Yep, that's right. I'm gonna be in Norway next year for six months. March to August, baby. So, throughout my excitement and the inevitable telling-every-person-I-come-across, some people actually tried to convince me that it would be cold. Uh, last time I checked the season of summer lay between the months of March and August. I'm not expecting tank top and flip flop weather the whole time. But it's not like I'm going to be freezing and up to my knees in snow. Maybe some snow in March. But we're also talking Oslo. On the water.... again, I remember something about winds off the water being more warm than cold, hence no terrible snowstorms by harbors. Of course, every place on earth is different. And we are talking about a northern country, whose most northern parts don't see any sunlight during the winter. But I'm gonna be in the biggest city in the country, near water and it's the furthest south you can go. I think I'll be fine. Heck, even if it was ass-cold outside everyday, I survived Wisconsin for four years and Germany for one (northern Germany at that). I think I'll be fine.
Nina, the national director of Norway, is so nice. I spoke with her on the phone yesterday morning. It was probably the best morning I've ever had, which is a lot coming from me: a self-described morning-hater. I hate sunrises, I hate getting out of bed, I hate the dryness of my throat, I hate my dry hands and feet, or cold hands and feet. There is so much I hate about mornings, it's no wonder I was exhausted yesterday. I was up at six to call her. By six in the evening, I was ready for bed. I stayed up til ten just so I wasn't waking up by five today. Well, I woke up at two... thanks to my lousy television. Damn volume button. But I woke up at six-fifteen and took a shower! It's a fucking miracle! I actually took a shower in the morning, before work and - please buckle your seatbelts - got here by exactly 8am. Even had time to buy a bagel across the street.
I am a changed woman.
I get to start the visa process after Thanksgiving. I'll make sure I have all my parts, then ask Nina for a travel/work invitation. She knows they have to provide one. Hopefully before January is over I'll have my visa. Then the first week in March, I'll be on a plane to Oslo. Crazy!!!! And it all happened in the course of a week.
So, in January, Cheryl will want to put out an ad for someone to replace me. I'll probably have to interview them over the phone, like I did for SF. That's fine. And once one's picked out, they'll have to follow me around and I'll train them. Show them how to do payroll, the schedule, and all the other super important tasks I do here at my work. Fun, fun, fun. But that's what Eva did for me, so I'm not deeply averse to it.
I get to take BVC classes in Norwegian too. I can probably start them next month. Online classes. I'll probably take them here at the office. Hopefully, not too early in the morning. I'd rather take them at the end of the day. And then I can greet Nina in Norwegian, buy my breakfast in Norwegian, say thank you to my host family in Norwegian. How cool is that.... I'm excited.
And no you're not allowed to pinch me.