Still alive. Still here. Oh and the blood thing.

Its been a while since I recieved that student denial thingy. Thankfully, it wasnt fatal. Infact I felt so bad about the whole mess that the morning after I woke up thinking, hey, Im still alive. After laughing to myself I decided that I might as well use this annoying endurance to bad events and try something else.

You can quote me on that.

Sheesh.

Well, like the line says, Im not out of the game yet. In fact, I recently got some more work cleaning again. Say what you like but the pay is very good. Best Ive had since I got here infact. Still, while I was collecting the last of my Attests (references) I enquired about work and got a very surprised yesyes yes! (Or jajaja in Norwegian :D).

So, after a long chat with my beloved better half, we decided it might be best to push for "fast" work (permanent) in order to get some stable money. Being unafraid of a decent days work, I finally relented to the idea of cleaning toilets and offices for a living. Besides, with the money I could pay for a lot. Including new norsk books and... my Bergens test! Thats the clinker. My aim, is be finished and eidetic with Stein På Stein, the second in the series of language books, by Christmas. That would leave me until around April to finish with the next set and be ready to try for that scary test that opens up so much to me. Funny thing is, if I pass or fail, I would still be at that point, much better than I am now.

The norsk klubbs continue, on the most recent occasion without me! I am jealous, but proud to be part of such a group. Having friends learning with you makes things nicer.

Ill extend an offer again, if anyone is in the Oslo area who'd like to join in learning Norwegian, send me a bell. (Trans. Send me an email.)

ANyway! Blood! Yes, Twas a few goodly nights ago that, while walking home from work I found an old and very drunk man drenched in his own blood. It seems that he had fallen over trying to get more money out of a minibank (atm) and bashed his head. It was quite an effort to get him sat down and check his pupils for you know what. Thankfully he was fine. Though when another helper phoned an ambulance he got up and began walking away, ungrateful of our help!
Jumping on the night bus, it was then I noticed that my hands were covered in his blood (thankfully he had lots left :D). There is something unnerving when its someone elses.
What a night.
Still, that same night I bumped into other lads from England (most of the time theyre either half norwegian, and/or from the south). Only met one guy from near my home so far, our "accents" confused the hell out of the locals. Heh. Didnt realise I had an accent until I came here.

Anyway, still here, still working, learning, living and stuff.

Thanks for reading and following, I dont deserve you.

More soon! Christmas presents and surviving away from home for Jule.

Rik

Studen Application denied!!!

Well, if I said that I was totally surprised, I'd be lying. But why? I mean, after all, I did have not one, but three people tell me it would all be fine. One, going so far as to say "you dont require a bergens test for this" in an email.

So much for that idea, but where does that leave me now?

Pessimistically: There are no relevant courses in Univeristy or College that I can take without a passed Bergens test to prove that I am adequate enough to taken them. Also, the only Masters Coarse I would be relevant to really, requires 50 more points to even bother applying.

Optimistically: If I consider that the Bergens test itself is not just a means to an end but a course in its own right, then I should consider myself a student in Norwegian. In a way, once again I must remind myself that the Bergens test or Norwegian as a whole, is the true key to unlock all those doors. SO really, I only have one thing to study on. Simple eh?

At the end of the day, I am lucky to have a loved one with endless generosity, patience of a walking saint and who gives me all the moral and financial support I need. I wont lie, every day I don't pay for everything is a shameful thing, this wasn't the way I was raised after all, but she calls me her little investment. The least I can do is not ruin that for her.

In any case. While I'm rethinking my long term plans (again), I can concentrate my efforts to get to that fluent level of norsk. After all, thats the only real problem, right?

I've nearly got all of my Attests from my old bosses, just one left who seems very evasive. Bear it in mind that to write such a reference is a legal obligation, even if it just says, "he worked this period" they still have to write one. Looks like I may need to be a bit more insistent. Le sigh.

Still, on goes the job hunt, I'm finally practicing the writing of søknader (applications) in norwegian by learning key words and expressions, you know, like I am dependable etc. After a while I might learn something. Flash cards, coarse books and that new norsk klubb should see me through. Ive given myself until April to do this.



On a final note, anyone living in the Oslo area who would like to get involved with a free friendly group all trying to learn norwegian, drop me a post here. I don't know about you, but I aint paying for another coarse if I can help it.

Thanks again!

Rik.