Jul Dance with Santa

Happy Holidays

Happy December!

We've been very busy since our last blog, and time is flying by!

My brother, Jon, visited for two weeks.

We visited Arendal (southern Norway) for three days - while David visited a school.

We spent a week in Coasta Blanca, Spain. Our landlady, Siri, graciously let us stay in her vacation flat while David visited a Norwegian school. (A lot of Norwegians relocate to Spain, so there is a Norwegian school there.)

My mom and her friend, Sheena, visited for two weeks. We (all) celebrated Thanksgiving with some of our Norwegian friends. Also during their visit, David and I escaped to Dublin for two nights - without the kids! (A much needed hiatus for us!)

Getting out of the flat has become more cumbersome due to the cold, snowy (& dark) weather. By the time the kids are dressed, we're breaking in to a sweat! We then tote them in the double-stroller out in the tundra. When we return home, we're all exhausted!

FOR THE RECORD...MOM WAS RIGHT! If the temperature is 14 degrees (F) or below, you're not supposed to take small children outside for long. I poked fun of my mother saying that the kids' lungs could freeze, but apparently they can!

Munchkin Update:

• JR got into barnehagen - aka preschool - and he LOVES it! The teachers speak English (the children do not). They go outside almost daily, which he thoroughly enjoys! He is the oldest child in his class of 21 kids (8 teachers), and is sure to be a leader in his class.
• Evie has another tooth (4 total) and two more on the way! We can hardly get her to eat baby food as all she wants is 'real' food. She loooves bread and fruit - as well as any crumb she finds on the floor! She enjoys standing in front of the TV and turning it off and on. The more we laugh, the more she does it. She's such a ham!

We will be spending Christmas in Denmark with our friends, Marianne and Bjarne. We're looking forward to sharing the holiday with them in their lovely home. We will, of course, miss our family and friends, but hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a blessed 2011! As they say here in Norway, GOD JUL!

Evie (almost 7 mos)

October-fest

October in Oslo has been much like September. The days continue to shorten, and James Ryan is obsessed with knowing whether it's 'getting dark outside' - as that means it's time for bed!

This month we visited Tromso, located north of the Arctic Circle. It was very interesting to see the differences from Oslo - as well as anywhere else we've ever been. The climate is cold & wet, and the terrain is rocky mountains - covered with moss and scattered trees. (I mention the moss because it is very thick & cushiony!) While there we had the privilege of seeing the Northern Lights. They were like wisps of clouds - some with a greenish hue - dancing through beams of light. They are beautiful and eerie at the same time. I imagine they have been mistaken for poltergeists a time or two! BTW...Our gracious hosts served us moose! Moose in Tromso are common like deer in the US. Unfortunately, we did not get to see one (alive). :o(

Quick family update...

• JR is still wild as a buck! (I swear...He's like having twins!) He is equally challenging and rewarding - as well as very funny! His favorite things are pirates, dinosaurs, and transportation. He said he wanted a 'digger' and a 'turning' (moving) dump truck. I told him he'd have to wait for Christmas. Then he said he wanted to take the red bus (public transportation) to go see Christmas. haha He's now (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of Christmas! Until then, we look forward to Halloween - when he will be a pirate!
• Evie is golden. Crawling everywhere and even trying to stand! She will be a ballerina for Halloween. (I can't resist showing off her chubby thighs!)
• David is busy visiting schools and fulfilling his US work responsibilities. He also presented a paper at a teaching conference in Lithuania a few weeks ago. On Wednesday nights, he enjoys playing basketball with a group of guys. He's still watching (mid-night) Gamecock football - and they continue to surprise and disappoint him!
• I'm basically try to keep up with everyone else! I'm also looking forward to my brother visiting next week, followed by a trip to sunny Spain!

More Norwegian 'Trivia'

Dirty Laundry
We have a small washing machine in our flat, but have to line dry our clean laundry. Therefore, I sometimes use the washers & dryers located at the bottom of our building. Prior to using, I had to have a lesson - as it is quite a cumbersome process. I'll spare you the details, but have included a picture of the laundry room 'reservation board'. Have you ever seen anything so complicated?

