Knight in shining armour

When you're a girl you always dream about meeting the prince from the fairy tales, at least i did. I haven't met a real one yet, but almost! You see, today we got two big sized paper "statues" of Aragon(Lord of the Rings) and Spiderman. Both Rada and me were very happy having such handsome heroes to look at, so they are welcome furniture, hehe. Our new staff member, Debbie, also voted for them, hooray! I think it made our basement office even nicer, it also added some glamour (don't know if that's a good thing though..).
Anyway, i hope that they will still be there tomorrow, but i have my doubts:)

By the way, i'll try to get hold of the lovely picture of Rada, me and our new friend!

One big smile!

It's now been a week since i got back to London, hooray!
I'm so HAPPY! Why?
* I have loads of fun, interesting and exiting work
* I have fantastic colleagues
* We just got a real size picture of Viggo Mortensen in the office, hehe;)
* It takes me about six minutes of train and three min of walk to get to work!
* Sarah and Richard are wonderful!!
* Rada gives me lunch (sometimes)
* I have a double bed, lovely!
* Paris for eight days in february
* Staff retreat this month
* I live right beside a park, and they have real deer in it!
* My team mates rock!
* I will get a visitor in Feb, can't wait to see you Martha love:)
* people who doesn't know me thinks i'm english because of my accent, thanks goes out to Lis on Kvitsund!
* I get to work in the children's church at Ivy Bridge (tell u more later)
* I really feel welcome in the office and the church

The list could go on, but i'll save it. Right now i'm home alone, one of the few days this week and the next that i'm home. Stupid me told everyone on the staff meeting i was hoping to be "very busy", they took it serious. But, i like it. I'm happy that i can be used:)

My comeback

Well people, I'm back in London. I know that a lot of you are anxious to hear how it's going, and let me then say, I LIKE IT!
It really feels like coming back was the right decision. I now live with my boss, Sarah Gough and her husband, Richard. They are fantastic and i think i will love it here. But, i can only stay a month, then i'll be on the move again. Still don't know where, but i bet it'll be another nice place.

By the way, i've got my engslish number back. Please use that one if you need me. If you want it, then write me a mail and i'll see if i want to give it to you:)

A missionary held a speech before leaving Madagascar, she quoted a french saying: "To say goodbye is to die a little".
She's right.
But, that's way it has to be, sad but healthy. We need room for new adventures!

Madagasikara

A year ago it looked like this when i came back to Madagascar during the rain season. Tomorrow i'm returning to London. It just hits me how lucky i am!!

This picture shows a few of the students on the school, where i volunteered at three days a week. A lot of them make their living by begging in the streets. I miss them so much!


This year it's England i get to know. Next year i'll be missing London. Yes, i'm lucky!! I think i should be more thankful than i am, and i think that goes for a lot of people. It's true what they say, some things you don't see the true value of before it's gone.

Now, let me just wish you a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I don't really have any new year resolutions, i don't think I'll manage to keep them anyway. But i do hope for some improvements, for example on my email writing. I will do my best to be more active, and i PROMISE that all who sends an email will get an answer!!!
lots of love from me!

Bear at sunset

On Christmas day, after our family lunch which is a family tradition, i went for a walk with my friend Katrine. We've been friends for ages. We didn't walk that far, but we followed a road into the forest to a water. It was fantastic to sit by the still water and not hear a single sound of people or cars, it was so peaceful. After the sunset we made our way back right before it was too dark to see anything.
On our way to the little lake we stopped for some fresh, Norwegian water, yummy!


We had a lovely day! Just taking a step out of the stress that christmas can be. I think we should do that a lot more often then we do. It's hard to keep the right perspective on things when you never stop up from time to time. I truly hope that all of you return to work or studies with a feeling of peace and rest! Take care!

Stavanger

In december a was able to spend a few days in the Stavanger area, where i met a lot of people from my malgasy life. Here are some of the people i met:

This is Ellen Marie Gabrielsen, or Ellie as we call her. I spent two days with her incredible family.
This is Ellie's little sister Svanhild. She took me to a park where we fed the ducks and ended up by being chased by a big bunch of them. Thanks goes out to them for having me, i had a fantastic time!
This is Anne Lise and Kjetil Pedersen. She was at Madagascar with the Peacecorps, we share a lot of funny memories!
This is the Pedersen dog, his name is Spike and i love him! We took a sunday walk since we finally had a day with no rain:)

I met a lot of people during those days, and it was great. It's good to get togehther since we all have a lot of the same memories with us. But, what is important is to make some new memories, because we've moved on. And i really feel that we did that. I feel so lucky to have met all these wonderful people! Well, enough of that:)

From all of us, to all of you, lalalalal!!!

