A Perfect Wedding in California.

My big brother, John, who I’ve always looked up to and admired, married the girl of his dreams, Maria, this past Saturday. Words cannot express how happy I am for the two of them. They are both such wonderful and beautiful people, both inside and out. It almost seems surreal that the event that we have all been looking forward to since we heard the wonderful news of their engagement in February 2013 is over.

It's currently 7:30am in the morning, and I have been up for the past 4 hours. Hurray for jetlag! What better thing to do in the wee hours of the morning than share some of the experiences I have had this past week in a blog post? Though I will not be providing as much detail as I normally do in my posts (too much gone on this week), here's a glimpse of my week in California. 

The happy couple, Maria Alejandra and John Jørgen

To say that it was a hectic week would be an understatement; I hit the ground running after arriving Los Angeles from Sydney on May 16th. There was lots to get done and to arrange, which resulted in late nights, early mornings, and lots of to-do-lists. Everything was absolutely worth it though, and thinking back on this past week puts a big smile on my face.  

Being John's little sister, making sure our parents were adequately prepared was one of my main concerns and responsibilities. I had to make sure they were primped and primed for the fun-filled wedding weekend. I obviously took my job very seriously (no disappointing big brother!). Luckily, both parents were very happy and cooperative, and not completely helpless. We had a lot of fun in the process.

Papa getting his first ever manicure. His words when I took this picture were, "This is not going on the blog, is it?" Sorry, Papa, I just had to. Thank you for letting me persuade you to do this. Your nails looked great! 

Between running errands, shopping for wedding attire, and manicures, I made sure Papa was properly fed. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this week was that family and friends gathered on several occasions, and not merely on the actual day of the wedding. It was heartwarming to see how many people came to celebrate John and Maria. It was a very international event; family and friends flew in from all over the world to partake in this joyous event.  It was great spending time with and getting to know everyone that mean a lot to John and Maria. 

The festivities started out on Thursday (May 22nd) with a BBQ for the bridal party and some family and friends that had arrived town early. Maria's mother and aunt had prepared a beautiful feast of Nicaraguan food. The food was absolutely divine (I'm secretly hoping that Maria will teach me how to make all these yummy things next time we see each other. Hint hint!). Unfortunately, there are no pictures from this evening. I was too busy eating the scrumptious food and mingling to document anything. 

The next gathering was the rehearsal dinner on Friday (May 23rd) at Margarita's, a restaurant in Palm Springs. Margaritas, tasty food, live music from a mariachi band, along with even more family and friends set the mood for a great evening. My dad and I had both prepared a few words to say at the rehearsal dinner, and luckily neither of us fainted due to our fears of public speaking. Did you know that next to dying, public speaking is Americans biggest fears? Totally understandable, if you ask me. 

Papa, John, myself, and Maria

Three of the groomsmen, Tze-Heen, Idean, and René, and significant others, Glenna and Andrea 

The best man, Grant (our cousin), Gina, and their two adorable kids, Harper and Kennedy 

Aren't they just adorable? The wombat and koala hand puppets I bought them were a hit. 

Johnny and Uncle Will 

Naomi and Papa  

Mumsy and Aunt Susan 

Russ (with the hat), Aunt Nancee, Lauren, Grandma, and Harvey

I also showed a video of our 91 year old Bestefar (Norwegian grandpa). Distance has always been a common theme in our family, and technology has made it so much easier to stay in touch. Every time I visit our Bestefar, him and I take a little video for John and Maria. It started off as a silly thing we did to test out my new iPhone, but now it's turned into a little tradition. At first he wasn't quite sure what to say, but now he's a pro. He always knows that I'm going to say "Oh, Bestefar! Time to make a video for John Jørgen and Maria" at some point during my visit. He'll comb his hair, sit up straight, and get ready to say a little something into the camera. As he couldn't attend the wedding in California, we made a little video for John and Maria instead. 

A BIG thanks to my friend, Julie Grønneberg Bech, for editing all the raw footage and adding subtitles so that all the non-Norwegians could understand what was being said. I'm in no way tech-savvy, so without you this wouldn't have been possible. You're fabulous! 

On Saturday (May 24th) the big day had finally arrived. Hurray! The wedding ceremony and reception were at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. The weather and scenery couldn't have been more breathtaking. 

