True, it was sunny today. 16 degrees Celsius.
But it is not that warm, according to my standards.
Looking around I can classify the local Norwegians into three groups.
THE OPTIMISTIC NORWEGIAN
Today he or she was dressed in sandals, and wore bermuda shorts and a shortsleeved T-shirt.
Motto: This is finally summer weather, after the dark and cold winter.
THE "NORMAL" NORWEGIAN.
Today he or she wore shoes with socks, long pants, long sleeved top and a thin jacket.
Motto: This is nice weather, but I will be a little careful, not to catch a cold.
THE CAUTIOUS NORWEGIAN
Today he or she wore shoes with socks, long pants, a long sleeved top, often in fleece, and a thick jacket.
Motto: This looks like nice weather, but it doesn't feel too warm, so the winter isn't over yet.
You understand where I belong....
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The color black - for mourning and celebration
Black is a popular color for women's clothes.
As for myself, I have tried to stay away from it.
Personally, it has been the color of mourning.
I dressed in black for my father's funeral and gave away the new clothes afterwards.
Yesterday I went shopping for clothes for my son's wedding. I tried different colors, different models.
In the end, I bought a black dress with tiny white dots and a black jacket!
I don't believe it myself!
But after all the clothes I tried on, I really think I looked my best in this outfit.
So now, nine years after dressing up in black for my father's funeral, here I come to Chicago to celebrate the wedding and future happiness of my daughter-in-law and my son, and I once more dress up in black. This time in joy.
Life is full of surprises, even at my age....
As for myself, I have tried to stay away from it.
Personally, it has been the color of mourning.
I dressed in black for my father's funeral and gave away the new clothes afterwards.
Yesterday I went shopping for clothes for my son's wedding. I tried different colors, different models.
In the end, I bought a black dress with tiny white dots and a black jacket!
I don't believe it myself!
But after all the clothes I tried on, I really think I looked my best in this outfit.
So now, nine years after dressing up in black for my father's funeral, here I come to Chicago to celebrate the wedding and future happiness of my daughter-in-law and my son, and I once more dress up in black. This time in joy.
Life is full of surprises, even at my age....
Kindergartens - some numbers
In March 2007 in the local newspaper I could read the following:
By the end of 2006 there were 6425 kindergartens in Norway.
Of these, 3354 were private kindergartens, 2818 were run by local councils and 73 by the state or by a fylke (region/regional council).
Another 30 000 new kindergarten places should be ready by the end of 2007 in order to fulfill the government's promise for full kindergarten coverage for children from the age of one to five.
This does not mean that all these children must go to kindergarten, but that it should be possible, if the parents wish so.
22800 kindergarten teachers are working in the existing kindergartens, but only one third of these are certified kindergarten teachers.
The maximum price for a full week in kindergarten for one child is 1750 Norwegian crowns (nearly 350 US dollars). Some children come for only two or three days a week , and pay accordingly.
That was the information the newspaper gave.
Some of my questions:
How many Norwegian children go to kindergarten now in 2007, and how is that divided by age?
What percentage of Norwegian parents want their one to five year old children in a kindergarten?
Will the government be able to keep the promise of enough kindergartens by the end of 2007?
Is sending your child to kindergarten parttime based on saving money, or is it caused by other reasons?
Compared to my other country, here one kindergarten can have from two to five units, each with around 20 children, and the kindergarten is roughly open from seven in the morning till five in the afternoon, with a team of grownups to cover for the long hours. The work is therefore quite different.
By the end of 2006 there were 6425 kindergartens in Norway.
Of these, 3354 were private kindergartens, 2818 were run by local councils and 73 by the state or by a fylke (region/regional council).
Another 30 000 new kindergarten places should be ready by the end of 2007 in order to fulfill the government's promise for full kindergarten coverage for children from the age of one to five.
This does not mean that all these children must go to kindergarten, but that it should be possible, if the parents wish so.
22800 kindergarten teachers are working in the existing kindergartens, but only one third of these are certified kindergarten teachers.
The maximum price for a full week in kindergarten for one child is 1750 Norwegian crowns (nearly 350 US dollars). Some children come for only two or three days a week , and pay accordingly.
That was the information the newspaper gave.
Some of my questions:
How many Norwegian children go to kindergarten now in 2007, and how is that divided by age?
What percentage of Norwegian parents want their one to five year old children in a kindergarten?
Will the government be able to keep the promise of enough kindergartens by the end of 2007?
Is sending your child to kindergarten parttime based on saving money, or is it caused by other reasons?
