The Monthly Moose

The English language magazine by ISU

In This Issue:
Oslo Concert Preview p.4-5

Universitas in English p.6-7

O ne -Piece, Jump in! p.15-16

And More...

// 1

Vol.3 Issue 3 — November 2010

 Dear Readers,
Norway is a country
of many wonders. It is
a country where men
stroll with prams, where
princesses study with
mere mortals and where
every kid knows that
bus drivers burst with
good spirits. Norway is the country where rappers
advertise recycling campaigns while they sit on a
boat accompanied by women in non-revealing
clothes. Norway is the country whose Prime
Minister adds you as a friend on Twitter. Norway is
where you complain about bad skiing conditions and
raise funds for developing countries, because your
own back is covered by the government. Norway is
awesome. Norway is so awesome that it even had the
guts to confront Big Brother China by issuing the
Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident. If China
decides to wage war, a Norwegian moose cavalry,
armed with self-guided brown cheese missiles and
ninja troops in jumpsuits will presumably respond.
During the previous month I experienced another
Norwegian extravaganza: the cabin trip. The three
trips I’ve been on were for personal, corporate and
educationally-intended purposes. The quality of the
cabins ranged from prehistoric to slightly outdated.
Despite my desire to meet a moose face-to-face, I
had to content myself with the sight of his chopped
off foot which was disturbing, if not grotesque.
And I learned some truth about cabins. A cabin is
a deliberate challenge which liberates you from the
constraints of societal norms and mindless worship
of the inventions of civilisation. When urban life
gets too stressful, cabin trips provide an excuse for
not getting anything done and just looking at an
open fire, stroking guitar strings and exchanging
languid thoughts with people around you.
If cabins are not on the list of seven wonders they
ought to be added. And if you, dear reader, have not
been on such a trip yet, I encourage you to go. Take
The Monthly Moose along. Or continue to discover
Norwegian wonders with the Moose of Norway.
Yours truly,
Marija, the Moose Herder
The Monthly Moose — Villa Eika, Blindern 0314 Oslo, P.O. Box 1088. monthly.moose@gmail.com
2 \\ Editorial
Chief Editor: Marija Cabuskina — Writers: Anita Iyer, James Spinks, Julie Rousseau,
Lystad, Tapsie Sane-Haha— Copy Editor: Anita Iyer — Proof Readers: Anita Iyer,
Content: Indre Maknickaite, James Spinks, John Modin, Irine Osepashvili, Miguel Arcangel
Summer Choi — Layout: John Modin, Julie Rousseau, Marija Cabuskina.
EDITORIAL
The Moose changes, but will SiO?
This has been an exciting semester for The Monthly
Moose. We began the term riding high on our
sudden recognition as the best volunteer-run
student publication, and have channeled our
enthusiasm into experimenting with different
styles, different themes, and different layouts. This
month brings yet another change, as we expand
from a diminutive A5 format to a larger, more eye-
catching A4. We hope our readers enjoy the new,
larger format, and appreciate everyone who has
been along with us on this meandering semester.
At the same time, we continue to reiterate the fact
that integration of international students into
the university takes more than a shiny award, but
requires real commitment in the form of resources,
time, and understanding. Even now, international
students in Kringsjå continue to share tiny rooms,
without functional internet access for two people,
waiting for their paltry “compensation” of 600 kr to
arrive. Meanwhile, as SiO ignores contact attempts
from the ISU, it remains uncertain whether the
situation will actually improve next semester. The
Moose changes, but can SiO?.
The semester is almost over, and we know that a fair
number of international students will be leaving
Oslo to return home. For some of these students,
their memories of Oslo will forever be tied to the
Kringsjå housing “solution.” However, we hope
that even these students have good memories of
friends, travels, and adventures here in Oslo. This is
why our final issue of the semester will be a creative
issue, where we are turning to you, our readers, to
share your stories, photographs, poems, essays, or
other creative contributions about life in Norway.
Whether you are an international student, still new
to Norway, or a Norwegian who wants to share your
experiences with an English-speaking audience,
we want to hear from you. One of our goals as a
magazine is to help integrate international students
further into the fabric of the University of Oslo, and
to bring more Norwegian students into contact with
the international student community. But we can’t
do this alone. As we work to increase the Moose’s
visibility by placing new stands around campus, we
hope that you, whoever you are, will send us your
contributions as we explore what exactly it means
to be studying and living here in Norway.
 CONTENTS
8
4 Oslo Music Scene
6 Universitas News
8 Nobel Peace Prize
10 ISU News
10 Housing Solution
11 Famous Norwegians
12 The Library

17
14 Moose Travelogue
15 One Piece
17 At the Law Pub
19 Moose Facts
21 Moose Norwegian Course
22 What’s On at UiO?
22 The Creativity Corner
23 Moose Comic Strip

21
Contents // 3

Margrethe Gustavsen, Marija Cabuskina, Mitch Molstad, Nicole Mills, Ole Hansson, Schuyler
Mitch Molstad, Nicole Mills, Steph Haas — Photo Editor: Sara Fegelman — Visual
Fraticelli, Miranti Wirastuti, Nicole Mills, Summer Choi — Cover Design: Irine Osepashvili,
 Oslo Music
Preview
VICE PRESIDENT

Oslo may be a small city compared to others around
  is vocalist Alice Glass, a rough-edged, raven-
haired, mesmerizing figure in her early twenties
the continent, but its concert calendar holds its own who pairs (with Kath’s instrumentals) a lyrical
in terms of quality and frequency. Autumn 2010 has style ranging broadly from sharp and abrasive
been a particularly kind season to music enthusiasts, to calm and ethereal. And during the group’s
as we’ve already had quite a few stellar acts make chaotic and energetic live performances,
their way through the capital. And the year still which have played a significant part in their
promises several great concert options: read on for growing fame and notoriety, Glass has been
a couple of detailed previews, and a brief outline of a known to frequently stagedive, climb sets, and
few other names and dates. (anecdotally) get in the occasional spat with
members of the audience.
Nov. 21: Crystal Castles
The duo has released two full-length albums,
Nailing a description of Crystal Castles can be a bit
both of which were, confusingly, titled Crystal
of a challenge. Their sound casts a pretty strange
Castles. With a catalog bolstered additionally
cross-section across traditional music genres, so
by EP releases and other recordings, Kath and
necessarily, a lot of the material out there about the
Glass have, over the past several years, become
band focuses on abstractions—you’ll see the word
fan and critical favorites, collecting positive
”cathartic” used frequently as a descriptor of Crystal
reviews and top album nods from sources
Castles’ style, particularly when
like NME, the BBC, and
referencing flagship tracks like
Pitchfork.
”Alice Practice” and ”Baptism” that
And those fortunate
pull off equal levels of violence and
enough to be in Oslo on
danceability.
November 21st will have
So to throw one more hat in the
the opportunity to catch
ring, here’s another abstraction, in
a CC show live, as the
an attempt to describe their style:
band will be performing
Crystal Castles sounds like a DJ
at the Rockefeller on that
traveled back in time, excavated
Sunday evening. They’ll
a 1980s arcade, fed it into the
be supported by Male
world’s nastiest woodchipper, and
Bonding, an English
reassembled the wreckage, with
punk/noise rock group
4 \\ Oslo Music Scene

excellent results, in a digital audio

that has also established
editor.
a solid following over the
The DJ in that (horrible) metaphor
past couple of years.
is Ethan Kath, the composing half
Tickets are currently
of this Toronto-based electronic
on sale online and at
outfit, whose specialty is breeding
local convenience store
8-bit hooks with surging bass,
locations for a reasonable
aggressive drum loops, and a
200 NOK; visit www.
dancefloor sensibility.
rockefeller.no for details.
The public face of the band, though, Chrystal Castles rocking at Øya festival
 

