Update on our baby

We realize that many of you have been anxious to hear about how our dearly beloved mustelid is doing:) I just received a note and pictures from his kind caregiver, Kathy, at the Ferret Nook indicating that Saratoga is doing quite well. We're a little concerned, however, that having roamed through tunnels, dug through a rice bin, settled into a swanky hammock, and experienced the thrill of species companionship, our humble southern Illinois abode may seem wanting.

Winter has arrived!

Hi All,

It's cold here. My colleagues say that this is one of the coldest Novembers on record.

Walter enjoyed skating yesterday. (We only have one pair of skates; so Mark will try next time).

The snowing photo at the University Bill took today.

Love,

Martha

Thanksgiving

Hi All,

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I invited my students in teacher training (Norwegians students who will be specially trained in teaching English), two colleagues, three American students from Oregon State, and an American au pair, whom I met at a concert. Irene, who is standing in the black v-neck, sang Simple Gifts (her voice is beautiful, and I got a bit teary listening to my favorite hymn). She brought her two young children, who spoke little English. Walter asked how to say "hide and seek" in Norwegian, and they all had a wonderful time hiding and searching throughout the apartment.





This is a photo of Jan Erik, whom I am teaching with this semester, at the table, where we had turkey, stuffing, pie, applesauce, etc. He and Irene are great colleagues, warm, funny, and sharp.

Mark and Sunbeam

The view from our window

Mark's camping trip--update

The scout leader dropped off Mark on Sunday from his camping trip. Turns out Mark had almost none of the appropriate gear--his sleeping back wasn't warm enough so the scout leader had to give Mark his own (poor guy; I don't think he got any sleep that night), Mark's backpack was too small; his hiking shoes (which were actually mine) should have been boots; his mittens too thin; his pants should have been waterproof. Mark came back wet, cold, smokey, but happy. One of the campers decided to roast a Pokemon figure in the evening's bonfire, and Mark found this hilarious.

On Sunday a colleague and I went to Grim church where we heard a wonderful choral concert featuring Grieg's four psalms, Rachmaninov's Vespers, and Benjamin Britten's "Sick Rose," which I especially enjoyed. Met an American au pair there whom I invited to Thanksgiving dinner along with my students. One of my colleagues is going to sing "Simple Gifts."

Walter continues to plunk away at Grieg, but his real love is Arsenal; don't even bring up Manchester United.

I would like to read Jay-Z's autobiography.

I miss friends and family. During these seemingly endless succession of grey days I wonder why there isn't a mass migration southward, but Bill urges me to get out and soak up the muted grey light we call sunshine regardless of weather.

The fate of Norwegian Jews during WWII

On Friday Bill met with an archivist at the Kristiansand National Archives who contributed to a book about the fate of Jews in southern Norway. Here's a Google translate description of the book entitled "Jakten etter jødene på Agder" [The Hunt for the Jews in Agder] which has apparently created quite a stir because it names some of the most prominent Norwegian Nazi collaborators.

"Also in southern Norway, there were Jews who were persecuted and arrested in the years 1940-45. In Kristiansand, two stores in 1940 had Jewish owners. One was closed in 1942, the second was "Norwegianised" and continued their activities. Here are stories of Jews who fled and the Norwegians who helped them. But the book also shows that some Southerners often helped in the Nazi attempt at total annihilation of the Norwegian Jews."