so far so damn good

Finally starting my fourth webpage... it just like changing one's hairstyle... hopefuly a new look may bring a new attitude.

I have been here in Bergen for one month until now. Last night when people are talking hey tmr is 1st of Feburary can you believe that? Yeah, time goes so fast here and now everything is getting on track and I am feeling very good about it.

Remember the first couple of weeks the weather here in Bergen is the worst I have ever experienced --- it rains every single day, 9 oclock in the morning still looks like dawn which makes it very hard getting myself out of my warm bed. However, it took no time for me fall in love with this quiet small city. When I was walking along the water, or hiking in the mountains with snow everywhere, I felt peace and calm deep inside me ever since last time I was in Sydney.
Maybe cause I grew up in too commercialized populated cities, no matter Shanghai or Hong Kong, I get so used to those skyscrapers everywhere and crazy night life in downtown. Of course I would still get excited when I standing right in the center of the city, head up trying to see the top of the huge commercial buildings. Would never forget last time I was standing at the balcony of China Club (which belongs to Bank of China) in Central Hong Kong, I said to myself "I am in this such material world and I would be part of it". I could be very ambisious and motivated when I see this side of the world. And now, I am very blessed and joyful to see Bergen as another side of world compare to Hong Kong.

With a population of 235,000 inhabitants, Bergen as the old capital of Norway has its very cultural and classic style. People here are very friendly and helpful, no matter they do or do not speak good english. Most of them like to laugh about the weather they have, especially when talking about it is the second rainy city in Norway with more than 260 rainy days in a year on average. It is always easy to start converstions or seek for help with locals, but as expected people here are more distant than those in North America.

I was settled in an international student hostel called "Fantoft" with 1300 living uinits and most of residents are of course from all over the world. According to statistics, 43% of exchange students this year are from Germany which definitely ranks as top, 14% are French although I did not meet so many, then should come down to Italians, Polish, and other European countries. Being an asian is apparently the minority here, it is funny that when we asians see each other, although we dont necessarily say hi we would look at each other with extra attention. So far I only knew a Hong Kong girl from my floor, and a mainland master student who I met randomly. From China to here, the poportion of races turned into an opposite side. Remeber when I was touring Joppe and his dutch friend in Shanghai and girls kept coming to me asking if they can take pictures with the white boys, and now I am in a completely white community, it would amuse me everytime I think back.
It feels very very good living here and it reminds me a lot of days back in Harkness. Lots of things could happen in a multicultural living place like this, and I am just so happy to meet everybody and make up for my ignorance of European countries. Guess I would like to say more about that in later blogs since it is gonna be a big topic.

School started since last week and I am enjoying my classes very much. The courses I am doing here consists of Anthropology of Scandinavia, Welfare model of Scandinavia, Mass Media, and Quatitative Analysis. I finally dropped my Norwegian since I do not think it is practical for me taking a course and learn this language of 4 and half million people speaking another 20 million understanding. So hopefully I could pick up some basic conversations from locals and exchange friends who are taking it. Classes all went pretty well so far, I love one of the American professors a lot and I am very attentive in class. For those who are not professors but only PhD students instead lecturing as teachers, I am quite disappointed by the why they teach. Since I have learned some mathematical parts of the course, I can see the teacher made lots of mistakes and presented knowledge points very badly. But after all, I am quite happy about the classes here since I can freely raise questions and discuss topics with classmates and professors which helps me more in understanding.

Last night I went to a local party held by students from Sociology. Although I enjoyed the conversation I had with one of local students there, it turned out that us as an exchange group of 6 people, we just talk with ourselves since all other Norwegian students were having counversations themselves (in Norwegian of course). Of course it is mainly because it is not like a dancing n drinking party or sth which did not provide us with lots of chances of meeting new people, but it made me think about the issue of "exchanges and locals" again which I was talking to Shweta the other night. No matter in Hong Kong, or when I was in Canada or the States, and in Australia, I observed that it is always not easy for foreigners intergrate with locals and for locals get used to being open to foreigners. Of course different places have their own situations and character, but it is always interesting to see how two groups of people really break the wall and communicate --- what makes them start to interact, through what ways, and what each group want get from each other.

Oh this is already a long journal, so guess I'd better stop here. I am loving my life here very much, and not homesick at all. I would love to post more about my life. And I love you my friends very much.

Hope you are having a great time wherever you are.

Love,
Amanda