Day 145.

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."

-Hal Borland

Happy New Year's Eve y'all.

In Oslo to bring in the New Year!!
About to head back to town.

It's really been a good year.
But excited for a new one I guess.

2009 was pretty good.
2010 though, will be THE TIME OF MY LIFE.

Love to all,
Emily

Day 144.

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

-Hans Christian Anderson

Wow the days really seem to fly by.

Yesterday I called home and got to see everyone on Mom's side of the family.

They all got together for Christmas at the house.

So that was nice.

Going to Oslo today.

Really excited for that, I like Oslo.

But I like Hamar too.

Can't believe that it is almost time for a New Year.

Or the fact that I am in a totally different country,

and the fact that it's half way around the world.

I really wonder why Mom and Dad were all for it.

I mean I'm glad they were, just wonder what they were thinking...

Actually, what was I thinking??

Hahha. Thankfully, I am having the time of my life.

Anyways I should pack now.

Love to all,

And hope everyone has an AMAZING New Year!!!

Emily

Day 143.

I am soo tiredd.

I woke up last night, and I wasn't sore, I just couldn't pick up my arms.

I feel like my arms weigh ten pounds.

Christmas with the Cornelius family in Texas.

I'll call then.

Then going to head to Oslo tomorrow.

Day 142.

Snowboarding is an activity that is very popular with people who do not feel that regular skiing is lethal enough.

-Dave Berry

Today I went snowboarding, not gonna lie, it was amazing. SOO much fun.

I didn’t do too well though.

Just used the ski lift to go up and then would slowly tumble down the hill.

Hahaha, it was fun though.

Tomorrow everyone at home is going to celebrate Christmas with Mom’s family.

And I’ll call then.

Anyways I’m tired.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 141.

Today I made fajitas...they were a failure.

We had an amazing time though celebrating Christmas just us Exchange Students.

And my family too.

There was 13 of us.

I made eggnogg also...it was a success.

The End.

Day 140.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday.

Today the snow was amazing.

Leaving, so this one is going to be quite short.

I will try to add more later, and put up some pics.

My love to all,

Emily.

Day 139.

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

-Oren Arnold

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

I had a good Christmas yesterday!!!

I decided to cook fajitas for our Christmas night next Sunday!!

Thank you though, Aunt Sheila.

Gonna call Texas tonight to be there for Dad's side of the family Christmas :)

anywayys,

love to all.

Today, I did this. Not sure what it is called. Some kind of skiing, cross country maybe?

It was quite funny. Next I will do down hill or snowboarding.

Gonna call home now to watch them open gifts.

Merry Christmas y'all!!!

Emilyy

Day 138

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree.

-Charlotte Carpenter

Not too much time for this one,

seeing as I woke up about 30 mins ago,

and we have to leave in about 5 mins.

Off to my Mom's parents to eat porrage.

And then going to the church, for the Christmas service.

And then back here to open gifts!!!

Anyways, Mom (in Texas) please send me a message on facebook if the Cornelius Christmas is on the 27th or the 29th??

Thanks :)

Merry Christmas Eve y'all!!!

Emilyy

Day 137.

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.

-Michael Jordan

So yeah, a little confused on what day it was yesterday.

Haha.

I must be getting old.

Anyways Happy Christmas Eve's Eve....again.

Today is going to be a good day.

I had poprocks for Breakfast.

They were DELICIOUS.

And then I had bacon and toast for lunch.

:)

Oh, so our Christmas is kind of falling apart. Haha. Camila was supposed to cook the main meal, but she isn't coming now, so we have no main meal. And all I can find on the internet is turkey ideas, and I honestly don't want to cook a turkey again. Anyone have any EASY, let me stress the word easy, EASY ideas for a Christmas meal for 9-10 people?? Aunt Sheila?

Haha.

Don't think we are doing anything today.

Emilyy

Day 136

There's a long, long trail a-winding into the land of my dreams.

-Stoddard King, Jr.

Last night I had the most crazy dream in the world.

It seemed pretty real too.

Anyways I was back home, and I was talking to Mom.

And then I realized I was back in Texas, so I looked at Mom,

and I asked her "is this a dream?"

And she said it was, so in my dream, I was all walking around cautiously trying not to wake myself up, so I could see everyone really quick.

It was pretty funny.

Anyways, it's been a dark day today. The sun shinned yesterday, but not today. It's actually totally dark outside, and its not even 4.00 pm.

Eiril was walking around playing the violin today. And Amund too. It was pretty funny.

Hmm no more news today.

Christmas for me tomorrow.

They celebrate on Christmas Eve not on Christmas Day here in Norway.

So Christmas for me tomorrow.

Love to all,

and Merry Christmas Eve Eve.

Hahhaa.

Emilyy

Day 135.