Compared to my other country, here one kindergarten can have from two to five units, each with around 20 children, and the kindergarten is roughly open from seven in the morning till five in the afternoon, with a team of grownups to cover for the long hours. The work is therefore quite different.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
E6 - travelling through the lives of Norwegians
My own English translation from the cover of this book, published in Norwegian:
"We are two girls on four wheels with a story 2672 km from the reality in front of the bumper. From here there are no other stories in the whole world than those we have in front of us. It moves towards the borders of civilisation, towards the north and then again towards the north, through this strangely dimensioned country that 4.6 million Norwegians call their home."
Trude Lorentzen and Karin Beate Nøsterud made the book
"E 6, 2672 kilometer fra Svinesund til Kirkenes. En reise gjennom nordmenns liv", published by Kagge Forlag AS in 2005.
A friend from work thought I would like it. Thanks!
This is NOT the Norway album you might have encountered till now.
It is a pity it isn't translated into English.
Then the tourists may have understood a little more about the people living in this long and "strangely dimensioned country" and they would have smiled and smiled reading the funny texts, and started their own trip along the E 6.
Some glimpses:
* Norwegians on an average eat 115 hotdogs a year.
Otto von Bismarck: "He who knows how laws and hotdogs are made, will never again have a good night's sleep."
* In Oslo there is a Christian MC club where the members during the winter meet in a bunker to repair and care for their motorbikes and during the summer travel around with the Bible and their prayer meetings. You can contact them at any time on SMS for their prayer telephone service.
* From the book: The invention of the car would probably not have been approved today. "See , I have invented a vehicle that will kill 300 Norwegians every year."
* On the road to Oslo Airport the government built a special bridge for moose to cross the road. It cost 15 million Norwegian crowns (around two and a half million US dollars). Very few moose have been observed on this bridge. But hitting a moose crossing the road anywhere can be fatal, both for the moose and for the humans.
*The long distances in Norway is a problem when women in faroff places are about to give birth. Between 150 - 200 Norwegian children are born in ambulances and private cars every year.
* In the year 2000 an 155 ton Aeroflot plane took off from Vaernes airport, filled with salmon for the Japanese market. The plane hit a group of swans and had to land on a flat stretch of the E 6 near Malvik. Fortunately the salmon and the Russian crew got out of this without harm, and fortunately there were no cars on the 200 meters the plane needed to stop.
* In Norway there is a place called Hell, and Lonely Planet suggested you go there: "Forever after, whenever someone suggests you go there, you can honestly say you've already been there and it wasn't all that bad."
* The two first cars were registered by Norwegian authorities in 1899. In 1909 there were 215 cars. Today 2.4 million.
* The only part of E 6 over water is over Tysfjord, from Bognes til Skarberget. If this hadn't been there, you would have to do a detour of 700 km through Sweden.
* Finmark, the most northern fylke (region) in Norway is bigger than Denmark in area, but has only 70 000 inhabitants. The Danes have five million.
If you live up here, you have several financial bonuses.
According to the book, Finnmark is a eldorado for optimists.
If you can read Norwegian, you will enjoy this book.
If you cannot read Norwegian, buy the book, start the trip, and get locals to translate the texts when you get to the place they mention in the book.
Then those locals will probably give you their stories and you can write your own book afterwards.
"We are two girls on four wheels with a story 2672 km from the reality in front of the bumper. From here there are no other stories in the whole world than those we have in front of us. It moves towards the borders of civilisation, towards the north and then again towards the north, through this strangely dimensioned country that 4.6 million Norwegians call their home."
Trude Lorentzen and Karin Beate Nøsterud made the book
"E 6, 2672 kilometer fra Svinesund til Kirkenes. En reise gjennom nordmenns liv", published by Kagge Forlag AS in 2005.
A friend from work thought I would like it. Thanks!
This is NOT the Norway album you might have encountered till now.
It is a pity it isn't translated into English.
Then the tourists may have understood a little more about the people living in this long and "strangely dimensioned country" and they would have smiled and smiled reading the funny texts, and started their own trip along the E 6.
Some glimpses:
* Norwegians on an average eat 115 hotdogs a year.
Otto von Bismarck: "He who knows how laws and hotdogs are made, will never again have a good night's sleep."
* In Oslo there is a Christian MC club where the members during the winter meet in a bunker to repair and care for their motorbikes and during the summer travel around with the Bible and their prayer meetings. You can contact them at any time on SMS for their prayer telephone service.
* From the book: The invention of the car would probably not have been approved today. "See , I have invented a vehicle that will kill 300 Norwegians every year."
