In the rest of the world, November 30 is known as All Saints’ Day. Here it is devoted to one saint alone, how gracious.

St. Andrew was a holy man who lived everywhere else than in Scotland, but after his death another holy guy named St. Rule had a dream saying Andrew’s remains were to be buried at the end of the world where they would never be found by anyone in their sanity. So he went to the tomb, grabbed some very random parts (a tooth, an arm bone, a kneecap and some fingers) and brought them to guess where. Catholics and others who believe in ghosts say he’s been protecting Scotland ever since.

 St. Andrew’s cross:

Anyhow, there was a céilidh (silent d) to his name, and what a night it was! Kristen, can you fill me in with some photoes?

If I bring the moves to homely dancefloors people will think I’m a redneck, but it looks fantastic when everyone does it together. Fun and friendly and hobbity.

What a pity it took so long to realise where to go to see the loveliest garment in the world jump about!

Bassist of Iluvietie, as far as I can tell. Rawr.

The place was awesome, but the staff did not have a clue about drinks:

I ordered a Black Russian. They go, “Sure, if you can tell me what is in it.” I can’t remember so I ask for Kahlua and coffee instead. I get two Kahluas with coffee instead of the one I ordered.

I ordered whiskey, and asked to see the interesting-looking bottle in the bar. They hear only the first part and get me Famous Grouse (very not interesting).

What more was it? Oh yes, my rum and lemonade came out very dark so I ask if that’s really lemonade. The rum and COKE is quickly removed and my drink remade.

Birthdays: Generally a rather enjoyable concept. I did not have too high hopes for this one, being away from everyone and all, but today’s been a blast. I’ll take you through it:

* Sleep in (no classes. What a pleasant coincidence)

* Discovering there’s been a heavy snowfall during the night! (Aggy is a sucker for snow)

* Brunch at Caro’s, including loads of cream

* Strolling through park, with spontaneous, politically correct snowperson making and generic childish behavior

* Returning, to find mr. Laptop waiting impatiently for me on kitchen table (Finally there you are. Now fire me up right away, I’m installed and powered up and can’t WAIT to show you my bloated systems!)

* Playing w/ mr. Laptop for a couple hours

* Christmas shopping

* Dinner out w/Caro

* Cake at Malin’s (other load of cream)

* Supper with my sweetest neighbors

Whoah, some day. Not to forget the phone calls and messages -thanks a bunch, guys, it means a lot. All in all; with such a start, the year is bound to be worthwhile.

Nessie

Snowman #1, Nessie. Gordon the Giraffe: Courtesy of random guy taking the picture

The disaster

Nessie died on us!

The shock

How could she!

E.T.

Bypass head transplant successful, Nessie now looks slightly flat-headed and was re-baptized E.T.

Tech girl is trying to figure out how to convince customs people at airport that 3 phones, 3 PCs, 2 cameras and 2 hard drives *ARE* private, non-commercial, personal belongings. Hey, I’m just moving my stuff!

Generic update: I’m quarreling with my computers, this is why my blogging has been less than great lately. So today I was at PC World (the shop, not the magazine) to update things - mine are over four years now and both are being bad-tempered, so I believe it can be justified. But for Miss Irresolute the choice is overwhelming and I have a really hard time narrowing it down: The cheapest and easiest would be to get one of the handy webbooks, specifically this cutie.

acus eee 900

More useful still would be to get a powerful tabletop, but what’s up with the wobbly hipster machines bloated with useless multimedia stuff, totally dominating the market? It’s as though I needed a tractor and was offered a Vespa. I’ve looked at a few business models but as I prefer staying below the kilo£ the only one I’ve found yet is this.

HP Compaq 6715b

I don’t even have a very good impression of HP stuff but that may be because my experience is from cheap models (which sound like squeaky toys when you touch them) and this is said to be solid. Any suggestions folks?

Also, as much as I hate buying new stuff (inner environmentalist weeps) I realise I’m going to need a new phone in a few weeks too, as I don’t believe Vodafone will unlock mine for use on foreign latitudes any time soon. What does Murmeldyr think of released-yesterday SE W902?