Tracking down quality entertainment at reasonable prices can be

a tall task in Oslo, particularly for those of us who are coming to
the city from other countries and without Norwegian salaries.
Luckily, concerts at different venues around the city tend to be an
exception-- ticket prices are comparable to those found in other
countries, so you can take in a show for about the same price as a
handful of downtown beers. Of course, you can still grab the drinks
at the concert, but the Monthly Moose takes no responsibility for
the size of that tab.

Oslo on December 9th, so students sticking around

Dec. 9: Tallest Man on Earth
In the music world, few things are more
elemental, more accessible and rewarding, than
the folk artist, perched on stage with a guitar or
a banjo with spare additional accompaniment.
Such musicians are storytellers at heart,
employing basic musical tools, but the good
ones have a talent for connecting with
audiences that can be difficult to match in
other genres.
Kristian Matsson, who performs under the
Tallest Man on Earth moniker, happens to
be one of the good ones. He’s been touring
internationally for several years, but Matsson’s
roots lie in Scandinavia-- he’s a native of
Dalarna, Sweden. It’s difficult to pinpoint his
origins by listening to his music, however, as
his sound, if anything, echoes the traditions of
the American folk rock scene.
Matsson, appropriately, has drawn consistent
comparisons to folk legend Bob Dylan, a link
that should make plenty of sense if you’ve
heard Tallest Man on Earth at the microphone.
His voice is gravelly and unrestrained, like
Dylan’s, born seemingly of raw emotion and
late whiskey nights. Matsson’s vocal delivery
lies bare to the elements, and though he
doesn’t have the most accessible singing voice
around, the lack of polish lends a rewarding
beyond final exams will have the chance to see an
excellent folk show for the cheap price of 150 NOK.
The concert will be at Parkteatret, a cozy venue in
Grünerløkka. For more on tickets, check http://
www.parkteatret.no/.
Some other worthwhile options:
Nov. 22: !!! (chkchkchk)
A California group categorized by listeners and critics
as “dance-punk.” If that sounds like something you’d
enjoy, then give chkchkchk a shot. 225 NOK, at the
Rockefeller.
Nov. 28: Deftones
(with special guest Coheed & Cambria)
Two excellent rock bands-- Deftones were one of
the most important alternative acts of the 1990s,
releasing seminal albums like Around the Fur and
White Pony. Coheed & Cambria are progressive
rock masters of entertainment, playing energetic,
intelligent metal with a knack for life performances.
350 NOK, at Sentrum Scene.
Dec. 3: Gogol Bordello (with
DeVotchka)
Both of these rock bands take unique approaches
to Eastern European musical flavors, each to great
effect. Gogol Bordello play a style of music they, and
others, define as “gypsy punk,” and has developed a
loyal following after years of persistent international
Oslo Music Scene // 5

authenticity to the music. touring. DeVotchka is a multi-instrumental outfit

Tallest Man on Earth has produced two full-
length LPs: 2008’s Shallow Grave and 2010’s
The Wild Hunt, with both receiving critical
acclaim. The folk stylings on both records,
featuring guitar, piano, and banjo, flow flexibly
between up-tempo pieces and other, more
pensive offerings, populated by lyrics full of
imagery and whimsy.
Tallest Man on Earth will be coming through
that gained increased popularity after their music
was heavily featured in the film Little Miss Sunshine,
and after the (wonderful) song “How It Ends”
appeared in an ad spot for the video game “Gears of
War II.” 320 NOK, also at Sentrum Scene.
Text: Mitch Molstad
Picture: John Modin
 Thus Spoke
Universitas is Norway’s biggest
student newspaper, and has 35 issues
per year , with 17,000 copies printed of
each issue. It is sponsored by SiO and is
therefore free of charge for students.
Here’s a short summary of some of the
headlines hitting Universitas over the
past few weeks.

Internal Party Drowned in Debts

October 13 Tappetårnet, the student organization running
Burn my Fire bars in Chateu Neuf, spent 40 000 NOK on an
With fire alarms constantly going off in student internal party attended by 60 persons. The
buildings during cooking, students are less likely treasurer of the organization failed to recount
to evacuate. It also has an effect on SiO accounts, for the loss of money, and the organization
as each emergency call costs 3543 NOK. The Oslo applied to Norwegian Student Society (Den
Firefighting Department has repeatedly criticised Norske Studentersamfundet) for funding. The
insufficient kitchen fans in several SiO buildings, sum of 10 000 NOK (half of the sum needed)
which SiO promises to install next year. from the shared funds was given.
SiO Cafes can October 20
Disappear Want More Feedback
In order to Students from all Norway wish to have more
keep the feedback on exam grades. Obligatory feedback
prices low, SiO started with the Faculty of Social Sciences.
is considering Students say that more feedback will mean
giving five fewer complaints and better understanding of
cafes in demands for education. The lecturers, however,
Blindern over are sceptical and prioritise feedback prior to
to external catering firms. Currently SiO has priority exams.
over catering at UiO with a right to waive it.
Aerials Cause Distress
Professor Swindles Two Universities UiO had to give in to the demands of NetCom
A now impeached female medical professor at UiO and Telenor and install antennae on top
confessed illegal appropriation of 91 thousand NOK in of the Humanities’ building. According to
travelling costs, and the same amount of money from Norwegian Radiation Protection Agency
her home university abroad. In addition to violating (Statens Strålevern) the radiation is within the
the UiO code, she stated that her only employer was normative values. However, S. Halmøy from
UiO, while in reality she was 80 percent employed the “grassroot radiation movement” points
at her home university. Despite the grave offences, to research data on reduction of mental and
the women still taught at a medical institution per mnemonic capacities due to radiation.
October.
Invasion of Privacy at Norwegian Veterinary
6 \\ Universitas in English

Coin of Glory School (NVH)

