Looking Forward
There bunches of things and places I’m looking forward revisiting and having available when we’re back in the States. People are more important but I’m not going to make a list of you. 
I will however, make a list of things and places:
What I look forward to:
- Papa John’s Pizza - it just isn’t the same here. We have it once a week but, eh….
- Johnny Rockets - great burgers and milkshakes. Milkshakes might be a wonderful American novelty.
- Old Navy
- Cinemas with buttered (instead of salted) movie popcorn and…
- American candy
- Having a home phone, not just mobile
- Dryer
- Dishwasher!!!!
- Kitchen storage/cabinets that aren’t wood frames with curtains over them and more of it
- Bathtub and bathroom storage or a real linen closet
- Lighting that isn’t connected “room” to “room” (Our main area [not the loft sleeping area] is one large room with a wall between the kitchen and living room. The light switch controls the lights over the dining area and a wall light in the living room. If Tim is up later on his puter either the lights are on (which isn’t a big problem for me, if I’m tired I can fall asleep with them on) or he turns them off and works by the smaller kitchen light. With that in mind…
- Separate spaces for dining and computing
- A floor that is one color
- Vaccuum cleaner, not just a sweeper that won’t do any good on bedloft carpet
- A bedframe with one, soft mattress
- An oven with heat from top *and* bottom
- A normal sink
- Dishes I picked out myself and weren’t just left [however kindly]
- Full kitchen with the small appliances
- An elevator or 2nd floor home
- Walls without crazy creases and cracks
- Real Hall Closet for boots and coats
- Road Trips to our favorite places
- IKEA with even better prices
- Spring and Summer that feels like it for the time it’s supposed to, a full Autumn, and a little more Winter light
- Church life with no translation necessary
- Dance classes with no translation necessary and more dance available to do and see
- More of the food options we really want (and understand)
- Benefits of American Insurance and Healthcare
- La Leche League
- My prefered social life
- Big stores where you can get anything in the catagory and more (Office Depot, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, Michael’s Crafts, Bed, Bath & Beyond)
- Supermarkets where you can, besides food, get your makeup and basic hair accessories and pharmaceuticals
- Not having to import my favorites (like chai)
- Lower cinema and movie rental costs
- All my stuff in my possession
- Being there for birthdays, holidays, visits and events
- Showing off Munchkin in person
- Saying I lived my first year and half of marriage and gave birth to our first in Norway, and saying so in my own country
- Not having to renew papers to be a legal resident, not having to translate official documents or any documents at all
- Being able to say things in a less known language and knowing something about a different (but not so different) culture
- Implementing my favorite parts of this culture
- Making a fuller home, including a nursery
- Chick-Fil-A
- Panda Express
- Driving
- Wendy’s (jr. bacon cheeseburger and taco salad and frosties)
- Better service in stores, etc.
If I left this list as a draft another day, it might double in size… therefore, I’m posting now.
What I will be leaving behind:
- Some classier and higher fashion (though it’s expensive and I basically just observe ;))
- Benefits of Norwegian Insurance and Healthcare
- Fun bath store Saape
- Scultures and fountains everywhere (especially in Vigeland Sculpture Garden)
- Not having to care for a car
- A culture where public nursing is normal
- Laura and Hans Andresen
- Chris and Katy Pines
- The frequent walking that keeps me healthier (living on the 4th floor does this too but I won’t really miss it)
- Using common Norwegian phrases like “ha det” (bye), unskyyld (sorry, excuse me), “tusen takk” (a thousand thanks or thanks very much) or “takk for sist” (thanks for last time or nice to see you again), “vaer så god” (here you go, you’re welcome - used in many cases), “hei hei” (”hi” - twice) and hearing “et øyeblikk” (one moment, literally an eyeblink ;))
Oh! And going to Hair Cuttery instead of paying about $50 for a normal trim!!
Slurpees from 7-Eleven! They don’t have those in the 7-Eleven’s here.
Dryers! I definately miss those. Luckily Lee works on the American Air force base so I can get some American food and all my products at American prices, plus they have the library!!! I do miss my favorite spots at home though and just the comfort of knowing where everything is and how and where to get things you need. So when are you going back to the states?
We’ll be back in March. No definite date but our visas expire the 4th.
Any specific european fashions?
Uuuhh… when I think about it, I’m not so sure what precisely I mean…. The things I can think of that I actually like, I think I can do in the US too, fun skirts with boots. While I haven’t bought a lot, I’ve seen things but do my “window shopping” online as I am used to doing - Old Navy, Delias, Chadwicks, etc. I don’t claim to be very fashionable. I have bought a few things here, mostly from H&M. I know the store has a location at Arundel Mills and after hearing so much about it from R-MWC friends who traveled abroad, I looked and didn’t see much I liked. I was wondering if it’s different so I’ll have to check it out when I return. I’d also heard about Accessorize. It’s a really cool store but it’s not cheap. I’ve bought two tiny gifts there but nothing for me.
I do think you can find the more “one of a kind” designery pieces here though. I think it may also be more common to see designer bags and things. I see Louis Vuitton purses often. You’ll have to let me know what you see when you come and we can compare notes.