* On the road to Oslo Airport the government built a special bridge for moose to cross the road. It cost 15 million Norwegian crowns (around two and a half million US dollars). Very few moose have been observed on this bridge. But hitting a moose crossing the road anywhere can be fatal, both for the moose and for the humans.
*The long distances in Norway is a problem when women in faroff places are about to give birth. Between 150 - 200 Norwegian children are born in ambulances and private cars every year.
* In the year 2000 an 155 ton Aeroflot plane took off from Vaernes airport, filled with salmon for the Japanese market. The plane hit a group of swans and had to land on a flat stretch of the E 6 near Malvik. Fortunately the salmon and the Russian crew got out of this without harm, and fortunately there were no cars on the 200 meters the plane needed to stop.
* In Norway there is a place called Hell, and Lonely Planet suggested you go there: "Forever after, whenever someone suggests you go there, you can honestly say you've already been there and it wasn't all that bad."
* The two first cars were registered by Norwegian authorities in 1899. In 1909 there were 215 cars. Today 2.4 million.
* The only part of E 6 over water is over Tysfjord, from Bognes til Skarberget. If this hadn't been there, you would have to do a detour of 700 km through Sweden.
* Finmark, the most northern fylke (region) in Norway is bigger than Denmark in area, but has only 70 000 inhabitants. The Danes have five million.
If you live up here, you have several financial bonuses.
According to the book, Finnmark is a eldorado for optimists.
If you can read Norwegian, you will enjoy this book.
If you cannot read Norwegian, buy the book, start the trip, and get locals to translate the texts when you get to the place they mention in the book.
Then those locals will probably give you their stories and you can write your own book afterwards.
Parents' wish
We are all getting older each day :), but for some of us the subject of old age is closer, either through elderly parents or by approaching the age of retirement.
Somebody sent me the link to a slide show called Parents' Wish that I in a Freudian way read as A Parent's Wish.
Read the touching text, while listening to "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban.
The refrain in the song as far as I can hear on the soundtrack:
"You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be."
That is good for other challenges too.
The link for the presentation http://parentswish.com/site01/small.html
The story behind this presentation can be found on http://parentswish.com/about.htm
Perhaps somebody else will find this expresses thoughts they have had too.
Somebody sent me the link to a slide show called Parents' Wish that I in a Freudian way read as A Parent's Wish.
Read the touching text, while listening to "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban.
The refrain in the song as far as I can hear on the soundtrack:
"You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be."
That is good for other challenges too.
The link for the presentation http://parentswish.com/site01/small.html
The story behind this presentation can be found on http://parentswish.com/about.htm
Perhaps somebody else will find this expresses thoughts they have had too.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Thanks to my friend Reidun I went to a concert
Reidun has enriched my cultural life lately.
After the movie about Edith Piaf she invited me to a concert in the neighboring town of Fredrikstad.
What kind of concert?
A famous singer from Sweden ( I did not remember the name, because I had never heard about him) would sing with a local quoir, Hafslundsøy Sangkor.
One of Reidun's friends sings in that quoir.
The program itself I did not know till I got there!
The quoir was great - romantic and fun, fast and slow.
The name of the singer was Gøran Fristorp - what a voice!
The program turned out to be songs by Swedish troubadour Evert Taube ; songs I grew up with - my mother would sing in the car, and my father loved listening.
I think I have a fairly strong Swedish part too!
I decided to look for a CD of Gøran Fristorp singing Evert Taube and found this:
Gøran Fristorp, Sjungar och spelar Taube
Audio CD
Disk ID: 1820772
Disk length: 54m 14s (12 Tracks)
Original Release Date: Unknown
Label: Unknown
Tracks & Durations
1. Calle Schewens vals 4:34
2. Himlajord 4:05
3. Stockholmsmelodi 4:59
4. Balladen om Gustaf Blom 4:58
5. Målaren och Maria Pia 6:00
6. Västanvind 5:05
7. Vals i Valparaiso 5:01
8. Så skimrande var aldrig havet 3:27
9. Jag har skrivit till min flicka 3:27
10. Invitation til Guatemala 4:55
11. Dansen på Sunnanö 5:08
12. Minnet och tystnaden 3:25
This last one "Minnet och Tystnaden" (The Memory and the Silence) was a song I had never heard before, but it touched my heart in a special way.
After the movie about Edith Piaf she invited me to a concert in the neighboring town of Fredrikstad.
What kind of concert?
A famous singer from Sweden ( I did not remember the name, because I had never heard about him) would sing with a local quoir, Hafslundsøy Sangkor.
One of Reidun's friends sings in that quoir.
The program itself I did not know till I got there!
The quoir was great - romantic and fun, fast and slow.
