Polenta

Merry Christmas! For Christmas dinner we went back to our roots and did it Italian style. An easy and fun dish was warm polenta with chopped chives, handfuls of grated Fontina cheese, some cooked corn kernels, and toasted pine nuts on top.

Glogg party

It is nice during Christmas to stop by friends' houses to drink Glogg (mulled wine with spices, raisins, nuts) and eat kransekake, krumkaker, gingerbread cookies, and clementines.

Shoe, nei, fish

Charlotte is expanding her vocabulary and has started say variations of the words: shoe, sock, fish, brush, milk, up, cheers, hot, and of course... nei (means no). Why is it always that they learn no before they learn yes? She likes practicing her cousins' names too. Bryce comes out pretty well, but Zachary sounds more like "za zee!"

More on stars

I checked into it, and as far as I can tell, the Greater Dog and Lesser Dog are actually Orion's hunting dogs. Ursa Major or Big Dipper is something else.

Stars in the morning

I walked Charlotte to Solhellinga in the morning (her daycare) and it was really magical. It is so dark out at 7:30 still that you feel like you are out for a stroll in the middle of the night. She babbled to me and I talked back and we looked up at the stars. I saw several triangle groupings, but could not make out a full constellation. Here, they talk about the Dog and the Big Dog. Maybe that is the Big Dipper and Little Dipper? There are several meteor showers to be seen in the skies here now as well.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

Wait a minute... isn't this Norway? Norway - the place far far up North (part of the country even North of the Arctic Circle) where it is cold and dark and snowy? I have been hearing reports from friends of lots of snow in Michigan, New York, and Europe, but none here! We finally got an inch or two one day last week, but it was gone by the afternoon. And that is it! Just rain, rain, rain. Things are still very green because of all of the rain. It has even been pretty warm lately with temps up to 7 degrees celsius (45 F). I have been asking people - what's up? Global warming, or what?! Nope... typical. It is not uncommon to have a Green Christmas in Oslo. The snow begins in January and lasts until April or May.

52 Pick up

Charlotte has been in the habit lately of doing the following. She walks around with a little bowl of dry cereal bits. She inadvertently drops a couple. Then, she bends over to pick those up, and is unaware that the bowl is tilting with her. All of them pour onto on the floor! She assesses the situation, takes a deep breath, and says "uh-oh." And each and every time it is in the same reaction. Isn't there something about learning from one's mistakes? Or maybe she does it intentionally... either way it is funny to watch. Now I am teaching her to pick them up and put them in the bowl, but usually she picks them up and puts them in her mouth.

Fit

I have never seen so many athletic and fit people! It is very common to bike to work (and not just leisurely bike - it is racing speed!) and so many people roller ski when there is not snow. People hike, walk, everything. Then in the Winter it is skiing, skiing, skiing - alpine, telemark, and nordic. And still some bike to work throughout Winter.

Stars

We hung up some Christmas stars around the house today. They are big white stars made of cut paper and they hang in the windows. We have one that fits over a light as well and makes the house warm and cozy. The stockings are hung with care and we have hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here! (in four weeks, that is...)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is not at all celebrated in Norway. Only by the Americans who have migrated here, or by Norwegians who have spent a lot of time in the states and brought this tradition back home with them. So, no time off work. But... the American population is large enough that specialty stores carry the basic Thanksgiving staples! Cranberry sauce, cranberries, stuffing mix, pumpkin pie filling, turkey, and sweet potatoes. We had a fantastic dinner at our place with the family and it tasted just as good as it does in the states! The only thing we had to import was Turkey gravy. Thanks Mom! And thanks Lars and Heidi for carrying it all the way here.

Do you stand on skis?

"Står du på ski?" This is how you ask if someone skis, but directly translated it means "do you stand on skis?" Kind of cute.

Economic boom

Times are good in Norway now. What this means is that people like to shop, people travel and live well, and... people have way too much work to do. Unemployment is near zero, so companies just can't find enough people to hire. As a consultant, I find the challenge is trying to get enough resources from my company to get the job done, but also that the clients I work with have very little time to dedicate to projects since they are over-worked as it is. At least we are all in the same boat and are understanding of the challenges. : )

Dark

It is dark! The days keep getting shorter. As of now, it is not light until 8:30 and starts getting dark already at 3:00. The Norwegians are very good at "being seen" in the dark. They are big on reflective gear. All the kids wear flourescent vests with reflective strips, they clip reflective disks on their backpacks, and the adults wear athletic gear with reflective strips or they strap strips to their everyday outerwear. It is a big campaign each year as it starts to get dark... see and be seen! 'se og bli sett!"

Paris

Paris... je t'aime! We spent a short, but perfect weekend in Paris for my birthday. It was a surprise and quite the birthday gift! Cafe, croissant, Eiffel tower, love, sunshine, boulangerie, fromage, Louvre, Notre Dame, and walking hand in hand. It was absolutely perfect and I think I have to say now that France, particularly Paris, is at the top of my list of places I want to go to again.

Sick day law

Interesting how sick days work... employees are permitted 12 sick days a year (without doctor's orders), but they are not single days. They are in groups of four. So, if you are sick one day only, you have used up four days. This results in different behaviors than you see in the US: people do not generally work from home when sick, people tend to only stay home if seriously or highly contagiously sick, people often are out of work for four days when sick (or at least more than one day).

North Pole

I had to laugh when I was browsing through the Oslo newspapers to find the weather in Texas. Nope. Closest was Los Angeles. But there was weather for the North and South Poles!

Nature is very sacred here. People value fresh air, clean water, and lots of time outdoors. Even TV programs are filmed outside! There is something called BarneTV (Kids TV) every night for 30 minutes. They often film much of the show outside, with a few cartoons in between. Weekends at winter cabins or summer homes are treasured since they entail lots of fresh air and time outdoors.

Apple!

Charlotte started saying "ha det" a while back (Norwegian for good-bye) but it has taken months for any other words to come out. She just started saying "apple" and it sounds more like "ahhh-poo?" since her voice goes up at the end. She climbs up on a stool then summits a neighboring chair to declare victory over the fruit bowl. It is hard not to give her a piece of apple when she holds it in her hand and says "ahh-poo?"

She is saying "pappa" too but no "mamma!"

Blankets

It is so cozy in Norway, especially when it is cold. The restaurants and cafes still use their outdoor seating, but they embellish it with heat lamps and thick blankets on every chair. When you walk the streets you can see people cuddling up with a coffee and a blanket wrapped around them, or enjoying a meal al fresco with a blanket across their lap.

Lamb, walks, doors, wine, movies

What have we been up to?

Going for walks in the evening and enjoying the fresh smell of Autumn air, the clear blue skies, and the colorful Fall leaves.

Fixing up the house - we got new doors! Nils was not so happy that all trim and moulding is different for every room and not so attractive. The doors were different too throughout the house and many were stained and damaged and too thin to muffle any sound. So, we are starting to put new doors in! I admire Nils handiwork.

Had a fun wine and cheese party with some friends. We had wines from South Africa, California, Chile, Spain, and Italy. We can highly recommend Waterstone Merlot (I was surprised I liked a Merlot!), Santa Rita Carmenere, and Cape Peak. As for cheese, must try thin slices of manchego drizzled with olive oil, toasted pine nuts and basil leaves.

Borrowing DVDs from friends - it has been cheesy comedy mostly (Blades of Glory and Wild Hogs) and next on the list is Blood Diamond and Wedding Crashers. Any suggestions for good movies that are a year old? The new DVDs in America will not be here yet for six months.

Eating the traditional Fall food in Norway - får i kål. It is easy to make! Take a big pot, put fatty but good lamb pieces in the bottom, layer with wedges of cabbage, whole peppercorns, more lamb, more cabbage, more peppercorns, some salt, etc. Put in some water (about an inch or two), put a lid on, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook for four hours. Yum!

This one is for Lindsay, Bonnie, and Bob!

I miss my family. Thought you three should know. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs from me to you.

The smell of fresh baked bread

This smell can be found many places in Norway. Bread is such a food staple. Fish is too, but I have to say I find the aroma of fresh baked bread slightly more tempting. You will smell fresh bread in many homes, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, grocery stores, and... gas stations. Yes, gas stations. Do not underestimate the Norwegian gas station! Not to mention being the only place to shop on Sundays, gas stations here offer fresh baked bread and pastries daily. You can read my former entry about the award-winner bolle baker at the Voss gas station for confirmation.

