The Hive Queen, The Hegemon, and Life of Markus

The Earthquake!

2011-03-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

The next day, we headed back to the train lines to head for Osaka. It was on these trains that the great earthquake hit: we felt nothing and had no idea that the disaster had happened. We arrived in Osaka a few hours later and started to explore. After Calvin received a couple texts and we found a television, we realized that an earthquake had occurred. However, it was just a street television, and we still did not glean the magnitude of the damage to the northern parts of Japan. As far as we could tell, everyone was calm and happy in Osaka. We finished up the day and spent the night in an internet café. I thought this experience was quite bizarre but very fun. You rent a little room with a computer for eight hours, and you can surf the ‘net, watch movies, or sleep. But, because we only had it for eight hours we had to wake up at 5 and head out of Osaka. On our way up we stopped at Nara for a quick peak at the infamous deer and giant Buddha.

We had planned on it taking all day to get to Tokyo on the trains due to the earthquake. But, we got to a point near Nagoya where we were informed that the JR trains would go no further north. We waited in a long line of anxious people for a bus only to be informed that buses to the Tokyo area had been filled up for the next two days. We felt very stuck. It seemed our options were taking a Shinkansen, a very expensive, fast train to Tokyo, or hitchhiking. Though we considered putting our thumbs out, we ultimately felt that this climate may not be the best time to embark on that adventure. We bit the bullet and took the speedy train into Tokyo.

Back at Calvin’s dorm, his friends were abuzz with stories of their adventures, and we got to hear about the rumbling and shaking that the buildings in Tokyo went through. To be clear, the damage in Tokyo and to the south was relatively minimal. Japan’s buildings were built very soundly and though objects were jumbled and some structural damage occurred, the citizens of this area, for the most part, stayed safe. The devastation occurred in an area north of Tokyo called Sendai. In this city and surrounding area, the tsunami waves proved once again humanity’s helplessness when faced with the raw power of nature. Calvin’s dorm mates, though safe, huddle around the television watching the news unfold about their country. We have felt a bit of rumbling and aftershocks. As we proceed forward cautiously, we pray for the families of the victims and the safety and recovery of Japan.

Miyajima and the Floating Arch

2011-03-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

“Wow” is all that can be said about our trip to an island near Hiroshima called Miyajima. I have seen pictures of the orange Shinto arch out in the water, so I was very excited when I learned that we would be going to visit this location. In ancient times, this island was a sacred location of earthly paradise. I dare say it still is. There is an incredible temple built out on a dock on the beach that is completely above water or beach depending on the tide. This temple looks out on the arch built a hundred yards in the tide flat. The town has many more temples and shrines that contribute to the island’s sacred atmosphere. The village is situated at the foothills of Mt. Misen and several other peaks. The sharp, steep ridges covered with thick, exotic trees almost gave it the appearance of a tropical island, and Calvin and I couldn’t help ourselves from comparisons to Jurassic Park or the island from Lost. Needless to say, we were quite excited to start our hike.

Miyajima boasts to have one of the best views in all of Japan from the lookout at the top of Mt. Misen. The lookout can be reached by a gondola or by trails that lead through the forest. The hike up further revealed the religious character of the island. Amongst the beautiful trees and views, there were statues of gods and graves of ancestors. There was also a shrine deep in a rustic cave. The island being fairly small we were able to climb to the three highest peaks. From the tops, we could see a panoramic view of Hiroshima and the surrounding mainland and the several islands that scatter wonderfully across this southern bay. The ancients were not mistaken; there is something truly transcendent about this view. And we soaked it up for as long as we could until we had to make our way down to beat the sunset. Before leaving Miyajima, we watched the last sun fall behind the famous arch, now in the low tide. And, because the place was known for their culinary skills with oysters, we grabbed a couple of fried oysters before catching a ferry back.

The Castle and Hiroshima

2011-03-10T05:46:00.000-08:00

To break up the day of travel from Kyoto to Hiroshima, Calvin planned a little detour for a day hike. The destination was Bitchu Matsuyama castle, the highest castle in Japan. We arrived at the station and, after a quick lunch, headed toward the foothills at the edge of town. The hike was relatively short but quite steep. With all our gear in tow, it almost felt like we were backpacking. Though the colorful trees were not yet blooming radiant colors of pink and red, the forest was lush and had a very different texture and tone than any hike I have ever done. At the top, we were rewarded with a cup of tea that they provide. Exploring the castle did not take long, but this humble fortress was a priceless treasure for Western travelers wanting to re-imagine and relive the days that the samurai ruled these hills.

The next day was packed with walking around Hiroshima. We visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Park which contained several monuments to the victims of the atomic bomb dropped on the city during World War II. The museum and park ooze with pain, despair, and shame, yet the beautiful and vibrant city is a testament to the resilience of these citizens and the hope that they have to rid the world of humanities destructive tendencies. After a brief stop at the hostel to switch Calvin’s contacts to glasses and to revive myself with some coffee, we walked to a park that was on the map but not mentioned in the tour guides. It turned out to be a forest park with lookouts, and we showed up just in time to watch the sunset over the city. The park was also filled with wild cats, so Calvin and I obviously had some fun with that. To end an amazing day, we ate a competitive okonomimura place that served and excellent meal.

