How to spend money in KC

So my Norwegian insurance will not be accepted by UMKC. Not because it’s not good enough- just because. They simply won’t tell me the reason, that is. The insurance I need to get in addition doesn’t even cover half of what the Norwegian already does- so it doesn’t even add anything extra to my preexisting insurance. It is completely useless to me. And: when you go to UMKC for the spring semester, you have to buy the insurance for the summer semester as well (the fact that I’m back in Norway when the summer semester starts- doesn’t matter)! You cannot buy it for the spring semester only, even if that’s the only semester you’re here. I have tried to talk to these people, over and over again, at least get an answer how they explain this system to be right. Because it does not make any other sense than UMKC wanting to make some extra bucks. But no answer received- only a bill. No less than $700 down the drain. Yup.

Another thing to spend money on over here is: getting a better grade! On friday we’ll have the opportunity to earn some extra credits by delivering canned food! It’s for a homeless shelter or so, some good cause. If you bring in any canned goods, you’ll earn some extra credits for this one class. So basically, you pay your way to a better grade. Giving food to people who need it- good thing, no question at all. But to give you a better grade in return?!.. How are those two things even related? I can only image how my class back home would react to this (go, kull 83!) …

USA, I love you, always have, and probably always will. But right now the $$$ in your eyes just makes me sick.

Will be out for ice cream now. Over and out.

 

Good times in KC.

Weekend has arrived!  I am not used to not going to work at all over here. I feel I just spend and spend money, and don’t earn in any new. Which is true, actually, and not just a feeling. I was so looking forward to not work for half a year, but now I miss it already. Will have to work on that attitude.

Yesterday we had a welcome pizza party for the international students. Here I finally met the other Germans that I’ve heard so much about. Since I’m half German, everyone assumed that I knew these girls, but now I finally do. After the pizza Anne, Annemarie and me went for some grocerie shopping. I did not want to speak any German here, only English. But it sure feels goood to be able to express yourself without hesitating or any thinking! Since these girls were really nice, I’m afraid there will be more German talk. 😉 SInce we all are German, we went to ALDI (yes they have that here. Same German food and all. I’m more into American food while here, but vegetables are cheaper at ALDI). So far I’ve noticed that there are two things that are really expensive here: vegetables and the most everyday household stuff. One green pepper (paprika) costs $4! On the other hand- according to Anne these vegetables never go bad either. You can keep them in the fridge for a month, they look just as good! Aint that great…  $4 is also what you pay for a scrubber (spülbürste/ oppvaskbørste). That might even be the same price as in Norway, but here it’s way out of proportion. I have no idea why it is like that, makes absolutely no sense. So yesterday I horded some basics at a wholesale, since I dont wanna get frustrated everytime I go to the grocerie store. Cheaper by the dozen.

I have found a new favorite reading spot! The Linda Hall Library on campus, a smaller library than the main library with the light-picture on the wall. It is such a beautiful atmosphere there. The interior looks like taken out of the 1920’s. So far it’s always been quite empty when I’ve been there. Hope that doesn’t change over the semester, and that this library is like a campus secret not too many know about.

Have found my favorite spot already: the green leather grandpa chair by the window.

Yesterday I went to a bar!! Or, several, actually. Jerry is a new friend here that I already was in touch with before I came here. He was so kind to answer to questions I had posted on UMKC’s facebook profile, and just like that I knew a KC person! So Jerry, his friend Kwame and me went out in Westport. Oh my gosh, I just loved it!!

Dancing, not crying

Going to some real bars, seeing some cool people, having drinks. I’ve missed that here so far! I really loved the semidark bar we went to, with pooltables and men with long hair. I even loved the fact that I ordered a vodka tonic, and got a gin tonic instead (which costs $4, by the way, just to put the scrubber and pepper in perspective). It was about time I got out, I guess.

Here in KC people like their pizza with honey on top. Like literally. I was quite hesitant to try this, and had to watch someone eat it first. But I promise you: it is absolutely delicious!! You should try! Especially with some chilli in addition. Try it!

Now I’ll hit the gym! That’s about time as well. Rest of the weekend will go to studying, I guess. First exam is on monday. Shouldn’t be too hard though (me and the 180’s, remember?).

About Freud and my hair.

If you are a heterosexual guy, you can skip this paragraph: So yesterday I went to the hairdresser. That is always a scary thing to do, to go to a new hairdresser. My hair does not grow as fast as I want it to, so every cm is holy to me. In order to be precautious I chose one that is a little expensive in KC terms (cheap if it was Norway, though!), expecting price and quality to be correlated. Didn’t help. This woman chopped off more (2cm more!) than I asked her to, and it happend too fast to stop it. She seemed more interested in telling me about her bipolar uncle (since I’m a psychology student), than paying attention to my hair. And I was sitting there (almost) biting my nails to begin with. When I asked her what she was doing (?!), she said it was uneven so she just had to cut off some more. I KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE!! I was so angry when I went home.. Just to realize: wow, the right side is actually 2 cm longer than the left one! Wtf!? NOW I was really pissed!! Went back today, to blow out my frustration, and get it evened out. That really hurt, taking off even more just to get it straight. The manager appologized a thousand times, and at least I got my money back. So now: back to waiting, letting it groooooooow (no photo here. Only makes me sad).

I have a LOT of reading to do.. I don’t really see how it’s possible to follow the schedule as it’s posted, I cannot read 200 pages every day.. I’ll have to distribute it my own way, somehow. Luckily, most of what’s discussed so far, I’ve already had. Three of the five classes I’m taking, I’ve actually had before. I do finally understand how highly intelligent kids feel in class now. Sitting there, knowing everything already, makes you bored. Me and the IQ 180’s.. But since we have weekly tests, quizzes and papers, you have to stay on track with the reading, and pay attention to what happens in class. Because you can’t fool these peeps, surprise tests are given when you at least expect it.

One of the classes I’m taking is personality psychology. This week we talked about personality tests and the psychodynamic approach. So when talking about the Rohrschach test (where you have to give your own interpretation of ink block pictures) I was waiting for the professor to start laughing. Because that’s what they do in Norway.

In Norway we learn that this test was used a long, long time ago, and doesn’t give ANY proper evaluation of ANYTHING. I carefully raised  my hand and asked whether this test still is used in the USA. Oh, yes! Very much so, every day!! I truly am psychodynamic at heart, and I love the fact that the professors here talk about Freud without a condescending smile. Show the man some respect! But when the professor hardly mentions that this test does have some limitations, I realize that I’m the one smiling… The attitude towards validity and reliability seems to be different over here, and there’s a lot more room for subjective interpretation. Maybe that’s a very good thing. I sure do love the fact that some good old psychodynamic theory still is alive over here! I just feel a big difference in how psychology is approached, and my preexisting opinions are challenged- which is exactly what I hoped to find going halfways across the world.

☝You go, Sigmund! ☝

 

 

Food frenzie in KC, part Ⅱ

So on my way to Andrew’s I actually bumped into him on campus, thereby ruining his cheesecake surprise.. Sorry ’bout that! But the cake sure was good, and at the end of the (b-)day, isn’t that what REALLY matters?…

So we had this delicious cake, and I met a new friend, Hector. He is from the Dominican Republic, but born in NEW YORK CITY!!! How cool is that! I am so jealous.

After the cake we went to Westport, which I realize is a much better place to hangout than Downtown. There they have all these bars, restaurants and small shops, and it looked really nice. They even have a Bubble Tea shop (JENNY!!)! Remember the funky hipster drink we had in NYC? Yup, they sell it right here in Westport, KC! Imma get me some, and bring the NYC-cool back to KC. Yo.

So in Westport I had the first alcohol after my arrival in the Midwest! People here either aren’t allowed to drink yet, don’t like it or just don’t do it, so I have to grab my chances.. I started off with a cherry chocolate birthdaybeer (knis), and then had some regular. It was GOOD (not the cherry chocolate part so much, just the BEER).

Since I hadn’t eaten enough yet, we went for some Chinese food. Alvin really knows the good places, and I have a feeling that his talking Chinese to the waiter before we order might even ensure some EXTRA good food- because we have only had superb Chinese food so far.

When I got home I somehow had to make room for some more cake, since I only have 54 minutes of birthday left, yet still 1/2 chocolate cake in the fridge. Tomorrow no chocolate cake for breakfast, lunch or dinner, so I guess I have to do some more heavy lifting out of the fridge today. A woman has to do what a woman has to do.

 

Martin Luther King, Kate Moss, and Me.

Three amazing people sharing one birthday. Beautiful. I know there are many more people who could have been mentioned here, but I chose to pick only the top three. Martin’s was really yesterday as I mentioned before, but who cares. Happy b-day, bro!

So- what to do in KC on a day like this? Spring has arrived, 18〫C + ☼ all over. I do have a really, really hard time being inside when there’s sun outside, so I could not make myself read today. I am aware that this might become a problem here, since it’s been sunny every single day since my arrival (… coincidence? Really?), and it’s only gonna get worse. But, let’s not take the sunshine-problem in advance.

