A FIREMAN MAYBE?

I've written about this several times, but the question never seems to get old. A question asked ever since you could walk. Normally magician, fireman, policeman or astronaut are the kings of the career wishlist for many boys when growing up.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I ask that to anyone else, I normally do so in present tense. I don't go ...when you were growing up, because we're still growing. We always change, we always grow. The prospect of leaving university in just one year from now is kind of terrifying. Think about it. For the last 16 years I've been in full time education. A new era of my life is about to begin.

So what do I want to be? Well I love gadgets and media. TV, film and music are key elements of my life. I also LOVE moving about at work and could not handle a office job. One of the many things I got from my mother, is the urge to work with people. I love being around people, so office work at home is no option for me. As some of you may know, one of the things I actually thought of doing in my life was Child Protection Service worker. Working with children. I love kids, I do.

I have got an idea of my dream job. I would love to get to work for Travel Channel as a camera operator. Traveling the world, meeting new people and cultures and trying all kinds of different food. That's my dream. I think my urge to travel and get as far away as possible comes from the film "Eurotrip". That was the first DVD I bought for my own money when I was 12. Ever since then I've been signing/humming "Scotty doesn't know that Fiona..." once in a while.

Basically I'e boiled my future down to a few elements:

- Ability to express myself
- Organizing
- People
- Active

That's the four elements I'm looking for in my future. Stress is also something I enjoy from time to time, but not everyday. Makes you feel alive and shows yourself what you're capable of.

Where would this be? That's another thing. I'm a bit torn between at least two different places, Norway and UK. I do love Norway and I'm proud to say I'm Norwegian, but I'm.... I donno.... bored being in the same place I guess. And besides, the film industry or drama productions for TV, in Norway is very small, simply because we're only 5 million people.

In the last 6-8 months or so, the idea that's been stuck in my head is trying to get a job for BBC Wales in Cardiff. A large number of BBCs drama productions are based in Cardiff now, not London. That's also a reason I'm trying to pick up some Welsh. If I could learn Welsh, at least some basics, it might be to my advantage. So far I can present myself, greetings and count to 10, haha! Hopefully I'll get better.

But I am being a realist. Getting a job in the BBC will be really hard and IF by a stroke of divine touch I get in, I would have to start as the assistant of the assistant. I'll also try to apply for jobs with other production companies to. The only thing is that the recession has hit the UK, which has made the job market unstable as hell. In Norway the recession never came and any Norwegian telling you otherwise are completely bonkers...

And besides I like it in Swansea. 

The scary side. What's holding me back is family and friends in Norway. I often feel a guilt for leaving my sisters for example. And I do miss my parents, not living under their roof, but having them near me. And my friends of course.

My auntie told me something in April which has stuck with me "Why should you move back? You're young. Explore the world". That's what she did. After working as an Au pair in UK, she lived several years in America with my uncle. One of my nephews were born there. They've lived in Norway now for like 12-13 years, but MIGHT be moving to the States again for a few years. They survived.

But then again, true friends and family stay with you forever wherever you are. And so far they have. I've got some amazing friends in Norway which I speak to very often when in the UK. And I speak to my family often too. Skype calls are a wonderful thing! Should I then hold back my dreams because of the scary side? I think one should take family and friends into the account, but not let them make the decision for you. True friends and family stay with you where ever you go. Just remember to call home once in a while.

What will become of me? Who knows? Maybe I'll wake up one day and decide to become a... nose spray tester! Point is that even though I kinda hate it, the lack of a secure path and future that is, it's a part of growing up I guess.

So cheers to uncertainty!

Anine Stang is a great Norwegian artist. I filmed her during the Pride Days in the capitol a few weeks back. She was absolutely amazing live and what mooooooves! She had a pre-premiere on her new song which I believe is set to be released very soon.

Today's song: Anine Stang - Dominoes

PRIDE DAYS 2012

All the videos I did for Oslo Pride 2012 is now up. Not the greatest, I know that, but they did the trick. I had an absolute blast during pride days. I met some amazing people and made some new friends which I'll hopefully see soon. Pride days is about being proud, about showing off and about feeling comfortable in your own skin. And show the world that we're here and you can't hide us under a carpet, not even a rainbow one.

Anyhoodle, here's all the films:



And of course, today's song was easy. I know the LGBT society is trying really hard to get rid of the typical stereotypes. Like that gays are only into make-up, glitter, glam and pink or that lesbian all dress as tomboys in checkered shirts. That's not true. But one stereotype we can't get rid off is Eurovision, so I think "most" just embraced it. I personally am not a great fan of the music, but I watch it to get a laugh. This song was played a ton of times EVERYWHERE during Pride.

So, Euphoria....

PUSH IT HARD FOR THE SUMMER

Howdy partner! Long time no see.

It feels great being back in Norway again for the summer, weird, but great. It's almost like you live two separate lives, like it's two co-existing worlds. When I go back I go into my old routine, full time work and hangout with friends. It's like flipping a switch.

One thing I noticed when I talked to an American mate of mine over the weekend is that it almost felt alien speaking English. I could already feel the Welsh/British "twang" slipping away... O__o That's something I'm not going to let happen! After heavy thinking I came to a conclusion; download "Gavin and Stacey". A BBC comedy show.

Anyhoodle, what's my plan for the summer? Well on Wednesday I start working for Oslo Pride making all the of their films, which is going to be great. Besides that, I'll be working full time in the grocery store, starting my dissertation and working out.

My workout plan for the next 12 weeks are now sorted. I'm using Skimble workout app to manage my workout program. It's available to both iPhone and Andorid devices. Both programs are created by me, with some inspiration from fitness guides online.

