Möller's Dobbel / Möller's tran

Hello there!!!

Today I am inspired to talk about something very "typical norwegian". And that is the aliment complement "Möller's dobbel" - "your allié to hold you healthy and increase your immune system".

So this aliment complement is taken by the majority, even all Norwegian people. They take it from the age of 4 weeks after birth and it is something they take during all their life.

It is sold such as liquid "Möller's Tran" or as capsule "Möller's dobbel". It is a complement which is rich in vitamin A, D, and E.

From my experience the first time I tried the liquid one I almost went to the bathroom to throw up. It is disgusting for someone who has never tasted it. It smells strong like fish and it's oily so you basically feel like you are drinking "fish oil". And by the way the product is really made from fish oil. So you really feel it.

The other option is to take the capsule. That choice is definitely what I could recommend to people who want to try it for the first time. This one is test less and just goes fast in the mouth and quickly swallowed with water.

As I heard from Norwegians it really help them having a better immune system and contribute positively to the child development. So why not? I may be tempted to try it in a near future (even if there is no hope it will help me gaining some inches, haahha ). It will be just for the experience of trying and maybe improving my immune system, specially in winter time.


#Peaceandlove

Norwegian Winter 2015

This winter as the previous ones is going to be cold, cold, very cold.

I already feel the cold going through my bones. It is not a joke it really feels that way. 

More the days goes and more we loose sun time. It is getting slowly darker and the days are being limit to 5 hours day time. Well the rest of day is still there but it is just darkness.

Basically days are starting at 9 and ending up around 3pm. So you wake up and go to your occupations still night time and when you come back home around 4pm it is already night. 

But no, it's not night, you still have the "day" time. So do something you like doing: like going to this coffee place you like with some friends, or go to the gym, or do anything but not just stay home the whole rest of the day.

My first year, it wasn't that obvious, for me night meant : home and chill. So my first winter 2014 I basically was staying home and doing nothing meaningful. That was….not the way. At least not that much "norwegian way". Norwegian way is: you get out from work around 4pm, you have dinner/middag and then you go out again to your occupations (some even go from work straight to their others activities: sport; other hobbies).

And they are home around 8/9pm, watch their favorite movie/serie and go to bed around 10/11pm.

So this winter 2015 I have decided to live the norwegian way: after my day occupations, I keep on living the day: go to the gym and come home around 7/8pm. And for now I kinda feel the good effects of that rhythm. You feel less "eaten" by the cold and darkness of the winter.

Peace&Love

My Norwegian love story

 If there is something that I got to be aware of during my stay in Norway among others, it is that “Life is really unpredictable”.

During my stay in Norway I learn a lot about life.

One illustration about the fact that life is quite unpredictable, I am talking here as concerns love and meeting love.  For my concern, love happened to me when least expected. Basically I was at the end of a 1 and half year relationship and I came to Norway after obtaining a positive answer from an internship application I had sent. It was for me a way to move forward and get over that relationship.

At that period, I had one idea in my mind: come to Norway, do the best at my internship and keep the boys away from me for a period and focus 100% on my career (year quite important of the end of my master degree).

The mission was doing quite well until I met my current boyfriend that I will call LH...

Could you imagine that, that evening of April 18th I had been invited to two parties and had quite difficulty at choosing one of them (as always, ndrl)

I took the decision at the tram station I took the first direction I came to. And that direction led me to a party out with a girl I now consider as sister. At that moment I barely knew her but she happened to be such a sunshine and awesome person. Okay don’t get me wrong, I'm not into girls, I just love her very much. And she also played a certain role in my meeting with my boo. Because it happened that she knew him. She had also invited him out to join the party.

