norwaykate

Day 46- Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (Day 1 filming Episode 8)

What a day! We filmed earlier today around 9am walking around Oslo and by the water. It's funny how we always guess what we will be doing but we really have no idea......EVER!!! As we walked and talked they kept asking what we thought there was left to do in Oslo and what we'd love to be doing, looking back now, I can see why!

We met Fridtjof near the bus station and he tells us how hard we've been working and that we are going to be going to a place a lot of Norwegians go when they are missing the sun and want to get some sun. He says its called Syden and he's going there now! We have to figure out where it is and hopefully find him there!

Next, we take a lunch break and then are split into boys/girls teams and we walk around asking Norwegians about this pale and where it is and how do we get there. All people kept saying was it was a region near the Mediterranean that is warm and sunny like Spain, Greece, and even Thailand. As people kept saying the same thing, Kelsey and Lauren were so excited and I just felt so confused and flabbergasted that we'd be leaving Norway to film and episode! So as we each did our stand ups- we were told we were going to the Canary Islands!! WHAAATTTTT!!??

I can't even believe it, but we have about an hour to situate our Jack Wolfskins and then it was off to the airport for our flight to Gran Canaria for 5 days! I had to make a call to my bank to make sure they knew I was traveling out of the country and I was worried Dan would think my card was stolen or something. I was also feeling flustered while getting everything together since I had just bought a new tank top with all the hot weather and it went missing when we turned our laundry in, but luckily someone found it in their bag right before leaving!

I sat next to Lauren and Fridtjof during the 5.5hr. flight down and it was so much fun! Lauren and I toasted to the trip with mini bottles of champagne. We made some funny videos on my camera and the backstage camera too. Fridtjof even spent some time teaching us a card game he used to play as a kid. All of this really helped to pass the time!

When we landed, we collected our luggage and drove for a little while. It was so dark we couldn't see much or make out what this place is like, but it's just so late and we are so tired. We checked into a hotel for 1 night called Hotel Elba I think. We got in so late that I'm hoping we don’t start until later tomorrow- for now it's off to bed for my first night in Spain!

Day 47- Thursday, June 9, 2016 (Day 2 filming episode 8)

Today we started off with a yummy breakfast at the hotel before we started to film. We all piled into a van and drove for awhile but they weren't ready for us so we hung out at a local gas station. Thank goodness they had a bathroom! It was so hot we were chugging water so we wouldn't get dehydrated. Johnny, Lauren, Jeff, Kelsey, and I went into the mini-mart and sort of freaked out when we saw how cheap everything was! Especially compared to Norwegian prices. We thought a cold beer sounded so good, so we bought a couple of cans for only around 65 cents!! We didn't think Martine would approve so we hid inside the mini-mart while her and Tom were in the van and drank our beers, it tasted so good and for so cheap!! Next, we finally got word that we were ready to go and we drove a little ways around this beautiful coastal highway to a hotel in Maspalomas, the Radisson Blu. It was amazing! When they walked us to our room, they told us to go in and just look at the kitchen island where we found beers

and many Norwegian magazines and newspapers which was filming since we are so far away from Norway! This room is so incredible though it's a top floor penthouse apartment that has a massive huge kitchen, big dining room table inside and out on the balcony, and a big living room as well. There is one master room and bathroom next to the living room which turns out to be Lauren and I's room! It has it's own door out to the balcony and has a lot of seating too—including lounge beds! The balcony runs the full length of our suite and down to Thomas and Jeff's room and near their rooms there is even an outdoor jacuzzi tub you can fill up and relax in. The best part of it all to me is the 180 degrees view of the ocean outside our room. It's unbelievable how gorgeous it was today and in the evening. I'm so grateful we get to live here, in this one place for 4 nights- I think that's the longest we've gotten to stay in one place or one bed this entire trip! We had a lunch break ad then headed out front where we were greeted by a tour bus and a really energetic man named Charter Svein! He was our tour guide all around the area and we were filmed visiting all of these super Norwegian places near where we wer staying, including a Norwegian bar where we had Coronas and sang the drinking song, that was awesome! We visited a little Norwegian grocery store and saw the Norwegian club and bakery. We learned about how there are over 6,000 Norwegians in "Granka"! And I forgot the best part! We were given outfits in our hotel room so we would look like real Norge tourists! Jean shorts, tshirts with the flag and Norwegian phrase, 2 people got fanny packs and we all got socks with really ugly sandals. Charter Svein was so energetic and so funny! After our very hot bus tour we were told to get dressed to have dinner and to dress nice. We went back to the Heia Norge Bar for a traditional Syden dinner of meatballs and lingonberries, potatoes and brown sauce which was followed by a dessert of krumkake with ice cream! It was so funny to be eating such Norwegian food in Spain! I keep thinking, "what in the world am I doing here? Is this really happening to me?" It's so surreal.

The night ended pretty late so we all sort of hit the sack early, knowing we'd be having a competition tomorrow-I’m so nervous but get to sleep in this suite tonight! So I'm going to try and enjoy it.

Day 48- Friday, June 10, 2016 (Day 3 filming Episode 8)

Today started with some morning reality which was fun since we are all staying in one place together. I often find this weird comfort in being near everyone- maybe it's because I'm always around people at home. I'm finding comfort in helping take care of people and even tidying up after them around the suite, which is kind of funny!

