American in Norway

Feb. 4 Fantastic snow storm yesterday.. great. big. fat. flakes. but some of us.. were stuck inside working. I did manage to snap this at the end of our street. I made a mad dash to the beach when I was finished working.. but it was too late for any good light. bummer..

An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country, fatherland). (stolen from wikpedia...) First let me say that when I start getting all whiny & saying that I want to GO HOME... It has nothing to do with NORWAY ... There are many WONDERFUL things about living here in Norway.... I tend to get down & homesick when I have not -so-good-stuff- going on..... & just want to be home ...my home... with my family. My dearest friend here in Norway is named Leanna (also an expat...) & we know that we can always call each other & say "I am having a I hate (insert country) day..." & vent away.. Do we really hate the country? NOOOOOO... of course not... But somedays... living in a foreign country isn't as glamorous as all of my FACEBOOK friends think.... I thin...

Just had to share.. this makes me giggle. Not sure from where the bathtub or "sauna of vapour" (as we like to call it) is imported, but I am guessing English is not their first language.... And despite the image on the sign... our " sauna of vapour" does not double as a toilet This is reason #496 that I choose to not write in Norwegian.... I don't want to look like a total idiot. Really... if you were going to ship your product worldwide... don't you think you would have someone proofread your English.... ?

OK you have to sing this to "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors... catchy little tune from the 80's. It seems everyday I resist a little less... and I'm turning Norwegian.. Examples of my Norwegianism ... (yes kinda like a Bushism ) The sun is shining... and I feel like yelling it from the roof tops... THE SUN IS OUT... THE SUN IS OUT!. Which of course means I need to be outside doing SOMETHING... You can not be in the house when the sun is out.... In KC... I could give a big shit.... if the sun was out... and Oprah was on... forgetaboutit .... Sun was out & needed retail therapy... I was off to the mall. Because I have never lived in Alaska or Seattle... I just took sunshine for granted. Here I feel like I need to savour every delicious drop of light.... because you really aren't sure when it will disappear or if it will return. RETAIL THERAPY? I used to enjoy my days at the mall--- swinging by on my way home for work, hitting the sales at Jones store... or bet...