Tears are forming in your eyes,

a storm is warning in the skies,

the end of the world it seems,

you bend down and you fall on your knees,

well get back on your feet ,yeah,

don't look away, don't run away,

baby it's only life,

don't lose your faith,don't run away,

it's only life.

-Kate Voegele, It's Only Life.

Nothing new again today.

I have school today and tomorrow and then I am finally out for Christmas.

I am in photography class right now though, and honestly have NO idea what is going on.

So much Norwegian being spoken and shouted.

Haha.

I think that we are supposed to be doing something,

but no one told me what we are supposed to be doing. Lollll.

The life is good,

but I really want to go home today.

Just for Christmas or so.

It really doesn't feel like Christmas this year.

I remember last year at this time I was sitting in the living room with Ken and Elyn and they were telling me I would most likely be accepted to be going to Argentina, France, or Italy.

Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be here in Norway one year later.

Oh we are drinking a drink called Glugg,

and eating pepperkake.

Haven't had Glugg,

but pepperkake is just gingerbread.

So it is yummy.

That's all for now.

My love to all,

Emilyy

Day 134.

I am tired today.

So I shall sleep again.

Hahah. I slept until 3.00 and then I watched Australia.

And then I came upstairs and was with my host siblings.

The end.

Day 133.

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.

-p.s. I love you.

Today is a wonderful cold day. Last night the temperature got down to around -14F. It was TERRIBLY cold. I walked outside and it almost knocked me over it was so cold that I couldn't get my breath. It was crazy.

Anyways, last night we went to JB's cuz Nahuel came to Hamar for the last time. I am sad. But we went to JB's and he cooked us French Crêpe, and threatened to kill anyone of us that called it pancakes. So the first thing I said when I walked in and saw him cooking was "OHH YUMMM, PANCAKES!!!" and so did Camila when she got there. Ahhaha, how we love Jean-Baptiste. And then we watched What Happens In Vegas. And then I came home around 12.30-1.00.

Oh so yesterday, I was getting on the bus, and this random stranger reminded me of why I talk to strangers. I guess I have met/talked to him before, but I didn't recognize him. But yesterday, wasn't one of my strongest days here. Kinda got all bummed out and all sad and stuff, but then I was getting on the bus, and he smiled at me, and then I realized he was speaking English to me and he asked me how I was doing. And it actually made my day 10x better. So just a random thought to everyone, smile to other people, you don't know how many people you might help by doing that. Haha just a little random story. And I talked to Hannah also and she helped me out :) I love the Dauzats!!!! Veldig mange.

So I have been trying to make these a little longer than I did for a while, but my life isn't so interesting. I try to remember the little things I do though, because all I really do is little things. hahah.

Anyways,

My love to all back home,

and to all of those wherever you are.

You are loved by a random girl in Norway.

:)

Oh, and for those who don't know...

I LOVE MY SISTER LAURA. SHE IS THE BESTEST SISTER IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE.

and to my AMAZING parents in Amarillo:

Happy 22nd Anniversary. And many more happy years together. :)

Day 132.

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

-Maya Angelou

Sometimes I miss Texas, because when it seemed like life was just not working...that sounds not like I want it to...but anyways, I always had a place to go to have time to get away from everything, and just be able to breathe fresh air.

Aka Happy.

But now I don't have a place like that :(

Edna, I only have two weeks off for Christmas, but that is enough for me. It will be nice to have a break again. Even though I don't really do much during the day anyways. Hahaha.

Not sure yet what I am going to do for New Years. I think I am going to go to Oslo, but I don't know yet.

Nahuel is coming here to Hamar for the last time today. Aw, it's so sad, we just met him, and now he's leaveing. :(

Sooner that's going to be us. That is really scary. I guess we are going to go to JB's and eat some French Pancakes, that aren't called pancakes, and when I do call them pancakes, JB threatens to kill me. Ohh those French. They are so funny. And Camila is going to make some Brazilian candy that is pretty rocking awesome.

Well I am going to eat now.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 131.

the most important things in life aren't things

-Unknown

Today is a good day.

I am more sore today though than I was yesterday. Hahah.

I missed home today, and Mexican food,

So I ate a bowl of jalepenos. Not even kidding, like ate a bowl of jalepenos.

Haha, I am weird. But you love me.

Hahahahaha. Just kidding.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 130.

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”

-Angela Monet

Today was a good day, I just slept all day.

And listened to music, and now I am working on organizing my itunes.

So tonight we are going to go on a sleigh ride with horses.

All of us foreign exchange students are going to go. :)

Last night, I fell down our stairs. It kind of hurt.

I was just all walking all chill like, and then I knew I was going to fall.

I had my laptop, but thankfully it didn't break.

Anyways, don't really have much new news.

Yeahhh.

That's all.

:)

Day 129.