The name of the singer was Gøran Fristorp - what a voice!
The program turned out to be songs by Swedish troubadour Evert Taube ; songs I grew up with - my mother would sing in the car, and my father loved listening.
I think I have a fairly strong Swedish part too!
I decided to look for a CD of Gøran Fristorp singing Evert Taube and found this:
Gøran Fristorp, Sjungar och spelar Taube
Audio CD
Disk ID: 1820772
Disk length: 54m 14s (12 Tracks)
Original Release Date: Unknown
Label: Unknown
Tracks & Durations
1. Calle Schewens vals 4:34
2. Himlajord 4:05
3. Stockholmsmelodi 4:59
4. Balladen om Gustaf Blom 4:58
5. Målaren och Maria Pia 6:00
6. Västanvind 5:05
7. Vals i Valparaiso 5:01
8. Så skimrande var aldrig havet 3:27
9. Jag har skrivit till min flicka 3:27
10. Invitation til Guatemala 4:55
11. Dansen på Sunnanö 5:08
12. Minnet och tystnaden 3:25
This last one "Minnet och Tystnaden" (The Memory and the Silence) was a song I had never heard before, but it touched my heart in a special way.
Thanks to my friend Reidun I saw the film about Edith Piaf
"La Vie en Rose", the film by Olivier Dahan was great.
As the last song "No, je ne regrette rien" ended; the screen went black and the audience just sat in complete silence for several minutes.
I checked out Edith Piaf on the Wikipedia afterwards, feeling curious to see how her life was described there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Piaf
Before the film I had heard her songs and seen photos of her, but did not actually know anything about her life.
Olivier Dahan has a website where I could relive some of the voices from the film
http://www.tfmdistribution.com/lamome/lamome.htm
As the last song "No, je ne regrette rien" ended; the screen went black and the audience just sat in complete silence for several minutes.
I checked out Edith Piaf on the Wikipedia afterwards, feeling curious to see how her life was described there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Piaf
Before the film I had heard her songs and seen photos of her, but did not actually know anything about her life.
Olivier Dahan has a website where I could relive some of the voices from the film
http://www.tfmdistribution.com/lamome/lamome.htm
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Norwegian brown cheese - I love it
Quite childish - photographing the brown cheese I have been eating today.One day in the future I can at least look at the photograph.
Today I can taste it!
A quick trip to Chicago
First assumed scenario: The young couple is getting married in a very short civil ceremony , only the two of them.
The wedding party for friends and family will be in a few months time.
Mental preparations for not being there now, but being there at the party.
Second scenario, from the bride's blog:
The young couple is getting married in a very short civil ceremony, but the bride's siblings and their families are coming from Ohio to attend the ceremony and a lunch afterwards.
Sad thoughts: The bridegroom will be alone, without any family.
Silent thoughts: In the second half of May there are already tickets for another trip abroad and time off from work.
Practical thoughts: Money? Additional time off from work?
Silent decision: Impossible to pay for two trips to the States within half a year.
The big surprise not expected: Grandmother surprises mother by paying for the trip so that the bridegroom will have at least one representative from his family on May 5th. Mentions that the late grandfather would have felt the same way. Thank you!
First pleasant surprise: With such short notice, this was possible to arrange.
Second pleasant surprise: People at work were really supportive. Go, they said, we'll manage.
Third pleasant surprise: Bride arranges room for coming mother-in-law at a hotel in Chicago through the internet.
Fourth pleasant surprise: All the guests will be staying at the same hotel.
Conclusion:
One week ago I could not have imagined that my first trip to the States would start on May 3rd and end on May 7th, and that I will be able to see my son on that important day in his and in our families' lives.
Mazal tov!
The wedding party for friends and family will be in a few months time.
Mental preparations for not being there now, but being there at the party.
Second scenario, from the bride's blog:
The young couple is getting married in a very short civil ceremony, but the bride's siblings and their families are coming from Ohio to attend the ceremony and a lunch afterwards.
Sad thoughts: The bridegroom will be alone, without any family.
Silent thoughts: In the second half of May there are already tickets for another trip abroad and time off from work.
Practical thoughts: Money? Additional time off from work?
Silent decision: Impossible to pay for two trips to the States within half a year.
The big surprise not expected: Grandmother surprises mother by paying for the trip so that the bridegroom will have at least one representative from his family on May 5th. Mentions that the late grandfather would have felt the same way. Thank you!
First pleasant surprise: With such short notice, this was possible to arrange.
Second pleasant surprise: People at work were really supportive. Go, they said, we'll manage.