The first program is mainly dumbbells. You can download/view it here

- 20 min stationary biking
- dumbbell squats
- left leg dumbbell lunges
- right leg dumbbell lunges
- dumbbell chest press
- Dumbbell bent over rows
- Tricep kickback
- Tricep extensions
- right concentrated bicep curls
- left concentrated bicep curls
- dumbbell lateral shoulder raises
- overhead press
- 30 sec plank
- crunches
- left oblique crunches
- right oblique crunches
- leg lifts
- 30 sec plank
- stretching

Then the second program is a cardio interval program. You can download/view it here

The first program will be repeated three times a week and the second program one time a week. I don't increase the reps and the amount of sets stay the same for the six first weeks. from week 7 to 12, there will be an increase in the sets. Each week I need to adjust the weight so that I'm working so hard that I won't be able to do the 11th tricep kickback for example, thus gaining muscle strength. Depending on how the first week goes, I might tweak it a bit.

My goal is getting more toned muscles and a six-pack. I don't won't to become much bigger, or smaller for that matter, just gain muscle. Personally I wouldn't like looking like Arnold, too big for me. My goal is more Zac Efron kind, toned and six-pack, but not massive.

Why am I so determined on this? Well because when I look at my self I see too little muscle and too much fat. No, I don't want to loose weight. No, I'm going to stop eating, quite the opposite, I need to increase my food amount. No, I don't care much about the scale. It just bothers me that when I look at myself in the mirror I see fat. Not size wise, just lack-of-muscle-kinda-fat. ... If any of that made any sense.... And no I'm uncomfortable in my own body. And not THAT unhappy about either, just need to build some muscle. 

Call it whatever you want, vanity, pier pressure, low confidence blah blah blah... I don't care. All I know is that I need to do this for me and that right now this my number one priority. Do I think this will bring me happiness in life? Hell yes! And is that because of some conspiracy theory that Hollywood dictates how humans should look... well I don't know, probably influenced by that.

But mostly it's because I need to do this for myself.

Today's song: Jessie J - Who's laughing now

ANOTHER YEAR

Another year in university has come to an end. Scary isn't it? How quickly time flies. The big and scary world is coming ever so closer. Next year I'll be a graduate... now that's a scary thought. What will I do? What will become of me?

In the last year I've gotten the taste for production and the organising behind film/TV productions. I enjoy the pressure, the need to plan. Marketing, publicity, organising, logistics and administration are all key elements I've come to enjoy in the last few years, even outside media. When I sat down thinking what field I wanted to study, marketing or logistics were actually fields I was considering. Since I was 16 I've worked in a grocery store chain in Norway. From there I've learned a lot. I like my job, I do. A few times or lets be fair, several times, through the years, I've faceplanted and made mistakes. Messed up and pissed off a fair share of people. But after a while I started to learn from my mistakes and I improved. I might not always admit to it, but I can be stubborn as hell, seem rude and a know-it-all (even though I don't really intend to). Through my jobs I've learned a great deal and I'm greatfull to all the different people I've been able to follow and learn from!

Anyhoodle, I'm derailing here. My point is; next year I'm graduating and life is really starting. What are my thoughts of my future? I've set a goal and that is to try to get a job in BBC Cardiff, where most of BBCs drama productions are based. If I end up there, time will show. People ask me if I want to return to Norway... Not yet. I don't feel ready. My aunt said some wise words to me a little while back; why should you return? You're young. Stay abroad and enjoy! She herself have lived several years abroad in different countries. I'm planning on going through the BBC Welsh language site this summer, in an attempt to pick up Welsh or at least set the foundation for it. Reason for that is that is if you know Welsh you're more likely to get a jobb in BBC Wales. At least that's what I've heard.


Over the weekend I'm planning to apply for work experience at the BBC for September. I'll take anything. I'll work for free if I can. Even making coffee and tea will allow you to pick up things in the industry. And one day, your responsibility will expand and that will develop into more. Here my stubbornness is a good thing. Keep pushing. Keep fighting. And one day you'll take down that wall. My mum taught me that.

Not the nicest picture of me... but hell. It was raining and had been working for hours. The lovely girls are two of my AMAZING colleagues, which never fails to put a smile on my face.

This year has been a roller-coaster, mostly fun moments. Uni work took me to my very limits, alongside my other classmates. I swear the International Space Station could hear the 2nd BA (hons) Video class let out a sigh when the final assignment, dissertation proposal, was handed in. Outside uni it's been a amazing year with Student Swansea Events, filming and interviewing many of Swansea's lovely students. After a couple of months I considered quitting my job. Because some problems and because of the stress. But then my stubbornness kicked in and now I don't regret it a bit. It's been amazing, learned so much. And I've gotten to meet some celebrities to, like Tim Minchin.

I've made some more amazing new friends, become closer with the ones I already had and broken a few connections. Learned a lot from that to. Sometimes you realise that not everything isn't meant to last or to have a future. Is it one thing this year has taught me, is that you shouldn't give up, but it's okay to say "You know what? No. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to have a rest day" I sometimes try to be like Jim Carrey in Yes Man and say yes to it all, but I've learned you can't always do that and that it's no shame in that.

What am I doing this summer? I'll be working in the grocery store and working on a couple of event/TV productions. Then hopefully I'll be able to do some freelance journalism for the local paper. Besides that, it's all about family, friends, fitness and dissertation research.

With this I say goodbye to Swansea, Wales and the United Kingdom for the summer and hello to Norway. And I hope all of you guys have a lush and amazing summer!

And true to my tradition, today's song is of course Breakaway.

Today's song: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway