Norwegian-style! It was quite an event. The entire city gathered in the centre for their annual Christmas season kickoff. Music, food, lights, and fireworks made you feel as though Christmas itself were dancing through the air. I felt as if I had stepped into a snow globe depicting an idyllic Christmas scene in the most picturesque little village. Dressed-up Santas handed out gingerbread cookies as you strolled around...musicians sang and played medleys of carols, which many chose to join in. Even the mayor gave a speech! I have no idea what he was saying, but his Norwegian did sound rather jolly. The highlight of the festivities was the lighting of the tree. The mayor led everyone in a suspenseful countdown to that magical second when the tree suddenly came alive with lights. Immediately after, a fabulous firework display set the sky ablaze with color. When the fireworks ended, the sound of bells filled the air, announcing the coming of Christmas. It was truly a magical event!

I can now add two more words to my limited Norwegian vocabulary...God Jul! Merry Christmas :-)

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Today, while walking through town, I discovered a delightful surprise. As I approached the city square, my jaw dropped in amazement as I came upon the most enormous Christmas tree I have ever seen. It is so gigantic they were actually using a crane to move it! I don't know where it came from, but is a beautiful sight. This huge tree rests in the very center of the square, and outlining the rest of the plaza are tall Norwegian pines. I couldn't help but get in the holiday spirit after my surprise Christmas tree encounter! I began to notice more signs of the Christmas season as daylight dimmed, showing white lights sparkling around the city. Particularly beautiful is a Christmas tree shining with light from the top of Mount Floyen, one of the seven peaks surrounding the city.

These signs of Christmas provide some much needed life to the city. When I arrived in Norway in August, the city was alive with summer, sunshine, and beautiful weather. While still rich in natural beauty, sunshine and beautiful weather are now very much lacking. Lately, it begins getting dark out around 3:30 pm and is completely dark by 4:00. In the morning, it doesn't get light out until around 9:00. Daylight will only continue to disappear as the season progresses. During this time of year, Norway loses 6 minutes of daylight per day - 3 less every morning, and 3 less every night. In the northern part of the country, daylight is even scarcer and lost at a faster pace (Bergen is located in southwestern Norway).

In addition to short days and dark nights, we are in the midst of Bergen's notorious rainy season. When I say "rainy", I don't mean a light shower every afternoon, or even a hard one that passes quickly. It rains buckets and buckets, pouring down endlessly every single day. I'd sooner leave home without my wallet or my keys than my umbrella - its my only weapon against this crazy weather! And even my precious umbrella can only do so much good. When it is raining AND windy (as it often is), the rain blows at you from every direction - turning even the toughest umbrella inside out and drenching you from head to toe. I've pretty much given up on the idea of arriving anywhere looking anything but windblown and half-drowned.

Its hard not to let one's spirits be affected by the constant cold, wet darkness. On the positive side, though, I suppose shorter days means more time to enjoy those pretty Christmas lights :-)

Tusen Takk (A Thousand Thanks)

This Thanksgiving my heart was overflowing with gratitude for so many blessings in my life - family, friends, and new experiences. Although it was sad not to spend the day with my family, and I didn't have turkey or stuffing this year, I still had a fabulous day. I never would have dreamed that I would get to spend Thanksgiving this year exploring London with Rachel!

We arrived in London on Monday night after a quick flight from Bergen. We stayed at a tiny little budget hotel near Hyde Park (sort of like London's equivalent of Central Park). Our 4 days in London were absolutely magical! I loved the unbelievable architecture, history, and charm of the city.

One of my favorite London experiences was visiting Westminster Abbey. I will never forget exactly how I felt the moment we walked in. I was immediately struck by the overwhelming presence of a thousand years of history resting in this sacred place. I clung to Rachel's hand as we walked in awe past the tombs of Britain's greatest kings, queens, poets, musicians, and missionaries. It was an incredibly spiritual experience, one that brought chills to my skin and tears to my eyes. The monastary itself was absolutely spectacular, and no description I write could even begin to do it justice. We spent over 2 hours wandering through its endless rooms and chapels, our amazement and awe continually growing.

Other favorite sights were Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, and Covent Gardens. There is so much to see and do in London, so we did our best to pack as much as we possibly could into our 4 days. We pretty much collapsed at the end of each day after walking around the city for hours and hours. A little exhaustion was a small price to pay, though, for such a fabulous time! The architecture in the city is absolutely breathtaking, and a new discovery waits around every corner. We also got to travel a little outside the city to visit my friend Jackie who now lives near Canterbury. She took us to see the Canterbury cathedral (spectacular!!), and showed us around the town and surrounding area. She lives in the coastal town of Whitstable, so we got to go for a drive along the North Sea. We topped the day off with a yummy dinner of fish'n chips. It was a great day, and I felt so lucky to be spending it with 2 special friends :-)

Rachel left this morning to go back home to the States...I got pretty spoiled having her constantly by my side for the past week and a half, so now I'm trying to get back into the groove of being here on my own. Saying goodbye was hard, but mostly now I'm just feeling incredibly grateful. Grateful for having so many special, wonderful people in my life. Grateful for all the love in my family. Grateful for my time in Norway and England, and the amazing opportunities this past year has brought. To sum it all up, I can think of no better words than my favorite Norwegian phrase. Tusen takk...(a thousand thanks).

Still in Love!

Today I fell in love with Norway all over again. I woke up on today and thought to myself, "What can I do with this cold, rainy Sunday?" Pretty much every day lately is cold and rainy. My days left in Bergen are slipping away, though, and I can't let even the dreariest of them go to waste.

I ended up making my way to the Hordamuseet, a musuem about Norwegian folk culture. I went with my friend Jitka from the Czech Republic. We had so much fun! It was just our luck that today was "Traditional Norwegian Food" day at the museum. In the picture to the left, you can see me learning how to make Norwegian flatbread - a staple of the traditional Norwegian meal! Big, long tables were set up in an old barn, and local volunteers taught us how to roll the dough and cook it over a special burner. There are two kinds of Norwegian flatbread - a very dry, thin bread that you eat with fish or meat, and also a sweeter, soft bread more typically for eating in the afternoon with tea or coffee. Of course, having the serious sweet tooth that I do, I loved the softer bread! We brought home with us a big supply of our self-made flatbread to share with our friends.

The museum is located about 30 -40 minutes outside the city in the beautiful surroundings of the Norwegian countryside. Goats, sheep, and horses from an adjoining farm greet you as you arrive. A beautiful lake graces the property, and over 40 different types of Norwegian boats are present as part of the museum exhibit. A large part of the grounds is actually an open-air museum, which is an old Norwegian village preserved in order for guests to get a taste of what the homes, school house, and buildings were like before modern times. Over and over, I marvelled at the incredible beauty of the Norwegian nature and way of life. Several hours later, I'm still quite chilled from our afternoon adventure around this old Norwegian village...My heart, though, is warmer than ever :-)