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to utmost,

to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

-Unknown.

Today I found out that I don't have to go to school tomorrow because they are having a test in the one class that I would normally go to, and since I don't get grades, I don't have to take the test. I am pretty hypeddd.

So I really need to learn Norwegian. So I think for Janurary I am going to TRY, keyword being try, to give up all English. And all of my English websites. So I will update my blog, but I am going to try to not get on MLIA, FML, or facebook. Yes, I believe I can do this. And I won't take my computer to school, that will make it a lot easier.

Anyways, today I gave a presentation at Oda's school. It was with all of us Exchange Students. That was pretty funnn :]p.

That's all though.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 128.

It is far more powerful to live your truth than to preach it.

-Unknown.

Today I dropped Spanish.

I'm a little bummed that it is not counting for what I wanted back home, and it is kinda pointless, so I dropped it.

Still taking English and all that fun stuff, but life is good.

Today is a good day.

Or has been for the 30 mins I have been awake.

Haha, seems everyday is like "6.30? I'll get up at 6.50. 6.50? I'll get up at 7.10. 7.10? I'll get up at 7.15. 7.15? AHH I have to leave at 7.22."

Haha, so I guess it's not that different than what I am used to in Texas.

Sometimes I get all confused when I say home meaning Texas and home meaning here.

So I have started calling here home, and Texas, well Texas.

Yesterday was a good day.

My host family made a gingerbread community with a church and trees. It was great.

And also I went to a house that had SO many stuffed foxes. It was interesting.

And then I went home and CLEANED my room. And then moved all the furniture, and hung my Texas Flag on the wall.

Yes, I am VERY proud to be a Texan. :]p

Well I suppose that is all for now.

My love to all,

Emily

Day 127.

So didn't get to sleep until 5.30 this morning. And for some weird reason I am not very tired. Hahaha,

Cleaning my room now, trying to find things that I am pretty sure I threw away.

Nothing new really. Can't wait until Christmas, SOOOO EXCITEDDD!!!

Love to all,

Emily

Day 126.

There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.

-Denise Waitley

So today I woke up.

Which is a good thing. Haha.

Anyways, I woke up and just wondered about every choice I had make in life.

I don't know, it's just about life, sometimes I wonder WHYY I am in Norway.

And I really wanted to go home today.

I definitely don't regret making the choice to come here, I just sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I hadn't come here to Norway, or what it would be like if I was in Chile.

But it is quite pointless to wonder.

Anywayysss, I am now with Majo and we are watching funny movies.

The day is better.

Love to all,

Emilyy Ann.

Day 125.

So yeahhhh,

Today I had an English test on speaking. The teacher said I did good, but who knows. Hahaha.

Oh, and no Uncle Jimmy, I haven't seen the white lights. :]p

Tonight I guess we are going to Jean-Baptiste's and making fondoue, or whatever it is called. Haha.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 124.

We do not remember days; we remember moments.

-Cesare Pavese

Well today marks the 4 months that I have been here in Norway. Yayyy!!!

Obama is also in Norway at the moment, for those who do not know. Haha.

Let's see, nothing new, I just took some medicine that makes you sleepy last night to help me sleep, and then didn't wake up this morning until around 12.00 and by that time, if I had caught the next bus, by the time I got to the school, all of my classes would be over.

So nothing new like I said. Kinda hungry for some food. Hahaha.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 123.

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

~Mary Engelbreit

Ahahaha Day 123.

I am tiired. And chilling in Math class.

About to watch The Mentalist.

Still don't feel too well, but it's all good.

Day 122.

Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

-Mark Twain

So today I came to the realization that I have pretty much just been eating grilled cheese sandwiches for the past week and a half. Haha, pretty funny I think. I guess it is just one of those weird food phases that I go through. Sooner or later I am going to hate cheese and bread and ketchup. Hahaha.

Actually I guess it isn't technically a "grilled" cheese sandwich, because I kinda cheat on making it. Just toast the bread, and then put cheese on it, and then microwave it, and WALA! a cheated grilled cheese sandwich. In my oppinion in tastes exactly the same, just takes less time than making a real grilled cheese sandwich. Hahaha.

Oh, and whoever posted the anonymous comment yesterday, I don't understand what you are trying to say...but if I offended you with that post, I am sorry...

So all the snow is melting, and it is making me sad. Today when I was walking home from the bus, I kept sliding, and I really thought I was going to fall, but I never did, so I was pretty proud of myself. I have made it my goal for this winter to only fall once. Possibly twice. Hahah I guess we will see though. I think my favorite part of people watching...that sounds creepy hahha...anyways my favorite part of people watching over here, is watching them walk to carefully, and step so cautiously in their next step. Hahaha.

