Cool Picture

A picture taken outside of the Karlskirche in Wien/Vienna.


Karlskirche Life and Death and Angels
Originally uploaded by spkennedy3000

Norwegian Constitution Day in Denmark

Outside of the Norwegian Church in Copenhagen


Norwegians celebrate their Constitution Day on the 17 May, even when living abroad. The day is the Norwegian National Day, and we celebrate it to commemorate that Norway got it's first Constitution in 1814. Previously we were a part of Denmark (until 1536 we were in union with Denmark and after that we became a part of Denmark) and in 1814 we were handed over to Sweden as a part of the peace settlement of Kiel (the end of the Napoleonic wars). Denmark so to say lost Norway to Sweden. Needless to say the day grew in importance during the union with Sweden. The closest comparison to the Norwegian Constitution Day is the American 4th of July.

The day itself is celebrated with children parading (marching) in the streets, band playing etc. We sing the National Anthem and other songs that expresses our national identity. A lot of Norwegians and Samis put on their national costume. Dignitaries give speeches about liberty, tolerance and human rights. It's a day for everbody who comes from Norway (read: people like me) and people who for whatever reason is attached to Norway (e.g.: Jan).

For me it was a strange thing to celebrate it abroad, for the second time. Last time was in Germany while studying there. Denmark is however more exciting, there are more Norwegians in Copenhagen and the country is explicitly mentioned in verse 6 of our National Anthem, as one of the three brothers of Scandinavia.



Jan shouting Hurra and me enjoying the parade.


Me and Jan went downtown for the day, it began with a service in Christian's Church, followed by the parade to the Norwegian Church in Copenhagen. There the ambassador held a speech, songs were sung and we got something to eat. The day made me proud and it was interesting to hear the ambassador's speech.


I actually think Jan enjoyed the day greatly. At least he is talking about starting a tradition here in Denmark, celebrating the Danish Constitution Day.

From Barcelona with Love

As I mentioned in the previous entry, we have recently been to Barcelona. It was my first visit there, and Jan's second. He had previously been there due to work, and only seen the Sagrada Familìa (The Temple of the Holy Family). We went there with three friends; Annie, Ann Maria and Henrik. Actually we learnt to know Henrik during the trip, myself had only met him twice before the trip.

Anyway, here are some pictures (there's lot's of more, but these are the best):

Barcelona 2008

Hit the link if you want to watch some pictures. Enjoy, like they say in the commercial.

Job over ...

The 30 April 2008 I quit my job in Oslo. It's sort of a "game over" when you leave your job. I have worked at MF Norwegian School of Theology for nearly four and a half years, for me that's quite some time. The first half year I worked as a Higher Executive Officer, and then for the remainder of time I worked as an Academic Studenter Advisor. The first couple of years with a responsibility for the postgraduate programs (including Professinal Degree in Theology and Ministry) and the two last years as a Teaching Coordinator (working with planning and schedule). The week before I quit the job, I was in Oslo to step down and to be celebrated (if you can call leaving ones job a celebration).

The entire leaving-process was weird. I felt strechted out between the pressure and stress the last couple of days to finish some projects we were working on and then the insatiable pleasure knowing it would all be over soon.

Me and my successor in the job, Arfinn, in my old office.

One of the evenings my collegues invited me to a Lebanese restaurant were I enjoyed a nice meal and good words. And they presented me with a card and a gift certificate (for a book store - who may have suspected that! ;-)

At the restaurant. In the left picture (from left): Rune, Elna, Claudia, Arnfinn and me (who needs to go on a diet). In the right picture: Hallvard, Marie-Luise and Ann (giving a speech).

The last day the entire faculty and other employees were invited to eat ice cream and drink coffee. And a lot of the people paid homage to me, and I'm going to remember some of the good words that were given to me. Academics don't hand them out too often...

After that week me, Jan and some friends went to Barcelona together. But that is material for another entry. Right now I'm unemployed - and often bored... go figure... but luckily (?) MF has hired my as a special consultant for a couple of days in the end of May... at least I get to return to old hunting grounds for a while...

(And thanks to the ever kind Pirjo for sharing the pictures from my last days at MF)

Project 3six5

Vi har kastet os ud i lidt af et projekt: Fra og med den 1. maj 2008 til den 30. april 2009 skal vi hver dag tage et billede, og blogge det på Flickr som en del af "Project 3six5". Det er vores amerikanske ven Kelly, der er ophavsmand til idéen, som altså går ud på at dokumentere et helt år i egne billeder. Det bliver spændende at se, hvordan det går med disciplinen. Indtil videre har vi holdt tempoet oppe og lagt et billede for hver dag i maj måned.

Dagens billede er nyudsprungne grønne blade fra Lersø Parken. Se resten af månedens billeder her: www.flickr.com/groups/project3six5/

Tuesday Night Excursion

After dinner tonight, we decided to make an excursion to downtown Copenhagen to enjoy the crisp spring air, and take advantage of the fact that the nights have already become significantly lighter after daylight saving time bagan a couple of weeks ago.
We headed for the new theatre on the habor front. Not to see a play, but to see the building and the surrounding area. We liked what we saw. And then headed back to catch Desperate Housewives on Norwegian television..

(Left to right: JA in front of the Opera House, The glass facade of the new theatre, J in front of the theatre)

Finally...

For quite some time I've promised to blog the new track suit that I bought Jan. The old one was heinous and needed a replacement. I'm not exactly a fashionista, but both pastel green and purple brings back memories from the eighties - and makes me nauseous. And here he is, all slick and updated:

Before heading out


After the workout


I hope you all will agree with me that the new track suit looks a lot better (add your comment below). But luckily the new wrapping does not change the content. He's still the best.