Week update

Wow!

It's been way to long since I last updated my blog. Sorry to all my faithful followers (all three of you). I promise to do better.

So what has happened since last update? A little bit of everything I guess. I'll do a short, or maybe long, chronological update.

So last update was exactly a week ago. Most of last week was pretty much the same every day. Work - Tennis - TV - Bed....

But work wise it is becoming more and more fun. Last week I worked on making recommendation towards what type of affiliates system Faculte should work on and what actors we should contact. And I have gotten myself a title: Business Development Manager - sure will look good on my resume...

On wednesday we went and saw Transformers 2 - Rise of the fallen, and it was a decent movie. Not as good as the Hangover or the first Transformers movie, but worth watching. (

My tooth was still hurting last week so on Thursday I got myself a root canal. Did not hurt at all and the dentist was really good, but expensive. Close to $1300 and then I'll need to get a crown after that...very najs

After my trip to the dentist we all went to Berkeley for school. I found (or was shown to) the best Yoghurt/Icecream place I have ever been to... sooooo goood. Lots of fresh fruits and stuff... (http://www.yogurt-land.com/) If you're ever close to one of these - buy one...

School was also pretty fun. I was knocked up on lots of vicodin so I found myself being pretty active in class. Do not remeber if I where saying anything productive, but at least I was there.

Friday was another workday and we went out in Mountain View afterwards. A pretty fun night out at a small bar. I will try to get hold of some pictures (my camera is still broken - I must consider buying a new cheap one) and show you all.

Saturday we (Paal, Peder, Brit, Haowen and I) went and saw Oakland A's lose to the Colorado Rockies, but for most of us going it was a new experience and pretty fun.

That was everything I guess - oh, wait - I got sunburned like a ... yesterday at the beach in Santa Cruz... For some reason I though sunscreen on the back of my legs where overrated... No pictures - and that might be a good thing..

So long and thanks for all the fish

The Hangover

Good morning America (and Good afternoon Norway)

Just wanted to you all a quick note this morning. Go and see a movie called The Hangover (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/). It is well worth the watch and an easy and entertaining movie.

A weekend of work

It hasn't really been a eventfull weekend, but I will try to update everyone on the few things I have been doing.

Yesterday started of pretty boring with school from 12-16. Had to drive from Mountain View at around 10 am and we weren't back until close to six. The afternoon was spent eating Taco Bell, which didn't suck as bad as my coworker Miki told me, and working on my Masters thesis. I know I can be a g33k sometime, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...

When I went to bed at around 11.30 pm I had planned to sleep until morning, but the guys I live with had other plans for me. At 1.30 am they woke me up and told me that my buddy Jack (Daniels) missed me. So instead of waking up early to continue my writing I didn't get to bed until 5.30 am.

I am a little tired today, but at least I got up and are sitting in the common rooms at the apartment complex working on my paper along with Jannicke. A pretty boring weekend, but at least Pål and I are going to see The Hangover at the movie theater later tonight...

For some reason I have really started to eat a lot of sushi. The local grocery store sells ready made california rol, salmon rolls and tuna rolls and they are pretty good... Just thought people would like to know that.

And we are planning a trip to Las Vegas towards the end of next month.... Awesome!

TGIF!

Almost done at work for the weekend at today has been a fun day at work. Writing a blog post for the companies site (if the boss approves it) and doing some research on possible speakers at an online conference we are hosting... Times flies fast when you are having fun.

So what else is new in Cali?

As I whined about earlier I had to go to the dentist yesterday. No clear conclusion, but he did at least give me a vicodin type of drug - so at least I can dope myself if it starts to hurt again. The dentist gave me a referral to a specialist, but I will have to wait and see what NAV says regarding coverage...

Yesterday was also the first day of classes at Berkeley and I thought it was fun. Everything was case based and we were all pretty much discussing what strategic decisions the entire class. Tomorrow is more classes - which sucks - because it would be nice to have the weekend of, but you can't always get want you want.

Another thing that sucks is that my camera broke yesterday. I kind of got broke at St. Cruz last weekend but started working again, but this time it seems more serious. A little worried that some sand got into the camera at the beach. A buddy here, David, is a engineer wannabe and is trying to fix it... let's hope he is better at that than playing tennis.