I got ready at the villas with the lovely bride and bridesmaids. We had our hair and make-up done, and it was heaps of fun. Can't leave anything up to chance on a day like this. Maria looked absolutely stunning; I had to hold back the tears when I saw her in her dress. 

The maid of honor, Pegah, helping Maria with her dress

Andrea, Raman, me, Pegah, Chloe, and Jackie

Maria, being the sweetheart she is, gave all us girls beautiful robes and sterling silver earrings as gifts. How sweet is that?

Ready for the wedding 

Beautiful corsage 

Me, Lauren, Gina, and Jessica being all matchy matchy. 

Their wedding was simply perfect. Just like the two of them. I can only imagine how much effort and planning it took to make everything as perfect as it was. Both John and Maria show great attention to detail, and you could tell that they had thought of everything. 

Best man and the groom 

John and Maria share a love of wine, so they incorporated this into their wedding in many different ways. For example, instead of the regular numbers on the tables, they had names of red wines. So clever!

Selfie with the happy couple 

After ten hectic, but fun days in California, it was time for me to return back to Australia. I'm so glad I could be a part of their beautiful celebration. It was great, and will definitely be something I will remember and cherish for many, many years to come. 

The flight back to Sydney felt much longer than the flight to LA. What made the 15 hour flight seem horrendously long was likely the fact that my touch screen wasn't calibrated correctly (is that what it's called?). This resulted in me not being able to hit the "next" button, so I could only watch a few of the movies in the great United Airline movie selection. After a few hours, I wasn't able to hit the play button either. Sooo... No more movies for me. 

The day before departure, I jokingly told my cousin, Grant, that not having a screen that works was one of my biggest fears. This was obviously an exaggeration, but it's kind of true! It may not sound like a big deal, but when you're stuck in a seat for over half a day, you kind of want your screen to work properly. My usual tactic to make the time pass on long flights is to go through all the movies, creating lists in my mind of which movies I want to watch and in which order. Depending on how meticulously I go through the movies, this process usually takes at least 30 minutes to an hour. Highly recommended for long flights. 

Because I couldn't kill much time watching movies, I resorted to my other long-flight-tactic: stand in the aisle by the bathroom for 30 minutes every now and then. I think I spent a total of 2 hours randomly standing by the bathrooms throughout the flight. Warning: Standing in the aisle for more than 5 minutes will likely make you feel super awkward (especially if you have to make eye contact with the people sitting in the exit row). Hey, whatever kills time, right? You do what you gotta do. 

I can hardly believe that I am back in Sydney. The time in California went by so quickly! It's good to be back though. I'm going to spend the next few days doing nothing productive. Like  going out to lunch with Isabelle and other friends. I'll start studying for final exams next week. I promise. 

Love, 

Suzy 

A very untraditional 17th of May celebration

Happy 17th of May, everyone! The 17th of May is Norway's Constitution Day. It was signed in 1814, and today marks the 200th year anniversary. Hipp hipp hurra! Gratulerer med dagen! 

The 17th of May is a very special day for Norwegians. Norwegian flags can be seen all around, children walk in parades, and the streets are filled with lots of people that are eager to celebrate lovely Norway. Though this may sound strange, the 17th of May is also a day when kids (and adults) are allowed to eat as many hot dogs and ice cream as they please. 

Personally, I think the best part about the 17th of May is that everyone gets dressed up. In Norway we have traditional folk costumes called bunads (pronounced boo - nahhds). There are lots of different types, and they vary depending on the region they come from in Norway. It's common to get a bunad as a gift for confirmation at around age 15. I didn't get a bunad until a few years ago. I think the wait did me well. I was thrilled to FINALLY get a bunad. I absolutely love it! It makes me feel super Norwegian.

My bunad is from Vestfold, the county West of the Oslo Fjord. My Bestefar (my dad's father) and Bestemor (my dad's mother) both are from this county, along with the rest of their family. It was in other words an easy decision to make when deciding which bunad to get. 

Everything on the bunad is made by hand, and it took about 8 months to finally get it. All the measurements are taken specifically for the bunad-wearer, so it fits perfectly. Great incentive to not gain any weight during the year! Luckily, the seamstresses include some more fabric in case one needs to have it altered. 