Johnny and I do a funny morning reality with all the Norwegian food in the fridge! Ha ha! It will be fun to watch later, but it's not long until we are headed to learn about our competition at a nearby beach with Fridtjof. First we stop at a pool to do some more morning reality of us doing these funny swimming lessons! It felt good to be in the pool, but being terrified of going under water, I didn't participate in all the activities. That was a bit embarrassing. We ate lunch at this little café attached to the hotel and then off to finally meet Fridtjof. He tells us that he hopes we paid attention yesterday to Charter Svein since today we would be doing a team relay of things we talked about. It was a 3 part relay- for each person. Station #1 (Kelsey for blue team, me for red team) had to read the bar sign, walk into te bar and order using the sentence and pay using the # of euros the bartender tells you and carry the 2 beers to person #2 without spilling and chug it as fast as you can. Station #2 (Thomas for blue team, and Jeff for red team) had to slather a Norwegian man from head to toe with sunscreen then pack up their towl into a bag and carry the umbrella over to station #3 as fast as you can. Station #3 (Johnny for blue team and Lauren for Red team) had to take of the Hawaiian shirt to reveal their "party" shirt and sit at a table and

chug a beer with the man sitting there (who happens to be Petter!lol!) After they chug they are given a pick up line to memorize and walk over to a girl standing there (who happens to be Sunniva! Ha ha!) and tell her the pick up line and if you get it right, take her hand and the timer stops.

We all did pretty good but red team, my team was 53 seconds faster securing the 3 of us into the semi finals next week! I was a wreck before and after the competition. I walked up and read my sentence to start about 3 times and walked in, ordered the beer and ordered and get it on the first try! Jeff lathered the heck out of that guy and was quick to get over to Lauren. She had to go the girl once and go back since she messed up 1 word. I was yelling from my seat since I wasn't allowed to go over there! It was so hard to sit so far away and only watch it all happen. Waiting for results was so hard! I was shaking and could hardly take a deep breath but we did it! I cried I was so happy to be able to be a part of the Semi-finals and actually be able to relax the rest of the trip in Granka.

After all the results, they filmed us playing at a local beach doing beach volleyball and having a beer on the beach during sunset! We even got to jump into the water and Kelsey, Johnny, Lauren, Jeff, and I even took our suits off and it felt so good!!

We had dinner poolside and ended up in room 711, Sindre's room for some dancing, music, drinks, and fun chatting with the crew and cast together. It's so nice to build relationships with them.

Day 49- Saturday, June 11, 2016 (Day 4 filming episode 8, Interview Day)

It was a pretty casual and relaxed day today with everyone taking turns doing interviews. Our interviews were on the balcony of the hotel right above our hotel room. Unfortunately I had to do my interview in two parts since it was right before lunch and we kept having to stop my interview due to a really loud party boat in the harbor. Turns out you don’t' want all that racket in the background of your interview. We braked for lunch and I had to go back for more interviewing- that stupid boat was back, but we powered through!

I got changed and grabbed my book and sunscreen and headed to the pool. I ended up relaxing and swimming with Thomas, Lauren, and a lot of the crew. It felt good to breath and relax a bit.

Dinner was at the hotel restaurant and we were able to sit outside overlooking the ocean. It is so beautiful here! It was hard knowing that Kelsey and Johnny both have to compete tomorrow.

We ended the night with a little joke and surprise for Niccoli and Johnny in our room, it was so hilarious! Wink wink... ha ha!!

Day 50- Sunday, June 12, 2016 (Day 5 filming episode 8)

We started our day off with some morning reality at the beach playing and swimming and Fridtjof telling us about Johnny and Kelsey's competition today. After this filming, we headed back to the hotel where we had the rest of the morning off until we would go to the results later. Lauren, Thomas, and I take a cab over to "Puerto Rico" to shop. I ended up picking up fans and dresses for the girls some really cheap whiskey to bring back to Norway so I can save some money on drinks and a new wallet that fits into my purse.

Meanwhile Kelsey and Johnny were competing at a nearby beach and when we arrived for results it was so hot outside, we were sweating so badly. The results filming was intense, especially when Fridtjof

announces that the person who is going home only lost by 4 seconds! Kelsey lost by 4 seconds and would have to leave. I was so sad—Lauren and Kelsey had grown very close too and she took it especially hard.

Later when we got back to the hotel, Kristoffer, our director pulled us into the room to talk to us which made us nervous, but basically he said that due to the nature of us being in Granka- Kelsey would be flying home with us tomorrow and he asked if we'd be okay if just stayed with us tonight and joined us for dinner. We were thrilled!! Normally when we say goodbye to people we never see them again, let alone know what happens next, or where they go etc. So to know that she would be rejoining us for the remainder of the trip felt so good!

We filmed some reality of me making waffles in the kitchen and all of us eating them outside on the balcony overlooking the coastline. It was perfect. Fridtjof joined and informed us about the semifinals and how we would all be fighting for ourselves in the next episode, which makes me nervous.

We ended the night by getting all dressed up and had the nicest dinner at the hotel restraunt upstairs. It was incredible!! We then invited all the crew to our big fancy room to watch the footage of the joke we played with Johnny and Niccoli. Fridtjof also showed some of the video promos he's been making, which was so fun! I can't believe we are even going to be on tv! People stayed and danced, and talked and relaxed all night. I knew we'd be traveling tomorrow, so I've locked myself in our room watching tv and packing so I'd be ready for tomorrow. I'm so sad to see on the news there was a shooting in a dance club in Orlando. Long travel day tomorrow.

Day 51- Monday, June 13, 2016 (Travel day)

Not much to report other than a long travel day home to Oslo from Gran Canaria. I slept most of the way on the plane and did some journaling too. When we arrived back at the Scandic, it was the usual, drop off of the laundry and head to dinner. We walked to a really delicious Indian food restaurant which really hit the spot after all that travel today. It was a low key night and everyone was exhausted so we pretty much headed straight to bed after walking back from dinner. Tomorrow will be a travel day for episode 9 which has me nervous already again, but I'm going to try and not think about it.