360°...

...Grenoble

Home… well it hasn’t been home in almost 20 years but still I love to see my mountains every now and then.

Check it out at:Grenoble360

I Will Cry If I Want To…

… Cry If I Want To

Artistic?... maybe but it came with a high price!

This is the last picture taken as my camera was taking a plunge… the 18-270mm lens is out and I cried like a baby. Photography has been the one thing that keeps me going here in Norway.

Jeffrey said that we’ll have it repaired and if it cannot be done he’ll buy me another one. I’m very upset because I paid for it with my hard earned cash back in Beijing.

Update: I found this video a couple of days later... made me cry of course!
.

Leave Me from Daros Films on Vimeo

I’m Going Back To My Bubble...

...Making Bubbles

From a social one to an Asocial one!

Don't dwell in the past,  do not dream of the future,  concentrate the mind in the present moment

Maybe it’s

the age
the country
the 6th move already

but I’m getting claustrophobic

too small
too few
too many
too..., too

…Not enough

And Playing With Photoshop

TCK Humor

(Third Culture Kids Humor)

Totally apply to my kids. Chloe will often say she’s Argentinean and Jeremy still calls China “Home”.

De Icing...

...Salt

With snow on the ground for over a month, we now have to deal with ice. Living on top of a hill it’s something we really need to take care of since my friends tend to not like sliding from side to side coming up and going down our driveway. So yesterday I was on a mission to find deicing salt because with the price of table salt and the length of our driving I wasn’t going to go bankrupt to facilitate visits.


And I can even use it to “store” meat and fish for the long winter months!  Maybe I should try making my own Pinnekjøtt meat

China...

...Censored

Pretty interesting Graphic Design on what's censored on the net in China. This is definitely something I do NOT miss about living in Beijing. (I miss a lot of other things)... but on the other hand I learned a lot about Proxy!!

InformationIsBeautiful.net

Get Me Out Of Here…

…I’m Turning Into A Norwegian

I found myself fixing a “Matpakke” for lunch today:

Norwegian lunch

Matpakke (open sandwiches wrapped in special paper) are a national favorite for lunch.   From the time you enter the Barnehage (Nursery) to school and later on your office you will most likely eat a Matpakke for lunch.

The Green Guide

...Infinite Photograph

Another day, another post with no relation with Stavanger, Norway and me but it’s my blog and I do whatever I want (for once I can!). So here’s another photo related post. I find myself clicking away.

Dive into this photo-mosaic portrait of Earth. It's made up of hundreds of photos of the natural world, each submitted by National Geographic website users through our My Shot page. Move the yellow square over an area you would like to explore, click, and go. Double-click on an image to see more information about it. Keep clicking—and diving deeper into the Infinite Photograph—to get a truly boundless picture of Earth.

Get yourself clicking: Green Guide Infinite Photograph

Is Cleaning…

…Illegal?

This post doesn’t really have anything to do with Stavanger or Norway or even me but it kind of grabbed my attention and though that it was a nice concept… and I’m waiting for someone to finally make cleaning illegal so I’ll have a case in my own battle at home!!!

Paul “Mouse” Curtis creates ‘legal graffiti’ by cleaning the dirt and grime off of surfaces.

The tools are simple: A shoe brush, water and elbow grease, he says

Authorities are baffled: is selective cleaning a crime?
British authorities aren’t sure what to make of the artist who is creating graffiti by cleaning the grime of urban life. The Leeds City Council has been considering what to do with Moose. "I’m waiting for the kind of Monty Python court case where exhibit A is a pot of cleaning fluid and exhibit B is a pair of my old socks," he jokes.

Cleaning is hard

Reverse Graffiti Project

Stavanger doesn’t have a lot of graffiti but I kinda like this one ;-)

Such a rebel (Click to enlarge)

Palindrome

Palindrome reads the same backwards as forward. This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward. Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP.

I found this amazing:.

Jonathan Reed is a 20-something native of Atlanta and a student at Columbia College in Chicago, and he wrote the palindrome below about himself and his peers, the so-called Lost Generation. As depressing as it is when you read it as written, it is just as uplifting in reverse. To reverse it, read line by line from the bottom up.

The Lost Generation

Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation.

And I refuse to believe that

I can change the world.

