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Monday, April 9, 2012

Week 15: How I know I live in Norway

Almost 4 months in Norway and I think I've started to blend in. How do I know? Well, I've realized I've started to live the Norwegian way...or what I think is the Norwegian way. Here are just a few examples:

1. When I go to the store, my list always includes bread, eggs, milk, cheese, cucumbers and red peppers.

2. I drink morning coffee, afternoon coffee, hanging out with friends coffee, wasting time coffee, Norwegian class coffee and dessert coffee.

3. I always have a lunch packed for work (matpakke), which includes my open faced sandwich with cheese, cucumber and red peppers and a clementine or kiwi.

4. If I leave the house and forget my matpakke, there's always kaffe og bolle at Narvessen waiting for me.



5. I'm waving down my bus so it doesn't leave me waiting.

6. I have frozen cod and rolls in my freezer.

7. I'm wearing rain boots, a wool sweater, scarf and rain jacket.

8. I colored my hair using boxed hair dye.

9. I take Omega 3 tablets every day.

10. I have Draw Something and Wordfeud downloaded on my phone.

11. The sun came out the other day, so I went outside to sit in the sun, smiled and shivered as I watched as many others did the same.



12. I feel terribly guilty for every second spend indoors during a sunny day.

13. I bring my own drinks to parties.

14. Last weekend, I wore a dress, leggings and heeled shoes out! Goodbye jeans:)

15. I can vacation to Spain and it only takes about 4 hours by plane.

16. In Spain, I am in awe over the cheap prices of food, drinks, haircuts and clothes!!

How to stay healthy in Bergen...and on a budget

There is always a big adjustment to diet and exercise in new countries I visit. Every new place has it's challenges, and Norway is no different. At home, I had my regular workout routine and grocery list. Here in Norway, things are obviously different, so I've had to make some adjustments. I don't know if anyone else out there has had these same challenges, but if so, here are some of my ideas.

Challenges in Bergen
1. No full time job = no gym membership.
2. It's no fun to run outside in the rain, and it's almost always raining here.
3. Less selection at the grocery store of pre packaged, low calorie foods.
4. Norwegian food means a lot of bread, potatoes, cheese and cakes!

So, I have had to become creative with my diet and exercise here. What can you do when you have no gym and can't go outside every day to workout?

First, I walk a lot! I don't have a car and my hike up to my apartment is just that...an uphill hike! Try doing this with grocery bags!! This helps a little but I need a little more.


The last of quite a few hills from downtown/work/school/store/coffee back to my apartment


One of the "short cuts" back home

My old roomie helped me come up with some great workouts that I can do in my tiny apartment.

In addition to these fun little workouts, I have also found that you can get anything on youtube! I try to do some quick yoga workouts a few times a week. My favorite is the 30 minute flow yoga (there are loads of them listed).

The diet in Norway has been the most challenging for me. Some things I ate regularly at home and really miss in Norway include ground turkey, Whole Foods Whey Protein Powder, boca meatless things, string cheese, lowfat fage greek yogurt and Amy's meals. There are a lot of carbs in Norway and not a lot of cheap, lean protein. It's been a big challenge to stick to my 5 small meals a day plan. But, I have found what they have at the grocery store and here are a few things I've come up with this week. All of them have few ingredients that are relatively inexpensive at the grocery store (I mean, I am still in Norway so I don't think I can call anything "inexpensive").

Quick Breakfast (I make a few of these and keep them in the freezer to reheat): Homemade breakfast burritos:

Ingredients
4 Wheat tortillas
3 egg whites
2 whole eggs
1/4 onion
1/4 pepper
1/4 can black beans (I couldn't find black, so I used brown beans)
spicy pepper (if you like spicy)
4 slices of light cheese
salsa or tomatoes
salt and pepper

How to:
1. Saute the onions and peppers until soft
2. Add the eggs
3. Add the beans, spices and salsa
4. Place a slice of cheese on each tortilla. They put one scoop of egg mix on each tortilla and fold into a burrito.
5. Yum, yum!!


