Picture post

Some people have been asking what Opera looks like on the inside. It's quite beautiful. I snapped some shots of the 5th floor - where we do our documentation and localization work, as well as web design, UI design, server coding...pretty much everything. Our workstations are motorized so we can work sitting or standing, and there's plenty of window to take in the woods that surround the building.

Seating that faces the woods behind Opera.

Workstations on the 5th floor of Opera.

The 5th floor (my floor) of Opera.

 I've also been asked many times what the food here looks like. It's fish. Truly, it's almost entirely fish. Apparently kids love fish burgers - the ones below are 80% fish! - and true Norsk/Swedes are pretty into pickled fish or mustard fish. I haven't tried either. I'm waiting for Meghan to come so we can suffer together.

Fish burgers (fiskburger) are everywhere around here.

Various pickled and mustard fish jars.

Flat structure

A building in Grünnerløkka, near Brugata Station.

On the question of food, the food culture in Norway is only now starting to grow. There are a great many immigrant restaurants that are pretty good - I had Punjab Tandoori today in Grønland and was thoroughly impressed.

Norwegian food, in its traditional sense, consists of fish and potatoes. Mostly, the Norwegians have a pretty limited palate and I've been told it's hard for any new or gourmet restaurants to survive because Norwegians will say any food is good. These places don't get a lot of feedback from the customers and end up dying off due to lack of business.

Building facades inside of Ring 1.

That said, food is a good place to start introducing the idea of a flat structure, which most Americans will be baffled by and probably disagree with. Norway works on the idea that everything is equal. This is not idyllic, as in the States, but more literal. All things are equal. What this means is that shitty food costs almost as much as gourmet, bottom shelf liquor almost as much as top. Most tourists complain that the prices are outrageous, and that may be true if you are seeking a cheap inadequate meal. But, if you like anything that's been crafted, and I mean truly fine tuned, you'll pay only slightly more than getting the cheapest shittiest thing. This is good, in my eyes.

The Royal Palace in Slottsparken (the Palace Park).

My first meal out was at a little restaurant/bar in Grønland with a coworker. We had steak with a hollandaise sauce, beautifully fried potato wedges, mushrooms and spinach in a house dressing for around 200NOK. For comparison, you can get a pizza and soda from the kebab shops ("where you have to be drunk to eat there") for 185NOK.
Same goes for drinks. I was under the [wrong] impression that cheap liquor meant a lower price, not true. For well vodka and soda, you'll pay 90NOK. For a truly amazing, mouth watering, blow-your-mind cocktail of top shelf quality - at, say, No. 19, the best bar ever - you'll get your ambrosia for 115NOK.

The Atlantic, as seen from Aker Brygge.

This is the flat structure.

It extends past just buying goods. Work places mainly operate on a flattened hierarchy, where managers and subordinates work at the same level - likely the same level of pay, and most certainly, the same level of decision making regarding your hours and workload. Norwegians are prompt, because its damn near impossible to be late if you're your own boss.

Regarding public transportation, I couldn't have asked for a better system. There are busses, trams, a subway system, trains to other cities, ferries to other countries. These are all on the same ticketing system and, for the most part, you can get anywhere in Scandinavia for a very cheap rate, 24 hours a day. Since Norwegians are extremely attached to the wilderness, most of this transportation will take you outside of city centers, as well; and there's almost never a day I get on a bus without seeing people on their way to the ski slopes.

The Fortress from the northeast side.

Although I've been walking more than riding the bus (for fitness and to look good for Meghan when she gets in), I have many choices in how I want to get somewhere. The busses are always on time and during peak hours you won't wait longer than 5 min. to catch a ride.

Tonight, I'm headed down to Grünnerløkka to meet up with some expats. I'll try to take more photos, when I get the chance and give you guys a better idea of the cultural details. I'm still learning myself, you know.

My kind of art in Aker Bryyge.

Picture post

Just a quick post of pictures. First, downtown inside Ring 1. Then, per request of Ben, my building and apartment. Will write more in depth tomorrow.

First impressions

Buisness center in Nydalen

When I got to the apartment, coworkers were there to greet me, give me the keys and a phone provided by Opera. It was very sweet of them to take the time to do so on a Sunday, a day when most Norwegians hang out with family and almost everything is Oslo is closed.

After that, I was invited to family dinner with Conrad at his step dad's house. We had a traditional Norwegian dinner - ocean trout, mushrooms and potatoes. Ocean trout is a lot like salmon and much tastier than river trout. This dinner is where I had my first conversation with real Norwegians and got a little insight into how the country functions socially.

Norwegians get a bad rap for being 'cold', at least from most US expats and visitors. This is not true. They are very warm and inviting people. What is different is their approach to conversation and life in general. The majority of Norsk think that small talk is wasteful - the country is very quiet and peaceful, with almost no noise on the street. Some of them actually long for some 'superficial' conversation and are turned off by the typical Norsk deepness of conversation. When you sit for dinner in Norway, the talk isn't directed at what you like or how your day was; you are tasked with explaining and expounding viewpoints.

