In my element

Yesterday was my kind of day. It was an ice cream day, a school day, a shopping day, a hazelnut latte day, a laughing day, a scooter day, a lambing day, and most notably, a horseback riding day.

Anne and I woke up early, got ready for school, and met the bus at the road. Because of exams, we were moved to a different classroom that also functions as a VIP box during football matches. In English class we discussed the power of advertising and how English is essential for someone who hopes to be successful in the global economy. The time I've spent in Norway has given me a complete understanding of the importance of being fluent in a second language (or third or fourth!) It is possible to learn another language. You must be diligent and passionate. I'm not saying this with experience, but with observation. I have decided to become more diligent in learning Japanese and hopefully, with time, I will be able to carry on complete conversations!

Anyway, school was great and while Anne was preparing for her written exam (it's on Monday and I would say to wish her luck but I know Anne won't need any) Kaia, Andrea and I had some ice cream. And we brought some back for Anne of course!

Like I said in a previous post, the eating schedule in Norway is fairly different from that of America.
Here's how it normally works...for me anyways:
Breakfast at 7am- Two slices of homemade bread with honey and brown cheese
Lunch at 11:30am-Two slices of bread or crackers with...honey and brown cheese
Supper at 3:30pm-Fish, potatoes, bread
The Unofficial Meal @ whenever we get hungry - bread with honey and brown cheese

I'm sure you noticed a trend here! I do adore honey and brown cheese and in Norway, the locals adore routine. We have a fairly set schedule but we seem to eat all of the time here. I'm not complaining! Sure I'll have waffles with jam and sour cream. Of course I'll have focaccia and cauliflower soup just because I feel like it. Norway is so amazing.

Not to bore you with my ramblings on Norwegian food and habit, but I've made one other interesting observation...
Pretty much all of the food I've tasted in Norway has been...bland. I really hesitate to use that word because to me, bland is a connotation for dull. But that's certainly not true of Norwegian cuisine! The food is fantastic even though there's not a lot of range in the flavor. Nothing too sweet, nothing too salty, and definitely not anything too spicy.

Ok, moving on...
Anne, Andrea and I had a little after school treat at the cafe. I got to sample a few of the cafe's most popular desserts-the apple cake, walnut brownie, and raspberry cheesecake. Mmmm.

While waiting for the bus, Anne's dad and younger drove by so we were able to hitch a ride with them (and the two Border Collies) back home. Randi, Anne's mom, made a "fish gratin," whole boiled potatoes, and carrots for supper. I watched everyone else as they prepared their meal and I followed suit. We mashed our potatoes and gratin together and poured melted butter on top. Julia Child would've been proud.

After we finished the delicious meal, Anne and I left the house for another adventure... one that I've had on my bucket list for a while. Kristin needed to move her horses to another pasture so Anne and I got to ride them up the mountain! My horse, Blesa (it means "blaze" in Norwegian), was so well behaved! We passed cars, tractors, sheep, and cows and she barely flinched. She let me trot a little as well. After riding her, I think I'll have to own a Døle horse someday, just like Blesa.



We helped Krisitin get her horses situated then we went back to Anne's to bundle up for the second adventure of the day. We rode on Anne’s scooter and that was fun. ..especially when we had to lean forwards to make it up the hills!

Anne's dad arranged a visit for us at their neighbor's farm where they train Icelandic horses. I was introduced to Guro and her mom Hilde and then we got to fetch our ponies to ride! Guro let me ride her "competition horse" Glaður. Glaður means glad in Icelandic. Guro, who is only sixteen and one of the best riders I’ve ever met, has ridden Glaður in several international competitions.
Technically speaking, Icelandic horses are really ponies. They are small but they are strong and known for their sure-footedness. The Icelandic horse can perform five gaits (the Icelandic Horse registry recognizes the canter and gallop as one gait) including a fast, four-beat, lateral gait called the tölt.

We brushed, saddled, and got to know our horses. I learned about a traditional Icelandic bridle and a special saddle pad that’s made of gel so it won’t slip while riding across the steep terrain of Norway.

After walking our horses down the road a little ways, we mounted and started our ride. Guro asked me if I wanted to try to try the tölt. Of course I did! Hilde went down the road a little ways so she could stop us if the horses got a little carried away. It took a little practice for us to learn the cues for asking our horses to tölt but when when Anne and I got it, it was so much fun! It was faster than trotting and so much smoother.
We got to tölt and I even got to canter. So much fun!


On the ride back up the mountain, Guro instructed us that the horses are barn sour and they love to run back to the barn. If we wanted, we could let them run and just hold on. Anne and I agreed we would do that.
Hilde stopped to talk to a neighbor. Anne and I were just sitting comfortably on our horses. I heard Hilde say something in Norwegian and before I knew it, the horses took off up the mountain. Glaður was galloping...something I hadn’t expected at all. At first I was scared to death but then I got into it, leaned forward and just went with it.
When Anne and our horses were next to each other, we were both laughing so hard we could barely breathe.
One second we’re standing and chatting and the next we’re galloping. I had no idea that was going to happen but I loved it. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I was in my element!



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Back at the barn, I caught my breath and started untacking Glaður. It was such a fantastic ride and Glaður is one of the most well-trained horses I’ve ridden. She turned and stopped at the slightest shift in weight and to ask her to move forward, I just pointed by hands forwards the tiniest bit. Amazing.

As we were untacking our horses, Guro got our attention. A sheep was giving birth! Gura and Hilde’s family owns over one hundred sheep and this ewe was one of the last two to give birth this season.

Hilde examined the sheep and found out that one of the lamb’s legs was pointed in the wrong direction. She had to reach in and fix it.

Anne, Gura, and I watched intently. After Hilde’s help, the sheep didn’t have much trouble. An hour or so later, an adorable lamb was resting in the pen with its mother. We were so lucky that we came on the right night to see the lamb being born! Absolutely incredible.
Anne and I had a spectacular day. It was jam-packed with fun times and memorable experiences. I loved it. I was in my element.