The Bank of Norway issued a 10 NOK The personal numbers of students were
coin to commemorate the 200 years disclosed in e-mails sent by the administration
of UiO. of NVH. The case has been reported to The
Coin design by Enzo Finger
Data Inspectorate (Datatilsynet). Seven years
Student Media and Globalisation
ago due to a similar blunder, one student’s id-
The merging of SiO and OAS (Oslo and Akershus
number was used to purchase goods.
Student Foundation) has caused concern in the realm
of student media. Smaller newspapers anticipate less Flour Beetles Attack
funding from the merged Welfare Council. Two students at Vestgrensa student village fell
victims to the beetle invasion. One of them got
500 NOK as compensation from SiO. The girls lawyers.
think that SiO does not pay enough attention
to the cleaning after the leaving tenants. Student revolutionizes KIWI
A math student of UiO, S. Ødegaard, previously an
Student Evaluations are Useless employee in KIWI, presented this supermarket chain
Each semester students have the right to with an automated solution for following expiry
evaluate the courses they attended. However, dates. Currently KIWI offers free products to people
students and employees agree: something who find expired items in the shop.
has to be changed. Evaluation questions are
often unanswered or answered in a vague Chlamydia Attacks BI
manner. Student Parliament suggests focus According to the results of Chlamydia tests, BI
groups instead of questionnaires and lecturer (Norwegian School of Management) tops the list
evaluation by colleagues. (around seven percent of students infected). Student
Health Authorities remind all students that both
October 27 Chlamydia tests and condoms are accessible for free
Laptop Thieves Arrested in the medical office of SiO in Rolf Ottosens building.
On October 20 two thieves were caught red
Housed by Professor
handed with stolen laptops from the Faculty
Two Chinese students, Rui Song and Zhi-Ke Zhang,
of Social Sciences. On the day before, two
were hosted by their professor, because their study
laptops were stolen from Norwegian School
period was too short to be covered by SiO housing
of Management (BI). Few students know that
guarantee. Although the stay was pleasurable, critique
travel insurance does not cover universities,
has been expressed toward the International Office
and they leave their belongings unattended in
for deficient managing and insufficient integration.
libraries. Security cables for attaching property
to tables with are currently in use in BI, while T-bane Station Impedes Rebuilding
UiO’s only security measure is access cards. The rebuilding of the house in Apalveien 60 bought
by SiO is held back by the modernization project
Stress Test for Medical Students
of Blindern T-bane station. The modernizing of the
As many as 70 percent of medical students fail
station cannot be started before the funds are allocated
the Objective Structured Clinical Examination
by the municipality of Oslo. SiO has already increased
(OSCE) test at UiO. The test encompasses 26
its capacity by appropriating a house in Stensberggata
“stations” with six minutes per each: students
(70 units), using formerly unemployed space in Sogn
complain about time limitations and vague
and Kringsjå (50) and laying foundations for houses
formulations. The student body demands mock
near Domus Atletica (200
tests and training rounds.
next semester). In addition,
3 Million for Exhibition K.Sand, a real estate
The Natural History museum received 3 million manager in SiO, hopes to
NOK from DnB NOR to create a one-of-a-kind build 200 new units at Sogn
Arctic exhibition. Both light and temperature by 2012.
will be thoroughly controlled to create precise
Akademika Takes Over New station project by Johann Sverrison
conditions for flora.
Akademika, the book shop of SiO, has reportedly
November 3 increased its area of influence and has adopted an
Universitas in English // 7

Lack of Lawyers Predicted aggressive marketing policy in places where there

In submitting to the demands of Norwegian already are student book shops. Smaller shops
Agency for Quality Assurance in Education connected with local universities resist against the
(NOKUT), the Law Facuty at UiO issued a expansion of the Oslo bookworm.
proposal (due 25.11) to stop accepting external Silent Theatre
candidates to the exam. The faculty also Art Academy of Oslo (KHiO) launched a program for
decreased the quantity of students recently. deaf actors, and the new theatre group, Teater Manu,
This is aimed at ensuring quality of education is producing a silent version of “Birdbath” by Leonard
and improving the teacher per student ratio Melfi.
(currently 1:18). Lawyer companies express Text: Marija Cabuskina
concern about the possible lack of future Photos: Miranti Wirastuti, www.uio.no
 The Global Reach committee does not have a history of shying
away from controversial figures: the polarizing
Vietnam-era U.S. Secretary of State Henry
of Nobel’s Peace Kissinger shared the prize with high-ranking
North Vietnam leader Le Duc Tho in 1973, and
Text: Mitch Molstad the prize was awarded jointly to Yasser Arafat,
Pictures: Summer Choi, Miguel Arcángel Fraticelli Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin in 1994.

N
orway, for better or for worse, is a rare topic in
international headlines. Perhaps, really, it is
an enviable position: to live at the top of the
world, relatively unburdened by the constant push-
and-pull of global press and politics, with resources
and beauty abounding.
There has been an important exception to that trend,
however, that has arisen in previous years, and again
in the last month: the awarding of the Nobel Peace
Prize, handled annually by the Norwegian Nobel
Committee.
For over a century, the most important benchmarks in
the fields of chemistry, medicine, physics, literature,
and peace have been acknowledged and rewarded by
the Nobel Prizes. The awards are the legacy of Swedish
inventor and chemist Alfred Nobel, and the story
behind their inception is well-known: in an attempt
to counteract the consequences of dynamite, which
he had invented and profited from, Nobel dedicated
much of his wealth upon death to support the above
causes in the form of the Prizes.
Over the years, the Nobel Peace Prize has evolved
into the most public face of the lot, which, according
to Nobel’s will, goes to whoever “shall have done the
most or the best work for fraternity between nations,
for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and
for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
Though Nobel was a Swede, and the Prizes are a
Swedish institution, the Peace Prize has, from its
genesis, been at home in Norway. Though there is
no consensus on why Nobel designated Norway
as the executor of the Peace Prize, the Norwegian
Nobel Committee seems to have settled on several
possibilities. Perhaps, as an ode to the Sweden/
Norway political union, Nobel thought it appropriate
to allow Sweden’s “little brother” a say in the affairs.
8 \\ Peace and Love
Controversy over the Nobel Peace Prize has
been especially high in the last two years,
however, as the 2009 and 2010 choices have
received considerable play in the international
media. Many were shocked to see last year’s
award go to U.S. President Barack Obama, who
had been in office less than a year. The decision
was particularly divisive in America, as many
Is it appropriate to repurpose
the Nobel Peace Prize as an
international foreign policy tool?
from both the liberal and conservative sides
of the aisle decried the choice as premature
and unwarranted. Though he received plenty
of support among Americans and from the
global community, Obama expressed a fair bit
of disbelief upon hearing the announcement,
mentioning at one point that he himself
thought he was undeserving.
With the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, however,
the Norwegian Nobel Committee may have
stepped onto an entirely new playing field. The
prize, which was announced on October 8, was
awarded to Liu Xiaobo “for his long and non-
violent struggle for fundamental human rights
in China.” Liu, who has been serving an 11-
year prison sentence since being convicted on
subversion charges
in December 2009,
had been a leader
in the push for
democratic reforms
to the Communist
China political
system.