Journey to Kyoto

2011-03-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

The next leg of my journey was to the ancient city of Kyoto. Our travel down there in trains took most of the day, however, we arrived at our hostile with enough time to get some food and hit the public bath before bed. The bath was quite an interesting experience. The pools were very hot and I could not stay in them long. One pool shocked me, literally. It had a section that had a very weak electrical current pulsing through the water, which tingled and massaged the muscles.

The next day we had roughly nine hours to take advantage of the open hours of Kyoto, and we used every one of them. Calvin, in his master planning, mapped out a set of essential temples, shrines, and castles among the multitudes that they have there. The first thing I noticed about Kyoto is that it has a very different culture than Tokyo. Bright, loud signs are abandoned here for more traditional architecture and decoration. There are far less people, and the pace of the city seems slower and more relaxed. The city rests in beautiful foothills that paint its elemental tone. We visited a famous shrine at the base of the mountains that houses great views of the city. Next, we went to the castle built by the shogun in ancient times to show the power of the warrior class. To end the tour, Calvin took me to the gold temple. It is a gold painted temple that lies in incredible scenery of water and plants. The view of it was honestly breathtaking. We checked out another market and ate a much needed meal and headed back to our comfortable hostel room.

...And wake up in Tokyo

2011-03-06T05:57:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we started the day with a tour of the campus. There wasn't much activity in the morning, but it was a beautiful morning and a few trees even had some buds on them. We headed out to a famous market area on the East side of Tokyo and after a delicious lunch of ramen and pork we decided to head to Ueno Park. Like Seattlites, the people of Tokyo like to take advantage of the outdoors and have parks with shrines, gardens and museums. A walk around the lake gave me an even sharper feeling of a kinship between Tokyo and Seattle. Surrounding the lake are homeless men construction scavenged homes, elderly men playing a Japanese strategic game on a musty bench, joggers in the latest trend of running gear, and mothers giving their children much needed fresh air. We then headed to a museum of Asian artistic heritage. My favorite exhibit was the swords and the armor, artistic expressions of the ancient warrior class. To end the evening, we went to check out the electronics fervor in Akihabara. Stores and stores and floors and floors of every conceivable electronic gadget or part.

We woke up early the next day and zipped back to the water in order to catch the fish market in action. I saw enough fish goo and guts to make me think I would never eat another fish; but that was until I tasted the sushi. Calvin wasn't kidding when he told me that it is much better fresh from the Tokyo fish market. We then headed to Shibuya, a shopping district, where I got to see the energy for shopping that I have only witnessed on Christmas Eve and Black Fridays. Lights, music, piled merchandise all cater to the many patrons of these huge stores. We sought sanctuary from the buzz of the city in a lush walk to a temple in a green forest. We ended the day checking out the radiant and vibrant colors of the Shinjuku streets.

2011-03-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I should have known I was in trouble when I got lost in the airport...in the States! LAX proved to be a little confusing as I had to leave security and the terminal building and walk outside to a new terminal and check in again and go through another security check (finally got a full body screening). My first new friend was a Korean woman on my flight who persisted in her broken English to tell me about her life, and she even gave me a "Korean" massage. Once landed I followed the directions and got to Shinjuku. However, once in Shinjuku I could not find the place to purchase tickets. I wandered around the busiest train station in the world wheeling an enormous suitcase and wearing a very confused, scared expression for about 30 minutes. I was finally able to communicate to employees what I was looking for and got on my train. By the time I got to Calvin's school I had been traveling for about 23 hours, so I was quite tired and went to sleep.

The next day, Calvin and I headed to the Imperial Palace where we hung out in the gardens. We then went to a famous war shrine and a museum that covered the war history of Japan. It was really interesting to walk through a museum that tells the story of World War II from the other point of view. We then went to a famous temple in Tokyo, and I got my first Japanese meal of noodles and fried pork. To end the evening, we headed to Kichijoji to meet up with some of Calvin's friends.

Blake and Black Swans

2011-01-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the dark, new film Black Swan. The consensus seems to be that it is obviously artful but one wishes she had not watched it. Hmm… sounds like a Darren Aronofsky film all right. Last weekend I finally got a chance to see this much anticipated film. Be warned that, though I loved this movie, it contains very offensive sexual scenes. I do not believe that this movie is for everyone. Also, I spoil the ending ahead. At the beginning of the film, we immediately get a picture of innocence: a timid ballerina with devout discipline to the techniques of dance. From this point on I could not help but view the film through the lens of William Blake’s poetry (note: my Romantics professor never really agreed with my interpretation of Blake).