Høstjakta er i gang!

Making up for lost time. Here comes more from us. Make sure you catch the entry below though, since I made two entries today for October 13th.

Commute - funny that Nils works at a place that is about 45 minutes from where we live. I work at a place that is the opposite direction (toward the City) about 10 minutes from where we live. But, with traffic heading into Oslo, it ends up taking us both 45 minutes to get to work!

Høstjakta - I heard this a lot as soon as Summer was over. It means Fall Hunt, which in Norway means lots of things. First and foremost, it means going out in nature and hunting. Moose is the big target. It has come to mean other things too (as far as I have concluded from asking around). It is used a lot in marketing, for example. Stores advertise that it is Høstjakta! There are discounts and special seasonal clothes and things on sale. Then, at work we have Høstjakta too. I am not sure what the work context is. Maybe just that it is that time of year to have a new focus, or to have a Fall party! And 'høstjakta er i gang!' means that the fall hunt is underway.

(Tooth)brush my hair

I like how Charlotte thinks. We introduced a new little pink toothbrush to her a couple weeks ago. It started as a nuisance, but then once she got to hold it and play with it, it became more fun. But, when given a baby hair brush to play with at the same time, it suddenly became evident that in her young mind, a brush is a brush! She began tooth-brushing her hair and hair-brushing her teeth. Okay I guess as long as the hair doesn't become dental floss. And when she starts toothbrushing my hair it has gone too far. But, she now helps me brush my hair in the morning with an adult brush. That is just the best way to start my day!

She is now feeding herself a little bit with a spoon, and picking up bites of adult food on her own. She loves to take a whole plum or apple and gnaw on it for a while. She eats almost the whole thing sometimes. As soon as she turned one, she figured out how things fit together. She loves to put the cap on her bottle when she is done, and she sits at her little table stacking and re-stacking cups. She smiled with pure pride yesterday when she discovered how to put the cap on her marker!

Mamma? Still not much talking though! When I say 'Charlotte can you say Mamma?' She replies with a smile and says 'Daaaa - deee!' Fine with me as long as that is whose name she calls in the middle of the night, right?

Colors

Colors - it is Autumn! It came so fast! I was on vacation in New Mexico for 4 days and when I came back it was suddenly here. And after just a week, it looks like it is almost over! The leaves have turned and many are falling. We are enjoying the fresh Autumn smell and the beautiful red, orange, yellow colors while they last.

No Net - we ordered internet 8 weeks ago. No luck yet! We are trying to squeeze in a couple minutes from work or go to friends' houses.

Coming home - So on the New Mexico trip I mentioned, I experienced for the first time coming home to Norway. It did not feel 100% official, since I still am a US citizen and stand in the non-European line at customs. In one way, I feel no where is my home (I am not European, but I do not live in America) and in other ways I feel I have two homes, since it feels great coming back to visit the States, and feels wonderful to come home to Norway too. Americans seem less serious. I like that. Norwegians seem more cosmopolitan, and I like that too.

Halloween - thanks for your ideas. Charlotte is going to be a ladybug! I managed to pick up a costume while in New Mexico. As for Nils and I... hmm... Kim had a good suggested. A tree and a leaf! Charlotte's buddies in New York sent her a pink leopard costume that is super cute, so she will get to be a leopard too. It is a warm one so she will use it for trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Thanks, Luka and Lily!

Liver

Liver - Yes, liver. Does the thought of eating liver make you feel hungry? Or does it make you feel sick? For little mouths around Norway it is the former. Kids everywhere eat liverpate and love it. Many eat it just about every day! Think of it as Norway's peanut butter. It is smeared on bread and gobbled up (though not with jelly!). If you don't think you would like it, I challenge you to come over for lunch. You might be surprised!

More about lunch - This one is for you New Yorkers who eat lunch at 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The general lunchtime at Norwegian businesses is 11:30. Sometimes even as early as 11! And it is a quick affair. No lounging around for an hour or more. It is still a social time and lots of fun to talk with colleagues, but I have found that it is best to pick food that requires little chewing so you actually have time to talk. Soup it is!

Like to cook?

Do you like to cook? If you do, this is the place for you. It is not so typical to eat out. We have changed our dining ways... from going to the gym in lieu of dining together to now cooking and eating together every day. Every day! Maybe not so revolutionary to most, but a change for us. We draw up a menu every Saturday, do our grocery shopping on Sunday, and eat simple meals all week. Tomorrow the Hoivik household will dine on grilled chicken, wild rice, and mixed greens salad with a creme fraiche dressing. Do you have a special dish that is super easy to make with few ingredients? Send our way.

Wedding - Nils' sister got married yesterday. Big day for the family! She was one big smile the whole day.

Speaking of sisters - Happy Anniversary Lindsay and Jason!

New Job

New Job - on Monday I began my first job in Norway as a project leader for software installations. Very exciting. It feels like two jobs right now since I am learning the language while I am learning about the business. My team is very helpful, and so far so great!

Halloween - any ideas for what Nils, Charlotte, and I can be for Halloween? I need to get outfits together... keep in mind there are not really stores here that sell outfits so readily like in the States.

Coffee - some things never change, even across the ocean. Everyone here drinks as much coffee as everyone in New York did. There is something about work that seems to drive us to drink... coffee that is. There is often a morning coffee, an after lunch coffee, and a late afternoon coffee. Very good coffee I might add. It gives Flavia a run for its money, and then some (that is for you PwCers).

Grøt

Grøt - pronunciation hmm, well, it sort of rhymes with foot, book, look. This is a food, sort of like a porridge. I am not sure exactly what time of day and on what occasion it is normally eaten, but I know there is a sour cream grøt or rice grøt (like rice pudding) served around Christmas time. But people also say that it is kind of a Saturday lunch, or something to eat after you have been out in the cold skiing. It is delicious! Rich and satisfying. There is even a semolina grøt that tastes kind of like cream of wheat. Usually sugar and butter are put on top and sometimes cinnamon. And it is tradition to drink black currant juice (kind of watered down) along with it. Charlotte eats it every Monday at daycare. She looooves it.

Ice Cream - we had a parents meeting for our daycare last night. The caregivers were telling us about a birthday party they had on Monday for a boy who turned 1. They thought it would be so koselig (you read my prior blog entry about this word, right?) to have ice cream cones together, everyone sitting around the table and celebrating Philip's birthday. Well, one girl started touching the ice cream in front of her with a face full of surprise since it felt so cold. Charlotte dove in and tried to eat it all until she realized how cold it was, which was when screaming ensued, and the birthday boy did not have any interest in it whatsoever! We had to laugh.

Helly Hansen - you might have seen this brand of outdoor gear before. It is the premier brand in Norway, made here and adored here. Charlotte is now fully equipped from head to toe in HH rain gear and winter mittens. Why do we buy the best things for our kids but not ourselves? Maybe I will cave in and buy myself a nice HH jacket for winter.

Valg 2007 - it is election year here! Vote 2007. I am learning about the political parties and leaders. A very good time to be introduced to the country's politics. You may have heard of Jens Stoltenberg. He is the prime minister of Norway. Some of the parties are the Worker party (Jens is the leader), the Right, Christian, FRP, Center, Socialistic Left, and Left. There was a school election and the Right won. We shall see what happens in the real election!

Walking

Charlotte is walking! - Last week she took her first steps and now is going full speed all over the place. Steps and bumps are a challenge, but she manages to fall pretty gracefully most of the time.

Winter in August? - Yes, Norway is cold. If anyone had any doubts, I can report that yes, it is cold. The last week of August was particularly chilly with night temperatures almost in the 40s. Our bedroom is the last room to get a heater installed, so brrr! But, Norwegians believe there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. It is true. If you wear enough clothing to bed, you sleep sound as a hound.

Gangbro

There are some words and phrases that I have to think twice about. How would you interpret these in English?

1. Gangbro

2. Din fart

If I could write the answers upside down like in the newspaper quizzes, I would, but the first word means 'walking bridge' (it is not an eubonics expression for a brother who is a member of a gang) and the second expression means 'your speed' (not whatever else you were thinking). That's something you would see while driving, when there is a device by the side of the road that displays your speed.

Plus, I confuse things like 'reke' and 'rekke' which look very similar but are pronounced differently and have much different meanings. For example, we live in a 'rekkehus' which is a townhouse. But you eat 'reke' which are shrimp. I think I have been telling people I live in a shrimp house!

Moving In!

Boxes - boxes, boxes, everywhere boxes! We received our shipment last week, so there has been inordinate amount of unpacking, organizing, cleaning, appliance-shopping, painting, picture-hanging, and clothes-washing going on. Plus, no internet, hence the lack of communication from my end. We are starting to see a living room where all the boxes used to be, so it won't be too long until normal life returns.

Cucumber - It is so neat how homogenous some things are here. I have to realize this is a much smaller country than where I came from. For example, cucumber and tomato. Nearly everyone buys these regularly at the grocery store. They are very useful vegetables, mind you, as they are great on top of an open-faced sandwich, in a salad, or as a garnish. It is just amazing how pervasive they are.

Home - Our new home is better than we dreamed! It is a townhouse high up on a hill, with lots of trees, sunlight, a small little garden, a nice garage, and cozy fireplaces. Nils has been painting, painting, and painting, and fixing things up. We are nearly moved in after just 10 days, so that's not too bad. It helps to have friends and family nearby to make things easier.

People

People - I love listening to non-Norwegian looking people speaking Norwegian. I think it is pretty amazing that people who come from countries all over the globe learn this unusual language. It is fun hearing all of the different accents and dialects. People can tell I am American.

More about people - People here are generally very good at remembering things about you. You tell them a small detail once, and they remember it for life.

Rain - Norway (especially the county where we live) has set a record for rain this Summer! More rain than it has had in 60 years or something like that. We are still looking for pockets of sun, blue sky, and rainbows to keep us happy.

More about rain - Norwegians have an expression... there is no such as bad weather, just bad clothing! It is true! When it rains and pours, kids play outside all day. But they all wear a full rain suit! Is that fun, or what? I want my own adult rain suit so I can jump in puddles too.

Fish Truck

Fish Truck - Can you believe it? Yes, there are ice cream trucks here, but there are also fish trucks! The fish truck actually comes to your door (well, the driver does) and offers you the fresh fish caught today. They come in the late afternoon so you can cook it for dinner.

New house! - We got the keys to our place last Friday, so we are in the thick of fixing it up so we can move in this weekend. There is much to do, but we will just get the ceilings painted, and Charlotte's room fixed up. The rest can be done over the next year or so.

Job - I got a job offer a couple days after the interview last week, and I have accepted! I am very excited. I start in September as a project leader for software installations.

Horten - That is a city down on the shore before southern Norway. It is where Nils' office is. His first day at work is today!

Hedgehog

Zach - Happy Birthday to you! 3 Years old today. We miss you and send you hugs and sweet dreams of cars.

Grandpa - Happy Birthday to you too! And many more...

Hedgehog - I saw my first hedeghog today. I don't think I've ever seen one before. Sadly, though, when I saw him I was driving into Oslo in rush hour, stuck in the traffic, and he was roadkill.

Teeth - Charlotte is getting some teeth up on top. We heard her grinding her teeth this morning, so we know they will be popping out soon.

Plums - We are on vacation still with our in-laws, and enjoying the warm summer weather today. Sitting by the pool, enjoying the sun, and eating fresh plums from the tree.

Fjords!

Fjords - We have officially seen fjords. They are absolutely amazing. During our quick 3-day driving tour around central/western Norway we saw some very diverse landscapes: rolling hills of farmland, deep and steep fjords with forested cliffs and tranquil water, barren mountain tops dotted with snow, and charming small towns with colorfully painted buildings and clear air. We started in Lærdal, took the 3 hour ferry ride to Gudvangen, a short drive past Voss, then a ferry to Utne. Gorgeous, gorgeous views everywhere. This was the largest fjord in the world, Sognefjord, and it cuts so deep into Norway's middle that we could travel there from Oslo in just a few hours driving. At places it is over 4000 feet deep! And if you have an urge to see waterfalls, this is place to be! "Foss" after foss after foss. Some are tiny, some drop thousands of feet, and some come rushing down the cliffs splashing into the fjord water. And we saw a glacier too! Please visit... we would love to take you here.

Boller - These are yummy sweet rolls. Nils is an excellent boller baker. On our journey, we tasted an award winning bolle filled with little chocolate pieces. You'll never guess who the baker was. A gas station owner! He sells them at his gas station in the town of Voss.

Interview - I have an interview Wednesday for a project manager position with portal installations. Wish me luck.

