Whithersoever thou goest

Erin had a great night of sleep! It seems she had no leg lag!

Breakfast was cleared, and Erin brought out the camera that several family members chipped in to buy for Anya’s birthday. Her birthday started early!

Due to the Saturday bus schedule and no early #9 buses, I could either take a bus to Stavanger and pay 110 kroner ($14) for a coach bus to the airport or walk there. It is just about 7 miles to the airport and not too hilly. It would take me 2 hours, and the sun was shining. I chose to walk, thinking of my friend, Marvin, who walks all over the place. This would also be good preparation for our hiking.

It was a beautiful hike through some pathways by some residential areas with playgrounds, some woods and then farmlands.

It was especially nice at the beginning before the clouds came and before it became industrial. I viewed the countryside, filled thoughts with prayers for most of you (who I know are reading this). Fortunately, with a Google map app and 4G cellular coverage, I was able to walk on a path that I never walked before and stay on track. (Is there one of these apps for a life path?!?)

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time before Karen’s flight arrived. I wondered if you could just walk up to the SeaTac airport? I don’t know if it is possible?

While I was out, Anya took Erin to Sandnes to look around and buy some groceries. Stores are closed on Sunday, and with 4 of us it would be good to stock up.

Karen arrived not looking like she had just covered 9 time zones! We took the bus back (free with my flexi pass on weekends). Erin and Karen met, then we had a sandwich bar for lunch, starting to finalize the plans for the rest of the visit.

To keep these two awake, we went exploring, walking around Sandnes. Karen found some intriguing stores in the old section of town. Then we walked to the center area and found another mall! I think this is 3 shopping areas in Sandnes! It was getting really windy and a few rain drops on our way home. The rain increased in the evening, as we talked, worked on our tourist plans, and had dinner. These two made it to 9 PM tonight! What jet lag!?!

The plan is to rent a car for an overnight trip to Bergen, as the weather here is not encouraging hiking! The reality, however, is that I’m the one who has been observing Norwegian driving, so I’d be the driver for the 5 hour each way trip. This is a little unsettling, but it is not as bad as driving in Arusha, Tanzania, and we’ll have a GPS to help. We checked the bus schedule, but with the Easter holiday, it becomes so limiting to time in Bergen. We considered flying, but the car rental would be about the price of 1 ticket, gas and tolls may be another ticket, and we have more flexibility with our travels. So, we’ll sleep on this and finalize things tomorrow.

Last bit of curiosity… while on my walk I saw this stone pillar with some engraving. This is not a rune stone, and I don’t know what the engraving says yet, but what an intriguing thing that is missed when driving by. Here’s a website with it appearing, but was it engraved before use in the old church or does the engraving talk about its restoration in this place? I don’t know. (Jeg vet ikke.)

 

Anya was off to school for her second Friday at school here. With all the mental challenge of an immersion, Friday’s mean gutting out the day, especially with some tough classes and tests. Fortunately, PE was fun, and Anya was able to help out the Spanish substitute teacher, as Anya knew more than she did. It went OK.

I started out the day with some tax info that had to be passed on to file my extension. The year that Eric died, I was advised to have someone do my taxes. It has made life easier. I also made a quick trip to the bus stand to get bus passes for my guests. And I got Anya her own bus pass with her name on it. I can’t get her a youth pass until her 15th birthday (April 8th), but now I have the card that can be loaded with the youth pass on the bus.

With chapter 1-3 of my dissertation drafted and reviewed (chapter 3 is revised to a pretty good state) and after the presentation yesterday, I know it is time to tackle chapter 4. I have some bits that have been compiled previously. Some were in chapter 3, but Knut suggested they fit better in chapter 4, which I agree. The outline is a theoretical construct, but when the content is developed, it is out of place. So, it was just a beginning of chapter 4, but it was good to be in a new place. This is the major chapter wrestling with the biblical text, so I won’t be relaying as much about reading Maasai ethnographies. However, when I needed a book for the bus ride today, I grabbed one, as I’m just a couple chapters from the end and wanted to finish things up, especially because Maasai Women by von Mitzlaff is a very readable book with a focus on the women’s perspective by a woman anthropologist. Most of the early ethnographies were written by Western men, who wrote about women based upon what their male informants said about women. There is a fun debate going on among the Maasai anthropologists about the role of Maasai women in the pre-colonial context. Did they have more autonomy then in their limited roles? I have read enough now where I see the critique and defense going back and forth a couple times!

