Friday, November 14, 2008
Final Day
It's my last night. I had my final dinner and final Tau. Now I just need to pack and go to bed. Yesterday I finished cleaning out my apartment. It was a little sad because I was just getting used to it. I'm ready to go home though. Work was crazy today. I was in meetings and writing emails all day, and as expected, I didn't get done. I will be finishing up this weekend, in Houston.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Almost done
Well, it's my last week. Work has of course been extra busy. I have an impossible stack of things to complete. Probably only the top most ones will get done.
Last weekend we went on our final hike. It was the only hike we went on as a team. The hike was up a giant waterfall called Manafossen. Robert and Ashim only made it part way, but Spencer and I kept going. Eventually we came across a herd of sheep that were being taken home by their shepherds. The sheep share the trail with hikers. We had to cross paths and the sheep didn't really appreciate us being in their way. We worked it out, but eventually Spencer and I had to turn around and go back the way we came. We soon caught up to the sheep and were forced to hang back with the herders. I think we can officially say that we herded sheep now. That's a real Norwegian experience.
I discovered recently that certain hikes have special pins associated with them that you can purchase. This hike was one of the them. So I will have a pin for Preikestolen and Manafossen. That's the kind of souvenir that I like.
This week some of our coworkers are in town for a different project. I've been going to dinner with them some. Tonight I met up with them and one of the local staff at a restaurant/bowling alley. We bowled. Bowling here is just like in the US. The animations on the screen are the same and even the balls are in pounds instead of kilograms. The shoes are European sizes though, which was a challenge. I'm happy to say that I got my first international strike, and I bowled a respectable 146.
Two days of work left and then I'm out of here. Time to get back to packing and cleaning the apartment.
Last weekend we went on our final hike. It was the only hike we went on as a team. The hike was up a giant waterfall called Manafossen. Robert and Ashim only made it part way, but Spencer and I kept going. Eventually we came across a herd of sheep that were being taken home by their shepherds. The sheep share the trail with hikers. We had to cross paths and the sheep didn't really appreciate us being in their way. We worked it out, but eventually Spencer and I had to turn around and go back the way we came. We soon caught up to the sheep and were forced to hang back with the herders. I think we can officially say that we herded sheep now. That's a real Norwegian experience.
I discovered recently that certain hikes have special pins associated with them that you can purchase. This hike was one of the them. So I will have a pin for Preikestolen and Manafossen. That's the kind of souvenir that I like.
This week some of our coworkers are in town for a different project. I've been going to dinner with them some. Tonight I met up with them and one of the local staff at a restaurant/bowling alley. We bowled. Bowling here is just like in the US. The animations on the screen are the same and even the balls are in pounds instead of kilograms. The shoes are European sizes though, which was a challenge. I'm happy to say that I got my first international strike, and I bowled a respectable 146.
Two days of work left and then I'm out of here. Time to get back to packing and cleaning the apartment.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Aquavit
Tuesday I went to the Stavanger Archeology Museum. It's located a few blocks from my apartment. It's strange because it's right in the middle of my neighborhood. Along the way I saw some guys fighting with swords. I assume they were vikings. The museum was interesting, but was lacking. I expected to see more references to vikings and old Norse Gods and religions. Strangely these things were largely omitted. There's plenty of mention of Christianity though. It's almost like they're ashamed of their old ways.
Yesterday we had a team dinner with some of our coworkers. It was fun. Of course when Norwegians go out, they really go out. To make a long story short, I should have avoided the wine. The interesting part was we all had shots of a liquor called Aquavit. The theory behind this stuff is that it's made here, then put on a boat and sent to the equator. Then it comes back here on a boat. Then they do it again. Then they drink it. I'm sure there's good reason for it, but considering that it's still rotting my gut, I'll just stick to beer from now on.
Tonight I walked around town and finished up some shopping. I didn't really feel up for much else. However, since I only have 9 days left in Norway, I decided to treat myself to a fine meal. When I went into the Burger King, I noticed several interesting things. Since I worked at BK for a few years in high school, I was interested to compare it to my own Bloomington store. Thus this was really an educational endeavour. The first thing I noticed is that they take dollars, euros, and pounds. It's the only store I've seen that does that. The second thing was that the kitchen looked just like my old store. Right down to the blue and red thongs. Thirdly, a black woman appeared to be running the store. She was working the sandwich boards. She must have been American because she was using short and concise English words to order her Norwegian staff around. I really wanted to know how she ended up working at Burger King in Stavanger. Maybe Burger King sends its all-star employees around the world to make sure it's run their way. Anyway, of course when I got home I discovered that the girl ignored my order of no sauce. So the sandwich was deposited in the trash can. I guess I have to go back now.
Yesterday we had a team dinner with some of our coworkers. It was fun. Of course when Norwegians go out, they really go out. To make a long story short, I should have avoided the wine. The interesting part was we all had shots of a liquor called Aquavit. The theory behind this stuff is that it's made here, then put on a boat and sent to the equator. Then it comes back here on a boat. Then they do it again. Then they drink it. I'm sure there's good reason for it, but considering that it's still rotting my gut, I'll just stick to beer from now on.
