Høstferie

Hi, everyone!

I am so in love with the Norwegian school system. Last week we didn’t have school. During the 40th week of the year, we have a week off school. Høstferie, or Autumn Break, comes from when Norway was an agricultural society. Parents needed to pull their children out of school for the week to help them pick potatoes!

My host family kept me busy all week! On Saturday Line, Pål, Ida, Tuva and I left for Preikestolen. Preikestolen, or Pupil's Rock in English, is a massive rock that overlooks a fjord. The drive there was about 5 hours and absolutely breathtaking. On Sunday, it took us a little under 2 hours to hike up to the top. It was exhausting. The path up to the top is large rocks that you have to climb over. The view at the top was totally worth it. Because I’m very scared of falling, I remained at least two feet from the edge at all times. 

The next day was also awesome because I got to go to a big city! My family and I went to Stavanger and although by my standard it’s a small city (only 130,000 people) it is the third largest in Norway. The very best part was that I got to get my caramel latte with whipped cream from Starbucks! Overall, I was exhausted by the time we got home on Tuesday, but it was an incredible experience I won’t forget.

That wasn’t all I did on Autumn Break, though! On Wednesday, I went to a cabin with Ida and 3 of her friends (Đula, Mari, and Evy). The cabin was in Mandal which is at the southernmost part of Norway and absolutely stunning. It was right along the beach and I could see the ocean every time I woke up! We spent most of our 5 days there grocery shopping and playing card games. I laughed a lot which is really great. We also got to go to the Lindesnes Lighthouse at sunset which was so beautiful! We left the cabin on Sunday and headed back for reality.

Next week marks the two-month anniversary of me arriving in Norway! I miss my friends and family back home very much (xoxo to all of you) but this so far has been a great experience and I’m excited about what the next 3 months are going to bring me!

Love, Olivia

 Preikestolen

 A man on top of the mountain behind Preikestolen

 Line looking over the edge

 On the walk to the top of Preikestolen

 Evy helped me take some senior pictures

 America!

 Ida on the left and Dula on the right

 At the lighthouse

 Lindesnes Lighthouse

 Lindesnes Lighthouse

 Lindesnes Lighthouse view

 Lindesnes Lighthouse

 Lindesnes Lighthouse: me and the girls behind me

 Me at the top of Preikestolen 

 My Starbucks in Stavanger

Line, Tuva, Ida and I on the way to Preikestolen (spot the exchange student) 

Me hiking 

 Check out those rocks

Me, Ida, and Tuva at the top 

Dula, Mari, Evy, Ida and I with my selfie stick 

Me, Tuva, and Ida on the way to Preikestolen