Third pleasant surprise: Bride arranges room for coming mother-in-law at a hotel in Chicago through the internet.
Fourth pleasant surprise: All the guests will be staying at the same hotel.
Conclusion:
One week ago I could not have imagined that my first trip to the States would start on May 3rd and end on May 7th, and that I will be able to see my son on that important day in his and in our families' lives.
Mazal tov!
Sleeping in special places in Norway
At some point in the future I hope to travel a little around Norway. I have a dream of staying in a rorbu (fisherman's shack) up in Lofoten in the north - eating fish each day, smelling the salty water, hear the wind, watch the daily life, go for walks , take photographs and relax.
This may be in a few years time - I don't know.
But also other places in Norway give you the opportunity to sleep and live outside hotels and have special experiences, for a fair price.
A book just published in Norway, in Norwegian, by Hege Larsen and Lene Agnete Imbsen, seems to be just the book I should buy.
The new book "Ly for natten" by Kagge Forlag gives you 30 unusual suggestions, costing 100 US dollars or less for two persons a night.
Here are some of them that sounded special. Not all websites seems to have English versions.
In Telemark on a farm http://www.kvaale.net/visside.php?id=12
In Numedal you can sleep in a railway waggon and go for a trip on the railway
http://www.veggli-vertshus.no/default.aspx?MenuID=9314
On the Finnmarksvidda, up in the very north of Norway, you can try the life of the Samer (ethnic group of the north)
http://www.kautokeino.com/bongo/
Even in Oslo you can stay at what used to be a ferry and is now a theatre boat MS Innvik, close to the new opera
http://www.msinnvik.no/english.html
This may be in a few years time - I don't know.
But also other places in Norway give you the opportunity to sleep and live outside hotels and have special experiences, for a fair price.
A book just published in Norway, in Norwegian, by Hege Larsen and Lene Agnete Imbsen, seems to be just the book I should buy.
The new book "Ly for natten" by Kagge Forlag gives you 30 unusual suggestions, costing 100 US dollars or less for two persons a night.
Here are some of them that sounded special. Not all websites seems to have English versions.
In Telemark on a farm http://www.kvaale.net/visside.php?id=12
In Numedal you can sleep in a railway waggon and go for a trip on the railway
http://www.veggli-vertshus.no/default.aspx?MenuID=9314
On the Finnmarksvidda, up in the very north of Norway, you can try the life of the Samer (ethnic group of the north)
http://www.kautokeino.com/bongo/
Even in Oslo you can stay at what used to be a ferry and is now a theatre boat MS Innvik, close to the new opera
http://www.msinnvik.no/english.html
Isn't the Dead Sea part of the ocean?
A foot therapist here in Norway has , with great success, used a foot cream from the Dead Sea on one of her patients. The young boy, with psoriasis, had feet so cracked he couldn't go to school. Now - miracle of miracles - according to the foot therapist, his feet look great.
So when somebody asked her: "Do you know what the Dead Sea is?" she didn't. She was surprised to hear it is not part of the ocean, but a lake. "But how can it be so salty then?" was her question.
This lady originally comes from one of the countries around the Mediterranean.
So when somebody asked her: "Do you know what the Dead Sea is?" she didn't. She was surprised to hear it is not part of the ocean, but a lake. "But how can it be so salty then?" was her question.
This lady originally comes from one of the countries around the Mediterranean.
11 days on the ship "Trollfjord"
On Friday night my mother left Bergen aboard MS Trollfjord, built in 2002, one of the ships going along the coast up to Kirkenes near the Russian border and then back to Bergen.
This is a dream my mother has had for many years, and she wanted to do it while she still has the health.
So off she went, alone, and I am really proud of her for realizing her dream. During the trip, there are several excursions, and she intends to take part in some.
On the internet I got a good impression of the ship
http://arctic360.360vt.eu/trollfjord/
by clicking on the different parts, including the outside cabin where my mother will sleep.
The story of this route, called Hurtigruten in Norwegian (there are many ships going back and forth, and they have been doing so for around 120 years already), you can read on
http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/story.asp
On the Norwegian website of Hurtigruten there is a part called "Where is Hurtigruten now?"
http://www.hurtigruten.com/en/default.aspx
This enables you to check a map or a satelite photo or a mix of the two (hybrid) to see where each ship is at the moment. There are also webcameras. In short, it's great!
A nice touch: the ship has an email, so I was able to send my mother a message.
One day, when I have that kind of money, I would like to do part of the trip - 11 days seem to be too much for me aboard a ship.
On the internet I got a good impression of the ship
http://arctic360.360vt.eu/trollfjord/
by clicking on the different parts, including the outside cabin where my mother will sleep.
