Even before learning the language, an expat must contend with the proper nouns of life in a new country. City names. Street names. Metro stop names. Pronunciation, particularly in places which use grander alphabets than we're used to, can be a problem. Skøyenåsen, anyone? Nuances in accent and emphasis can…
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All posts tagged Daily Expat Life
Visitors
When Jonathan and I decided to move to Norway almost three years ago, we knew only a few things for certain: We'd be able to travel more. We'd need warmer clothes. And we'd likely never receive any visitors. This last, we understood, because, unlike France or Italy or Switzerland, Norway…
Expatriating: Culture Shock
Being a first time expat is a lot about being swept up in various excitements. Everything is new. Everything is beautiful. But culture shock is not only real, it's an important part of the expat experience and transition. Everything is a little scary, too. Everything is different. There's also the…
Oslo by Instagram
On the perfect Oslo day, the air is warm. The sun, up since 3:30am, swings slowly overhead. Trees sway gently in manicured rows. The air is sweet with the scent of freshly clipped lawns and flowers blooming in window-boxes. Today was just such a day. After writing at a…
Magnetism
Moving to Europe, I expected some downsizing. The average private vehicle size, for instance, is far more compact here than in the U.S. When we see big trucks on the road, they are a novelty. We take notice and assume a wealthy American decided he couldn't transfer to the…
Treasures in my Mailbox
I'm just old enough to remember the enthusiastic robot's voice AOL employed to announce, You've got mail! The computer always took so long to power up. At thirteen, I could hardly contain myself. Hand on the mouse, waiting. I could see the little gray mailbox before anything else: an icon…
Besiding: One Basically Epic Week in Oslo (in just 10 steps!)
Four and a half days. That was all. And some of that time must be spent sleeping. Sleeping instead of laughing, embracing, catching-up. Three times Audrey counted it. Four and a half days. And tomorrow her guests would arrive. I'm being dramatic, and I'm cheating a little, too. There's nothing…
If you must leave a place...
"I have learned that if you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all your yesteryears are buried deep, leave it any way except a slow way, leave it the fastest way you can. Never turn back and never believe that an hour you…