Russ in Norway

High school graduation is right around the corner for students all over the world yet; we come to find that no other country celebrates more distinctively than Norway during their russefeiring (Russ Celebration).

According to Wikipedia, the word russ is “inherited from the Danish word rus, which as an abbreviation of Latin rusticus ("rural"), in former times used to ridicule new students at a university. A more elaborate explanation claims the word comes from the Latin phrase cornua depositurus, which means ‘bound to put aside one's horns.’ This phrase is the name of an old, Danish university acceptance ceremony, the name of which was eventually simplified to just the last syllable” (Wikipedia.com)

Students wear distinctive overalls and caps depending on their line of study and wear them from the 1^st to the 17^th of May without removing or washing them. Red overalls represent courses geared toward higher education, blue for business, white for medical and social, black for mechanics and electronics, and green for agricultural fields. The cap matches the overalls by color and should be worn for the entire national day (May 17^th) which completes “russefeiring.” Everyone also gets a whip for banging on things rhythmically during chants, and a whistle to make noise during the National Day parade.

Students also create russ cards which mock business cards and have their picture, contact details, and a slogan on the front. These are handed out to anyone who requests them, mainly friends and family. The more cards you collect, the more popular you appear.

Students travel around in russ busses which usually have a theme and song to go with them. The colors of the buses match the colors of the overalls worn.

So, next time you’re traveling in Norway during the first two weeks of May, keep your eye open for the russ busses as they pass by!

The official Norwegian Russ website is http://www.russen.no/

Sincerely,

Don, John, and Lena

Norway by Bike!

Nelson’s Inside Scoop is happy to inform you with the latest news that the city of Oslo in Norway created a new bikeshare program in the downtown area for anyone to use. This service is also available in Trondheim, Drammen, and Bergen. Users can purchase an unlimited yearly pass for 60 NOK (about 10 USD). The Frost Brothers designed the bike with wide tires, comfortable when riding on the streets. The bikes are located all around town on computer operated racks along with maps of where other racks are located. The bikes can be borrowed for a certain period of time and can be returned to any rack, not just the one it was taken from. There is even an Iphone application for it. Whether you are going out to Bygdøy, looking for some ice cream or want to take a ride out to the beaches, for a steal you can see the city of Oslo by bicycle!

Photo Courtesy of Bhupal Adhikari
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcreative/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Sincerely,

Don, John, and Lena

Scandinavia in the 2010 Winter Olympics

There is an old saying that Scandinavians were born with skis on their feet. Yet again, they have put up a good fight this year in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver.

Sweden's Medals:

Gold- Women's curling, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 4x10 km Relay Classic/Free, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 30 km Pursuit (15 Classic+15 Free), Biathlon - Men's 12.5 km Pursuit, and Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 10 km Free

Silver- Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' Team Sprint Free, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 15 km Pursuit (7.5 Classic+7.5 Free)

Bronze- Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 50 km, Mass Start Classic, Alpine Skiing - Men's Slalom, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 30 km Pursuit (15 Classic+15 Free), Alpine Skiing - Ladies' Super Combined

One Swedish Olympic favorite is Anna Haag. She is 23 –years-old from Köping, Sweden and has been competing in cross-country skiing since 2003. At this year’s Winter Olympics, she took Silver in both the 15 km pursuit and the team sprint.

 

(Photo by: Oskar Karlin)

Norway's Medals:

Gold- Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 50 km, Mass Start Classic, Biathlon - Men's 4x7.5 km Relay, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 4x5 km Relay Classic/Free, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's Team Sprint Free, Alpine Skiing - Men's Super-G, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 15 km Pursuit (7.5 Classic+7.5 Free), Biathlon - Men's 20 km Individual, Biathlon - Women's 15 km Individual, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' Individual Sprint Classic

Silver- Curling – Men, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 30 km, Mass Start Classic, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 4x10 km Relay Classic/Free, Alpine Skiing - Men's Giant Slalom, Freestyle Skiing - Ladies' Ski Cross, Biathlon - Men's 20 km Individual, Alpine Skiing - Men's Downhill, Biathlon - Men's 10 km Sprint

Bronze- Alpine Skiing - Men's Giant Slalom, Ski Jumping – Team, Freestyle Skiing - Men's Ski Cross, Speed Skating - Men's 1500 m, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's Individual Sprint Classic, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 10 km Free

Who can resist the four Norwegian blondies that took gold in the Women’s Cross Country Skiing? On the team is Vibeke Westbye Skofterud, Therese Johaug, Kristin Størmer Steira,  and Marit Bjørgen.