I realize this may be a shock, but

“Happiness comes from within”

Is a lie, and

“Money will make me happy”

So in thirty years, I will tell my children

They are not the most important thing in my life.

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

Work

Is more important than

Family

I tell you this:

Once upon a time

Families stayed together

But this will not be true in my era.

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making.

In the future,

Environmental destruction will be the norm.

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this Earth.

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic.

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we reverse it.

I Have Survived…

…Jeremy’s Birthday Party

Jeremy’s friends had a great time at his 6th Winter Fun birthday party. You may as well use the weather to your advantage!!!.

Fun in the snow

When I was One,

I had just begun.

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

When I was Three,

I was hardly Me.

When I was Four,

I was not much more.

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I’m as clever as clever.

So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.

A A Milne

keeping with the theme... Home made cake by Chloe!

It’s Not My Fault…

…I’m Just A Little Out Of Practice.

Could I blame it on Ayi who is 7000 km/4000 miles away?

Good thing I didn't pay the "Westerner" price!!

Here goes my favorite and very warm sweater. The good news is now I know it was indeed Genuine Mongolian Cashmere.


Update:  My friend Christine suggested to frame it because it was so cute. Well I took her advice and it now hangs in my laundry room as a reminder to be careful with my cashmere!

Hand wash is best... with delicate!

"Fashionable...

...In Rainy Weather" - Part V

By now you should be familiar with the concept of "Fashionable in Rainy Weather"; it’s the post where I enlightened your life with some new found gems because you can be fashionable even when it rains (no matter what the Norwegians might let you believe!).

So in this month of January you realized that while you attended all those fabulous Christmas and New Year parties, the hostile climate didn't care and it rained no matter how much your Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin cost. Good thing I'm here to prevent further damage to your pricey high heels. I present you the high heeled rainboots and to cheer you up it even comes in a polka dots version.

And for next year parties what can be more adorable than these umbrellas..

Gratulerer Med Dagen, Jeremy

Happy Birthday, Joyeux Anniversaire

Six years old today... One hand is not enough anymore (dixit Jeremy!).  He decided he wanted to make a cake to share with his classmates:

Chef Jeremy

Silly Jeremy

This is the “Universal” Happy birthday song in Norwegian:

Gratulerer med da'n
Gratulerer med da'n
Gratulerer kjære "Jeremy"
Gratulerer med da'n

But there is a more Norwegian version:  Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!

Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!
Ja, deg vil vi gratulere!
Alle i ring omkring deg vi står,
og se, nå vil vi marsjere,
bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss omkring,
danse så for deg med hopp og sprett og spring,
ønske deg av hjertet alle gode ting
og si meg så, hva vil du mere? Gratulere!

(Høyt våre flagg vi svinger. Hurra!
Ja, nå vil vi riktig feste!
Dagen er din, og dagen er bra,
men du er den aller beste!
Se deg om i ringen hvem du vil ta!
Dans en liten dans med den du helst vil ha!
Vi vil alle sammen svinge oss så gla’
og en av oss skal bli den neste – til å feste!)

Here’s an English translation… Hurray for you for celebrating your birthday!

Hurray for you for celebrating your birthday!
Yes, we congratulate you!
We all stand around you in a ring,
And look, now we’ll march,
Bow, nod, curtsy, we turn around,
Dance for you and hop and skip and jump!
Wishing you from the heart all good things!
And tell me, what more could you want? Congratulations!

We wave our flags up high! Hurray!
Yes now we’ll really celebrate!
The day is yours, the day is great,
But you’re the best!
Look in the ring who you want to choose!
Dance a little dance with who you want to!
We’ll all turn around together so joyfully,
And one of us shall be the next – to celebrate!

Self Help to Cope With The Winter Darkness…

...Never Ending Sun

While I’m posting videos of Norway, here’s another one about 1 week of never ending Sun near the poles.

This is filmed in the summer since in the Arctic Circle summer means 24-hour daylight. The sun doesn’t set; it just bounces along the horizon!

I Had An Epiphany...

...I Mean It's The Epiphany (again!)

If we could celebrate the Epiphany the French way in China, we sure could celebrate it in Norway. My intention this year was to make the “Galette des Rois” myself but with Francois the French chef of my cooking classes offering catering I owed it to our British guests to have the best for their first taste!

Who's going to be the Queen or the King?