In the hot climate that this film has erupted, I am trying to find reasons that this film is valuable and significant outside of its artistic production. I believe that there is something spiritually significant in the film’s story. What we have here is Blake’s theme of innocence and its inevitable movement into experience, which ultimately leads to death. O.K. Too nerdy? Well, it is essentially the story of Eve. At the beginning of the story, the young dancer is a near perfect individual. She has a mastery of technique and a blameless personality that qualifies her to dance as the white swan. However, there is something missing that disqualifies her from embodying the black swan. The movie then chronicles her slow move into experience through sexual encounters, jealousy, and violence. She has eaten the apple, and it has changed her; this state of experience leads to her death. The movie asserts that while this transformation is inevitable, there is also something good, even perfect in it. Perfection is only achieved by first going through a state of experience. In my reading, Blake reaches this same conclusion. And this is what I believe most Christians will probably be offended by. Did we need to enter the state of sin or would it have been better to stay in Eden?

2010-12-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

-Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360)
-The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot (or any book of his poetry)
-Pilgrim At Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
-Scarf
-Wool Gloves
-Indoor Basketball
-Coffee Grinder
-Coffee Mugs

Stuff I need for my apartment:

-Shower Curtain
-Hand Towels
-Bath Towels
-Lazy Boy chair
-End Table
-basically any kitchen tools/supplies (cutting knife, silicone spatula, cutting board, anything really)

The Passion of Joan of Arc

2010-11-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

The first movie on the Image's list that I decided to tackle was The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928). It is a silent film directed by Carl Dreyer. The first thing that I noticed about the movie is that there seems to be a good reason that people don't watch 1920s silent films anymore. Its hard to watch a movie in complete silence. It actually takes effort to stay focused and follow the action of the movie. In the absence of sound, the viewer must glean all emotion from the sense of sight. I immediately had a new appreciation for music and the power it has to move an audiences emotional connection and reaction to a film. To convey the intense emotion that this film is famous for, Dreyer used stunning photography. Long, almost awkward, shots are held on the main actresses face, so that the viewer can examine and begin to experience every painful gesture of her saintly countenance. By the time she is being burned at the stake, I found that the silent film is the perfect medium to tell the story of Saint Joan. It allows the viewer to experience just a hint of the patience and resolve required of a martyr.

2010-11-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

We see it all the time: "Top 100 Films of All-Time". We get excited until we realize we don't recognize the titles of seventy-five percent of the list. A closer look at the years of release of the films usually tells us why we don't recognize the list. Our culture doesn't really like to watch old movies. Many would rather *gasp* read a book than trudge through a black and white film that is "supposed to be really good". After being recruited to help with compiling Image's top 100 films list, I thought it might be time to explore some of these "great", old films. The list is decided by the journal's online forum community. It is essentially decided by a small group of cinephiles who have an interest in creating a list with their faith's development in mind. As a result, the list does not have all the typical top movies, but includes a long list of foreign and old films. Of their 2010 top 100 films I had heard of seven and seen five...not a great percentage. So I've decided to give some of these films a chance.

2010-10-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Ever since my brother has moved to Japan to study linguistics, I have been mildly intrigued by Japanese art and language. Consequently, many of my poems (a sparse handful at best to keep up the illusion that I am artistic) have been haikus. It also seems like a fitting form for the Autumn season.

Gnarled branches fight leaves
the bloody petals drip down
October has won

2008-11-30T17:44:00.000-08:00

One of my theological, philosophical, and political musings this quarter has been what is known as the Euthyphro question. It is a question of morality as Socrates asks Euthyphro "is something right because the gods (or God) command it, or do the gods (or God) command it because it is right?" In my philosophy classes, the consensus seems to be that there must be something that right is that is the reason that God makes his commandments. If not, then his commandments are arbitrary and random which is something I find hard to believe. But a view like this could also seem to put something in authority over God. Uh Oh. Anyway, in my imaginative writing class I was assigned to write a poem streaming three entries from my writing journal. This was the result of trying to weave three articles with the Euthyphro question in mind. If this poem seems too cynical or harsh on God, keep in mind that I've been reading 17th and 18th century poetry all quarter and am trying to imitate some of their doubt to represent my own struggle.

Morality lies under sands of a private beach.
Many are sure it flows from the Divine Castle built
on the shore. But this cannot be where it forms.
To make these laws not arbitrary wishes of Being,
even God must be measured in His good.
We all are looking for a way to make sense
of life. Smashing politics into pieces,
trying to make it work for you and
for me.
Opposition falls on man,
clothing him in confusion,
tripping him short of the divine.