During lunchtime, I put the elements in the bread maker and caught the bus to the airport to pick up my niece, Erin. Last I checked on the web site, things looked good for an on-time arrival. But with her 50 minute flight and my 40 minute bus ride (plus walking to the stop and getting there a bit early), I missed Erin’s email that her flight had been cancelled. So, I read my book for a while until I heard that Erin had been booked on the 10:45 pm flight. I wasn’t going to wait around for 9 hours, as my book was almost done. I took the bus home, wondering what my random seat mate was thinking about my Maasai Women titled book.

I returned home to hear stories of Anya’s day and returned to writing. Then about supper time, I saw a new email message from Erin. She was on the standby list and got on an earlier flight. I told Anya to run with me to the bus stand. (Fortunately the #9 bus stand is down the hill!) Well, earlier in the day, buses go to the airport at 15 after and 15 til. In the evening, only at 15 after. So we waited half an hour.

Fortunately, we arrived just as Erin had collected her luggage. We just missed the bus headed home, which in the evening goes only every hour, so we took a cab. (FYI, 14 minutes, 8 miles, $50) With all the travel and jet lag, it was important to get Erin home, fed, and to bed.

Now after my latest post, it is time for me to get to bed.

With blessings,

Beth

Anya went off to school and told me stories of her day. Thursday is Food and Health class, so she has to bring an apron. We borrow a denim one from the house that says Walla Walla, Washington. She was paired up with her friend, Oda (pronounced Oo’ dah), to make bread. She said she wasn’t much of a help, but Anya didn’t wan’t my guidance in preparation for today’s bread making.

She said she did better in PE. They started with indoor soccer, and she said she was one of the good players, but again passes to everyone. In volleyball, she did OK, but she enjoys volleyball in this PE class because they aren’t nasty to those who miss the ball. They actually are encouraging. Wow!

I took the first bus after getting Anya off to school and made good time arriving 15 minutes to the start of a special lecture by Philip Jenkins (but introduced with the Norwegian Y sound for the J, so Philip Yenkins), who is a leading scholar on the sociology of global religion and global Christianity.

 

(I was encouraged to add more photos, but this is not a very good photo! Are bad photos better than no photos?!?)

He spoke about the future of Christianity in Europe in the morning, followed by an hour of Q & A. When he told someone that he was writing a book on the future of Christianity in Europe, they asked if it would be a very short book! Actually no! He said that there is a future for Christianity in Europe, but the question is not how strong ti will be but how foreign it will be! For example, he noted the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God church in Ukraine which has 50,000 in the main congregation in Kiev. What is amazing is that this overwhelming white congregation has a Nigerian-born pastor.

I took almost 7 pages of notes, so there is too much to relay, but here’s one more. The Muslim population in the USA is always overstated because Arabs are assumed to be Muslim, but Jenkins stated that 75% of Arabs in the USA are Christians, such as Palestinians. I know from my visit to Ramallah, that the Christian Palestinians has a mass migration to the USA.

After the lunch break…

I went to my office to eat and review the Hebrew verses for our afternoon Maasai research group. I received an email that the inter-library loan book I ordered was in, so I went to pick it up. Unfortunately, I’m trying to get an English translation of the original German book, Die Masai, by Moritz Merker in 1904. Unfortunately, this was the German version.

The Hebrew went OK, but I forgot the Hifil form of the verb (which changes the translation, typically to causative, which it was in this case). Knut walks through all the textual critical notes for each verse and explains the issues related to translation. What was interesting was to see that in 1 Samuel 1:24, most of the modern English translations state that Hannah brought a 3-year-old bull to the temple to sacrifice when she brought Samuel. However the Masoretic Text (Hebrew Bible) says she brought 3 bulls. The old King James (written prior to the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery) will say 3 bulls, but Knut said when the Dead Sea Scrolls (which are perhaps 1000 years older than the Masoretic Text) corroborated the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible from 200-300 years BC) then there is sufficient evidence from two older sources to not use the Masoretic Text reading. (This intrigued me. How about you!?!)