First of all, SORRY for not writing for days and days.

Second;

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!"

For you non-norwegians, christmas eve is the big day in Norway. Now we're off to church as we do every year, then it's all about the food and the gifts, hehe:)

I'll tell you more about it another time, for now i just want to wish all of my family and friends a happy christmas! We all have so much to give thanks for on a day like this, i sure know i have!!

God bless you all!!

Telling the story

On Tuesday i was asked to join the church in one of their newer traditions. It's a great way of telling the christmas story. They invite nurseries to come and go on a "journey" where they hear and take part in the gospel.

The children get to dress up as angels, wise men, shepards and off course, Mary and Joseph. We had three gruops on tuesdays, there are still ten exited groups to come.

It was a lot of fun and i think it's a fantastic way of teaching children the reason why we celebrate christmas!


The wise men are following the the priest (in this case the king)







The lovely little angles!

Zoo

Was at the zoo in Kristiansand today with my family, i'll upload some pics tomorrow! We saw animals like this, but this picture is one i took at Madagascar:)

Catching up

Since my past contains four years in two different boarding schools, i have friends all over the country. In one way it's nice, but it's also quite frustrating trying to meet them. Luckily i have some people still living quite close by, in Kristiansand. That's the city where i'm going to start studying next year.

After spending time with Toky, i went to Arnhild and Torunn's nice apartment where i spent the night. Today we finally had some sunshine, so me and Arnhild went for a walk. We met this scary, but beautifull swan. When i took the picture it was hissing at me!! I think it looks a bit funny:)


We've known eachother for years. I think i met Arnhild in a tree (no, not kidding) when we were about five or something. We have been friends since then, but after we started in different schools at age sixteen we haven't met that often. It was great meeting again, i just wish i could stay longer.

Hope to see you soon!

Sharing memories

Yesterday(friday) i drove to Birkeland Folkehøskole (a school) to meet my friend Toky. We met at Madagascar last year and have kept in touch since then. I'm so happy he's in Norway this year and that we can meet. He's an outstanding musician and plays all sorts of instruments. We spent a long time just playing and singing songs that remind us of Madgascar.
Tena milay be izy!!!

I just have to say that his norwegian is amazing! He speaks a lot more norwegian than i speak malagasy, and i was there a year! He's only been here since august!
Hope to see you again soon Toky!

Following advices

It's already been over a week since i came back home. One of the biggest reasons of going home was to calm down, relax, think etc.. Well, i've had some trouble doing that. I have volunteered in my congregation with youth work, i'm visiting people and stressing about all the christmascards i should send, but i know i won't. But, to do as been told and for my own sake, i went on a little retreat. Monday morning my dad drove me up to our cottage. It's almost up in the mountains, but not really. I came back on Thursday, it was great!!! I was all alone in something that really feels like in the middle of nowhere. I spent my time reading books, playing guitar (learning), and walking . I'm quite proud, cause i never switced on the telly!

I found out that i really needed it, since during the entire time i was never even bored!

One day i went for a walk in the rain. It was wonderfull breathing in the fresh air and compare it to the poison of the tube air. I know what i prefere, hehe:)


(not that i'm not going back!)

The sad part was that there was no snow! But then, the last day, i woke up and the ground was finally white!!! I didn't get the chance to really enjoy it, because i had to pack all my stuff and get going.
Hopefully we'll get some snow in Lyngdal too before i return to London.

SURPRISE!!!!

Hello friends! This might be a shock to a lot of you, but I'M IN NORWAY!!!!!!!

I arrived in Kristiansand last night at 5.55. It was soooo good to be back! Had a delicious hot-dog at Shell together with my sister and dad on my way from the airport.

Maybe you think, "but why???". Well, let's just say that it wasn't what i wanted to do. I wasn't getting the experience i was looking for, so i made my decision. BUT, i am going back in January for a fresh start in a new church. So it's not like i've dropped London completely.

To all you friends who think, "why didn't she tell me?" Well, i didn't tell anyone, just my family. I wanted to make sure that i actually was going home before i let you all know. When first things were decided, it all happened really fast and suddenly, here i am! Sitting in my own living room, mum and dad around, internett at home:) Life is great!!!

Just so you know, i've got my "old" mobil number, in case someone tries to reach me. And one more thing, i won't be travelling around Norway to visit people even though it would be great. But, you are all welcome to Lyngdal, hehe:)

A small break

Hello all beloved readers!

