Summary of fall 2009

So, I am now in Newark waiting for my flight to Oslo... got 5 hours left to wait...

My picture this fall have been painted with memories from Exuma, Bahamas, paper, ink, printing processes, statistics, tone, color and web design. It's been quite and exhausting and exciting fall quarter! I ended up with and A in Materials and Processes and B in tone and color + statistics! Yayyy!! As my classmate Jade put it: "I survived"!!!

I must say, that my warmest, sweetest and best memory is from Exuma, Bahamas. Me and Søren decided to go there for our fall break (we have 1 week off between the quarters). I don't regret it at all!! It was amazing!! The best beaches I have seen in my life, funny and extremely friendly people and oohhh I must not forget Bahama Mamas! Mmmmm a drink as sweet as the life there!

I am now on my way to Norway. I'll give you an update later!!

Take care people!!

Merry Christmas/ Happy Holiday! Happy New Year!!!


Jeanette =)

Gratulerer med dagen Pappa!!

Pappaaaa!!!

Du er verdens beste pappa! Ingen er så sterk og snill som deg!!!

Savner deg masse masse masse! Gleder meg til å komme hjem til jul!

Kjempe glad i deg!

(It is fathersday in Norway today, so this post is a tribute to the best dad in the world!!)

Reaching for the stars

I've finally managed to decide on what courses I'm going to take next quarter. For all of you that are interested in what I'm going to challenge my brain cells on this winter, here is the list;

Research Methods and Trends (required)
The theory and applications of the principles of scientific research in the graphic arts will be covered, including a systematic study of the scientific method, hypothesis generation, the nature of theory, types of research design, and measurement. The study of problems in the graphic arts includes ink and paper, reproduction methods, and quality control. 


Contemporary Publishing
An examination of how various contemporary publishing entities are responding to changes in technology with an emphasis on editorial, production, circulation/distribution, and marketing issues and concerns. The course will begin with a review of historic book models and practices with respect to their continued influence on todayFs formats and designs. The advantages and disadvantages of the various kinds of publishing mechanisms are discussed, together with an exploration of the divisions now occurring between print- and web based deliveries of content. The degree to which the intellectual content of books is changing in response to technology will also be covered. 


Marketing Concepts
An introduction to contemporary principles and practices of marketing. The course is structured around the process of marketing planning leading to the development of successful marketing strategies, including the commercialization of products and services in domestic and international environments. Focus is on environmental scanning techniques, setting and evaluating measurable objectives, innovating and controlling the interrelated components of product/service offering, planning and executing the marketing mix (channels of distribution, price, and promotion), and enhancing customer relationships through the delivery of customer value.


Managing in a Global Environment
An analysis of comparative global business behavior and organization with particular emphasis on values, authority, individual and group relations, labor-management ties, risk tolerance, and motivational techniques. The course will prepare students to recognize different values and cultural factors in the global business community and how these shape and determine appropriate management behavior. The problems and opportunities of transferring management practices from one culture to another will also be examined. 


I'm very excited about all the courses and I can't wait to start, but first of all I have to finish this quarter..

Chinese dinner at Riverknoll

One of the greatest things about studying abroad is experiences new cultures. A main an important ingredient in a culture is food, and when it comes to the Chinese culture; delicious food. Two of my classmates made me some proper homemade Chinese food. Thank you so much! Now, I have to dish up some traditional Norwegian food - anybody got some ideas on what I should make? Please write your suggestions in the comment section! Thank you!

Trout

Soup

Vegetables

Shrimps + eggs

Noodles and vegetables

Amazing tea after dinner

Memories of Toronto

Concert!

The amazing band!

Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto

The building is designed by Frank Gehry!

CN Tower - Yes, we had dinner in the thing at the top!

Will I reach Manhattan with my knowledge in Digital imaging techniques and materials?

Maybe, maybe not, but I know a lot more than when I first moved here. I'm exploring the picture; gaining knowledge about different printing techniques, materials, processes, color analysis, printing standards, fundamental statistics and most of all my interest.

