Winter has arrived! Started snowing yesterday, and today we were down to -10∘C + ☃.  Felt like Norway <3. Good thing I left my boots in NYC, because they were too heavy! Will get them here in february, when the snow is gone and the sun back in KC (I guess..). Cold!!

The trouble with my classes is no trouble no more! UiB accepted at last, so now I can take my classes and be happy. The very last thing that needs to be sorted out is whether UMKC will accept my insurance that I have from Norway, so that I don’t have to get their’s as well.. That would be paying double up for the same thing. I have given them all my papers, and will get their answer by the end of january. Fingers crossed!

So- Walmart! What a beautiful place! Maybe not beautiful per se, but it was to me. All these aisles. All this food. All this fooood.. Knowing myself well, I wrote a list before we went. And I stuck to it. I got some new sheets, pillow, hangers, stuff like that. I guess I will get used to this supersized-everything-shopping-mentality, and probably/ hopefully get sick of it. But not yet- I kind of feel like a kid in a candy shop every day. And sometimes you just have to wonder-  isn’t it..?

And look at these salt & pepper shakers:

Just no place like Kansas (City). 🙂

Yesterday I went to see my first UMKC basketball game, our own Roos against the South Dakota Coyotes. Unfortunately we lost, but I loved it anyways! Definetly will go again! It was all just so American.. All stand up, hand to heart, and sing the national anthem (while facing the flag) before the game started. And the cheerleaders going crazy, and the Roo! Just loved it.

This has been one lazy sunday. I managed to keep myself from walking all over town yet again, sometimes you just have to make yourself rest. So I did. I’m trying out Netflix (where you can see all kind of tv series and movies), but why are they like two seasons behind on all the best shows? Maybe I haven’t figured it out all right yet.

I have finally met two of my roommates, Cindy and Kalaa, wohoo! They seem like two really nice girls, so I’m not worried much about us getting along.

First day of class tomorrow, I am EXCITED! My schedule is quite tight, I think, but that’s what’s normal. And what is going on with the night classes! Monday is one long day, from 9 to 9 (some breaks to catch up on the reading and coffee drinking, sure). It seems to work differently with the classes here in general. The professors expect you to attend every class (attendance checked), you get homework, and weekly tests and assignments. It is like being back to highschool.

I usually attend all my classes anyways, but I wanna be free to do some travelling when I feel like it. That might be a problem, though.. I guess I’ll have to talk to my professors about some days off in february- because I am going back to NYC, period!

Saturday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri:

So, KC peeps, when you get back: GIVE ME A CALL!! <3

Way to start the day! This is exactly what one should do every day: Fill the bathtub, make some coffee, and eat yesterdays cheesecake leftovers! In the bathtub! Hell yeah.

I had a plan about staying in bed all day today, and relaaax. But I have somehow gotten into this healthy rythm of sleeping 8 hours, awake refreshed and energetic. So, I guess I’ll have to do some more walking, then.

Yesterday I walked like 12 hours (with a few breaks). I took the bus to the City Marked (too far to walk), where they sell all kind of fresh food. There’s also a Chinese supermarked, where I found sesame seeds for my knekkebrød (in a regular grocery store a tiny little glass costs $6, I don’t really get it)! And I got the coolest t-shirt ever, it’s so shiny.

It still is deserted here. And I have to say I still don’t understand the city, really. Downtown, there still are no people in the streets (I will photo prove this!). There are so many shops (?) that are closed down or just look dodgy. It can’t all change like THIS when the students come back on monday? I have to admit I start to think “What am I doing here?!” when looking around. Like, really?!..  What’s funny is that the guys I’ve met so far have the same reason as me to be here: a scholarship! That’s why people go here!

No, sure I’m gonna give KC a real try, and I am sure I’ll have a blast. I mean it!

Yesterday Andrew was to show me around “First Friday”- that’s every first friday of the month, where all kind of art galleries open, and stores turn into art galleries, and music on the streets and food and you name it. So we went downtown, I was excited about the crazy packed street fair I was about to see. But guess what! The streets were empty! We walked like an hour or something, finally finding some places. Pew. I saw a KC-band (yes, that is a banjo he’s holding):

And we saw art:

This guy looked so unbelievably real! But he was not:

Today I’m gonna meet my roommates, that’s exciting! And I’m gonna, I don’t know, ..walk? It’s still the most beautiful wheather, so I have to get out there.

TTYS!

