"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! :)