Tonight promises some tennis and BBQ - so hope to enjoy the evening without toothache or breaking anything...

Ansa Travel Insurance

Just a short comment after my talk with Gouda. They are generous enough to cover up to 1000 kr ($150) in dental costs... Wow! That really helps if I need a root canal.

So to all you Norwegians reading this and considering getting Ansa (Gouda) Travel Insurance when going abroad - don't.

One more day in the sun...

The clock is 11.30 pm in California and I am staying up just to call Gouda, my travel insurance company not the cheese, to check if dental care is a part of my insurance. Let's hope so, I am going to the dentist to check my tooth and get a quota tomorrow....

Other than toothache the day has been pretty boring. A long day at work followed by a little schoolwork and a couple of bbq'ed burgers. We have all been getting ready for our first day at Berkeley tomorrow )and some of us are worrying about pop quizzes and angry professors). Fortunately the guys at Faculte are letting us work from home tomorrow so I will try to do a little work before going to dentist - and hopefully a little after. Work is a little boring at the moment - I am pretty much just reading up on the competition and their partners and evaluating what type of partners and affiliates Faculte should contact. It involves a hell of a lot of googling and watcing online business presentations and demos. If anyone are interested in hearing about anything that relates to online presentations (content or production) just let me know...

Signing off from Mountain View, California...

Just another day at work

The clock strikes 7 pm and I am still at work.... and oh so tired.

On Thursday I have a class at Berkeley that starts at 5 pm and I would have to leave work at around 2 pm to be able to drive over there, eat and review the articles and case for class. And that is the reason why I am still at work - gotta make up those three hours somehow....

On top of that my tooth hurts. Some months ago I had a tooth fixed, but unfortunately not well enough. I gotta find an American dentist and get a root canal. Woho. Can't hardy wait.

That's enough whining for one day. There is less than one hour until I can go home, go to the gym, work out, and then jump in the jacuzzi afterward... Maybe even open a bottle of Dos Equis or Shiner and totally relax....

Santa Cruz

Welcome to Santa Cruz!

Santa Cruz is famous for skateboards, surfing and being one of the spots on the Californian coast with the most shark attacks. Fortunately we did not get attacked in our short five minute pacific ocean swim. Today Dan Robert, David and I decided to go for a short road trip to one of the most famous spots on the Californian coast. It was a short 40 minute drive in our little white Kia and we rocked our way over with Beastie Boys playing loudly on the radio.

It was a awesome beach with not to many people and more than enough space for us to throw our hackysack around. The water was really cold at first, but we couldn't let a chance to take a dip in the pacific pass us by. The wind was blowing, which resulted in me not feeling how well the sun overtanned by body and my arms are as red as boiled lobster. Right now I am sitting lying on the sofa chilling and being pretty determined to stay here for the rest of the evening.

Yesterday was another pretty chill day. I got in a little work-out with a little tennis and basketball, but mostly I was being a g33k and spent most of the day reading articles for class, working on a report for work on monday and doing a little work on my masters thesis.

Friday was my second day at work and it was pretty similar to thursday. Out boss, Maher, is pretty cool and did yet again by us lunch. This time at a great little french cafe that served awesome crepes. Other than that they told me to work on some suggestions for strategic partners and I did pretty much do that all day. If anybody want to know anything about stock photo sites be sure to let me know.

I hope everybody is updated and enjoying my typing frenzy.

David (on the left) and Dan Robert enjoying the beach at Santa Cruz.

A cool old Herbie at the pier. Look closely at the colored guitar in the back window.

I do not have a role in the remake of "honey, I shrunk the kids" the truck is just huge...

Apartment complex

A couple of quick pictures from the apartment complex. I know we are spoiled rotten. The pool just below is one big jacuuzi... Najs!

First day at work

Yesterday was my first day at work and it was pretty exciting. The company I work for only have four employees in the US (Some more in Romania and India) and yesterday I got to meet them all (Maher, Miki, Mark and Karim). I will mostly work on corporate development and creation of strategic partnerships. Pretty nifty :)

Under you can see the front of our building, but I will try to remember to take some more pictures at work today, and some more at my apartment complex during the weekend.