Still a work in progress as my workshop group pointed out to me this week (the consensus there was that the poem did not make much sense :))

2008-04-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

For my Christianity and World Politics class this week, I was assigned passages from some of Martin Luther's letters. Martin Luther being such an influential figure in the Protestant Reformation I assumed that most of his teachings would seem simple and familiar coming from a Protestant background. However, I found the readings to challenge this view to some degree. We read a letter that Martin Luther wrote to the Princes of Germany explaining how far Christian are to be obedient to secular authority. This letter came after Martin Luther has been excommunicated by Rome and already urged the German princes to help reform the Catholic church. Martin Luther explains in this letter that he has waited long enough for the princes to act against Rome and their oppression has caused him to decide to resist the German government. Here, one might question Luther with verses where Paul tells Christians to submit to all earthly authorities. Luther acknowledges this argument and gets around it in an interesting way.
Luther reveals that there are two types of people in the world: those of the kingdom of God and those of the kingdom of the World. Furthermore, there are two governments including the spiritual which strives to make people just (believers in Christ) and the secular government which creates outward peace and prevents evildoing. Luther then argues that the law and "Sword" (the Old Testament idea of "eye for and eye") are for the benefit of the unbelievers governed by the secular government. Luther seemed to contend that just Christians do not need the law or Sword and that is why Jesus taught so much against the Sword and violence. The reason then that Christians submit to their authorities of earth not because they need it but because they must serve their neighbors who still need this authority to help them avoid evil. Luther's position of resistance against the German government seems to be justified as a service to his unsaved Christians.
The part that really seemed strange to me was Luther's idea that the Old Testament laws of eye for an eye should still apply to non Christians and our dealings with them. Also, he seems to assert that Jesus' teachings of "turn the other cheek" is for Christians only who are already just and do not need the law for the correction. Perhaps I am alone in feeling that this is a new teaching, but I do not recall Pastor Edgecomb ever phrasing it quite like this. Well, it also could be that I am completely misinterpreting what Luther is saying here.

Garfield Minus Garfield

2008-04-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

I was reading Rolling Stone magazine and came across this website. http://garfieldminusgarfield.tumblr.com/ Its a guy who takes Garfield comics and takes out Garfield. The result, to me, is a compelling and challenging comment on the loneliness and depression that pervades our individualistic society. It has now become a daily reminder for me about the importance of God's presence in our lives and the tragedy that the lack of this presence leads to.

2008-02-05T14:51:00.000-08:00

Last tuesday I went up to Stevens Pass. The snow can only be described as epic or possibly legendary. It had dumped the whole night before and was coming down hard the whole time that Davis and I were there. In some spots the the powder was literally waist deep. This was a day that snowboarders dream for but some seasons rarely get. Already, this year, I've been blessed with two of these days. But, alas, the very next day I had to go and sprain my ankle in a game of intramural basketball. For the rest of the week I've been trying to engage in less arduous activities, like the school's musical (I had to go for my theatre class, I give the production 6/10). The ankle does seem to be healing faster than normally, and I hope to be back to full capacity in a week or two.

the flag over the loop

2008-01-22T18:33:00.000-08:00

This is something I jotted down last quarter as I studied. With the 2008 campaign in full swing, I thought some of you may like to see a bit of my political struggles:

So many complaints and controversies
Heaping blame on the old eagle
Her own nest is filled with condemnation
The world is tired of her oppressive claws,
And greedy beak.
She always thought these were just protective.
To provide for her family.

And I can feel my own egg cracking,
My complaining beak is starting to move.

Then I look out my window.
Red, White, and Blue bleeding from the tallest tree.
Glistening in the sunlight promising me hope, liberty, and protection.
It begs me to trust and to help fix the nest,
not tear it down.

Old Testament War and Politics-Yikes!

2007-10-11T01:54:00.000-07:00

My family has always been pretty conservative politically. I adopted as much of the GOP's dogma as I understood at a fairly young age. However, since my senior year of high school, my political preconceptions have been challenged by Social Studies classes, literature, and the University Foundations classes at SPU. More recently, I have even felt that a same questioning politically is going through my whole family- Gasp!! Not anything like my mom is going to jump on the Obama wagon for '08, but I feel like we are all kind of rethinking what it means to be conservative and how God does and should fit into our political thinking. I know I certainly am. Today I had a particular lecture in my scriptures class that challenged my typical thinking of war. We looked at some of the war in the Old Testament that is often used as partial justification for today's current war. Professor Lim first gave us several ways to understand war in the Old Testament. He revealed that the purpose of war for the Israelites was to receive the land promised in 'Redemptive History'. Also that God would attack nations according to their wickedness not because of the Israelites rightouesness. This righteousness sounds to me a lot like the "perfect government" that America seems to want to give to Iraq. Are we attacking Iraq because of our righteousness or their wickedness?

My professor went on to argue that God is always at war througout the Bible. Throughout Exodus and the conquest of the promised lands, God fights flesh of the enemies of Israel. As they break the covenant, God then has to fight Israel. Jesus then comes to fight the powers and authorities of earth and commands the church to do so. The last stage of war described in the Bible is the final one in Revalation. He almost got to the point of arguing that this speaks strongly against the war but then he charged that of course the Old Testament is still important and applicable today. Anyway, I hope no one thinks I'm being completely indoctrinated and brainwashed. I am of course approaching everything slowly for fear of becoming the stuck college know-it-all that thinks his eyes have been opened from the oppression of ignorance.

