Pictures ARE Worth A Thousand Words

Throughout my entire experience I was constantly conflicted.  Do I stand here and stare at this beautiful sculpture, church from the Middle Ages, Fjord, and rare summer sunset or grab my camera and capture the moment in some way that could possibly do it justice?  Thankfully, I always went with the latter.  I was in Norway for 6 short weeks..42 days..that is not a lot of time when you think about it.  Those precious moments I had were some that I knew I would never get back.  Now, when I feel like reminiscing I can go back through my galleries and remember exactly what I was doing or who I was talking to.  This summer taught me things about myself and others that I will forever be grateful for and I have the country of Norway and my classmates to thank for that.  There are things I missed out on and more places I should have explored but, now I know what somewhat of the world is like out there and I am just sitting here ready for the next wild adventure life throws me on.  I wanted to end my last post with my favorite pictures because I hope that one day you will get the travel bug inside you too.

            

 

5 Easy Ways To Stay Fit While Abroad

The struggle to workout is all too real when abroad.  It's always the ideal thing to do but, does it really happen?  While on vacation people are torn between relaxing and staying in shape.  There are a million different excuses one could make to forget about it but, it might be easier than you think!

1. Walk everywhere! Whatever city you are exploring, I know it is absolutely beautiful.  Don't waste your time on a tram or in a taxi or on a crowded bus.  Use a local map and try to find your way around!  You will be getting fresh air, exercise, and strengthening those directional skills!  Who knows, you might even run into some local people and have amazing stories to share.

2. Take advantage of farmers markets with fresh fruits and vegetables.  Every country has a cute little town area with local markets set up on the weekends or everyday.  This is the best place to get your healthy foods and it's also nice to know that you are helping the local economy prosper!  It was the perfect time to come to Norway because the strawberries were absolutely perfect as well as all of their produce.

3. Find a park or a new route through the town to take a run around.  While in Norway, there was a lake nearby that we could run to.  It was the place to be for people that lived near our dormitory. Since everyday was beautiful in Norway, Sognsvann was constantly packed.  There were hiking and running trails surrounding the lake and people swimming back and forth.  Gyms are easy to find but, when is the next time you will be able to run around a place like this again?

4. Play a pickup game of the local popular sport.  Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Scandinavia.  The World Cup happened to be going on while I was abroad so everyone was in the spirit. Their country isn't the best out of the world but, they have passion.  I know it's weird but, I had never actually tried to play soccer before.  It seemed like everyone in the international summer school program knew how to play and I felt like a 7 year old compared to them.  Turns out that it was a lot of fun and such a great workout.

5. Drinking water.  This is vital...obviously.  But you will be in different environments and climates out of your ordinary.  It can take a toll on your body but, staying hydrated is key to staying healthy. Sometimes it isn't free like we have it in the US but, instead of getting that soda that you can get back home think about your health and pick water.