'Norweij'

Despite the difficulties of Summer School, we did enjoy being here - laid back pace, time for Arabic and Oud lessons...Jared ate dinner with the school night guards every week. One man learned to cook in the army and is quite good - he thoughtfully sent food home for me one evening. But after 6 weeks of School, we were aching to get out and have a breather. The School was more exhausting than we bargained for.

We spent a few days shopping in London, which I've never had much cause to do before, but what fun! We hit the end-of-the-season sales. I stocked up on tunic-type shirts and ankle sports pants to use as swimwear, and Jared found ties and button-up shirts. I also bought a kitchen scrub brush and my mother mailed me baking soda, an oven thermometer, a potato masher, cockroache traps, razor blades, and cream of tartar - all of which can't be found here. (Not that shopping lists are usually intersting, but they do show an unique snap shot of life.)

Some very dear friends welcomed us in Norway - such a God send. We went first to Oslo tanking up on Museums, wild cherries and peal-your-own shrimp at the harbor. Then we enjoyed the fresh air and greenness of Bergen and the Fjords. A family was generous enough to lend us their cabin in a remote mountain valley which hosts the largest glacier in Europe. Hiking was just what the doctor ordered, and we were thrilled to pick wild blueberries for trail snacks. We were totally impressed with Norweigans as all of them we met picked their own assortment of berries to make jam and juice, and made us waffles and homemade bread - not to mention that they invented the cheese slicer. When our two weeks were up, we actually felt prepared to return.

With such an expensive economy we didn't stock up on anything, except some brown cheese (it's both caramel colored and tasting, best eaten with jam and crisp crackers - who would have thought - YUM!) - and it set off every airport sensor from Oslo to North Africa! But it is safe in our fridge now.