So, after a birthday breakfast (chocolate cake + coffee) I went Downtown, to check out whether there might be some people in the streets by now. Guess what! Nope! Downtown is NOT the place to be in KC, I get it. Probably wont go back here anytime soon.

I wanted to get a nice picture of the library, which looks really awesome. There wasn’t any good light when I was there, though, so I’ll just have to show you a picture that’s not taken by me:

I’ll head over to Andrew’s house now, probably have some more cake. More about this historical day in Kansas City, Missouri later on.

 

Second Sunday in KC.

This has been a sleepy weekend. Besides going for a long walk yesterday (in the most beautiful weather, it is back!), I havent left bed much.. Zzzzz. “Private Practice” is the new while-we-wait-for-the-next-season-of-all-the-other-shows entertainment. Netflix IS two seasons behind on all the shows, which is really weird. Will have to find another site to watch, I miss my shows.

Today I slept in, and then my roommates met me with the most beautiful question: “Wanna go to Walmart?”  <3 I sure did! And it was good, yet again! But I didn’t get my coffee before we left, which I think was a good thing. I had to focus on waking up, too, so no frenzie-shopping this time either. Besides, being four people sharing a fridge and freezer limits how much food you can horde anyways.

The times when I only had soda for christmas and on birthdays is officially over. And they have Cherry Coke Zero here. It is SO good.. I hope they wont get this stuff in Norway anytime soon, it is way too addictive!

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day, besides my birthday. His birthday was jan 15th (so close!), but the Americans simply celebrate this day the 3rd monday in january, to get a long weekend I assume. We’ll have no classes, and everything will be closed. I was hoping to be able to go to “Glore Psychiatric Museum”, which is built inside an old psych ward, showing all the horrible history of asylums and have-been treatments. But, it will be closed as well. I’m not really sure what there is to do around here tomorrow at all.. I might be studying, actually, since these are waiting for me to read them anyways. That’s what happens when you share your birthday with important people.               

Winter in Kansas City.

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). 🙂

 

Tuesday in KC.

First day of school was fun! Basically it was just going through the syllabus (timeplan/ stundenplan), what to expect from class, what not to expect, so on. I really am looking forward to my class on gambling addiction. I could have listened to the professor for hours- talking about how gamblers behave (like knockin’ people over on their way from the car into the casino, high on adrenalin already), and the irrational logic behind the gambling and believing in lucky rituals. We are required to make a field trip to a local casino to observe the gamblers during the semester- if anyone in KC wants to give me a ride, let me know! Can’t wait to go!

I started reading today, and yes, it has been a while.. 30 pages, taking a break every 2 pages. Go, Siri, go! But thats how it always is at the beginning of the semester, the brain has to get used to the thinking again.

I am still having some problems with my classes. It is too complicated to explain (or too boring to read, I promise), so I just wont do that. We (that is Kate, the study abroad coordinator and me) are working on it- fingers crossed that UiB can stop being a b*** about it and just let me do my thing here ( UiB, I <3 U). Will let you know how it turns out.

It’s been a while since I’ve written about food, right? So. They really make some good, good carbs over here. Like, really good. I am trying to be strong, though. And being strong means to be able to admit that you sometimes are weak. My name is Siri, and I am a sucker for carbs (yes, I had the fries, too).

But, it’s not as bad as you might think. Because over here, we know how to take care of the bad side effects carbs tend to have.

Lose 10 pounds, thats no less than 5kg, in 48 hours (you might wanna read that again: 10 pounds in 48 hours!)!! WOW! That’s what I call a true miracle. And the best thing: it’s sold over the counter! AMAZING! So no need to worry no more.

Oh, and I wanted to show you the library on campus. Not all of it, but one thing. This one wall looks like just a black wall during daytime:

But at night, it looks like this:

The way it works is that the wall is perforated with thousands of small holes, letting the light from the inside of the library shine through at night, showing a map of KC. Isn’t that just awesome?! I love it!

AAAAND: I have booked my trip back to NYC, feb 1st  – 5th! WOOT, WOOT!! 😀 NYC, there is just nothing like it. Can’t wait (Jakob- you better get that champagne on ice. It’s Kitchen-time)!! <3

Tomorrow my new friend Alvin (formerly known as the travel guide) will take me on my very first trip to Walmart (Kristin Sigland, I wish you were here <3)! Now here’s the funny part: He was the one telling us to get friends with cars so that we can get a ride when we need it. I just followed his advice. Hahahaha. And I might just go bananas, I’m afraid.

 

 

 

Go, Roos, goooo!

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!