Then we went over two outlines for research projects (one PhD and one postdoc) and discussed them. Knut really is wise and helping his students avoid pitfalls down the road. The last of our 4 hours was my presentation of Time, Space, and the Unknown by anthropologist Paul Spencer. It is a deeper worldview discussion about the Maasai. Rather than just a thick description of their age-sets and gender relations or various rituals, he was tackling their sense of cosmic powers and providence. Because curses are significant, this is a great resource for me. So, I helped to unpack Spencer’s book, which is challenging. I’ve read it at least 2 times, and some sections many more times. However, it still amazes me that when you have to write about something or present it that you realize the gaps in your understanding and the need to resolve the issues. That’s why students write papers and not just read books. It was a time to help us all better understand the Maasai.

I took the bus home and cleaned the house for our guests arriving tomorrow. Anya is doing the laundry now, so she’s was managing this task. I started figuring out bus schedules for airport pickups. The crazy thing is that Easter break (yes “Easter” in this secular society) is a big thing! It is celebrated with going to the cabins and get in the last good opportunity for many to ski. So, the bus schedules are different, because of no school, many who aren’t working, and others who are probably taking vacation with their kids to ski. I checked the weather report to plan our hikes on the best days, but things aren’t looking very good for hiking.

Perhaps I’m one of the few who pass by the dowh in the administration building and has actually sailed in one. An awesome day in 2004.

With blessings,

Beth

Anya was at school working independently on Norsk with her textbook for immigrants while the rest of the student took a written test that took most of the day. They were let out early at the end.

I was working on Hebrew in the morning, preparing for the Hebrew reading tomrrow, and in the afternoon, working on my presentation to the Maasai research group. My presentation deals with the Maasai worldview and how the fear of cataclysm and curses keeps reinforcing the traditions. It seems that fear underlies so much of the culture, because stepping out of the traditional way would be blame for the next tragedy that comes along–even if there is no causal link. How wonderful to have the truth that sets us free from fears, such as not following the traditional rituals exactly may bring drought, disease, or death. Following Jesus does make a difference, especially regarding death, because death isn’t the end of the story.

In the evening, we went to a play. Anya’s school friend, Oda, invited her to come and see her in the play. We walked downtown and found the place, which is part of a high school which specializes in the arts (I think). Oda did a great job, even had to sing part of “You are my sunshine,” the only musical bit.

This is the irony, because it really was a very dark play. A little Les Miserable without the singing (other than Oda’s intro) and without the redemption or any levity (Master of the House)–just young teens in misery. I guess this is the ripple effect of Norway’s greatest playwright, Henrik Ibsen, who is often referred to as the “father of realism.” I’m just thankful that it isn’t my reality!

I forgot to post this and found it in my draft folder. Here it is!

I only ate one lunch in the cafeteria during my entire 7th and 8th grade years. I was new to a class in Proctor, Minn., that was bigger than the entire town I came from, the rural farming community of Hingham, Mont. And I spoke English. Anya is a bit older, but she is just a beginner in Norwegian. In addition, at the one-month immersion Norwegian camp she attended last summer, she learned a different dialect. The Stavanger/Sandnes dialect is quite strong and quite different. Here’s my glimpse of things. In the Norsk Anya learned last summer, I (jeg) is pronounced “yai” (rhymes with my). In this area, I believe it is pronounced like “egg.” What a difference!

So, every school day, Anya is immersed in the immense challenge of language learning in an immersion context. I prefer academic settings, where you learn a little vocabulary and a little grammar each week. Subsequent weeks strategically build upon what you already know. Not in immersion! So, today I again told Anya how proud I was of her that despite the exhausting mental challenges, she’s making it work. She told me that she is helping one friend in English and math, and her friend helps her with the rest. What a cool friend!

Others who know immersion language learning talk about “cracking the code.” It sounds like there comes a day when one realizes that they understand more of what is said than not. This is still a way off for Anya, but her teacher got her a Norwegian book for immigrants that was able to take what she does know and build upon it. This will be helpful.

