Its been a while since I recieved that student denial thingy. Thankfully, it wasnt fatal. Infact I felt so bad about the whole mess that the morning after I woke up thinking, hey, Im still alive. After laughing to myself I decided that I might as well use this annoying endurance to bad events and try something else.
You can quote me on that.
Sheesh.
Well, like the line says, Im not out of the game yet. In fact, I recently got some more work cleaning again. Say what you like but the pay is very good. Best Ive had since I got here infact. Still, while I was collecting the last of my Attests (references) I enquired about work and got a very surprised yesyes yes! (Or jajaja in Norwegian :D).
So, after a long chat with my beloved better half, we decided it might be best to push for "fast" work (permanent) in order to get some stable money. Being unafraid of a decent days work, I finally relented to the idea of cleaning toilets and offices for a living. Besides, with the money I could pay for a lot. Including new norsk books and... my Bergens test! Thats the clinker. My aim, is be finished and eidetic with Stein På Stein, the second in the series of language books, by Christmas. That would leave me until around April to finish with the next set and be ready to try for that scary test that opens up so much to me. Funny thing is, if I pass or fail, I would still be at that point, much better than I am now.
The norsk klubbs continue, on the most recent occasion without me! I am jealous, but proud to be part of such a group. Having friends learning with you makes things nicer.
Ill extend an offer again, if anyone is in the Oslo area who'd like to join in learning Norwegian, send me a bell. (Trans. Send me an email.)
ANyway! Blood! Yes, Twas a few goodly nights ago that, while walking home from work I found an old and very drunk man drenched in his own blood. It seems that he had fallen over trying to get more money out of a minibank (atm) and bashed his head. It was quite an effort to get him sat down and check his pupils for you know what. Thankfully he was fine. Though when another helper phoned an ambulance he got up and began walking away, ungrateful of our help!
Jumping on the night bus, it was then I noticed that my hands were covered in his blood (thankfully he had lots left :D). There is something unnerving when its someone elses.
What a night.
Still, that same night I bumped into other lads from England (most of the time theyre either half norwegian, and/or from the south). Only met one guy from near my home so far, our "accents" confused the hell out of the locals. Heh. Didnt realise I had an accent until I came here.
Anyway, still here, still working, learning, living and stuff.
Thanks for reading and following, I dont deserve you.
More soon! Christmas presents and surviving away from home for Jule.
Rik
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Monday 1 November 2010
Studen Application denied!!!
Well, if I said that I was totally surprised, I'd be lying. But why? I mean, after all, I did have not one, but three people tell me it would all be fine. One, going so far as to say "you dont require a bergens test for this" in an email.
So much for that idea, but where does that leave me now?
On a final note, anyone living in the Oslo area who would like to get involved with a free friendly group all trying to learn norwegian, drop me a post here. I don't know about you, but I aint paying for another coarse if I can help it.
Thanks again!
Rik.
So much for that idea, but where does that leave me now?
Pessimistically: There are no relevant courses in Univeristy or College that I can take without a passed Bergens test to prove that I am adequate enough to taken them. Also, the only Masters Coarse I would be relevant to really, requires 50 more points to even bother applying.
Optimistically: If I consider that the Bergens test itself is not just a means to an end but a course in its own right, then I should consider myself a student in Norwegian. In a way, once again I must remind myself that the Bergens test or Norwegian as a whole, is the true key to unlock all those doors. SO really, I only have one thing to study on. Simple eh?
At the end of the day, I am lucky to have a loved one with endless generosity, patience of a walking saint and who gives me all the moral and financial support I need. I wont lie, every day I don't pay for everything is a shameful thing, this wasn't the way I was raised after all, but she calls me her little investment. The least I can do is not ruin that for her.
In any case. While I'm rethinking my long term plans (again), I can concentrate my efforts to get to that fluent level of norsk. After all, thats the only real problem, right?
I've nearly got all of my Attests from my old bosses, just one left who seems very evasive. Bear it in mind that to write such a reference is a legal obligation, even if it just says, "he worked this period" they still have to write one. Looks like I may need to be a bit more insistent. Le sigh.
On a final note, anyone living in the Oslo area who would like to get involved with a free friendly group all trying to learn norwegian, drop me a post here. I don't know about you, but I aint paying for another coarse if I can help it.
Thanks again!
Rik.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Student Application handed in!
Okay.
I have finally handed in my application to the University of Oslo. My intent? Is to take enough points to apply for a Master Degree. Heres the thing, traditionally, such coarses can only be taken as part of a whole Degree. This degree isnt available at the moment, not that I could have taken it anyway because one of the requirements is a Bergens test.
Yet I've been told that these single coarses, of which I need 50pts worth, do not require such a thing indivdually because I can speak English. Go fig. Ive had two seperate people tell me this is the case, though in my usual pessimisitc (edit: realistic) mindset, I fully expect to be shafted much later on next year.
Regardless, heres me trying.
In the interim, I'll be trying to move closer to the Bergens test level. More of less, my last level test had me at B1, which as about 3 below Bergens test level. What scares me the most is the requirement to actually understand the Bergen accent!!!!
Crapple.
Still, now Im writing the occasional essay including recently learned words, badgering my eternally patient girlfriend to mark it. Also, klartale, a fantastic website where one can read and hear the latest news in slow and concise Norwegian.
Between these and my aim to finish Stein Pa Stein before Novemeber I think at least the progress continues.
Jobs.
At the moment Im still only working with Samfunnet as security. Not much, but its better than nothing. While Im hoping for more work with the awesomness that is Penelope, this Christmas, one musnt rest on ones laurels or something like that.
This was where I found out about attests. England has references. Norway has references and attests. Attests are testimonials about your working standard from previous employers. Very serious business.
Im still tracking them all down. Theres nothing worse than not being able to do much when your finally in the mood to do so!!
Anyway, had a very wierd cultural day last thursday. Got mistaken for a Turk and got my hands covered in blood. More later!
R
I have finally handed in my application to the University of Oslo. My intent? Is to take enough points to apply for a Master Degree. Heres the thing, traditionally, such coarses can only be taken as part of a whole Degree. This degree isnt available at the moment, not that I could have taken it anyway because one of the requirements is a Bergens test.
Yet I've been told that these single coarses, of which I need 50pts worth, do not require such a thing indivdually because I can speak English. Go fig. Ive had two seperate people tell me this is the case, though in my usual pessimisitc (edit: realistic) mindset, I fully expect to be shafted much later on next year.
Regardless, heres me trying.
In the interim, I'll be trying to move closer to the Bergens test level. More of less, my last level test had me at B1, which as about 3 below Bergens test level. What scares me the most is the requirement to actually understand the Bergen accent!!!!
Crapple.
Still, now Im writing the occasional essay including recently learned words, badgering my eternally patient girlfriend to mark it. Also, klartale, a fantastic website where one can read and hear the latest news in slow and concise Norwegian.
Between these and my aim to finish Stein Pa Stein before Novemeber I think at least the progress continues.
Jobs.
At the moment Im still only working with Samfunnet as security. Not much, but its better than nothing. While Im hoping for more work with the awesomness that is Penelope, this Christmas, one musnt rest on ones laurels or something like that.
This was where I found out about attests. England has references. Norway has references and attests. Attests are testimonials about your working standard from previous employers. Very serious business.
Im still tracking them all down. Theres nothing worse than not being able to do much when your finally in the mood to do so!!
Anyway, had a very wierd cultural day last thursday. Got mistaken for a Turk and got my hands covered in blood. More later!
R
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Walls, hoops and a F#¤)ING big emergency cuppa!
Hi there sports fans.
Ever had a crappy revelation?
Picture this. Today I decided to research the possibility of studying a Masters in English Language with Oslo University. Today I found out that, of coarse, my micky mouse degree in Imaginative Writing didnt count for didly.
