Almost every Norwegian I've talked to since I arrived has been to American at least once. They like the States, and have found Americans to be friendly people. However, they do wonder what on Earth the country was smoking when we let George W. Bush into office.
What's really scary is that after eight years of Bush, McCain actually has a chance at winning the election in November. What will Norwegians think of us then, knowing that there will be at least four more years of Bush's failed policies?
Now, McCain is trying to make history. He chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Unfortunately, he chose a woman who is mired in a scandal. Palin is being investigated, both by an independent investigator hired by the legislature, and also by Alaska's Attorney General (at Palin's request, after the legislature voted to hire the independent investigator), for firing a state official who would not fire her former brother in-law from his job as a state trooper.
Now, whether or not Mike Wooten is fit to be a state trooper is a valid question. He admits to using a taser on his 11 year old stepson, although the boy agrees that he requested it, and it was a very brief instance, and he shot a moose when it was his wife who had recieived the permit, not to mention several other troubling incidents. However, Palin was not a neutral party. Palin's sister and Wooten continue to have custody and visitation disputes and it is a conflict of interest for Palin to have acted as she has.
During their speeches, McCain and Palin both spoke about ethics, but it's obvious that neither of them understand the concept.
What's really scary is that after eight years of Bush, McCain actually has a chance at winning the election in November. What will Norwegians think of us then, knowing that there will be at least four more years of Bush's failed policies?
Now, McCain is trying to make history. He chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Unfortunately, he chose a woman who is mired in a scandal. Palin is being investigated, both by an independent investigator hired by the legislature, and also by Alaska's Attorney General (at Palin's request, after the legislature voted to hire the independent investigator), for firing a state official who would not fire her former brother in-law from his job as a state trooper.
Now, whether or not Mike Wooten is fit to be a state trooper is a valid question. He admits to using a taser on his 11 year old stepson, although the boy agrees that he requested it, and it was a very brief instance, and he shot a moose when it was his wife who had recieived the permit, not to mention several other troubling incidents. However, Palin was not a neutral party. Palin's sister and Wooten continue to have custody and visitation disputes and it is a conflict of interest for Palin to have acted as she has.
During their speeches, McCain and Palin both spoke about ethics, but it's obvious that neither of them understand the concept.
I hear you loud and clear, Patrick. If McCain wins in November, it simply gives me one more reason to become and ex-patriot!
I have a question regarding language in the work place. You're employed in Norway - I wonder, do you speak Norse?
I'm worried that my not speaking the native language will highly impair my chances of finding work. Thoughts on this subject?
Have you met any other Americans that have recently moved to Oslo?
Hi Max,
I unfortunately don't speak Norsk yet. I work for an international company, albeit one that was started in Norway, so official communications, even if it's just to people in the Oslo office, are almost always done in English, and the ones that aren't are pretty much always messages that have been passed along. Of course, if Norwegians are just talking to each other, it's not usually done in English, but since my department has people from five countries, English is the only common language among everyone.
I have heard of immigrants facing discrimination, although it happens more often to people from Asia or Africa, according to surveys. And yes, there are apparently companies that won't hire people that don't speak Norsk. Part of it probably depends on what type of job you are looking for, and larger companies are generally less likely to discriminate.
I have only met a few Americans so far - one who I work with, and one who just moved back to the States last month.