4th of July in Norway

In Norway, I may not have seen fireworks and grilled outside for my 4th of July, but it was every bit amazing, if not more!

I started the day with morning classes.  In my Scandinavian Government and Politics class, we went over the political parties of Norway.  It was a lot of information that I need to study so I can remember! Next, I went to the Norwegian Architecture class where we took an excursion to Akershus Fortress (for the second time).  The first time we went, there happened to be a royal visit so we were not allowed inside.  Instead we took a tour of the outside, which was still cool.  On the 4th, we went back and took our tour inside to complete our understanding.  It was a really interesting building... I think I will have to live in a castle like this one day.  It was also really interesting to hear all of the ways that the Fortress is used today.  For example, it is used for some royal functions as well as a royal burial place.  We saw right into the mausoleum where the old kings and queens were kept.

After classes, I spent the afternoon at Sognsvann.  It's a really pretty lake with hiking trails all around it.  On the 4th, I headed up with some friends to go swimming... yes it was a bit cold, but it actually felt pretty good.  At least it wasn't icey cold.  While swimming was awesome, it also felt amazing to just lay in the sun on the dock.  My friends were telling me that it looked like Minnesota (where a few of them are from), but to me, it's definitely different than Colorado.  There are as many leafy trees as pine trees and it's just more green overall.

That night, I tried some Norwegian folk dancing.  Everyone was having a good time trying out the moves and I played a good guy part since there was too many girls (as usual).
I ended my night with good conversation.  It is so interesting to hear everyone's points of views on different topics.  I love that I can come together with people from all over the world and be able to talk and understand where they are coming from.

I'm really loving my time here in Oslo.  It seems like such a magical place to me.  I love that the outdoors are incorporated into the city with many green spaces, hiking trails, and such.  Now, I am really looking forward to my hiking excursion this weekend.  It is going to be intense as it is 7 hours up a steep rocky slope, but I know it will be worth it. 

I'm still in disbelief that I am spending my summer in beautiful Norway.