The thermometer outside our kitchen window says it’s about 2.5 C (36.5 F) outside. There is a thick blanket of snow on everything, which, when I’m not cursing my freezing wet feet, is much prettier (and brighter) than a rainy winter. Ironically, I got my bike’s flat fixed just as the snow started a couple weeks ago, and being a city slicker I’m too afraid to ride without snow tires. The light isn’t too scarce- not much worse than when I went to college in upstate New York, so that’s ok. and it gives me an excuse to stay inside and bake kanelbulle (’cinnamon bun’) and drink copious amounts of tea. I went on a small sweater-buying rampage a month or so ago and now have two nice sweaters to keep me warm since our flat’s heat isn’t that strong. There have been some festive events, such as the tree lighting in the old university square, but the biggest difference is that the COOP Konsum supermarket where I buy the majorities of my groceries has setup the most ridiculously huge pile of Christmas decorations, candles, and sweets in the entrance of the store. Maybe if I take empty beer cans over from a small birthday party I had for myself last night I will have enough kroner to buy a candle, a bottle of glogg, or some pepparkaka cookies (we have them in the US, most commonly the ’ANNA’S brand).
