It took me ten minutes to jog from the Russian Embassy in Oslo down Drammensveien to the nearest Joker market and withdraw the cash. I'd expected the cost of two Russian Tourist Visas to run about 630 NOK ($110), based on what I'd read several times on the consulate website…
39 Posts
All posts tagged Patriotism
A Postcard to P.O.T.U.S.
Dear Mr. President, I voted for you. Home. My husband and I moved to Norway from the United States for adventure, opportunity and the chance to try something new. We stay because, given our new perspective, it is difficult for us to believe that moving "home" would be in our…
Dear Gun Rights Advocate:
Dear Gun Rights Advocate: Please stop waving your selectively-historical, emotional arguments in my Facebook. It's irresponsible. I'm referring, of course, to posts which are intended to promote our Second Amendment rights by referring to historical atrocities which, allegedly, bear some resemblance to what's about to go down in the United…
22 July 2011 - A Memorial to the Oslo Bombing
On the Monday following the Olso bombing and Utøya massacre, more than 100,000 people converged in front of Rådhusplassen (city hall) to memorialize the victims and support their families. The crowd held long-stemmed roses which they raised to the sky in peaceful defiance again and again. It was, possibly,…
The Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak
For the last couple of weeks I've been on the American road. Jonathan and I were celebrating my graduation by rolling from state to state in a rental car, eating our combined body weight in cheeseburgers, and visiting lots of friends and family. I'll blog the rest of the trip…
Syttende mai!
Yesterday was Norway's birthday, May 17th. Throughout the country schoolchildren participate in colorful parades, celebrating 17 May 1814, when the Norwegian constitution was signed and Norway was finally declared to be a separate nation. In Oslo, the barnetoget (children's parade) begins down by the water and winds uphill to the…
Veldig Oslo - Volume 03
I love many of the statues in Oslo, but this is one of my favorites. Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby is stationed at Solli plass, just down the street from our place. Nearby stands a larger-than-life, stooped-shouldered Winston Churchill. But Sønsteby is the one who catches the eye. It could be…
One Republican who won't vote for Rick Santorum
, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Today, Rick Santorum has a chance to be the GOP candidate for President. It's tough to find the words to explain why I will never vote for Rick Santorum. Wait. That's not accurate. It's tough for me to come up with my…