Bunads are expensive. Partly because everything is sewn/embroidered by hand, and partly because there is so much silver required. They range from around $2000-$10 000, depending on the design, fabric, embroidery, gold, silver, and accessories. Unsurprisingly, it's common to get your bunad insured. My bunad will likely be the most expensive thing I will ever have in my closet.

The accessories on the bunads are lovely. Lots of silver, a cape, and even these fun pilgram-looking shoes. It takes about 20 minutes to get everything put on correctly. I've needed assistance getting everything on correctly the two times I've worn mine. It's not easy getting everything right! You don't want to get caught wearing something wrong by the Bunad Police (i.e. old women who know exactly how everything is supposed to look). 

The majority of the bunad is made of wool, and it is therefore very heavy. I hauled it as a carry on back and forth from Oslo - Tromsø last year, and several women stopped me at the airport offering their sympathy; "Oh, you poor thing. I know how heavy those bunads are!" Heavy is an understatement - I almost had to amputate my arms afterwards. It was worth it though. I couldn't miss an opportunity to wear my bunad! 

The Little Red Riding Hood-esque cape is probably my favorite part of the bunad

Bunads aren't just for women; men also have their own bunads. Here's my classmate, Lars Petter, in his recently acquired bunad. There's nothing like a handsome guy in a bunad (especially when he has a Norwegian flag stuck to his forehead). 

Champagne brunches are also usually a part of the celebration. Lots of yummy food, great company, and lots of bubbly! A great start way to celebrate the nation, if you ask me. 

May 17th in 2012 in Drammen with Pernille and Helene

Champagne brunch at our place in Tromsø May 17th, 2013 

As you probably can tell by all the bunad talk and pictures, I'm missing my bunad and Norway quite a bit today. I spent this 17th of May in California, and it was very untraditional. No bunad, no champagne brunch, and no ice cream. I've just been running errands all day, trying to get things ready for my big brother's wedding. The big day is in a week, and time is running out to get everything done! 

Although this 17th of May was very untraditional, and I'm missing valuable bunad-wearing-time, I'm so happy to be here. I'm spending some quality time with my Mumsy before my Papa, soon-to-be-sister-in-law, and brother fly in to the city in a few days. It will be great to see them all again, too! 

Hope everyone had a fabulous 17th of May wherever in the world you may be. Gratulerer med dagen! 

Love, 
Suzy 

Life after the infamous term paper.

Yesterday (Thursday) was great in every way. It was a full day of doing nothing even remotely stressful, and just hanging out with friends. I slept in, and then met up with Anne to do some exploring in Newtown, a suburb south-west of Sydney CBD. There were lots of interesting shops there. Trinkets, books, funky things you didn't think you need until you saw it, and most importantly: secondhand clothes store. 

I had to get my OCD fix for the day before we began browsing

Such a shame that Anne didn't buy this beautiful hat. 

Is this a good hat for my brother's wedding, perhaps? 

I was so tempted to get a DIY Lamb for Isabelle. 

My cousin, Jessica, studied in Sydney a while back. I was obsessed with cats when I was younger, and I remember she sent me a kitty sticker. I absolutely loved that sticker. It was a kitty AND it was pink. It didn't get much better than that. As Anne and I were walking around, we found a store with the exact same pink kitty. I wonder if this is where she got it? 

Anne, being the cool cat she is, was wearing an oh-so-cool pair of secondhand Levi's shorts. I've been wanting a pair of cool shorts myself, so that became our mission for the day. We passed all the stores that only sold new clothing; they weren't of any interest. We were looking for old treasures. After rummaging through a few stores with heaps of jeans from the 90's, trying on quite a few hideous pairs, and having lots of laughs, we finally found a pair of Levi's 501s for me. Mission accomplished! 

After walking around for a few hours, we needed something to eat. We went to Janets's Pies on King Street for lunch. There I had my first ever meat pie. Nothing fancy; it's a common meal on the go. They're cheap, too! Only about $5. These hand-sized pies of goodness consist of lots of pie crust and largely diced or minced meat and gravy. I'm going to take a wild guess, and say that they aren't too healthy... It was delicious though! 