Back in School

2007-10-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

After an awesome summer I am finally back at SPU. The first week flew by as I met my new Moyer Hall floormates and reestablished relationships with my friends that had moved out of the dorms. Many of the freshman on my floor seem really into sports and it looks to ba another exciting year for Moyer athletics. However, we still have our share of musicians and gamers (myself included, we beat Halo 3 in 7 straight hours on its release date last tuesday) that give Moyer a unique flavor. As for my studies, I am taking a Christian scriptures class, a logic class, and a beginning biology class. So far I am loving the scriptures and logic classes. This week I have felt an uneasiness over the future of my studies. I feel that God may be telling me that a time for a decision is near. I am praying hard that God will help in this decision as I really do not know what I am interested in most. I am as the traveler in Robert Frost's poem, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,/ and sorry I could not travel both/ and be one traveler, long I stood".

The Grey Havens

2007-07-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Our last day in Norway was hard for all three of us to swallow. We were certainly not ready to leave yet, and were not looking forward to saying goodbye to our family and new friends. Luckily, we had a full day to keep our minds off our melancholic moods. We spent the afternoon on Uncle Mikal’s farm and got a tour of the pigs and cow that are raised and milked there. After attempting to get the pigs’ “special” smell off with a shower, we decided to head by train over to a mall near Stavanger. Mikal and Zac found a few things to take home to share with their families but I could not muster an impulse to buy anything. When we arrived back, we once again went over to Anders’ house and hung out for one last time. Our trip ended much like this last blog, abrupt and yet satisfying.

Land Of My Lineage

2007-07-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

We woke up early this morning to help bring the tables and chairs from reunion at the school to another building. This caused us to have a little bit of a late start on our way to Ualand. Ualand is the home of the farm where my great-grandpa raised his family. The house where my grandpa and his siblings grew up is still standing and is in the care some of my relatives. Our visit included another terrific meal of Norwegian pancakes (sorry I still can’t get the real name right. I always say lempas but that is from Lord of the Rings). After this, we got a tour of the grounds including a look through the old house. Crossing the threshold into this place was a fantastic experience. We were given the opportunity to visualize the lives of our family from almost 100 years ago. For precious moments we were able to see our grandpa bossing around his younger siblings in their crowded upstairs bedroom. Able to see great grandma cooking in the kitchen while proudly watching great grandpa working on the farm. Able to see the entire family sit down at the table and dream about the great family that would one day spring from this small white house. After the tour, we were going to hike up the side of the hills and get some pictures of the whole farm, but it started to downpour and we left for Vigrestad. Later that evening, we drove down to Egersund to visit Marion, a friend of Alexander’s. On the way we stopped at the beach. After some volleyball and dune jumping we were on our way. At Marion’s house we hung out by a lake and sang worship songs and made S’mores on small disposable grill (apparently no bonfires in Norway). We then went into town and visited the harbor where the still, soothing waters were very conducive to conversation. Suddenly the cold night chill and body’s weariness told us it was time to head back to Vigrestad.

Preikestolen

2007-07-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Shhh don’t tell my mom about today’s adventure! One of the things I wanted to do while in Norway was to go on a hike and see some of Norway’s views. Peter suggested Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock as a place to get a great view. I’ll leave the words to Twain and Steinbeck and let my pictures describe this fantastic place, but it is basically a rock you can go out on and look over 2000 foot cliffs. I’ve seen this rock in movies and pictures and the real thing is very intense. The hike to the actual rock was very nice. Unlike monotonous switchbacks in the forest of hikes in Washington, this hike offered open view for the whole time. There were an incredible amount of people climbing the mountain, and I was amazed at how elderly people and children were climbing as it was quite difficult and pretty dangerous. When we got to the rock the tingle in the ankles immediately kicked in. We ate lunch first because we decided if we had to, we wanted to die on an empty stomach (just a joke mom). We then very carefully took our first peek over the edge by crawling on our bellies. The drop makes you feel sick instantly, and your whole body tingles. After many photos to prove our manliness, we were ready to head back down. The family was relieved when we finally arrived back at the house and we were quite ready for a delicious meal. We spent the rest of the evening at the house of Alexander’s friend who has a home theater. I am quite happy to be off the rock and sitting on the couch with a warm laptop on my legs.