So for this Christmas, I think all of us Exchange Students in Hamar are going to get together and make gingerbread houses, and then possibly watch The Grinch if I can find it. No one over here has watched it. I was totally AMAZEDDDD.

Anyways, that's all for now I suppose.

Love to all,

Emilyy

Day 121.

Life is too precious to worry about stupid things.
So have fun, get drunk, and fall in love.
Say what you feel and do what you want to do.
Regret nothing and don't let people who don't matter
Bring You Down

-Unknown

Haha so today has been a really good day.
It consisted of me doing nothing, like the norm. Haha. And then watching The Mentalist all afternoon.
I am now listening to my bro and his friend sing random songs while playing a soccer video game. MAKES MY LIFE.
Mwahhaha.

Love to all,
Emily Ann.

Day 120.

We are not here merely to make a living. We are here to enrich the world.

-Woodrow Wilson

Today was a really good day. I came to Pauli and Wenche's last night, and stayed here. And Special Meeting was here.

There was max of 30 people here, so not many, and they translated to English, so that was really really nice.

Heading back home in about 10 mins though. :(

English test tomorrow.

I am thinking about dropping Spanish. As much as I loved it before I came, it is making me totally hate it taking it here.

Anywayyys love to all,

Emilyy

Day 119.

It's been a good dayy.
All but one more gift and all my Christmas shopping is DONEEE!!!

Day 118.

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.

~Author Unknown

Today I woke up not feeling too well. But took some medicine and went back to sleep. Feeling okay now :)

Heading to Oslo in an hour, super excited!!

So I got to Oslo good and well. And so did Sara. So now we are at Rachael's. Gonna go to the town and go shopping I think. So really excited for the weekend.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Love to all,
Emily

Day 117.

Hmm again not much new today.
Not feeling too well, but I can't be sick this weekend, so I keep telling myself I am good. Haha. It's working so far.

Um I went and took some pics of the snow yesterday, I will try to put them up today. Yesterday it was -14°C yesterday, or that's what the computer said, that's around 8°F. It was so cold for me that I walked outside and it seriously felt like someone had punched me in the throat and stomach cuz I couldn't breathe. Haha

Some of the Rotarians took me to a choir concert last night. It was reallllyyyy pretty. It was for Christmas, I only knew one of the songs. Well sorta knew. I only knew how to translate the name and knew we had that song in English. Hahaha.

So math and then home. And Rotary meeting tonight.

Oh I skated down the road today. Not literaly but with my shoes on. I felt like a little kid. Haha it was fun though. And then when I was on the bus I saw an older man doing the same thing. It was pretty great. Haha.

That's all I suppose.
Love to all,
Emilyy

Day 116.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

-Winston Churchill

I'm getting pretty excited for Friday.

Me and some of the other exchange student girls are going to go to Oslo and go Christmas shopping!!!

Oh so funn!!! Hahaha, Rach said "When I go shopping, I look at EVERYTHING!!"

So I said if we did that I was not going to go because I would die. Hahah. This is the time that Laura needs to switch lives with me. Haha, she can go shopping for me, and I will take her college exams. Hahah just kidding.

Today is math, and like normal I am updating my blog, and sitting staring at facebook.

Yesterday I grounded myself from the computer when I am at home. My parents cheered. MLIA.

Hahah just kidding. But I think I should probably try to work on my Norwegian.

Oh, I am not sick anymore, so pretty happy about that.

:)

What does everyone want for Christmas...well possibly won't actually get it at Christmas time, but what would everyone want from Europe? I think I might get some of the gifts when I go on the Eurotour :)

That's all for now.

My love to all,

Emilyy Anne

Day 115.

Some people make your laugh a little louder, your smile a little brighter, and your life a little better.

-Unknown

Still sick again today.

Hopefully life is back to normal again by tomorrow.

I had a good breakfast. A soft boiled egg on a piece of bread.

It was totally delicious. Hahaa.

So yesterday, (reasoning for the quote I chose), I came to the realization that I have to have the friends in my life. I don't know how to explain it, but after this weekend, I actually wanted to go to school and to be inspired to live my life. I don't know, I just seem to do the same things here in Hamar day after day after day, and have nothing to look forwards too.

In Texas, it was either the Wednesdays or the Sunday Morning Meetings that helped me get through the weeks, or the thought they would be there really helped me get through the weeks.

And here, I do get some of the meetings back home via skype calls, but it is still not the same as seeing people in person and being with them.

Anywayyys that was my realization of the month. Hahha.

The sun is out today, though it is still quite cold.

My mom said that it is -8°C in the shade and about -3°C in the sunlight, so really the sun doesn't help the heat much. Just makes everything sparkle. Hahaha like Edward. Bahahaha.

Anyways, I guess that is all for now.

Sending love from Norway to those in Texas, and the US!

Love ya'll,

Emilyy