That Was Fast

Yesterday I enrolled in Norwegian language classes. I am required to receive 300 hours of classes within three years. Based on a brief conversation with the registrar, I guess am will be in the intense program, and I am almost at the most advanced level. Classes do not begin until January, so hopefully I can learn more and test out of most of the classes. We use the same rotten books I used in the US- they do not have a single word in English, since they are designed for international students. The upside is that I saved all of them, and won't need to spend more money on them. At the registering center, I was probably the only white person around. Maybe Stavanger has more diversity that I gave it credit for.

We are borrowing Lise's brother's IP phone. I can call any home phone in the US for free. I need to sort out some technical issues, since our internet provider did not give us a router, but rather a modem. We have only one static IP and there is no NAT, so we really cannot share the internet and the IP phone at present. I am told that if I buy a switch, rather than a hub, it should work. Apparently the ISP has created this headache to steer customers to their VoIP products, which reportedly integrate seemlessly.

This morning the phone rang. Lise said, "Just a minute," as she handed the phone to me. It could only mean one thing, as no one from the US would be calling at that hour, and the only people with that number are potential employers. I have an interview scheduled this Thursday- already- with an excellent company. I won't give too many details, as I do not want to jinx myself, but the point is, this is happening FAST. I need a haircut, need some clothes dry cleaned. I guess tomorrow will be my prep day. Frankly, I have been amazed how busy I have been for being jobless.

The past few days have been much better than the latter part of the first week here. There is a huge difference between visiting a foreign place, and moving there. I have no idea when I will be back in the US. I feel I have learned a lot of Norwegian by reading the text captioning on the US TV shows, like yesterday's Miami Vice where Frank Zappa played an evil drug dealer. Actually, the National Geographic Channel is my new favorite.

Speaking of TV, Norway's equivalent of HBO (Canal) shows completely hardcore porn late at night, as I discovered the other day- although the satellite reception was very spotty due to the nasty storm. Canal is a huge football sponsor- there is nothing seedy or unseemly about them as a company. The funny thing was that the "movie" was French, and it wasn't captioned. Apparently the plot was of little concern.

Anyway, it has been nice being around people, like Lise's brother and friends. The nights seem less long and less dark, and this place is feeling less like living on the edge of the world. Lise brightened my day by mentioning that Minneapolis was having a winter storm watch already. Not to wish ill upon anyone, but the weather here has been so terrible that I need a bit of relativity to brighten by cloudy, rainy days.

Our landlords are really nice people (how is that for an abrupt transition?). But they seem to be constantly vacuuming. Every day we hear what sounds like a vacuum. I don't know if there is some OCD going on up there or what, but it is getting a bit creepy. Must... clean.... floor.... They have hardwood floors- as does everyone. I have NEVER seen carpet anywhere in this entire country. It would be a very lonely job working in a carpet store, or as a carpet layer. Rugs are OK, but carpet? That is as taboo as using a broom. Don't ask!