2007 Vasshuas Reunion

2007-07-15T14:46:00.001-07:00

We woke up to the fateful sound of rain on the panes by our bed. This unfortunatly meant that we could not have the family reunion outside Peter and Kjellaug’s house and would have to relocate to the middle school where Kjellaug works. We arrived there just in time to see the first guests drive in. As relatives poured in Mikal, Zac and I were barraged with delightful introductions. Some of the people we vaguely remembered from the 2000 visit, others were new faces. Having everyone talk to us and welcome us to Norway was a true blessing. There were a good amount of people from our generation and it was fun to talk to them and get to see their children. We also got to see the remaining siblings of our Bestefar, Aunt Anna, Uncle Magnus and Uncle Arnt. After dinner, we were honored to hear Uncle Arnt tell the emotional story of my Great Grandfather. It was a beautiful story and further tied the bond between all the people there that all owe their lives to the result of that story. What reunion would be complete without group portraits and the toil of the cameras to take them? We all piled into the gym and lined up for our family mug shots. We felt very welcomed into the family and are extremely thankful for the oppurtunity to have materialize and actualize this illusive thing that has always been in our minds, ‘our Norwegian family’. We aren’t entirely sure how God will use the ties and connections we have made but we are excited to find out.

Exploring Stavanger

2007-07-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today we decided to travel to the second largest city in Norway, Stavanger. We started our tour of the city at a small park that had three giant swords sticking in the ground. They are supposed to be a monument to three warriors that fought in a battle near that location. Once in Stavanger we met a couple of Lisbeths friends, but by this time our stomachs were leading the way as well as most of the conversation. Zac, Alex, Mikal and I ate at a subway, Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki for those of you who were wondering, and Lisbeth ate a bagel shop next door. From here it was a short walk to a big church where Lisbeth was baptized as an infant. The interiour was very similar to other Catholic churches I have been to. We then went down to the harbor and bought some shrimp right off a boat that was docked. We did some shopping without the shopping part, which gave us a good chance to see the nice, expensive Norwegian products. Around the harbor was ‘Old Stavanger’ a part of the city with small cobble stone roads and beatiful, old houses. Oh yeah, and kitties, lots of cats. I tried to catch one but it was obviously used to the abuse of visitors. We ate that evening at a nice pizza restaurant called ‘Peppes Pizza’. The food was excellent but my Dutch father will disown me when he hears how much I paid for the pop I got there. We finished the evening by seeing Die Hard 4.0 in a theater near Stavanger. And as Bruce Willis always says in these movies, we had “another day in paradise”.

A day of rest

2007-07-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

After such a busy schedule, Mikal, Zac and I were gracious to have a relaxing day at Alexander’s house. We woke up late, played Alexander’s new Playstation 3, played computer games, and watched Norske TV. In the afternoon we sat down and watched Catwoman. This movie has won several awards as the worst movie ever and we found that it was quite deserving of the title. In the evening, we got to hang out with some of Alexander’s friends. It was one of those days that slips by with out much incidence, yet,
can be every bit as memorable as the exciting ones.

…and back again—Vigrestad

2007-07-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

For the trip back to Vigrestad from the cabin we had a choice between going back along the coast as we came, or we could go across the mainland of Norway and climb the mountains. In the words of Robert Frost, we “took the road less traveled by/ and it has made all the difference” (The Road Not Taken). Our mountainous journey allowed us to see more of the beauty that Norway has to offer. We visited a stave church that is the oldest wooden church in Norway. Eidsborg church was built in the 13th century and is set in a lush green valley. The rest of the trip we had our eyes glued to the window as the slim road wound through miles of mountains, lakes and a lot of green.

Trip to Stavern

2007-07-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I was awoken abrutly this morning by Mikal’s alarm clock. It was time to hit the nets and pots to see our catch for the night. Apparently, however, my morning mind did not find this to be an appealing idea and I grumbled for Mikal and the others to go on without me. They had fun pulling in another good catch and I had fun finishing my sleep. We spent the afternoon in a small town near the cabin called Stavern. In this town there was an old fort that was used in the days of Norway’s alliance with Napoleon. Here we walked along the beautiful waterfront that was accented by unique rocks. This bay formed a perfect area for a little sailing school where children could sign up for week long lessons in small boats. There was also a small museum that chronicled the maritime activity of the area. We then headed back to the cabin for a big seafood dinner. And don’t worry, I made it through the meal but I feel a bit whoozy now. After one last swim in the fjord we packed up our stuff and are ready to head out tomorrow morning.

Surfing and Fishing in the Fjord

2007-07-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

This morning we got to see our first bit of Norwegian sun. After lunch, we headed down to the dock with the windsurfing board and wetsuits. The latter is not really a necessity as much as a convenience. I was surprised to find out that the water here is quite a bit warmer than back home in the Sound and the ocean. Peter took everyone and gave individual coaching in windsurfing technique while the others watched from the rocks. While awaiting our lessons we caught crabs under the dock, but they were a bit too small to eat. My turn with windsurfing was mildly successful, Peter taught me a few techniques that helped in getting started, and made it a better attempt than some of the mishaps we’ve had with our board. This board was also a bit smaller than ours, making it easier to manuever. The afternoon was gorgeous, and I spent much of it basking in the sun on the deck with a cool drink and watching the sun glisten on the fjord below. I was struck in this moment with the incredible way that God can bless me with just some heat and a nice background. Thank you Lord! Before dinner we decided to give fishing another try because we hadn’t caught anything the time before. We did not fish with poles, however, but with string on handle that had 5 hooks on it (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/90846584@N00/764317598/). The Norwegian gods of the ocean provided these foreign Vikings with a good catch, 11 fish, on just a short trip. After an authentic Scandinavian dish of tacos and burritos, with the confidence from our recent success, we decided to try another method of fishing. We took the boat out on the fjord and set up a crab pot and a fishing net that we will pull out tomorrow morning.