Also, Nobel may have entrusted the Peace Prize Though Liu may
to Norway due to the nature of its foreign policy, not be a figure with
as it lacked the “militaristic tradition” of Sweden.
as much global
Norwegians, speaking generally, likely prefer the recognition as
latter explanation. Barack Obama,
his selection could
The Peace Prize decision has for a long while been
well prove to be
a potential focus of contention, and the selection
more controversial,
and will most certainly carve deeper
consequences, than the 2009 choice.
As could be expected, and as state
officials had warned of upon the
announcement of Liu as a forerunner,
the Chinese state reacted to the
decision with resounding disapproval.
Party leaders threatened diplomatic
repercussions for Norway, and state-
owned press agencies within the
country have since demanded an
apology from Oslo—China’s Global
Times cited a self-conducted survey
indicating that six out of 10 Chinese
want the award stripped and an
apology issued. And, distressingly,
human rights groups reported that
Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, was placed under
house arrest in Beijing shortly after the
announcement.
Officials within the party argue that the choice
was an attempt at subverting Chinese judicial
processes.
Of course, fundamentally, it’s hard to argue
that China is off-base in claiming such; the
Norwegian Nobel Committee obviously
intended to make a pointed political statement
about the repression of dissent and freedoms
within China’s authoritarian system. In a
letter published in the New York Times last
month responding to criticisms, Norwegian
Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland
argued that, in choosing Liu, the group was
defending a universal standard of human
rights; he wrote, “If we keep
quiet about China, who will
be the next country to claim
its right to silence and non-
interference?”
It seems clear that the
Committee has no intention to apologize or withdraw
the award. The important question, instead, is this: is
it appropriate to repurpose the Nobel Peace Prize as
an international foreign policy tool? Or, put another
way, is Norway in the right when it uses the award to
make judgments on events outside its borders?
That question likely needs to be approached on
a case-to-case basis. But, concerning the 2010
Prize, Chairman Jagland makes an important, and
convincing, argument. On the topic of human rights,
the international community has to agree to some
level of accountability beyond traditional boundaries
of sovereignty.
China has made that commitment, as has Norway,
and as have dozens upon dozens of other countries.
Using the Nobel Peace Prize as an attempt to enforce
that standard betrays an activist
streak within the Committee, yes,
and it may have been a highly
controversial decision, but it was
also highly courageous.
And more importantly, it shined a
spotlight on a man who has long
advocated for broader freedoms in
a country where such activism is
sorely needed.
Peace and Love // 9
The Nobel Peace Prize award
ceremony will take place here in
Oslo on December 10, 2010, at
Oslo City Hall. According to media
reports, Liu Xiaobo’s brothers have
indicated they are willing to accept
the award on his behalf if Liu’s wife
is unable to leave the country.
 ISU
News
Pajama party
Hey you exam-takers! Finals
got you down? Unable to tell
day from night from day? The
ISU is here to help. On Decem-
ber 4th, we’re going to throw
you a little bash. No time to
dress up amidst all that study-
ing? We agree, fashion is over-
rated. That’s why you should
just come in your pajamas.
That’s right, our Pajama party
will help you take the stress
out of these weeks of exams.
So December 4th, let’s make
a date. It’s 40krCC, but people
in pajams get in half price. Stay
tuned for more details by our
Facebook group (all the hip-
pest cats are members) and by
posters around campus.
Debates in English
Did you know that Kulturutv-
alget (The Culture and Debate
Society) is opening a new Inter-
national group next semester?
They will be planning lectures,
debates, and activities entirely
in English. Come and join us
for special lectures across a
wide range of topics. Keep an
eye on the Kulturutvalget web-
10 \\ News from the Front
site and at the posters around
campus to be updated about
the upcoming events
Questions? Comments?
Contact isu.oslo@gmail.com
Text: Schuyler Lystad
Margrethe Gustavsen, the moment SiO earns an extra
a representative of 600 NOK per room as a result of
“The Leftist Alliance” the housing solution. This sum,
(Venstreallianse) in the meant to cover all the “extra
Student Parliament of UiO, costs” due to additional renters,
has this to say about the is too big considering the fact
housing issue at Kringsjå: that purchasing furniture will
pay off in the future (if it hasn’t
Unbearable conditions in SiO already). Making a profit based
on a desperate situation is not
In the last week’s issue of something we can accept from
Universitas it was proclaimed the students’ own foundation.
that the housing solution with
two students occupying one The biggest problem is
room, executed by Foundation that the housing solution,
of Student Life in Oslo (SiO), concerning only international
is to be maintained in the students, is profoundly unjust.
foreseeable future. Insofar as it It discriminates against
has been administered to this internationals students and
point, we see it as a completely contributes to the segregation of
unacceptable situation. Norwegian and internationals,
diminishing the possibilities of
The pressing problems that cultural exchange between the
emerged already in the starting two parties.
phase still remain to be solved in
a satisfactory manner by SiO. Six We cannot have a system that
hundred NOK is not a sufficient discriminates against those
compensation for having to put students who do not stand a
up with an apartment without chance in the Oslo’s real estate
Internet and that is supplied market. If we wish to have a
with dollhouse furniture and housing solution with two people
unfurnished common study in one room, then it has to be an
rooms. The information available established policy for all students
for students was incomplete as and not part of a marginalizing
well, but hopefully this problem and ghetto-building strategy
is only characteristic for the which has already gone too far
beginning phase. with SiO.
Universitas’ 27 (13 October)
When it comes to other aspects
worth criticizing, it looks as Fredrik Ø. Refsnes, student
and chairman of the board in
if SiO has no intention to do
anything about those. SiO gives SiO, disagrees and says that the
a 100% housing guarantee for housing solution is not deliberate
international students. In the discrimination, but a reply to
the pressing demands for more
last meeting of Student Welfare housing units. He corrects her
Council we decided to maintain on the fact that the “foreseeable
this guarantee in its present future” of the housing solution
wording. We do not wish to will only be clear after a thorough
be known for making second- examination of the outcomes
rate citizens of international involving feedback from tenants.
students. He points out that SiO has
already started working with
For one thing, it looks like every critique and hopes that with
single international student minor adjustments the project
has to compensate for the sum can continue to exist.
of money SiO loses on renting
rooms to international students Universitas’s 28 (20 October)
in fall and consequently having
unoccupied rooms during spring.
This is a structural problem that
needs a structural solution. At Translated by Marija Cabuskina
Famous Norwegians
Have you ever been standing in the check-out line at
Kiwi or Rema, idly scanning the newspaper headlines
or glossy pictures in the tabloids and wondered who
all those people are? If so, you’re not alone! Join the
Moose as we continue to examine some of those names
and faces appearing in Norwegian media, and learn
more about just what it takes to make the headlines
in Norway.
Fame, Beauty, and World Peace: How
Miss Norway Failed To Become Miss
World
It’s not always easy to remember, but when it comes
to population, Norway is a small country. With around
4.7 million inhabitants – less than 0.1% of the world’s
population - the odds of any Norwegian snatching a
few minutes of fame on the world stage are statistically
quite low. So when bookmakers worldwide tipped
Frøken Norge [Miss Norway] Mariann Birkedal to win
the Miss World pageant, Norwegian media seized
the story and ran with it. Thus, it came as a surprise
to certain individuals in media and pageant circles
when Birkedal failed to crack the top 5 at the final
held on October 30th in China, instead finishing in a
respectable (but disappointing) 6th place.
out about an individual posing as a fashion photographer
who offered her 7,000 kroner to be allowed to touch himself
while in her presence, other media personalities have been
less reticent. In particular, Kathrine Sørland, another
Norwegian beauty queen and TV personality, has laid the
blame for Birkedal’s loss at the feet of the Norwegian Nobel
Committee. In Sørland’s opinion, Birkedal’s pageant crown
was a casualty of the tense relations between Norway and
China in the aftermath of Chinese dissenter Liu Xiaobo
being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize last
month. Norwegian media reports that similar allegations
have also been raised by other, equally reliable sources such
as fellow competitor Miss Sweden and the British tabloid
The Daily Mail. Moose readers who care about the Miss World
pageant, or who wish to learn more about Norwegian beauty
queens past and present, are always welcome to use their
Google skills to learn more.
Source: www.dagbladet.no