The story of this route, called Hurtigruten in Norwegian (there are many ships going back and forth, and they have been doing so for around 120 years already), you can read on
http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/story.asp
On the Norwegian website of Hurtigruten there is a part called "Where is Hurtigruten now?"
http://www.hurtigruten.com/en/default.aspx
This enables you to check a map or a satelite photo or a mix of the two (hybrid) to see where each ship is at the moment. There are also webcameras. In short, it's great!
A nice touch: the ship has an email, so I was able to send my mother a message.
One day, when I have that kind of money, I would like to do part of the trip - 11 days seem to be too much for me aboard a ship.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Definition of "loud" in Norway
Norway is , to my ears, a quiet country.
In my other country people use their voices. People express themselves much louder.
In fact, I myself sometimes speak very loudly.
Norwegians usually keep a much lower voice, and what they talk about in public places is also more controlled.
But some Norwegians are different, and I observed two yesterday and two today.
At the supermarket.
Two men, probably in their forties, looking a little worn out by life, were standing next to the cashier, and in loud voices talked about how much beer and cigarettes and food they each had just bought and talked to the female cashier as if she was an old aquintance. She, on the other hand, did not seem to be of that opinion.
The other seven persons waiting in line, looked to see who was talking so loudly, and one lady rolled her eyes.
At the post office.
Two men, probably in their forties, looking a little worn out by life, were waiting in line at the post office. These were not the guys from the supermarket. They had long hair under their army style caps and kept a loud conversation we all could take part in. As they moved around, and passed me I could feel the smell of alcohol . They were in good spirits, not aggressive, but probably just a little bit drunk. They were friendly to the clerk, but you could see how the around 15 persons waiting at the post office, felt uncomfortable.
In my other country people use their voices. People express themselves much louder.
In fact, I myself sometimes speak very loudly.
Norwegians usually keep a much lower voice, and what they talk about in public places is also more controlled.
But some Norwegians are different, and I observed two yesterday and two today.
At the supermarket.
Two men, probably in their forties, looking a little worn out by life, were standing next to the cashier, and in loud voices talked about how much beer and cigarettes and food they each had just bought and talked to the female cashier as if she was an old aquintance. She, on the other hand, did not seem to be of that opinion.
The other seven persons waiting in line, looked to see who was talking so loudly, and one lady rolled her eyes.
At the post office.
Two men, probably in their forties, looking a little worn out by life, were waiting in line at the post office. These were not the guys from the supermarket. They had long hair under their army style caps and kept a loud conversation we all could take part in. As they moved around, and passed me I could feel the smell of alcohol . They were in good spirits, not aggressive, but probably just a little bit drunk. They were friendly to the clerk, but you could see how the around 15 persons waiting at the post office, felt uncomfortable.
Monday, April 9, 2007
April 9th 1940 - the Germans invaded Norway
German soldiers marching down Karl Johans gate (the Royal Palace in the background) on April 9th 1940Though I was born a decade later , the date of April 9th 1940 was an important date when I grew up. I remember a ceremony one year at school when I read the speech of King Haakon as he and Crownprince Olav fled Oslo and barely escaped the Germans.
I just found a text about the German occupation of Norway published, in English, by the Norwegian government on their website.
http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Ryddemappe/423827/423888/423889/423917/Norway-and-World-War-II.html?id=424852
I just found a text about the German occupation of Norway published, in English, by the Norwegian government on their website.
http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Ryddemappe/423827/423888/423889/423917/Norway-and-World-War-II.html?id=424852
In memoriam : Ottar Lie
My Norwegian grandmother had a few old lady friends that would visit her now and then.I remember that one of these old ladies was Inga Lie. It was only years later that I was told who this lady was.
Ottar and Inga Lie were both Norwegian Communists before World War Two.
She was pregnant when she was arrested by the Germans and following the harsh interrogations, she lost her baby. She was later deported to Germany and imprisoned in Ravensbrueck till the end of the war. In the small group of Norwegian women imprisoned there as political prisoners, she got the job of dividing the bread rations equally among the women.
She was pregnant when she was arrested by the Germans and following the harsh interrogations, she lost her baby. She was later deported to Germany and imprisoned in Ravensbrueck till the end of the war. In the small group of Norwegian women imprisoned there as political prisoners, she got the job of dividing the bread rations equally among the women.
Ottar Lie, born 1896, was arrested by the Germans on October 30th 1942 and placed in the prison camp Trandum in Norway.
