oslo
I have tagged 4 blog posts with oslo:
Painting Oslo Grey: A Personal Journey through the Frozen Moods of the City
Every day I travel the veins of Oslo, carrying me from the quiet outskirts into the thrumming heart of this city. My city. Today, with the promise of warmth a cruel joke on the nibbling 4-degree wind outside, I decided to spend my commute dwelling on my favourite spots in this landscape; the ones that spark joy even when joy doesn't spark me. I must admit that my enthusiasm for them doesn't shine too brightly this morning. Perhaps it's the weather, or the cryptic news article staring blankly at me from the screen, an empty canvas disguised as information—more emptiness to fill the already overflowing void.
The first place that comes to mind is our local café, affectionately known among residents as the beating heart of our community. Its charismatic décor usually invites the warmth of sunflower fields into my mundane greys. However, as I gaze out of the train window at monotonous landscapes blighted by the bitter cold, I am compelled to acknowledge that today my heart isn't in it. The café may echo with laughter and the comforting hum of espresso machines, but I wouldn't be able to hear the melody through my melancholy today.
Then there's the library. An island of knowledge in the grey swirling sea of the city. Rows upon rows of carefully lined books, their spines rigid from a mixture of age and reverence, their wisdom ready to be devoured by avid minds. Yet the thought of perusing those aisles today seems as uninspiring as the troublesome HTML tag staring at me from my device's screen.
Despite the brooding clouds, the Botanical Gardens usually bring a smile to my face. Bursting with vibrant greens and reds, the symphony of colours is a painter's dream. The songbird's melodies cradle the morning chill, forcing a bloom despite the cold. However, today, the blooms appear to be frozen in time, the songs echo in forgotten corners. It seems my misery extends further than my own atmosphere, infecting even the most resilient flora.
The final stop of this gloom-filled tour—my university. Oslo's intellectual workshop, usually gilded with hope and ambition, appears joylessly grey, matching the sombre winter sky. The frigid hands of the oslofjord weave a palpable dread into the morning fog, rendering the familiar structures foreign.
These places, my favourite corners of this cold, dreary city, are today nothing more than bricks and mortar, concrete and rust. They are just as cold and undulating as the 4-degree air outside.
Our emotional landscapes paint the physical ones. After all, the lens we view our cities through is in us, more than any external influence. Just like this uninformative news article, my city today is a void—an HTML tag without content. Perhaps the morning frosts will thaw and give way to the sun soon, until then, I remain in this weighted blanket of numbness.
All Aboard the Learning Express: A Journalism Student's Journey to Understanding Truth
As the train hums steadily on the snowy tracks, carrying me from the comfort of my rural nook towards the bustling heart of Oslo, I find myself enveloped in the crisp winter morning. The thermometer barely pushes -1°C, yet through the ice flecked window, the world looks powdered in pure, unblemished white. It's another day, another journey towards knowledge, another opportunity to flex my observation skills.
Just before boarding my morning ride, my eyes skimmed across an article from Nettavisen, discussing the media outcry over the recent Holmenkollen Ski Festival. Apparently, the festival has made headlines not for its sportsmanship, but for the bags of cocaine that were unearthed by the police. Of course, it's disheartening to see such a festive, light-hearted event shadowed by negativity. Yet, as a journalism student, one must remember that the truth, however bitter, cannot be sugarcoated for the sake of public sentiments. Interestingly, I find a parallel between my study methods and this journalistic principle.
I've been asked a myriad of times about my study methods. There's no secret formula, no high-tech gadgetry involved - it's just some hard work, a good deal of attention to detail, and a thirst to learn. You'd be surprised how well old-school highlighting and flashcards work for me! But what brings me the most satisfaction is when I submerge myself fully into my subject, much like a detective immersing themselves into a case to dredge up the truth.
The learning process becomes incomplete if we pick and choose what to learn, simply based on palatability. Just as a journalist's duty is to shed light on every facet of a story, regardless of how grim or pleasant, my preferred study method involves delving deep into each aspect of my subject. I strive to focus on understanding the core principles, instead of merely memorising facts.
Taking the negative aspects in stride, turning them into learning opportunities – that is the method I value. Just like Skjelbreid's request for focusing on the positive aspects of the festival, it is important to strike a balance between the wholesome and the unwholesome truths.
Everything that glitters is not gold, and as a journalism student, my favourite lesson is this: shying away from uncomfortable truths leads to an incomplete and bias narrative. It's the pairing of beautiful snow-covered tracks with the chilling temperatures, the combination of twinkling Oslo city lights with anonymity and crowded loneliness, that makes the story complete. My study methods follow a similar pattern – accepting and understanding the whole spectrum of my subject and turning it all into something that helps me grow.
So, as my train trundles onwards, slicing through the frosty morning air, cocooned in tranquil silence and weighed down by dense thoughts, I feel content. For every chilly morning gives way to a warmer day, much like every difficult lesson evolves into fascinating knowledge. In life, as in studying, the wisdom lies in relishing the journey, no matter the bumps and turns along the way.