While Frøken Birkedal hasn’t had much to say about Text: Anita Iyer
the outcome of the competition, instead speaking Illustration: Irina Osepashvili

Next edition of The Monthly

Moose is the Creative issue

Take a leap!
Famous Norwegians // 11

Submit your contribution to

The Moose! De
Send texts* and/or pictures** to monthly.moose@gmail.com . We will
publish the three best in the following categories: poetry, prose, pictures
and give out moose-ly prizes for a winner in each!
The deadline is: December 1st.
* Short stories, essays, blog entries, poems, haikus etc. max length 1000 words. If you are not a native speaker of
English, have no fear: your texts will be proofread. Photo:John Modin
** Photos, drawings, photo manipulations, comic strips etc.. Spiderman: Markus Dregi
12 \\ Photo of the month

Photography by:
Miranti Wirastuti
 Photo of the month // 13

Georg Sverdrups Hus

The library of
Universitetet i Oslo
 CLIMBING
PREKESTOLEN white blanket covering all but this majestic
rock.

Stick with me mate and I’ll tell you a story
about climbing Preikestolen [Pulpit Rock]
in the relentless Norwegian rain.
We left Oslo on Friday night on a 199 kroner
minipris ticket with Norway’s national rail network,
NSB. The train to Stavanger took 7 hours and
sleeping was difficult. Eight international students
took the trip; two Mexicans, two Canadians,
an American, a Pole, an Aussie, a Kiwi and a
German. We each knew someone, but no one
knew everyone.
As we trudged through rainy Stavanger in the
early morning light we passed a large lake before
arriving at the seaside. The wharf was dotted with
colourful wooden buildings, old wharf sheds that
had been converted into bars and restaurants. But
at 7am on a Saturday the town was quiet.
I settled somewhere in between and after 15
minutes I was ready to turn back and head for
shelter and a long, hot shower. The weather
had other ideas. In a fleeting moment, without
any warning, the rain stopped and the clouds
began to part. It was as though the treacherous
walk to the top had been nothing but a jostle
for the best seats and now the show was about
to begin.
The clouds parted as though they were
curtains opened by a rope pulled from side
stage. What was revealed was a spectacular,
spectacular Norwegian fjord. The cliff
we were on plunged over 500 metres to
Lysefjord below and the blue water stood out
majestically against the grey sky. Turning to
look behind us we saw the fjord carving its
path through the cliffs like a thick snake in the
rocky landscape.

The round trip from Stavanger to Preikestolen cost
200 kroner and took around 60 minutes each way,
first by ferry and then by bus. My one attempt to
enjoy the fresh sea air on the ferry’s deck was cut
short after my arm lost its battle with the angry
winds in its fight to take one still photo.
And due to the, let’s say, “inclement weather”
only us and three hardy German campers
were there to witness the truly incredible
show.

The walking track started at the Preikestolen

Vandrehjem, a beautifully located modern hostel
and restaurant that was booked out for our late
September weekend.

The hike to the top was not easy and the two

hour estimated duration was slightly ambitious.
After stopping for photos and scaling rocky
walking-trails-turned-waterfalls we eventually
arrived at the top in around 3 and a half hours. It
14 \\ Moose Travelogue

felt like I had stumbled accidentally into heaven.

Not that it was all sunshine and rainbows and

choirs of angels, in fact, quite the opposite. The
rain was relentless and the wind was howling. The
clouds were so low (or more pointedly we were
so high) that it was impossible to see anything Text and photo: Nicole Mills
beyond the sharp outline of Pulpit Rock itself
plunging dramatically down at a right angle and
disappearing into the clouds below. I didn’t know
whether to be disappointed or awestruck at the
 Sixteen Months in Norway:
Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love

The OnePiece
Norwegian fashion is a strange animal. hyggepiece [an outfit to be worn while enjoying
oneself] or simply by the brand name OnePiece,
When I first arrived here over a year ago, my
was officially one of the biggest Norwegian
reaction was one of bewilderment. Gone were the
fashion trends for winter/spring 2010. However,
classic suits, bootcut jeans, sandals, airy summer
I remained skeptical. Flipping through a fashion
dresses, and fiercely individual style which were
magazine while on a cabin trip with my Norwegian
fashion staples back home in the States.
classmates, I sought validation for my viewpoint.
Instead, I was met by a wave of endless conformity “It’s awful!” I complained, pointing to a picture of
in the form of bottle blondes in Gore-Tex, tight a smiling blond family, dressed from head to toe
jeans, leggings, pastels, and more Converse high in shades of stripped fleece.
tops than I had seen in the past decade. As the
“No, they look so cozy!” one of my classmates
months passed, I found my wardrobe gradually
exclaimed, peering at the text. “I really want
expanding to include oversized
one!”
sweaters, leggings, and other «It was large, it was
staples of Norwegian fashion, tacky, and it was easily Unable to snark in the face of such
helped along by the demands of enthusiasm, I remained silent.
the worst thing I had
Norwegian weather. Despite the However, the trend continued to
wormhole which seemed to be ever seen anyone wear wind through my thoughts. Who
funneling the 1980s directly into in public, anywhere.» came up with the idea? Why did these
Oslo clothing stores, Norwegian otherwise pragmatic people think
fashion was pragmatic. Tight this was acceptable? The origins of
jeans and leggings worked with boots, oversize the outfit remained shrouded in mystery. The
sweaters added much needed warmth, and Gore- outfits were marketed under multiple yet similar
Tex was the best defense against wind and rain. brand names, making it impossible to tell where
it all began.
However, nothing I had seen in Norway – not
the men wearing windbreakers over suits on The most I could learn is that the
their way to weddings, not the women pairing OnePiece had been born
hiking boots with cocktail dresses, not the pink in 2006-2007, and
faux fur jackets or H&M mass-produced 80s hair that one particular
band shirts - prepared me for the day in mid- brand – OnePiece
December 2009 when I first spotted a man in his Jump in – had
early 20s, waiting for the t-bane in a head-to-toe somehow made
fleece jumpsuit. It was large, it was tacky, and it it to Karl
was easily the worst thing I had ever seen anyone Johan and
wear in public, anywhere. Bogstadveien,
the high
“What is that?” we asked each other. No one
streets of
knew. It was not sold in H&M, Fretex, or the
Nor we g i an
secondhand markets, the only places cash-
One Piece // 15