Here’s what I wrote a few years ago about "Epiphany" and "Galette des Rois":

Epiphany (greek for for "to manifest" or "to show"), is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God in Human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany falls on January 6.

In France, on Epiphany people eat the “galette des Rois” (a king of King Cake). Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine/trinket (usually a porcelain figurine of a king) or a bean is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket “la fève” (literally the broad bean) in their slice becomes king for the day and will have to offer the next cake. A paper crown is included with the cake to crown the "king" who finds the fève in their piece of cake. To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of handing out the pieces of cake.

It’s A Wrap…

...Christmas Is Over

Until next time...

One Year in Norway...

...in 90 Seconds

from Eirik Solheim

Pinnekjott

Culinary post today as I ponder about the Norwegian choice of Christmas dinner.

Pinnekjøtt is more traditionally eaten for Christmas* but really between a feast of Huitres, Escargots, Foie Gras, Saumon Fumé and Dinde or Salted, dried Mutton/Lamb with potatoes and Swede puree, we decided to go French for our Christmas dinner and experiment the local delicacy later.

I bought the pinnekjøtt in a store already prepared (i.e. cured) but many families do it at home. “Racks of lamb or mutton are cured in brine or coarse sea salt. Once sufficiently cured, and when the weather is cold enough, the racks are hung in a cool, dark, well ventilated place to dry. In some regions, the fresh racks are smoked prior to curing; traditionally this was done in order to prevent mould growth during the drying process.” There you have it, you can now make it yourself!.

The ribs must first be soaked overnight in water in order to rinse out the salt and reconstitute de meat.

A layer of twigs from birch tree may be placed in the bottom of the saucepan… hence the name Pinnekjøtt (stick meat).

the birch twigs from yesterday post

The ribs are then steamed over a little water in a large saucepan.

Served with Swede purée and Potato:

The little French touch: Creme Fraiche!

It was actually pretty good and I will probably make it again (if I find it in the stores, supplies seem to me more common around Christmas time) but I will probably let it soak a little longer in order to be less salty.


Next year I’m trying smalahove!


*31 % of Norwegians say they eat pinnekjøtt for their family Christmas dinner

Nostalgia…

...Of the Cold?!!

Being an avid photographer, I’m a big fan of the Boston Big Picture and a couple of days ago it brought back wonderful memories of our own trip to Harbin in February 2007 (I never published the photos of our trip, oops!)

The International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has massive buildings built of ice from the frozen surface of the nearby Songhua River, large scale snow sculptures, ice slides.

(REUTERS/Aly Song)

(REUTERS/Sheng Li)

More pictures here

What Are Those Used For?

Hint: It’s for cooking but not used in the way you (probably) think!

Another Best Friend

...Sorry Again Mr Wang

In one of the coldest days in Stavanger so far, I would like to introduce you to my new best friend (Tom is not used as often now that I know the big metropolis of Stavanger!)

In fact there are really two of them: L and R. I’m currently more acquainted with L.  L or Left, since it is its full name, keeps my bottom warm while I wait for the kids at the bus stop so I would like to say a big thank you to the person who invented heated car seat…

"L" in full working mode!

Update: I wasn’t wrong when I said it was one of the coldest day in Stavanger. since it was in fact THE coldest. day: -10.2°C

The View From The Top…

… Make My Day, Any Day

Click to enlarge

Community...

...Appeal

Dear Stavangerers,
(that’s people from Stavanger, not counting the foreigners in my book!)

Rain gear and snow gear are NOT a daily option when you open your closet in the morning and ponder, like millions of other people around the world, “What should I wear today?”


A chance of rain (which let’s be frank is like a Sword of Damocles here) is NOT a good reason to grab that rain suit. Pouring rain MIGHT qualify as a good reason but ONLY if it’s pouring rain AND you are expected to stay outside for long period of time.


Having two INCHES of snow on the ground is also NOT a good reason to put on your snowsuit to go grocery shopping. I lived in Colorado, the Mile High City, and I don’t think I ever saw anybody with a snow suit at the grocery store. On the ski slopes yes, at the grocery stores no.


Thank you for your understanding and I will feel less overdressed in my t-shirt, 501’s and Converse next time I step foot outside. I don’t think I can dress down more than this.


