You Won't Find Aquavit at McSorley's...

And that's a good thing! Whenever I think of an item that is exported from Norway, I think of Aquavit, also spelled Akvavit and pronounced aqua-veet, is one of the most disgusting drinks you could ever consume. It is very popular in Norway, and I first experienced it on a Norwegian cruise line however, it came back to haunt me in 2007 when the Norwegians came to my small town of Suffolk, Virginia and brought this cringe-worthy drink with them.

So now you may be asking yourself, 'What exactly is Aquavit?" and if you've had the misfortune of consuming it, you're saying to yourself, 'Why on earth is she reminding me?'

Aquavit is an alcoholic beverage distilled from potatoes. It is normally flavored with caraway seeds in the United States, which is why many say it takes on the flavor of rye bread. Gross. In other parts of the world, Aquavit is flavored with grains of: anise, coriander, dill an fennel.

"Aquavit liquor has a long and illustrious history as the first choice for many holidays and special occasions, especially in Norway and other Scandinavian countries" (Drinkfocus.com). Most consumers of the beverage in Norway prefer to drink it aged, like wine, and one of the Norwegians that came to visit my high school actually had an Aquavit cellar in their basement as opposed to a wine cellar. I wish I could say I was kidding.

"One particular type of aquavit, called Linie Aquavit, is actually shipped over the equator, twice, before its makers put it up for sale (The word 'Linie' means "equator"). The producers of Linie aquavit claim that the sea air, temperature fluctuations and the motion of the ships produce a finer aquavit. Other people scorn the Linie process as an advertising gimmick. However, tests conducted by distillers of Linie aquavit have led the distillers to believe that the taste of the liquor is positively affected by the journey over the equator." (Drinkfocus.com). If you're intrigued, this particular type of Aquavit can be purchased in the Norway area of Epcot in Disney World.

Aquavit has been around since the 16th Century in Europe. Many letters have been found from that particular time period that praise the supposed "health benefits" of the alcohol. The name Aquavit comes from the Latin words "aqua" and "vitae" which means "the water of life." "During the early years of its existence, most people used aquavit for its medicinal properties. Ironically, some even claimed that it was a cure for alcoholism!" (Drinkfocus.com).

Aquavit is used in abundance on Norway's Constitution Day which occurs on May 17 and is Norway's celebration of it becoming an independent nation.

If you're still interested in this drink after everything I've just said, you may want to know how to drink it. Well, most drink it straight out of the bottle without mixing it with anything. It is more often than not, taken as a shot. Most people find the taste difficult to stomach but there are also several self proclaimed "Aquavit Lovers" out there. "Aquavit lovers, however, prefer to drink it slowly to get the full benefit of the aquavit’s nuanced flavors and scent. Some drinkers chase aquavit with beer; others think this ruins the aquavit’s flavor" (Drinkfocus.com).

People from Norway prefer to drink Aquavit at room temperature while others around the world prefer to have it chilled.

Aquavit has been exported all over the world and it has been said that, "Classic Hollywood movie star Rosalind Russell supposedly gave a (Aquavit Cocktail) recipe to the author of the Stork Club Bar Book" (Drinkfocus.com).

So the next time you're in Epcot or Norway or a random bar that just so happens to carry the beverage. Try it... at your own risk. You've been warned.


Bibliography:

"Aquavit." Alcoholic Drinks: History of Beer, Apple Cider, Cocktails Information -
DrinkFocus.com. Web. 10 May 2010. /index.php>.

The Movie Industry in Norway

Norway is considered to have entered the film industry very late. Denmark and Sweden, Norway's closest relatives, entered the film industry very early on and made many well-known films that were viewed by audiences all over the world. Norway, however, produce a film at all until 1906. This film came in the form of Hugo Hermansen's Fiskerlivets Farer, which means "Dangers of a Fisherman's Life." The next film effort did not appear until 1911 when "The Curse of Poverty" came out. The 1930s are considered to be the "Golden Age of Norwegian Film."

During the Nazi occupation of Norway in WWII, the Germans were able to censor all types of Norwegian media, mainly film. Due to this censorship, the post-war period was a huge time for Norwegian film and filmmakers. One such filmmaker that got their "big break" following the end of WWII was Edith Carlmar.

Edith Carlmar was Norway's first female filmmaker. Carlmar made 10 feature films between 1949 and 1959, and all of them were huge blockbuster successes. It has been said that, "Her critically acclaimed works often sparked public debate, and had unusual drawing power at the box office. Today they are considered classics." (A Brief History of Norwegian Film) In the last film that Carlmar ever made, she chose Liv Ullmann to take the lead role in the film. Liv Ullmann, like Carlmar, is another very powerful female figure in the history of Norwegian Film. Ullmann remains one of the most well-recognized and popular actresses in Norway today. She has won a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Academy Award twice. Most recently, Ullmann is directing the "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. In 2009, when the production debuted, it was virtually impossible to get tickets. From Norway to the United States, you never know what Ullmann is going to do next! These two astounding female figures in Norwegian history are just a few of the many powerful women that have left a lasting effect on the country's film.

Bibliography:

7, December. "Liv Ullmann on Directing ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ - ArtsBeat Blog -
NYTimes.com." Culture and the Arts – ArtsBeat Blog – NYTimes.com - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

"A Brief History of Norwegian Film." Norway - the Official Site in the United States. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

Three Things I Have Learned So Far...

I have learned a lot more about Norway recently than I ever thought that I would. I mean, sure, I had an exchange student from Norway and all that jazz, but I never really did the research on what Norway's all about. I'm glad that I have taken this class because it has allowed me to do the research and learn what a wonderful country Norway is. It's beauty spans beyond its rolling countryside and snow covered mountains. It is a truly interesting and extraordinary country.

One thing about media in Norway that I found interesting when I did my research online is that social media has really taken off in Norway. Nearly 2 of its 5 million inhabitants are on the popular social media outlet, Facebook. It won't be long before Norway catches up with the 48% of Americans who are on Facebook. Most all of the Norwegian exchange students that my high school hosted are on Facebook, and it is great to keep up with the on a regular basis.

One thing that I wanted know a little bit more about was the Trolls in Norway. Trolls run rampant through the culture of Norway, and if you ever host a Norwegian student, you best believe you're going to get a troll. My little troll statue is so interesting, and I knew a few of the stories about trolls in Norway that have been passed down over the years, but I wanted to know what all the fuss about trolls was about. I found a bunch of different legends that have been passed down over the years, and I also read that trolls are literally EVERYWHERE in Norway. There are carved trolls on almost every street, troll shops where you can buy troll items, troll posters and even a troll tea-garden where you can dine amongst the ancient trolls. These trolls are a huge part of Norwegian culture.

The vikings of Norway is something that has always interested me when talking about Norwegian culture, so I did some research on them. I found out that during the Viking Age, which lasted from 800-1066, Norwegians, as well as Swedes and Danes, traveled on long ships and acted as "raiders, explorers, settlers and traders." The viking raids affected many parts of Europe and have left a lasting impact on not only Norway but Europe as a whole.

Bibliography:

"Facebook: UK, Norway and Sweden Most Active." Cafebabel.com | : News, Features,
Surveys and Opinions. Web. Mar. 2010. /facebook-uk-norway-and-sweden-most-active.html>.

"Our Cultural Heritage : Norwegian Folktales and Myths." Www.feri.com. Web. Mar. 2010.
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"Vikings - A Brief History." Viking Art.com Welcomes You! Web. Mar. 2010.
.