If you are one of the few "regulars" on this site, then thank you! I just have to tell all of you that i'm taking a little blog break. There are a lot of things going on right now. But, give me a couple of weeks and i'll be back in business!! There might be some big news.

Take care!

Another thursday

Hello again everyone!

Yes, it's thursday again and that means some "blogging" time. The thing is that i've spent it all on skyping, so i won't have time to tell you much of this weeks great adventures. Oh, what a pity...

I've talked to my lovely niese and nephew today, i love them so much!!! I just had to show you this picture my brother sent me a copuple of weeks ago. They always fall asleep in the car in all sort of "comfortable" postitions. When i talked to them today they were all cuddled upp in front of the tv looking at the six o'clock childrens show, eating cake. They said they miss me, but i have a feeling i miss them a bit more here i sit all alone:)

I also talked to Kathrine Brun, haven't spoken to her in ages. She's a pupil at the Norwegian School in Madgascar where i worked last year. We had a lot of fun so it was great talking to her again!

I am trying to think of news to tell you, but i think i'm gonna save it for next week. But, i tell you, i will have some big news next week, they're just not ready for publicing yet. So, "stay tuned!" as they say, hehe!

I think that's it! I should do some work now.

Today (i'm not good at headlines)

It's been four hours since i got out of bed, took a shower, ate my burnt toast (so English) and started walking towards the always overloaded morning bus to Brentford (yes, where i work). Walking to the bus is how i wake up. Step by step i open my eyes a bit more and try to get my brain over on more important thoughts than my lovely warm bed and why i burnt the toast, again.
After a 15 min walk i reached the bus, i got to sit today!!! After spending about 30 minutes on what should take 10, i reached Brentford. Today me, my team mate Miko and a nice lady called Maria had the School Assembly. We talked about believing in God and keep asking him about things, even though you wake up and there is still no Pony in the garden (i checked every morning). I think the kids liked it. Being young and new you're quite interesting compared to a lot of teachers and other people they see all the time. So, they cut you some slack and listen. Well, i liked it and hope i get to it again soon.

Right now I'm waiting for the Open House Cafe to open. Then I'll be smiling behind the counter going: "How can I help you, love? Would you like some carrots? Beans? Would you like some drops on gravy on that, sir?" I do this every thursday, you meet a lot of nice people.

Later today i'm going to a Deanery Youth conference. I don't really know what it is, but i do think it will be exiting. I hope to make some good notes and return with a bunch of ideas.

Another day in London!

My week

Some of you might have understood that i've had some task which hasn't been very exiting, at least for me. But, from this week i've got some new things, Hurrah!
So, let me fill you in!

Monday: I work at the "Genesis project". My task is to look after cute kids while their parents study. They're from six months old, i love it!
Tuesday: Team day! The team get together for bible studies, prayer and just hanging around sharing ups, downs and challenges. We have a great time together!
Wednesday: I work in the parish of St. Philip's and St. James with Hildegunn in Whitton. Again, lovely kids! We play and entertain while their mummies talk and do a "family time" course. In the evening i go to "fellowship group" at St. Paul's, it's quite good! I'm hoping that some more people will join us.
Thursday: My only day of serving in the Open House Cafe. There is also a school assembly which we go to. In the evening it's Alfa, i serve and do the washing up.
Friday: DAY OFF!!!
Saturday: DAY OFF!!/tasks that need to be done.
Sunday: Sunday school and the Young People's group (the YP's).

So, that's my week, pretty full eh? I like it!

Brrrrr!

Greetings! I know i just told you it's autumn, i take it back, it's winter! Right now i thank my parents for sending me the wool hats, socks and sweaters, 'cause it's COLD! Well, at least for me who skipped last year's winter and enjoyed the summer in Madagascar.
To get to work in Brentford i have two options (if you take away the bike, yes i am lazy). I can either take two buses, which takes ages 'cause of the traffic and the fact that it's longer, or i can take one bus. But, one bus equals a walk for about 15-20 minutes both ways... Because of the lack of training and my addiction to chocolate i usually go for the walk and one bus. So, on my way to fellowship group last night, i put on wool from top til toe, and thank God i did! You see, after the walk i sat down and waited for the bus which usually takes about 12 minutes. I waited, waited and waited... it took almost 50 minutes!!! I tell you, i was shaking pretty hard when the bus finally got there. There had been some problems down town where it came from. I just say "fotoana gasy", which means "Malagasy time".
Lats just hope there won't be consequences like a cold....