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