just a short one

Well this will be a short one.  It has been a while since I have posted.  It rains here A LOT and this was the scene yesterday from my bed room window.  It was much brighter in person.  It is just amazing.

Well here is an update.  The little girls and I have been here by ourselves this week.  T is in London, N is at leirschool, and hubby is in the good ole USA.  It has been quiet here.  I know most of you are wondering what leirschool is and in a lat post I will explain.  

AY and AN had their first gymnastics Competiton on Sunday.  They both did very well.  Here they don't give scores or medals etc.  AN just got a good, better, best.  And she did really well.  AY because she is older gets scored, but we don't see them only the coach.  Well she was number one in her age group for the region.  It doesn't sound like much, but here that is big.  I wonder at times if being here will hurt them, but they are getting some good coaching.  It different than in the states, but I think Norway is trying to build a better program.

I hope to post again later in the week.

The Cost of Living

Norway's green pastures.  This picture taken by T.

This will be my first post on couponing in Norway and the cost of living here.

First let me say that Stavanger, Norway is one of the most expensive cities in the world.  Our rent on the duplex/townhouse that we live is around 5000 dollars depending of the exchange rate.  It cost us 300-330 dollars to fill up the car.  That being said we did bring our "big" car.  We looked into buying one when we got here, but one that would seat all six of us was around 20,000 dollars.  Now that probably does not seam like a big deal, but when that car is 16-17 years old that is a big deal.  so that means we brought our car that was paid for.

Couponing in Norway is only at the military exchange.  They don't really have sales, but they do have two shelves that they discount due to the items not selling fast enough.  One day I did get some great deals.  I spent aorund 80 dollars, but saved 75 dollars with sales and coupons.  The good thing is that I can use coupons up to six months past their expiration date.  That is nice because it allows my friends in the states to send their expired coupons.  I have not got a good schedule yet for getting them organized.  I think I can save even more once I get my self organized.  I am not using the same system I did in the states because the shopette is so small and we only have certain items.  For example they only carry two kinds of mayo in big jars (32oz).  A jar of mayo is 6.00 dollars, which is alot.  The only choice is to pay the price becasue there are no sales or other brands to choose from.  The shopette carries dry goods and some dairy products as well as some frozen and meat.  The meat is very expensive and again no sales.  One pound of ground beef (and not the really good stuff) is about 5 dollars.  Needless to say we are trying to make more veggies and less meat.  Some prices are very compairable to the states and I can order cases of things.  

Now where do I get the fresh produce, well in the Norweigian grocery store.  I have three of them within walking distance of my house.  They are the small neighborhood ones, but have most things.  The best way to shop is to buy what is on sale.  Here are some prices: a pound of grapes is 5 dollars, 1/4 pound of lunch meat is 5-6 dollars, a frozen pizza is 11 dollars (not a big one), and a head of iceberg lettuce is 3-4 dollars.  I buy our bread there and it is reasonable 1-3 dollars a loaf and is wonderful.  It is fresh and is so good.  Sometimes you have to pay a little more like 5 dollars a loaf because they are out of the other bread.  

All in all I think that I am doing ok with not spending too much.  Our grocery budget in the states was 400 dollars a month and every year and a half buying a cow and pig for around 1000 dollars.  So far I think I have stayed around 1000 dollars a month which makes me cringe, but we have to eat.  I hope to give you a better break down after a few months.  We are still trying to get a good budget going here.

Happy shopping days and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Crazy Fall

Life is very crazy in the fall.  Everything begins.  

Family on a fishing hike

I have not been active with women's groups except for our church.  When you move to a foreign country and a very small post/base, you need to be involved to meet people.  So I have attended two women's meeting, one for the Americans and one for everyone.  I have also attended the women's meeting for the church.  Needless to say I have been busy.  It was fun, but not sure if you can do it all.  I am planing on trying to attend what I can because they each offer something different.

This week also started with the girls having gymnastics practice at 8 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  It is nice, but we have to be out the door by 7:25 to walk to practice.  Yes we walk.  The hubby wants to use the car very little, so we walk.  It is ok now, but not sure how that will be in the cold and ice.  We may take the bus.  While the girls are in practice I go to the gym and ride the bike for 45 minutes.  I decided that the treadmill was no what to do since I walked from home.  All together it is about 4 miles more or less.  One doctor here said that the walking did not count as exercise.  I guess he did not know that it is not a stroll and I have about a 20 lb backpack that I am carrying.  

AY and AN are doing well with gymnastics.  It amazes me what they can do.  T is doing well at school she is determined to do well and that goes a long way.  This weekend she is on a trip with the church youth group.  They are camping.  I can't wait to hear the stories.  N is doing well.  He is having some trouble adjusting to things have to be done on a schedule and there is no wiggle room.