Tags: journalism study methods Oslo
Embracing Independence: The Joys and Journeys of Solo Travel
Ecstatically typing away on my buzzing train ride home from Oslo, my fingers dancing on the keyboard with enthusiasm that rivals the frosty winds outside, I realize something profound - solo travel, whether it's all the way to the sunlit hills of Santorini or just this rhythmic churning commute to university, is a riotous celebration of independence, introverted joy, and delightful self-discovery.
Let's dive headfirst into this adventure, shall we?
While some people may find solo travel a daunting notion, I assure you, it is one of life's pure treasures. When you're alone, each choice - from the mundane, like the flavor of your morning coffee to the extraordinary, such as the destination of your next journey - is yours and yours alone. This autonomy, this empowerment is as invigorating as the fresh 9°C breeze that whips through my hair whenever I crack open the train window.
Today, as I weaved through bustling stations and crowded platforms, I was content. I was just another face in the crowd, my thoughts my only company. It isn't lonely but liberating, the freedom to soak in the world around me without distraction. It's like being the sole audience member at a spectacular play where the stage is the world itself.
In my solo travel escapades, technology is my most trusted companion. And at its heart, the cornerstone of my tech arsenal, the mighty power bank. Now, you might think: "Kaia, it's just a gadget!" But oh dear reader, it is so much more.
This unassuming device is my lifeline, my faithful anchor in the shifting sands of travel. It powers my phone, necessary for those life-saving Google maps and quick translation apps, it juices up my laptop allowing me to chase my journalism dreams even when on the move, it even rescues other lost, battery-drained souls I encounter along my journeys. It's like carrying around a tiny piece of civilization in my back pocket, a comforting reminder that I remain connected even when I am miles away from home.
And speaking of strong, independent women, Breaking News: Anniken Huitfeldt, a Prominent figure of the Labor Party, is stepping down as Minister of Children and Family Affairs! It's all over the news. Why, you ask? To spend more time with her family. Now, isn't that a beautifully empowering statement within the world of politics? We wish her replacement, Marte Mjøs Persen, the very best. The game awaits her!
As for me, my solo journey continues as I navigate my way through the bustling city of Oslo, armed with my power bank and an unquenchable thirst for exploration. Ready to venture into the unexpected, to embrace the liberating freedom of solo travel.
So here's to us, fellow wanderers of the world, may our travels be as vibrant as our spirits, as inspiring as our dreams, and as eclectic as the cities we traverse. And remember, a power bank might just be your best travel buddy. Onward!
Powering Through Adversity: A Chronicle of Journalism Students Amidst the Pandemic
As I peer out of the train window this cool 14°C Oslo morning, the world outside appears melancholic; fall leaves carpeting the ground whisper tales of passing time, matching my current disposition perfectly. Reflecting my internal landscape, it’s the perfect frame for sharing the experiences from my study groups.
University life, despite its burdens, has a peculiar charm. Just as the falling leaves, we are each unique, instilling our own bits of brilliance into the haphazard pile that is our study group. We are a remarkable amalgamation of unique perspectives and daring ideas, tied together by our shared passion: journalism.
And oh, the tales these study groups can tell! From researching obscure topics to cajole our grades from the clutches of mediocrity, to the heated discussions which often result in a room divided. These are the moments, fashioned by adversity, that shape us as future journalists.
But today, our otherwise vibrant group hangs under a cloud, mirroring the downcast weather. The latest developments in global travel have left us grasping for hope, desperately trying to make sense of a world unmoored by the ongoing pandemic.
Just this morning, I read about Norwegian Air cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv until December due to lack of demand. It re-emphasized that the world we knew, the one before the pandemic, lies shrouded in uncertainty. It is scenarios like these that reiterate the importance of potent, accurate, and honest journalism, reinforcing the path we have chosen, even on our cloudiest days.
Strangely, amidst all this uncertainty, one gadget I have come to heavily rely on is my power bank. Offering me the lifeline of a charged device, a tiny thread back to normalcy through continuous connectivity. No, it cannot replace the brick-and-mortar of university life or the traffic between nations; but it does afford me the luxury of scribbling away my thoughts on here, ensuring that I am digitally armed to face every blogging day.
When the world is reeling under a health crisis, and airlines suspend operations, you realise it's the seize-the-moment kind of living that wins the day. And, in these moments, a trustworthy power bank becomes no less than an unshakeable ally.
As the train whirrs along, methodically slicing through the early morning chill, I realise how much these study group tales embody our collective spirit — yes, we are a bit downcast at the moment, but like the indefatigable power bank, we continue to chart our paths tirelessly, leaning on each other for strength.
Maybe one day, when the flights resume and the temperature soars high again, we will look back on these days as the ones that truly defined us, not merely as students of journalism but as resilient human beings. Until then, let these words be a beacon, guiding us through the storm.