My weeks through phones

 I present to you: Team Colombia! Johanne, me, Franco and Silvia (photo: Franco)

 Team Colombia working very hard on solving some task or other (photo: Silvia)

 One Maja-visit at the hostel (photo: Maja)

And one tea-in-a-bowl at the cafè where my friend Ingrid works

These past two weeks have been so ridiculously packed that I don't even know where to begin. In daytime, there's been Organisational Development, First Aid, Security, Photography, Signing of contracts and so much more, and inbetween these courses we've had long lunches, rushed lunches, energizers, stretches, and getting to know one another. This has also continued on in the evenings, since I've been staying in a hostel with the international youth delegates and two of the Norwegians, and we've been making food from Nepal, Colombia, Lesotho and Norway, and often a bit of a mix. I've met other Oslo friends (including Maja) in the weekends and evenings, but also stayed in or gone out with the other delegates and getting new friends.

Next week is the last week together, where we will be trying to cram as much information into our heads as possible, and at the same time having as much fun as possible with people we will meet again in nine months.

Tromsø Botanical Gardens

 Where I went a few weeks ago with my grandmother and dad

 To look at a flower or two

 in the world's northernmost botanic garden

on a beautiful summer's day

And mostly just sitting down, eating cake and drinking tea and coffee. My word, this is the best thing with slow Sundays. Not really doing much but enjoying the sunshine (and the cakes).

More parties because

 there should always be parties, especially family parties

 because there is so much leftover cake that we're still finishing it a week later

 and I get to be with my sister and nephew

 and one grandmother after another

 Andreas gets to sleep on his grandmother's lap

and practice his posing skills with me (we're both slow learners)

As I've mentioned a few times already, I've been spending more and more time with my family this past year or so. Ah, I suppose that's what comes from being older, and from knowing that you're going away for an extended period of time. 

Leaving Tromsø, also: redcurrants

 I went berry-picking with my dad today

 Or currant-picking, if that word exists

On our own land and our own plants, we got about five or six pints.

And I'm leaving Tromsø today, I'm going to Oslo on the predeparture brief. I'll be back here one weekend, just before I leave properly, but still. I said goodbye to so many people yesterday, and having to say "well, I suppose I'll see you in June 2015" was hilarious in the saddest way possible. Last night, I stayed up far too late, reading webcomics and distracting myself as far as I could. And now I'm saying goodbye to my parents, and I'll see them again in less than three weeks, but this is the beginning of departure, and I'm sad.

So here's to Oslo being a brilliant experience, to keeping busy and not missing people as much, all the time.

One big party, my grandmother's 75th

 we started off filling the table with as much food as possible

 Including my mum's paella and my aunt's couscous salad (not pictured here)

 Before we moved on to cakes and more cakes

 more cakes, and one grandmother Eva

 then, next day, we had more food

 we picked some of the first apples of the season

 and my dad taught his granddaughter how to use a knife to peel apples

I don't have any photos from the two volleyball games we had, or from going to the beach with my cousins, my uncle and Dina to fish crabs and then throw them into the sea again, or from swimming with my niece and nephew, or playing cards with my aunt and cousin, or anything else, really, because I was too busy doing it. This is a good thing. My camera mostly came out at meal times, while we were waiting for all thirteen people to sit down in one place together at the same time. We also had a lot of rain and almost-rain when we stayed inside, getting almost-bored and reading books. Anyway, a good weekend was had by all.

Children and toddlers galore

 Went to visit my sister last weekend, it was scorchingly hot

 So her children were bathing in tiny bowls to keep from overheating

 Then, Dina and I made chocolate fondants (taking the task very seriously)

 While Andreas has grown old enough to waddle around and play with us

And to know how you're supposed to get sound out of an instrument

Listen. Because I'm going away soon, these weeks have been and will be full of family stuff. I'm trying to get a family overload that will last me until next June, which is a long time from now.

This weekend, we're going down to Nesodden to see my mum's family and celebrate my grandmother's 75th birthday in advance. I'm really looking forward to it, expect photos sometime soon.

What else am I doing with my time? Rereading Harry Potter (oh yes) for the first time in years and years. Hanging out with my other grandmother. Tanning in the ridiculous weather. Getting all the certifications, health checks and all the paper work done in time (hopefully). Feeling that strange sense of mixed dread and happiness in planning everything to do with Colombia.