E: Happy birthday Jesus!

Christmas came on time this year too. This fall has been the warmest in Europe in 500 years and the warmest winter in this country since they officially began measuring
the temperatures over 100 years ago. Still, the snow made it for the north of Norway, two days before the big night.

In Norway the day was Christmas eve, like every year. For season holidays like these, habit is anything but bad. To see and be with the family again is rewarding in its very bonding and comforting way. In my family we get up fairly early to snooze in front of the telly with childrens TV and candy. Around noon we eat porridge – the only time a year as a breakfast dish (normally Saturday dinner). We add an almond in the pot, and whoever gets it, will get a little reward, traditonally a marsipan pig.

By 3 pm we are nicely dressed and head up for church. The Christmas service last only one hour, from 4 pm, giving us time to visit my grandparents’ grave. At 5 pm the service is over, and the church bells rings continoulsy for a long time (officially for an hour). Christmas has officially begun.

The difference this year is that I had a Malaysian girlfriend by my side. It has been really interesting to have Darsh(ini) in my home town, with my family, in my house, alongside all the traditions and settings I have encountered throughout my life. She has been a really good sport, meeting heaps of people, dealing with the vintry snow and the lack of sunlight. She gets along really well with my family and acts as a member with her willingness to be joyous, eat and help out.

Family dinner was salted muttons (norwegian: pinnekjøtt). My brother celebrates with his wife this year, while we got my sister’s fiancé “in exchange”. Christmas time is much about meals, a bit about eating, but mostly about the fellowship.

From around 8 pm onwards we unwrapped presents. Also Darsh had been given a fair share parcels, mainly containging clothing and artifacts made in Norway. Personally I like giving over receiving, especially as I feel I (and most people in the West) have more than enough as it is, but still were thrilled with many of the great gifts on which people had put my name tag. Examples are some of the books I got; “Promoting the Gospel”, “1001 movies to see before you die” and “Broken English spoken perfectly.” The coolest one may be a belt with DRE written on the buckle.


Most important is a concept I got from some and gave to a few; “gifts that change the world”. This specific Norwegian idea, is an example of charity where instead of an artifiact, the receipent gets a card stating that the money is put to give hope and future to people with less then us – through things like chickens, goats, sport equipment or water pumps.

Today, Christmas day, is more a time to chill and the only time of year we are “grounded”. One picturesque event was Darsh’ first creation of snowmen (and snowballs). After coming here she has also seen proper snow and seen it snowing for the first time in her life. We are enjoying time together so much that you will not be getting more frequent updates than the current flow – as long as she is here at least.

We return to Oslo January third. Before then we will be with more people and family of mine, go out, go snomobiling, go to the city of Tromsø for New Year’s Eve – among other things.

Enjoy the season, preserve and nurture your relationships with each other – just the way God wants it.

In Norwegian, Merry Christmas is "God jul". Underneath is a marsipan cake decorated by the lovely Darsh, for you to absorb and us to eat ;)

E: DARSH IS HERE!!!

After 172 days we finally caught up. I left Melbourne June 21st. Darsh landed in Oslo December 11th. We have now been together for a little more than a week. Having communicated solely through media such as letters, e-mail, phone, sms, msn, web cam, skype and prayers, it has been a big relief finally to be able to see each other in person. Thus, the last week has been jammed with activities and not so much talking. Since last Monday we have seen many of the most important sites in Oslo, met many of the most important people in my life from around here, seen some movies, ate good food, waited for the snow and enjoyed each others company. It was not as weird reuniting as we may have feared.

Additionally, we went to Gotenborg between Thursday and Saturday last week, catching up with Darsh-friends who she met in Australia; Jonas, Paul & Andrea (see pic below). We also watched Norway beat Hungary in Women's Handball European Championship and visited Liseberg among other things.


More pictures, stories and text to come, I had just had one too many (better) things to do, than typing on a computer. My apologies to all those Norwegian speakers eager to read your native tongue again; it will come :)

E: 1600 times online

If I search for ”Sindre Storvoll” in Google, so-called googling, I get about 1600 hits. That is when searching on my full name with brackets, not just Sindre (909,000 hits) and Storvoll (24,000 hits) by themselves. As far as I know I am the only one on this planet with this name (. No, I do not have any middle names).

The web pages that appear originate from some 50 different domains. I will hereby quickly describe a few of them – responsible for a chunk of hits.

