Feel free to skip my whining about my battle with the flu and just go to the last 2 paragraphs about Anya. She’s way more interesting!
While I thought that maybe I had avoided the full brunt of this flu, the cough is pretty bad, not the worst I had (which actually was the night before Eric’s first brain surgery). I just can’t stop that little tickle in my throat. I’m even half way through that thyme extract cough syrup, which works well for about 8 minutes; about the time the horrible taste goes away. I’ve sipped a gallon of honey lemon tea, sucked on cough drops constantly–switching between the citrus and anise Fisherman’s Friend, and have breathed steam coming off the hot pot half a dozen times this afternoon alone. I’ve tried sleeping propped up with a pile of pillows, which seems to help a bit, but I still slept only half the night for the past two nights, and this evening is not looking good. My intercostal muscles (the ones between your ribs; I was pre-med once upon a time) are sore from a marathon of coughing. Ok, I’ll get well soon.
It has complicated life. There is little food in the house and little cash. Norwegian grocery stores need that computer chip (not the magnetic strip), so I’m waiting to get my Norwegian bank account set up for my research fellowship stipend. Knut should be back from Madagascar on Monday, so perhaps that will be the first opportunity. Until then, I can draw cash from some–but not all–ATMs with my Capital One card, so there is 0% foreign transaction fee. My BofA Visa (Alaska Airlines miles) is a 3% hit.
Another complication has been writing from bed between fevers and naps. It just isn’t as conducive as the desk set up with wireless keyboard. I think this afternoon was the last fever, so this is a good sign.
Tomorrow, my sister, Elenn’, arrives from Pakistan, where she goes for 2 months every year as a physician at Tank Christian Hospital, not too far from the Khyber Pass. So, I was going to take the bus and meet her, and then take the bus home, as the bus stop is about 2 blocks from our house. Ok, the house is 2 blocks uphill, but I planned to bungie her bag to my wheeled duffel bag and take my time. However, if I’m not much better tomorrow, that would do me in.
So, Tina to the rescue. I asked Tina if she’d be available and willing to help with an airport run. She is so kind. I did calculate a one-way taxi ride for the 14 miles, but $60+ was a bit of a deterrent. You see why the wheeled duffel on a free bus was appealing!?! My flexi pass on the Kolumbus system allows me to take 1 adult and up to 3 children with me after 5 pm and on the weekends. This is great for Saturday trips to the mall and Sunday trips to church.
Enough of my sob story.
Anya was off to school by herself and came home saying volleyball in PE was actually enjoyable (compared to volleyball in high school in Bellevue). First, they didn’t keep score! She said, “These are teenagers!” incredulous that they weren’t the hyper competitive teenagers on the volleyball court in Bellevue. Then, she said they were very encouraging of everyone. Wow! Is this the socialism of Norway at work? Now, remember there are still very competitive folks out there–especially at the World Ski Championships in Sweden!
Finally, for the week after Easter break, the 9th graders spend an entire week in a job shadow or introductory career practicum experience. Due to Anya’s limited Norsk and our limited network, there are few options for us. So today, after getting approval from her teacher, I emailed the librarian and archivist at MHS and asked if there would be a possibility for her to help out. It would give some practical experience in preparation for what could be an on-campus job during college (despite MHS’s non-standard cataloging system). So, let’s see if that works out. If not, about my only other connection is Tina’s mom who is an administrator at the Stavanger Cathedral. That would be a fascinating location, but less career path opportunities, unless, “theology mom” and ministry rub off somehow!