According to the story I was told he was there with his nephew, also a Communist. One day the Germans decided to execute some of the prisoners. When it turned out that Ottar Lie was to be one of those to be shot, he walked over to his nephew and gave him his boots : "You will need those more than me."
Ottar Lie was shot at Trandum March 1st 1943.
A few days ago while visiting my grandparents' grave in Oslo, I saw a memorial at the same cemetery. It turned out to be a memorial for 23 Norwegian Communists who were murdered during WWII by the Germans.
Imagine my surprise of finding this memorial and then seeing the name of Ottar Lie!
Inga Lie survived the war. As I already said, she was a friend of my grandmother - perhaps because they both came from the same area, Hedmarken.
She never remarried. She had no other children.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Snow!
Today April 8th 2007, after real wonderful spring weather, it started to snow!
It is melting as it hits the ground, but even so, it is snow.
It is melting as it hits the ground, but even so, it is snow.
April 9th 2007
It continued to snow till it was all white around us, once more, but today the snow melted.
The "road" across the Oslofjord
If you want to cross the Oslofjord from Moss, there is no bridge, but a ferry.
It takes around 30 minutes to cross the fjord.
I pass the harbor many times.
On weekdays very many big trailers are lined up to take the ferry.
On weekends and holidays you usually find no trailers, only private cars.
The calendar is expressed through the cars waiting for the ferry....
PS. The local newspaper informed us that 1.3 million vehicles cross the fjord each year with these ferries.
It takes around 30 minutes to cross the fjord.
I pass the harbor many times.
On weekdays very many big trailers are lined up to take the ferry.
On weekends and holidays you usually find no trailers, only private cars.
The calendar is expressed through the cars waiting for the ferry....
PS. The local newspaper informed us that 1.3 million vehicles cross the fjord each year with these ferries.
Friday, April 6, 2007
"cow" is "ku" is "q"
The letter Q is pronounced "ku" in Norwegian and at the moment I can't even remember a word in Norwegian starting with that letter."Ku" in Norwegian is "cow".
When a group of farmers in Western Norway decided to market their own milk as a brand name, they chose Q.
I smile when I buy this milk.
I enjoy the Q and admire the farmers' IQ.
My grandparents' gravestone
Today we visited the gravestone of my grandparents in Oslo.
Here, in Christian cemeteries, your "expiration date" seems to be 25 years after you die, if nobody comes forward to pay for another period.
In other words, your gravestone is removed and somebody else will be buried in that spot.
My grandfather died in 1954.
My grandmother died in 1973, and was buried in the same grave.
In 1998 I heard that the grave was about to be "reused", so I the contacted the proper authority in Oslo, and after paying a fairly small sum, I am now registered as contact address for that grave.
Looking at their gravestone today , I felt good that my grandmother and grandfather have a grave.
My grandparents now can rest in peace till 2013.
Remind me then!
Here, in Christian cemeteries, your "expiration date" seems to be 25 years after you die, if nobody comes forward to pay for another period.
In other words, your gravestone is removed and somebody else will be buried in that spot.
My grandfather died in 1954.
My grandmother died in 1973, and was buried in the same grave.
In 1998 I heard that the grave was about to be "reused", so I the contacted the proper authority in Oslo, and after paying a fairly small sum, I am now registered as contact address for that grave.
Looking at their gravestone today , I felt good that my grandmother and grandfather have a grave.
My grandparents now can rest in peace till 2013.
Remind me then!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Exhibition about Alfie Atkins (Albert Aaberg)
At the Moss Public Library there is presently an exhibition for children centered around the fictive character of Alfie Atkins - known in Norway as Albert Åberg. I love this character!In the kindergarten they have eleven different books about Albert!
Today I found out that there is a special website for Albert Åberg, called Alfons Åberg in the original Swedish version. Alfie was created by Gunilla Bergstroem.
This is where I found out that in English he is called Alfie Atkins and that the books have been translated into 25 languages!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Parked in a Tivoli
During this winter I have seen a mobile home parked in an open lot not far from my mother's apartment. Snow, rain, wind - the car did not move. I was imagining how the owner would come in the spring to take his car and then travel around Europe.
A few days ago a tivoli rented that open lot and moved all their stuff in.
The tivoli staff pushed the car perhaps a meter or two towards the street, but it is now stuck in the tivoli and no owner has come to reclaim the car.
Tomorrow the tivoli opens - this will be interesting to watch, a carusell nearly touching the mobile home, children walking around the mobile home with their sweets.
Or -
will the owner turn up?
A few days ago a tivoli rented that open lot and moved all their stuff in.
The tivoli staff pushed the car perhaps a meter or two towards the street, but it is now stuck in the tivoli and no owner has come to reclaim the car.