What would you be if salary weren't important?
In Norway, everyone - regardless of their position - makes enough money to live. As a result, we often see people in 'out of the norm' roles. The one we find most interesting is that many men choose to work in barnehagens - or preschools.

Maternity/Paternity Benefits
There are a lot of children in Oslo, and why not? Mothers get three pay weeks prior to giving birth, and then 10 months full-salary pay afterward. If they choose to take a year off, they get the last two months at half their salary. Fathers get two weeks pay after the child's birth, and then two months full-salary pay when the child is 10 months old. (And I believe if the mother & father want to split the leave from work - 6mo/6m0 - that is also an option.) Also, if after one year you choose to stay at home with your child (instead of sending him/her to barnehagen), you are paid 3000nok ($500) a month from the government.

Real Estate
Real estate in the Oslo area is H-O-T! Our friends are looking for a small home on the outskirts of town. They toured a 'fixer-upper' that was on the market for 3,000,000nok ($500,000). That day, 95 other people also toured the home. It immediately sold for 1,500,000nok ($250,000) over the asking price.

Men in Tights
Well not men, but boys. JR begged me for boy-tights after seeing his friends wearing them. His are decorated with CARS & TOY STORY characters. They are worn under pants outside, and often alone - with a shirt, of course - when indoors. JR often wants to wear only tights and a shirt when we go out, and, with his tennis shoes, he looks like a marathon runner!

Good for the Lungs
People often put their babies outside in their strollers to nap. When visiting Tromso, our hosts bundled up their toddler and put her on the covered porch - in 32 degree snowy weather - to nap. Little Minde slept sound for three hours!

Peanut Butter
One kind. That's it. One lonely little jar on the grocery store shelf. Thank goodness it's tasty as I eat it everyday for breakfast.

Brilliant Invention
Shopping carts in Norway rotate every direction - not just forward & backward, but side-to-side!

Merano Circus

Some folks feel the circus is cruel (and should not be supported). Maybe so. But I also think it's a 'rite of passage'. All kids should experience the circus at least once - under a big top!

September is 'Autumn'

September is the beginning of autumn here in 'Norge'. The weather is slightly cooler than last month, and surprisingly less rainy. We're certainly not missing the Columbia heat, although we do miss family and friends. Technology, however, has been a sure cure for homesick-ness...

- Skype - We use it almost daily. Contact us at shannon_virtue or david_virtue!
- Hulu.com - Allows us to watch our favorite tv shows - White Collar, Psych, etc...We're looking forward to the season premiere of Chuck!
- ESPN America (tv) & ESPN Player (computer) - David is able to follow Gamecock football in real-time. (Crucial!)

Speaking of Gamecock football...David should win an award for me most dedicated fan. The first USC game was held at 7:30 p.m. EST on a Thursday. At that time we did not have access to the game, so David got out of bed at 1:30 a.m. (Oslo time) to watch via Skype. (He Skyped my sister in Florida, who placed her laptop in front of the tv!) I, of course, remained in bed - like the sane person I am! JR should win runner-up for the most dedicated fan. We brought one of his Gamecock jerseys with us, but he wants to wear it all the time. Luckily we left his second jersey at my parent's house, and they are mailing it to us Priority Mail.

David has been busy planning lessons and scheduling school visits, in addition to fulfilling other US work obligations. So far, he has over 25 schools (across Norway) scheduled. He has also planned to visit a Norwegian school in Spain mid-November. We will travel there as a family (as a semi-vacation) and stay at our landlady's flat. We are told that November in Oslo is very cold and rainy, so we are sure to enjoy the escape!

There is never a dull moment here in Oslo, and we learn something new each day. 'City life' is physically tougher and more cumbersome (pushing a double-stroller, carrying groceries, etc - and sometimes in the rain!), but we've adapted quite well. We always wear comfortable shoes and utilize public transportation. James Ryan and Evie have become such the 'city slickers'. JR loves riding the buses, trolleys and trains, and Evie has become the 'queen' of the Baby Bjorne (baby sling)!

Norwegians are known for keeping to themselves, but that was before the Virtues came to town! JR feels it's his obligation to speak to whoever is sitting near us on the bus, train, etc. It's fun to watch their serious faces turn to delight when he blurts out 'BYE' to them as we exit! They are obviously surprised at his boldness, and (I think) warmed by his friendliness.