Tonight I walked around town and finished up some shopping. I didn't really feel up for much else. However, since I only have 9 days left in Norway, I decided to treat myself to a fine meal. When I went into the Burger King, I noticed several interesting things. Since I worked at BK for a few years in high school, I was interested to compare it to my own Bloomington store. Thus this was really an educational endeavour. The first thing I noticed is that they take dollars, euros, and pounds. It's the only store I've seen that does that. The second thing was that the kitchen looked just like my old store. Right down to the blue and red thongs. Thirdly, a black woman appeared to be running the store. She was working the sandwich boards. She must have been American because she was using short and concise English words to order her Norwegian staff around. I really wanted to know how she ended up working at Burger King in Stavanger. Maybe Burger King sends its all-star employees around the world to make sure it's run their way. Anyway, of course when I got home I discovered that the girl ignored my order of no sauce. So the sandwich was deposited in the trash can. I guess I have to go back now.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Keith Goes to Norway
Keith just left Norway yesterday. It's time to catch up on events. We got back to Norway early on Sunday, so we had most of the day to do things. We went to lunch and then went to the Petroleum Museum. It was really good. I'm not just saying that because my company sponsors either. It has a 3D movie and some really elaborate exhibits.
During the week Keith spent his time running and walking around the town. At night we generally went out to eat and then to bars. We tried to bowl one night but all of the lanes were reserved. There was no one bowling though. It's a common theme of Stavanger.
Keith was lucky in that most of the week had great weather. It was cold, but there was no rain and the skies were clear. It did rain the first few days so he didn't miss out.
Last weekend we ran a half marathon. Keith filled his goal of running an international distance race. Then on Sunday we hiked up a mountain. The weather was perfect for hiking and we got some great views of the countryside.
That's it for Keith's tour. Only two more weeks of Norway.
During the week Keith spent his time running and walking around the town. At night we generally went out to eat and then to bars. We tried to bowl one night but all of the lanes were reserved. There was no one bowling though. It's a common theme of Stavanger.
Keith was lucky in that most of the week had great weather. It was cold, but there was no rain and the skies were clear. It did rain the first few days so he didn't miss out.
Last weekend we ran a half marathon. Keith filled his goal of running an international distance race. Then on Sunday we hiked up a mountain. The weather was perfect for hiking and we got some great views of the countryside.
That's it for Keith's tour. Only two more weeks of Norway.
Amsterdam
To catch up, two weekends ago I took a side trip to Amsterdam. The plan was to meet up with Keith in Amsterdam for the weekend, then both of us would come back here to Norway.
The trip began with Robert kindly dropping me off at the airport at 5:30 AM. I traveled my way to the Netherlands with no problems, and trained into the city. Keith, per his usual style, booked an excellent hotel. It was right across the street from the train station and a block away from the hot spots of the city.
The plan for the day was to walk in the footsteps of Rick Steve. This included a walking tour of the city, and stops at several museums. One of the interesting things about Amsterdam is that it's clearly a city built on trade. There are shops all along every street, and at least one McDonald's per block. Another interesting thing are the bikes and the trolleys. The city was designed for bikes with special bike paths going everywhere. Unlike Norway, where pedestrians are king, bikes rule the road in Amsterdam.
We went to three museums. The first was the big, famous Amsterdam museum. Ironically I can't remember the name. It was under construction, but they moved their best stuff to the open part. It consisted mostly of Rembrandts. The second museum was the Van Gogh museum. That museum was somewhat disappointing. It was missing some of the more famous works, and really, I just don't get the guy. The third museum was more of a historical museum about the rise of Amsterdam. This was the most interesting. Probably because I find history somewhat more interesting than art. Unfortunately this museum defeated us and we weren't able to make it through the whole thing before it closed.
Amsterdam is basically a giant circus. Literally. There was actually a carnival setup right in front of the royal palace. I road a ride. Of course that's just the beginning. The streets are packed on a nice day. It's kind of like Mardi Gras without the beads and parades. There are street performers, vendors, fresh air urinals, and plenty of debauchery. Speaking of which, there is also the red light district and the coffee shops. It's basically what you would expect. We toured the area but it was largely an educational endeavour.
That's about it. It was a full day of Amsterdam. I would definitely like to go back and spend a little more time.
The trip began with Robert kindly dropping me off at the airport at 5:30 AM. I traveled my way to the Netherlands with no problems, and trained into the city. Keith, per his usual style, booked an excellent hotel. It was right across the street from the train station and a block away from the hot spots of the city.
The plan for the day was to walk in the footsteps of Rick Steve. This included a walking tour of the city, and stops at several museums. One of the interesting things about Amsterdam is that it's clearly a city built on trade. There are shops all along every street, and at least one McDonald's per block. Another interesting thing are the bikes and the trolleys. The city was designed for bikes with special bike paths going everywhere. Unlike Norway, where pedestrians are king, bikes rule the road in Amsterdam.
We went to three museums. The first was the big, famous Amsterdam museum. Ironically I can't remember the name. It was under construction, but they moved their best stuff to the open part. It consisted mostly of Rembrandts. The second museum was the Van Gogh museum. That museum was somewhat disappointing. It was missing some of the more famous works, and really, I just don't get the guy. The third museum was more of a historical museum about the rise of Amsterdam. This was the most interesting. Probably because I find history somewhat more interesting than art. Unfortunately this museum defeated us and we weren't able to make it through the whole thing before it closed.