Opera building and surrounding wilderness

Refurbished industrial buildings in Nydalen

This is not so bad, in my opinion. I get the benefit of both worlds. Norwegians who are tired of the constant exposition tend to like the chit-chat of American, British and Australian foreigners - although they like to make fun of Australian accents. And, those who are not a fan of small talk challenge and excite me to explain the reasons for my world views. They are not afraid to discuss any topic - except, perhaps, Islam, in light of Utoya.



Everyone I've met here is extremely well educated and, since the fall of socialism, extremely liberal minded. It's refreshing. Especially at Opera. The engineers and developers are very involved in the idea that access to information is human right. They work very hard to remember that the internet should not be just a first world privilege, but it's the first world's duty to work toward making access for impoverished nations as easy and widespread as possible. This is an ideal I quickly defend.

Speaking of Opera, these pictures that are surrounding the text are from the tech area in Nydalen (New Valley) where the Opera building in Oslo resides. Nydalen is just outside of Ring 3 - the tunnel that circles Oslo proper. Oslo fyord is fairly flat but there are restrictions on building in certain areas, including the wilderness to the north of the Opera building. Norway is very attached to nature and has passes a ton of regulations to protect and revere the natural landscape. Interaction with nature is mandatory if you want to assimilate into the culture.

Opera 'O'

Oslo is very unique in comparison to the rest of the country. It has the largest concentration of foreigners - many Pakistani and Indian, as well as Swedish. Norwegians love Americans. They show American TV (South Park, Friends, Simpsons, Workaholics, Storage Wars, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and so many others) and love to speak English when they hear me.

Everyone keeps telling me that Oslo is an expensive city. That may be so, in terms of rent and eating out, but it seems like there are very easy ways to keep costs down by being a little more Norsk. Norway charges outrageous import taxes on foreign companies that wish to sell products in their stores. This is in effort to keep the local economy strong. Most expats get upset that Old Spice, for example, is three times what they would pay in the states (if you can find it even, a stick of deodorant may run you 20 or 25 NOK). But, if you let your ethnocentrism go a little, you can pick up a Norwegian local brand for 10 NOK (around $2.50 USD).

I really like the idea that Norway is out to protect Norwegians - both socially, through advanced and extensive social programs, and economically, through import tax and other legal actions. There is a great sense of pride in the country and it's reflected in the treatment of the work force and the quality of life.

I live on Maridalsveien (Mary's Valley Road?). It's an interesting walk to and from work. The architecture definitely still has a lot of the old socialist Labour Party feel. There are almost Soviet style block apartments surrounded by extremely modern LEED type buildings.

It's an amazing amalgamation of history and style. I'm in awe when I walk around. Soon, I'll start in on the language and cultural history a little more. I'll be exploring city center tomorrow, as I have to identify myself to the police to continue my application for my work permit. This means I'll be right on the bay and hopefully can take some pictures of the water and the older, more prominent downtown buildings and squares.

Bridge by Ring 3 and Maridalsveien

Travel

The journey to Oslo was pretty terrible. Our plane had mechanical issues and I stayed overnight in Chicago before getting out to Heathrow the next day. There were a few very angry people to keep me entertained during the wait time.

Heathrow was very posh, I'd say. It's a little ridiculous and fairly frustrating socially, but the gate system and the efficiency is impressive. The best way to describe the terminal (or at least Terminal 3, where I departed from) is Las Vegas strip with gates to planes. The place is littered with Burberry and Fendi shops, caviar and sushi restaurants, and very, very expensive wi-fi. There are free charging stations for cell phones and computers which are powered by StatOil, a Norwegian gas company. I do like that flights aren't assigned a gate until the plane has docked. Most long layovers in America become very stressful because by the time you settle in for the wait, the airline shifts were the plane will be. There's nothing worse than having to lug heavy carry-ons across terminals because the gates change. Heathrow has that problem solved.

Heathrow Airport, Terminal 3, London

Getting into Oslo is very easy, as an American - probably doubly easy for me as my temporary residency permit was being processed by the time I arrived (and officially accepted as of today!). The airport is small, smaller than the Sunport actually, but beautifully laid out and furnished. Norwegians are amazing at mixing raw materials when they build these gorgeous modern structures. The airport is mostly hardwood flooring with concrete walls and huge plate glass divisions. Its all very cozy and inviting.

There's two trains from the station to Oslo: the commuter train and the express train. Supposedly the commuter train takes 40 mins to get from the airport to Oslo Central Station; the express takes 20. It really works out to be closer to 25 mins on the commuter and is almost half the price. It's a wonderful train, too - fully automatic, different cars for different customers (one for people with prams, one for storing skis, one for people who require a table, etc.), and warm.

Right now, I'm off to sleep (even though it is very early in the evening). Jetlag is kicking my ass. Tomorrow, I'll put up some pics of the neighborhood and talk about my first impressions of Norway. As a teaser, here's a pic of a cute little antique shop on my way to work: