Thursday, March 28, 2013

Where did everyone go?

Life is full of small ironies.

Case and point, Norway is a Christian nation, but religion is not something that really is important to many of Norwegians.  Which is in contrast to America, which has no state-religion, but cares about christianity a lot.

However, each country treats the seminal holiday of Christianity quite differently.

From yesterday early evening until Monday, everything is shut down.  Not just government buildings, but everything (note the list only has like a dozen things open... keep in mind this is a city of nearly 800000 people).  Here is what Youngstorget, a random, downtown street normally looks like:


And here's what it looks like now:


Conversely, in America, I remember working many Good Fridays and Easter Mondays.

I guess that's the difference between a "state religion" and "religion of the people of the state".

Anyway, while here in the deserted city, we're celebrating with food (slow-braised lamb ribs! and homemade bread), drink (you think your boy didn't note the hours of operation?), and long walks through historic streets.


That'll do quite nicely.

Have a great holiday weekend.

Alt for Norge




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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Ritz Crackers... 'cause it's cold, son!

I wonder if my home owner's insurance covers against snow damage...

It snows in Norway.  A lot.

But I didn't write this entry to waste your time with information you already knew.

It's just... you don't realize how much "a lot" is until you're staring out a window on Saint Patrick's Day and there's 10 inches of the white stuff (fresh from a weekend onslaught) wishing you a "top o' the morning!"


But it's not just the snow, its cold, too.  How cold is it?  I've rarely worn a hat and gloves during the winter time for most of my life (I have a mother worn thin from 20+ winters of worry who can attest to this fact), but I almost refuse to step outside here unless my hat and gloves are on (in fact, I have several back-ups just in case I'm in a rush and can't find the primary).

As I'm writing this, its snowing!  To be clear, I'm not complaining, but "it takes some getting use to" is a vast understatement.

So.  What does that do to one's psyche?

It can cause depression (Which isn't just for us foreigners, its the reason why Norwegians take fish oil... Vitamin D is the cure!).

Though, more likely, it can cause what I call "want reallocation".  For example, the other day, I really wanted some mango sorbet (odd, right?).  Instead of venturing the eight blocks to the store that may have it (I'd say 50-50 shot), I went the block and a half to the store that really had no shot of having it and settled for Ritz crackers and Strawberry jam.


That's just what happens when cold is factored in the equation.  

Another example: We live within a three block radius of four, awful pizza places (I can't underscore how dreadful pizza can be here here) and about a twenty minute bus ride from an outstanding pizza place.  I will give you zero guesses on how many times we've gone to the good place since winter has taken hold because the answer is zero.

Norwegians will scoff at you and tell you its not cold, but they're lying.  They wear big coats and complain about the weather (I'm pretty sure "weather" is the #1 casual conversation topic).  I actually base my clothing decisions on how Norwegians dress.  Before going out, I'll watch people walking outside from the window.  If people have jackets unzipped, I just wear a hat and coat;  If they have jackets zipped and scarves, I wear hat and gloves; If I see women wearing hats and men walking briskly, I stay inside (because women NEVER wear hats here and no one EVER, EVER walks briskly... if I see that it must mean some "Day After Tomorrow"-ness is going down.  That's how people get bronchitis... No thank you).

Unfortunately, I don't have a choice as I'm now all out of Ritz crackers.

ALT FOR NORGE




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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Culture/Human Experience (aka the blog post where I wear a Bunad)


I created a mini-stir with a status message I put up on Facebook the other day(by "mini-stir" I mean I induced a few people to "like" it).  In said post, I lamented that the worst type of ex-pats (and/or people, depending on your view) are those that use their life experiences to look down on others.

To clarify, I'm not saying people who choose to leave their country for any reason, regardless of whether its logical (love, work, cost of alcohol, etc.) or "not" (I feel stupid even adding the "not" because, if it makes sense to you, then do it... who cares about the social norm?), aren't extraordinary people (they should even write blogs!).  What I meant is that there is no life choice that gives anyone the right to look down on anyone else (well, perhaps organ donation... if you give me your kidney, you have the right to harp if I'm doing a keg stand).



Why bring this up?

A re-occuring sentiment I have noticed amongst other Americans here in Norway (and other parts of Europe) is one of disassociation.  

Not only a rejection of America as a place to live, but as a culture (I can't believe you call it soccer!  Personally, I don't know why anyone would be interested in American Football...), as an idea (Oh my God, you're following the U.S. Presidential Elections?), or as an identity (Look, I really insist that we stop speaking English and only speak <insert language here>).  In addition, this extreme aversion causes the person to view their approach as superior to anyone living differently (whether that means less assimilated ex-pats or those still living back in the USA).