Amsterdam is basically a giant circus. Literally. There was actually a carnival setup right in front of the royal palace. I road a ride. Of course that's just the beginning. The streets are packed on a nice day. It's kind of like Mardi Gras without the beads and parades. There are street performers, vendors, fresh air urinals, and plenty of debauchery. Speaking of which, there is also the red light district and the coffee shops. It's basically what you would expect. We toured the area but it was largely an educational endeavour.
That's about it. It was a full day of Amsterdam. I would definitely like to go back and spend a little more time.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A First
Today Chris left. He's probably somewhere over Greenland right now. It's kind of sad and quiet here now. It won't be for long though. Saturday I fly to Amsterdam to meet up with Keith. Then on Sunday we're coming back here and he's hanging out for a week.
Today was a first. I got my first international haircut. Conveniently the shop is right next door to the apartment. They did a good job for only 3x the price as the US.
Today was a first. I got my first international haircut. Conveniently the shop is right next door to the apartment. They did a good job for only 3x the price as the US.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Preikestolen and things
Chris and I are watching Norwegian "The Hole" right now. It's exactly like the US version, right down to the ridiculous silver jump suits. The only difference is the language. Not understanding what they're saying is actually an improvement.
Last weekend on Saturday we got up late, then spent the day driving around South of Stavanger. We went to place called Kavadrat. It's a Norwegian mall. The malls here are just like in the US except the hallways are much more narrow and the shops are smaller. Clothing and dishware stores make up 90% of the stores. Malls are popular here. The place was packed.
Sunday we got up early to go to Preikestolen. We had to put the car on a ferry to cross the fjord to Tau. That was a new experience. We got there early and starting hiking. At first the weather was good, then the rain started. It wasn't really suppose to according to my trusty weather website, but it did anyway, all the way up. We were wet, but at least the hike was scenic.
The disappointment was when we got to the top. The fjord was completely covered in fog. There was basically no view. So we hiked down. Of course it cleared up...then rained again. It was a wet day. I will invest in some waterproof pants and hiking boots when I return to Houston.
Last weekend on Saturday we got up late, then spent the day driving around South of Stavanger. We went to place called Kavadrat. It's a Norwegian mall. The malls here are just like in the US except the hallways are much more narrow and the shops are smaller. Clothing and dishware stores make up 90% of the stores. Malls are popular here. The place was packed.
Sunday we got up early to go to Preikestolen. We had to put the car on a ferry to cross the fjord to Tau. That was a new experience. We got there early and starting hiking. At first the weather was good, then the rain started. It wasn't really suppose to according to my trusty weather website, but it did anyway, all the way up. We were wet, but at least the hike was scenic.
The disappointment was when we got to the top. The fjord was completely covered in fog. There was basically no view. So we hiked down. Of course it cleared up...then rained again. It was a wet day. I will invest in some waterproof pants and hiking boots when I return to Houston.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cheesy Beer
My brother Chris arrived here in Norway last Monday night. We (I) haven't done much because I seem to be at work all the time. Chris however has been touring the town by foot and bike.
We have gone out every night at least. The first night we ended up at a beer bar. We saw a Norwegian stout and went for it. It wasn't good. The aftertaste taste a lot like a strong cheese. We returned last night and discovered it had a lot more to offer. I think that will become a regular spot.
I learned today that we get to celebrate Guy Foxx day with the Norwegians. I'm pretty excited.
We're off to the Phileas Fogg for dinner now.
We have gone out every night at least. The first night we ended up at a beer bar. We saw a Norwegian stout and went for it. It wasn't good. The aftertaste taste a lot like a strong cheese. We returned last night and discovered it had a lot more to offer. I think that will become a regular spot.
I learned today that we get to celebrate Guy Foxx day with the Norwegians. I'm pretty excited.
We're off to the Phileas Fogg for dinner now.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Dalsnuten
It's been a busy weekend again.
Friday started with dinner at a Russian restaurant. I had fish and potatoes. It was really Norwegian food. The beer was Russian at least, and the waitress was Latvian.
Saturday I got up early and walked downtown to check out the tourist information center. The normal market had been moved into a different plaza because they were have a concert in the main plaza by the harbor. The tourist shop told me that there were no ferries to the UK this time of year, which I kind of suspected. I did get plenty of pamphlets and a ferry and bus schedule for trips to Bergen.
Then I walked up to the watchtower/museum but it didn't open until noon, so I will have to try again sometime. At that point I needed to get back because we were making another trip to the grocer. I did get a chance to listen to some Norwegian rock music on the way back. It wasn't bad, even though I couldn't understand the words.
After the grocery store, Spencer and I set out to hike up a nearby mountain called Dalsnuten. It's not far from Stavanger. It's just across Gandsfjord right across from our office.
At first we went to a town called Dale where there was suppose to be an access point to a hiking trail, but we couldn't find it. So we went back to a small parking area we saw on the side of the road. The initial part of the hike was steep and wet. We speculated that this was not the normal route as it was not well traveled. However, the trail was well marked and we found our way.
