Alive and ready to -

-get back into my normal habit in Trondheim! As you know I've spent the last 6 months on the island of Hitra, completing the compulsory program all doctors in Norway have to participate in after graduating from medical school. Basically it's a way to ease us into working life, making sure we have the skills needed to conduct safe medicine. I started out with four months in the surgical departments, doing my rotations in urology, gastroenterological surgery and orthopedics. The following four months were spent in the department of internal medicine, more specifically in the sections specializing in infectious diseases, cardiology and gastroenterology. The circle came to an end with emergency psychiatry for four months. And no, I was not admitted... August of 2011 came along and I was headed straight west - a two hour drive from Trondheim you find the island of Hitra. This is where I was to practice as a GP as the final part of the programme. In fact Hitra consists of numerous islands, and it is a popular place to visit in the summer time. It is among the largest islands in Norway, famous for its large Red Deer population. This brings many hunters to the island in the fall! With its proximity to the sea it is obviously attractive for those who fish, dive and so forth. I stayed in Fillan, the administrative center. I would stay in Fillan from Monday morning to Friday afternoon, and go back to Trondheim every weekend. Also, I had shifts in the emergency room in Orkanger, about an hour and a half from Hitra. As this is very close to Trondheim I tried to spend the next day at home if I had the chance.

Hitra in the fall

In the end of October Rune and I decided it was time to enjoy some time together in the sun, and we went to Egypt for the first time. We had a great time doing close to nothing, except lying on sunbeds, drinking diet coke and beer. As I always bring my running shoes I visited the gym practically daily - to burn off a percentage of those excessive calories that come with numerous yummy meals during a day. I guess it works as a sort of damage control... We got to see parts of Sharm El Sheik, and spent one afternoon on a private speed boat going to different ship wrecks and reefs to snorkle. Rune got to drive the boat for a while, going many more knots than I ever would have the guts to!

A few weeks after we got back from Egypt we both headed to Oslo. Rune would spend the weekend with friends, while I presented a class at a fitness convention for the very first time. It was a great experience! Hopefully I will get the chance to participate in a similar event again! Anna Duberg, representing Røhnisch, presented her research on a dance project and an Afro class. She kindly enough made sure we were prepared for winter and sent us the parkas we are wearing in the picture below. Thanks, Anna!

Marit Anne, Ingvild and Anna. Go Røhnisch! Seriously, that parkas has been our number one garment this winter!

It was "my mom's Christmas" this year. As we only spend every fourth Christmas with her, my stepdad and my half brother, she decided she wanted to make it special. We all traveled from Trondheim to Atlanta, where her husband lives. We got to do some shopping and hang out with one of my very best friends, Kalle, although we were only in town for two days. Even Dani showed up at Kalle's mom's house, which made it all exceptional! (Kalle lives in Chicago, and Dani was in the midst of moving from Germany to Turkey!). Sometimes our paths just cross and we're really lucky to be in the same place at the same time... But as Atlanta is a second home to us, it's not considered 'special' in my mom's eyes. She splurged and decided to take us all to the Dominican Republic for a week. William and Rosie, my step brother and his wife, even came down for a few days. The DR was great with its beautiful beaches and bright green forest. We met a couple from Puerto Rico, however, and they convinced us that we'll go there the next time! Unfortunely I caught a bug in the DR, so the last few days in Atlanta before our return to Norway was kind of ruined. And when I got back to Trondheim I was flat on my back for a week! No kidding! I even had to go see my doctor (and that's really rare in my line of business...!).

Top: Ann-Mari at the Hilton lounge

 

Anyway, 2012 was here, and following tradition, Ann-Mari and I headed to Stockholm to attend the Nike Blast, a huge fitness convention with 2000 participants (large in Scandinavian standards!). Also according to tradition, we stayed at the Hilton, although this time we decided we had earned us the junior suite... Don't know for what reason, other than that we needed a real break from everday life...but we sure knew how to enjoy the lounge with the free bar!





With February came the end of my stay at Hitra. Although I had anticipated this for the past six months, I agreed to substitute for one of the doctors and stay on for another two weeks. I would never have done that if it weren't for the excellent co-workers who were always cheerful and gave me a reason to come back. Afterwards, Rune and I went to Åre ski resort where my mom and Dana have a cabin. Heidi and Per Olav joined us for a few days, which was very nice, and when they went back to Trondheim, we stayed on for another four days. 6 days of consecutive telemark skiing is nothing but luxury and a statement of high quality of life!

In a few days I start my first 'real' job, still as a GP. I'm very excited and it feels like a good move!
Stay tuned :).