Damnation.
In essence, although Im looking into this, I would have to start from scratch with another new Bachelors beforehand. Thats a long time.
Okay, Ill back up a bit.
I decided a week ago, with no small amount of consideration nor sobreity, to become a teacher. No instant thing, I know, but it felt good to have an overall goal, ikke sant?
I had a GCSE and an A level relevant to English Language, and since the Masters in Oslo were in English, I figured that while my Norwegian continued to grow I could do something useful. And of coarse abuse the immensly cheaper Tuition costs here.
Sadly, my lazy past came back to haunt me.
Still, at least in a year or two I can take that Pedagogikk Bachelors, though Ive heard more conflicting opinions about how that works. One camp says I need another Bachelors beforehand, while others say I can combine it with another subject that say I want to teach.
More research pending.
In other news, the Norsk Klubb continues. Infact, after Ive finished this post and scoffed down a certain pizza that is cooking right now, Im off to the next session!
Jobs and work? Well my last day with Penelope was yesturday. I felt somewhat cold afterward. Almost like a good thing had ended, though Ive heard they will more than likely need me come December.
In the meanwhile Im plugging as many days back on the doors as I can without suffering adverse affects such as insomnia, hallucinations and a love of Twilight.
Shudder...
I've had some interviews recently (not been idle, not me!), and Ive discovered the need to scan and prepare both copies of all of my education and documents, but also an "attest" from all of my Norwegian jobs! A bit of digging, but apparently my employers must by law give me an attest (read - written reference). Doesnt have to be anygood, but they do have to give me one! :D
So while I wait for those documents to turn up, while I scan and research, I still can't help but feel like Im not doing anything useful.
Thankfully my girl Ingrid continually reminds me that:
a/ Im being stupid.
Love you baby. X
Lesson from all of this? Get a pen and a piece of paper:
1-Before coming over, scan all of your documentation regarding education.
2-Remember to ask for an attest from previous employers, even current ones.
3-Never give up.
Message ends.
Ever had a crappy revelation?
Picture this. Today I decided to research the possibility of studying a Masters in English Language with Oslo University. Today I found out that, of coarse, my micky mouse degree in Imaginative Writing didnt count for didly.
Damnation.
In essence, although Im looking into this, I would have to start from scratch with another new Bachelors beforehand. Thats a long time.
Okay, Ill back up a bit.
I decided a week ago, with no small amount of consideration nor sobreity, to become a teacher. No instant thing, I know, but it felt good to have an overall goal, ikke sant?
I had a GCSE and an A level relevant to English Language, and since the Masters in Oslo were in English, I figured that while my Norwegian continued to grow I could do something useful. And of coarse abuse the immensly cheaper Tuition costs here.
Sadly, my lazy past came back to haunt me.
Still, at least in a year or two I can take that Pedagogikk Bachelors, though Ive heard more conflicting opinions about how that works. One camp says I need another Bachelors beforehand, while others say I can combine it with another subject that say I want to teach.
More research pending.
In other news, the Norsk Klubb continues. Infact, after Ive finished this post and scoffed down a certain pizza that is cooking right now, Im off to the next session!
Jobs and work? Well my last day with Penelope was yesturday. I felt somewhat cold afterward. Almost like a good thing had ended, though Ive heard they will more than likely need me come December.
In the meanwhile Im plugging as many days back on the doors as I can without suffering adverse affects such as insomnia, hallucinations and a love of Twilight.
Shudder...
I've had some interviews recently (not been idle, not me!), and Ive discovered the need to scan and prepare both copies of all of my education and documents, but also an "attest" from all of my Norwegian jobs! A bit of digging, but apparently my employers must by law give me an attest (read - written reference). Doesnt have to be anygood, but they do have to give me one! :D
So while I wait for those documents to turn up, while I scan and research, I still can't help but feel like Im not doing anything useful.
Thankfully my girl Ingrid continually reminds me that:
a/ Im being stupid.
Love you baby. X
Lesson from all of this? Get a pen and a piece of paper:
1-Before coming over, scan all of your documentation regarding education.
2-Remember to ask for an attest from previous employers, even current ones.
3-Never give up.
Message ends.
Tuesday 21 September 2010
My confession.
I have a confession to make. I really didnt want to write on this BLOG. Its strange really but I have in effect been avoiding it for some time and I think I know why.
Life is boring. Kinda.
People BLOGS are usually crammed with fantastic trips, events, littered with endless photoes of the Bloggers in question having a great time. Well, either I havnt had any of that, or I generally forgot my camera. Or, after all these excuses are spent, they are all normal.
This BLOG, I started nearly a year and a half ago, to detail my adventures in actually getting into another country with nought but myself and my girl friends help. Since then, its been a case of no news is good news right? I do get surprised at how much Norwegian Ive actually learnt. Usually at the expense of someone who say, has been here longer and not learned a thing. The shit kicker is usually that said person has a job anyway because of knowledge of stuff or friends.
I have been lucky.
I have NOT earned a job the hard way. I have not applied for work and won through a interview the work. I have either had it handed to me by very good friends that I have made over here, or simply by being in the right place at the time. I know, I know, same at home anyway.
It just stings is all.
With regards to work I have been lucky in the past, but now, soon actually, I will be jobless again looking without hope but wondering all the same if I shall be lucky again.
Truth is, I have come so far from when I started. I can see this. I have actually had job interviews in Norwegian now. Not very good ones, not very succesful ones, but in Norsk all the same.
Also, my recent stretch with Penelope bokhandel has given me some fantastic experience, a really good reference and best of all, a cadre of very awesome people. I can't tell you enough about the work ethic you find in some of these places, beer tasting and sushi extravaganza's (all free) not withstanding, theyre professional and fun. A rare combination.
Its wierd how when your commuting on the bus or the train, you only ever meet the impolite ones. Namely getting on and off the train is hell during traffic because they people coming the other way barge into you. Sooner or later the English politness goes out the door and you fall back on mosh-pit/rugby/older-brother training and start crushing some folker!
So, I have lots of free time right now, though next week Im working vikar (cover work) back at Penelope the book shop. After wards I got nuthin. Right now, Im going through a rutine (trying my best, I have no dicispline so Im trying to get some) of excercise, tending to that veruca I keep getting from these laminate floors, keeping my eyes peeling for another job on Nav or Finn, painting figures for fun times later this week and most importantly, continuing my own norsk kurs. I recently got together with two friends who are on the same level as me to study through a book called Stein På Stein. Im also reading the Witches in Norwegian, with accompanying sound book. Good fun.
Kinda scary really. Part of me debated fleeing back to England but to my horror I discovered that its worse at home. At least here there is work if you crack the language barrier. Back home it sounds more and more like a third world country. Maybe I could claim asylum here? :B
I had an epipheny also. I decided that my long term goal was to go into teaching. Not entirely impossible. I have a degree in Imaginative Writing (stop laughing at the back please, give the front a turn) amid a host of A levels and GCSE's. Nothing special, but enough to maybe get one of those free/really cheap Masters and when Im ready, a Pedogoggik degree. Maybe teaching English, IT and History? I'd do that here, but not at home. Its disgusting how few rights teachers have in schools. The famous paedo scare of the 90's still haunts us, and puts teachers in a situation where for example, if a child tries to stab another, the teacher can only "get in the way."
Ridiculous.
Anyway, I digress.
Bumped into a really great guy while working the doors at Samfunnet the other day. Forget his name, but he was from CHester. Sounded like an extra from Hollyoaks, but it was good to go full swing with my accent and not be worried about being misunderstood. As it was noone there could make a word out (how do you like it eh!?), but as it is my "scouse" accent isnt actually scouse. I know, but try explaining the concept of villages to most norwegians. Steder (or places i think) are closest they have. Its cold here, huddle up now!
