Tag Archives: Sandefjord

What's it like

What’s it like: Recycling

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When we lived in Georgia, we were pretty conscientious about recycling. We had our big plastic bin that would be set out by the trash can every week for pick-up. We would fill it with glass, metal, plastic, and paper.Recycling is important in Norway as well, which is great! Only, there is a little more involved.

In our home, we have five different trash containers. One is for food trash. The next is for plain paper. Then there’s restavfall: that is, non-recyclable waste. There’s glass & metal. And finally we have plastics.

Under the sink: we have spots here for paper,
food, and restavfall

There’s a special bag for food. And plastic. And we have three different trash cans outside that are picked up on a rotating basis each week: brown for food, blue for paper, and gray for restavfall. They also pick up the plastics in the rotation.

But not metal or glass – there are special receptacles throughout the city for those. And we can also recycle old batteries and lightbulbs at many grocery stores and other shops.

And we are always sure to check drinks bottles! Most of them have a pant – a deposit we pay when you buy them. So we keep the bottles separate, and take them to the pant machine in the grocery store. We return them and get a printed receipt that is taken to the cashier. We can use it towards our grocery purchase, or get the cash.

Lots to remember, but after a year I think we have the hang of it!

 

Talking about green[er] living made me think of the book Green Like God – have you ever read it? Our friend Jonathan wrote it a few years ago. Often, there seems to be this great divide between Christians and environmentalists. While I don’t believe that I should worship the earth, I do follow the One who created it. If He really made it for us, shouldn’t we take care of it? This book addresses some of that.

Do you recycle?
Are there any weird recycling requirements where you live?
Have you read any interesting books on recycling, environmentalism, or a related subject?

cross-cultural living

Ex-pat living: Easy things aren’t so easy

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In the US, a trip to the salon was easy. Even relaxing.Paying at the grocery store didn’t require any special thought.

A trip to the bakery was something I wouldn’t think twice about. Other than the fact that we didn’t really have a lot of bakeries.

But when you’re an ex-pat, the simple tasks can be difficult. Stressful. Exhausting.

You think about what you need to do. Location. Best time of day. You think about what you need to say to accomplish your task. Will it require everyday talk, or perhaps some special vocabulary you haven’t learned yet? What might the other person say back to you?

And if/when you accomplish what you set out to do, there is definitely a greater sense of accomplishment. An enthusiasm for getting the desired result. And maybe a little bit of pride when you’re able to complete it all without switching to English.

Earlier today, I arrived home from the salon. Mentally drained from a 40-minute conversation with the stylist. Proud that we didn’t once switch to English. And excited that I got the cut that I wanted. It’s a good feeling to be able to do normal things.

Time will make them easier. And the emotional ups and downs will give way to the ‘no big deal’ attitude.

But for now, we’re still excited when we are able to successfully take care of the little things.

Today, the salon. Tomorrow, the world!

celebrate, cross-cultural living, Day-to-Day

Ett år i Norge – Happy Anniversary to Us!

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One year in Norway – time sure does fly! One year ago today, we landed in Oslo. We flew from Vancouver to London to Gardermoen. Very little sleep during the flights. A 9 hour time difference. Eighteen bags and four backpacks.

 

 

 

But coming around the corner and seeing Torben, Espen and David was so sweet. And God is so good. He has provided in countless ways over the past 365 days. A good home with a kind landlord & family, who we are happy to also call friends. Good progress in language. A great school for the boys. Many local partners. A reliable car. A city we’ve come to love and call home. And many, many great friends.

A year ago on February 1, we were road weary and overwhelmed. This year on February 1, we celebrated with waffles (made by our little chef), skiing (on our own skis!!), homemade pizza (our family favorite here), and snowfall.

 

 

 

celebrate, friends

Gratulerer med dagen

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We had fun celebrating Daniel’s birthday this past week!We began with a taco night with some friends on Monday night. They gave Daniel legos and a magic set – a perfect gift for a kid who loves to perform! It was a fun evening.

On Tuesday, we spent [a lot] of time shoveling to get the car out of the driveway, so we could take something to Daniel’s class. No junk food allowed, so I made fruit & yogurt parfaits, and they were a hit!