Different paths work for different people...

I understand the need for immersion (even if I don't practice it the best) and agree that is the best way to learn/understand/ingratiate oneself into a different culture.  Its respectful to try and create as small of a cultural footprint as a foreigner in a new country (religious zealots, I'm looking in your direction).  However, that sense of embracing the new, native land does not, and should not, come at the expense of your old identity.

In an attempt to find the balance, I wanted to wear a bunad.


Much in how I wanted to try whale, pinnekjott, and reindeer (I had Reindeer pizza again on Tuesday... delicious!), I felt that the bunad was an important part of the culture that I wanted to experience.  If I'm going to have half-Norwegian children someday (maybe), I want to be able to at least be semi-knowledgable in case they have questions and mom isn't around.  

However, these experiences are for me, too.  

Norway is an amazing place, rich in tradition and heritage that is alien to my own life (no Bjorns or Anders in my family lineage).  The variation in foods, dialect, and customs between regions separated by a few miles (albeit, those miles may be a Fjord or mountain) can be vast.  I can't possibly sum the amount or respect and awe I have for landet.  So much that I almost didn't post this picture!


Seriously, though, I know that if I am to be successful in all aspects of life here, I have to do my part to learn as much as I can about the customs and people as I can.  Norge doesn't have to meet me halfway, I must cross the distance as much as possible.  It is the burden/journey/duty of being an ex-pat.  However, the other part of the pact is to not forget from where one came.  The saying shouldn't be "When in Rome, do as the Romans" it should be "When in Rome, become as Roman as possible.  However, don't forget home because, in the end, you will never, truly, be Roman."

Alt for Norge




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Monday, March 4, 2013

Friends amongst Killers



Hello, Oslo!!  It has been so long... But your boy is back.  It feels so good to be back!  Well, maybe not that good... but yeah, it was too long.

So... what have I missed?



So... nothing?

Good to know some things never change.

Well, for me, I returned with a beard... but better.  Good, because the Norwegian winter was acting all emo and keeping it cold here.  

Also, I made it back in time to go see The Killers at Telenor Arena!  

That's right... Space Age Norwegian Architecture.  Terror Dome in the back, Innocuous Store-front facade out front

The best, and worst, thing about Telenor Arena is that it's in the outskirts of Oslo in the Fornebu neighborhood.  The party doesn't have to worry about annoying the neighbors because there aren't any, but it also means there's only two ways to get there... a 20-30 minute bus or car ride from downtown Oslo (I guess helicopter would be the other one... where's the mambacopter when you need it?!?!?).

I pause here and have to thank Ruter for scrambling extra busses to ensure the to and from trips were only hellish (as opposed to the apocalypse that would've resulted if Daniel Snyder had been given the chance to host the evening).  So yeah... appreciate it.  The girl who used me as a human shield to avoid a creeper, unappreciated it.

Back to the concert.  Telenor was, originally, constructed to host soccer football games (while its indoor, the field is a full-size soccer game... yes, this is what happens when your country is covered in snow nine months out of the year) and so, there was a large mass of people gathered on the ground level in front of the stage.  Fortunately, I was in the seats that ringed the field and stage.

(Here's where I'd include one of the dozen or so photos that were taken, but the two ladies I was with haven't sent me the pictures yet)

There was a guy in a seat two rows in front of us with his laptop live blogging because he's more about this life than I am.

The show started with all the lights on and little fanfare... I think every band has a song that they don't really enjoy playing anymore, but they have to because it's a staple of their discography (I caught this vibe with "We are Young" at the Fun. show).  I bring this up because, again, all the lights were on and there was no warning, The Killers launched into "Mr. Brightside"... like, a really fast version of it.


Most of the crowd was in a "wait... what?" mode.


Things returned to normal speed after that and the show was decent.  The problems you might imagine were there (A place built for soccer football doesn't have the best acoustics), but I was still dancing and singing along for most of the show (yeah, there's like two albums of there's I'm going to pretend were never released... I'll let you guess which ones).  I nearly lost my voice screaming along to "All these things that I have done".  Good times.

Otherwise, it's back to the program, writing this blog, and living the dream in Norway


Alt for Norge






Like me on Facebook: facebook.com/OSLOST
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Buy my non-Norway based book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-New-Normal-ebook/dp/B008M0GPW2