Same on his side, that night he was more feeling like staying in and having a relaxing evening home. But he decided to go out... So we basically met in a Café in the center of Oslo. When I saw him I directly told myself: close your eyes and look elsewhere. Because this, what I was seeing was the danger which would be there to distract me from my goal... Until that stage on my mind I didn't know we knew one person in common. Well. It was not going to last longer. Our common friend came and started the presentations. I kinda played the girl uninterested the whole evening. But he, he was quite talkative. So he took me outside in order to have a proper conversation. We talked for a long moment outside the Café with the sweet cold air of a Norwegian Spring (April). And then without me getting what was happening, he took my face with his super soft hands and he kissed me. I didn't really saw it coming. I was quite chocked. First of all because I had heard so many stories and cliché about Norwegians boys who are not that initiative taker and that they kinda needed to drink before being so close socially. LH wasn't drunk. He was sober as a priest. :)

Well let’s go back to the kiss… That kiss was the best kiss I had ever experienced. It was so unique. And I felt a strong feeling when he kissed me. It was like we got connected in a way that is not that easy to describe. After we kissed, we continued the evening with the rest of the group as if nothing was happened. At the end of the evening we said goodbye to each other and I went home on my side and him on his side. When I arrived home I was still in chock about what had just happened earlier. I wasn't ready for that. Still in my heart I was filling quite "high" but the reason as usual was telling me to take it easy and maybe even forget about that night. That didn't last too long in my head. Indeed few minutes after I got home LH sent me a message telling me that he was pleased to meet me and that he hoped we could meet again. I think if I remember well, my reaction was : jumping and laughing in the bathroom. I felt good to read that message and to get cut in my temptation to just forget about it all. So what happened after that is that we started chatting and telling us stories by phone. As a quite busy young man, LH was quite taken in the days following our meeting. So was I too. So we maintained a texting relationship for almost two three weeks after our first meeting and then we finally met for dinner.

He took me to an original and nice Thai restaurant. The atmosphere was unique and so romantic. I was charmed. Okay enough about me.

Concerning LH...

He is a handsome guy. He doesn't let ladies insensible. They will be seduced either by his immeasurable kindness either by his sensitive charm. He is tall, blond with blue eyes and his smile is as cute as the whole character.

We have been together for almost two years, and every time I see him it is like the first time we met. I am totally in love and it feels good to love and be loved.

That feeling is so great and unique that I wish you all to get the chance to experience it in your life.

I love you so much my darling. Always keep that deep in your heart and never ever doubt about it.

July - 2015

Peace & Love to y'all!

July - 2015

A koselig evening of Autumn

Today 24 September 2015 is not a day like another.

It is a special day, a new day. I am really feeling that the Autumn is for sure here now.

I spent the day at my part-time job and arrived home around 6pm, after a nice dinner with my love, I followed my routine of applications and follow-up.

Then it started to rain,  right now it is still raining. I love the rain from inside. I am confortable in the sofa and listening to the noise of the rain touching the ground. It is so relaxing!!!!

I have by my side a nice cup of hot tea and feeling totally grateful and happy.

This is priceless.

#PowerOfRain :)

Wishing you all a nice evening.

Peace&Love

Norwegian friendship...

The norwegian friendship process is the longest I have ever met in my worldwide experiences.

I have lived in several countries around the globe and here in Norway I am quite surprised to see how long is the process of getting friends.

First of all, Norwegians are not the ones who will come to you the foreigner. It is up to you foreigner to go to them. And you have to know as well: how!

Norwegians like to have their own space. The social distance* of Norwegian are much more bigger. You should not be too touchy or talk too close to them. This will make them uncomfortable even push them away.

So you have to take your distance when approaching them for the first time (this is of course my humble opinion, but I don't want to get too general either. There may be out there some Norwegians who are touchy and like to get close to people when talking to them).

Anyway, my point is: I have been living in Norway for almost two years and 90% of my friends are foreigners. Not that I don't like their company or else but just that I haven't get the chance to see my friendship with them last over few cups of coffee or trips to the mountain on my initiative. And being always the one offering plans can get tiring when you get no feedback from the other side.

They usually have already their friends from kindergarden that they hang with and are not that opened to new friendships. At least not that inclusive in my sense compared to French or Rwandese people.

I am saying that but I am sure other people may have a completely other experience.

For my concern, I do think, you definitely have to be extremely patient to get to know people in Norway and later get friends with them.

#Peace & Love always :)

The food - Norwegian Food

Family, love, friends and food, what else? :)

I do love food, for sure. I love eating good and healthy food, diversified food from all over the world. 
I have tried the norwegian one and I would say is… interesting to try.