We continued hiking through the mountains and fields towards Dalsnuten. It was a very Lord of the Rings-like experience. The trail was mostly just red marks on rocks and trees. Otherwise it felt like the landscape hadn't changed in thousands of years. We finally made it to the top and placed our rocks on the pile, as is Norwegian tradition. We then hiked back taking a slightly easier and more scenic route.
Fortunately there were only a few minor falls through the entire hike. However, we were both muddy and tired. Also, there was minimal rain, otherwise it would have been a very different experience.
Today we went to Stokka lake and went for a run around it. Tomorrow my brother is coming to visit. It's suppose to rain all week, of course. I hope the forecast changes some and it clears up for him.
Friday started with dinner at a Russian restaurant. I had fish and potatoes. It was really Norwegian food. The beer was Russian at least, and the waitress was Latvian.
Saturday I got up early and walked downtown to check out the tourist information center. The normal market had been moved into a different plaza because they were have a concert in the main plaza by the harbor. The tourist shop told me that there were no ferries to the UK this time of year, which I kind of suspected. I did get plenty of pamphlets and a ferry and bus schedule for trips to Bergen.
Then I walked up to the watchtower/museum but it didn't open until noon, so I will have to try again sometime. At that point I needed to get back because we were making another trip to the grocer. I did get a chance to listen to some Norwegian rock music on the way back. It wasn't bad, even though I couldn't understand the words.
After the grocery store, Spencer and I set out to hike up a nearby mountain called Dalsnuten. It's not far from Stavanger. It's just across Gandsfjord right across from our office.
At first we went to a town called Dale where there was suppose to be an access point to a hiking trail, but we couldn't find it. So we went back to a small parking area we saw on the side of the road. The initial part of the hike was steep and wet. We speculated that this was not the normal route as it was not well traveled. However, the trail was well marked and we found our way.
We continued hiking through the mountains and fields towards Dalsnuten. It was a very Lord of the Rings-like experience. The trail was mostly just red marks on rocks and trees. Otherwise it felt like the landscape hadn't changed in thousands of years. We finally made it to the top and placed our rocks on the pile, as is Norwegian tradition. We then hiked back taking a slightly easier and more scenic route.
Fortunately there were only a few minor falls through the entire hike. However, we were both muddy and tired. Also, there was minimal rain, otherwise it would have been a very different experience.
Today we went to Stokka lake and went for a run around it. Tomorrow my brother is coming to visit. It's suppose to rain all week, of course. I hope the forecast changes some and it clears up for him.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Normal life in Norway
We've been working a lot lately. It's been 9-10 hour days and that will probably be the norm until we leave. We leave for work around 7:15 and take turns driving. We work all morning and then eat lunch around 11:30. Then we work quietly or work with the Norway people until around 3:30. That's when the Houston people get in and when the Norwegians go home. At that point the emails and phone calls start. This goes on until 5:00 or later. Good times.
Except today we left on time. I did a 13.1 mile run because we left earlier enough, the weather was good, and we may not be here on Saturday. I ran to Stokkavatnet, which I'd been trying to find for awhile. Here's my observations about the lake. You will find there:
Except today we left on time. I did a 13.1 mile run because we left earlier enough, the weather was good, and we may not be here on Saturday. I ran to Stokkavatnet, which I'd been trying to find for awhile. Here's my observations about the lake. You will find there:
- A wide gravel running path
- Meadows with cows and sheep
- Small stone sheds built into the hills
- A golf course
- Angry swans
- Hills
- Lots of trees
- A very scenic lake
- Plenty of Norwegians
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Hostage
I drove to work again today and this time I went around the roundabout. Thus I have mastered Norway driving.
Today was a typical day for the most part. I couldn't get a lot done because I was missing some access. That should be resolved tomorrow. The fun part was that lawyers in Houston held us hostage long past acceptable meeting hours. They insisted that we listen to legal compliance training. They just couldn't wait for us to be back in Houston next month. I'm probably breaking some kind of trust law by writing about this right now, but oh well, it sucked.
Of course, as these things go, we missed much as a very nice day during our incarceration. I did get home in time to run at least.
I ate Subway again tonight. I need American food every now and then. That's about it for today.
Today was a typical day for the most part. I couldn't get a lot done because I was missing some access. That should be resolved tomorrow. The fun part was that lawyers in Houston held us hostage long past acceptable meeting hours. They insisted that we listen to legal compliance training. They just couldn't wait for us to be back in Houston next month. I'm probably breaking some kind of trust law by writing about this right now, but oh well, it sucked.
Of course, as these things go, we missed much as a very nice day during our incarceration. I did get home in time to run at least.
I ate Subway again tonight. I need American food every now and then. That's about it for today.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Today's post
Today I drove us to work. I only ran over one roundabout, so I think it went well.
It was a busy day. Work is really starting to ramp up. We're going to have some long days. It was really nice outside. I almost wanted it to rain because it's so much easier to focus.
I went for a run and now I'm having American style macaroni and cheese. It's not bad, but could use some more cheese. That's about it for today.
It was a busy day. Work is really starting to ramp up. We're going to have some long days. It was really nice outside. I almost wanted it to rain because it's so much easier to focus.
I went for a run and now I'm having American style macaroni and cheese. It's not bad, but could use some more cheese. That's about it for today.
Yesterday's Post
Whoops. Forgot to do this yesterday, and yesterday was very eventful.