Feels good to finally write something down. Always feels like an Ego trip, and yes I suppose this does feed my self worth somewhat. So sue me. I have followers dammit!
Thanks for reading all. Im still alive.
Rik.
Life is boring. Kinda.
People BLOGS are usually crammed with fantastic trips, events, littered with endless photoes of the Bloggers in question having a great time. Well, either I havnt had any of that, or I generally forgot my camera. Or, after all these excuses are spent, they are all normal.
This BLOG, I started nearly a year and a half ago, to detail my adventures in actually getting into another country with nought but myself and my girl friends help. Since then, its been a case of no news is good news right? I do get surprised at how much Norwegian Ive actually learnt. Usually at the expense of someone who say, has been here longer and not learned a thing. The shit kicker is usually that said person has a job anyway because of knowledge of stuff or friends.
I have been lucky.
I have NOT earned a job the hard way. I have not applied for work and won through a interview the work. I have either had it handed to me by very good friends that I have made over here, or simply by being in the right place at the time. I know, I know, same at home anyway.
It just stings is all.
With regards to work I have been lucky in the past, but now, soon actually, I will be jobless again looking without hope but wondering all the same if I shall be lucky again.
Truth is, I have come so far from when I started. I can see this. I have actually had job interviews in Norwegian now. Not very good ones, not very succesful ones, but in Norsk all the same.
Also, my recent stretch with Penelope bokhandel has given me some fantastic experience, a really good reference and best of all, a cadre of very awesome people. I can't tell you enough about the work ethic you find in some of these places, beer tasting and sushi extravaganza's (all free) not withstanding, theyre professional and fun. A rare combination.
Its wierd how when your commuting on the bus or the train, you only ever meet the impolite ones. Namely getting on and off the train is hell during traffic because they people coming the other way barge into you. Sooner or later the English politness goes out the door and you fall back on mosh-pit/rugby/older-brother training and start crushing some folker!
So, I have lots of free time right now, though next week Im working vikar (cover work) back at Penelope the book shop. After wards I got nuthin. Right now, Im going through a rutine (trying my best, I have no dicispline so Im trying to get some) of excercise, tending to that veruca I keep getting from these laminate floors, keeping my eyes peeling for another job on Nav or Finn, painting figures for fun times later this week and most importantly, continuing my own norsk kurs. I recently got together with two friends who are on the same level as me to study through a book called Stein På Stein. Im also reading the Witches in Norwegian, with accompanying sound book. Good fun.
Kinda scary really. Part of me debated fleeing back to England but to my horror I discovered that its worse at home. At least here there is work if you crack the language barrier. Back home it sounds more and more like a third world country. Maybe I could claim asylum here? :B
I had an epipheny also. I decided that my long term goal was to go into teaching. Not entirely impossible. I have a degree in Imaginative Writing (stop laughing at the back please, give the front a turn) amid a host of A levels and GCSE's. Nothing special, but enough to maybe get one of those free/really cheap Masters and when Im ready, a Pedogoggik degree. Maybe teaching English, IT and History? I'd do that here, but not at home. Its disgusting how few rights teachers have in schools. The famous paedo scare of the 90's still haunts us, and puts teachers in a situation where for example, if a child tries to stab another, the teacher can only "get in the way."
Ridiculous.
Anyway, I digress.
Bumped into a really great guy while working the doors at Samfunnet the other day. Forget his name, but he was from CHester. Sounded like an extra from Hollyoaks, but it was good to go full swing with my accent and not be worried about being misunderstood. As it was noone there could make a word out (how do you like it eh!?), but as it is my "scouse" accent isnt actually scouse. I know, but try explaining the concept of villages to most norwegians. Steder (or places i think) are closest they have. Its cold here, huddle up now!
Feels good to finally write something down. Always feels like an Ego trip, and yes I suppose this does feed my self worth somewhat. So sue me. I have followers dammit!
Thanks for reading all. Im still alive.
Rik.
Tuesday 1 June 2010
A year in. Looking back.
So as I said in the last post. I, have been in Norway for just over a year. A lot of the visitors to this Blog as I have noticed are more interested in how hard it is financially, psychologically etc, then how great a bunnad looks. Fair enough, at the end of the day this is what I intended to do all those long months ago. So:
29th Mai 2009. I came over with one suitcase and a backpack. Both of these items I would be getting very intimate with over the next six months. Why? Well, because when I came over I had no job. I had no real place to live spare in the apartment that girlfriend shared with her friend in Toyen (sorry, cant get Norsk keyboard to work today, Vista's great ain't it?). To give you an idea, heres a qoute from my first ever post:
Lets get this into perspective. I have no friends and family over there (well I didn't), no money making talents, no preset job arrangements and most certainly no language knowledge. SO! Why do it? It could be that my beloved girlfriend is over there and I'm not. It could be that I am so bored with life here that I want a change? Or it could be that I want to at least say I tried to do it. Not many can say they've done that!
Now. When I say suitcase, I mean enough clothes to keep me from being naked for one and a half weeks. With only empty days to myself for the first few months, while my girl was busy working to pay for me. Not ideal, but we both knew what we were getting ourselves in for!
Over the next few months I busied myself with studying norwegian, meeting all of my girl friends friends. While my lady tried her hardest to get a job for me through her "connections" i went about town with a CV and embarrased myself wholesale trying to get work anywhere. I also bothered to try getting help from NAV, the Norwegian job point thingy, only to feel like an unwanted retard. Twice. Thanks guys.
Luck came in the form of a stock take at my Girlfriends place, where I actually managed to use my experience in retail to good form. Then, I got an extra boost of luck when I began working for a friend of the family by "Reporting football matches." I know what youre thinking, but no, it was for a booking website. Still paid. Most of the time.
Eventually, I acquired enough money to afford my first Norwegian Coarse. Now dont let this step fool you, for two weeks worth of "intensive" lessons you too can learn precisly butt kiss of norsk for a humble sum of 4400Kr (Roughly £480). Though the coarse was where I met like minded individuals i.e. immigrants like myself, each with their own hopes and dreams and stories.
Whilst this was going on, during a rather drunken complaint to one of my new Norwegian friends, I managed to acquire another job: working the door. Yeah, I know! But no matter what people tell you, Oslo aint nuthin like Liverpool. Working as security and genral drunk pusher, I worked twice a week from ten til four in the morning, walking home across the city. bearing this was during the Winter and this was before I could ship over some Winter clothes. Let me tell you, you don't know what cold is like until you've walked through Oslo in the Winter mornings.
Life was getting better. Until a surprise fall out with that "family member" caused me to rely more and more on my work at the student pub, which was starting to take its toll.
Taking a step back, I realised that I was missing vital norsk exposure. To that end I began working in a Barnahage voluntarily. The things kids can teach you. Anyone interested in learning more Norwegian or generally builing a CV in Norway, I would recommend volunteering for starters. Its not the expected thing here strangely. But like I said, children are fantastic teachers, patient (or not!), brazen and eager to impress by teaching you something.
A few weeks later, taking a tip of a "immigrant" friend, I was told about a Barnahage that was advertising for a job or two and I went for it. Got an interview and becuase of my lack of experience, aquired a "vikar" work. Vikar is essentially half way between a zero hour contract and part time. Unfortunatly the job was primarily English spoken and the whole afair lacked something which I needed. That, and consistant money!
As me and my girl were planning to move into our own place, we were stuck living at her parents house. We had said goodbye to Toyen, compacted all of our belongings (easier for me) and moved into a small room somewhere in Frogner. Life got hard while we pursued one flat after another until we got a lucky break, which we did have to wait longer for. Finally we said our thank yous and moved in. Making sure that it was a flat that my girl friend could afford herself, I was happy to actually let myself relax. Life was finally taking a sold turn. After six or seven months of room sharing? Who could blame me?