fashion.
stripped students seemed to shop. However, in
The trend
the following weeks, as jumpsuit-clad teens and
became a minor
twentysomethings seemingly began appearing
obsession among
from the woodwork, our collective understanding
a close circle
increased. The outfit, interchangeably referred to
of friends, as we
as a kosedress [cozy suit] daffedress [lounge suit]
 would exchange text messages updating each other
on kosedress sightings, occasionally including
pictures of the worst offenders. As outsiders
in Norway, we sensed that understanding the
OnePiece was key to unlocking the secrets of the
collective Norwegian psyche.
As warmer temperatures and May approached,
the OnePieces began to disappear. While a
lightweight summer version existed, it had not
hit the streets of Oslo with the same degree of
frequency as its’ warmer, fleecier counterpart.
However, this did not stop our fascination. As
the semester came to a close, I found myself in a
small shop on Karl Johan, facing rack after rack of
OnePieces of different fabrics, patterns, and sizes.
Laughing at the absurdity of it all, I selected one
(which inexplicably sported the American flag)
and slipped it on.. As I drew the hood over my hair,
my laughter stopped. The OnePiece was all I had
dreamed of on cold Norwegian nights – a hooded
blanket with arms and legs, a layer of warmth
combined with ultimate freedom of movement.
I slipped out of the OnePiece again, explaining
to the shopkeeper that my patriotism and wallet
were not ready to commit. I went back into the
May sunlight, with new understanding, if not
The author (right) and a mysterious OnePiece
acceptance.
enthusiast in patriotic OnePiece.
Months passed. I went home for a month, and indicated. “You say it’s only for a cabin or the
found myself marveling at the myriad style choices corridor now,” I was warned, “but what happens
of people back home. I returned to Norway, and when you realize Rema closes in 10 minutes and
as the autumn passed, the strange fashion trends you are out of milk? Or the morning when you are
barely registered. I found myself standing outside late for class?”
the window of the OnePiece shop on Bogstadveien
from time to time, but never entered. Even as the My friends, while well-meaning, were not telling
kosedress began appearing everywhere from H&M me anything I did not already know. And so, a
to Bik Bok, I wasn’t tempted. month later, my closet remains kosedress-free.
For in the battle between my desire to be safely
However, one day, everything changed. The scene ensconced against the cold in layers of fleece
was one straight out of the collective Norwegian against the fear of my inherent laziness, fear
dreamland of all things koselig [cozy] - a quaint remains triumphant. I know myself too well. As
hytte [cabin], candlelight, friends old and new we slide into mørketida [the dark time], as the
draped over couches, the sounds of a beat-up guitar temperature drops and the whirlwind of exams
being tuned – all illuminated by the flickering begins, I can feel my judgment shifting. Adding a
firelight from the open fireplace. But something OnePiece to my wardrobe now is too great a risk.
was wrong. Something was missing. But what? I am still not Norwegian enough to accept the
The realization was a revelation, voicing it aloud OnePiece as an acceptable clothing choice for my
my ultimate acceptance
16 \\ One Piece

day-to-day life on the streets of Oslo.

“I really wish I had a OnePiece.” Yet.
The reaction was predictable, and ranged from
outright support of my new-found appreciation Text: Anita Iyer
for this garment, to dire warnings about the Pictures: Marija Cabuskina
slippery slope my sudden embrace of the OnePiece Indre Maknickaite
“A Green French
Frog with Legs”
An interview with the illustrious,
mysterious Jean Claude Simon,
a bartender extraordinaire at
Frokostkjelleren - the law pub.
Text: Tapsie Sane-Haha
Photos: www.stephhaas.com
TSH: So, what is the history behind
Frokostkjellern?
JCS: Dammit! I don’t know, it used to be a
gym.
TSH: Were there, like, basketball hoops and
stuff like that?
JCS: Uh huh. You didn’t know? And you see
the bars there... There are pull-up bars on the
back wall.
TSH: What’s the craziest thing you’ve heard
about a customer doing here? ...or what’s the
craziest thing that’s happened while you were
working?
JCS: Oh, while I was working? People coming
and dancing on the bar. That’s sweet.
TSH: Yeah, but that’s not while we’re open....
JCS: No, yeah, around the end. Or other people
sleeping here because they like it so much. And
somebody pooped in the flowers but nobody knows
who it was.
TSH: What’s the best night to come, in your opinion?
Of all the nights that we’re open?
JCS: Thursdays. Yeah, because there’s nobody on
Thursday - so people should come and then it’s nice
for me because I have to work and if there are no
people and no work I fall asleep. But Friday is better,
but you have to come late, like around midnight.
23:30, midnight. Then it’s okay. And I don’t think
you always pay on Friday [sometimes there is a cover
charge to get in]. Also one Friday in the month is
Fredagspils.
TSH: Tell about the time the guy puked on the dance
floor.
JCS: Why?! Because I cleaned it with my bare
hands?? And then, the paper I used was stuck in the
toilet and I had to reach in the toilet with my bare
hands to pull it out? That’s what you want to know?
TSH: That just shows how dedicated you are to your
job.
JCS: Yeah! I couldn’t find the fucking gloves!
TSH: What about these mysterious staff parties we
keep hearing about?
JCS: What?? There are no staff parties... [laughs
nervously]
TSH: If Frokostkjelleren were an animal, what kind
of animal would it be?
JCS: A frog. A French frog.
TSH: With or without legs?
JCS: With legs.
TSH: So why is it like a green French frog with legs?
Law Pub Frokostkjelleren // 17
JCS: Because it’s got its ups and downs...
TSH: Oh, sometimes it’s hoppin’ and sometimes it
ain’t? ...okay. What is Frokostkjelleren’s favorite kind
of movie?
JCS: I have no idea. I don’t know, do you know?
...Porn?!
TSH: Is Frokostkjelleren good in bed?
JCS: We’re talking about a fucking bar!
TSH: Precisely.
JCS: Yeah, it is. I think. Of course!
TSH: Who are Frokostkjelleren’s favorite customers?
 JCS: Ones who drink a lot. No. The staff people. No.
I don’t know. Favorite customers... The International
Students! No, that’s not true.... But probably the
blonde girls.
TSH: People who tip a lot? What should people wear
when they come to Frokostkjelleren?
JCS: Nothing.
It depends who you want to meet. If you just go with
your friends, go as yourself.
TSH: But we were talking about the bar.
JCS: I got a bit sidetracked.... It’s nice. It’s
really cozy. But you have to come early if
you want a chance to taste the coziness of
the place. Because if you come at midnight
it will be crowded and it’s good if you want
to dance, but it’s nice to just come and hang
out and have a beer. Come and leave at
2300. Because it’s cheap.