Vibeke Westbye Skofterud is from Askim, Norway and has been competing in cross-country skiing since 1999.

(Photo By: Iso76)

Therese Johaug is from Os, Norway and won the bronze in the 2007 World Championships in Sapporo during the 30 km mass start.

(Photo By: Iso76)

Kristin Størmer Steira is from Mo I Rana, Norway and has cross-country skied for Norway since 2002.

 

(Photo By: Bjarte Hetland)

Marit Bjørgen is from Trondheim, Norway and is a cross-country skier from Midtre Gauldal. She has won the most medals during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

(Photo By: Author Unknown)

Finland's Medals

Silver- Snowboard - Men's Halfpipe

Bronze- Ice Hockey – Men, Ice Hockey – Women, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 30 km, Mass Start Classic, Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 4x5 km Relay Classic/Free

Peetu Piiroinen is a young 22-year-old who took the Silver in snowboarding for Finland. He is from Hyvinkää and his home mountain is Sveitsin Hiihtokeskus. Peetu has been traveling the world and competing since 1997 and is sponsored by Burton Snowboards.

(Photo By:copyright: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/m9_1y2nbXNl/Snowboard+Day+6/yawueiFiGYG/Peetu+Piiroinen)

Portions of the above information are from the online website:
http://www.wikipedia.com

http://www.vancouver2010.com

Sincerely,
John, Don, and Lena (Our new intern)

 

Ponies Replace Yachts in the Västervik Wintertime

One would think that visiting Sweden in the winter time would not be ideal. However, in a town like Västervik located on the south-east coast of Sweden, some unique experiences can only be had during the winter months. Since the 16th century, Västervik has been a shipping industry. It is no wonder that it is notorious for its summer home to the yacht club. But as soon as the first flurry of snow takes place, there is a wonderland of adventure to be had.

Winter Activities

One of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in all Västervik has to offer is to saddle up and embark on a guided tour of the town on horseback – Icelandic horses to be exact. As highlighted by the name, the pony-sized breed is reared in Iceland and is well regarded as a sturdy, dependable horse well suited to the harsh rigors of winter. Led by a knowledgeable guide, the excursion can be experienced individually or with a group of up to seven other enthusiastic riders per tour keen to soak up all the town has to offer. With a plethora of accommodation packages available, visitors can enjoy the experience for a couple of hours or over several days.

Food & Drink

With a focus on ingredients reared, tended and harvested locally, the town’s restaurants offer some of Sweden's best culinary experiences. A mainstay since its inception in 1991, the Briggen restaurant is one of the town's oldest eating and drinking establishments and along with a wide assortment of tasty meals to choose from, the restaurant and pub also has over 60 different types of beer and around 150 different single malt whiskeys for punters to select from. Briggen also holds weekly quiz nights throughout the year. For tasty dairy treats, then look no further than Saltmagasinet. An ambitious enterprise that also houses conference facilities, the establishment has been voted Västervik’s best restaurant every year since 2006 and is regularly on the list of top eateries in Sweden for its variety of organic dishes. While locally revered for its dairy delicacies, Salmagasinet also serves up a veritable feast of cosmopolitan cuisine, peppered with traditional Swedish favourites. It is a must for connoisseurs of fine cuisine.

Getting Here

Regional train services run regularly from most major cities to Linköping, which in turn has trains that travel to Västervik daily. The town is also a few hours’ drive from at least three airports: Skavsta, Linköping city airport and Norrköping airport. All of the above as well as being easily accessible via all major modes of transportation make Västervik an attractive and ideal destination to unwind and while away the winter blues.

Portions of the above information are from the online website:
http://www.thelocal.se/

Sincerely,
John, Don, and Lena (Our new intern)

THE SAMI PEOPLE AND THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

The Sami People are among the largest indigenous groups in Europe and inhabit parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia and their ancestral lands cover an area roughly the size of Sweden. Numbering somewhere around 100,000 the majority of the population is located in Norway followed by Sweden, Finland and Russia.

Livelihoods have ranged from fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding but they are best known for reindeer herding where approximately 3000 are actively involved and herding is legally reserved only for the Sami people in certain regions of the North.

The Sami People have survived for over 2500 years by adapting to the Arctic north and are represented by three Parliaments with limited influence and controlled largely by the Scandinavian Governments. The representatives are concerned largely with border questions and the promotion of cultural autonomy.

In Kautokeino approximately 90 percent of the population speaks Sami and it is the home of a high school and reindeer herding school here also is the International Center for Reindeer Husbandry and it is considered the cultural capital for the Sami People.