It was around this time that luck struck again. An old contact that I had enquired about work with came out of the blue, a few months later, asking if I wanted work. It was a part time job, just cleaning. It paid consistantly and although it was thankless labour it paid ok.
Finally earning, I made the call to ship all of my belongings from England. Total cost for 14 boxes? 4000Kr. Make sure youre ready and set before you do this. Only when you are sure do you burn your boats Cortez style.
What was I complaining about!? It was work! If someone in England had offered me this type of opportunity I would have flied the birdy, but here? It was progress, and that never happens fast enough.
The cleaning job panned out, very pleasent people, all with stories. Then a cruve ball occured, barley two months ago now. A friend of mine asked me if I could work in a book store, nigh on 100% Norwegian.
I said: Sure, why not?
It wasnt as permanent as the cleaning job. It might not even pay as much. So why did I take it? Answer? Long term thinking. I wasnt in Norway to get money. I was here to grow. To learn. I downgraded my cleaning job to vikar, and accepted her offer.
Like I said. Depseration is key.
:)
So:
Lets get this into perspective. I have no friends and family over there (well I didn't), no money making talents, no preset job arrangements and most certainly no language knowledge. SO! Why do it? It could be that my beloved girlfriend is over there and I'm not. It could be that I am so bored with life here that I want a change? Or it could be that I want to at least say I tried to do it. Not many can say they've done that!
Friends? Check. Through them came many fun times and jobs! How to get em? Be sociable. Accept all invitations where possible. Find a friend from your country? Stick together, endure the nordy madness.
Family? You would be surprised how quickly you can be "adopted" into another family, abroad. I like to think that I have my family, and my other families.
Job arrangements? If I have proven anything, its that not giving up and making opportunities (not to mention taking them) is key and if you try long enough, success is assured.
Language knowledge? I am proud to say that as of this month I have officially attained: Godd bad Norwegian level. Huzzaa! You get to a certain point? Unless you openly refuse to speak norsk, you will pick up words as you go. Nuthin to do with intellect, all you need is right in your head.
Why did I do it? I honestly cant think of a single reason not to. Remember, you can always start again, or try something else. Be the one that tried. Better yet, be the one that succeeded.
Thanks to all that follow me and this hurried little Blog. In no small part, your support and kind words have kept me sane in darker months.
29th Mai 2009. I came over with one suitcase and a backpack. Both of these items I would be getting very intimate with over the next six months. Why? Well, because when I came over I had no job. I had no real place to live spare in the apartment that girlfriend shared with her friend in Toyen (sorry, cant get Norsk keyboard to work today, Vista's great ain't it?). To give you an idea, heres a qoute from my first ever post:
Lets get this into perspective. I have no friends and family over there (well I didn't), no money making talents, no preset job arrangements and most certainly no language knowledge. SO! Why do it? It could be that my beloved girlfriend is over there and I'm not. It could be that I am so bored with life here that I want a change? Or it could be that I want to at least say I tried to do it. Not many can say they've done that!
Now. When I say suitcase, I mean enough clothes to keep me from being naked for one and a half weeks. With only empty days to myself for the first few months, while my girl was busy working to pay for me. Not ideal, but we both knew what we were getting ourselves in for!
Over the next few months I busied myself with studying norwegian, meeting all of my girl friends friends. While my lady tried her hardest to get a job for me through her "connections" i went about town with a CV and embarrased myself wholesale trying to get work anywhere. I also bothered to try getting help from NAV, the Norwegian job point thingy, only to feel like an unwanted retard. Twice. Thanks guys.
Luck came in the form of a stock take at my Girlfriends place, where I actually managed to use my experience in retail to good form. Then, I got an extra boost of luck when I began working for a friend of the family by "Reporting football matches." I know what youre thinking, but no, it was for a booking website. Still paid. Most of the time.
Eventually, I acquired enough money to afford my first Norwegian Coarse. Now dont let this step fool you, for two weeks worth of "intensive" lessons you too can learn precisly butt kiss of norsk for a humble sum of 4400Kr (Roughly £480). Though the coarse was where I met like minded individuals i.e. immigrants like myself, each with their own hopes and dreams and stories.
Whilst this was going on, during a rather drunken complaint to one of my new Norwegian friends, I managed to acquire another job: working the door. Yeah, I know! But no matter what people tell you, Oslo aint nuthin like Liverpool. Working as security and genral drunk pusher, I worked twice a week from ten til four in the morning, walking home across the city. bearing this was during the Winter and this was before I could ship over some Winter clothes. Let me tell you, you don't know what cold is like until you've walked through Oslo in the Winter mornings.
>_<
Life was getting better. Until a surprise fall out with that "family member" caused me to rely more and more on my work at the student pub, which was starting to take its toll.
Taking a step back, I realised that I was missing vital norsk exposure. To that end I began working in a Barnahage voluntarily. The things kids can teach you. Anyone interested in learning more Norwegian or generally builing a CV in Norway, I would recommend volunteering for starters. Its not the expected thing here strangely. But like I said, children are fantastic teachers, patient (or not!), brazen and eager to impress by teaching you something.
A few weeks later, taking a tip of a "immigrant" friend, I was told about a Barnahage that was advertising for a job or two and I went for it. Got an interview and becuase of my lack of experience, aquired a "vikar" work. Vikar is essentially half way between a zero hour contract and part time. Unfortunatly the job was primarily English spoken and the whole afair lacked something which I needed. That, and consistant money!
As me and my girl were planning to move into our own place, we were stuck living at her parents house. We had said goodbye to Toyen, compacted all of our belongings (easier for me) and moved into a small room somewhere in Frogner. Life got hard while we pursued one flat after another until we got a lucky break, which we did have to wait longer for. Finally we said our thank yous and moved in. Making sure that it was a flat that my girl friend could afford herself, I was happy to actually let myself relax. Life was finally taking a sold turn. After six or seven months of room sharing? Who could blame me?
It was around this time that luck struck again. An old contact that I had enquired about work with came out of the blue, a few months later, asking if I wanted work. It was a part time job, just cleaning. It paid consistantly and although it was thankless labour it paid ok.
Finally earning, I made the call to ship all of my belongings from England. Total cost for 14 boxes? 4000Kr. Make sure youre ready and set before you do this. Only when you are sure do you burn your boats Cortez style.
What was I complaining about!? It was work! If someone in England had offered me this type of opportunity I would have flied the birdy, but here? It was progress, and that never happens fast enough.
The cleaning job panned out, very pleasent people, all with stories. Then a cruve ball occured, barley two months ago now. A friend of mine asked me if I could work in a book store, nigh on 100% Norwegian.
I said: Sure, why not?
It wasnt as permanent as the cleaning job. It might not even pay as much. So why did I take it? Answer? Long term thinking. I wasnt in Norway to get money. I was here to grow. To learn. I downgraded my cleaning job to vikar, and accepted her offer.
Like I said. Depseration is key.
:)
So:
Lets get this into perspective. I have no friends and family over there (well I didn't), no money making talents, no preset job arrangements and most certainly no language knowledge. SO! Why do it? It could be that my beloved girlfriend is over there and I'm not. It could be that I am so bored with life here that I want a change? Or it could be that I want to at least say I tried to do it. Not many can say they've done that!
Friends? Check. Through them came many fun times and jobs! How to get em? Be sociable. Accept all invitations where possible. Find a friend from your country? Stick together, endure the nordy madness.
Family? You would be surprised how quickly you can be "adopted" into another family, abroad. I like to think that I have my family, and my other families.
Job arrangements? If I have proven anything, its that not giving up and making opportunities (not to mention taking them) is key and if you try long enough, success is assured.