Yesterday we drove to a place called Gloppedalsura. Gloppedalsura is a terminal glacial moraine. What's that? When a glacier moves forward it collects rocks and stuff in it. When it recedes it leave a pile of rubble. That's the moraine. The terminal moraine is the final pile. Gloppedal is a rare sight because it's actually where a second glacier came through an already formed glacial valley.
The road to the moraine is of course very scenic and treacherous. When we got there it was raining. We got out and walked around, but it was too wet and too cold to really explore much. So we continued on to a restaurant and gift shop near there. The restaurant had typical Norwegian fare. The gift shop, however, was enormous. They specialized in candles, and they actually built the store onto the side of the mountain.
After the gift shop we drove back to Stavanger and drove around to some of the Stavanger sights. The first stop was the 3 swords monument on Hafrs fjord. It's a dedication to a battle there that unified Norway as a kingdom. By this time the rain had cleared and it was sunny, so it made a nice scene. It was also the first time I slipped and fell. The first of many I'm sure.
We then continued on to a park along the North Sea. The park was basically a long path and a lot of rock. At one point there's a huge chain link in the rock set as a dedication to a sunken ship. It was cold and windy, but I loved it there. There were tons of rocks to climb on and a lot of exploring that could be done, not to mention the scenery. I will probably go back.
Finally we drove to Stokka Lake. We just walked down and looked at it. It has a very nice running trail which I'm looking forward to using. There was 3 swans near the lake. When they saw us they came over expecting some bread. When we didn't have any they got mad. It probably didn't help that Spencer was taunting them.
That's about it. An eventful day.
Yesterday we drove to a place called Gloppedalsura. Gloppedalsura is a terminal glacial moraine. What's that? When a glacier moves forward it collects rocks and stuff in it. When it recedes it leave a pile of rubble. That's the moraine. The terminal moraine is the final pile. Gloppedal is a rare sight because it's actually where a second glacier came through an already formed glacial valley.
The road to the moraine is of course very scenic and treacherous. When we got there it was raining. We got out and walked around, but it was too wet and too cold to really explore much. So we continued on to a restaurant and gift shop near there. The restaurant had typical Norwegian fare. The gift shop, however, was enormous. They specialized in candles, and they actually built the store onto the side of the mountain.
After the gift shop we drove back to Stavanger and drove around to some of the Stavanger sights. The first stop was the 3 swords monument on Hafrs fjord. It's a dedication to a battle there that unified Norway as a kingdom. By this time the rain had cleared and it was sunny, so it made a nice scene. It was also the first time I slipped and fell. The first of many I'm sure.
We then continued on to a park along the North Sea. The park was basically a long path and a lot of rock. At one point there's a huge chain link in the rock set as a dedication to a sunken ship. It was cold and windy, but I loved it there. There were tons of rocks to climb on and a lot of exploring that could be done, not to mention the scenery. I will probably go back.
Finally we drove to Stokka Lake. We just walked down and looked at it. It has a very nice running trail which I'm looking forward to using. There was 3 swans near the lake. When they saw us they came over expecting some bread. When we didn't have any they got mad. It probably didn't help that Spencer was taunting them.
That's about it. An eventful day.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Daily post
From now I will post daily. I swear.
Today after the run we all drove down to Sandes to go the Maxi store. It's basically a grocer with some other small shops. They have malls like we do, but the corridors and shops are much smaller.
We stocked up on food and went back to the flat. From there, Spencer and I walked down to the bike shop to see about rentals. They don't do rentals and directed us to the tourist center. We found two building marked "tourist" but they both had signs indicating the tourist center was somewhere else. Finally we found the store but it was already closed.
So we just walked around and looked at some shops. We found a souvenir shop and bought some things, and then hiked up a hill with a tower on it. It turns out that it is a museum that you can climb, but it had already closed too. So now we have several things to go back and see.
It's time for dinner. I think we're going to a Thai place tonight.
Today after the run we all drove down to Sandes to go the Maxi store. It's basically a grocer with some other small shops. They have malls like we do, but the corridors and shops are much smaller.
We stocked up on food and went back to the flat. From there, Spencer and I walked down to the bike shop to see about rentals. They don't do rentals and directed us to the tourist center. We found two building marked "tourist" but they both had signs indicating the tourist center was somewhere else. Finally we found the store but it was already closed.
So we just walked around and looked at some shops. We found a souvenir shop and bought some things, and then hiked up a hill with a tower on it. It turns out that it is a museum that you can climb, but it had already closed too. So now we have several things to go back and see.
It's time for dinner. I think we're going to a Thai place tonight.
Driving and more work
We've completed two weeks of work already. The one quarter of our time here. The work part is flying by while time off seems to crawl by. We finished most of our training and will now start doing the real work. Some things are late but I feel like it is going well overall.
Last Friday Robert and I got to take a Norway driving course. This is required by the company if you want to drive. The first half of the class was a presentation about the rules in Norway. The signs are different, but they make sense. They drive on the right, and the rules are mostly the same.
