This month has heralded the changing seasons here in Bergen. The city got its first snowfall of the season a week ago, turning the mountaintops white and giving the city a new beauty. The Christmas season and market both opened this month as well. On top of all this, the semester is coming to a close.

Exam season has begun. All of these things have led to some change in my activities. I haven’t been on a cabin trip since October, partly due to the fear of inclement weather putting me in a situation where it would be dangerous for me to try and traverse the mountains. I have also been busy with other things. The big band I play with had a concert at the beginning of the month that tied me up for a weekend. I went on a surfing trip near the city of Stavanger one weekend, and I’ve been studying for a final I have on Dec. 2. I am happy to say, however, that none of this has prevented me from seeing my friends.

Thanksgiving was this past week, and I had several of my international friends over for dinner. I cooked us a turkey, squash, broccoli, potatoes, carrots and stuffing; one of my friends made a cobbler and another made dinner rolls. It was really nice to be able to celebrate the holiday in a way that was relatively normal for me and to give my friends the experience of an American Thanksgiving.

That being said, the exam stress is real. As I mentioned in my last blog post, my grades for my classes rely entirely on how I do in my finals. On top of this, my final on Dec. 2 is an oral exam, a format with which I have zero experience. I have put in the hours to try and learn the material, but there is still some uncertainty, given that the time I have put in could add up to nothing if this one thing does not go well. Only time will tell.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: University of Bergen