Philosophical thought: FED UP TO THE BONE

Have you ever woken up and thought "why should I bother getting up?"

Everyone has thought that from time to time. What's the point? Lately I've been asking myself this at few times.

I'm just looking forward to about mid March. So much going on right now. University films, essays, classes and visual diaries... Freelance work, charity work, private projects, social life and fitness.

My head is so full at the moment. I know that there is no one but myself to "blame" for most of it. The thing that really has pissed me off this week is my teacher that teaches us in use of editing software. In each module we do we have to make a visual diary, a diary where we put in our inspiration, research, mind maps, sketches, notes etc. It's supposed to reflect you as a person and your personal development. Which I love, I really genuinely like the idea of it and feel that it actually is helping me develop. But when he practically "dictates" me what to write and I calmly say this is not helping me in any remote way what so ever, it gets to me. And when he is wasting my time with absolutely nothing but empty words, I'm left standing there thinking ; Why am I listening to you?

I have a great philosophy teacher that told us:

"If you don't want to do something, why are you doing it? Is it expectations? Because society said so? Why?"

And he's right. I've had to ask myself lately; why do I do this?

- I want to be active

- I want to have a good job in the future, so to get there I have to fight. I have to fill my CV to the brim, which is exactly what I'm doing and have been trying to do for the past years.

What is a good job to me? To me a good job is a job where I'm enjoying myself (not in a perv way), working with others I like, decent pay and varied. Those are the key factors to me. I want to look forward to going to work, to get up in the morning and feel the energy flow over me. I want to work with other that I can learn from, get inspired from and vice versa. I would like to live comfortable. Not talking a villa and four cars, but enough to sustain a life and being able to live life without being hold back. I'm terrified of a "A4 average Joe" life where I get up at 07:15 and finish work at 16:45 every fay, Monday to Friday. At least if the other key factors aren't there. 

So does the means justify the end? Does the use of energy and time on something I do not in any way see the use for justify for my goal? Does it?

A comedian I saw on You Tube once said:

- Don't you want to live be a hundred?

- No not if I can't eat tacos.... and as many as I want. You know a lot of people just because you work out, lift weights and you eat right and you do what people tell you to do, that you'll live a long life. Maybe you will.... but you know; why do people measure life by the years instead of how good those years were?

What good is it that you stayed in the house and you were safe.....?

            - Gabriel Iglesias

So I'm trying to live my life to the full, but in the process I'm loosing one thing; me. I'm loosing me. Often people forget what they really want and stop asking themselves this because they only listen to the voices around them. Of course we all have the funny dreams of becoming a astronaut and get some well put advice from dear parents saying Sweetie don't know if that's what you should be doing. People say to me you need to prioritize, that I need to choose. Believe me, I'm trying and yes I need to. But I've got the "Laugerud-curse", which is to get involved. My mum, bless her, will carry on volunteering, working and taking on projects even to the point where it almost breaks her. That is both me and my mums best and worst quality.

I've been working on a regular basis (more or less) since I was 14 1/2. I remember feeling so proud when I got my own pay check that young (young yeah cause I'm so old now, hehe). 62,50 NOK an hour, I thought I could by the world and everything in it. When I got my own money and didn't have to rely only on pocket money, I felt a tiny bit independent. It was a time where I didn't work so much, because it was less shifts. I felt so restless. I was practically jumping up and down with energy.

When somebody I knew got jobs that involved nothing but for example looking at a screen and occasionally answer the phone for 7 hours on the weekend. I would have gone bonkers and beyond. I can't sit still doing absolutely nothing. I need to move. I need to stay active. 

So what really drains me of energy is the fact when people, in this case my teacher (but sometimes I manage it perfectly fine on my own...), expect me and others to waste our time on tasks that give us absolutely nothing. 

In math class, ages ago think it might have been around year 8., I had an issue with my teacher. It was one type equation I did in my head that would have taken time writing down, so I didn’t bother. When the teacher marked it as an error in my book I asked why and I was told it was because I didn’t show how I got that answer. I told him that I don’t write it down cause I do in my head. He argued that's how is he to sees that I’ve done and understood this. I showed him equations I’d done earlier, but he said he needed me to do it for each one. Then I replied “Well it shouldn't affect me that you’re not smart enough to figure out the equation yourself and need me to do it for you.” Naturally I was told off for it, haha. But my point to that story is why should I do it if I understand it? And he used the "because I say so" answer...

But if I needed to cut anything in my life, what would it be? Algebra! That's some waste of "brain-storage" if you ask me.

But to finish it off with the question I posed at the beginning: 

Why should I bother getting up?

Because I love staying active. Because I love working behind the camera. Because I love giving back some joy to kids. Because I love my friends and family to the very end of my fingertips. Because of running on the beach on a sunny Sunday. Because I love looking at life from all different angles.

Why are you doing this?

Why do I put up with my teacher? Well I want a good future and that means that you sometimes have to do stuff you think are boring, my mum thought me that, which I deep down somewhere do believe. BUT that doesn't mean you should be forced to do something you don't believe in. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I've got the power and need to act if there's something I'm not happy about. So I will try my best to talk to the teacher in an orderly manor and explain why I think it's an absolute waste of time what he's asking of us.

Anyhoodle, here's todays song. John Mayer, an American artist, has a great voice and some amazing lyrics in his songs. So without any further ado...

Today's song: John Mayer - Waiting on the world to change

LONG TIME NO SEE

Long time no see.

Okay let's do a summary:

13. - 17. February - Italy week

I went to Italy to work for Discover the World. My job is to create a promo video, 10 to 15 min, about their school trip program. Other film students were picked to go to Iceland and Jordan. So over the next month I'll be working hard with this project, amongst other work.

There I followed a lovely bunch from Wirral Grammel School - A Business & Enterprise School for Boys. VERY polite boys, all Sir and Miss. I got to see Pompeii, the island Capri, Napoli, Sorrento and much more. It was really amazing to see Pompeii and the "live-frozen-people". It really shows the destructive power of Mother nature. I can now also say I've been IN an volcano. We wet to a dormant volcano and walked around on the top.

There you see the volcano Vesuvius. We were supposed to go up there, but there were too much snow.

18. and 19. February


- Got home and just relaxed, so tired

20. - 26. February

- Been working a fair share with one of our university project, the TV studio one, contacting cast, meetings with the group etc. We're filming in the first week in March, so wish us luck.

Have been to uni most of the days for classes and be doing research for this.

Blah blah blah.... I'm not going to write every single thing I've done...

- We celebrated pancake day, where the girls made some really good pancakes. Yummy!

- On Wednesday I worked in Play On Wednesday - Odyssey making a film for Student Swansea Events:



- Besides that, I'm trying my best to work on my new documentary, which still is a tiny little secret. I'm really hoping to be able to do this one for this years project. In worst case I'll save it for next year and make a smashing project.

- On Saturday Wales beat England in the rugby! Great game, well played from both teams, but to be fair, the best won.

Source: The Telegraph

The energy in the pub, Mountain Dew, was increasable. To have so many people focus and be passionate about something is amazing.

- Yesterday Joe, Leeza, Johan, Jens and me decided to go home to Leeza/Joe's hometown Tenby. We have a fun time, nice city. Looking forward to going back in summer to see their amazing beaches

That was the highlights of my last two weeks, more or less.

My room is so messy... I've been saying to myself all week that if my grandmother saw my room right now she would disown me, haha! I just haven't had the energy to tidy, but today it's here. I'm starting now.

I would like to thank all those people that take the time to pop by my blog. I checked the statistics and even though I haven't posted anything in like two weeks I got between 35 and 60 readers and well over a 100 when I post something. Thank you. My "best" month was March 2011 when 2290 INDIVIDUAL readers stopped by my blog, which to me is amazing. Again thank you!

I know I've said this a ton of times before, but I will try my best to post more often.

Today's song: Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

CAFE ROUGE

It's 06:20 and the birds have barely started to open their tiny eyelids, but Gatwick Airport is full of busy bies. Several houndred staff members swiftly moving around, servicing all the needs of the passangers. The little family from Surrey running, with their DS gaming son, towards gate 48 to catch the 06:55 flight to Malta. You see entire school classes in their red bright jumpers walking around the airport duty-free shops looking at all the cheap alcohol they can't buy.

I find it quite exciting to be at the airport, it's almost like it's its own timezone, with the occasional powernap. The is the one place where people from all over the world meets under the same roof and on the same terms. Quite extraordinary, don't you think?

Gatwick is an ever changeing airport and that was something I noticed today. A new security check-point and a ''never-before-seen-departure-hall'' (at least by me). I stood there completely bewildred, thinking I do not recodnize any of this. One thing is for sure, I need a proper breakfast to get to the same buzzing energy levels as the rest of the bies. I walk past the buffe places and the ''quick-n-easy'' food joints. I wonder, is there a pub to be found somewhere in the Extreme Makeover land or a cafe that's not filled to the brim?

Then I see it, in the far most corner of the hive. The French Cafe Rouge, a medium sized cafe with 1920 interior and a very old french feel. The lower part of the walls, tables and bar is of the dark brown, almost black, oak. The upper part of the wall is a pleasant yellow which has the most intricate writing and paintings. The staff is dressed in black and white, moving about swiftly. Instead the classical airport buzz, speakers going off ''Mr. Hansen, please make your way...'' you have French classic music. I feel ever so relaxed, actually the most relaxed I've ever felt on an airport. It almost feels like I am in France, almost. The omelette I had was VERY good, or tres bon as the French would say.

It is with a relaxed smile on my face I finish my meal and make my way towards the gate and Italy. Cafe Rouge, thank you.

ENGLAND, I OWE YOU MY APOLOGIES

I would like to apologize for one sentence from yesterday post. The first point where I wrote "Bloody English posh bastards" or something. After my neighbour house mates Adi and Kylie confronted me I realized it might have been a bit over the top. Even though I meant it only as a joke and I believe the girls took as one too, I see now that I may have offended someone and for that I am sorry.

So Adi and Kylie, I'm sorry :)

MY ADOPTIVE COUNTRY WALES

The title "My adoptive country" I got from one of my classmates when we were at the Mountain Dew Inn watching Wales VS Ireland in Six Nations. Several of us had our Welsh rugby tops on, plus I had my scarf!



If you didn't guess it, Wales won. It's something magical about the combination of a pub, a pint and your mates. Sometimes I prefer going up to the pub, having a few pints and playing pool and dart, than going out clubbing. I find it relaxing and fun. Not to mention the different types of beer.... I love ales! If it's dark and spicy I'm in heaven. Potters Wheel, a pub in Swansea, have a lot of ales from small breweries, making every pint unique. For Christmas they had one called Lap Prancer, AMAZING.

People in the UK often ask me "Why did you come to Swansea? Why do you like it?"

I like Swansea cause I feel it's got a lot to offer. A nice loooooooooong beach, good nightlife, forrests, parks, UKs finest beach 20 min away and a just about right sized city centre. I can go for a 20 min run and come into a 700 acre / 2.8 km2 big country park, Clyne Valley Country park. Or how about having a BBQ on the 10 km long beach in October in shorts?

I am Norwegian and will always be that, no matter what! So don't get me wrong, not trying to say I'm a fully Welsh person here, far from it.

To me, as a foreigner, I think everything new is exciting (positive or negative). I'm very much proud of being Norwegian, but I also feel a connection to Wales. A small part of me gets happy and almost proud whenever people say "You from Swansea are ya?" or "Noooo, you Norwegian? I don't believe you."

What makes me feel "wannabe-welsh":
- I feel proud when Swansea City or Wales (rugby) beats a team
- In a true Welsh spirit I said to my mate Edd in the pub "As long as we beat the English I don't mind not winning Six Nations"
- Love welsh cakes!
- Welsh accent to a certain degree
- When I was in the gym a couple of weeks ago I could pick up a few words of a conversation two guys had in Welsh
- When I cross the border from England to Wales I almost feel like I'm coming home
- I love beer

I get so annoyed when people in Norway say to me "How's life in England?" .... I just answer "No idea, you have to ask the English about that" Then I stop talking. I wouldn't like it if people called me Swedish. I don't live in England, I live in Wales. This island isn't called England, it's British Isles and UK is made up of FOUR nations Wales, Scotland, Northern-Ireland and England. To be serious for a second, if you call a Welsh/Scottish/Northern-Irish person English you can risk a heavy discussion. One of my neighbour house mate would go bananas if you called her English. If you are confused, watch this video on Vimeo.



Anyone wondering how welsh sounds? Take a look at BBC Cymru news about the elections 2011. The only time I watch Welsh TV is when I hit the gym and watch TV on the treadmill. SOMETIMES I might watch S4c if it's anything that looks cool, even though I hardly anything. Also I always choose Welsh when using cash machines/ATMs, just for fun.



I challenge you! I can say it (in VERY poor Welsh), but need the text in front of me



But after I moved to Wales my view of Norway changed. I've come to understand the strict alcohol politics that Norway has, only allowed to buy alcohol at certain times and forbidden on Sundays (not in pubs, just stores) And the government run oil company, providing much of the state budget.

I believe the UK needs some drastic changes. The problem is that it's overpopulated and people are unemployed. There are over 62 million people in the UK, a kingdom that's 243 610 km2. That's 255,6 people per km2. Norway have a population of 4,9 million, a kingdom that's 385 252 km2, giving us 12,5 p. per. km2. The gorvenment needs to take charge again and handle the situation, because right now you're getting a generation of kids where many are growing up in poverty. And that gives us a ring effect. They need to act.

Didn't think this would turn out to be this long. Okay let's wrap it up.

Could I see myself living here? Yes maybe, let's see what the future holds.

Today's song: Will Young - Come On

HOMEMADE BEER

All the lads in our house suddenly decided we wanted to brew our own beer, DIY beer. So we all chipped in on a brewing kit from Aussieland and have now started the process. Johan filmed it all and we were talking about setting up a "beer blog" for all of you guys to follow. We're also might have a vote over name suggestions. My suggestion is "The Wild Viking". Our "own" in-house graphic designer Eirik will be designing the labels, he can make some great stuff so really looking forward to that.

So in three weeks time we'll have our own homemade beer!

Take a look at the process here:

Today's song: Save Water, Drink Beer - Chris Young