Random Rants and Musings

When I moved to Norway I thought it was joke when I was told that I could not smile for any official photos, for the bank, my drivers license, work permit photo, credit card photo - no smiles. It is due to facial recognition software used to nab bad guys - and to protect innocents like me (ha!). In the US news this week I have read the stories about how several states have also put laws on the books stating that people cannot smile for drivers license photos.

I remember in 7th or 8th grade a science teacher told me that unless I had strong genes, I would end up with very pronounced folds around my smile lines because I smile so large. It really made me mad...still does. The guy was a jerk, and at over 40 I spot very few wrinkles including zip around my laugh lines (sounds like an oxymoron - laugh lines the temporary wrinkle that shows-up when smiling or laughing).

I was mad at the Norwegians for not allowing me to smile in my photos. For my first work permit I frowned. Apparently you can frown, but not smile, and you must not show teeth. I tested the no teeth thing at the bank and I was sent back for new photos.

Okay...enough for one ramble...here is another...

At Norwegian schools, well most Norwegian schools, including NK's school, the teachers follow the kids from grade to grade. Norway doesn't have kindergarten (they call child care kindergarten...they are not the same thing), so kids start school in first grade. They start according to calendar year, so if a child turns six in 2009, he or she will start first grade in August. In NK's school there are 35 fifth graders and three teachers for the group. The teachers move up each year with the class. And, the teachers teach all subjects including PE and music. NK goes to school 5-6 hours a day and he has the same teachers until a teacher elects to not move up. Last year one teacher didn't move up and next year we have already been notified that another will not move up.

Children call the teachers by the first name and the class is run very informally, with the children having a lot of input into their lesson plans. Each lesson has three levels and the kids, along with teachers and parents decide whether it is the easy, middle or hard/aggressive tract. And kids decide how much to do and whether to do some homework - or not. Kids really rule. This is a big issue in Norway and it goes to the national legislative body regarding how much rights kids have.

From the time a kid goes to first grade he or she is pretty much on their own. They can decide what to wear, how to wear their hair, and they have a lot of input into their upbringing and education. Kids show-up before the teachers in the class and kids leave after the teachers. Kids are left alone after parents go to work and before parents get home from work.

The laws in Norway pay a new mother for up to two years full salary (whether or not she has a job) for having each child and the laws will fund the mother (or father!) to stay home part-time until the child starts first grade. So parents have a lot of bonding time. But at first grade, the kid is kicked out of the nest (my opinion) and they need to fly or crash. Kids are pretty much taught to become self sufficient at seven years old. They have their own phones - a lot of national rights and they are like little ADULT human beings instead of CHILD human beings.

Some historians and psychologists and sociologists and anthropologists think that childhood was invented in the last 200 years. Before that children were quickly required to grow-up and become self-sufficient - they had to get jobs, find food and defend themselves.

In the US many middle class folks like me coddle their children. NK had to grow-up fast to meet the self-sufficiency level of his peers when we moved to Norway. He learned a new language, how to navigate city buses, got his first phone and had to learn to get himself to and from school. I was super paranoid about it all, but NK was so excited about the new responsibility - and freedom. And it has all been great...well except for me...I worry and obsess and feel like I am failing my son. I even read the laws state by state in the US of how old a child must be to be left alone...and it sure isn't 7 years old in many states. But I know a lot of it is societal. The Norwegian society is a lot safer than the US, and in Norway the society is set up for independence which is extremely ironic considering it is a social welfare state.

I don't know. I have no answers and lots of questions. These are just my random thoughts on a Friday evening in May.

Scotland for a Weekend

A few weeks ago we bought some cheap tickets to Scotland and off we went. We couldn't check a bag due to the cheap tickets, so we each took a change of clothes and a toothbrush in a backpack...and we were off! Why not. Norway drives me loco, so why not Scotland for a change.

This sounds goofy, but was it just the language that made me feel better, or was it that I was NOT in Norway? Well, probably both. Although to be honest we had a VERY hard time understanding the folk in Scotland. NK kept saying that he thought they were not speaking English. Well, it isn't the English we hear in the Midwest, but it was English. It kind of reminded me of watching English films...or Irish films and I keep hitting rewind when JH and I say, "What was that...what did they say?"

We had a great weekend. It rained a little here and there, but the locals said that it rains every day in Scotland. Spring was in full bloom, so it was nice Spring rain. It smelled good and it was refreshing to stroll around in.

The local people were so nice. We were in awe of the friendliness. After living in Norway where people are offended if you ask how they are. People in Scotland were bubbly, funny, interesting and out of the way helpful.

NK thought about getting a kilt. He kept pondering it...even at the airport, but if you snooze you lose and he wouldn't try one on...so too bad. Maybe next time.

NK loves Coldplay - they are his favortie band. he was so excited when he saw that Coldplay was coming to Scotland...he kept asking if they were already in town. NOT!