There is one key difference. Instead of stop signs, they have a rule that you always yield to the right. So if you come up to an intersection and a car is coming to your right, you stop. The exception is if you are on a priority road, then you can go. In that case the road on the right will be marked with a yield. You must always stop for pedestrians and bikes as well. Always, with no exception. Also, the acceptable blood-alcohol level is 0.2%, or effectively 0. You cannot have a single drink and then drive. If you're in an accident, they can test you for 6 hours after. So you can't go home and have a drink. You have to wait 6 hours. It's strict but I think it's good.
The second part of the class was the driving part. Fortunately it wasn't raining at the time. The instructor brought a manual which I decided I was not comfortable driving. So Robert drove us to the driving school office in Sandes. There we got the automatic version and I drove back to work. I was nervous because the instructor was constantly pointing out everything you do. Plus we had to talk about what we were seeing and what we were doing.
In practice it's not hard. Just remember to yield to the right.
Last Friday Robert and I got to take a Norway driving course. This is required by the company if you want to drive. The first half of the class was a presentation about the rules in Norway. The signs are different, but they make sense. They drive on the right, and the rules are mostly the same.
There is one key difference. Instead of stop signs, they have a rule that you always yield to the right. So if you come up to an intersection and a car is coming to your right, you stop. The exception is if you are on a priority road, then you can go. In that case the road on the right will be marked with a yield. You must always stop for pedestrians and bikes as well. Always, with no exception. Also, the acceptable blood-alcohol level is 0.2%, or effectively 0. You cannot have a single drink and then drive. If you're in an accident, they can test you for 6 hours after. So you can't go home and have a drink. You have to wait 6 hours. It's strict but I think it's good.
The second part of the class was the driving part. Fortunately it wasn't raining at the time. The instructor brought a manual which I decided I was not comfortable driving. So Robert drove us to the driving school office in Sandes. There we got the automatic version and I drove back to work. I was nervous because the instructor was constantly pointing out everything you do. Plus we had to talk about what we were seeing and what we were doing.
In practice it's not hard. Just remember to yield to the right.
Apartment
I've been neglecting this blog some. Sorry. Most of my posts have been about running lately.
Here's a run down of my living situation. Last week I managed to move out of the hotel and into corporate housing. It turns out that our corporate apartments are awesome.
I got an upstairs apartment above Robert. The apartment has a full kitchen, living room, dining room, 1.5 bathrooms, and two bedrooms; and it's two stories. I also have a washer, dryer, and freezer in the basement.
A lot of my problems are a result of not understanding the language. For example, I can in no way decipher the markings on the dryer. Neither the words nor the symbols have any meaning to me. I think I understand it now, but just barely. I can sort of get my clothes clean and dry, but it takes 4 hours. Also, I don't understand the refrigerator. My Houston fridge's coldest setting is 5 and is clearly marked as such. Five in my Norway fridge is translated as "melt everything and leave a puddle of water in the kitchen."
But those are minor complaints because the apartment is great. My favorite thing is that the bathroom has a floor warmer built in. It's very nice.
I also have cable, DSL internet, and we're located less than 10 minutes from the city center. We also got a car so now we can easily get around town.
So except for the frequent rain showers, the cold, and most importantly the lack of certain people, life in Norway isn't bad.
Here's a run down of my living situation. Last week I managed to move out of the hotel and into corporate housing. It turns out that our corporate apartments are awesome.
I got an upstairs apartment above Robert. The apartment has a full kitchen, living room, dining room, 1.5 bathrooms, and two bedrooms; and it's two stories. I also have a washer, dryer, and freezer in the basement.
A lot of my problems are a result of not understanding the language. For example, I can in no way decipher the markings on the dryer. Neither the words nor the symbols have any meaning to me. I think I understand it now, but just barely. I can sort of get my clothes clean and dry, but it takes 4 hours. Also, I don't understand the refrigerator. My Houston fridge's coldest setting is 5 and is clearly marked as such. Five in my Norway fridge is translated as "melt everything and leave a puddle of water in the kitchen."
But those are minor complaints because the apartment is great. My favorite thing is that the bathroom has a floor warmer built in. It's very nice.
I also have cable, DSL internet, and we're located less than 10 minutes from the city center. We also got a car so now we can easily get around town.
So except for the frequent rain showers, the cold, and most importantly the lack of certain people, life in Norway isn't bad.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Esso Norge
I've completed my first week of work in Norway. ExxonMobil is known as Esso Norge here; and "Norge" means Norway.
Our office is actually south of Stavanger in a town called Forus. Our building is right next to a giant Ikea store. In fact we can see Ikea from the workroom/office they set us up in.
So far we've been traveling by taxi, but we will soon get our own car to drive. We can't have a car until we take a special Norway. After driving in Houston I doubt it will be an issue.
The building is of course very nice. They have a nice cafeteria on the top floor with an outside patio and free lunch, there is a decent gym in the building, there are fancy coffee dispensing machines everywhere, and everything looks as though it was purchased at Ikea. There is a giant obelisk in the lobby displaying the number of days with no loss time incidents. It's close to 8000. That seems impossible because our clock seems to reset weekly in Houston. I also learned that there's a ping pong table and a tournament. I wish I brought my paddle.
Norwegians seem to be very unassuming. Basically, they aren't judgemental. This makes for a very casual work environment. Jeans are a normal sight and it's unlikely that you would see a tie. Things can take a long time to accomplish, but the result is usually good. They tend to reach collective decisions instead of one dominant person forcing their ideas on everyone, which is more common back home.