I have to start thinking about my minor concentration and I have, it looks like it's going to be marketing or publishing. Marketing will gain me most when I move back to Norway, but publishing, art history and typography is also interesting. My weakness is that I can find everything interesting. You might not think that it is a weakness, but when it comes to making decisions about my future, it might be.

I have to choose two courses for my winter quarter. The two others are already set, I have no choice. I have to take Research methods and Statistics; Decision making. My third course is going to be Marketing Concept and my fourth course will be either Typography, Bookbinding or Contemporary Publishing. As you can se, I'm keeping my options open whether I should concentrate on Marketing or Publishing. The courses I choose, will hopefully, give me an insight in both areas, so that I will be able to make a decision when spring quarter arrive. Will I go for marketing or publishing? Maybe something complete different, like design or art history?

But will I reach Manhattan? If I want to, I will, but my goal is not to reach the high society in Manhattan. My goal is to absorb as much of life as possible and be happy no matter where I am. I am happy now. I actually think I could be happy anywhere as long as I am challenged mentally and still have the opportunity to relax physically.

Relaxing is something I needed and did a lot of this weekend. After an exciting weekend in Toronto, the mid term week was crazy. 2 exams, 3 lab reports due and hardly any sleep. But I survived and I don't regret going to Toronto! I loved it!

We (Søren, Vince, Prashanth and I) drove straight from Rochester to the concert on friday (Oct 9th). Them Croocked Vultures - they where fantastic!! I loved it!! After the concert we went back to the hotel and headed out to get some food. On saturday we walked around town and spend 4 hours in AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario. Yes, three guys survived fours hours in an art gallery. I am impressed. I got lost between the 60's expression and the old Vanity fair photographs, my brain drifted and my imagination took me to another place. For those of you that haven't been with me to an art gallery or exhibition before, this is what happens to me. I get lost and I don't keep track of time or the people around me. I love it!

After spending plenty of hours on our feet we had a rest at the hotel and then went for dinner at the CN tower in Toronto. I had a four course delicious meal and it was all amazing. The tower moved around so we could see Toronto. To be honest I was more amazed by the food. Nam nam! After a perfect meal we were ready to check out Toronto's night life. On sunday I spent the day in the car with 3 hung over guys, but I was all worth it because I had some olives in the night! Søren and I actually made 2 quiches and a danish potato, egg, ham meal when we got back. Nam nam!

My time is running out, I have to go and play volleyball for the Cougars! More words, feelings, pictures and thoughts will be posted.

I think my pictures is starting to get overfilled with words, so I'll post some pictures to balance it.

random order

To my two amazing brothers: I miss you, you are both unique and I am so proud of you both.

To my beloved family and friends: I'm fine and having a great time. I'll see you at christmas.

To my mum and dad: Thank you! I miss you both so much!

To my rock star: I love you!

Sake bombs, bed shopping, OPL, America, Stefan Sagmeister and me!

Sushi

Sakebombs

Why is it so hard to set words on experiences and feelings? Is it because it's too personal or because our vocabulary isn't wide enough, or a mix of both? I don't have the answer, but I'll try to explain and tell my story now.. with words and pictures.. I'll share as much as I possible can, but I will still keep something to myself. Even tho "you have to experience it to be able to understand" is a cliche statement, I believe there is something true in it... enough philosophy.. Mum and dad I MISS YOU!

I haven't been updating my blog in a while (yes, I know this is only my second posting..) so I think I have paint backwards this time..

I saw Stefan Sagmeister yesterday! He is brilliant!! For all of you that missed his inspiring talk about life experience, design and happiness, you can watch part of it on www.ted.com. RIT (my school) arranged a design competition some weeks before he came were the students had to come up with a design that touched someone's heart. And here is some of the results:

I miss you mum!

When you sat down in the sofa you would be able to read the text.

By the way, the girl next to the sofa is Yi, my classmate and friend from China.

No explanation needed.

This is what made my day - creativity and Stefan! Oh and Søren did the weekly shopping that day! Thank you!!

