Reflections on Week 2

I must say, I have become fully adjusted here and back into student mode (I am actually reading all the assignments now). This week in class we looked at energy companies from Denmark, Norway, Sweden & Finland and how they utilize local climatic situations to rely less on fossil fuels. Norway is pretty intriguing for having so much oil and at the same time, being heavily affected by global warming on its coast. Not sure how it works on the city level but I find it interesting that there is a future fund for future Norwegians from oil revenues since it is state owned. I guess what separates us (Americans, I cant really speak for the Bengalis) from the Scandinavia is that we are a self paving, each for his own sort of nation while this is a very tribe like culture.
My group studied a power company (Vattenfall) from Sweden that provides wind & hydro power in addition to coal. It would be interesting to see their plant and compare it Dong Energy's in Copenhagen. I found the interview with the CEO of Vattenfall especially intriguing. While he definetely has to make sure the company is economically stable, he has done a phenomenal job at progressing towards alternative energy. Sweden's location & accessibility its many lakes definetely makes it easier but what I like most is his ability to really be able to push towards progression while producing numbers. I'm sure working for Ericsson prior to switching over to this state owned company must have helped.
Now, as a I have a few minutes before meeting my class at the airport, I am looking at Bergen's Kommune (city's munipical government). Bergen is an interesting city, known as the "city of fjords." After a few days we will head to Oslo. I cant wait for the train ride between those two cities. I picture something lord of the ring-like. Minus all the walking. When I was in India eight years ago, I took a train with my uncles & cousins from West Bengal to Darjeeling-initially I was upset at not flying but once the natural scenery started I was entranced. My most memorable moment was four in the morning being woken up and feeling extremely cranky that subsided while looking at the sunrise. The colors & atmosphere was so majestic I still can't really describe, paint or recreate. I guess thats nature for you. Anyways, I guess I'm expecting Norway to be something similar of that sort but not the same.
What I am fearing is how expensive everything will be. Apparently Denmark is the cheapest of all the Scandinavian countries, which completely blows my mind as the cost of living is killing me here. Now I have to ration my food even more so!!
After Norway, bunch of us are headed down to Berlin, which I cannot wait for!! It'll be a great week and a half....