As Real As Dreams

I quit Rælingen high school for good. Instead I embark on a five-year-long freelance career. 

May-October: I translate about 20 Disney cartoons (Buzz Lightyear) for Norwegian dubbing.

August: I start working as an editor for Kunnskapsforlaget's Norwegian-English dictionary project.

Autumn term: One-term course in Lexicography.

May: The dictionary is completed.

July: I go to San Francisco to attend my brother's wedding 7/7. A great stay including an eventful car ride along the Californian coast. Romance arises as best man Torgny hits the right note with maid of honour Christine.

September: I start working as a teacher in Norwegian for well-to-do foreigners at the private language school Berlitz Oslo.

October: I visit Christine in New Haven/NYC.

Freelance Norwegian teacher at the International Language School, Oslo, while also still working at Berlitz.

August: Trip to Vienna and Budapest.

October: The first Rosenhoff groups appear at Berlitz, and I soon realize how much I enjoy teaching this kind of "non-Western" students.

I start working as a freelance teacher in Norwegian for foreign employees at Opera.

August: Trip to Rome, enjoying lovely chiantis at Piazza Navona.

My first Christmas celebration without my family, in the company of friends in Hadeland. New Year's Eve party with great Berlitz colleagues.

I burn my first compilation cd: The "Food of Love" project.

June: Goodbye to the Rosenhoff groups that have spiced up life at Berlitz for the last couple of years.

Autumn: We sell our childhood home in Sarpsborg.

November: Back to more organized conditions as I start teaching Norwegian for foreigners at Smedstua Center for Adult Learners.

Christmas: I go to Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin).

I quit Berlitz and Opera. Now it's just Smedstua (plus some freelance lessons with private students at the Norwegian-German Chamber of Commerce, and proof-reading for the publisher Aschehoug).

5/26: I lose my dad (born 7/4/1923).

Christmas in Bangkok.

August: Enjoying beautiful architecture in Prague.

January: I turn 40 (1/16) and become an uncle (1/20)!

June: I finally leave Smedstua and the school's despotic boss (but sadly also many nice students).