Cabin - We visited the family cabin in the mountains (the ones I mentioned above that are barren with lakes and snow. And sheep! We saw a herd of sheep every day, travelling back and forth to graze. Not much to graze on there! The roof is a grass roof which Lars had just cut. Nice, freshly clipped grass roof. Could anything be cozier?

Norah Jones - Last Friday, before we left on our excursion, a good friend took me to a Norah Jones concert in Oslo. One word - unbelievable. Every time she started singing a song, we could not believe her voice was real. It is that good. She had a wonderful show, filled with diverse songs (old, new, experimental/instrumental). I forget we no longer have huge American venues that hold tens of thousands of spectators, with lines to get in. We just walked right in 5 minutes after the starting time, saw plenty of open chairs, and got to sit about 100 yards from her.

Koselig - (koosh ih lee) This Norwegian word sort of means cozy and nice. It is said often. This is a very "cozy" culture. Maybe because it is so chilly most of the year, people have to be cozy to stay warm. The concert was koselig (small audience, intimate, relaxed, casual) and being on someone's sailboat is koselig (at night when you sit out on the boat together talking enjoying the view) and in general life here is koselig!

Not 50

Video - if you don't yet have a webcam, please get one and call us! We miss everyone back in the States and would love to see you. Our Skype name is HoivikN.

Not 50 - one thing I have not figured out yet is speed limit signs. It is common to show what the speed limit is not rather than what the speed limit is. For example, if you are leaving one zone, it might have a 50 with lines through it. Which means literally not 50. But if it is not 50, what is it? There is a system that everyone who lives here knows, but I have not yet figured it out. I guess most country roads are 80, so if it reads not 50, you can now go 80. But if it reads not 40, it might be 60. Hmm...

Summer - when it is sunny and warm in Norway, there is no better place to be! Everything is so vivid and picturesque. Every view is like a postcard, and better. That's why there is an expression "don't sleep the summer day away." It does not last long, but every day should be fully enjoyed. So, now that it is sunny and gorgeous outside, I can't be sitting here writing!

Santa in July

Pool - Charlotte took a morning dip in the chilly pool. She can't get enough of it, but when her teeth start chattering, we take her out for a warm bath.

Birthday - It is our friend Brian's birthday today. Happy Birthday Brian! ... and many more...

Rainbow - It was such a pretty day today, warm, bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. And in the evening we even saw a rainbow! It was like a sunbow, because there was no rain.

4 - correction to a prior entry. Not all cell phone numbers start with 9. Now they have reached the limit and some start with 4. : )

Santa - and you thought Santa lived at the North Pole. He lives in Norway! In a cute little seaside town called Drøbak, where they claim his official post office is. Reb & Bri - your anniversary card was sent from there, so look for a Santa stamp (called Jule Nisse) on your envelope!

Sauce - We have learned that sauce is important to have whenever meat is served. If it is missing, there may be faces filled with surprise. Maybe we have found the link between this and the Minnesotans with their gravy?

Passat!

Passat - we got a car! After test driving several cars and assessing the used car market in the area, we settled on a black 2004 Volkswagen Passat stationwagon. We liked the way it drove, and it was the most practical, safe, and fun one we could find. We pick it up Wednesday since we negotiated a fresh coat of paint. Can't wait! To celebrate, we are thinking of taking a drive to the west coast of Norway to see some fjords.

Baby food - now I know why there is so little jarred baby food sold in Norway. Mothers usually get a year off, so they are able to make the baby food themselves. By the time they go back to work, the babies are eating table food, so there is little demand. We have been making our own food for Charlotte now. Peas, carrots, potatoes, green beans, celery, onion, cauliflower, zucchini mostly. She seems happy with it. Fruit is easy to find, fortunately. She still refuses meat. We have tried chicken, lamb, and beef so far. Maybe turkey or fish will be the magic ticket.

Dugnad - (doog - nahd) this is a Norwegian thing. It is a day, usually once or more a year, when the community gets together to work on something. It could be your neighborhood, church group, family, etc. and the project might be painting a fence, cleaning up a yard, planting flowers, or building something. Everyone is expected to participate. We had a mini dugnad yesterday, cleaning up a property the family is selling. Fun to work together.