When we got home, Daniel opened gifts from us, as well as cards from family & friends in several different countries.

He chose homemade Hawaiian pizza for dinner.

After dinner, several friends came by to help us celebrate. Daniel got some cool books and a gift card to the local toy store. My friend also graciously helped me make a traditional Norwegian birthday cake for Daniel. And I have to say, Norwegians know what they’re doing when it comes to cakes! I had fun learning to work with marzipan to decorate it.

On top of all that, our neighbors also supplied him with his first set of langrenn skis, poles & shoes. (So thankful to have sweet friends, who also happen to have older boys with hand-me-downs!)

Wednesday we were in a neighboring city for house church. Daniel was surprised with more gifts: a Norwegian picture dictionary, and a Norwegian kids’ cookbook. Perfect for our language learner, who also loves to help in the kitchen!
I think our little man
really enjoyed his first birthday in Norway!
celebrate

9 years old?!?!

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Happy birthday to our spunky, energetic, and joyful Daniel, who turns 9 years old today! We are so thankful for him and the way he approaches everything with enthusiasm and excitement.

What's it like

What’s it like? – new blog series

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Monday is the day you typically try to get back into routine. That made me think of something else that people ask a lot. We often get questions regarding what our routine is like, and what is different about life here.Change is a constant, and the seasons bring about big shifts in how we do things. But I thought it might be fun to talk a bit about some of what is normal for us.

So be sure to check back on Mondays for a new series…

What’s It Like?
Day-to-Day, What's it like

What’s it Like – our winter morning routine

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We’ll start with the Dove family winter morning routine…

I (Jenn) get up around 6:30. I get heaters turned on in the kitchen and living room, and pack the boys’ lunches. Everyone else gets up around 7:00 and gets dressed for the day. This time of year, a base layer under your clothes is important! While they get ready, I make coffee and breakfast.

Everyone sits down to breakfast around 7:20. Our normal breakfast includes fresh bread and rolls with cheese and jam, along with either musli, oatmeal or grits (thanks to friends and family for keeping us supplied with this taste of the South!).  Zack reads a devotion and we finish with prayers. The boys then clean up the table (one of their chores).

Then it’s time for the boys to get geared up for their walk to the bus. This time of year, they take the bus, as it is much easier than getting the car (and driveway) ready early in the morning. Daniel wears a snowsuit, and William gets into his snow pants and coat. They must also remember hats, gloves, and scarves… and reflectors since it’s dark out!

They leave around 8:00. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the bus station, and they are typically on the bus around 8:10-8:15. Their school day begins at 8:45 and we pick them up at 3:05.

cross-cultural living

What do you miss most?

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It is a question we are asked often. We get it via emails, Skype or FaceTime from friends and family in the states. And we get it from friends here as well.

What do you miss most from America?

Other than family and friends, there is not much that we can think of. We will occasionally have a moment where we miss a food item or a favorite store, or maybe some familiar convenience. But most of these moments are temporary or seasonal.

And such is the case with our latest item that we miss…

We miss having a garage!

Want to know why? Not because we don’t like walking outside to reach the car, or that we miss having climate control. No, it is more about the 30-45 minutes we currently must spend each time we need to leave. Shoveling the driveway and around the car. Brushing the car off. Shoveling under the car. De-icing windows. Thawing the wipers.

Today the snow around the car was knee-deep on me (Jenn). It is quite an adjustment for a couple who’ve spent most of their lives in Georgia!

Here is a picture of our car,
taken a couple of days ago

 

cross-cultural living, Day-to-Day

Vinteren er endelig her! (Winter is finally here!)

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Over the past couple of weeks, as we sat and watched news reports of record lows in the US, we wondered what exactly was going on around us in what so many call the Cold North.

We wonder no more. After a wet Christmas with temps never getting even close to freezing, winter has arrived in our little corner of Norway.
The snow began early Sunday morning. It was a nice light ground cover that brightened things up considerably. And then the snow returned Monday afternoon. It hasn’t been incredibly heavy overall, but it hasn’t let up a lot either.
As I type, the boys are out in the driveway, working on a (hopeless) attempt at a snowman, trying out their snow scooter, and developing some very rosy cheeks!