My burrito topped with some fresh tomatoes

A new recipe I tried this week: Cod over spinach and tomatoes

Ingredients
Brown rice
2 servings of Cod (I had a frozen bag of cod and it worked out great)
Fresh Spinach
Canned tomatoes
Olive Oil
Honey
Salt, Pepper, Cayenne Pepper
Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Directions
1. Cook the rice
2. Sprinkle the bottom of the baking dish with olive oil
3. Place fresh spinach on baking dish
4. Place fish (defrosted) on top of spinach
5. Top fish with 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 can of tomatoes and spices
6. Bake (I used 180 for 35 minutes) until fish is cooked throughout
7. Yum!


Cod with Spinach and tomatoes over brown rice



It was delicious!!

Because I have a sweet tooth, I want an apple pie, but I make: Healthy(ish) Apple Coconut Bake with Sweet Yogurt Topping

Ingredients
1 apple
shredded coconut
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp honey
cinnamon

How to:
1. Beat egg with milk
2. Slice the apple in thin slices
3. Coat apple with egg mix
4. Mix flour and shredded coconut and coat the apples in this
5. Place apples on baking pan and sprinkle with cinnamon
6. Mix yogurt with honey cool
7. Bake apples (200 until soft), then top with some yogurt mix
8. Yum, yum!!


Baked Apples with Coconut
The coated apples are a little crispy and the shredded coconut makes it a little sweet, so it's almost like eating an apple pie:)


Baked Apples with Coconut and Sweet Yogurt topping

I'll keep experimenting and might share more later (if they taste good)!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Week 13: Easter (Påske) break in Bergen/Spain

You know when you have been away from the sun (and happy hours) for 12 weeks, then you go somewhere where they have sun nearly every day and are well known for their tapas and delicious Spanish wine? Well, this place was Spain and I got to go there this week. When I got there, I had a euphoric, warm, happy emotion and made me feel like I should jump up and sing. I have been to many different countries and can honestly say it was one of the greatest places I've ever visited. I quickly fell in love with the food, people and culture.


So happy to be in beautiful Spain!


One of the many pretty pictures of Torre del Mar

Easter in America for me has always been celebrated on one day and most of the time involves a big family brunch, an Easter bunny, a basket full of candy and an Easter egg hunt in my family's big back yard. It's a completely different story in Norway and in Spain.

Easter in Norway is celebrated over more than a week. Kids are out of school, adults have a few days off of work and they have special meals, treats and events just for Easter. A few of these include:

Easter Events:
Påskekrimmen (Easter crime): Norwegians love their crime stories and Easter is a great time for them. They have crime stories listed on milk cartons during the week of Easter and a crime series on TV specifically for Easter.

Påskefjell (Easter Mountain): Easter is a great time to go on a hike in the mountains. This is the term for that.

Påskenøtter (Easter quiz/trivia): Norwegians also love their trivia. They have special quizzes that they play on the radio that people can call in with their answers and win prizes.

Easter Food:
Påskekylliing (Easter chicken)
Påskelam (Easter lamb)
Påskemarsipan (Easter Marsipan)


Easter crime shows



Norwegian milk cartons with Easter crime stories.

Now, Easter in Spain is more extravagant as well. In each city, they have special parades. They wear their traditional cultural outfits, carry big featured floats, and play music. They do this for many nights and on the last night, walk overnight until early in the morning! It was wonderful to see.


Some beautiful Spanish girls in their outfits during the parade. I was shocked that they walked in really high heels for hours!



One of the many big floats they carry during the parade. They have many people carrying it on their shoulders. It was very impressive.



Some of the cultural outfits warn during the parade in Torre Del Mar.


Outside of the Easter celebrations, I enjoyed so many other things Malaga had to offer. One of my favorites was our visit to the White City.


The White City!


The streets in the White City were so cute!!!



This was the cemetery at the White City. It is a very well known, beautiful cemetery and it was fascinating to see.



Me and the White City

Then, there was the food and drinks. I loved everything I tasted!! Fresh fish, Allioli, Ceviche, Paella, Chorizo, Churros, Candied walnuts, flan, meatballs, prawns...oh this list could go on forever!! I didn't say no to anything, which is why I just ate brussel sprouts for dinner.


Delicious Fish at a very well known restaurant!!


Spanish tapas


Fresh Churros with homemade chocolate dipping sauce! I think i'll be dreaming about these!


Paella and Champagne!


Chorizo on fresh bread, candied walnuts and a beer. Yum!!

And the people were amazing! We spent one night out with some of my Aunt's friends and they were the most wonderful people! I met one man who offered me a teaching job in Madrid. I won't lie, that sounds tempting after this last week!!