Karasjok is the home of the Norwegian Sami Parliament, located here as well are the Sami Collections Museum and the Sami Art Center.

A one and ½ hour flight from Stockholm to Kiruna will provide a convenient starting point for a more detailed study visit and at the same time an opportunity to visit Jukkasjärvi the home of the famous Ice Hotel.

For those looking for peace and tranquility the natural beauty of the arctic north provides a perfect setting and a few days spent at Kronogård Viildmark at Kåbdalis will be just the thing. Daily excursions are arranged for guests encountering wild life and magnificent views. While here you will also have an opportunity to stand on the Arctic Circle just a few kilometers to the north.

During the summer months beginning in mid May and continuing through mid August the North of Scandinavia becomes the land of the Midnight Sun. At the end of June areas of the north enjoy 24 hours of daylight.

Portions of this article were found through a Wikipedia search.

Sincerely,

John and Don

Stockholm's Grand Hotel

In many of Stockholm’s panoramic views one of the most recognizable buildings is The Grand Hotel. Ideally located, this 5 star property offering deluxe accommodations is a far reach from lodging offered in the 17th and 18th century.

In the late 18th century the Swedish Pomeranian officer Georg von Pollet commented “The Inns are altogether bad, one could scarce be worse served in the Marburg Post House than in the foremost inn of Stockholm “Malmens Källare”. Small unkempt rooms, inferior food and inflated bills are the lot of every stranger”.

Even in the beginning of the 19th century conditions seemed largely unchanged although by this time there were a few exceptions. Bergstrahlska huset by Riddarhustorget, Kastenhof on Gustav Adolfs torg, Reisen on Skeppsbron, Franska Värdshuset on Regeringsgatan, and Den Gyllene Freden on Österlångatan were some of the better taverns and eating houses in the city.

The Hotel Garni could perhaps be regarded as Stockholm’s first real “hotel” as we know it today. It was opened in 1832 by the court confectioner Abraham Christopher Behrens. The hotel’s trade card stated in Swedish and French “ In this tastefully decorated Hotel, located at #3 Drottninggatan, are three floors of furnished rooms for travelers , for families as well as individuals, with adjoining Servants’ quarters. Stables and servants rooms also provided”.

In January 1858 the Hotel Rydberg was opened to the public. Stockholm finally had a continental-style hotel. It was an astoundingly luxurious building for its time. In addition to rooms for travelers, the ground floor contained storerooms, a carriage room, lodging quarters for the hotel manager and a wash-house with a water pump. Gas pipes were installed and the hotel was illuminated with modern gas lamps. There were also bathrooms with bathtubs and bath attendants. Not even the royal family had such splendor in the Palace.

Just one year later Régis Cadier (who would later play the crucial role in the creation of the Grand Hotel) managed to purchase the leasehold for the hotel. Calmly and methodically, he built up the business.

Few things have been more significant to the development of Stockholm than the opening of the rail link to the capital in 1862. In one stroke the journey time from Gothenburg to Stockholm was cut to 14 hours opening Stockholm to the outside world. Never before had the Swedish capital seen so many travelers arrive.

It soon became clear that a new hotel was needed and Cadier was asked to come up with a solution. Attention was turned toward the harbor and Cadier discovered three interesting properties on the southern side of Blasieholmen.

Work began on the new hotel in March 1872. From records it would appear that the roof was completed by the end of the year and work on the interior continued throughout 1873.

How did Cadier finance a project of such magnitude? One story has Cadier filling a wheelbarrow with silver coins at the Hotel Rydberg then wheeling it to the new building site to pay the construction workers. The story may be a myth but it makes for a good antidote.

By the spring of 1874 the interiors were nearly completed and the first guests checked in. It was at this time that the name of the new hotel was made public: THE GRAND HOTEL.

Today elegance abounds in the Grand Hotel’s 368 rooms each room being one of a kind. 42 spacious suites, with conference facilities accommodating most needs. To remind you of Régis Cadier enjoy a refreshment in the Cadier bar appropriately named “From the Founder to the Future” and breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Veranda Restaurant overlooking the Bay. A fine dining experience awaits in Mathias Dahlgren’s Restaurant specializing in “Natural Cuisine”. A 2,800 square meter spa and health club will be completed during 2009 in collaboration with Raison d’Etre and available for hotel guests.

And of course, location in the center of Stockholm with a magnificent view of the harbor.

Portions of the above information are from the web site http://www.grandhotel.se/

Sincerely,

John and Don