Used Car Salesman

Used Car Salesman - We went browsing today for a new car. Forget the stereotypical used car salesman type. The people we worked with were so calm, spoke so quietly, and mostly listened and asked questions. It was a nice experience.
Horse - I sadly discovered that my favorite sausage here (a dark kind of salami thing) has horse meat in it! I was devastated. And ashamed that I ate horse. Blech! Note to self... translate before eating.
9 - The number all cell phone numbers begin with in Norway. Cool, huh?

Drive

Drive - I took my first drive alone to the store. Very fun. I spoke Norwegian and bought black peppercorns, rice, baby detergent, and bananas. That was fun. The new babyfood is not going well in Charlotte's tummy, so I also got peas, carrots, and green beans so we could make her some good old homemade dinners.

Currants - Nils and I picked a huge bowl of currants from the front yard. They were super delicious and ended up in a summer cake later that night.

Trespassing - No such thing here! Well, pretty much no such thing, as long as you are not jumping a fence or damaging property. You can walk where you like. We took a long walk with friends today and walked around some country roads to a little harbor with a view of some neighboring islands.

Baby needs a new pair of shoes! - Somehow I left NY without proper shoes. I only had sandals and running shoes. Not the best for the cooler Norwegian weather. Nils and I went shopping and got me a new pair of shoes - some nice black heels.

Midnight Sun?

Midnight Sun - Scandinavia is the land of the midnight sun. In Summer, you can expect 20 hours of daylight each day. It is amazing. For me, with a jet-lagged baby, it has been midnight crying more than midnight sun. Charlotte is still adjusting and has been awake from 11:30 to 1:00 in the morning the past two nights, crying and moaning until she settles herself back to sleep. It is not all bad. I use the time to read magazines and write emails. Reminds me of the first days after she was born, when I emailed at 3 in the morning while she slept in my arms!

Immigration - I have officially immigrated to Norway this morning! People are nice here. Workers in the government offices are kinder than I am used to. They are more helpful and not so rigid. Nils and Charlotte registered with the local office too, stating that they have officially moved here. Now I am free to get a job. Another thank you to Jack for passing on contact information for two Norwegian women who might be able to help.

Beach - Charlotte dipped her toes into Norwegian water for the first time yesterday! We walked down to a little beach just 10 minutes from where we are staying. The sand was warm and soft, and the water was a surprisingly comfortable temperature. She and I rolled up our pants and waded in the water and enjoyed the sunshine. The sun is very strong here as we are closer to it. There were two little girls fishing for crabs, standing on the rocks nearby. The were talking, talking, talking and I was pretending to understand them. It is too strange for kids to see adults who don't speak a language as well as they do. Perplexing. I learned the word for splash so I could at least say "Plask, plask!" when they jumped into the water near us. Why is it so cute when little kids speak in another language? I loved hearing them talk in Norwegian.

Elk - It is delicious. We ate elk carbonader (sort of like a burger, sans bun) for dinner with my in-laws and it was sensational.

First Day in Norway

A good friend suggested I start a blog when I moved to Norway to capture and share some experiences and impressions. Thanks, Jack! I am a writer of the most elementary kind, so expect nothing more than some brief entries and thoughts.


Day 1 21 July 2007

Exits - As we drive from the airport, I notice there are no exit numbers on the expressway. I really need to study a map to know what is behind me and what is ahead of me; to have a point of reference. I have been to Norway before, of course, but for some reason never noticed this.

Keyboard - I am writing with a Norwegian keyboard, so I will not use any contractions. The apostrophe is not where I am used to it being. Maybe I will get used to it eventually.

Quiet - It is so quiet! We were on a walk and heard everything (and nothing). It is sooo still. You can hear seagulls out in the fjords and hear water lapping against the docked boats in the distance. Maybe because there are no air conditioners? People talk so quietly. A far cry from Manhattan! It is so loud on the street you have to shout to be heard by the person walking next to you. We love Manhattan, so realize this is just observation not criticism.

Sundays - Everything is closed. We knew this, but it is different when you live it. It is a good thing. You cannot run errands even if you want to.

Berries - Yum! We picked and ate wild strawberries, raspberries, and currants while out on a short walk last night. It is a dream come true. The strawberries were super tiny. The size of a pea.

Colorful - The air is so clear that all the colors stand out. Bright red and yellow houses, blue water, bright blue sky, and green grass.