The following are all the postings categorized under: ‘Norway’ -- if you cannot find what you are looking for here, try using Search or browse by tags.
Get out the sweaters, it’s cold in Norway. Autumn may be over for Oslo. It’s been in the single celsius digits in the a.m. and now it’s 3pm and still under 10 degC!!! Not only sweaters, but hats and scarves too. Gloves may even be necessary. …
I enjoy driving. I don’t like traffic, but there is something about having a car and driving yourself around that can be very pleasant. We don’t have a car here and I have no desire to try and learn a foreign system and patterns. I’m very comfortable …
Tim and I spent Saturday evening with a cool new couple. Laura is American and Hans is Norwegian but at first you might hardly know that. Obviously he speaks the language but he spent university years in the Netherlands and has been in the US for a while so he hardly has a Norwegian accent. They were married in August and have barely been here a month. They probably would have remained in the US but getting a residence visa here is easier than immigration in the States so for now Oslo (though Hans is from Sandefjord) is their home.
At one point during our conversation (I hope they didn’t think I always talk so much and so seemingly incoherently! Or cut off Tim so frequently; I’m working on that, he’s more thoughtful when he speaks) Laura asked what I will miss when we move. I had a blank expression and looked at Tim as if he could answer for me. I didn’t want to say there is nothing I’ll miss because I do like the country, it’s a nice place. I guess when I heard the word “miss” I thought of things I’d be sad to leave or things that could encourage me to stay. I can’t think of anything could be great enough to make me want to stay though there are things about this country and it’s people that are really good. I was reminded of some of them as we all kept talking. Tim and I just watched “The Prince and Me” about a Danish prince and American girl and seeing European scenery (Denmark & The Czech Republic) also encouraged some affection for my Scandinavian home.
We are returning to the States for good early March 2006.
Our visas expire on the 4th so it will be within the days before that. There’s a lot to do before then, and it is better than having a month to get it all together. We …
It isn’t fair. Why does it have to be so difficult to move to and just plain live in the US? It’s easier to stay here. It’s expensive all right, but with those high taxes, insurance and health care is so much easier. It doesn’t make …
While talking about our decision to stay in Norway or leave, we seemed to build a catalog of differences between the two countries.
I was thinking only about all the things necessary for a move. This taught me how single-minded or purpose-driven I can be. I’m convinced I can get everything together in a short period of time, just leave it to me. I’m not working in October so I have plenty of time for rest and planning. Tim however worried about all the things that will build up for doing once we hit land in the US. This created a catalog of differences.
Lauren (formerly known as L.J.) was notified today that her visa has been granted!! Yay, we’re both legal now and can be paid.
Well, there are a few more steps she has to go through. She takes her passport and notification to the UDI (Directorate of Immigration). …
“Hvor er…?” In other words, where is such and such. There are a bunch of phrases and questions you can learn before coming to Norway but I don’t recommend asking strangers these phrases. If you try, (pronunciation errors aside) you will likely get an answer you don’t …