Much has to do with my own composition of text.Blogger.com: Blogger is the host of my webpages Mastermind and the former Dre Down Under. Furthermore, is OSI the club for whose volleyball team I play and write match reports. DinSide is the consumer web page is my main work place for journalistic work and database update. The owner, Aller Internett, is also in charge of ITavisen.no – the computer news website I worked for this summer.

Moreover, Ilimitado ia a support group in connection to some missionaries in Bolivia sent out by the Norwgian Mission Alliances. I know a couple of the missionaries and wrote a bit for the page while in La Paz in January last year, hanging/helping out with the volunteers from Norway at the time.

I have also written for pages like Dyrøyseminaret and Revestreken – the local newspaper for my county Dyrøy.

In other circumstances, I see that articles I have written are quoted of sites I have not heard of before. This I find flattering.

I do not only interview. For a youth page in my region to the sports pages in a Las Vegas news paper, I have given some comments after journalism was digitalized.

I have also played quite a bit of soccer in my life, including many years for my home town Brøstadbotn. I am also registered in the register for people from Dyrøy, my county. My political involvement is poor online, but a visible stand is against the early/materializing of Christmas.

Other reasons for why my name is online is that I have friends with blogs who link to my blog or mention my name. The same happens when I enter various guestbooks, suggestions, comments or competitions comments at personal and commercial pages.

The complete listings are found by doing the search.

The interesting part with this is the discussion about identity, privacy and about impossibility of removing oneself from the Internet. With so many entries online, I do not know if I could just disappear – even if I wanted to. And although Google is a good search engine, maybe the best, there are sites and many a database it does have access to or do not use. A Yahoo-search gives about 900 hits, but have a few that Google does not have - for instance my old blog from Las Vegas (now attacked by ads). Here you also find links to my Melbourne soccer club (Northern Pumas) and various other entries. The Norwegian engines Kvasir and Sesam, "only" came up with 203 and 205.

And there are entries none of the engines will reveal. For instance, Norway is one of the countries with a very extensive availability of names and contact details online, if you do not block yourself. See GuleSider's entry on me.

There are dangers and skepticism in having such world wide access to my information, but for now I thought I would just give it a mention for the sake of updating my blog :)

E: Crammed weekend

My Friday to Sunday had no less than five reunion-like happenings of remembrance.

* Last supervisor meeting this year. An hour after 10 am was more or less the beginning of my Christmas holiday. The remaining load of work is a bit alarming, but needs to be put aside while taking a long-needed time out. When returning in January I need to explore the field of religion sociology, according to my supervisor.

* Journalism student celebration. One of this year’s many Christmas dinner gatherings, was a semi-reunion of my journalism college class. About 40 of the then enrolled 60 students turned up for dinner (at the restaurant Mecca), followed by socializing in the club Sydöst (SouthEast). I proclaim that there are extremely few educations that can generate so interesting and wide-ranging what-have-you-been-up-to conversations as those going for journalism and media.

* Volleyball win. The final volleyball match for the year ended with an easy 3-0 win with horrible performances from both teams. Therefore, the match report is particularly short, but for once in English – in dedication of our leaving Italian player (I do not speak Italian and he is not very good in Norwegian). I played libero again, because of the many injuries we had.

This can be classified as a reunion as we have played this team twice before this fall and we met up as a team :)

* Family reunion. My brother with wife lives in Oslo. My parents and my sister with fiance all came to town for the weekend. Saturday they all came to our game. At night we went to “The Fast Show” by the humorous group Raske Menn (Fast men). This must be the funniest thing I have seen in a very long time. Creative, original, talented, diverse and energetic – with everything from skits to songs to audience interactions to charades. I easily recommend it over the other big comedy hit this fall, Team Eckbo – which I also would describe as a time and money well spent. I choose start my usage of embedded film clips with their most known skit; the world history in 5 minutes (in Norwegian):



Later we, the family, headed for the Italian restaurant Santinos. In a couple of weeks we will meet up again, then with my better half as well.


* Preperations for Malaysian arrival. Sunday was the day before and today is the day my girlfriend Darshini will be coming to Norway. She is currently in Vienna, and her final flight’s landing wheels will start rolling on Norwegian soil around 10:15 pm tonight. It will be one big climax, being seperated since June 21st (which adds up to 173 days apart!). Sunday was spent cleaning, packing and preparing the final bits upon arrival.