I went off to MHS. In the morning, Knut got the computer guy, who is only there on Mondays, to see about getting me print access. The policy is no print access from personal devices, so they have a work station for me (with a nice sized flat monitor). However, there was some issue as my log in wouldn’t work. He had to work through multiple variables. At one point it said “Beth Elness-Hanson cannot log in because Beth Elness-Hanson does not exist.” Isn’t this amazing. My existence was eliminated! The computer guy said, “Sounds like Heidegger,” the German philosopher who wrote Being and Time. I love computer guys who interject a little existential philosophy into the mix.

He asked me about my research, which I can put into the 30-second “elevator speech.” I relayed how much I appreciate my adviser and this program. He relayed how amazed he is that this little school of less than 300 people is in the top 4 of research institutions of Norway. A couple years ago, they were number 1!

I met with Knut after lunch. He seems to be the #2 guy in charge, as the rector is gone at a conference, so Knut gives the announcements at the weekly employee lunch gathering. At our meeting, we discussed some issues for my dissertation which I had identified after going through the qualitative research course. I’m so fortunate to have Knut’s wisdom on this journey.

A note about the course, while I attended the sessions, I didn’t register for the course. If I want to, I would just write a 5-7 page essay about how what I learned shapes my PhD project. I have about 1.5 weeks to write and submit. There is no additional cost, or nothing significant. Tina and I talked with Knut about whether we should do the exam. It is not priority for me, but the only thing I could think of is seeing if what I have already written about the qualitative research for my dissertation could be cut and pasted with just a few simple explanations. Perhaps this could kill two birds with one stone. (What is a less violent metaphor for this? Perhaps I can have my cake and eat it too!)

I sent portions of my dissertation to Knut and the Maasai research group. Knut asked if I would be willing to share this with the group and discuss it on Wednesday. So, I made some revisions and added some notes about the DRAFT status, and got it sent. I tried to do this Friday night, but my Nota Bene software had a glitch with my formatting that inhibited me from exporting it. So, I cut and pasted it and did some quick formatting in Word, drawing upon my years as a graphic designer and efficient use of defined style pallets. I should receive many more constructive comments to strengthen the chapter (and hopefully not extend the completion too much; I’ve been advised to get it done and not be worried that it isn’t perfect.).

I came home via the bus, and Anya asked to go to the mall. After dinner, we went when the bus was free for her on my monthly pass. We did a little shopping (Anya found a great deal on a jacket and paid for it with her money) and I bought her a slushee, as a congratulations for completing 25% of her online English course. It was done a while back, but we had the time. Now imagine a small Slurpee (about 14 oz, I’m guessing) for $8.73! Well, I fulfilled my side of the agreement!

With blessings,

Beth

Two months ago, we arrived in Norway. In the first two months, we learned the ropes, figured out how to do life. There are still surprises, but not as often. We even made some friends. We’ve learned a bit of Norsk. Anya learned way more than me, but her world at school is mostly Norsk, so it is harder for her.

I’ve written and revised a chapter (still a bit more to do on it). Participated in 3 Maasai research group afternoon seminars. Took a seminar on qualitative research. Read/reread several books. Learned the basics of a new software for text analysis and have done the first round of analysis with it. Prepared a presentation for Thursday’s Maasai research group. However, I’m not as far along as I hoped to be. And then guests arrive on Friday & Saturday for Easter break.

Today felt very long. I stayed at home to work, preparing this presentation for the Maasai research group on a book that is one of my main sources, Paul Spencers Maasai ethnography of the Maasai view of powers and providence. It is good to have to work through things with enough detail to be able to articulate it clearly. Otherwise, things get mush in my head.

Anya was off to school and gave me the overview of the day as I whipped up some baking power biscuits after school for a break and snack. Then off to work; Anya on her online English course, and me back to the Maasai.

We had a late dinner of the frozen pot stickers we made from scratch the other day and some edamame. We’re trying to get an algebra 2 text book for her, so part of the evening was discussing options. We can’t find one in English in the bookstores or at the University of Stavanger bookstore.

So, the long day seems longer yet, but it will soon end.

