Back to Busy

I know I still owe an update about the Queen and Oslo. Until that comes in here's a link to an article written by the school on the event. There should also be a couple of pictures coming from the outstandingly amazing Northern Lights we had here last week.

For now the update is the following:
This past weekend I went to my host family. It was an amazing weekend away, a good break, lots of cake and good company. I made this with my host mother and cousin:

(Hoping it will make my bedstemor and aunt proud!)

Apart from that I am working hard to finish everything before next Friday, so I can travel to the big USA and enjoy my time there away from too many books. Also, I am working hard on finishing my first college application and I must admit that after rewriting a supplement 3½ times, it's hard to find the perfect way to represent yourself on paper. 

For now I went back to scratch and restarted by brainstorming everything that could answer the question about something in my life that has changed me. (I am deliberately not mentioning the name of the school, mostly for privacy and because it is irrelevant to the fact that I am writing an application. Even though I would be very excited to attend this school in the future.) 

Have a great week! 

More is less

I was getting really tired of the old design; I guess that is another proof that my taste changes. So I updated! Also, here is a couple of more 'the beauty of Flekke' pictures from today!

Fall Colors!

The one and only Sweden House! 

A journey into self-publishing

As I mentioned earlier this week, this week is PBL-week and I am attending "A journey into self-publishing." Goal for the week? To produce and publish at least one book. Personal goal? Find out whether there is still creativity left in me and do something different. Earlier this week I posted a picture from my personal process, but you can see more on my teacher Ana's blog: anaflecha.blogspot.no. 

As of today I have finished two very similar books, one with a black and white background and colored characters and one with a colored background but black and white characters. My book is an image book and a comment on how we easily get stuck in life just doing the same things again and again. It is a continuous and never ending book with the quote "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different".

Here is the complete story in pictures from top left corner to bottom right. 

Colored background, black and white character 

Black and white background, colored characters 

The week has been amazing. Not too much rain and the art room must be the classroom on Campus with the best view - especially on a day like today.

As of last week I thought I was gonna have to sit  down and write an actual full book during this week; a thought that scared me a bit. I had planned on writing a children's book so it could be short and simple, but when I found out that everything was possible the ideas came flowing. It is so relaxing to just sit and create a something that was once a thought and develop it unto paper. It really clears the head.

Tomorrow I am headed to Oslo and my biggest concern is still what to wear :-) Not too bad a concern.

Roger out,
Mette

Fall colors

As more and more leaves hit the ground and the trees turn from green to orange and yellow to brown and become emptier for the minute, the sun decided take a (maybe) last visit to RCN.

It is getting colder by the minute and I have had to unpack both woolen socks, thermal shirts (for my Flekke runs) and my winter jacket. According to the locals, taken from the amount of berries on the trees at this time a year, it will be a long and very cold winter with lots of snow. Can you feel the excitement already? If yes, please share. There is (almost) nothing worse than feeling cold. I even decided not to interview with a university or two, among other things, because they were located in climates too cold for me. I am also exaggerating a little bit :-) In reality I love wearing woolen socks and have been told multiple times that I am the worst Nordic ever, because I am always cold.  

Here is a couple of pictures from the weekend. Hopefully tomorrow morning will be as beautiful as today. This time I will bring my camera and be prepared so I can share some of the beauty of Flekke with you!

On Saturday was the dear First Years amazing show and I think we all enjoyed it. It was based mostly on sketches making fun of us second years, mixed between lots of talented dancing, singing and so on. Here: a picture of Emma (UK) and part of her band - Yondeen (Nepal) on the bass. Following the show was another Saturday night party and for the first time this year I stayed from beginning to end - 2½ hours of dancing and having fun! As always in great company :-) 

This week is Project Based Learning week (PBL). Some might remember it from my not extremely enthusiastic and positive post about the Chinese PBL I attended last year. I can promise you that this year's review will be much better! This year I am in a PBL called "A journey into self publishing" with my Spanish teacher, Ana. We are in the art room with a view over the fjord and tunes of music in the background - just as I like it. I won't talk too much about it now, but rather update by the end of the week, but here is a pre-view of the first step of my image book. It will not look like this once it is finished, but here is a teaser anyways :-)
When I'm not in the art room, I spend my time getting some of my to-do list finished and ticked off. Lately this has taken place from my new favorite spot: my bed, he he. It makes the cold a little more bearable when you can sit under a blanket with a cup of something hot, with candles and lights all around you!

On Friday I am headed for a day-trip to Oslo for the Norwegian National Committee's celebration of the 50 year anniversary of UWC. We are a group of 8 (I believe) students and a small number of staff selected to go. Attending will be no one else but the Queen of Norway, the Norwegian minister of education and other 'important' people. I am indeed very excited and still trying to figure out what to wear, ha ha. You know life is good when that is one of your biggest concerns! - More on this later as well.

I hope you are all keeping warm!
Mette