SE W902

It’s kind of crap to pay for a cybershot when I’d prefer no cam at all, but I’ve more/less given up that part as only the grandma range of phones come without it and when it has to be there why not make it a decent one…

Tech stuff aside, I’ve been blessed with visits by two of the most shining people I know: Babysis, who is soaring through uni and really challenging my position as the smarter sister (So proud of you!) and Balanse, the most inspiring person who I wish I could spend more time with (why did you have to move so far away!). Way too short of course, but we had a good time walking on the beach, having a good laugh of a guy who was not friends with his sailboard at all, seeing a bit of the city and my pretty campus and having dinner at an old church that has been totally refurbished into an impressive Dracula atmosphere which would have been very complete if they had dared cut the chart music.

Some guy who had tremendous troubles with his sailboard-thing

On Friday I saw The four seasons by candlelight. Finding it was really an adventure, none of us had done the map research beforehand so we went to town at random and asked people. The third venue was the right one, and we arrived just on time to the show! It was really awesome, the candle light was fake but the powdered wigs, velvet knickers and brocade coats were real as can be. Meanwhile, Bolt was watching his fav comedian , which I detest as much as he despises classical music so both were quite happy to be some hundred miles apart just that evening. Win-win!

sneak-shot of Summer.

Tuesday was the 10 year anniversary of the Shared Planet society, the one with the awesome atmosphere. Held at the Tunnels downtown, it was a fun night with killer music and we stayed much longer than planned. I’d give you a link but Google only gives me resources on tunnel vision… This time too we did quite a bit of walking up and down the street before finally finding it. Good thing I was not allowed in the scouts back in the days, how could I find my way in a forest when I can’t in a town with one high street?

There are some pretty artistic people in this bunch

I suspect Jodie to be the artist behind this.

Also, I’ve been to my first real American thanksgiving party tonight. With baby turkey (erm, chicken), three kinds of haggis and sushi! I learnt that mincemeat pies contain neither mince nor meat, but rather Christmas pudding. Weirdness… The thought of a day dedicated to being thankful is both appealing and appalling: it’s nice to have a timeslot when you really have to count your blessings, but if that means you’ve been thankful for the rest of the year… What I’m trying to say is, can you force thankfulness or will the forcing part destroy the spontanity? Also it’s interesting to note there’s no harvest feast in Norway anymore. Shouldn’t that be a very natural tradition in any society? I mean, sure most people don’t farm anymore, but we do celebrate the Christian holidays even though Christians seem to be a crumbling minority up there. The relevance may be smaller than before but the tradition stays.

Weirdest beer ever

Badger beer - golden glory. Erm, does anyone else find that NOT appealing? Note the foam still coming out after having poured good half pint. This is why beer is not to be stored in the freezer.

So, it’s been a very social week but my courses are mostly closing and I feel ahead of the rest so it’s fine mum.

The Storytelling society (yep, there is one) had Sean Gordon come and tell stories. He brought all kinds of gear and demonstrated Highlander-style fighting and transforming a piece of fabric into a kilt. We got to know all kinds of quirky historical facts (-How did the Field of Shirts get its name? In the battle there, the Highlanders removed their kilts before charging to not damage them, and fought in only shirts). It was magical. Like story time with grandpa by the fireplace when you were a kid.

Note the pretty staff in the background

Next in the “how to survive in Aberdeen” series:

It’s not exactly a metropolis. There’s a reason why the student society arranges Christmas shopping trips to Glasgow.

Night life is still impressive for an Oslonian, people do know how to party.

Sign at the toilets of a rock scene

Beware, alcohol prices have dropped 60 % in the last decade or two, and is now in fact cheaper than soft drinks. Official posters remind citizens that “everyone benefits from one alcohol-free day a week.” It really is crazy, but people seem to tackle it well, not drinking more in general but rather more exclusive stuff.