The week flew by, even though it was only a partial week. There are two reasons for this. One, there is a ton of work to do. I suspect that 7 weeks will feel way too short to complete all of the work. The other reason is that the work day is approximately 7:30 - 4:00. That includes lunch. The Norwegian philosophy is definitely work-to-live and not live-to-work. When they say "work-life balance", they actually mean it.
Last Friday there was a UIT lunch. Since my team is UIT, we were invited. Lunch was 2-4 and is basically an excuse to take an afternoon and then enjoy adult refreshments on the company dollar. I'm told that Norwegians don't drink casually much, but when they do drink, it is in marathon form. Friday was no exception. Lunch was followed by multiple other stops and didn't actually end until around 11. I managed to behave myself except I might have promised to go swimming with them in the North Sea.
Our office is actually south of Stavanger in a town called Forus. Our building is right next to a giant Ikea store. In fact we can see Ikea from the workroom/office they set us up in.
So far we've been traveling by taxi, but we will soon get our own car to drive. We can't have a car until we take a special Norway. After driving in Houston I doubt it will be an issue.
The building is of course very nice. They have a nice cafeteria on the top floor with an outside patio and free lunch, there is a decent gym in the building, there are fancy coffee dispensing machines everywhere, and everything looks as though it was purchased at Ikea. There is a giant obelisk in the lobby displaying the number of days with no loss time incidents. It's close to 8000. That seems impossible because our clock seems to reset weekly in Houston. I also learned that there's a ping pong table and a tournament. I wish I brought my paddle.
Norwegians seem to be very unassuming. Basically, they aren't judgemental. This makes for a very casual work environment. Jeans are a normal sight and it's unlikely that you would see a tie. Things can take a long time to accomplish, but the result is usually good. They tend to reach collective decisions instead of one dominant person forcing their ideas on everyone, which is more common back home.
The week flew by, even though it was only a partial week. There are two reasons for this. One, there is a ton of work to do. I suspect that 7 weeks will feel way too short to complete all of the work. The other reason is that the work day is approximately 7:30 - 4:00. That includes lunch. The Norwegian philosophy is definitely work-to-live and not live-to-work. When they say "work-life balance", they actually mean it.
Last Friday there was a UIT lunch. Since my team is UIT, we were invited. Lunch was 2-4 and is basically an excuse to take an afternoon and then enjoy adult refreshments on the company dollar. I'm told that Norwegians don't drink casually much, but when they do drink, it is in marathon form. Friday was no exception. Lunch was followed by multiple other stops and didn't actually end until around 11. I managed to behave myself except I might have promised to go swimming with them in the North Sea.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Day 1 Observations
I arrived in Stavanger around 11:30 AM, which was roughly on-time. Stavanger is on the southwest coast of Norway. It sits on a peninsula at the mouth of a large fjord. South of Stavanger is filled with rolling hill and lots of farm land. This part of Norway is "warmer" than the rest of the country due to the westward winds from the ocean (much like Oregon). It is also rainy, much like Oregon. To the east are the mountains that make up most of the country.
Check it out:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=stavanger,+norway&ie=UTF8&z=11&iwloc=addr
On this particular day it was not rainy at all. It was 60 degrees and sunny. Apparently it's been raining for the last month. It was a little colder than I'm used to, but I'm certainly not complaining. The nastier weather is sure to come soon.
When I arrived I went to the duty free shop, and then straight outside with my bag. I was surprised that there was no immigration. I guess immigration was the guy who glanced at my passport for a second in Amsterdam. Considering that I will be working here for two months, I found this odd.
The cab ride into town was interesting. The cab driver was an older fellow. I offered to lift my large bag into his car but he insisted on doing it. He wasn't able to and I finally had to help him. He then spent most of the cab ride talking about how that was the heaviest bag he's ever seen and it must have weighed 50kg. It was heavy but it was probably closer to 27kg. Anyway, he gave me his card and insisted that I weigh the bag and send him a message with the final verdict. Maybe I'll tell him it was 40kg so he won't feel bad.
My hotel is suppose to be one of the best in the city. It sits on the top of a hill overlooking the bay, and it is in fact quite nice. However, all day they were doing repairs outside my window which prevented me from napping. So I ventured out and walked around town for awhile.
Stavanger is a small city of about 100,000 people which is the same size of my home town of Bloomington, Indiana. Walking around it feels very old-school European. The roads are cobblestone and they randomly wind in all directions. The shops are small and everyone seemed to be walking to whereever they were going.
Most of the signs and literature are in Norweigen, but everyone speaks English. Thus it's not really too much of a culture shock so far. The things I've noticed are minor differences and are mostly amusing. Here's a list:
Power consumption - This country is in no way short on power. They control the majority of the oil in Europe. However, they are very energy conscious. For example, in order to use electricity in my hotel room, I must insert my card into a power slot. This is frustrating if you are watching tv or working on the computer and need to leave the room. But I suppose it works. They also encourage you to reuse your hotel towel to avoid using the washing machines.
Recycling - These people recycle. In general they are just environmentally conscious. It's part of their culture.