TSH: Who else would you go with?
JCS: Who else than yourself? Your friends.
TSH: Well, I only ask because it seems like people
tend to dress up here more than at other student
pubs.
JCS: Yeah, that’s because they’re law students and
they like to wear costumes. But, come in jeans and
a t-shirt and we’ll accept you with a smile. We won’t
serve you, but we’ll accept you.
TSH: What is the best kind of drink we serve here?
JCS: Uh... the best kind of drink I make is a beer.
But I think Cosmopolitan!
TSH: It is cheap. 39 kroner for a beer. And
65 for a drink. It’s the only student pub that
serves cocktails, I think.
JCS: And there’s also champagne. We like
to serve cava. 290kr, yeah, it’s expensive.
But the wine is cheap! The wine is 44kr for a
glass.
TSH: Any last words?
THE END
Frokostkjelleren is located at
Karl Johans gate 47, directly
behind Universitetsplassen.

TSH: mmm... When Per Anders makes it...

What are our opening hours?
JCS: From 19 or 20 to 2. And then if you’re
friends with the bartender you can stay
sometimes a bit longer, especially if you’re a girl
and you’re my friend.

TSH: Tuesday-Friday, right? And Saturday is

usually a closed party.
...and, do we rent it out?
JCS: I don’t know. Yeah, for lunch and breakfast
and stuff...

TSH: On Saturdays, too.

... Say something funny!
JCS: bubblubbub

TSH: Describe what it looks like in here, in case

18 \\ Law Pub Frokostkjelleren

people are here and they don’t realize they’re

here.
JCS: [In a deep, creepy voice] You enter a nice
place with intimate lights, nice music comes
to your ear. The bartender comes to you with a
smile, offers you a beer. You buy it. You take it
with pleasure because it’s cheap and then you
go and sit down. You look around you and a lot
of beautiful women walk and come and sit next
to you and embrace you with their beauty. Then
you bring one on the dance floor. You go and you
dance. You dance. You dance. And then you get
beer. And then you dance. And then suddenly
you’re home, alone.
That’s the story of my life.
 Norway top 10
Moose facts
Everything you ever wanted to know about the moose and more!

1
NORWAY’S BIGGEST MAMMAL
Hold on, didn’t I say Norway’s biggest
inland mainland mammal. In the ocean,
the moose is conquered by whale and on the
Svalbard islands it loses to the polar bear. An
average moose is 1.8-2.1  m (6-7  ft) tall and
weighs about 380-720 kg (850-1580 pounds).
foreground appeared in the late sixties and were
copied ever since to ornate every cabin, villa and
flat. You buy IKEA prints if you’re cheap, you
get Munch reproductions if you’re tacky and
you proudly install moose in the sunset if you’re
trashy. However, in recent years the motif has
suddenly gained popularity, though it is difficult
to say if it is due to nostalgia or self-irony.

2
MOOSE FARM

In Älgens Hus in Sweden moose are
cultivated as farm animals. In summer
visitors indulge in moose-back riding and in
winter moose-sleighs are at their service. The
farm also produces moose meat and dairy
products (milk and cheese), reportedly one of the
most expensive in the world.
5
MOOSE ANTLERS
Moose are recognized by its antlers – bony
appendages protracting from their sculls,
which are shed yearly. Horns of other animals
on the contrary are made of keratin and are
permanent. Antlers play an important part in
hearing and mating. Given that moose are almost
blind, the palm shaped antlers help in catching

3
MOOSE KILL
Generally a moose would not bother to
kill a human since it is not territorial.
Exceptions are: mother-moose with children
and moose on the roads. According to statistics
from The Norwegian Council of Road Safety
(Trygg Trafikk), every year from 1500 to 2000
slightest air vibrations. When it comes to mating
antlers, make males stand out and disfigured
antlers mark the castrated ones. Want to get
some second-hand antlers? Look in the nearby
forest from mid December through January, the
shedding time.

moose end up in a road kill, often taking human
lives as well. Sweden is known for producing
Älgtest (Moose tested) cars, with enhanced
manoeuvrability allowing the driver to avoid
collision with the moose and the car going in the
opposite direction. Common ways of decreasing
collisions include putting up signs (often stolen
by tourists) and fences. Surprisingly enough, one
of the reasons moose
like hanging out on
the road is the layer
of salt for melting the
snow.
6
MOOSE SAYINGS
Norwegians call moose “skogens konge”
(king of the forest). Other moose-
expressions you might want to use is “å rope på
elgen” (literally:”to cry for the moose”) which
means to puke, and “å elge seg inn på noen”
(literally: “to moose oneself in on someone”)
which means to
the article continues on next page

4
MOOSE AND
Norway Top Ten // 19

SUNSETS
“Moose in the
Sunset” or “Elg i
solnedgang” is the
synonym for kitsch
in Norwegian. The
paintings of romantic
landscapes with
a silhouette of a
lonely moose on the One of the surviving tableaus depicting the sublime motive of moose in the sunset.
 court or to wheedle someone. Example: Jens elget have front teeth in the upper jaw, but have one
seg inn på dama til Ole, mens Ole ropte på elgen. flat grating tooth instead.
(Jens was trying to woo Ole’s girlfriend while Ole

10
was busy feeding the fishes.) MOOSE VISITS
Moose, being as loveable (Norwegian:

7
MOOSE VS ELK elGskelige) as they are, occasionally
The name of the animal is one of the make friendly calls on humans. Unfortunately for
contentions between the British and the the latter, due to the considerate size moose are
Americans. The British call it elk, along with many prone to cause trouble. In January this year one
other nations. The Americans adopted a of the larger females crashed into a nursing
Native American word which means home in Ål, wanting to join a resident for
“he strips off” referring to the way breakfast. It was locked in one of the
moose eat up the greeneries. The rooms where it went berserk from
confusing bit is the fact that the lack of human contact and was
Americans also use the word subsequently shot. Another moose
“elk” to designate a slightly encounter happened this summer
smaller species in the deer in Kongsvinger, when a young calf
family with a different antler went for some groceries in KIWI on
configuration. the way back to the great outdoors.
It was probably attracted by the

8
MOOSE HUNT florist’s display of mouth-watering
Every autumn from late plants, but then turned to smashing
September through October aisles, thus protesting against
hundreds of Norwegians pamper On some of the old consumerism.
their ancient instincts by going to Norwegian øre coins you can see the
picture of the king of the forest in Text: Marija Cabuskina
a moose hunt. A lot of bureaucracy front. King Olav V has to contend Pictures: Marija Cabuskina
is involved before you can set out with his place on the reverse side. Kulturstyret SiO
in the woods with a fowling piece
clinging to your shoulder.
This, however, does not stop
Norwegian hunters from
shooting 40,000 moose
every year. The devotees of
moose hunting hunt alone,
scanning the forests for
hoof-prints in a detective
fashion. However, it is
advisable to take a
comrade with you
– be it an elkhound
or a group of people
trying to shoo the
moose towards you
(a practice known
as drivjakt). For less
problematic moose
hunt, visit your
nearest supermarkets.
20 \\ Norway Top Ten

IKEA has yearly

discounts on moose
lasagne in autumn.

