I'm an alien.......

I first moved to the US in 1999. I was excited, nervous, clueless and happy. I thought it would be an easy adjustment, being a globe trekker and all. Besides, I had already fallen in love with the US after my visit to California in the summer of '88. Plus, I was newly married and could live anywhere with my hot man. I quickly realized that I really was a foreigner in a strange land. These are some of things that were strange to me:

medical insurance

BLTs

green jello salad with shredded carrots

funeral potatos

personal checks

24 hour grocery stores

BBQ sauce

fry sauce

being able to walk to church

I'm not saying they're bad things, they were just strange to me.

I try to welcome challenges with a positive attitude, and, to be honest, starting a new life in the US was at times a challenge. But I loved it there. I grew so much as a person and learned a lot about myself. I grew really close to my sister, who fortunately lived only a few minuets away. Most of all, I learned to understand my husband better, and realized that all the crazy and weird things he does are not really that crazy and weird in America.

I also made many new and wonderful friends, and adjusted quite well. But, the funny thing is that I have never felt more Norwegian! I guess there's some truth to the saying that Norwegians abroad are a lot more patriotic than Norwegians in Norway. If Sting were to write me a song, it would go something like this: "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm a Norwegian in Salt Lake City."

Then the strangest thing happened. We moved to Norway, and I was excited to come "home". What shocked me, though, was that I felt like an alien in my own country. What is going on? After feeling like a true Viking for over 7 years in the States, you would think I would embrace Viking land with no hesitation. Here are some things that were strange to me:

no breakfast restaurants (such as IHOP, Denny's and Village Inn)

paying over $40 for the 4 of us to eat at McDonald's

socialized medicine

no 24 hour grocery stores

being "out walked" by women twice my age

lack of customer service

no airconditioning

I'm not saying they're bad things, they were just strange to me.

Here's what's confusing: I don't feel like an American, but I don't feel like a Norwegian either, so who am I? "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm a Norwegian in Norway." How bizarre is that? I honestly didn't think it would be possible to feel like a foreigner in your own country.

My conclusion is that I'm blessed with a heart big enough to embrace 2 countries and call them "home." I love Norway and miss it when I'm gone, but I love the US, too, and miss it terribly now that I'm gone!

Mamma Mia!

I saw it. And I loved it! It's one of those feel-good movies that you want to see again.

When I first heard they were making a movie version of the musical, I knew I had to see it. For 3 basic reasons:

1. I love musicals
2. I love ABBA
3. I love Colin Firth

So, I teamed up with my sister-in-law, two other friends and my daughter and went to see it last week. My husband doesn't share my passion for musicals or ABBA, so I didn't want to put him through the agony of having to go with me to see it. Even though I know he would have if I asked him, that's just the kind of guy he is. He already proved that when he went to see "Hairspray" with me last year.

We were bouncing with anticipation as we walked in to the movie theater, and my daughter, who has never really heard about ABBA, bounced with anticipation just because she got to come with us to see a movie.

As soon as the movie started, my feet and lips started moving. I just couldn't help myself. That's just what ABBA's music does to you. Because it was so dark in there, I couldn't really tell if I was the only one that was ready to get up and go crazy. So I decided to stay put. For now.

As the movie continued, and after hearing "Mamma Mia!", "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money" and many other familiar songs, scenes from my childhood flashed before my eyes. My friend, Julie, and I playing ABBA. Julie was Agneta, and I was Anni-Frid. Our stage was my brother's bed, and our microphones were hairbrushes. Since our English skills were limited at the time, we just made up words that sounded good. Great memories!

Meryl Streep was fantastic, and I think my favorite part was when she sang "Slipping through my fingers." She also did an impressive interpretation of "The winner takes it all".

Colin Firth did NOT disappoint, of course. The guy even plays the guitar and has a pretty decent voice. Not that it really matters, I would have loved him anyways.














When the movie ended, I just could not help my self and had to sing along. By the time "Thank you for the music" played, I was pretty loud. Good thing everyone else had left by then. I was glad to see my sister-in-law cut lose and start dancing. I knew I had gone to see this fantastic movie with some awesome people who share my love for good, old ABBA.

Enemies.

So, it's hot. And sticky. Sunny and burning hot. No airconditioning inside. Windows wide open welcoming my worst enemies, MOSQUITOES! I hate those creatures. However, they love me. I could be covered in OFF!, yet they find the one spot I missed and suck my blood. It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't allergic to them. I woke up the other morning with a bite under my foot, in my ear and on my left palm. Huge bites. Very annoying.

I get such satisfaction ending their lives. A few weeks back, I saw a huge, arrogant one landing on my husband's neck ready to attack the poor guy. I was quicker, though, and attacked first. I just didn't mean to slap my husband's neck that hard. From now on I think he prefers the mosquito bite.

I finally covered the windows with mosquito nets. I am still not convinced, however, they won't find their way in and leave me with an itching surprise in the morning. Like I said, they always find me.