So, I’m back from my vacation in the North of Norway. I’ve learned a lot about Norway, Norwegian culture, and Norwegians. I’m pretty much Norway’d out. I will probably write about some of my insights later. Now, a few news tidbits and insights:

• I got published in the evening paper! More or less anonymously, just with my initials, but still it’s cool. There was an article yesterday about skin bleaching amongst those with dark skin, and reader comments were solicited. I replied with the following: “Folk ser vakrest ut med sin naturlige hudfarge, enten det er det mørkeste ibenholt eller det blekeste hvit. Vær stolt av det du er!” Translated, this means something like “People look most beautiful with their natural skin tone, whether that be the darkest ebony or the palest while. Be proud of what you are!”. This is a point I’d discussed on a thread on Big Fat Blog not too long ago with relation to tans: I think they’re ugly. I don’t tan, I just get sort of reddish. Johannes has a tan now, and it’s not attractive. People definitely do look best with their natural skin tone. Anyway, cool to get published!
• I ordered some pants today from Ellos, and they’re several inches too large in the waist. For those of you who don’t know me in person, this is particularly weird because usually off-the-rack pants are several inches too tight in the waist for me. I have noticed that women here tend to put on weight in an android pattern, but this is just ridiculous! The pants at least fit beautifully in the hips and thighs, which almost never happens with off-the-rack clothes, plus the legs are just the right length. I guess I’ll be getting the waist tailored to fit.
• My bloodwork came back, and I have a B12 deficiency plus hypothyroidism, both problems I’ve had before. This could certainly explain the weight gain, plus a number of other problems I’ve been having. I’ve already started on thyroid hormone, but am reluctant to start on the B12 ’cause of the hideous acne I got last time I got shots. I’m also starting on Lamictal, a mood stabilizer which seems to be a godsend to lots of people who take it, but which is also known for causing a potentially fatal syndrome characterized by a skin-eating rash. Fun!
• I just bought three original paintings by Sisir Bhattacharya from his nephew, Soumitra. I plan on doing up the living room in an eclectic Indian style, so these will work very nicely.
• I’ve joined a cognitive science reading group. Our first book for discussion is Michael Tomasello’s The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition. I look at this as a good way of easing back into academics.

That’s all for now. Later I hope to write more about my trip.