A material object that have made my nights a lot more comfortable is my new bed. It was a new experience to make it fit in my room (I had to move stuff around, and there isn't that much free space in my room to do that), but I love it! It's huge and comfy! It is more comfy than my bed at home! It is making it a lot more difficult to get out of bed in the mornings, but it is worth it!

Apart from reading chapter after chapter about ink, color management and statistics, I'm working as a graduate assistant for one of my professors and for the OPL. Open Publishing Lab. I'm hired as a graphic designer on the ReDesign team for their homepage. (http://opl.rit.edu) So today I went out with Liz (another cool classmate) to get some markers and marker paper and I can't wait to make some sketches again! I do a lot of design stuff for my professor as well and my brain is so happy when it gets a break from all the technology science it have to absorb when I'm studying. Even tho my brain and I have to absorb a lot of new information I still love it. Every day here is a reminder of how much I enjoy learning. Listening to people stories and experiences. Expanding my knowledge. Exploring the bigger picture.

Ohh, bigger just reminds me of everything in America. It is big! Even the thin sliced cheese isn't thin compared to thin sliced Norwegian cheese. It is thick! Still tasted good tho =) And so far I haven't been able to finish my food when we've been eating out or ordering food. Or I have finished it, but the day after..

My words are getting boring - I'm done.

Impressions, RIT and a Hollywood Pig Race!

My first blog entry here in my picture - I'll try to paint my picture with words, thoughts, pictures and world questions and maybe some solutions as well.

After 1,5 weeks here in Rochester my mind is full of new impressions, information and relations. I've experienced chips for breakfast, an albino skunk outside our apartment, a Hollywood Pig Race, mosquito bites, food market, delicious Indian food, spicy wassabe that made my eyes water, enormous apples, filling bagels, name pronunciation confusion (everything from Chanel to Janetta), beerpong, pilates, jetlag, TV adds made from a cellphone by the looks of it... I could go on, but as you all get, there is a lot to take in, no wonder i always feel tired.

Apparently I have a slightly British accent, and apparently they don't say wellis (rain boots) or hoover (vacuum cleaner) here. But apart from typing color instead of colour I get along fine with the American language.

I'm guessing some of you back home might still not know what I'm doing here in Rochester, so here is a short introduction; I'm a graduate (master) student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and my degree will be in Print Media. So this quarter (3 quarters in 1 year, instead of 2 semesters, which mean we don't have breaks when the others have breaks) I'm taking courses in; Materials and Printing Processes where we learn about.. take a guess... printing materials, right now they are teaching us everything about paper, from the characteristic of the fibers and how it relates to the paper and how to apply it to the printing process. Wish I knew a little bit more about chemistry, but I'm getting there. My second course is Tone and Color Analysis and third and final course is in Statistics! It feels good to have a mathematical related subject again and even tho the class is from 6-9 pm on monday nights I don't care, I still love stats!!

To get my mind off all the course work (yes, there is a lot) I have signed up for pilates and spinning classes every monday and wednesdays and to prevent me getting all fat and depressed. It's so easy to get fat here. Here is and example; I asked for 1 cookie and they gave me 2, you can't just buy 1! Chicken,tomato and pesto paninis are served with chips (potetgull/crisps), free refill on soda and huge portions of everything! My chinese dinner lasted for 2 days (dinner, lunch and dinner) and I still threw away food.

There is so much I want to tell you guys, just don't know how to get everything down in this blog. I'll start with some practical information; I live in Rochester, NY and to be honest, is not much of a town, and its a typical US car town. You have to drive to get anywhere. My flatmate is danish and superb. We're 9 people in my class 1 blond norwegian, 1 from India, 4 from China, 1 from Canada and 2 from the US, so a good mix of people. Everything from philosophers, mechanical engineers to designers and journalists.

You've all got a glimps of my life here in the US now, please comment and I'll try to answer all when I got time. (don't have a lot of it, but I'll try my best)

Cherrios amigos!