Musings on small town Norway

Hello, I live in Sykkylven, Norway, and I......

*am at a party, introduce myself and the person tells me he/she already knows who I am, what I do and where I've been

*get stared at by folks who don't instantly recognize me

*crave diversity

*can get everywhere even if I don't have a car

*need to plan my shopping since everything closes down during the summer, holidays and on weekends

*always see the same people when I go "downtown"

*often get behind a tractor going down the road

*wish there were a place I could get an iced latte

*wish there were other people that didn't
a) work at Ekornes
b) are busy popping out kids
c) isolate themselves with their significant others
or
d) do all of the above

*find myself wondering why people consider this music

*wish there were other things to do than to join a soccer league, a marching band or the linedancing club

*really don't find Klypa funny at all

*wish more people didn't worship countrymusic

*still get taken away by the beautiful scenery every time I look out the window

*feel lucky to live close to my family :)

No milk today

I feel like I am slowly re-adapting to Norwegian life. But, like any other country, there is a big difference between city life and country life. Duh. I'm getting used to the slow pace, narrow roads and the fact that we don't have a decent pub on this side of the fjord. Going somewhere takes planning. When going to work I have to take a ferry and a bus. Sometimes two buses, and if I miss them... I'm screwed.

We don't have a car, but we borrow my parents' car all the time. Bless them. We can't bike anywhere now that the snow has come. But we're adapting... ever so slowly.

However, I often end up in situations where I have to stop and think to myself, "was it ever like this?" I also get shocked. Literally.

We have shockwaves in the shower! No kidding. That deserves an entire blog post alone, so I will move on to the literal sense of "shocking".

We have ONE coffeeplace in town. One. I've been there quite a bit lately, mostly with my mom. There is always a babyboom in town, and young mothers frequently occupy the place with their little ones. Last time I was there I was enjoying my meal when suddenly I moved my head and stared straight into a nipple. OK, I get breastfeeding. But if you *have* to do it in a public place, can you please cover up with a little blankie? Some things should stay private. I wouldn't feel comfortable flashing my boob in front of strangers.

Let's just say I let my latte get cold after that.




The view. A major difference from Eugene... the bikes are replaced by strollers.

And I am slowly losing my intellect down the drain with dirty diapers.

Cultural differences

I have been back home now for almost 2 months. Sometimes I feel like I never left. Everything is still the same. Other times, I am haunted by my lack of experiencing the life here while I was gone.

My friends and I have become very different. Most are mothers, or wanting to be. I doubt I have a biological clock. While I enjoy my free time, they have to schedule everything around the babies. They're concerned with decorating their homes and knitting and waiting for their men to come home. I feel like we are generations apart. I'm not a hardcore feminist, but I refuse the idea of needing a man to "complete me". Love is about mutual respect, not about reinforcing old gender roles. If I had a house, I'd probably go nuts over nesting, too. But my husband and I are adventurous people, and we like to not know where we will be next year. We live in the moment, and are happy with what we have. Of course, we don't have a lot of money. But in a way it's liberating. We don't have to feel we need the latest flatscreen TVs, cars or the brightest flowers outside our crib.

One of the hardest transistions with the move... is trying to fit into this whole different mindset. From living in a city I am now in the country. Everybody has their nose into other people' businesses, and long live the gossip. Catching up over an impromptu glass of wine has changed to listening to babytalk over coffee. Nobody goes out to eat - most people cook at home. Meeting friends for a drink on a rainy Tuesday? Heavens, no. Drinking takes place on the weekends. If I suggest we gather to enjoy a few beer, I get frowned at.

I also feel like everybody has a need to "fit in". I miss diversity and daring to be different. Try to think outside the box!

Most people drink tons of coffee, hikes in the mountains, boils potatoes every day for dinner, complains about people that look different, competes about having the nicest house or the newest car...etc. I am starting to realise what made me want to leave in the first place.

But for now... I am going to enjoy a nice cold glass of Pinot Grigio, read a book and tell my husband to make me a nice meal. :P

Change

I've been home for over a week now, but it still feels a little strange. Sure, this is "home" - the place I where I grew up, where I made my first friends, where I had my first kiss and where I read my first books. A place of great firsts and bad lasts. But it's also a place of disconnect.

Right now I feel stuck in between. I am looking for a new job, a new place to live and new routines. I am a little bored, to tell you the truth. I miss my friends in Oregon. I miss the sporadic lunches, impromtu wine dates, impulsive shopping trips and the sound of the doorbell.

A lot has changed over the past few years (naturally). I've changed, and I am not talking about the added 20 pounds. My hair is shorter, I am a little bit wiser but mostly I am more aware of myself and my identity. I'm a thousand faces richer, a thousand places more experienced. I've learned a lot and failed a lot. I may not yet know what I want, but I definitely know what I don't want. I don't want to work at a factory, I don't want kids, I don't want to be just like everyone elsem, and I certainly don't want to settle down...yet.

There is still so much to discover. There are still so many things that I want to do.

I'm changed, but I am still me. I feel the contrasts are bigger this time around.