It has been just over a week since I arrived in Tromsø. Although this is not long relative to the time I will be spending here, it is weird to think how different my life now is compared to just 9 days ago. This is not a bad thought in the least! I am thoroughly enjoying this confusing and awkward transition period that inevitably comes with any move whether it be to a place an hour or thousands of miles away.
First off, I don't mean this blog to be an epic retelling of every experience in my day-to-day life...more of an overview to keep all y'all who have asked updated. :) If ever you do want more details feel free to email me! I'm getting much better at responding in a timely matter.
Hmmm...so where to start? I arrived last Friday after 2 days of very smooth traveling. My advisor here set up a temporary place for me to stay which was very quaint and, as it was located on the highest point of the island, provided AAAmazing views (not that they don't appear everywhere!). Tromsø, by the way, is an island situated in the middle of a fjord. To the southeast is the mainland and to the north are more islands. Everywhere you look there are mountains! Absolute heaven! Below are a few pictures taken looking to the west ( I think atleast, my directions are still a bit off). The first was taken last Sunday before heading out kayaking (one of the grad students was nice enough to take me!) and the second was taken as the sun was setting with the mountains in profile...I'm still working on my camera skills so they're not great but they'll give you an idea of the view atleast!
Last weekend I also got the chance to go berry picking for the first time! We (my advisor's family and I) went to the next island over, Kvaløya. There were tons of blueberries and also a few cloud berries...I had never tried the latter but, essentially, if you were to give Fall a taste, I feel it would taste like a cloudberry. Yummy! They need much more specific conditions to grow compared to blueberries and therefore are rarer and more coveted. Below is a picture from our resting spot.
On Monday I started work at the Norwegian Polar Institute (Norsk Polarinstitutt). The picture below is of the institute with the Polaria (an arctic aquarium) in front. I am still settling in but I will be working on Remote-Sensing related projects. For all those who would like more details of my research just email me! :) The institute has many scientists working on various types of research. Everyday I realize more so how little I know but I am excited to at least begin scratching away at the surface of this very large ice block of knowledge (haha, yes I know, I'm laaame).
As I only had a temporary place to stay, I spent the first part of the week looking for an apartment. Housing is relatively expensive in Tromsø however I was lucky to find a room in very nice apartment only a 20 minute walk away from work. If I get a bike, it should only take 5-10 minutes! I have one roommate who I get along well with. :) The picture below is of my bedroom and the wonderful view I have. For the past four years I have covered the walls of my room with pictures of mountains and now I can just look outside my window! And the ocean is in view too! I am an extremely happy camper! :)
The following pictures are just a few more views from walking around Tromsø. It truly is breathtaking and no matter how good I may get at taking pictures I don't think I will ever truly be able to capture the beauty (wow, that sounds cheesy but it's true!).
Some Monk's Hood for Mom :)
Neato apartment complex with mountains in back- this is close to the view I have from my window at work.:)
Neighborhood that my apartment is located...you can see more mountains in back!
Hmmm...this is a rather long post but one more thing I want to add...LANGUAGE! I don't speak a word of Norwegian. While most people here do speak English when walking through the street all conversations, signs, etc., are in Norwegian. This is good for me though...I am determined to learn at least enough of the language to function comfortably in places like grocery stores and maybe, just maybe,understand a few words of the conversations around me. It is definitely an interesting experience feeling so out of the loop. I'm intrigued by how different Norwegian is from any other language I've studied especially in pronounciation and I really do hope that I can learn a fair amount if anything, because it is such a large part of the culture.
I hope you enjoyed my rather long introduction to life in Tromsø. With that I will say ha det bra!
Cheers,
Megan
Yeah Megan! Sounds like fun. You are definitely more interesting than me. I leave for my river trip tomorrow. I'll be in the canyon that's just before Moab (after Fruita). It'll sort of be like being in a fjiord...except red and sandstone.
ReplyDeleteLove ya! -Amy