Summer has hit KC! 18〫C + ☼! AWESOME! It should be snowing here right now, no idea what’s wrong. But wont complain.

After spending half the day in front of the computer, signing up for classes, checking with professors, checking what books I can get where (the books are absolutely ridiculous. One I need to get is $200, and it’s only one out of seven!! Most of them I can get used to a cheaper price, but not all of them. It’s just insane) – I went out to get some sun. I feel slightly sunburned, actually. Loves! 😉

I’m looking forward to just start classes and get going now, starting to get pretty tired of this organizational paperwork.

The low carb cheesecake was good, btw! They’ll see me hangin’ around The Cheesecake Factory a lot, I guess.. And workout starts tomorrow. Promise.

Not too much to report today-  I’m heading for a power nap. Zzzzzzzz.

You are selling way too good cheesecake. Smells like trouble. Today I went to the Plaza, which is the nearby shopping area (with cinemas, cafes, restaurants,..), and went past “The Cheesecake Factory”. There they sell- yes, cheesecake. The big, bold, American kind, with all kind of flavors. I got a slice of the Hershey’s chocolate cheesecake for today, and one slice of the low carb one for tomorrow! I hope the low carb one is as good as the other one, because it is DELISH!

Today has been another fixing day- checking in with the international office, get my UMKC mail account, register for classes, and so on.. This stuff takes time, but I think most is done now. I was able to sign up for three of the five classes I have to take. One was full, which means I have to talk to the professor to pleeeeeaaaaaaase let me join anyways. The last one is “individual research”, there I have to contact a professor of my choice to supervise me. I haven’t had the chance yet to go through that today, but tomorrow is another day!

I haven’t been able to answer much to the question “what is Kansas City known for, really?”. Until now. Here it comes:

1. Ice tea was invented in Kansas City!

2. The icecream cone was invented in Kansas City!

3. The M&M-crust was invented in Kansas City!

4. “Hallmark”, the postcards, come from Kansas City!

5. UMKC’s mascot, a kangaroo, was originally drawn by THE Walt Disney! IN Kansas City! This was before Micky Mouse, and it actually looked a bit like a mouse. Now a newer version is used (I actually won a t-shirt my first day here, with the kangamouse (mousaroo?) on it. I won it because I answered the following question right: How many books can you borrow from the library at once? 1999 books! Ridiculous number, but that’s what’s allowed).

Thanks to Jenny I now also have some nice pictures on the wall-

And todays fortune cookie promised me a bright time at UMKC! All good then! 🙂

Wow, today has been a long day! At 07:30 we (the new international students) met for our obligatory information-day. We spent the day getting to know each other (icebreaker games), and get information about campus, campus life, health care, payments, you name it. We also got information about personal hygiene routines in the USA- it is normal to shower about every day, and use deodorant. Deodorant is to be sprayed onto your body, NOT your face (as was demonstated in a sketch on stage). I am sure there must be a reason that this rather awkward information was given, so I did not laugh.

As I mentioned yesterday, everything is quite deserted here right now. I got confirmed that this will change next week, then the campus is going to be packed with people again (can’t wait!). But anyways, today everything was closed, including the cafes and coffeshops.  I seriously can’t remember the last time I went a whole day without drinking coffee- it was painfull.

We all got some vouchers for different cafes, pens, a little backpack, and stuff like that. We also got a scarf! I am not sure which house I belong to yet- the talking hat was too busy today.

The other international students are mostly from India (and that is also the largest international student group already on campus, followed by Chinese). I was the only one from Norway today, I am not sure whether there are any Norwegians already here. There was one German student today- and I realize that I have a bit of explanation to do every time people ask me where I’m from. I wasn’t even aware that I have a German accent, but I obviously very much so do (“Hi, how are you?” “Good, how are you?” “Oh, WOW, you are GERMAN?!”). Then explaining that I am German, but also Norwegian, learned English in Germany but now have lived in Norway for ten years, that gets boring rather quickly. So I’m not sure what’s best to say yet.

Good news: I am NOT the oldest one- pew!! We were divided into groups all day, so I haven’t seen all my fellow immigrants, but from what I’ve seen I would guess that the average age is around 30, actually (some are contributing more to this average than others. The oldest one in my group today was somewhere between 40 and 50, I would guess). I haven’t had the chance to talk too much to all of these guys yet, but I guess that’s gonna happen soon! I also learned that to make it through a conversation you really only need to know three words:

1: “Wow!”

2: “Awesome!”

3: “Cool!”