EDIT: I might be saying that because I entered in 3d year and my peers have learned the hard way…

Do come in time for Freshers’ week. It’s a bit like the homely russetid (which doesn’t translate at all, it’s a really extensive 6. form leavers’ party which lasts for 3 weeks, a true proof Norwegians are still vikings) complete with the meningitis warnings and the “it was the time of my life, but never EVER again” comments afterwards.

Those who watch their waistlines watch out; ready-mades are either stuffed into a pie or deep fried, and just about everything is sweetened. Portions are tiny though, and I don’t see many obese people at all.

Fashion seems a bit… Old-fashioned? Or rather, neater and more buttoned-up, more traditional and less flashy-fancy. I’m not going to post any theories on why it is so, there are others who know a lot more about that.

Steven seagull and his steroid cousins do make themselves noticed, as the dedicated facebook group Aberdeen Seagulls Are Fucking Huge And Scary proves.

Photo by Sophie

So for the Aberdeen-specific stuff:

King’s college (the 1500s part of the uni) is really pretty, it feels good to go through such gates on the way to lecture:

As for school, the level is higher than home, no doubt. Not in the sense that what we learn is more complicated or the workload heavier, but in the sense that the level of the professors is very high, what we are served is new science (comparing with power points from last year I see large revisions) from experts in their fields, and there’s a plan behind every class. Finally after 4 years I do feel I’m going to uni and not just to school.

No one dares say it, but I think it ought to be said; not to scare anyone off but because the gain of painting things rosy is less than the one of being honest: UMB is a b-school. Sorry about that. Wish I knew it earlier.
Most of the subjects are thaught in Oslo too (mine originally weren’t, so I have an excuse:P) and as everyone secretly wants to be in Oslo (Trondheim for the engineers) all the rejects end up at UMB. It shows on the level, and ultimately the requirements go down. Every subject is limiting the curriculum from last year. Also, I’ve seen so much uninspired reading-the-textbook-aloud-teaching there and it’s hard to say what came first. All I know is I’m having regrets about going back there now I’m getting used to something better.

Most of my lectures are here:

And here.

The cathedral (tall thing on the left) still holds services, and you might run into newlyweds as you go for lunch.

The crown of the cathedral at night

The founder on display outside the cathedral, they say he was too big to be buried inside. In which case, the death mask is not very accurate.

To the possible benefit of others who plan their study abroad year (which every student should. You will never get more support and backing in getting away and being free in your favorite place in the world. Let nothing hold you back - I left man, home and job behind to do this), I’ll present a few of the things I learned along the road. More reports here.

It doesn’t have to cost you. The Erasmus program is underrated: For all EU/EEA students, it means EU pays the tution fees, fixes all the papers and even pays you a stipendium which goes quite far (well it pays the rent). Many things can be said about the culture-suppressing anti-democratic want-to-be-USA syndicate that is the european union, but free movement of students is definetely on the plus side. For Norwegians, you might also find the Educational Loan Fund paying your plane ticket, which was a pleasant surprise to me as this is not really advertised.

I found it all fairly straight-forward. When you go to the study exhibitions and battle the flyers it seems quite daunting, but most options can be easily eliminated (should be, if your advisor of studies does their job) if you have a splinter of a clue what you want to do (and maybe more important, what you _don’t_ want). Again, if you do Erasmus all you have to do is tick some boxes and write 5 lines about why you want to go. You don’t even have to send it, your school does all that.

Just because your home school treats every application the same within the deadline, doesn’t necessarily mean the other one does. I lost a very nice flat because I waited with applying until deadline, it turned out it was first-come-first-serve (then why a deadline at all?)

Private accomodation can be both cheaper and nicer than the Uni ones, but also more risky. Don’t pay a penny before signing a contract and do have a look at the place before deciding anything (a few people I know have found themselves in a pinch). As all this can be hard to do when you’re coming a long way, I figured a uni flat was easier after all, at least it can be (well, must be, it turned out) fixed beforehand. The catch is they might not let you loose from the contract so you eliminate your chance of finding something better.

For my views on the uni accomodation, refer back to http://murmeldyr.no/2008/10/07/the-flat/

This morning I was woken up by bagpipes. It was bound to be a good day.

