NORWAY WITH WEAVER >>

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Another two weeks have passed in Norway full of new experiences, as well as the now routine trainings and matches. We had a match on the 12th against a lower division club. I scored two goals, but the hard surface took a lot out of my legs. We ended up winning 4-0.
 
My girlfriend Estrella arrived last Thursday without any luggage, but happy to be here. We have enjoyed a few nice dinners together, and I have begun showing her what I have learned so far about Norwegian life.

It was a hurried first day after her arrival to show her around before I left the next day for a match against Bryne, which is outside of Stavanger a ways to the south. We tied the match 3-3, which was a decent result for the team considering Bryne was in a promotion position last year, but lost in a playoff to go up to the Tippeliga.

However, I would rate my performance below average, finishing with one assist and no goals, which didn’t leave me in the best mood for the trip home, but was cheered up at the sight of a clean apartment and sharing some more time with Estrella.

I was also very happy to not have to cook myself dinner, which I joked with her was the reason she was here. We have spent a fair amount of time reorganizing the apartment as it came furnished and decorated, but not necessarily in my style (think lots and lots of floral prints). We purchased some simple household items that I had put off until she arrived. These things are fun to do together and sort of mark the start of our adventure here.

We have been talking about the many subtle cultural differences. The other night we spent several minutes in the baking aisle of a grocery store before eventually locating baking powder to make cookies, and eventually returned to the apartment to grapple with metric measurements and oven temperatures in Celsius. Reading directions to cook or use anything requires a dictionary in hand.

I spent some time teaching her driving rules as well. There are no stop signs, and only the occasional yield sign. The common practice at intersections is to simply yield to the right, without looking left, and gun it. There are also a lot of roundabouts, which have their own etiquette. In addition, it has been an adjustment getting used to a washing machine and dryer that, for mysterious reasons, take the entire day to finish.

Back to soccer, our training intensity has picked up some, trying to get fit for the long season. This has resulted in a few injuries and tired legs throughout the team.

One of the toughest training sessions I have ever experienced was with a trainer who has trained the Norwegian Olympic Skiers. We didn’t touch a ball for the entire 90 minute session. My entire body was exhausted and I felt a hunger for the rest of the day no matter how much I ate.  

We now look forward to another week of training and a trip to Kristiansand next weekend for two matches. 
 
- Cam