Kindly,
Dress down girl

This does not apply to children; because their mothers already have way to much laundry to do, so owning rain gears and snow suits are a pre-requisite before entering the country!

6 months...

...But Not Counting!

Good bye China….

One last stroll through Beijing Airport

You know you are (were?) an expat in Asia when…

1. You own a rice cooker and a dehumidifier.
2. You mentally convert the price of something into three or four currencies before you make a decision about whether to buy it or not.
3. You know the weather conditions in six countries just by logging onto Facebook and reading your friend’s status updates.
4. You add “ok la” or “is it” to the end of every sentence you use.
5. Your car cost more than the average family home in your country of origin.
6. Your nieces and nephews are more familiar with the concept of nuclear fission than they are with you.
7. You think that owning a lawn mower is the ultimate status symbol.
8. You have to look twice if you see a woman without a Louis Vuitton handbag—or a man for that matter.
9. You find it hard to control your emotions when you visit a supermarket back home, and you get more excited about your friends bringing your favorite products when they come to visit than you are about seeing them.
10. You start to think that all Caucasians look the same.
11. You pay your maid, driver and gardener less than $5 USD an hour and expect nothing short of blood.
12. It’s normal to repeat your order several times in a restaurant and it’s also normal to get something completely different from the food you requested.
13. It doesn’t surprise you to see six men crowded around a ladder trying to change a single light bulb.
14. When you contemplate Sunday brunch you think of champagne, not eggs benedict.
15. Your friends come and go quicker than Tiger Wood’s love interests and you have a lot of friends that you don’t really like but keep in contact with in case of a friend shortage.
16. You can't say goodbye to someone anymore without voicing the last vowel for at least six seconds: "bab biiiiiiiiiii"

I've had posted other similar version here:

• You know you’ve been in China too long
• You know you are a BeiJingRen when…

.

Stuck?…

...Unstuck!

A new year usually means new resolutions. If you are stuck on ideas here’s a very handy tool!!!

Try it here

Did You Get...

...My Message?

Following yesterday post on Facebook, here are some comic strips I came upon recently which made me laugh… summarize the whole concept pretty well!!!

First Baby in Stavanger…

… Is American!

Arienna Vargas was the first baby born in Stavanger at 12.15am on January 1. However she’s not the first baby in Norway, another girl named Vilde came into the world only 45 seconds into the New Year at Oslo National Hospital

Arienna (3.23kg – 47in) with dad Nilson and mom Jessica

I went on a girls’ trip to Paris with the proud mamma.

Face...

...Book

Several of my posts are an extension of my Facebook wall comments but it came to my attention that some of my friends are not on Facebook, either they refuse to hop on the wagon, haven’t heard about it… whatever the reason I wonder how they fill their day and keep in touch!!!

I remember when we first moved to Buenos Aires and not everybody had an email address (or at least they were not checking it regularly) and us being in a part of town with cable connection (we had to downgrade in the speed service when we moved to Aberdeen… so much about “developing countries”!!) but with very high cost of phone connection it was one of our main link. I still had to handwrite our whereabouts to some of our family members and friends… time have changed. I don’t think I sent one Christmas letter by mail this year. First it would cost me a fortune to send them worldwide (or I would have to serious downsize the list) and second in several countries we’ve lived in the postal service wasn’t that efficient.

Guilty on all accounts

It seems that the world is divided between Facebook lovers and haters. For me it’s part of my routine like checking my emails and reading the news on line (but I’m a techno geek) and I love to see what my friends scattered around the world are up to, it makes me feel like I’m still part of their life. Sure I’ve tried to keep in touch with people I’ve met in the last 20 years of my nomadic life with yearly letters  and some of our friends are even luckier and get updated more often but there is something different about the little thing that goes on our daily life. I also like to chat on Skype with old friends and it’s great for the kids to stay connected with the family. The ultimate is Skype messaging between different time zones…I’ve managed to Skype between the USA, Europe and Australia at one time with some of the girls from the Beijing Gang.

Anyway I wanted to share here my current Facebok profile picture…. I’m planning on changing it every month with a different theme (and trying to keep the same pictures of me on the Great Wall).  Last month picture is here

Godt Nytt År

新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè)
Feliz Ano Nuevo
Felice Anno Nuovo
Happy New Year
Bonne Annee