So...welcome to my blog.

Hello, everyone!!!
Welcome to my blog. I mostly started this blog up because in almost two weeks (hard to believe, after all this time!!!) I will be traveling to Norway to attend the University of Oslo's International Summer School, and found that a blog could potentially be a very nice way to keep all who are interested informed. Considering I'll be going there to study and that the ISS enjoys keeping its students busy, we'll see how successful this scheme will actually turn out. Regardless, I learned a few new skills in how to set up a blog, so I suppose for everything there is a reason...

Anyway, I suppose I could introduce myself a little bit more and just say something about what I've been doing most recently.

Because this blog will (hopefully!) be documenting my seven weeks in Norway this summer, I should preface by saying that I have been extremely fortunate to have traveled to Norway twice already. The first time was when I went as a Sister Cities Youth Ambassador, first hosting a Norwegian, and then traveling back with her to stay with her incredible family. They really did an incredible job showing me what it was like to live in Norway, personally introducing me to Norwegian society and contemporary issues, and, of course, the natural beauty of the country and that it is all one big fishing spot. I am really excited that after completing my courses at the ISS, I will be traveling back to see them again!!!
The second time was on a PLU January-Term course this year to Iceland and Norway where we focused on language, identity, and culture in Scandinavia. On that trip, among countless other meaningful things we were able to meet with the directors of both countries' language institutes, have special viewings of ancient manuscripts at both Iceland's and Norway's national archives, visit the Aasen Center in Western Norway, ride Icelandic horses, and visit museums that covered everything from Viking history to Nationalistic paintings to modern Oslo's increasingly vibrant ethnic diversity. And considering the nature of the course, even a chat with a bus driver or a grocery store clerk or looking at the advertisements at the bus stops proved to be just as influential in helping me better understand these fascinating topics of language preservation and cultural identity against a changing and increasingly globalizing context....


A few weeks ago I completed my first year at Pacific Lutheran University and am triple majoring in Global Studies, Scandinavian Studies, and Chinese Studies. To summarize an amazing first year, I have absolutely loved everything about it and would recommend PLU to anyone looking for a really great school with a great community with students who are especially interested in placing themselves in a greater global community in meaningful ways. Okay, so I confess I work for the Admissions Office...but I wasn't paid to put in this pitch for PLU...! I really do mean it!

It's been nice to have a month just to be at home before traveling to the other side of the world. Since I've been home I've done a few pretty nice things. Another true confession: I do love what I am studying a lot, which means that I have tried to find time to further my understanding in my fields of study, which means I have been sneaking in some time to keep studying Norwegian and Chinese and reading both a Chinese classic and a contemporary novel (um..in English..). Next on the list: probably Sigrid Undset. So that's been a lot of fun. I took my friend and roommate out on a day trip around Seattle to celebrate her 20th birthday. A few days ago my grandma came up and we all went to watch a Mariner's game on "Nordic Night" with the Sons of Norway. A few days before that I had to bid a very sad farewell to the Fulbright scholar at PLU who was my Chinese teacher, as he could only stay for a year in the U.S. before heading back to China. There was a small good-bye party at PLU, and thus marks the first time I drove by myself to my college...and I wasn't even going for classes! I think I should get extra credit. : )
I've also been taking advantage of the suprisingly nice weather for May and been walking or jogging at the local trail as much as possible. I've helped out at the elementary school where my mom works. And it almost goes without saying that it's been really nice just to hang out with my family and be able to talk with them and share what I've been doing, and just spend quality time with the parents. And, of course, I have done some errands, cooking and various chores around the house, which have all been nice in and of themselves, perhaps simply because it is still a break from the pace of college life.

( Oh. And I love squirrels...This picture was taken at Holden Village, where I went for an "Alternative Spring Break" volunteer project sponsored by Pacific Lutheran's Campus Ministry. An incredibly rewarding experience---we worked hard, hiked a lot, and had a wonderful time!!!)