With blessings,

Beth

When we were kids, my mom would say, “I have a scathingly brilliant idea…” Soon, we started to groan and wonder what we were going to be doing soon. Well, I had an idea that was just a tad bright. Two weeks ago, I participated in the qualitative research seminar and honed my understanding of this method of research. While some was review of my independent learning, there was good information about the analysis step, which is what I’m in the midst of. So, I’ve been doing the NVivo-aided analysis.

However, the course–and being able to say I completed a course in qualitative research–requires a 2,500 word essay. Tina and I checked with Knut whether he thought we should do the essay and complete the course (not just sit in on the seminar). It sounded like it would be beneficial for Tina, as she is applying for some research grants and this would demonstrate a broader capacity. For me, it seemed that I wouldn’t really gain much in the long run, and in the short run, it would distract from writing my thesis. However, the essay is to relate to our PhD projects, and I’ve written for my dissertation descriptions that discuss my qualitative research. I asked Knut if I could basically cut and paste what I’ve written already, and then add an introduction and a few explanatory comments for the essay. He thought it would be fine–and since the essay is pass/fail–I thought I’d take a couple hours to compile the pieces and have them make sense. So, that’s what I did tonight (with a somewhat tactful note that Knut approved this approach, since Knut is the pro-rector of research and PhD coordinator!).

I have to figure out how to log-in and submit the essay on the student management Internet-based system tomorrow, but I think this was a great idea, especially because the course doesn’t cost me anything more.

Earlier in the day, I got Anya off to school and hopped on the bus. I’m re-reading an ethnography about Maasai women on the bus.

My workstation was in my office, so they figured out the problems. Then the main archivist (with a cabin in Minnesota) and info tech support guy showed me how to print, copy, and scan. I did a bit of work with Nvivo (with my laptop plugged into the nice large screen) and then went to chapel. It is Holy Communion on Mondays. However, today, the service was in Norsk! But as I know the Lutheran liturgy, it actually helped me learn a few more Norsk words. Still, I’m mostly clueless during the announcements at the employee lunch gathering. I was given a summary translation that the rector has something to do with the World Council of Churches work on World Mission and Evangelism, but I couldn’t tell you what.

I worked a bit with the Maasai project questions from a colleague and took the bus home. However, getting to the bus as schools are getting out is not ideal. The buses are quite full, and there are some youth who are a little obnoxious. There are 2 who are very obnoxious (crudest I’ve ever heard in all of life), who unfortunately I’ve heard before on this route. I was ready to get off the bus and wait for the next one, but fortunately, they got off.

When I got home, Anya wanted to get some more yarn and I needed some groceries, so we walked downtown. There was some nice yarn on sale. I got a few things from the drug store, and hit a sale on bandaids and toothpaste! (OK, I have to celebrate the little things). I also bought a tube of ibuprophen. Yes, in Norway, you can get ibuprophen in a cream or gel for topical application. This one has methol too. After my 6 miles of walking up and down hills yesterday, I knew my chondromalacia knee would appreciate a little ibuprophen love. With guest arriving next week and some hikes planned, I also want to be ready. I am working on strengthening the muscles with rubber tubing exercises to strengthen the quadriceps. I’ve been told a walking stick helps too, so perhaps I’ll look for a collapsible one for hiking.

With blessings,

Beth

Off by bus to the Stavanger International Church. The guest pastor was from South Africa, currently living in England. So the pastor, Joeli, played the piano for the worship team. This Fijian pastor is a rugby coach (with massive shoulders) for the International School and used to live in the Seattle area I’m told. During passing of the peace, I met Lindsey, who is from BC Canada. After the service we talked more. She is in a social work masters which spends a semester in each of Norway, Sweden, Ghana, and Spain (if I remember correctly). Wow!

During the coffee hour (which they really do well with good food and interaction), I talked with women petroleum engineers. One was from Venezuela and the other was from Szechuan, China. The former was married to a Brit and the latter married a Norwegian.

We had been invited to Marta’s home for dinner (the American MK who grew up in Madagascar and married a Norwegian when she returned as an adult). Her daughter just finished her masters thesis for a school in Brussels in international migration. She’s had a summer job working her way up to supply chain/import & export for mostly the petroleum business contractors, so she’s hoping to do supply chain for disaster relief for international humanitarian organizations like Doctors without Borders or International Red Cross. Our host family also invited 2 other American expatriates, another, Kari, who married a Norwegian. Kari is a teacher in the ungdomsskole level, which is Anya’s level. She was so kind and gave Anya her phone number and invited her to call or email with any questions. The afternoon was just a comfortable time in a new friend context. It really was nice.