The typical meals consist of cold breakfast with coffee to start the day, a cold packed lunch at work (matpakke) and a hot dinner at home with family around 4/5 pm. And sometimes a later snacks of bread and butter/cheese/ham… Quite cold all this isn't it? :)

The breakfast:
It is usually composed by milk, fruit juice, coffee (tea but not that popular) and open sandwiches with cheese (brunost, a mix of caramel and goat cheese) and jam or levepostai (a sort of paté).

The dinner - Middag
That is the only warm meal Norwegians have.
Potatoes, meat, vegetables and fish are the main meals served on the table.
Sometimes pastas or rice but it is mostly potatoes.

LOCAL SPECIALITIES

FISH

Norwegian Salmon

- Laks = Salmon
No need to describe this one everyone knows about the amazing and unique norwegian  salmon.
I love this one. I would eat it every day from monday to sunday :D




- Rakfisk = Trout/Char
It is a norwegian fish dish made from trout, salted and fermented for two to three months, or even up to a year.

- Torsk = Cod
It is poached and served with boiled potatoes and melted butter.
Carrots, fried bacon may also accompany the fish. I tried it and it was a nice culinary experience.

- Lutefisk = Lyed fish
That is a modern preparation made of stockfish or dried and salted cod that has been steeped in lye.
This fish has an important place in the norwegian cuisine, especially on the coast as a typical dish for the christmas time.
I had the occasion to try this one and I kinda liked it.

- Stekt fisk = braised fish

Almost all fish is braised, but as a rule the larger specimens tend to be poached and the smaller braised. The fish is filleted, dusted with flour, salt and pepper and braised in butter. Potatoes are served on the side, and the butter from the pan used as a sauce.

Fatty fish like herring and brisling are given the same treatment. Popular accompaniments are sliced and fresh-pickled cucumbers and sour cream.

- Fiskesuppe = Fish soup

It is a white, milk-based soup with vegetables, usually carrots, onions, potato and various kinds of fish.

MEAT:

- Kjøttkaker = Meat cakes

It is a rough and large cakes of ground beef, onion and salt and pepper. Roughly the size of a child's fist. Generally served with peper sauce. Potatoes, stewed peas or cabbage and carrots are served on the side. Many like to use a jam of lingonberries as a relish. The pork version is called medisterkake.

- Kjøttboller = Meatballs

A rougher version of the Swedish meatballs. Served with mashed potatoes and cream-sauce or sauce espagnole depending on the locality.

I have to admit that I prefer my home made meatballs. I think that they are tasteless or at least not enough seasoned with spices. 

- Svinekoteletter = Pork chops.

This is simply braised and served with potatoes and fried onions or whatever vegetables are available.

- Svinestek = Roast pork

A typical Sunday dinner, served with pickled cabbage (a sweeter variety of the German sauerkraut), gravy, vegetables and potatoes. All good cuts of meat are roasted, as in any cuisine. Side dishes vary with season and what goes with the meat. Roast leg of lamb is an Easter classic, roast beef is not very common and game is often roasted for festive occasions.

The current trend is now the Norwegian market is opening itself to foreign food specialities: indian and sushi have a very good place on the market, pizza and kebab as well. French restaurants have also an enviable place on the market.

La nature / The nature

Vue depuis la forteresse à Oslo centre

Bydøy - Île près d'Oslo

La nature norvégienne est merveilleuse.
C'est d'ailleurs l'un des aspects qui a fait que je suis tombée amoureuse de ce pays.
C'est une nature diversifiée: des montagnes aux fjords en passant par les côtes de la mer norvégienne.
Un paysage à couper le souffle.
Après il va sans dire que les hivers sont assez rudes et les étés sont d'une douceur incomparable (en hiver les températures atteignent les -20/25 et en hivers cela tourne autour de 20/25 °C parfois cela peut aller jusqu'à 30 mais c'est rare (ce fut le cas en 2014 mais cela fut légendaire).

Hummevoll fjellet: cabin trip with my boo

The norwegian nature is wonderful.
It is actually one of the aspects that made me fall in love of this country.
It is a diversified nature. From the mountains to the fjords until the norwegian sea coast. The landscape is amazing.
Nevertheless it is well know that the temperatures in winter can be very extreme (from -20 to -25), and in opposite summers are tempered with an average of 20/25 and some exceptional years until 30°C (example of the summer 2014).