Cabin on the North Sea

2007-07-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

After packing all of our gear from the festival we headed out of Lygøs with a rather late start. Our destination was a cabin 2 hours north near Oslo. Mikal drove their Subaru stationwagon because both Alexander and Lisbeth cannot get their licenses until they are 18. Mikal soon found out that the roads in Norway are very different than those in the States. Sharp turns, constant speed changes, and one lane for both ways made the trip interesting for both driver and passengers. But Mikal drove very carefully and we arrived at the cabin only slightly behind schedule. When we got there we met one of Peter’s cousins, Bjørn, his wife and son. After lunch we took a trip in the boat and went fishing. Before we knew it, it was time for another meal. This one was very familiar to a few hungry Americans: hot dogs, chicken, pork, and potatoes. We ate our fill and spent the rest of the evening relaxing in the living room where we found a convenience we had been missing for a few days: the internet. I got a chance to upload photos and blog, and Mikal got to reconnect with his home social network through his MySpace.

The Big Festival Day

2007-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today, was the festival’s biggest day, with the largest bands, a few from the US, playing in the evening. In the afternoon Alexander brought us to an awesome swimming area where we jumped off cliffs and attempted to dodge the millions of jellyfish (the kinds that can actually sting you). It was also really fun meeting and hanging out with Lisbeth and Alexander’s friends from Vigrestad. Even though they spoke broken English, it was fun to get to know them. This day was not as rainy as yesterday, and the evening event was a Black gospel choir from Los Angeles (an interesting choice for a main event in my opinion). After this the entire field of people, about 6 or 7 thousand, participated in worship and communion. All three of us felt very honored and blessed to be able to fellowship like this with our Christian brothers and sisters in Norway. The topic of unity in the church, and the problems that dissention and disagreement can cause, has come up in many of our conversations here. I couldn’t help appreciating the importance of unity as I worshipped on that field in a language I did not understand.

Norway makes a few Washingtonians feel right at home

2007-07-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Rain has a unique power to bring people together in the midst of the misery that it causes. As the festival plowed on, the rain began to dump. The entire camp became a gaint mudhole. With smells that would put the Lynden fair to shame, the festival went on with music, speakers, and worship. Before the rain hit, however, Alexander took us to his Grandmother’s cabin that is out on an island in Lygøs. Both Zac and I were kicking ourselves all afternoon because we forgot our cameras and missed out on capturing some truly unique and amazing views. After a quick swim and a delicious lunch we headed back to the festival to meet an evening under hoods.

From Vigrestad to Kristiansand

2007-07-08T11:43:00.001-07:00

After 16 hours of sleep we were ready for our trip to Norway’s biggest Christian music festival. We packed up there two vehicles and headed out from Vigrestad. It was a long scenic drive along the southern Norwegian coast and we got to see the many unique features of Norway including the massive fishing operations and very long tunnels. Mikal and Zac also took this time to comment on just about every vehicle that passed. But their excitement over these unique vehicles and their desire to race along these foreign speedways quickly evaporated as they learned of the strict enforcement over the roads. We got to the festival around 9:00 and spent the rest of the evening listening to concerts and attending a worship session that was half English and half Norwegian.

Norway or Bust

2007-07-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the airport with 2 and a half hours until our flight. But after we got through the massive line for check in, we were looking at a possible reschedule of flight because we had less than a half an our to get through the security line and to our gate before it closed. Thankfully, the security line went fast and we got right on our plane. Zac, Mikal and I settled into our seats and took in the long plane ride with movies and games provided by the flights ‘International Entertainment System’. Before we knew it, we were landing in Amsterdam. The transfer here went smoothly but we were quickly on our plane to Stavanger, Norway. By now, our bodies were telling us it was time to find a bed, but as we landed our eyes told us otherwise. The drive from Stavanger to Vigrestad was exciting as we took in the beautiful landscape with a feeling of euphoric disbelief that we were finally in Norway. We got to Alexander’s house around 1:00 PM their time but he was not there but at the festival that we would soon be going to. My eyes were now starting to drop, however, I was determined to stay awake to try and keep a normal sleep schedule. Lisbeth took us out and gave us the tour of Vigrestad and we got to see all five buildings. Along with the grocery stores there was the church where she and Alexander attend and the school where they attended and Christina, their younger sister, now goes. When we got back we had a delicious dinner of meat cakes and potatoes. Soon after this we headed over to see some of our cousins that we haven’t seen for years and ended up at Fredrick and Turron’s house for pancakes or lempa as they call it. By this time my body had completely shut off and had become disconnected with my brain. I was so tired it became hard to comprehend and follow conversation and it didn’t help that it often broke into fast squabbles of Norwegian. I had never been awake for so many consecutive hours. Mikal, Zac and I retreated to the downstairs and I fell asleep in the middle of taking off my clothes.

