I've lived in Norway, off and on for 10 years.
Is been a place of peace and rejuvenation for me.
My first impressions, coming from Australia, was that it was picture perfect. The houses were charming and well kept. One hardly ever sees a house in bad repair.
I was shocked and frozen beyond my wildest dreams during my first winter. It was the coldest winter they had experienced in 50 years, so they say.
I had trouble adapting to the society. Norwegians are well known to be reserved, and many young people, even though they can speak English well, suffer from social shyness with foreigners.
But what a beautiful place. Its colours are vivid and its air so fresh and clean.
If you've ever tasted polse og lompe, you'll agree that Norwegian's are not well known for their culinary abilities. (Albert wants me to insert here that nugatti crisp is GORGEOUS, and to explain that this is only MY opinion, not his or Jett's. Jett, let me explain, loves his grandmother's macaroni and white sauce and carrots)
Let's keep this post positive. I'll start again.
Waffles, lett romme (sour cream), strawberries, and ... and... oh fudge.. I'll change topics..
I arrived in Norway in a new mind frame. I'd just been through a long period of self analysis. I needed to test the improvement's I'd made to my new model of me. I'm a big fan of self help books. If you like this kind of reading, maybe you'd like to read more.
Getting to the point, since I'm waffling (nudge, nudge), I love Norway. It represents peace, growth and protection.
We lived in the heart of the farming community in Hedmark. It has rolling green hills in the summer. They're golden and ready for harvest in the Autumn. And, er, white the rest of the time.
Strange stuff
- they leave their curtains open at night
- their winter tyres have nails in them
- they leave their babies outside in -15 degrees (in their prams and wrapped up)
- they think brown goats cheese is yummy
- they are decendents of rapists and murderers, bandits and thieves (Vikings) and people think this is cool, whereas Aussie's white inhabitants are just petty criminals to the British Empire. Can't tell you how many converations I've had listening to others tell me about my nation's criminality... and trying to be funny about it..
- they liked me
- they drink aquavit to drown out the taste of rotting fish
Once accepted, I felt at home there in a way I have never felt any where else. I was accepted for me. All of my craziness was put down to being a foreigner. I experienced kindness, respect and love.
And honestly, the coast line of Norway is a MUST if you are a world traveller. (I have to admit I met two Taiwanese men who said the coast of Japan (northern island) is better.)
Tusen Takk Norge! Glad i deg!
