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:


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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.


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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!


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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!


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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')...

2014 - 4월 mei juni

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

After the first three months, here's the second first half:


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In April, I was in Korea! and Hong Kong! / fell completely in love with Seoul and especially with Hongdae / also visited Suwon, Busan and Gyeongju, in the south of South Korea / saw lots of old friends again (after 3-4 years!), some who I studied with in Trondheim and some who were exchange students in Groningen / ate LOTS of good food / met so many nice people / smiled basically all the time / visited cherry blossom festivals / sang so much karaoke / loved life and everything and everyone a lot.


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In May, I spent a last lovely day in Seoul / was happy to be back home / was super motivated to write on my thesis / took a break off thesis writing and went for a hike in the south / celebrated 17. mai, Norway's national day, in Rotterdam / finished (!) my MA-thesis / visited Brussels and Ghent and handed in my thesis (!) / drew my parents / boarded a plane to Oslo.


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In June, I found myself a place to live in Oslo for the summer / went on a safari in the Netherlands / enjoyed the oranjekoorts (World Cup madness) so much (!) / ate fancy desserts in Nijmegen / visited Venlo and Groningen and Breda and said goodbye to the Netherlands for now / drank awesome (cheap) beer with some of my favorite Belgians in Brussels, after defending my thesis / boarded a plane to Oslo again / moved to Oslo (!).

Let's stay honest: these months were, without a doubt, my favorite ones of the year. I spent so much time with favorite people, two of my biggest dreams (visiting Korea + moving to Oslo) came true and I didn't know it yet, but I also finished studying.

2014 - januari februari maart

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

So, here's to the good things, the first little bit of the year - the rest will follow soon:


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In January, I lived back at my parents' between fields and cows / wrote my last exam ever (!) / visited Brussels* and Ghent, Groningen* and Utrecht / saw all my friends in my two old hometowns* / enjoyed the free bits of Eurosonic / started on my MA-thesis / drew a girl who liked my drawings / started teaching Norwegian again / finally got my eyes checked.


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In February, I got (pretty) glasses and suddenly saw so much more / also got a new iPhone with awesome camera / was asked to illustrate a children's book (!) / wrote a lot and saw my thesis grow so much / went for long walks almost daily / gave myself some lovely days off (in Utrecht, in Nijmegen, at home) / kept up on letter writing / welcomed a (very) early spring.


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In March, I continued with the long walks (which obviously is the best thing about living on the country side!) / celebrated carnaval / visited Ikea and Primark, Eindhoven and Maastricht and Venlo / saw my favorite exhibition of the year: the Anti Winter Depression Show / wrote a whole lot more on my MA-thesis AND almost finished it (!) / took some last days off before going to Korea (!) because I worked so hard and the weather was perfect / loved living at homehome more than ever.

Let's stay honest: the first months of the year were quite good, except for the fact that I didn't live close to my friends. And writing a thesis 24/7 doesn't only make you feel smart, but is frustrating too... But hey, 2014 started as good as it could, I guess.

instanovember

November was the first month I was in Oslo without visitors and the first month I was allowed to finally leave the country again. It started off more sad and lonely than ever, but I guess I made a lot of (social) progress, although I'm the happiest now at home.



1 - I went to Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Lund, Malmö, Göteborg) and this is what I brought back to Oslo.
2 - I was busy translating, writing, wrapping presents and selling yogurt almost all month (and I loved it).
3 - It's so easy to fall in love with (autumn) Utrecht over and over again ❤
4 - And I even paid a quick visit to Belgium / Antwerp, to eat the loveliest lunch (and drink good cappuccino ánd hot chocolate).

& more.