Marta drove us home so that Anya could go over to her friend’s home and work on a school project. We walked over in the rain. Anya could get us mostly there, but in housing developments where every house looks the same, it is great to have a smart phone with GPS and a map app! I left Anya, walked home, found the place on Google maps and found a more direct route for when I walked back to get her. I’m pretty sure I walked a 10K today (6.2 miles)–all in the rain. I’m glad for my rain pants and found a pair here to borrow for Anya.

I haven’t checked my work email in several weeks and was going to tonight, just as Anya texted to come and get her. So, saved by the text! I guess I need to view it and see if there are things I should be aware of. Sigh! Tomorrow!

With blessings,

Beth

Anya wanted to spend some more time exploring Stavanger yesterday. She likes the city with the mix of historical, quaint, Euro style, and shopping. She packed a lunch, and we headed in to town on the bus. (Remember, she is free on my bus pass on evenings and weekends!)

It was a beautiful day, with just a bit of chilly wind while we had our lunch at Valbergtårn.

This watchtower, built from 1853-55, is beautiful…

has a beautiful view of the harbor.

We explored the city and checked out several shops. We found the chocolate and candy store! We left with some candy but no chocolate!(I’m trying to limit its availability!) Though I did see a 4.5 kg (9.92 pounds) bar of Toblerone! (My favorite!)

Part of our exploration was learning where there are public toilets in Stavanger. Most stores, even multi-floored stores, don’t have restrooms. The malls aren’t as well supplied–or signed–as we are used to. We did check out the public toilet at the waterfront for 5 kroner ($.61), which was cheaper then when Anya really needed to go by the bus stand for 10 kroner.

We found some nice Norwegian sweaters at the thrift store, but we don’t have space to add stuff. There are some nice ones for about $25-37. We saw some great outdoor gear at the sporting goods stores. The high prices are a deterrent. However, if there is something that we really want, we’ll buy it during our last 30 days, as then we can submit receipts for reimbursement of the 25% sales tax. I have to figure this out though. I now have a Norwegian bank debit card with my fellowship stipend (just accessible yesterday). But the tax reimbursement has to go on a credit card in order to be reimbursed. Perhaps they won’t reimburse my Norwegian bank debit card?!? I’ll have to ask the tax office at the airport the next time I’m there, which will be next Friday to pick up my niece who will be visiting.

It was nice to finally have my debit card, as Norway is not cashless, but most transactions are done with debit cards. Even the offering at church allows for making a gift with a debit card! Instead of putting cash in the basket (checks aren’t used here), they go to the back with a card reader to make an offering! In Africa, there is a processional offering to the front with cash, but also often giving eggs, bags of farm goods, or even a chicken may be presented at the auction after church. Here, the processional offering is to the back with plastic!

With blessings,

Beth

Today, most of my day was spent with NVivo software for analyzing the transcripts of my interviews. It lets you code text with categories and themes for bringing together visually content from many documents (other media too, but I used it for transcriptions. It allows for close reading and analysis of the text (with multiple labels), and then to be able to compile them and recall them–and go back to the greater context–in a very intuitive way. Kudos to the engineers who made it very intuitive.

Anya spent most of her day with Edgenuity, her online English program. She was a bit overwhelmed from the week thus far and needed a day to decompress–though I pressed the Edgenuity.

Back at home Anya has chores that she does as part of our family that are just expected. Then, there are other chores that she does to earn some money. We don’t have as many chores here, but there are things that can be done to earn some money. This also lightens my load to work on my dissertation (as Jane Barr still hasn’t shown up to do my chores). So, Anya is now doing all the laundry and earning some kroner.

In the evening, we streamed Awakenings with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams on Netflix. So, we had an online day today. Tomorrow, Anya wants to go to Stavanger and walk around. She likes the city and there are things to explore. Though I have hopes that Anya and I will both have an hour or two of school work after breakfast.

Life continues (and my cough).