I Don't Understand

I love commercials...sometimes better then an actual program. I am always impressed when a less then a minute long video can capture my interest and make me remember it all day long and I can see a two hour long film and forget how most of it went...

The Norwegian Lottery Commission has some of the funniest commercials based on the idea that Lottery millionaires are not like ordinary millionaires, which they announce at the end of each of their commericals. The latest commercial is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD60M8ladKc

For those of you who don't speak Norwegian I'll try and break this down for you. The woman calls from the Lottery commission and announces that Nisse (or whatever his name is) has won 8.7 million kroner. And on the line you hear a foreigner saying he doesn't understand talk to my brother....and she repeats herself, again you hear the foreigner saying, I don't understand talk to my uncle...and so on, going through the different relatives and then you see the guy on the other end of the line laughing and making up different people for this woman to tell this great news too, just so he can hear her say how much he's won....over and over and over...it's hillarious!

This next video from the Norwegian Lottery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieAsWDPsINM is another foreigner (Norwegians think foreigners are quite funny) and it starts like a horror show..a giant kebab attacks a city and the foreign guy tells them what it is when they ask (this is in English so I shouldn't have to explain this too y'all) and then you see this person standing there in disbelief looking at this commercial at a little kebab steak house in this tiny little place in Norway called Dombås (the kebab house is Dombås Kebab house)and the owner proud of his new commercial dancing away in the background...and of course the mantra of the Norwegian Lottery Commission: Lotto millionaires aren't like ordinary millionaires comes across the screen at the end!!!! FUNNNNNNNY!!!!!

I've been trying to think of something to write from an expat's point of view since Lady Fi has this neat blog carnival or something going on...I shamefully have not paid enough attention to all the details but this is typical me...not paying much attention to things which is why I struggle to find things to write about from an expat's point of view. I told the Captain that I think I'm like a horse with blinders on...I see what is in front of me and anything out of sight I don't think twice about. This is actually a very blissful way to live life...hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil....but I also admit I'm probably missing out on a lot by not paying attention as well as I should. I've honestly never thought of myself as an expat. I've never labelled myself...but I guess I am an expat by all terms and definitions as such...I am an American who loves her country but chooses to live in a foreign country. I've been living in a foreign country for 13 years and I guess I've learned several things over the years when I stop and reflect. I probably have learned a lot more then I will share right now but here are a few of the things I've learned:

You can't compare America to any other country. It's like apples and oranges. What works in America doesn't neccessarily work in other countries and vice versa. I use to wonder why things couldn't be like they were in America, I was frustrated over the differences and my inability to change things but the bottom line was learning to respect each country for it's individuality..it's history and origins. When people would comment about how much crime there was in America and how safe it was in Norway at first I was embarrassed by the high crime in America vs Norway..but hello....the total amount of people in Norway is what we have in one large city in America...OF COURSE there will appear to be more crime in America...Norway will never have the amount of crime we have in the states but Norway will never be as big as America either...if you look at Norway on a scale with other countries around the same size you'll see a more realistic idea whether there is a high crime rate here or not .(I don't know what the statistics are...remember- out of sight out of mind....ignorant bliss, and all that happy stuff)

Another thing I've learned is positive attitude has EVERYTHING to say about how your time in a foreign country will be. No matter how long you will be out of your own "fish bowl" and in another if you stay positive more positive things will happen too you then negative. On facebook I am part of a Americans in Norway group and someone asked the question: Norwegians- cold, rude..or something else (can't recall the whole question) and it was basically people complaining about the rude and non-social and not-nearly-as-friendly-as-an-American, Norwegians. In the Norwegians defense (and again I've come to this conclusion after several years here so I also have an understanding for the newbies in this country also) but anyhoot...first of all look at where Norway is located...in the north...gets cold in the north...and a long time ago before global warming it was even colder then it is now-brrrrrr....I shiver to think of it-and when it gets cold like that where do you want to be??? Yes, inside...next to a roaring fire...I assume this accounts for some of the Norwegian coolness in it's people. The other thing is Norwegians have been hard labour people for a long time, reindeer herders, fishermen, farmers, sailors...they work hard and take pride in what they do and don't take time for much else. But Norwegians are evolving....slowly but surely. They are travelling more and bringing home more foreign ideas of living and being and I've met some wonderful Norwegians who are fascinating people and yes I've met some rude Norwegians...and if they were the last people on earth I'd probably be more frustrated at their rudeness but thankfully the world is a big place and life is way to short to sit around and squabble about people you don't get on with....my motto- MOVE FORWARD!!!! The truth is I've met rude Americans too....but I'm not judging all Americans by these people...and I'm not wasting my time thinking of them either...I just move on...hoping I'll meet someone great next and appreciating the wonderful people in my life. Postive attitude is EVERYTHING!!!

Another thing I've learned is that we Americans are full of ourselves....I dare to say that we think we pretty much rule the roost when it comes to inventions, new thinking, how to do things and so on. Don't get me wrong here, we Americans are great people, we really are...most of us at least...but- and I say this quite humbly- we don't know everything- we aren't the best in everything and we would only benefit to be a little more humble and maybe learn from other countries. I'm not saying that everything I learn here is something I approve of, absolutely adore, or feel should be taken up in the political houses in America but our ancestors in Europe have been around a long time and have some interesting ways about doing things which have been staples in their lives for centuries which means they can't all be bad things?? There is a commercial here in Norway for a grocery store where people try and do things in a very complicated way and then someone comes along and does exactly the same thing in a very simple way and the mantra is: Sometimes the simple way is the best way and I agree with this...I think in our race to discover new things and make our lives easier we have complicated things more then neccessary and I've come to the humble conclusion again that not all progress is in our best interest.

These are just a few of things I've learned while living here and only humble opinions, I'm sure there will be folks who disagree with me and that is their right, that is what is so wonderful with living in a democratic world- the right to disagree and have different opinions. Right??? RIGHT??? hahahaha!!!

Have a great Friday folks...until next time...