American in Norway

Been trying to think of a title for this post... One bad apple..."No more Mrs. Welcome Wagon" I am seriously BUMMED today... I have always been very open about my life as an expat. I have always tried to be as helpful as possible.... helping other expats getting adjusted... I was let down in a really big way by someone I went out of my to help... Its my own fault really... I put myself out there to people I don't know. Thank GOODNESS it was only myself who was professionally mortified ... I think the reason I do this is because I WISH I had had someone to help me through the transition of moving to another country... advice.. telling me all of my mixed emotions are normal. Many of us expats go through this identity crisis... Yes, you may have had a good job at home... you may have a good education.. you may have had many great possibilities at HOME... but that means nothing when you get to a foreign country... you play by their rules. You can't tell people how ...

WARNING ... this is a weepy expat post... so turn away NOW...if you don't want to listen to my moaning.... Yesterday at work I was speaking with an old lady... I repeated myself twice...she still didn't hear or understand me... finally her daughter said.. "Just speak English...she's American..." me: "Your A M E R I C A N?" old lady: " Yes... I am AMERICAN...are YOOOOU AMERICAN?" me: SQUEEEEEEEAL ... Oh so nice to meet you.... (I really get excited to meet other Americans when I least expect it...) Her entire face LIT up... she was so excited to meet another American... I told her... "Oh heck we are all over the place these days" in fact there are 3 of us working here... We are like the American mafia... " lol ... LIE .. there are really only 2 of us.. but I keep forgetting that Caroline my British accented, Norwegian/South African blooded buddy isn't ONE OF US.. (yes, she is THAT cool..she could be AMERICAN..) people, I am ...