9
MOOSE DIET
Want to be as
slender as the moose? Sleep 5 hours
a day, take regular strolls and eat twigs, roots,
branches and shoots. In fact, because a moosly
diet contains so many chewy items, moose do not
Moose
motif has become so popular
that it has turned into a collectible. Here the collection
of 700 moose by P.K. Fageren, also the leader of the
band “Gevirkameratene” (Antler Comrades) whose
songs exclusively concern the king of the forest.
ELGINT0110: The Moose Norwegian Course
Learn Norwegian on your own, with a little help from the Moose.

Julie Rousseau

Lesson 3 : Bli fargerik

Autumn is here for good. With the change to winter time, came darker, shorter days. In northern Norway
it is already the mørketid [dark time]. A little depressing isn’t it? Do not become fargeløs [colorless], and
color up!
Nature is a good place to begin your quest for de norske farger [the Norwegian colors]. Leaves went
from grønne til oransje og gule, til brune [green to orange and yellow, to brown]. Cabins and countryside
farmhouses are typically rød [red]. When rain is coming, the sky goes from blå til grå [blue to grey]. Cold
and cloudy days are gråkalde. To keep your morale up, do not forget that in a few weeks all the skitten
brun [dirty brown] will become ren hvit [pure white].
In these times of darkness, you will not be too surprised to learn that norsk has two words for the color
black: svart og sort. Norwegians usually spice up their meals with sort pepper [black pepper], but drink
svart kaffe [black coffee]. It is not a reason for å se svart på tilværelsen [to see life in black].
Your local supermarket cheese counter is also a quite fargerik [colorful] area. You will easily distinguish
brunost [brown cheese] from the others. Things will get a little trickier when comparing hvitost [white
cheese] and gulost [yellow cheese]. Even if they are presented as distinct types of cheese, both are kind
of white-yellowish. Unfortunately, a taste test will not help you distinguish which is which.

Some Moose suggestions of fargerike activities for en grå dag :

Å fargelegge [to color]
Find et svart og hvitt bilde [a black and white image], get your fargeblyanter [color pencils] out, and lay
down some colors on paper.

Å farge håret ditt [to color your hair]

Put some colors in your everyday life by —temporarily— becoming a rødhåret or bleke håret blondt,
scandinavian style.

Å kle seg med fargeglade klær [to dress oneself with brightly colored clothes]
Try to combine as many colors as possible in one outfit. Who said you cannot go out wearing grønn
bukse, lilla genser, oransje lue, turkis skjerf, og gule gummistøvler?
Color up your life // 21

Text by
Nadya
 Tilstandsrapport
by Ole Hansson
Stadig flere kvadratmeter av kloden
dekkes
av asfalt, murbygninger og trampende mennesker
som med svarte glorier rundt hodene sine
og vinger av metall
forkynner budskapet om mer, fler og enda
mer
av det
som kan kjøpes for penger.
....
Mens kloden stille sukker
for seg selv
gusten i huden
nostalgisk
by Miguel Arcángel
Fraticelli.
What’s On at UiO
Lunsj med Kultur
Free music concerts in Georg
Sverdrups library every Friday at
12:15. Coffee and waffles served
at reasonable prices
Friday, November 19
Pearls from Azerbaijan
Music and dance from the heart
of Azerbaijani folklore. Mugams
is the oldest and most unique
kind of music in Azerbaijan. It
encompasses several parts united
over one idea.
Friday, November 2
Shimmering
This is the project started
by drummer, bass, keyboard
and guitar player Bendik H.
Kjeldsberg. His mellow melodies
encompass elements from rock,
jazz and electronic music. He has
played at festivals as By:Larm and
warmed up the stage for Shining.
22 \\ Creative Page
Friday, December 3
Cello sonata by Marcus Paus
Marcus Paus is a classical music
composer, also the son of one of
Norway’s most beloved singers/
songwriters. His new sonata for
cello and piano is a must for those
interested in new streams within
classical music. Performed by: J,
Ex-parrot
by James Spinks
I remember that hot afternoon when it happened. I was
thirteen, staying the weekend at my friend’s farm. Out in the
paddock, under an old gum tree, my friend’s father handed me
the .22 and showed me how to load it, how to hold it - firm
against my right shoulder. “Feet further apart,” he said, “That’s
it.” The parrot was perched on a branch, about a meter out
from the trunk, and I remember how perfectly I could see
it through the scope. I remember holding my breath,
trying to make the cross-hair settle on its quivering,
multicoloured chest. Every now and then, a bit of
branch-end would swing across in front of the bird and I
would see it as a blurry, brown and green wisp inside the
circle of the scope. My friend’s father was telling me how
to use the trigger: “Don’t pull it,” he kept saying, “Squeeeeeeze
it.” My friend was standing behind me: “C’mon, shoot,
quick. Before it gets away.” I squeezed the trigger and the
gun jolted against my shoulder and the bird dropped to the
dirt like a rock. I can’t remember the sound of the shot:
whether it had made my ears ring or whether it had echoed
off the nearby Stirling Range. I can’t even remember if I
had gone over to look at the dead bird afterwards. The only
thing remaining in my memory of that hot afternoon is my
friend looking at me hungrily, motioning for the gun
with both hands, and his father saying: “Well done,
James. You’re a natural.”
Martens and J. Kwetzinsky.
Friday, December 10
Unikor: Christmas choir
concert
Christmas is almost here, so the
amateur choir Unikor, consisting
of employees and researchers at
the University of Oslo, welcomes
you to a concert dedicated to
the winter holidays. Visitors are
most welcome to contribute to
the singing, as song lyrics will be
given out prior to the concert.
Don’t miss out; maybe you will
see your own lecturer among the
singers!
Director: Lene Becker-Andersen
The next season starts on
February, 4.
Galleri Sverdrup in the main
library
Adresse Kristiania(Dec.3–
Feb.25)
In anticipation of the 200th
anniversary of the University of
Oslo next year, the students are
welcome to see how anniversary
proceedings were in 1911.
The new exhibition, Adresse
Kristiania, focuses on elaborately
decorated letters of greetings the
university received from all over
the world and photographs from
the celebration.
by Irina Osepashvili
Moose Comic Strip
by Irina Osepashvili

Moose Comic Strip // 23

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