Northwest Folklife Festival

2007-05-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today, was the annual Northwest Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center. Feeling a need to experience some culture, Clinton, Ian, Seve, Algerae, Mara, Meredith, and I headed on over. There were many independent musicians playing as well as larger bands on stage. The music ranged from Ska/Soul to Folk. There was also plenty of food, crafts, and of course Liberal propaganda. Near the entrance there was a rhythm tent where hundreds of drums and other percussion instruments were gathered and people could come and jump in on a loud drum circle. Essentially, however, this event was the same as all the art festivals at the Seattle Center, a chance for all the hippies to gather and show off their weird skills. It was pretty cool. Afterwards I headed home, but I was met by a very quiet house. So I am now patiently waiting for someone to come home.

Loaded Weekend

2007-05-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

It was a busy weekend for Moyer Hall. On friday night, my floor had a roomies date. The idea here is that your roomate finds a date for you and everyone goes as a group on an activity. We took our dates out to a mini golf course near Ballard. It was lightly raining but it was still a whole bunch of fun. Unfortunatly, Algerae and I lost a bet to Drew and Andrea by 6 strokes. Afterwards we went to a fire pit on the canal near SPU and made s'mores and hung out. Then, saturday morning 10 guys from my floor got up early and went out to Moses Lake to Ryan's parents house that is right on the lake. We spent the day playing volleyball, cruising on his boat, and playing some rediculous "Apple's to Apple's" type game. Today, we again woke up early and headed home to play in the intermural co-ed softball playoffs. However, Ryan's car got in a bit of an accident and they were delayed from getting to the first games. This meant that I had to step up to the plate and help the team. We made it to the championship game (me with two triples and 3 RBI's) but we lost it in the miserable Washington downpour.

Rabbit Hunting

2007-05-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

The sophomores on my floor have been desiring for some time now to take the floor on a rabbit hunt. The basic idea behind this event is a group goes at night to a park. The group finds a rabbit. Once said rabbit is identified and known, the group chases, dives, screams, ducks, crash, and clamors to catch the rabbit. Now, now before PETA gets involved, we are quite gentle with the rabbits and let them go shortly after we catch them. So, on Sunday night our floor rounded up and headed out to a beatiful park in west Seattle that overlooks the sound. We only caught two rabbits, but it was still a lot of fun. As I look back on the event I begin to realize that for some of these people, these are the last events that we will do together as many of the people are moving off the floor.

Bjørn's Graduation

2007-04-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I finished classes and drove on up to Lynden. This weekend my brother, Bjørn, graduated from Trinity Western University. After the ceremony on saturday we had dinner at Homestead in Lynden and then went back to the Eide's where I hung out with Zac. Sunday was a nice relaxing weekend seeing the entire family and hanging out with Zac and Mikal. All three of us are getting pretty excited for our upcoming trip to Norway. However, Mikal's still got to make his final descision on his academic plans for next year.

The Rocky Votolato Show

2007-04-21T02:10:00.000-07:00

After a long day with two midterms, I got to treat myself to an evening at a new concert venue called Neumo's on Capital Hill. I took the bus over there and met Missy, Micah, and Amanda. The venue was pretty nice, but the 21 and over section was really weird because it was on a balcony above the rest of the people overlooking the stage. The opening bands were some no names that weren't all that spectacular. However, everyone came for Rocky. His show was great but his long tour gave him a raspy voice that came out on a few songs.

Reservations on a Blog

2007-04-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

People who know me are well aquainted with my quality of reservation. I don't like to rush into engagements or commitments until I am fully sure that I am not just racing after some impulsive whim. It is for this reason that I have not created a blog. I have been fascinated with the blog for a couple of years now, and have enjoyed casually veiwing the lives of my older brother and more recently my family through their respective weblogs. However, as much as I wanted to jump on the bandwagon as soon as I moved away from home, I felt that a blog was some sort of commitment that would require time and effort. I felt I might not have these commodities. Lately, I have realized that my blog can be whatever I want it to be, and it does not have to live up to the day by day chronicles of the Bjorn Identity in its former glory. So I send this out as the introduction to the Life of Markus (a reference to Orson Scott Card's Ender series that I'm afraid will be missed by all who read this). Naturally, I won't even be informing my friends or family about this blog until there is sufficient content, so I present this, for now, to the colossal Jane, known by most as the internet.