Walks, cookies, snow, beer and board games

Oslo. For about 6 years I dreamt about living in this city and now I've been here for more than half a year already. It doesn't feel like living a dream or being on holiday anymore - it doesn't feel like that at all. Oslo feels like home now. Oslo (sort of suddenly) feels like the place where my everyday life belongs right now. I enjoy being here, I enjoy exploring this city and I can't understand why not all of my friends are moving here ;)

2015 didn't feel like a new start like new years usually feel to me, but that's okay. I'm writing a lot, working a lot and being social a lot, too. I bought flowers, baked cookies, danced in the snow, made friends and printed a ticket to fly home (?!) tomorrow! - But honestly? I'm already looking forward to come back to Oslo and continue this adventure. I guess I fell in love again.

instadecember

1 - Oslo turned colder and prettier and I (not so secretly) fell in love with the city again.
2 - On the days I had off, I often was quite social (!) and very often went for hot chocolate after a long walk.
3 - But most of the time I was at work, so my mornings at home became favorite moments.
4 - And another favorite, on the very last day of the year: homemade oliebollen. They tasted just like the ones at home (!).

& more.

2014 - oktober november desember

It hasn't been my happiest, luckiest or awesomest year, but I ain't the person to focus on bad things, so I'll say I have had fun. 2014 has been good to me, although it could have been better. I have been lonely and insecure and lost a couple of friends I thought I'd never loose, but I also made dreams come true, met lovely new people and discovered new places. It's ok.

So, here's to the good things of the last (and definitely shittiest) part of the year:


^
In October, I started to feel at home in my little home / enjoyed the long and pretty Indian summer / got a residence permit! / sold (and ate) more froyo / got slowly addicted to Northern-African food / had two more friends visiting and loved showing them around / had a lovely evening with some Instagram-girls / ended up celebrating Halloween with a rabbit in the tram home.


^
In November, I was allowed to leave Norway again, so I immediately visited Copenhagen and Southern Sweden / fell in love with Lund and Malmö / got to meet up with (what felt like) so many friends! / saw penguins! / was happy to go back to Oslo! / bought myself some presents / went for long walks / posted a contact announcement for friends and got lovely responses! / very happily boarded a plane home to the Netherlands! / visited Utrecht, Eindhoven, Venlo, Hema, Rotterdam and Antwerpen / loved being able to talk to strangers without being "the strange one" / felt home for the first time in a long time.


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In December, I enjoyed some more days at home-home / was more excited to go back to Oslo than I expected! / had the loveliest Sinterklaas celebration! / found my inner nerd (?) when going to a Sound of Music-karaoke and a Nintendo night (in one week) / went for long walks (as usual) / was so happy to finally see snow again! / sold froyo and read magazines at work / felt more Christmassy then ever with attending the Sunturns Christmas concert, baking pepperkaker and having the biggest Christmas meal / won't be celebrating New Year's Eve alone.

Let's be honest: in the last part of the year I realized that I didn't have as many friends in Oslo as I thought and actually felt really lonely and sad, especially when I besides got an inflammation in my wrist and couldn't write or do whatever. Work became more and more uninspiring and there were few social events to look forward to. Things became better when I decided I HAD TO be more social and although it's still hard with me being so insecure about my Norwegian and simply not knowing much people, it's going better and better. I mean: December was great compared to October and November (in Oslo, when not having visitors)

- and in 2015, things will continue to be better.
Happy New Year, lovelies. Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting. See you next year.

2014 - juli august september

It hasn't been my happiest, luckiest or awesomest year, but I ain't the person to focus on bad things, so I'll say I have had fun. 2014 has been good to me, although it could have been better. I have been lonely and insecure and lost a couple of friends I thought I'd never loose, but I also made dreams come true, met lovely new people and discovered new places. It's ok.

Here's the 3rd part of the year, mostly spent in the everlasting (so it seemed...) Norwegian summer:


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In July, I officially became a master in journalism! and celebrated with macarons in the park / went for so many walks and bike rides through Oslo / still saw all the games of the Dutch soccer team / went to Trænafestivalen in the north, where we walked around in bare legs and dresses and where I finally saw Den Svenska Björnstammen (a.o.) live! / started writing a weekly column! / got lovely visitors from the Netherlands / swam in the river / (finally) visited the Norwegian folk museum / got a job!


^
In August, I boarded a plane to the Netherlands, to celebrate my dad turning 65 and my parents being married for 40 years! / started my visit off with frietjes and a kaassoufflé at the airport / bought everything I wanted at Hema / was surprisingly excited to go back to Oslo (but a little sad as well) / started my job in the frozen yogurt-store! / ate more froyo than ever / was so lucky to be able and stay at Kaja's place as long as I was homeless / enjoyed all the blue skies / did a big Dutch-Norwegian translation! / made (two) new friends / finally finally finally found a place to live!


^
In September, I sold (and ate) more froyo / turned 25! / celebrated my birthday with my parents visiting (and eating the best portobello burger ever)! / stayed in an AirBnB-home for the first time / moved into my own room! and finally got to unpack my bags! / got along well with my two flatmates / finally got to play frisbee golf / got another friend visiting / spent the last days of the month having a last barbecue of the year (!) and finally buying a bed.

Let's stay honest: not having an own place to live caused a lot of stress and trouble, resulting in being tired all the time and spending every free second searching for a place, instead of trying to be social and meet people. I felt a little lonely, but luckily had visits from friends from the Netherlands to look forward to all the time (which was nice, but also 'escaping the truth')...