Evie almost always makes a friend when in her baby sling. Her smile draws people in - especially the young and elderly. I can't tell you how many times an elderly woman has stopped us on the street to say 'hi' to her and touch her feet and cheeks. Norwegians, unlike Americans, are not afraid to touch a stranger's baby - which actually a refreshing change.

So far we have been unable to get JR in a pre-school program. They are all full, which is fine. He is getting lots of time with his new friends - and with us. Evie is growing like a weed. She's flipping and turning like a fish out of water, and also has TWO teeth! She enjoys her daily babble, which James Ryan says is her speaking Norwegian! LOL.

I'll close for now, but be sure to look at the posted pics from our recent adventures. (Folk Museum, Merano Circus, Royal Palace, parks, etc) Keep in touch!

Deep Thoughts - By Jack Handy

For those 'vintage' Saturday Night Live fans, you know what that (title) means.

These aren't actually 'Deep Thoughts', but more like random situations, observations and comments. (It's my blog...I can do what I want!!!) :oP

Norwegian Fashion
- All love to wear Chuck Taylor's, skinny jeans & a scarf around the neck.
- Men are fond of the 'Man Capri'.
- Tights with shorts should be a fashion faux pas (in my opinion), but some folks think otherwise!

Transportation
Electric cars are given many benefits, such as free public parking. I, however, failed to pay in a private lot and was fined 600k (aka $100)!!!

Learn How To Queue!
A New Zealander friend (who's married to a Norwegian) told us that Norwegians do not know how to stand in line. This was a real 'ah-ha' moment for us, as we could not understand why...
- You have to take a number whenever you need assistance - bank, post office, pharmacist, deli, etc.
- On public transportation, people stand right in front of the automatic doors and try to enter before anyone has a chance to exit. (UHHHH!!!)

Norwegians also do not move out of your way when passing through a narrow passage - and they get in your way when browsing through a clothing rack. It's annoying, but I'm learning to 'do unto others as they are doing to me'. (haha - I know that's not how the verse goes, but...)

Snokker du Engelsk?
In Norske, this means 'Do you speak English?' Luckily, everyone between the ages of 12-50 does! And many speak several other languages as well. We've made many new friends, who have lived - and are from - all over the world. It's humbling to learn how much more we are alike than different.

Good Eats
Norwegian... bread, jam, chocolate, butter, ice cream, cheese (not brown) & waffles. Surprisingly, they also make a tasty pizza. The local Lebanese make a delicious kebob & schawarma. And chili nuts are must have. They are peanuts coated with a bbq flavored, crunchy shell. It reminds me of a peanut wrapped in a bbq potato chip!

Bad Eats
Mackerel with tomato...Better yet, in a tube! Shrimp cream cheese...In a tube! Liver pate...Yep, in a tube! (They put a picture of a smiling child on the liver pate to make it seem more appealing!) I'm disgusted to say that David eats all of these!

IKEA
Even in the US, I love IKEA! However, I never understood the logic behind some of their items - such as ziplock baggies and batteries - amongst all the decor. I now realize that in Scandinavian countries, IKEA is the closest thing to Wal-mart. It's where people go to buy everything from plates to plants. And who doesn't love a store that provides free childcare while you shop? Brilliant!

Not on Sunday
Norway is known for being a non-religious country. However, everything is closed on Sunday and you're not supposed to do laundry or construction (aka - hang a picture) on Sunday. ???

Loppemarked - aka Flea Market
Autumn is the season for 'Loppemarked' in Norway. Local schools often host the market - with donations coming from the community and proceeds going to the school. The thing I find humorous about it is that the host school requests 'fleas'...'Many fleas', 'fat fleas' and 'fleaers'. After seeing the 'flea' requests, I Googled the history of the term to find the following. Hope you find as interesting as I. (FYI...'Many fleas' & 'fat fleas' = Lots of stuff. 'Fleaers' are the folks selling the 'fleas'.)

The origins of the term are disputed, but some liken buyers and sellers as being as active as fleas, or that the original people and goods were infested.

