Okay my first attempt at a blog...here is goes...
Several of you have asked me to do a blog so you could keep up with us on our time in Stavanger, Norway. I am going to try to chronicle the major events starting with our trip over this past Wednesday and Thursday. I figured I may as well give it a shot because I want to remember all the things we see and do as well, so this is kind of like my personal journal.
Wed.-Thurs. July 21-22
After two crazy days of packers and movers being at the house and all the frantic last minute errands, we made it to the airport with 2 oversize plastic crates, 2 large suitcases, and 2 smaller suitcases and that was just the check-in baggage! The kids each carried a backpack and I had two pretty heavy bags for my carry-ons with the laptop, all the important papers, and numerous snacks, medicines, and all the other random stuff you carry on a trip.
The best part of all this, we were flying KLM and more importantly, we were in Business Class, so we were able to take full advantage of the KLM Lounge with food, snacks, TV, restrooms, computers, etc.! Yes, awesome! Then we got on the plane...a double decker - and we were sitting upstairs! Huge seats that fully reclined, personal TVs, pretty much unlimited beverages and two full meals! The kids were great on this leg of the trip, although sleep was elusive and they were pretty cranky by the time we landed in Amsterdam for our connection. In Amsterdam, we again had to go through security and such but were then able to enjoy the lounge there. This one was huge! The kids each had a few moments of meltdown mode, and our flight was delayed by about an hour, but we managed. The funny part of all this was we got to the gate and were chatting with some guys also waiting for the plane and come to find out, they were contractors heading to work on the project Spencer is working on and one of them was from League City! Small world!
This flight was much shorter, only a little over an hour and we were so glad to be at our final destination, Stavanger, Norway! We headed over to baggage expecting to see Spencer there to help us get all the bags, but, nope...he could not get into the baggage area. He was right outside the exit door. So, if you can picture this...me and two kids, with our 4 carry-ons trying to pull 6 huge things off the conveyor belt and get them onto not 1, but 2 carts because they wouldn't all fit on one. Now my dilemma, how to push, pull, or somehow get both carts down the narrow hall to the exit door...I can only imagine how ridiculous I looked...suffice it to say, it was pretty bad and I am glad I didn't know anyone! We made it through the door and there was Spencer waiting for us! YEA!!!
Spencer somehow crammed all the stuff into the rental car and off we went! The drive from the airport was beautiful and the weather perfect (although I am told we have been lucky...) We arrived at the apartment where we are currently staying and it took every ounce of energy I had left to unpack and get all our stuff sort-of organized and put away. We then walked over to the grocery store in the shopping center across the street (very convenient!) Spencer was giving me direction on the layout and some key things to look for...some things are very much the same, but some things are so different. For instance, we can't find green beans or applesauce here...but they have frozen pizzas galore! After the grocery store visit, Brendan crashed on the couch and Kyla and Spencer went to check out a couple parks and the lake nearby.
Then, off to bed...to sleep and sleep and sleep! Of course it was sunny when we went to bed and sunny when we got up - welcome to midnight sun!
Fri. July 23
Spencer got up and left for work early, Brendan was up early, but Kyla and I stayed in bed. I finally got up about 10:00 am Norway time with the intention of getting dressed to go to the police station to apply for the kids and my residence permits. But it was not to be...Kyla woke up sick and broke in the new apartment by puking on the floor. Nice...Luckily she only was sick a few times and managed to get back to sleep for a few hours and woke up feeling much better. By then, it was too late to go to the police station, so we ran over to Spencer's office to pick up some things and headed back over to the shopping center to look around some more. We learned several things...there is a less expensive grocery store upstairs and rain boots are called stovler and the kids will need them for school.
We then took a long walk, stopping at nearby parks and fed ducks and swans at the lake. There are bike and walking paths all over and the bikers around here are serious! You better stay to one side of the path because you could get run over...I can just imagine going to the ER and saying, I was run over by a bike...anyway, back to feeding the ducks...when we started there were about 5 ducks. Before long, several more came swimming over. A few minutes after that, there was a family of swans - mom, dad, and 3 babies that came swimming over and ran off all the ducks. They were quite bold and actually came out of the water toward us and started making this hissing/growling noise - hysterical! Kyla named them "Growly" and "Growly Jr."
Sat. July 24
We then all got a good night's sleep and woke up this morning with plans to head out on the town! Brendan and I made a trip to the grocery store on our own and made it back with most of what was on the list we made! Success! We then met up with our neighbors - Sheila who also works for CoP, her husband, Dan and their little girl, Ella. We headed over to the Stavanger Harbor and enjoyed lunch at Peppes Pizza and fed the ducks there. Oddly enough, there was a swan here too and "it" was quite mean...came swooping in and ran off all the ducks and came right up to where the kids were standing! Conclusion - the swans are crazy!
After that, we headed over to a festival on the other side of town where there was a street race of sorts going on. Imaging cross-country skiing on long, flat roller blade type things with ski poles on the street...apparently a very popular past-time here. It was fun to walk around and watch the action. On the way back, we stopped at a famous landmark - don't know the name, but it is a small beach-type area with a big statue of 3 swords pointed down into the ground. I have heard more than one description but the likely is that it was a place of several viking wars and now a place of peace - swords pointed down into the ground. Even though it was probably about 70 degrees, people were there sunbathing in bikinis and some were even swimming in the lake area!
In other news...Spencer and I had to get on Google Translate to figure out how to use the washer and dryer...think we got it down. They are extremely small - no oversize loads here - so we have been doing non-stop laundry for two days! Some TV is in English, some in Norge. And we have had 3 days of full-out sunny, beautiful weather! Amazing! I think we are going to like it here!
As for the driving...Spencer has been doing the driving thus far. I will have to attempt it soon, however. There are almost no stop lights. They are fond of roundabouts instead and you basically yield to the left.
The kids and I plan to visit their school next week for a tour and get information on where to buy supplies and such. Only a few more weeks until their school starts!
I guess that is it for now...next week should be busy - residence permits, school tour, meet with relocation people to look at housing, and buy a car...oh and laundry and grocery shopping!
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