Russ Bus!

oh yeah, almost forgot the Russ. these are high school students in Norway, and a right unruly bunch they are! they were matching red dungarees for a whole month (you can spot them in bbq pictures of old). they basically cause pandamonium for a month and party none stop (they were banned from the may 17th parade this year, and often hold their own parody parades. they buy buses and paint them and deck them out for parties (sometimes spending up to £40,000 a time....rich parents), and drive them around town, drinking and having a jolly good time. last week just outside oslo 40 of said buses met up and had a mass party...excellent. this russ bus i rode past on way home on sunday....unbelievable artwork on the side...oh, and the funny part, they stpo the month of partying on may 17th...which is actually just BEFORE their exams...hmmmmm

Russ is a tradition and cultural phenomenon in Norway. Students who graduate from upper secondary school are called russ and celebrate with the characteristic festivities (russefeiring) during the first few weeks of May. In Sweden, a similar celebration is called Studenten ("the student"). In Finland students celebrate the start of the final test in a similar tradition called penkkarit. Also in Denmark graduation from high school (studentereksamen) is celebrated in similar ways as in Norway, including the wearing of caps in different colours and riding in open trucks, while the Danish term rus refers to first-year college students. There are many local variations of the russefeiring but the spirit of the celebration remains uniform across the country; it is a symbol of breaking free from the necessary shackles handed down by parents intended for the young generation's well-being and protection. It is a rite of passage, an abrupt way of ending childhood and of entering into adulthood, but it also marks accomplishing high school. The spirit of the russe-celebration represents exactly what Nobel Prize laureate in literature Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson tries to convey in the poem "Jeg velger meg April".

Sunday Sunday

probably being the only person in Norway on May 18th without a hangover, i felt it necessary to do something (is there a word for someone who feels they have to 'do something' constructive with a day'?)

so predictably i got the bike out and sent off for the mountains around Oslo for a couple of hours...well, that was the plan, i was actually out for 5 1/2 hours....kinda got lost to be honest, and managed to find my way home freezing cold and shattered...but had fun none the less.

highlights being trying to ride through the snow (really, dont try that at home), but possibly the strangest and nicest parts was being totally lost on top of one of the highest peaks, listening to the new Portishead album while it was snowing huge snow flakes without another person for miles...bliss

Saturday night

Spurning attempts and offers to go 'downtown' and get mightily drunk, i went to Melina and Ioannis's place for a few more relaxed and chilled out beers...and to be honest, was probably the highlight/saviour of my may 17th...tusen takk :-)

May 17th Celebrations - Norways Independence Day

in the words of somebody else...

The 17th May is the country's Constitution Day and marks the day when Norway became a free and independent nation. The constitution was signed by the national assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814.
Having been a part of the Danish autocracy for 400 years, Norway formed a loose union with Sweden that lasted until 1905. A limited and hereditary monarchy was introduced, whereby the king would exercise his authority through a government, while Parliament (Stortinget) would allocate monies and make laws. The Norwegian constitution was the most modern in Europe at the time. The way Norwegians celebrate their national day is unique and different from any other country. On May 17th, it is the colourful processions of children with their banners, flags and bands - not military parades - that play the main role. The day is celebrated across the country, from remote mountain villages to the main cities. Another special characteristic that contributes to making this a unique day is all the beautiful bunads (national costumes) that have become increasingly popular in recent years.

have to admit to being slightly excited about the day, being my firt May 17th in Norway. Unfortunately after ensational weather of late, saturday was cold wet and miserable. it was though quite incredible to see how many people donned the national 'costume' (not national fancy dress as i mistakenly called it after a beer or two), all men who weren't in national dress had to wear a suit, this thing is taken very seriously over here, and suffer ye who did not comply... so myeslf and a few friends went in our sunday best.

the parade itself was ok, got to see king and queeny, then got thoroughly cold. the idea is to stay out all day drinking...but to be fair im not particularly good at that, and lose interest relatively quickly, so was pretty bored after a couple of hours... but was a nice day regardless

interestingly though a couple of thoughts popped into my head during the day:

1. if this was in the uk, i would not bother, not a huge fan of the royal family to be honest (heresy!), and its just something i wouldnt be interested in seeing at home

2. again, if this was in the uk, this amount of natoinalistic pride would be deemed as almost right wing fascism, we english are almost embarrassed about offending anyone by showing the slightest hint of patriatic celebration...now, i do love the uk, (separate the uk from the royal family) but we just dont feel comfortable externalising this...funny bunch that we are...anyway...

Human hammock

and no...it didn't end in tears...or tears..(learn the word 'ambiguity' before next weeks lesson)

Human piggy-bank

well...we were 10 Kroner's short for an ice cream...

erm...BBQ?

a brilliant photo of Ioannis i think

M & M's

Mira and Melina...and quite possibly one of my favourite ever photographs....totally by accident (of course), and as im still still camera-less(deliberate, think about it...) was taken on my phone. love this photo

gosh golly shock...a BBQ!

Had a BBQ on the monday afternoon with Melina, Ioannis Mira and their friend Paul (Pal?). Which was a proper affair, amazing food, gin and tonics etc...none of this hot dog malarky with these...twas a thoroughly lovely afternoon...now where did i park that helicopter? ;-)

Soggy cheese sandwich

Kvikk Lunsj...actually means what it phonetically sounds like (say it like your drunk), means Quick Lunch, and is the equivalent of Kendall Mint Cake in the UK...its the essential mountain food here...in actual fact its only a KitKat in sheeps clothing...

...there, but at least now you know two Norwegian words to impress your chums at a party, although how you'll steer the conversation around to this i have no idea...unless there are party size KitKat's at the party, in which case...oh never mind...

Dodgy work canteen

Roadworks

Monday morning traffic jam

Another (yet final) public holiday

Final free holiday of the year. Decidedit was time to get the bike out and spent a few hours in the mountains, forests and lakes above oslo. Incerdibly there is still some snow up there, despite being a scorching hot day. actually rode past Tryvann, the ski slope which was half grass now, which makes it look like an incredibly sad and fallen place, seriously, its right up there with a single glove left on the street, or a childs face when a balloon floats away (hmmm...maybe that second cup of coffee wasnt wise), anyway... this was my monday morning

Basking, barbeques and beer

Yet another bank holiday, this time logically on monday obviously meant a barbeque and latter night out...random photos from.

Frogner park in the sun is amazing, it is literally packed packed with people, and right on my doorstep which is very nice thank you very much. kinda makes leaving THAT much more difficult. Hard to believe this place was covered in snow not that long ago

Oh and oddly they stopped selling alcohol in the shops at 3pm on saturday...i swear norway is a funny place at times...remind me to write them all down one day, that deserves a post of its own i swear