Driving - The rules for driving are slightly different. For example, if there's a yellow diamond, then you must always yield to the right. But the amazing thing are the cross walks. They always stop at cross walks if there are pedestrians; and pedestrians always use the crosswalks. There is no jay walking. People just cross the street and assume drivers will stop. My instinct is to assume that the Texan in the giant truck will run me over, so I stop and wait. I think it irritates them but it will take some time to get used to this idea. Oh, I haven't seen a single truck or SUV.
I think I'm going to move into an apartment next to some of my other team members. The apartments are much nicer than a hotel room, and food is no issue because there's are small stores all over the place. I like the apartment too. The neighborhood reminds me of Bloomington.
Tomorrow is the first day of work. It will be interesting. Here's a link to my Norway picture album. I'll let you know when there are updates.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joaphill42/Norway#
Check it out:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=stavanger,+norway&ie=UTF8&z=11&iwloc=addr
On this particular day it was not rainy at all. It was 60 degrees and sunny. Apparently it's been raining for the last month. It was a little colder than I'm used to, but I'm certainly not complaining. The nastier weather is sure to come soon.
When I arrived I went to the duty free shop, and then straight outside with my bag. I was surprised that there was no immigration. I guess immigration was the guy who glanced at my passport for a second in Amsterdam. Considering that I will be working here for two months, I found this odd.
The cab ride into town was interesting. The cab driver was an older fellow. I offered to lift my large bag into his car but he insisted on doing it. He wasn't able to and I finally had to help him. He then spent most of the cab ride talking about how that was the heaviest bag he's ever seen and it must have weighed 50kg. It was heavy but it was probably closer to 27kg. Anyway, he gave me his card and insisted that I weigh the bag and send him a message with the final verdict. Maybe I'll tell him it was 40kg so he won't feel bad.
My hotel is suppose to be one of the best in the city. It sits on the top of a hill overlooking the bay, and it is in fact quite nice. However, all day they were doing repairs outside my window which prevented me from napping. So I ventured out and walked around town for awhile.
Stavanger is a small city of about 100,000 people which is the same size of my home town of Bloomington, Indiana. Walking around it feels very old-school European. The roads are cobblestone and they randomly wind in all directions. The shops are small and everyone seemed to be walking to whereever they were going.
Most of the signs and literature are in Norweigen, but everyone speaks English. Thus it's not really too much of a culture shock so far. The things I've noticed are minor differences and are mostly amusing. Here's a list:
Power consumption - This country is in no way short on power. They control the majority of the oil in Europe. However, they are very energy conscious. For example, in order to use electricity in my hotel room, I must insert my card into a power slot. This is frustrating if you are watching tv or working on the computer and need to leave the room. But I suppose it works. They also encourage you to reuse your hotel towel to avoid using the washing machines.
Recycling - These people recycle. In general they are just environmentally conscious. It's part of their culture.
Driving - The rules for driving are slightly different. For example, if there's a yellow diamond, then you must always yield to the right. But the amazing thing are the cross walks. They always stop at cross walks if there are pedestrians; and pedestrians always use the crosswalks. There is no jay walking. People just cross the street and assume drivers will stop. My instinct is to assume that the Texan in the giant truck will run me over, so I stop and wait. I think it irritates them but it will take some time to get used to this idea. Oh, I haven't seen a single truck or SUV.
I think I'm going to move into an apartment next to some of my other team members. The apartments are much nicer than a hotel room, and food is no issue because there's are small stores all over the place. I like the apartment too. The neighborhood reminds me of Bloomington.
Tomorrow is the first day of work. It will be interesting. Here's a link to my Norway picture album. I'll let you know when there are updates.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joaphill42/Norway#
The Flight
Getting to a remote destination like Norway is actually pretty easy from Houston. My flight had one stop in Amsterdam. Then a short flight to Stavanger and I was there. It was less than 10 hours of flight time. Of course it's significantly more pleasant if you're flying business class. I'm writing not to brag but rather to highlight my amazement at how much better the first class minority have it.
Here's what we miss out on in coach:
In conclusion, it's probably not worth the price. However, my travel stress level was near zero.
Here's what we miss out on in coach:
- Bring as many bags as you want. I broke the carry on rule and they let it go
- The first class lounge. Comfy seats, open bar, lots of food, televisions, and internet. When the plane starts to board, you just walk over and get on. Much better than sitting at the terminal
- On the plane you get a travel pouch with various goodies including airplane booties to keep your feet warm and socks clean
- Noise canceling headphones
- Open bar
- Upgraded snack, dinner, and breakfast
- Motorized and fully reclining seats with a massage feature
- Private bathrooms
- Souvenir gift when you leave
- You get off the plane first while everyone in coach watches and complains
In conclusion, it's probably not worth the price. However, my travel stress level was near zero.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Last day
Today is my last day before leaving for Norway. I've moved the trip back 3 days due to the lack of power from Ike.
Most of my chores are done. The only thing left is to finish some laundry and pack.
See you there.
Most of my chores are done. The only thing left is to finish some laundry and pack.
See you there.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to my Norway blog. I'm going to use this blog to post about my adventures in Scandinavia.
I plan to run as much as possible while away, so I'll also try to keep that blog up as well.
I plan to run as much as possible while away, so I'll also try to keep that blog up as well.
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