Language knowledge? I am proud to say that as of this month I have officially attained: Godd bad Norwegian level. Huzzaa! You get to a certain point? Unless you openly refuse to speak norsk, you will pick up words as you go. Nuthin to do with intellect, all you need is right in your head.
Why did I do it? I honestly cant think of a single reason not to. Remember, you can always start again, or try something else. Be the one that tried. Better yet, be the one that succeeded.
Thanks to all that follow me and this hurried little Blog. In no small part, your support and kind words have kept me sane in darker months.
Monday 31 May 2010
One Year Anniversairy
A rather strange day occurred recently when I realized to my horror that I had in fact been in Norway for exactly a year last Saturday. Desperate to make a deal about it, I tried to arrange a celebration, maybe even start a little something for all of my other "invanderer" friends. As it happens, sodding Eurovision was on the same day.
(As an aside, have to say, Pete Waterman needs shooting for that travesty of music, and lets be honest, did anyone else notice that the English "dancers" were all drunk during the show part of the night? So embarrassing.)
Anyway, just as I was prepared to settle in for a night of eurotrash, my good friends surprised me with a gift an a hug, congratulating me for a job well done. Interestingly enough, those good friends will have been here a year in July sometime, so maybe a tradition can start for this? If I could coin it, I call it Invaders day, celebrating one year as an Invader, or immigrant if you like. :)
Anyway, for this years Anniversairy (a word I always struggle to spell) Ive decided to write up something of an appraisal. Maybe look back at past posts, events and memories and maybe go through the steps and travails I took to get this far. If I read it tonight, I should be able to write something up tomorrow.
Until then. If youre reading this and you yourself are an Immigrant in Norway, ask yourself, when is your Invaders day?
Rik
(As an aside, have to say, Pete Waterman needs shooting for that travesty of music, and lets be honest, did anyone else notice that the English "dancers" were all drunk during the show part of the night? So embarrassing.)
Anyway, just as I was prepared to settle in for a night of eurotrash, my good friends surprised me with a gift an a hug, congratulating me for a job well done. Interestingly enough, those good friends will have been here a year in July sometime, so maybe a tradition can start for this? If I could coin it, I call it Invaders day, celebrating one year as an Invader, or immigrant if you like. :)
Anyway, for this years Anniversairy (a word I always struggle to spell) Ive decided to write up something of an appraisal. Maybe look back at past posts, events and memories and maybe go through the steps and travails I took to get this far. If I read it tonight, I should be able to write something up tomorrow.
Until then. If youre reading this and you yourself are an Immigrant in Norway, ask yourself, when is your Invaders day?
Rik
Saturday 15 May 2010
The Curious case of a lost F*&^ing wallet!
Yes thats right. On the way home from work, I left my wallet on the bus. Finding a distinct lack of bulge in my right pocket I did what most red-blooded males do. I freaking panicked. Ran around Oslo Sentrum chasing after buses like a demented canine. Finally saw sense and went to the local bus station only to remember that I forgot what the bus number had been!
Crap.
Well, writing it all off I counted the losses and went home, myself and my girl very damnably depressed Still its easier to deal with once you accept that there was nothing you could do.
Reaching home I went through the process of cancelling all my bank cards, taking advantage of the Norwegian 24hour stop system. Then, again, taking advantage of Norways massive trend of interenet banking, transferred money around so I could access it before 17th May celebrations!
Now all of this was going through the motions. But yesturday I recieved a very special phone call. Now this would never happen in England I'm mostly sure, but I recieved a phone call from a very excited bus driver who had found my wallet. Not only this, but she wanted to get it to me as soon as possible, trying to make arrangements to drop it off at my local station!
All of those days, chasing after a bus that leaves when your within inches of reaching the door has been forgiven! I cancelled my cards but hey, its the thought that counts right?
SO if you ever lose your wallet or "lommerbok", follow the following course:
1/ Cancel all bank cards via the internet or phone call. I would recommend that your mobile phone has such emergency numbers already on them.
2/ Contact your local bus terminal (or Traffikanten if your unsure), and tell them what bus you were on and when it was running. Sometimes apparently they can get the bus to drop it off the next time the driver comes by, if the wallet is found.
3/ Go back two days later to ask about it. Very often you will be given a set of numbers depending on what buses you had used, phoning these "lost and found" centers is a very direct approach.
Overall the experience of losing your important belongings is slightly different in Norway. Overall you are less likely to be frauded or have the cards taken, usually because such a safe system of stopping said cards exists. But dont panic, follow the above and you will be fine and writing blog posts about the ordeal in no time at all.
:)
Crap.
Well, writing it all off I counted the losses and went home, myself and my girl very damnably depressed Still its easier to deal with once you accept that there was nothing you could do.
Reaching home I went through the process of cancelling all my bank cards, taking advantage of the Norwegian 24hour stop system. Then, again, taking advantage of Norways massive trend of interenet banking, transferred money around so I could access it before 17th May celebrations!
Now all of this was going through the motions. But yesturday I recieved a very special phone call. Now this would never happen in England I'm mostly sure, but I recieved a phone call from a very excited bus driver who had found my wallet. Not only this, but she wanted to get it to me as soon as possible, trying to make arrangements to drop it off at my local station!
All of those days, chasing after a bus that leaves when your within inches of reaching the door has been forgiven! I cancelled my cards but hey, its the thought that counts right?
SO if you ever lose your wallet or "lommerbok", follow the following course:
1/ Cancel all bank cards via the internet or phone call. I would recommend that your mobile phone has such emergency numbers already on them.
2/ Contact your local bus terminal (or Traffikanten if your unsure), and tell them what bus you were on and when it was running. Sometimes apparently they can get the bus to drop it off the next time the driver comes by, if the wallet is found.
3/ Go back two days later to ask about it. Very often you will be given a set of numbers depending on what buses you had used, phoning these "lost and found" centers is a very direct approach.
Overall the experience of losing your important belongings is slightly different in Norway. Overall you are less likely to be frauded or have the cards taken, usually because such a safe system of stopping said cards exists. But dont panic, follow the above and you will be fine and writing blog posts about the ordeal in no time at all.
:)
Tuesday 11 May 2010
And in other news...
I just realised right after finishing my last post some important things: -
- I'm still waiting for my drivers license,
- Soon I'm going on holiday... back home!
- And, I've actually been here around 11 months as I arrived last June. Which means next month is my Immigrants Anniveresy! How to celebrate...
Drivers License.
Using the ever helpful services of Biltilsynet, I decided a while ago to change my English drivers license into a Norwegian one. Time was against me, as at the time I had but a few days to send it back to England for a new picture. Which, I was told by someone official in England, was pointless as I was living abroad. So, I quickly rushed over to my local Vei Vesson (sp?) to hand in my details. That was about nearly two months ago... I really should find out how that went!
A holiday back home.
From the very first moment my foreign feet touched tarmac at Torp airport I dreamed of using the Norwegian wage to fund a mass spending spree holiday back in England. Fate as it would seem, thought this would be fun too and thanks to the current climate pretty soon I "should" be returning to England with some money to buy things either unavailable (Read Aunt Bessies Yorkshire Puddings) or a damn sight cheaper in England (Read just about everything!). They say no plan ever survives contact with the enemy. I'll let you know how that goes. :)
Immigrants Annivserery? That and other traditions coming soon!
My family has never been one for traditions. Not because of some high brow sense of place, nor any form of spartan thinking, oh no, my folks came from Huyton Mofo! >:) However, since coming to Norway I can't help but feel rather than lacking, and rather than taking pølse off children every 17th May etc I feel its my responsibility to me and my own to establish some new traditions. This is after all a land filled with them. Here, a man can shamelessly wave the Union Jack without connotations to white skinned cueball headed neo-natzis and allround jew hating scum bags. Here, a man can actually explore what remains of English culture, the way he was meant to: by comparing it to other culture with a sense of dark witted arrogance. "I want my cup of tea in a CUP, not a GLASS, with MILK and a ton of SUGER! If it doesnt give me diabeties it don't count!"
