A is for American... & Austria

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OK... first time E V E R I am going to try my best to participate in a blogging CHALLENGE..







I will be blogging an A-Z challenge. Every day a different letter... 

 I thought I would try to use this challenge to tell you a little more about me... my family.. and my life as an expat in Norway.

today the letter is A... and for me..

 A   is   for   A M E R I C A N...






There isn't a day that goes by that I am not reminded of who I am .. and where I come from.
And how much I miss my homeland and family..

Europeans are always amused when Americans say .. oh I am 1/2 this and 1/4 that...etc.

Guilty... I used to do the same thing..


I have been asked
 "when do Americans stop saying I am  1/2 this or that.. and just say..
I AM AMERICAN... ?"

I am pretty sure Americans start identifying themselves as AMERICANS when they become expats.. LOL

I dropped all of the 1/2 this and that.. when I realized how confusing it was for my children..

"Mom - are we 1/2 Norwegian 1/4 German 1/4 Scottish? -
 Where does the American fit in..? "

- I am thankful for all of the opportunities I have had to live and travel  abroad...
but the older I get.. and the chance of my going "home" becomes less and less..
the more patriotic I become... 

Proud to be an AMERICAN in Norway... :-) 

In addition, I am going to try to see if I have  traveled to a place with the letter of the day..


 A is for  AUSTRIA..




From a great European road trip, a couple of years ago.. :-)

Oh.. and ARGENTINA.. a few years ago.. on a wine tasteing with work .. :-)

Comments

Mary Aalgaard said…
Beautiful. Is your husband also American? We do have a bad habit of saying what our heritage is, and not claiming American.
http://pastryandpoetry.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html
April 1, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Unknown said…
I think it's because we're the children and grandchildren of emigrants.
So we honor their heritage by claiming it!
I do it too and I live here in the US born and raised here. I'm an American but I'm half Irish- both grandmothers came off the boat and so on..... Great topic!
April 1, 2012 at 9:39 PM
rach said…
I ran across the same thing when I moved overseas!! In the states we always broke it down and here its just your nationality. (although the majority of people you meet here are 100% irish so it wouldnt take them long to break it down haha!)
April 1, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Texas Yellow Rose said…
Whenever I am in Scotland, my response to "Where are you from?" is "Texas." Even here in the States, I (and most Texans if you notice) will not say, "Houston" or "Austin" as folks from other states do - "I'm from Chicago" and so forth. Texans typically say, "I'm from Texas." Don't know what that is, but we're state-specific instead of city-oriented. Welcome to the Challenge and good luck!
April 1, 2012 at 11:09 PM
pbquig said…
I understand, I've always been part this or part that until we traveled to Germany and then England and Scotland. Then I was what they saw American! I look forward to your travels.
Pam

Quig Land
A Pirate Looks Past Sixty
Pirate Knitting
April 2, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Empty Nester said…
Excellent point! I absolutely never thought about that! How is it in Norway? It's one place I've always wanted to visit.
April 2, 2012 at 12:39 AM
momto8 said…
fun to read and interesting points! Norway is so beautiful too! lucky you with your travels!!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
April 2, 2012 at 1:19 AM
Nicole said…
Very neat post! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
April 2, 2012 at 3:22 AM
Kelley with Amy's Angels said…
I love the letter for every day concept!!

I can't even get a blog post up a week much less every day. I'll just have to live through you! :)
April 2, 2012 at 3:32 AM
Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said…
Great start of your A to Z!!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind comment.

Doris
April 2, 2012 at 3:51 AM
Adrienne said…
I've never thought of it that way, but I haven't done any overseas travelling. Yes, I too am guilty of breaking down my heritage, and many in my family take great pride in examining the roots of our family tree! Interesting post!
April 2, 2012 at 4:04 AM
Stephanie said…
Honestly, I don't even try and figure out what my kids are. They're just Americans..and I am too. Occasionally I will comment on my 1/4 Italian, cause it's the only thing I know without a doubt. My dad is half Italian. The rest...who knows. I am a mutt!
April 2, 2012 at 5:31 PM
Dennis and Valerie said…
Thanks for visiting my blog- your blog title intrigued me so I came on over. Your post resonates with me. I especially liked the line about Americans identifying themselves as Americans when they become expats. So true! My first taste of that was when I moved to Canada and married a Canadian. I had no idea there was a fiercely patriotic heart pounding in my chest. I've been living outside of the USA for 14 years now- in Canada and now in the Philippines, but I'm still American inside!
April 3, 2012 at 1:28 AM
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