Tomorrow the tivoli opens - this will be interesting to watch, a carusell nearly touching the mobile home, children walking around the mobile home with their sweets.
Or -
will the owner turn up?
A childhood sweet - fox
Imagine - there on the shelf - were those sweets with lemon taste from back in the 1950's and 1960's!
Just what the doctor ordered for a diabetic.....
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
@ - different names
@
A curl:
Here in Norway they call it "alfakrøll" (alfakroell), translated freely as "alpha-curl".
A snable:
This morning I heard the Swedish name on TV - "snabel- A" ( a snable A).
A curl:
Here in Norway they call it "alfakrøll" (alfakroell), translated freely as "alpha-curl".
A snable:
This morning I heard the Swedish name on TV - "snabel- A" ( a snable A).
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Kyststien = the coastal path
This is one subject I want to learn more about, before I start walking along the coastal paths of this area.Galleri f15, Alby, Moss
This is the art gallery at Alby, officially called Galleri F15.This photo was taken from the photo gallery on the Moss info
http://www.moss-info.no/bilder.asp?id=11
Check out http://www.moss-info.no/
I will try to photograph the art gallery on another occassion.
Precious Ramotswe, a lady detective from Botswana
A year ago my Swedish aunt gave me a book with the strange name "The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency".
That's how I read about Precious Ramotswe, "the first lady detective in Gaborone, Botzwana, Africa."
I loved this character and was happy to find two more books in the series at Moss Public Library.
At this point, I decided to find out how many books have been written in the series and who the author is.
This is the entry on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McCall_Smith
Imagine, smart Mma Ramotswe had been invented by a man!
A man born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1948.
A man who now lives in Edinburgh in Scotland.
A man who is a professor of medical law.
A man who has taught at the University of Gaborone, Botzwana.
There are nine books, so far, in this series.
That's how I read about Precious Ramotswe, "the first lady detective in Gaborone, Botzwana, Africa."
I loved this character and was happy to find two more books in the series at Moss Public Library.
At this point, I decided to find out how many books have been written in the series and who the author is.
This is the entry on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McCall_Smith
Imagine, smart Mma Ramotswe had been invented by a man!
A man born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1948.
A man who now lives in Edinburgh in Scotland.
A man who is a professor of medical law.
A man who has taught at the University of Gaborone, Botzwana.
There are nine books, so far, in this series.
Worth checking out!
A Sunday walk on Alby
Many visit Moss because of the Alby Art Gallery.Next to the gallery you can go for long walks on paths through the forest and along the beaches.
This Sunday many families from Moss were out there enjoying the spring.
Your child emigrating
Seen from a mother's perspective:
1948
A Swedish mother has just attended the wedding of her 18 year old daughter to a Norwegian man.
The Swedish mother became the Swedish grandmother for three Norwegian grandchildren.
The grandmother visits her grandchildren three times in Norway, but her grandchildren visit her nearly every year in Sweden.
1969
A Swedish mother, living in Norway, stands at the harbor in Norway and sees her nineteen year old daughter heading off to another country, far away.
The Swedish mother becomes the Norwegian/Swedish grandmother of a grandchild in a faraway country.
The grandmother visits the grandchild at least once a year in that country. The grandchild visits his grandparents in Norway at least once a year.
2007
A Swedish/Norwegian/additional country mother, at the moment living in Norway, talks to her son on the phone and by email before he leaves that other country to - probably - emigrate to the States.
Will this be a Swedish/Norwegian/additional country grandmother visiting her future grandchildren in the States?
Will the grandchildren feel a connection to the other country? To Norway? To Sweden?
1948
A Swedish mother has just attended the wedding of her 18 year old daughter to a Norwegian man.
The Swedish mother became the Swedish grandmother for three Norwegian grandchildren.
The grandmother visits her grandchildren three times in Norway, but her grandchildren visit her nearly every year in Sweden.
1969
A Swedish mother, living in Norway, stands at the harbor in Norway and sees her nineteen year old daughter heading off to another country, far away.
The Swedish mother becomes the Norwegian/Swedish grandmother of a grandchild in a faraway country.
The grandmother visits the grandchild at least once a year in that country. The grandchild visits his grandparents in Norway at least once a year.
2007
A Swedish/Norwegian/additional country mother, at the moment living in Norway, talks to her son on the phone and by email before he leaves that other country to - probably - emigrate to the States.
Will this be a Swedish/Norwegian/additional country grandmother visiting her future grandchildren in the States?
Will the grandchildren feel a connection to the other country? To Norway? To Sweden?
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