So. Upon finding out that I had nearly been here a year, I decided very quickly that it was call for a celebration. Well, at least a reason to get drunk anyway (By the way has anyone seen what happens when you say to a Nord "I hope you get adequatly drunk?" Wierd.). More importantly, this concept couldnt be selfishly kept, oh no!
SO! My ExPatriot and soon to be ExPatriot friends! I call to you! If you have survived the culture shock, the Cuisine Le Anglais food crisis that is to be without proper gravy, the horribly and sensibly priced alchohol, the over bearingly polite to pedestrain drivers, TEA IN GLASSES, if you have survived a year, be it your first or another, celebrate. If we celebrate surviving a year on our birthday, surely this advancement in the survival process requires something extra. But wait! This day requires a name! Something catchy and memorable, that demands songs and antics that can be handed down to new arrivals.
Ideas?
Where to begin.... Again. (Language rant)
It occured to me recently (About five minutes ago actually), that learning a language feels like running a circuit. Yeah, lets go with that analoge for now. That circuit represents all of the knowledge you can accumulate in say a month. If its too big, you will probably fall over and die of a heart attack (analogy!), so keeping it small at first is good: Say so many words, so many grammital wotnots etc. Once you can run that circuit you make it a little bigger.
Where am I going with this? Around in circles. But not it seems in a bad way. Many Language coarses prech repetition. Remember the lines you had to write on the board in school, a hundred times: I will not put an angry cat in teachers bag? (What just me?). What you might of experienced there was the most basic form of education, kinesthetic learning. IE learning by physically doing it. My late French teacher once said that all things could be memorised by three simple steps. Reading, saying and writing it down, over and over again. Unless you accidently become an adept scribe, great at copying written works without actually reading them, it should help. many special needs kids go through this and hell if it works for them it works for you.
But I digress. What am I ranting about now? I have been here for around 9 months now and counting. I have achieved arguable quite a lot in terms of language acquisition it seems. However, even now I still screw up the most basic of things.
Pose. Bag. Vil du få en pose? Would you like a bag? I say it a lot in my current job and dear god how I am sick of getting it wrong. Having a customer standing infront of you wondering god knows what. (Would you like a pause with that? Would you like a pussy cat?) The problem lies in the utterances. The vowel O can be said in many different ways thanks to many languages and dialects, slangs and candences. WTF eva. Where I come from, we don't use that particular vowel sound required to say the word bag in Norwegian!! So, I must practice making a funny face while I try to make that sound that my ears are not trained to hear and my mouth it seems is not trained to make. Yet there is hope. Today, my readers. I said it right. I did a little dance! Im telling my those who read my blog even. I dont expect any of you to understand but I kind of hope one day you might.
So what advice can I give from this experience? That those circuits I talked of always return to the starting block? That no matter how good you get, revision is required? hard truth Im afraid.
Try this. http://www.omniglot.com/writing/norwegian.htm
The guy to writes on this website has learned about 8 languages fluently and countless as a side project. But this page describes Norwegian and even lets you listen to the alphabet and those pesky dipthong thingies. Say them along as you hear it. Leave it a day, go back and see if you can say the letter sounds a minisecond before they do. Are you right? If you leave it another day do you get better?
Bottom line is, if you can remember the alphabet. You CAN learn the language.
/Rant.
Thanks for reading.
Where am I going with this? Around in circles. But not it seems in a bad way. Many Language coarses prech repetition. Remember the lines you had to write on the board in school, a hundred times: I will not put an angry cat in teachers bag? (What just me?). What you might of experienced there was the most basic form of education, kinesthetic learning. IE learning by physically doing it. My late French teacher once said that all things could be memorised by three simple steps. Reading, saying and writing it down, over and over again. Unless you accidently become an adept scribe, great at copying written works without actually reading them, it should help. many special needs kids go through this and hell if it works for them it works for you.
But I digress. What am I ranting about now? I have been here for around 9 months now and counting. I have achieved arguable quite a lot in terms of language acquisition it seems. However, even now I still screw up the most basic of things.
Pose. Bag. Vil du få en pose? Would you like a bag? I say it a lot in my current job and dear god how I am sick of getting it wrong. Having a customer standing infront of you wondering god knows what. (Would you like a pause with that? Would you like a pussy cat?) The problem lies in the utterances. The vowel O can be said in many different ways thanks to many languages and dialects, slangs and candences. WTF eva. Where I come from, we don't use that particular vowel sound required to say the word bag in Norwegian!! So, I must practice making a funny face while I try to make that sound that my ears are not trained to hear and my mouth it seems is not trained to make. Yet there is hope. Today, my readers. I said it right. I did a little dance! Im telling my those who read my blog even. I dont expect any of you to understand but I kind of hope one day you might.
So what advice can I give from this experience? That those circuits I talked of always return to the starting block? That no matter how good you get, revision is required? hard truth Im afraid.
Try this. http://www.omniglot.com/writing/norwegian.htm
The guy to writes on this website has learned about 8 languages fluently and countless as a side project. But this page describes Norwegian and even lets you listen to the alphabet and those pesky dipthong thingies. Say them along as you hear it. Leave it a day, go back and see if you can say the letter sounds a minisecond before they do. Are you right? If you leave it another day do you get better?
Bottom line is, if you can remember the alphabet. You CAN learn the language.
/Rant.
Thanks for reading.
Friday 23 April 2010
"Desperation is what you need, doo do do dooo dooooo"
Hi again folks to what is turning into a monthly afair. The weather has turned from a sour snow to a skitzofrenic (sp??) nut job that can`t decide if it wants to shine brightly or well, rain erm ash?
I recently helped friend from England get his first job, and while my inner trumpets are playing and (if I was religiously inclined) my place in ahem, the place upstairs is set, I mention this not for praise. Oh no. In Norway it seems, networking is key. The expression "its not what you know but who" has never been truer. Indeed, I can honestly say that most of my jobs have been found through friends and friends of friends. I've done the work of walking around Oslo, despressingly handing out CV's like some student whose just discovered council tax, I've found myself praying for easy jobs that rely on English speakers. Choose your own path. I recently passed on a job opportunity from one friend to another who needed one, now shes working in an English company in Norway playing on mobile phones all day trying to crash them. Makes you think how it would have been, testing Windows Vista in the same way.
Take my latest misadventure for example. Last mentioned I was cleaning floors and toilets and earning a reletivly tidy some for it. So I ask you: Why did I move on to a job in a book store, several miles away in Lillestøm where barely any English is heard? Where I am expected to perform like anyone else and understand enough norsk to survive?
Desperation. Pure and simple. I've been searching for the sacred "Immigrants Attitude" since I got here, that thought pattern that makes the difference between a man from a war torn country that works his ass off every day, learns the language and provides for his family, and the man who comes from a rich background and gives up 'cus its too hard. No offence meant, but I am fed up, sick to death with reading bloggs and such about people who claim Norway is too hard to live in. I'd love to give my whole account, but that is another story...
Working in an enviroment which DEMANDS norsk to survive, is a remarkably effective way of forcing your mind to "up the game." Obviously it doesnt work without the SUPPLY that studieing provides, but you can be damn sure that you will memorise the words you use before others, and here I use quite a few new ones every day.
My advice for anyone wanting to make the difference is to volunteer to work your free time in Norwegian environments where you can pick up more words and tune in to the lingo.