Mani/Pedi
Sorry ladies...It's not happening here! I have yet to see a nail salon (and my nails show it)! There may be a nail tech in one of the spas, but I know it would exceed my budget. Everything in Norway is expensive.

Lost in Translation

First let me say, we speak almost no Norsk. Luckily, many Norwegians speak English.

Shortly after arriving, I went to the local grocery to buy soap. (FYI...This particular grocery is smaller than most US convenient stores!) I surveyed the liquid body wash, as I did not see any 'cake' soap available. My choices were Jergens for approx 25K and ASAN for appox 13K. I opted for the ASAN not only because it was cheaper, but it said 'Sensitive' on the label. I thought the sensitive would be nice because we could use it on JR, if needed. Prior to checking out, I asked the clerk - a young guy in his 20s - if what I was buying was 'body wash' and he said 'yes'.

When I arrived back to the flat, I noticed that the ASAN cost was actually 49K. I felt a little ripped off, but whatever. I guess the bottle had been placed on the wrong shelf. It must be some pretty good stuff!

When I used the wash, it didn't have much smell. It actually smelled kinda 'generic', like the shampoo you use to get chlorine out of your hair. I noted that I would not buy it again.

A couple of weeks later, I saw this odd commercial (in Norsk, of course). It flashed different female torsos, and in front of the 'private' area flashed different pieces of paper with a drawings of all the different ways you can shave/trim your pubes - -yes, pubic hair! I rewound the commercial (thank goodness for technology) and called David in to see.

Yes, our 'Sensitive' body wash was actually feminine wash. I imagine the young guy at the grocery must have thought I was some perverted (older) American broad trying to hit on him!

We're Here!

We arrived in Oslo the morning of August 2. The kids did great during the flight - sleeping the entire night. Everything went smoothly, dispite having more luggage than hands!

Our landlord, Siri, met us at the airport (waving a Norwegian flag) and took us to our new home. Our 'flat' is located on the edge of the city, near the University of Oslo and close to all forms of public transportation. (The interior looks like an ad for IKEA! It's also full of original watercolor art by Siri's father and sister.) Behind our building is a huge grassy park with a playground, and we have a view of it along with the mountains & fjord. It really couldn't be more perfect.

Siri did everything possible to make our transition smooth, including having a toddler bed for JR, a crib for Ev, highchairs for both kids, food in the fridge, etc! More than we ever expected. She also came over every night the first week to ensure we were getting settled. She quickly became our (young) Norwegian mom, and we feel so lucky to have her!

Since we've been here, we've taken many adventures to the local parks & playgrounds - with picnic lunches in tow! Everything here is very expensive, so we are taking advantage of all the 'free' outdoor offerings - while the weather is nice. On average, the temp has been in the 70s - with some days being in the 80s & others rainy and cool. Each day is an adventure. We make a point to get out every day, regardless of the weather. Trips to the grocery store are daily. We eat lots of PB&J...Not only because it's quick, easy & cheap, but because it's delicious! The jam is chunky & the bread is full of seeds & nuts...YUM!

We've all adjusted better than expected. JR is still testing his boundaries - seeing what he all he can get away with! We are going to try to get him in a local preschool so he can have regular play time with kids his age. I know he misses that! Evie is happy as a clam as long as she eats every 3 hours! We had to change her formula upon arrival, which has disturbed her system a bit. She never complains though. We want to get her on vegetables, but you cannot buy assorted baby food flavors here. I guess we will have to puree our own until visitors from the US can bring us a supply.

We've found that nothing here is 'easy'. Americans are very spoiled with 'convenience'. It has taken me 3 1/2 weeks to get a cell phone. Although everyone here has one, no one can tell you how to get one, how to set it up, etc. Folks are happy to help, but only give enough info to get you to the next 'step'. I'm seriously thinking of writing a 'Guide to Norway' for future Fulbrighters!

Speaking of Fulbrighters...We have become friendly with the other two roving scholars and their families. One couple has two kids (5 & 8). JR absolutely adores them, and they are great with both he & Ev.

I'm going to attempt to post pics of our flat as well as some from our outings - including visits to Frogner/Vigeland park, Sognsvann lake (where JR skinny dipped, like a true Norwegian), berry picking in the woods, etc.

I'll try to post updates on a regular basis, so visit our blog often!