The Oslo Diaries- Part 1

Do you remember my friend, Little J? She has commented here before, and I wrote about her sweet husband last year. The thing is, Jennie is a thoughtful and funny and amazingly sweet person. Now that she lives in Norway, she is farther away than ever, but she is going to work to help us understand. As often as she can post (I hope every week!), she is going to help us know many truths. We both would love your feedback. - Catherine

Photo courtesy of the author

About six months ago, I moved to Oslo, Norway with my two boys. We joined my husband here whose summer job at an international organization turned permanent. He fell in love with Norway, and the kids and I arrived here with very high hopes of folding right into Norwegian life. After all, I've adapted easily to new environments and different cultures in the past. I've spent a bit of time in Europe and Africa and adjusted with complete ease. In fact, I've often felt more at home while abroad than in my native United States. There was no reason to think that adjusting to life in Norway would be any different.

My boys are still quite young, so they haven't skipped a beat. My transition, however, has been really challenging. Sometimes, I don't know what's harder to accept: the daily challenges and growing pains that come with life's difficult adjustments, or the unexpectedness of not adapting as easily as I had anticipated.

After an insanely busy and eventful five-year stretch leading up to our move, I'm adjusting to stay-at-home motherhood. I'd like to think, though, that Norway shares the responsibility for my less than smooth transition: the words here are rife with unexpected "k"s and "j"s and letters that I don't know what to call or how to pronounce; the wintertime darkness seems never ending and would likely dampen the cheeriest of moods; the bus drivers rigidly stick to the timetable and will not stop for a screaming woman running with two toddlers who is seconds late. The biggest adjustment is probably the cost of living. Gone are the days when I could ease a bad day with an afternoon latte; that would set me back about $12 here.

Inspired by Neil Pasricha’s 1000 Awesome Things blog and inspiring talk on TED, I’m trying to fin

d simple and tangible ways to shine light into my dim corner. Something that immediately lifts my mood is a treat I make for myself nearly every afternoon: an Earl Grey Latte. It’s something I used to order when I met my husband for a coffee break at Crema Café in Harvard Square. It’s absolutely divine, and the warmth of the tea somehow fits well with the cold Norwegian winter. I make a cup of Early Grey tea, to which I add a generous dollop of frothed milk that I’ve flavored with a teaspoon of sugar and a couple drops of almond extract. I love whipping the milk with the $4 milk frother I picked up at the Ikea here. It works way better than the one I purchased at Williams Sonoma and left in the States. My special afternoon tea lifts my mood, albeit temporarily, each day! What a treat!

When you're feeling out of sorts, sort of like you're wearing two left shoes, treat yourself to something small and special. It doesn’t even have to cost any money, and it just may shine a little light on your afternoon!