In regards to my new job though, it is HARD. Every day, at least twice, a situation will come along where for all intents and purposes I am a child/dog/pokemon as I stare in utter incomprehension to what a customer is saying. So far it hasn't lost me the job, though luckily, a combination of daily studying is keeping me afloat. So far. All I can say is wish me luck, and Ill tell you all about it.
Thanks for reading.
Og min sjef gir meg vaffle og kopp te i dag!
Jeg bestempte meg at jeg like det her!
Også, Google translator er hjempe farlig! :)
I recently helped friend from England get his first job, and while my inner trumpets are playing and (if I was religiously inclined) my place in ahem, the place upstairs is set, I mention this not for praise. Oh no. In Norway it seems, networking is key. The expression "its not what you know but who" has never been truer. Indeed, I can honestly say that most of my jobs have been found through friends and friends of friends. I've done the work of walking around Oslo, despressingly handing out CV's like some student whose just discovered council tax, I've found myself praying for easy jobs that rely on English speakers. Choose your own path. I recently passed on a job opportunity from one friend to another who needed one, now shes working in an English company in Norway playing on mobile phones all day trying to crash them. Makes you think how it would have been, testing Windows Vista in the same way.
Take my latest misadventure for example. Last mentioned I was cleaning floors and toilets and earning a reletivly tidy some for it. So I ask you: Why did I move on to a job in a book store, several miles away in Lillestøm where barely any English is heard? Where I am expected to perform like anyone else and understand enough norsk to survive?
Desperation. Pure and simple. I've been searching for the sacred "Immigrants Attitude" since I got here, that thought pattern that makes the difference between a man from a war torn country that works his ass off every day, learns the language and provides for his family, and the man who comes from a rich background and gives up 'cus its too hard. No offence meant, but I am fed up, sick to death with reading bloggs and such about people who claim Norway is too hard to live in. I'd love to give my whole account, but that is another story...
Working in an enviroment which DEMANDS norsk to survive, is a remarkably effective way of forcing your mind to "up the game." Obviously it doesnt work without the SUPPLY that studieing provides, but you can be damn sure that you will memorise the words you use before others, and here I use quite a few new ones every day.
My advice for anyone wanting to make the difference is to volunteer to work your free time in Norwegian environments where you can pick up more words and tune in to the lingo.
In regards to my new job though, it is HARD. Every day, at least twice, a situation will come along where for all intents and purposes I am a child/dog/pokemon as I stare in utter incomprehension to what a customer is saying. So far it hasn't lost me the job, though luckily, a combination of daily studying is keeping me afloat. So far. All I can say is wish me luck, and Ill tell you all about it.
Thanks for reading.
Og min sjef gir meg vaffle og kopp te i dag!
Jeg bestempte meg at jeg like det her!
Også, Google translator er hjempe farlig! :)
Saturday 20 March 2010
Long time no post!! aka I'm still alive!
While you were gone...
Apologies all round for my tardiness. It never surprises me how easy it is to simply lose interest in something. Then again my attention span was nev
I am now in a flat, with furniture, heating and all the modern comforts. After some agonisingly complex organisation my belongings have finally begun the shipping process. Only the dreaded weekend keeps my toys (and clothes) in a warhouse somewhere south of Hull, awaiting my completed passport and custom details. One hurdle after another. By the way, I recommend Tuder freight, very accesable, though as with any freight service, take the qoute they give and double it when planning ahead. Learn from my mistakes.
Had a bad surprise the other day too, in the same week I discovered that my freight cost wasnt 220, but £470 I learned that my English bank had decided to freeze my account so my direct debit from my credit card bounced causing unnecesery charges. Dont even bother with HSBC's customer help line, unless you think a poorly paid Asian worker can empathise with you about your situation in Prescot. I understand out soarcing and all that but sheesh, get a grip!
Anyway, a few phone calls, internet access and fantastic parents later all is coming together.
I love you guys.
So after living for almost 9 months out of a suitcase (plus what I brought over on my last trip to sunny, ahem, Liverpool) I will soon (should) have my things!!
Some of you may understand what Im talking about.
Job hopping (With the occasional skip)
Toilets to books. They say that job hunting in Norway is about who you know, more than what you know. There is some truth in this. SO far in Norway Ive worked as a commentator on the local matches (less said about that the better), security in a Norwegian "pub" (its not a real pub, not really) and barnehage vikar. I recently got a part time contract working as a cleaner. Not exactly exotic but it paid well and the people there where fantastic. I really got into that "Immigrant" attitude, not the percieved one of blatant ignorance and laziness but the truer one of hard work (/discuss). Now, Ive recently acquired a vikar work with a book store! Talking to customers! OH dear god! (read the section below for more details about the OMG)
The point Im tryng to make however, is that all of these jobs only happened because of connections. Networking, is a common activity in Norway, as far as I can tell. Though not the cold and cocktail studded, party ridden whoring one might think of in the acting circles of Hollywood, oh no. In Norway it seems more natural, more of a side affect of making friends. Do I feel lucky? Hell yes, I have many great friends in Oslo.
The language barrier Vs the high jump.
Learning a language is a funny, thing. Especially when you go from feeling thick headed and useless one minuite to realising how far you have truly come. Far from the obligatory "your Norwegian is really good/ du er så flink med norsk!" I'm talking about the moments when you note that some words have stuck, have been learnt even. Its a good feeling. The point is that learning a language takes a lifetime. Learning to communicate doesnt.
Its all in increments, scratching a word or two at a time. I do believe that even if you dont try, sometimes you can't help but pick up on something. Its nothing to do with intellect (thank god) but rather a natural instinct we all have since the time we learnt our first language. Sound, word = meaning. Multiple words means a concept, etc.
For me though, while I can prattle away like a proper hill billy, hearning the Norwegian is still my weak point. Hopefully a combination of radio, constant conversation, reading and the usual studying will make the difference I need for this new job.
Did I say usual studying? I lied. In truth I had a ahem, break for a month or so while I became distracted by more mundane things like work, money and snow. Remember: Reward yourself for every victory.
Anyway, its good to be back, and maybe next time, Ill tell you a secret....
:)
Missed you!
R
Apologies all round for my tardiness. It never surprises me how easy it is to simply lose interest in something. Then again my attention span was nev
I am now in a flat, with furniture, heating and all the modern comforts. After some agonisingly complex organisation my belongings have finally begun the shipping process. Only the dreaded weekend keeps my toys (and clothes) in a warhouse somewhere south of Hull, awaiting my completed passport and custom details. One hurdle after another. By the way, I recommend Tuder freight, very accesable, though as with any freight service, take the qoute they give and double it when planning ahead. Learn from my mistakes.
Had a bad surprise the other day too, in the same week I discovered that my freight cost wasnt 220, but £470 I learned that my English bank had decided to freeze my account so my direct debit from my credit card bounced causing unnecesery charges. Dont even bother with HSBC's customer help line, unless you think a poorly paid Asian worker can empathise with you about your situation in Prescot. I understand out soarcing and all that but sheesh, get a grip!
Anyway, a few phone calls, internet access and fantastic parents later all is coming together.
I love you guys.
So after living for almost 9 months out of a suitcase (plus what I brought over on my last trip to sunny, ahem, Liverpool) I will soon (should) have my things!!
Some of you may understand what Im talking about.
Job hopping (With the occasional skip)
Toilets to books. They say that job hunting in Norway is about who you know, more than what you know. There is some truth in this. SO far in Norway Ive worked as a commentator on the local matches (less said about that the better), security in a Norwegian "pub" (its not a real pub, not really) and barnehage vikar. I recently got a part time contract working as a cleaner. Not exactly exotic but it paid well and the people there where fantastic. I really got into that "Immigrant" attitude, not the percieved one of blatant ignorance and laziness but the truer one of hard work (/discuss). Now, Ive recently acquired a vikar work with a book store! Talking to customers! OH dear god! (read the section below for more details about the OMG)
The point Im tryng to make however, is that all of these jobs only happened because of connections. Networking, is a common activity in Norway, as far as I can tell. Though not the cold and cocktail studded, party ridden whoring one might think of in the acting circles of Hollywood, oh no. In Norway it seems more natural, more of a side affect of making friends. Do I feel lucky? Hell yes, I have many great friends in Oslo.