From tonight until January 10th my life will be occupied with a girl that is hopefully my very last girlfriend and my first (and only) partner for life. The month ahead will determine if things are as we think they are and that we are still willing to turn our lives upside-down for one another. The blog updates for the time to come might be less frequent than currently, as I will have better things to do :)

If-fen seier

Gårdagen begynte strålende med en prinsipiell seier mot IF/Europeiske.

I mai syklet jeg, som kjent (?), i en bil som ikke holdt vikeplikten. For de som husker krasjet i Melbourne, hørte jeg aldri mer fra de bil-skyldige.

I etterkant viste det seg uansett at min reiseforsikring fra Europeiske var en annen enn den jeg trodde jeg hadde besilt, og som i utgangspunktet ikke ga meg noen dekning 45 dager etter utreise. Selskapet skulle ta kontakt for å klarne opp i sakene. Da jeg kom tilbake til Norge, leverte jeg de nødvendige papirene til ANSA som jeg også var forsikret hos. Her fikk jeg kompensasjon for sykkelreprasjon og ødelagt kompakt fotokamera. Europeiske hørte jeg ikke noe mer fra. I høst tegnet jeg ny reiseforsikring med Vesta.

Men så på tirsdag fikk jeg melding fra if om å kontakte de fordi post var kommet i retur til min gamle adresse postadresse på Grefsen. Jeg ringte, mest for å si at jeg ikke hadde behov for noe post da jeg hadde ny forsikring og den gamle var gått ut. I stedet Fikk jeg vite at jeg skylte 361 kroner som ville gå til inkasso om jeg ikke betalte før fredag. Pengene var for en forlenget ekstraforsikring med straffebot ettersom jeg ikke hadde avbestilt forsikringen. Og fakturaen var blitt sendt til min gamle postadresse Grefsen (all korrespondanse mens jeg var i Australia foregikk per telefon eller e-post).

Dette stod det muligens noe om mellom en av linjene på papirmassen jeg fikk ved kontraktinngåelse, men jeg argumenterte med at jeg ennå ventet på svar fordi jeg mente forsikringsavtalen ikke dekket det jeg i utgangspunktet ønsket å få dekket. Den serviceinnsilte kundebehandleren, hun var faktisk det, responderte med å slette summen.

Det var ikke snakk om mange kronene, og intet stort steg for menneskeheten, men det føltes likevel godt ikke å bli straffet urettvist.

E: Humorously lost in translation

English is a world language, but is not alwayws equally well-spoken throughout the globe. Here follows some laugh-out-loud examples from an exert of the book "Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad" by Charlie Croker (2006). The list is also referred to on ScaGOZO.com and recently on the online consumer web site for which I work: DinSide.

Air China brochure
Dear Passenger, Wish you have a joyful journey! When you are in public talking and Old Ladakh Guest House (hospitalizing since 1974).

Seoul
Choose twin bed or marriage size; we regret no King Kong size.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery
You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursdays.

In an Italian hotel, signs by the bell
If service is required, give two strokes to the maid and three to the waiter.
It is kindly requested from our guests that they avoid dirting and doing rumours in the rooms.
Hot and cold water running up and down the stairs.

Las Palmas, Canary Islands
If you telephone for room service you will get the answer you deserve.

Rome, Italy
Please dial 7 to retrieve your auto from the garbage.

Vietnam
Visitor should be not carried: arm, pets of material should be fired into the hotel. Visitor should be not ironed-cooked-washed. Hotel has got every service for a visitor.

Seoul
Measles not included in room charge.

Dalat, Vietnam
Laundry bag
19: Skirt
20: Stocking
21: Hand Kerchief
22: Big Towel
23: Small Towel
24: Hat
25: Shoes
26: Tie
27: Price of ironing
28: Car with 12 to 15 seats
29: Car with 4 seats.

Tel Aviv, Israel
If you wish breakfast, lift the telephone and our waitress will arrive. This will be enough to bring up your food.

Austria
Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.
Moscow, Russia
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.

Acapulco, Mexico
The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

Serbia
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid. Turn to her straightaway.

Thailand
Please do not bring solicitors into your room.

Japan
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

Possible 'How was the service?' answers, Cuba
a) Excellent
b) The awaited one
c) Almost the awaiting one
d) Nothing

Finland
If you cannot reach a fire exit, close the door and expose yourself at the window.

Copenhagen, Denmark
In the event of fire, open a window and announce your presence in a seemly manner.

Beijing
No smoking in bed. If it's on fire the guests should be disperse according to the safety way.

