Russ 2007!

In Bergen, asking for Russ Cards!

Some Russ Cards I got!







Some Russies in the Park on 17 Mai





Up to no good!

So in the US, or at least in AZ we got, what, Prom night, Senior Breakfast, Graduation and a school sponsored Grad Night Party. Well compared to Norwegians we must be BORING! These kids in Oslo have been making the entire last month of school a party. The tradition started in the 1940's, I think. The outfits the students wore to set them apart included little red caps and red colored clothing. As the years went on the outfits went from dressed up clothing to red slacks to overalls. When I first saw these kids running around town I thought they were part of a high school ski team or involved in some sort of sport. When Jeremy and I saw a little girl run up to one of the kids in the overalls and get a little trading card I thought maybe they were professional or semi professional athletes. We asked Vidar what the heck was up with these kids and he explained to us that they were graduating seniors. The cards they hand out are called Russ cards and when I was feeling confident enough I would ask for one. The kids peer pressure each other to do random stunts around the city. We saw some girls in Bergen walk on their hands and knees while one girl pushed a tricycle. According to Vidar's daughter Vilde, each time that they finish a stunt they get to tie little knots in their caps. If a kid drank a set amount of beers in a certain amount of time they would tie a bottle cap on their cap to signify that they completed the drinking stunt. Certain schools have certain stunts as well. Like, kids from a certain school would have to run through taxis at stop lights or even walking naked with just their shoes and cap on from one part of the city to another. These Russ kids were running around town all day and night having a good time. They were in the bars at night and driving their Russ Buss (Roose Boose) around. The first night here we saw a party buss drive by with kids on it drinking and playing super loud music. Vilde told us that the students work for 2 or 3 years leading up to graduation and pitch in and by these busses! The rich kids parents help out too hence the Tour Busses with fancy paint jobs and even fancier sound systems. Hmmmm, what am I leaving out. These kids camp out in the middle of Norway, park their Russ Buss and party all night long. It's amazing. I want to be a Russ, or I at least want Espen to be a Russ, even if it is in the U.S.