The language barrier Vs the high jump.
Learning a language is a funny, thing. Especially when you go from feeling thick headed and useless one minuite to realising how far you have truly come. Far from the obligatory "your Norwegian is really good/ du er så flink med norsk!" I'm talking about the moments when you note that some words have stuck, have been learnt even. Its a good feeling. The point is that learning a language takes a lifetime. Learning to communicate doesnt.
Its all in increments, scratching a word or two at a time. I do believe that even if you dont try, sometimes you can't help but pick up on something. Its nothing to do with intellect (thank god) but rather a natural instinct we all have since the time we learnt our first language. Sound, word = meaning. Multiple words means a concept, etc.
For me though, while I can prattle away like a proper hill billy, hearning the Norwegian is still my weak point. Hopefully a combination of radio, constant conversation, reading and the usual studying will make the difference I need for this new job.
Did I say usual studying? I lied. In truth I had a ahem, break for a month or so while I became distracted by more mundane things like work, money and snow. Remember: Reward yourself for every victory.
Anyway, its good to be back, and maybe next time, Ill tell you a secret....
:)
Missed you!
R
Thursday 7 January 2010
New Year, New Rules.
As Im writing this I keep looking outside at the "torn duvet" snow storm. Its truly beautiful, when your indoors. Heh. Ive been thinking long and hard about how far Ive come over the past seven months and although Ive been told its good, I dont feel its enough.
Apathy is death.
Its easy to unconsciously give up. As a man (Yes I used this line), it hurts not bringing in the majority of the moneys in a relationship. Call it what you want, primative hunter gather instincts, masojionistic upbringing whatever. The point is, I still dont feel like Im trying hard enough.
So. This year will be a fresh start, a second wind if you will. With a diet, excercise regime, a planned Norwegian acquisition system (if it sound complex it will work right?) and push on the job seeking front. All these things are connected. If your in another country languishing on partime or vikar work while you figure out what to do, waiting for a lucky break; you should know what I mean. As usual its all about attitude. Now I know that this blog is about me (average joe brit) trying his luck in Norway, but keep reading and you will see how its all connected. Its something I call the "immigrants spirit."
Diet and excercise?
These are things I dont actually need, more want. Its the discipline really. The excercise every morning, 30 minutes and pushing more and more each day with a break on sunday. If I dont sweat, I wasnt pushing hard enough. At least, thats the plan so far.
Food wise, Im giving up all sorts and trying new things. Nothing insane, only stuff I know I should be able to give up on. Chocolate, beer, carbonated drinks, carbohydrates halves and a list of food swaps.
Last night the hunger aches finally stopped. Not sure if this is a good thing but its not like Im starving myself so we shall see!
Apathy is death.
Norwegian and job seeking.
Right now I can have basic conversations in Norwegian, even so far as to use past tense, future tense, perfect tense and eiendoms pronomens. All good. But I realised that Im falling down on my vocabulary. If I dont know the word I wont recognise it when I hear it, nor be able to write or say the damn thing! So, flash cards. Yup, cheap card rectangles, English on one side, Norwegian on the other. Taking about twenty words every three days Ive been able to memorise the parts of the body and locations around the flat. Using them in conversations is REALLY important, think of it as reinforcing it. I was aiming for 100 words per month but I seem to have hit onto something, so we shall see.
Irregular verbs and nouns are going to be the bitch.
Although a friend keeps telling me "I can get you a job, when your Norwegians good enough", that is the long term aim. RIght now, two job agencies are my target. See if asking them to help me out is a good idea. Worse they can say is no. Oh, and dont bother with NAV. Unless you expect to be disapointed and leave feeling like your a hated bloody immigrant. Lovely people. Probably just the luck of meeting a particular set of people, but... no.. this is a subject for another post.
Good news is that I can now start perusing Finn.no with some hope! As usual though, its not what you know (language being the exception to this rule), its who you know. Still, every angle needs to be covered.
Apathy is death. This is my moto for this year, I hope you like it. I keep repeating it to myself, to remind myself that lounging around not developing as a person is apathy and if thats all you do, you might as well die. Harsh but true.
Again thanks for reading. I apologise for the soberity of this post, as I mentioned before, attitude is everything. These days I seem to be very serious.
Right there with you,
Rik.
PS
Really looking forward to the mentioned future blog meet, if someone could forward me the contact details again I will try and get involved, thanks!
Apathy is death.
Its easy to unconsciously give up. As a man (Yes I used this line), it hurts not bringing in the majority of the moneys in a relationship. Call it what you want, primative hunter gather instincts, masojionistic upbringing whatever. The point is, I still dont feel like Im trying hard enough.
So. This year will be a fresh start, a second wind if you will. With a diet, excercise regime, a planned Norwegian acquisition system (if it sound complex it will work right?) and push on the job seeking front. All these things are connected. If your in another country languishing on partime or vikar work while you figure out what to do, waiting for a lucky break; you should know what I mean. As usual its all about attitude. Now I know that this blog is about me (average joe brit) trying his luck in Norway, but keep reading and you will see how its all connected. Its something I call the "immigrants spirit."
Diet and excercise?
These are things I dont actually need, more want. Its the discipline really. The excercise every morning, 30 minutes and pushing more and more each day with a break on sunday. If I dont sweat, I wasnt pushing hard enough. At least, thats the plan so far.
Food wise, Im giving up all sorts and trying new things. Nothing insane, only stuff I know I should be able to give up on. Chocolate, beer, carbonated drinks, carbohydrates halves and a list of food swaps.
Last night the hunger aches finally stopped. Not sure if this is a good thing but its not like Im starving myself so we shall see!
Apathy is death.
Norwegian and job seeking.
Right now I can have basic conversations in Norwegian, even so far as to use past tense, future tense, perfect tense and eiendoms pronomens. All good. But I realised that Im falling down on my vocabulary. If I dont know the word I wont recognise it when I hear it, nor be able to write or say the damn thing! So, flash cards. Yup, cheap card rectangles, English on one side, Norwegian on the other. Taking about twenty words every three days Ive been able to memorise the parts of the body and locations around the flat. Using them in conversations is REALLY important, think of it as reinforcing it. I was aiming for 100 words per month but I seem to have hit onto something, so we shall see.
Irregular verbs and nouns are going to be the bitch.
Although a friend keeps telling me "I can get you a job, when your Norwegians good enough", that is the long term aim. RIght now, two job agencies are my target. See if asking them to help me out is a good idea. Worse they can say is no. Oh, and dont bother with NAV. Unless you expect to be disapointed and leave feeling like your a hated bloody immigrant. Lovely people. Probably just the luck of meeting a particular set of people, but... no.. this is a subject for another post.
Good news is that I can now start perusing Finn.no with some hope! As usual though, its not what you know (language being the exception to this rule), its who you know. Still, every angle needs to be covered.
Apathy is death. This is my moto for this year, I hope you like it. I keep repeating it to myself, to remind myself that lounging around not developing as a person is apathy and if thats all you do, you might as well die. Harsh but true.
Again thanks for reading. I apologise for the soberity of this post, as I mentioned before, attitude is everything. These days I seem to be very serious.
Right there with you,
Rik.
PS
Really looking forward to the mentioned future blog meet, if someone could forward me the contact details again I will try and get involved, thanks!
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