I work with Anita, but it doesn't look like we will work on the same things. She will mostly work on content on the website and the development of the interface of Faculte.

Where we would we be without GPS? Nobody really knows...

On wednesday we were up at Berkeley again and got some stuff sorted out in regards to school. It seems like it will be quite a bit of work, but fortunately Faculte seems to be really flexible in regards to working hours and so on - so I am sure that if school gets hectic they will let us take a day off or leave early..

Other than that the days so far has been pretty similar. Eating burgers/prawns from the BBQ and jumping into the jacuzi with a beer when it gets chilly in the evening.

I also sent a couple of messages with Leah (Matt's wife) and I will be flying out to Colorado sometime this summer. I just have to check with school and work what time will be most suitable. Really looking forward to seeing Matt, Leah and little Braedon...

That's all folks...

I've got a job!

Then the jobinterviews were over and I ended with a company called Faculte - http://www.faculte.com/ - and I am pretty excited. It is a small company (only four employees in the us - and now two interns) that works with a broadcast solution for online creation of video presentation... exciting!

Other than that we moved into our new apartment - and it looks insane. I took some pictures of the apartment I live in, but I will post some more from the area as soon as I get around to doing it. Tomorrow I have the day of and might go up to San Francisco to chill or I might stay at our apartment and work with my master - not decided yet....

What else is new? Not much, but it is sunny and warm and everyone is enjoying themselves at our new apartment. A bunch of us played a little tennis and basketball today - before we went out and celebrated our new jobs - although we got hustled at a thai restaurant..

Now I am a little tired and pretty much ready for bed...

Finally I promised Jannicke - a fellow student - to post a picture of her on my blog. I took the best one I could find....

San Francisco - Day 3

Good morning world. Today is a big day. We are all moving in at Mountain View and getting our nice apartments. http://www.oakwood.com/furnished-apartments/furnished/US/CA/Mountain-View/prop17.html#propDetail

Yesterday was pretty much all about sightseeing and a little shopping. Some more norwegians participating in the program arrived and we went all out to eat in the evening. A nice day on which I managed to get a little sunburned by the Californian sun...

The picture above is from when Pål and I did a little sightseeing in the morning. Visiting the San Francisco Bay Aquarium and the Norwegian Seaman's Church (Do not worry it was all for the waffles). I got to admit that San Francisco is a pretty cool town, especiall if you get away from the downtown area and all the touristy places - although you can get quite tired from walking up and down all the steep hills.

San Francisco - Day 2

Picture 1 - Alcatraz

Picture 2 - Golden Gate Bridge

Picture 3 - Very steep streets in SF

Picture 4 - Pål and I at the entrance to Chinatown

Picture 5 - Some collegy trail at Berkley

Well another early morning and another update from "the land of the free and home of the brave".


Yesterday was another touristy day were we pretty much just tried to get to know the city a little. It started of with a trip out to Berkelet to check the school out witch of course ended with all of us buying plenty of Berkeley clothes and other stuff... but it was all good... nice and old and big school...

Then we to the BART-train back into downtown and walked around for some hours.

I am still jetlagged and had to go to bed at nine - it might be that I am getting older - who knows.

Not much more exciting to tell you all about day two - but we got to see most of the main sights from afar and had fun at an ancient arcade with lots of old videogames and similar stuff..

That's all for now

Sverre

Jetlagged in San Francisco

Good morning - Good day - Good afternoon. It's not always easy to let the body know what time it really is. Right now the clock is 4.25 am in San Francisco and I am sitting at the charming Lori's Diner because there was no way in hell that my body wanted to sleep any longer....

But as you all understand I have gotten myself to San Francisco, I have checked in at the hotel and right now I am trying to get the time to pass...

It was a long and pretty boring flight - I did enjoy the great inflight entertainment though (Confession of a shopaholic, pink panther 2, and some other shitty flick about a mall cop (played by kevin james)... but hey - I made it - still more or less sane...

I am posting my first impressions of SF, I know I do not take enough pictures - and a lot of them are of poor quality - but I am doing as well as I can..