I'm Going to Oslo :)

When I began learning Norwegian a few years ago, it was for no other reason than the fact that it’s easy for English speakers to learn and I had given up on Italian. Well, being an English speaker and a bit of an idiot, I decided to give it a go. While I understand it’s “useless” in the sense that it’s not Spanish or Mandarin, I have always found my knowledge of Norwegian quaint, like finding out I’m very good at birdcalls or hula hooping. It has absolutely no bearing on my life, but is a topic I can fall back on when conversation lulls at a party.

I found I had a knack for it and within a year was reading articles in Norwegian. The difficulty with it, though, is the lack of resources. I can only watch The Worst Person in the World so many times, you know? So it has, admittedly, plateaued a bit. I’m rusty to speak it and am sad to report it’s only helped me slightly in understanding Swedish, which is a jumble of diacritics and melody and I, unfortunately, have a tin ear.

So, was it all for nothing? Well, dear Reader, we’re soon to find out. Next month, I’ll be flying to Oslo for the first time to attend their fashion week, Oslo Runway. Undoubtedly I will stumble, stutter, ask sheepishly, “Unnskyld, snakker du engelsk?” with my big, dumb American grin on my face. But, at least it’s practice outside of language apps and the occasional online tutor. I will just have to research the tipping culture in Norway — nothing says “Thank you for bearing with me” like a few extra kroner slipped into the waiter’s palm.

I never want it to seem I’m taking it for granted and this trip in particular I’m quite excited about. Norway has been somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for some time and now I get to spend the better part of the week in what I imagine to be another city I’ll soon add to the “I want the fuck out of America” list of potential new homes. It will doubly be a good trip as I plan to hop over to Helsinki for a couple days to catch the tail end of Helsinki Design Week and to attend a party with Finnish Design Shop.

Then I’ll be back in Oslo for a couple more days, then onto New York for either one day or ten — I haven’t decided yet. In any case, do reach out if you’re in Oslo, Helsinki, or New York in August/September. I’m sure I’d love to see you.

One phrase that surely should be in my repertoire for the trip, if not on my tombstone: Jeg er en veldig heldig, men veldig sliten, gutt.

Cheers

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