Glasgow is an old, old city. We had a nice time strolling around gawking at the architecture and the people! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow. Read this link with information about Glasgow. It is really quite intriguing. We fell in love with the city. And we will go back...many times I hope. It is a perfect weekend getaway. A place to relax, explore and enjoy.

JH found that Norwegian entertainment was coming to town for a show.

We rode public transport around and we found the trains to be clean, cheap and easy to use.

SOme of the domes reminded me of the Iowa capitol building.

NK enjoyed the many statues. We looked at a lot of them and read the captions and plaques.

I love this car. It made me ponder driving on the "other" side of the road. Maybe not...at least not in this car! A little on the steep side of the bank!

The streets were packed. People were out in force shopping. Shops were full and people were spending. I don't see Norwegians shopping like this...never!

There were a lot fo street entertainers. We enjoyed the street music. This group was really good. I wish I knew who they were. I would definitely buy a CD. They looked good too!

This is Scotland's war memorial. It is quite stunning and simple..both.

Another of the many statues. This one to the poet Thomas Campbell. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Campbell_(poet)

Some students tossed a loaf a bread to some pigeons in park. The pigeons pekked a tunnel through the bread.

From the distance I thought this was maybe a synagogue. When I zoomed in I cold see the ship. This was maybe 6-8 stories up from street level.

Check out the sticker on the back window. Cute.

Great statue of a horse and rider.

One of the many double-decker buses.

The night before I took this photo we were strolling down the street and saw the most beautiful lit-up peacock made out of cast iron, copper and of course lights. This photo in the daylight does not do it justice.

This is one of the many buildings in Glasgow which are hundreds of years old.

My boys strolling along the River Clyde.

A local cab. Decked out in adverts.

The train from the airport skirted the coast and past MANY golf courses. Of course Scotland is HOME to golf. From the train Scotland looks kind of like Iowa. Really.

We arrived at Central Station and then set out on foot for the weekend.

NK had his hair cut in a little barber shop in Glasgow. It was a cute little hole in the wall place with lots of charm.

The night before we left we walk down a rural country lane near the airport and I took this photo looking away from the sea and towards a tower on a hill.

North and South

Before we ran away to Scotland we made a trip to Northern Norway to spend sometime with Ole and Eli. The area North of the Arctic Circle is thawing out! It almost looked like Spring...almost! Some snow here and there, and it rained the entire time we were there, but Spring was in the air!

The photo above is from a small excursion we took to Southernish Norway along the Oslo Fjord on the West Side. The remains of a large fortress from the Iron Age and post-Iron Age. Some of the structures have been rebuilt, like the tower above.

Me and NK hanging out at the fortress. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were chilling after the climb up to the fortress.

This is the flag for Tonsberg flying high above the fortress. From the top of the fortress you can see the East Side of the Oslo Fjord.

The rebuilt tower.

Me and the little NK hanging out on the remains of an old wall at the fortress.

NK loving his daddy. In the background is the Jarlsberg Estate. Yummy, yummy, Jarlsberg cheese. This is one of only to Jarl (Earl) still in Norway, as Norway has a very streamlined Royal House and permitted gentry.

Part of the old wall at the fortress.

NK hiding in a tree in our yard.

Okay...now on to the Arctic. This is a photo of the fjord in front of Ole and Eli's house.

I took this photo while standing on the veranda of their house looking down to the fjord.

Gratulerer med Dagen Norge! UPDATED!

Smiling boy dressed in Norway's colors to celebrate Norway's National Day! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Constitution_Day. From Wikipedia..."The Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as søttende/syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day), although the latter is less frequent".

Nick looks very patriotic and he has his daddy's smile!

The photographer finally poses for a shot.

We leaned against the birch trees and came away with shaggy white bark crumbles stuck to our clothing.

Such a beautiful day. We went to the children's parade and then home to grill the yummy-looking steaks I bought in Sweden.

JH poses in his new suit.

The boys. Such a wonderful day!

My good friend Eva and her oldest son Martin. We stood downtown and waited for the parade.

JH looks like a secret service agent...heeeheehee.

This cute little boy was so excited for the parade.

And then the children came down the hill. The schools marched class by class.

So many of the children were dressed in bunads, the national costume's wich are unique to the valleys, or regions where they or their ancesters are from.

So many children.

And then came the fifth grade from Kopperud Skole and look at who the banner bearer is....NK!

Away he goes.

A great shot of NK carrying the banner. The other boys are his classmates.

I noticed that even the immigrant children were dressed in traditional Norwegian bunads.

This little girl was so cute. She just kept looking up at JH...he is so tall!

To the right you can see NK. We crossed over a few blocks to see his class again. In this photo he is marching with his mates and not carrying the banner.

Smiling boy! His favorite little lady is the girl to the far left.

And JH secure the flag from one of our verandas.

NK was tired from marching through town!

Such a handsome boy.

JH's eyes look so dreamy against the blue sky!

NK surveying the neighborhood.

My boys!

NK with the final pose for the day...let's eat!