"It is not normal for people to have sex on stage, except at Norwegian rock concerts."

This week was so awesome my legs are killing me.

That’s normal, right? You’re just so happy your legs hurt? No? Then, to clear up any confusion, my legs are likely in pain because of the muscle fatigue.

BECAUSE I CLIMBED A FREAKING MOUNTAIN YESTERDAY!

To elaborate: This weekend the international students took a trip to Stavanger to visit Preikestolen, the most well-known tourist attraction in Norway –a giant protruding rock/cliff thingy overlooking a fjord. It is also known as Pulpit Rock. The hike took about 2 hours and was about 3.8 kilometers (like 2.5ish miles) and the cliff is almost 2,000 feet above the fjord. The first 30ish minutes of the hike were the hardest--it was the steepest section, and involved climbing rocks, stepping on rocks, stepping over rocks, trying not to slip on rocks, etc. There was a section immediately following with nearly 15 minutes of "stairs" (I'd say you'd need to be at least 7 feet tall for those to be stairs...damn Norwegians and their long viking legs). After the innitial difficulty, however, it got a bit easier. There were still tough sections, but here was more flat ground and less dying. The effort was totally worth the view.

We spent about 2 hours enjoying the sights and eating lunch before heading back down. I personally think going back was much more difficult. On the way up, I was full of adrenaline and excitement to see the amazing view that I was promised, and my energy levels were high from sitting on a bus for 4 hours. On the way back down, though, I was exhausted. The steep parts that felt impossible to climb on the way up were really hard on the joints going back. It wasn't too bad, though, and I was rewarded by getting to return to our adorable Shire-esque hostel, where we made some Norwegian ramen and played a mystery game until the late hour of 10pm when virtually everyone passed out. 

This was our room, where I could barely stand straight up. Shelby's on the floor laughing in this picture because she just witnessed me hit my head on the Hobbit-sized door frame. 

Interesting Preikestolen fun fact: Just a few minutes ago, when looking up how long the hike was, I learned for the first time that that rock is eventually going to SPLIT IN HALF and fall into the fjord. So THAT’S what that giant crack in the middle of the rock was. Fun stuff! Luckily geologists say that won’t happen in the foreseeable future. Norwegian folklore says 7 sisters from one family have to marry 7 brothers from another family first. We have time either way. Also—I knew this part already—because of the disturbing number of people that have fallen off and/or committed suicide at Preikestolen, there’s been a few motions to add a safety fence around the edge of the cliff. Norwegians aren’t about that life, though—there is a general consensus among them that they’d like to keep it natural up there. Viking style. (Mom, I didn’t die. I love you and I’m sorry if that part freaked you out) A less terrifying tidbit—the cliff was formed by a glacier running into the mountain and taking square chunks of rock with it, hence the unique shape.

Sunday we left the hostel and drove into Stavanger to explore. It was(not surprisingly) beautiful. My favorite parts were when I saw a cat outside someone’s house, then later when I got to sit on a giant pile of yoga-balls in an awesome graffiti park. The city isn’t boring I swear, I’m just super obsessed with the little things, apparently.

Cultural note: While walking around we saw a bunch Norwegian women dressed in their traditional get-up, which is a dress called a bunad. It was then explained to me by a friend that this sudden change in attire was due to someone becoming confirmed in the church, which celebrates also a sort of coming-of-age tradition for most people at age 16. Bunads are also worn at other important events, such as baptisms, weddings, folk dances, and the 17th of May (Norwegian independence day). Apparently there are different designs/colors for different regions of the country, which I found to be quite interesting.

I took pictures sneakily without asking, so I feel bad posting the full image because I feel like that'd be a bit disrespectful (kicking myself for not swallowing my tourist pride and just asking to take a picture with them). So here is what I can provide:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earlier in the week was a less of a momentous adventure, but was equally fun. A few friends and I took a trip to the Kristiansand zoo.

Now, every Omahan is aware of the unspoken knowledge that the Henry Doorly Zoo is the best zoo in the entire history of the Universe and probably all the other Universes, if they were proven to exist.

That said, The K-town zoo was REALLY awesome. Our day started by taking the bus 20 minutes outside of town to be at the zoo(called Dyreparken--the bus driver didn't know what the heck I was talking about when I said I was going to the zoo, and some nice Norwegian lady said 'Dyreparken' to the bus driver and looked at me like I was the cutest thing in the world.) by opening time.

Dyreparken was split up into different "continents," my favorite of which was Africa. It wasn’t as large as Henry Doorly, but the exhibits were really cool in that you felt really close to the animals the entire time(one thing I've noticed about Norwegians is that they trust people aren't idiots--as seen with animal displays as well as the lack of fence at Preikestolen). Where as at the Henry Doorly zoo there would be a fence before the fence, another fence, a ditch, and then another fence, here there was only a fence or some glass.  I was 6 inches away from a lion at one point and when it growled at me I seriously jumped a mile. The exhibits were also very integrated into the natural Norwegian wildlife, which was really cool—I felt like I was just walking through a giant forest the whole time. And, in addition to this, there was a huge (surprisingly tiring and embarrassingly difficult) obstacle course going up a hill in the zoo. Apparently, during the summer, there is also a water park and an amusement park--both of which were closed, unfortunately.

Kudos, Kristiansand! A native Omahan was quite impressed.

#lionselfie

Well, that was my week! Every day I thank my lucky freaking stars that I get to spend time in this country, and I can't get over how fast time has gone. I've been in Kristiansand for 4 months now, but it still somehow feels like I just got here. If anyone wants a recommendation for traveling, I wholeheartedly suggest Norway. And please, BRING ME WITH YOU.