Tokyo
In case of earthquake, use the torch to pass yourself out.

Madrid
Our wine list leaves you nothing to hope for.

Nairobi, Kenya
Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.

Poland
As for the tripe served you at the Hotel Monopol, you will be singing its praises to your grandchildren on your deathbed.

Ankara
You are invite to visit our restaurant where you can eat the Middle East Foods in a European ambulance.

Replies from German hotels in response to inquiries about accommodation
Standing among savage scenery the hotel offers stupendous revelations.
There is a French widow in every bedroom, affording delightful prospects.
A hotel should be a home from home. But then again, it's at home where most deaths occur.

Sign in hire car, Tokyo, Japan
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

Instructions on Japanese driving rules
At the rise of the hand of the policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him, otherwise disrespect him. Do not explosion the exhaust pipe. Avoid entanglement with your wheel spoke. Go soothingly on the grease mud as there lurks a skid demon.

Notice in sleeping carriage on Indian train
Do not invite thieves to sleep in the floor.

On a Soviet ship in the Black Sea
Helpsavering apparata in emergings behold many whistles! Associate the stringing apparata about the bosoms and meet behind. Flee then to the indifferent lifesavering shippen obediencing the instructs of the vessel chef.

On a ferry in San Juan, Puerto Rico
In case of emergency, the lifeguards are under the seat in the center of the vessel.

Sign at ferry terminal in Davao, Phillipines
Adults: 1 USD
Child: 50 cents
Cadavers: subject to negotiation.

X: Silver in/Sølvgutter i Trondheim

The first divison volleyball season is divided between season matches and three ranking tournaments. The first tournament was in Trondheim this weekend. We won 7 of 11 games/sets, or 3 out of 4 matches – losing only the final. I was ver annoyed with the close loss yesterday, but am more satisfied with the achievement today. My role was, as usual, libero. Tournament report in Norwegian here. Pictures will come (not taken by me).

Being with Thor Oskar in Trondheim, and meeting friends like Kristin, Igor, Thomas and Torstein, improved the quality of the stay.

---

Førstedivisjon i vollebayll er en kombinasjon med vanlig seriespill og rankingturneringer. Å vinne serien gir 150 poeng, og det å vinne en turnering 50. Plassene bak gir naturlig nok gradvis færre poeng i potten. Den første turneringa va i Trondheim i helga. Vi, OSI, ble nummer to etter å ha vunnet 7 av 11 sett, det vil si seier i tre av fire bataljer. Vi tapte en jevn finale mot Mosjøen i går, som vi slo i gruppespillet lørdag. Les turneringsreferat her. Bilder kommer (fra andres kamera).

Det å være med min bestevenn Thor Oskar i Trondheim, og møte Kristin (hans kjæreste), Igor, Thomas og Torstein, foredlet oppholdet ytterligere.

Hverdagsspekulasjoner

Har jeg litt ro i mitt indre, får jeg mange rare tanker. Jeg liker det best på grunn av sinnsroen, men det er spennende å fundere. For eksempel spurte jeg en urmaker i går hvor mange klokker (armbåndsur) han hadde. Svaret var fem-seks, selv om det bare var et par han brukte til vanlig.

Håndballklinsj
Hva har håndball egentlig med kubjeller og hjelm med horn på? Jeg har aldri sett en ku i en sportshall og kjenner ikke til noen bondelag i ligaen, så fremt en et nytt Tufte-konsept har gått meg fjøs forbi. Og jeg klarer ikke i min villeste fantasi å se for meg vikinger legge sverd og mjød til side for korte shorts og en håndball, for et lagsspill med sofistikerte regler. Er ikke flaggets farger "norske" nok?

Bilde fra Bergens Tidene

Reklamebom?
Det er greit at Telenor endelig har økt bredbåndskapasiteteten. Men at nyheten frontes ved å la en smågal bestefar drive ulovlig mp3-nedlasting av stammende 90-tallshits midt på natten er vel ikke den beste måten å reklamere på (lenken vises til reklamefilmen)?

Navnforvirring
En liten lingvistisk digresjon: Som forstad er et område før en by, blir fornavn egentlig noe som burde komme før et navn. Da mellomnavn er mellom noe, og etternavn til slutt, kan man på norsk argumente for at alle egentlig burde ha fem navn: fornavn, første egentlige navn, mellomnavn, siste egentlige navn og så etternavn.