Walking around Newtown was so relaxing. There was nothing else we were supposed to be doing or had to get done. We didn't have a care in the world! Now that we only have three finals left, Anne and I have decided that we're going to spend more time exploring the city by just walking around different neighborhoods. 

Later in the evening we met up with Anita, Isabelle, and Isabelle's friend who's visiting from Norway, Guro, at the Shangri La Hotel. This is a beautiful hotel located in the historic Rocks district that has a bar on the 36th floor, Blu Bar. Isabelle found it by chance while looking through pictures on Instagram. The view was breathtaking! We got a table right by the window, and had an unbelievable view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and Darling Harbour. As we sat there, sipping our exetremely overpriced white wine, I again got a rush of gratitude that I am studying abroad in such a gorgeous city. 

The Blu Bar opens at 5pm. If you want to see the sunset, and get good seats, you need to be there a little before it opens. I can't believe we hadn't been there before. We will definitely be going back!

This morning (Friday) was pretty uneventful. Just did some last few things before heading to the airport. I looked like a little pack-rat with my overstuffed 55L big backpack, another overstuffed smaller backpack, and my somewhat overstuffed purse. It was a pain getting to the airport with all of this, but it was worth it. In addition to all the gifts for the family, I brought everything I won't be needing for the remaining time of the semester so my dad can bring it directly to Norway for me. Sweet! 

I was (obviously) not looking forward to spending over half a day up in the air, but the 14 hour and 40 minute flight went surprisingly well. We did have a good 2 hours of massive turbulence, where everyone (even the flight attendants) had to be seated. But guess what? We survived! Everything went well. Fear of flying is so irrational. 

I watched Finding Nemo for the billionth time to make the time go by. It's one of those movies I can watch again, and again, and again. I must say, it was a lot more fun watching it after visiting the Great Barrier Reef. I've seen lots of the coral and sea life in real life! 

My favorite part of that movie is when Marlin and Dory are near Sydney, but are a little lost. Dory insists on asking a little fellow off in the distance for directions. The "little fellow" turns out to be a whale. "Didn't that sound a little orca-ish?" Hilarious! 

My Mumsy came and picked me up at LAX. For some reason, I was feeling unusually awake and alert. I think I was just so excited about being off the plane, on solid ground, and to finally be in California. I haven't driven in about 5 months (aside from New Zealand), I drove back to her house. Felt good to be behind the wheel again - especially on the correct side of the road! 

I've managed to stay awake since I got here. Sooo tired and jetlagged. It's 9:11pm right now. That's a good time to go to bed, right? Oh, yes, it definitely is.

Goodnight from California! 

Love, 
Suzy

Oh, happy day!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am FINALLY done with my term paper. You have all had to endure me talking, writing, complaining, and stressing about the ambiguous "Huge Norwegian Term Paper" for the past 5 months, and I am now done. My 20-page paper "The Effects of Being Visibly Different: A Look at Individuals with Cleft Lip and/or Palate" has been sent in to UiT, and is out of my hands. I'm so happy to be done with it. I'm sure you guys will appreciate not having to hear me talk about it, too! 

It was a beautiful day to finally turn in my term paper.

Today has been quite the productive day. After sending off my term paper, I got started on a business report for Organizational Psychology. I quickly realized that I had no clue what I was doing, so I went home and started packing for my trip to California instead. When in doubt, procrastinate a little, right? After a bit of packing (and a two hour glorious nap), I finally got back to the paper. It was only an 800-word paper, but it was trickier than I had anticipated. Our task was to convey the results of a psychology research study  in a manner that was accessible and applicable to a business audience. Not my cup of tea! 

Anywho... My goal was to get all my school work done before the time I left for California, so I wouldn't have to worry about assignments, lectures, or quizzes. I'm happy to say that I succeeded. I didn't think it was going to happen, but everything on my to do list has been crossed off. All academic work is completed, my room is clean, my backpack is packed, and I'm ready for departure on Friday. This is a happy day, indeed! 

A friend lent me his luggage scale, and to my surprise, my extremely overstuffed backpack isn't overweight

Speaking of happy... I came across this video yesterday, and I just have to share it with you. It put a smile on my face while I was completing seemingly hopeless task. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Love, 
Suzy