I hope that things settle down now that we seem to have schedule.  The girls have their first competition in a few weeks.  I can't wait to see how things are different here.

Melanie

Our week and Friend

Another week has gone by and we are getting into a schedule.  Well at least I hope we are.  The T and N are getting in the swing of going to school each day.  I think it has been hard on them at times.  They are really enjoying the school and are looking forward to receiving their iPads for school.  Yes, the school is providing each student I grades 7-12 an iPad for doing their work etc.  AY and AN are getting their work done and it is nice to have that time with them.

I am sure you are wondering about the picture and that is a picture of our dog, Bear.  We left our dogs with family in the states and three weeks ago they had do put Bear down.  He had cancer and we did not know it.  It was a hard week and we still have some tears every now and then.  

The girls are really enjoying gymnastics and it is very different than in the states.  We are hoping that they will just keep improving and getting skills.

C will be I the states again in October.  I wish I could go sometimes.  Friends are not easy to come by here.  Yu are spread out I the community and everyone has all there kids in school.  I have met some very nice Norwegians, but it seems that most mothers work.  I think they almost have to with the cost of living here.

I guess those who know me might wonder about the use of coupons.  The Norwegians do not have coupons as far as I can tell, but I have been able to use them at the shopette.  That is our very small grocery store.  It is not much bigger than a convenience store.  I have been able to use coupons and save 30-70 dollars a time.  There are no sales, but the do have percent off shelf and that is where you get the best savings.  The other thing is that I can use coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date.  So that being said send me your expired coupons.  I will use them and pass them on.

Melanie

 

Our view and update

Hello to everyone. It has taken a while to figure out how to post from my iPad, but I think I have it figured out.  We have had an interesting move.  It was hard and I really wanted to come back to the states.  I think we are settled, just a few more things to organize and put away.  

I had looked up some things before we got here and one of those things was snakes.  Norway has three, and one is poisonous.  I asked about them when we got here and no one had ever seen one.  Well we went on a hike and the girls were running around this lake.  AN stopped and screamed SNAKE.  She moved back and we ran to her and sure enough there was a snake.  It was not aggressive and just kind of slithered away.  Before it could get away all the Norwegians came running to "see" the snake.  I asked one of them why and they said they never see snakes.  It was of course the European viper.  They are not bad like the snakes in the states.  It is not aggressive and will bite if picked up or stepped on.  Anyway I have decided that we are the 1%.

T and N have started school and they seem to like it.  AY and AN are continuing to be homeschooled. We are trying to catch up from having to miss so much from the move.  

AY and AN have started gymnastics and seem to like it.  We found the atypical coach here.  She really pushes the girls and expects them to do things.  That is not normal for here.  They do not push their kids.  It is a much more laid back attitude.  

We have found a church.  It is not what we are use to and at times is hard to take.  The songs are really hard after coming from such a good church.  

The picture with this post is the view from my kitchen.  You can see the city and the mountains the fjord.

Enjoy your day.

Melanie

First Days In Norway

Well we made it to Norway on May 31st.  It was quit a trip.  We were delayed out of Norfolk then our flight out of Dulles was canceled.  It was truly an experience.  When you have 300 people get off a full fight because the pilots walk off the plane you know it is going to be crazy.  We got off the plane at midnight and then after 3/12 hours we had a new flight and vouchers for food and a hotel room.  We only had about 6 hours at the hotel before we had to check out.  At least we had a bed and a shower.  We got back to the airport and again had to wait for 2 hours before we got to get our new boarding passes.  There were many people still trying to get out of DC because the flight we were on and many others were canceled.  Our flight is not until 9:52 pm so we have many hours to kill in the airport.  They told us the luggage would be rerouted to come on our new flight.  The new flight went through London instead of Frankfurt.  By this time we are tired and really want to get to Stavanger.  We make it to Stavanger, but our luggage doesn't.  It is still in DC.  So after getting our hotel room, shopping we go for some clothes.  We had already used our spare and have no idea when the luggage will arrive.  These are out first days of travel to Norway.

Well we are officially homeless. We are visiting family and then off to Norway. We have had a good time so far. We went racing taladega style. For those who are NASCAR fans they will get that if you are not here is what that means. We went to taladega superspeedway for a race. It was very interesting. If I could get to my pictures you could see. We really did not fit in with the camaflouge bra/booty shorts crowd. It was fun though. We are doing lots of things I in the area while we are here. It is like a month long vacation. I have missed my coupon shopping and hope to let you all know how my deals go in Norway.