Ten minutes later I was out in the park looking for the band (hoping to see some kilts - I guess I have a thing for men in skirts…) but it stopped before I found it.

Birthday lunch at C’s and I got some more Loch Ness media. Nessie:

Can you see a Nessie in the picture?

Staring at the pitcher of beer

Staring at the pitcher of beer. Yep, drinks by the pitcher. 4 pints, good two liters, well enough for all seven of us. I went out with 15 pounds, still have 8 of them and got to try a lot of different things. Scotland remains the place to be.

Bolt finally came for a way too short weekend on the island. I think I will save the travel related rants for a seperate post. Anyhow, for a number of reasons we chose to spend most of the time in Glasgow -quite another story than windy little Aberdeen with the undeciphrable dialect! We never managed to see the end of the shopping district.

Out of extravagancy or just for the hell of it, we booked at Cathedral House Hotel. Later when I googled for the adresss, I got the ghostfinders site. . A suitable place for Halloween, then.

Well we didn’t see ghosts, but that might be because we’re muggles. The place had a very weird feeling with narrow stairs and hallways, and it was the same guy who served us at check-in, breakfast and check-out. Is he the only employee? The Addams Family theme kept running in my head for the length of the stay there.

For the benefit of other travellers; we came across a quite amazing restaurant, Di Maggio’s on this street:

Starry skies

A 45 minute wait for a table is usually a good sign. And a table next to the kitchen turned out to be a good thing, not only could we spy on the other orders but the nearest waiter was never more than a few steps away.

The superloo:

Not so super, actually

Can someone tell me the thing with fireworks on Halloween? It seems pretty local, my Glasgownian friend had no clue either. Can it be something about Celtic New Year?

- breathtaking. It’s “only” a lake, but if you appreciate nature as much as I do, do put it on your list. The Scottish wilderness is much like the Norwegian but rougher, more beaten. The ruin on the shore is a beauty; I will not expand on that as I find myself gauging clichés.

We were as lucky as to find the loch with rain lashing sideways – not only because we got the area largely to ourselves with other tourists hustling in the cafe; the gray disturbed water with foam tops added to the special feeling, the rainstorm emphasizing the mightiness. Who knows what lives down there!

In a sheltered spot, I was lost in meditation for I don’t know how long, feeling the intensity and absorbing the greatness of the surroundings. Holy cow, did I feel invincible!

Not quite as appealing was the attitude of some of the staff at the visitor centre, a slick modern building that is the only entrance to the ruins, and where the only way is through the souvenir shop. Even though all 4 had just bought something in the cafe, a woman started yelling at us without warning for opening a packed lunch. She spoke to us as though we were three years old, and when we asked where we could eat our food she pointed out in the storm. She can’t have seen the ‘hospitality assured’ sign right by the table.

Also, as I expressed my interest in a beautiful replica tapestry, she told me the price with a noticeable emphasis, as though thinking I didn’t have the money. It’s very possible I looked like I didn’t, after all we were backpacking. How could she know the backpacker had an art budget? It’s very fascinating how different one is treated based on appearance.

The whole visitor centre schmentre was a sad story if you ask me; a slick modern building through which everyone was herded, mostly consisting of the huge souvenir shop. We all know tourists are to be vacuumed for money, but please make it a bit more subtle? If you plan to go to the ruins of Urquhart, I’ll advise you to come by boat so you land directly on the shore and don’t have your experience ruined (pun intended) by the commerce.

No monsters, other than this guy.

Hedge Nessie

Advised that “With a spoon” was the place to eat, we had dinner at Witherspoon. Amazing place, I’m sorry we couldn’t spend the night there but some in the party were feeling unwell.

Actually I thought I wouldn’t get to Loch Ness this year, as I missed the organized tour. My emerging inner claustrophobic had interventions. (150 people on an all-day coach tour, yikes!) Hadn’t it been for Caroline, at whose cafe table I dumped down a week ago as all tables were taken (the wonderful random meetings!) I probably never would have gotten to it. Thank you hunny!

Everything looks brighter when seen through a brick wall.