If you manage to mix these three around a bit, you can make it through any smalltalk. I haven’t been here for too long yet- but I already talk in superlatives a lot. That’s just how it roles over here. People may say what they want about the superficiality here, but I really enjoy it so far. It is nice to be called “honey”, “gorgeous” and “beautiful” all day long! What do I care if they really mean it! If you smile, you are guaranteed a nice response. That’s not what I experience in Norway or Germany, but it sure makes everything a bit easier.

And oh, I forgot to post pictures of my room yesterday- even though it might be easier to see on the webpage, actually:

We also went on a bustour through KC, which was a good way to get an idea where things are located around here. It would be great to have a car, so much I can tell. But as our tourguide (a fellow student) said: it’s all about making friends with the people that have cars!

I also went to shop some groceries. It was a 30 minutes walk, which was so nice in the crisp, sunny weather today. I think there only is a bus going back to campus, not from campus to the store. I have to check that out- otherwise it’s good exercise, I guess. This is how the neighbourhood looks like, it’s really friendly and nice!

I also got an american account today, my student id card, and learned how to use an american washing machine. And I got a lighter for my scented candle! 🙂

Today I finally came to KC! All went well- got to La Guardia in gooood time, flight was on time, all went smoothly. I had been offered to get picked up at the airport in KC by volunteers associated with the International Office at UMKC (and the church- I did not understand that connection directly, but didn’t ask), which is great! The couple that wanted to give me a lift to campus had contacted me beforehand, and sent me a picture of themselves (for recognition at the airport, I assume). So after arrival I looked out for this tall man with a white beard and his chinese wife, not sure whether they’d hold up a sign with my name or not. They were not at the gate where I arrived (at this airport you meet the waiting people right after leaving the plane, just as in “Love Actually”), so I went to get my baggage. I thought they might figure that I went to get my suitcases, and meet me there. But after waiting there for a while, I thought I maybe should get back to the gate. I could not find any trolley, so I had to push and pull my three suitcases back through the terminal. But they were not at the gate this time either. I waited there a little while, but thought it might be better to get back to the baggage claim again. So I did. When they weren’t there this time either, I finally had the idea to re-read the mail they had sent me two days ago and search for a clue where they might be hiding! They had asked me to confirm that I arrive on jan 3rd, which I did..  I was watching the view from Jakobs apartment when “reading” their email, not caring too much about the details like dates. Soo, there I was an hour later, on jan 2nd, sweaty and tired. Pulling my three suitcases back through the terminal, yet again, to get a ticket for the shuffle bus!

Driving through town on my way to campus I got the chance to have a sneakpeak at KC, yet again the weather was on my side. Sun, blue sky and clear, crisp air! Beautiful. The city looked clean and nice! But something was odd. There were no people. I mean, there were cars driving on the streets, but no people walking anywhere in town? Why? I think I saw about 5 people alltogether. We crossed the city from the north to the south (the city being about the size as Oslo), and that was it? Very, very strange. And actually a bit freaky. I’m hoping that the people are crowding up inside the cafes and bars or something.

And then I arrived at my new home- the Oak Place Apartments. The room looks just as it did in the catalogue ( http://www.umkc.edu/HOUSING/apartments.asp ), and I even have a bathtub! Loves! My flatmates are not here, I assume they still are on winterbreak (..like the remaining 98% of KC’s population?..). The international students start tomorrow, but the rest start next week, I think. That might mean that my flatmates are american, but I’ll just wait and see.

I went to have a look around campus, but it was too cold (besides being deserted), actually. Tomorrow: Big wool-wrap-up! I bought a little candle together with some snacks, just to make it cosy. I had forgotten that I have quit smoking, though, and no longer have a lighter. Candle-cosy tomorrow, then.

Last night was a blast! Met some really nice people, dancing and smiling. Open bar all night, friend or foe? Anyways- we certainly looked good!

Spent this hangoverday at the Woodbury Commons Outlet. What a dangerous place! I managed to not spend all of my budget, so I am schni-schna-schnappie!

Now the bags are packed, KANSAS CITY tomorrow! As I wrote before, people in Norway say “cowboy!” when I say Kansas City. Here people just ask “why?”. Is it really that bad? Or are they simply jealous? I truly don’t know.

I feel like leaving the US tomorrow, going back to Europe after a short but great holiday in America… Feels strange to actually be going to KC tomorrow and start my semester there! But hey, my ticket says so, so that’s where I’ll be going! 🙂

Howdy!