I am just SOOOOO exhuasted!  But in a the best possible way.  I have had several excellent school visits in a row, but of course - the real reason is MY FAMILY IS HERE! woot woot! Raise the roof! Party like it's 1999!  Brian and the kids arrived on Tuesday, the 20th to much rejoicing in the land.  Of course, on cue, I cried.  (An aside - Kenny Rogers's "Coward of the County" is playing in the bar in the Stavanger airport.  Surreal, much like my life lately!)  Anyway - back to the reunion - we have toured the fortress and the castle, been hosted to lovely dinners by my landlords and other Fulbrighters AND gone to Sweden.  And in between - I visited three schools.  *whew*

Here I am, with Patrick, on the train from the airport to Oslo S.  Of course, Liz would not have her picture taken with me, so this will have to serve as proof to certain people who are demanding habeus corpus.  I will post more pictures and much moe interesting musings when I have time.  Liz has taken some incredible photogrpahs that I will have to sneak into genreal circulation.  But for now - I have my babies and my love with me, my candidates won the elections, Alabama took a loss,  and I could not be happier.

I had the most wonderful day last Sunday with Tiffanie and Trina is Ås.  We had a fantastic brunch of fruit, rolls, a little sausage, hot tea, and fantastic conversation. I always feel better about my self and the world after spending time in Ås.  I was slow walking down the hill and missed the train back to Kolbotn.  I finally entered the cafe there at the train station and started kicking myself for not doing so earlier - completely charming - and warm and dry.  The persistent drizzle that day had turned my hair into a frizzy mess so I was glad to be inside with a cup of tea and a Skype call from my husband.  I was determined not to miss the next train, so I went outside, steadily talking away as I will.  I knew the train was 20 minutes out, so I wasn't constantly checking the board to see when it would arrive. I turned my back to the tracks, raised my eyes and saw the most glorious rainbow!  I told Brian I would ring him back because I had to take a picture.  Of the 20-odd people on that platform, I was the ONLY one who noticed the rainbow.  I couldn't believe it - how could your eyes not be drawn to that?  How could you not smile to see it? 

The train arrived and we made our way north towards Oslo.  The sun was setting, after only just peeking out from the clouds, and I saw no less than FOUR different rainbows in the 15 minute train ride.  I kept glancing around to see if anyone else was looking out the window, reveling in the sight as I was.  Nope.  Just me.  As I gawked out the glass on the door the conductor asked me what I was watching.  "Don't you see the rainbow?!" I asked her.  "No.... - oh wait. There it is.  I didn't see it before."  I stepped off the train at Kolbotn, with an arc of color stretched across the sky before me, framing the buildings as the sun set behind me.  People milled about the platform and sidewalks - and not one single person raised their eyes.

I flew up to the Lofoten islands on Monday, my third trip to the Arctic in three weeks.  I'll spare you the details of the horrific time in the Oslo and Bodo airports.  I eventually got there, a mere 6 hours late.  As you may know (or maybe not) I'm not a big fan of heights, so flying has always been a little anxiety laden for me.  As the plane takes off, I tell myself physics is real and the pilots know what they are doing.  I avoid window seats so I'm not reminded I am several miles off the ground.  I never EVER look out the window as we land.  Except Monday night.  As I'm watching the Norwegian sea zoom into view, I realize the runway on Svolvær is literally a few feet from the sea.  I squeeze my eyes shut and repeat physics is real. Physics is real.  He knows what he's doing.

And science proved once again I should implicitly trust it, despite the fact it is based on imaginary numbers, and we landed safely.  My cab driver was eager to practice her English and assured me it wasn't really cold and I should come back in January or February when it's REALLY cold.  I got to my hotel - which was new, and nice, and warm.   I peeked out the window, hoping for the Northern Lights - alas.  Just snow. 

The school, Aust-Lofoten VGS, was a short walk even by American standards,about half a mile.  (When Norwegians say it's a short walk, I have learned that can be a few blocks, or a few kilometers. Always be prepared.)  The faculty was incredibly welcoming and their students were prepared and attentive, even if they were a little shy at first.  There are 180 students at the school and I think I had almost every one in a class Tuesday or Wednesday.  I did not have any of the vocational students, though.  I was a little disappointed by that - I have found them to have an interesting and different perspective on things than the university-track kids and really enjoy talking with them.  Even though I did not get the chance to meet them, they made me this awesome clock!

But the kids I did have were great and eventually opened up and asked questions and made comments about the election.  They were all actually working on in-depth research projects about the American media ad its coverage of the election so they were very well-informed and I didn't really have to stop and explain different policies and concepts that often.  And, they appreciate Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as much as my own children!

The few Norwegians I know told me Lofoten was beautiful.  Beautiful is an understatement.  I was gobsmacked by it.  I'm not a mountain person, but wow.  This place was a-MAZ-ing! (as my nieces say!)  It's a small town, with a backdrop that is unrivaled in natural beauty - facing the Norwegian Sea, backed by craggy peaks against a surreally blue sky.  The sound of the waves gently lapping against the wharfs, the sea birds cawing as they roost on rooftops.  The traditional drying racks where the stockfish is cured silhouetted against the setting sun.   I would love to go back in the spring and take a hike and visit some of the archeological sites on some of the smaller islands.  Maybe the school will invite me back!