Dons Viking Voyage: Day 6

Day 6 Photo Gallery

As part of the coverage of the USF Women's Basketball "Viking Voyage" to Scandinavia, junior Nnenna Okereke provides www.USFDons.com with a blog entry from the sixth day of the 11-day trip.For more indepth coverage, including addtional blogs,please visit the Dons Viking Voyage Tour Central.

May 30, 2009

Hey, hey, hey!!!! God kveld (good evening).

Today, May 29, 2009, we got the pleasure of touring Oslo, Norway with Kristine Lindberg. As the bus drove around we learned about the various buildings and construction work being done to make traffic flow more sufficient in Norway. The first place we stopped was called Ekeberg. The literal translation of this is: Eke meaning oak and berg meaning mountain. Our tour guide called this "the hill of oaks". The name of this hill came from the old landscape of Norway when it was filled with oak trees, but when it was too cold the oak trees died. We stopped and took pictures of the city of Oslo and the boats and cruise ships off the dock. It was a beautiful sight to see.

As the tour continued we saw various homes and historical museums. Kristine told us that there are 43 museums in Oslo. Our tour guide talked to us about the history of Norway and the cost of living. One of the things I found interesting was that a 3 bedroom apartment is approximately 3 million dollars. Also 95% of the people in Norway own their homes and only 5% rent!!! Amazing right? That is something I found very different than America. Kristine Lindberg (tour guide) showed us a ship where children that could not go to regular schools due to social, behavioral, or disability issues could attend school. The students go on a ship for a year to learn academic skills as well as how to interact in a regular school so they can eventually attend and be well adjusted.

We also passed by Akerhus Fortress, the American embassy, the royal family homes and other interesting buildings. In front of Akerhus Fortress there were rusted chairs. We were told that these chairs represent the Jews that were taken from Norway by Hitler and the Nazis and brought over to Germany and put in gas chambers to die. Norway is a very rich country and Hitler wanted its richness. Norway has water power, silver and gold. Furthermore, the Resistance museum was named after the Norwegian resistance against the Nazis. This museum tells the story of the resistance.

Another thing I found interesting is that Norway has been under the rule of a woman. A Danish princess Margret married a Norwegian King. However, when he died in the war between Sweden and Norway she took over as the ruler because her son was too young. She ended up ruling both Denmark and Norway and eventually Sweden. She was a very powerful woman and she ruled for 42 years.

Our tour guide told us about one of the Kings named Christian the fourth. He ruled Norway for 60 years and built the first bank. He also built many shops that were stronger than the older shops. Before the city was named Oslo it was called Christianina for 300 years. Eventually Norway got its first Norwegian King in 1905.

We also visited the Vigeland Sculpture Museum that was built by Gustav Vigeland. This museum is outside and consists of many sculptures of people and the various emotions they experience throughout their lives. Vigeland also sculpted men playing with children, which was not acceptable because men were supposed to be at work and women played the domestic roles. Currently both women and men share those roles. In the back of the museum there is a sculpture of many people together. It is called a monolith which means one piece of stone. Vigeland built the sculpture out of one huge stone.

We went to the Viking museum and looked and learned about the artifacts and ships. There was a burial ship that was in great condition. We learned that a queen was buried in it with all her belongings. The ship was found in good shape because it was buried underneath a specific type of sand that was air tight so no oxygen could come in. Before the trip we were assigned words of places we would see or visit. My word was Fram which is a famous polar ship that traveled furthest north and south. It was used on the Viking explorations. We passed by museum, where the museum is surrounded by the Fram ship and inside it holds information on the voyages. We played against the top team in Norway. We actually had a big fan group of alumni come support us, it was great! We battled the game out and got the WIN!!! I had a great day visiting the museums and learning a great amount of information on the history of Norway. Well I'm off to get packed and ready for the cruise to Copenhagen, Denmark tomorrow.

Pa giensyn (See you later), - Nnenna Okereke #21

During our only full day in Oslo we opened the morning with a sightseeing trip through the city. We started the trip at our hotel, traveled to a viewpoint of the city and visited the sights. The two highlights of the tour were the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Viking Ship Museum. The Vigeland Sculpture Park was absolutely amazing. There are over 109 hand carved sculptures of bronze and granite. I won't tell you too much about the park, as I think today's blogger, Nnenna, and tomorrow's blogger, Shay, will inform you about it.

Following the sculpture park, we visited the Viking Ship Museum, which featured three Viking ships that were over 1300 years old. One of the boast served as a royal burial boat for the queen. The boat was loaded with all of her belongings (kitchen things, cattle, horses, food, etc.) and sent off to sea. Thanks to the blue clay in the water and the humidity, when the ship was found, there was no erosion on the ship. The ships were found, fully intact, completely preserved. It's rather impressive, if you think about the age of the boat.

After lunch on our own, we traveled to our game for the day. Despite the win, I truly think the highlight of the evening was the 15 or so USF fans that should up. Yep, 15+ USF fans in Norway. The "ring leader" of the group is a former USF men's soccer player, Kevin. He arranged for a pregame BBQ, a minibus transport and a post game social for the USF alums and fans in Norway. Turns out, more than half of them played for the USF men's soccer team at sometime, and a few of them were former men's tennis players. Coach Haave knew in advanced of the crowd and provided them all with USF Women's Basketball tshirts. It was great having a home-court advantage in Norway. They were so thrilled that the Dons traveled to Scandinavia, it was rather heartwarming. I have pictures of it, but they aren't on my camera, so it may have to be the next photo gallery that includes it, sorry.

After the victory against one of the best teams in Norway (yay!), we returned to the city for dinner on our own. The staff went to a restaurant on the harbor before traveling to the north part of the city, near the Royal Palace, to meet up with the USF fans that had come to the game. Randomly, while socializing with the Dons fans, a man walked up to one of the fans wearing a USF shirt and explained he was a San Francisco alum. After a brief celebration by all, we presented him with a USF women's basketball t-shirt. All-in-all, it was rather awesome to be on the other side of the world and run into folks that you shared a somewhat common bond with.

Tomorrow, we are off to Copenhagen in the afternoon. We will be taking an overnight cruise ship to Denmark. I have been told that internet may not be available on the boat, meaning our blog may not be updated until late Sunday, when we arrive in Copenhagen.

Finally, our random Norway-fact of the day - the word Viking. The word Viking is translated, literally as - Vik (of the bay) ing (people) - people of the bay, or people who resided at a bay.

Happy weekend! -Rachel