Our First Week of Norwegian Life

It has been a week since our arrival and we are doing great. The kids are almost on Europe time, and I am too...we are about 2 hours off of our regular routine but we are making progress. Our apartment is right in the middle of the old historic part of town and the location couldn't be more perfect. Steps to the old harbor, the swan pond, the Children's museum, playgrounds, restaurants, movie theatre (in English) all on cobblestone streets. Most (if not all) Norwegians speak PERFECT English so communication has been easy. Reading Norwegian has been really tough...but we have figured out that if you sound out many words syllable by syllable, slowly, it sort of sounds like an English, Dutch or German equivalent. The words look more intimidating than they really are.

Norwegians are nice, not overly friendly or easy to smile. Don't get me wrong, they are not unfriendly either, just quiet and reserved. So when the Allgeyer family (aka the LOUD family) walks or skips to breakfast which is at the main hotel we do get stared at a little but that's ok. That is just who we are! But Aaron and I do strike up conversations with the locals easily and then the Norwegians open up! They are so helpful, informative and LOVE kids. There is so much to do here for kids and it is obvious Norwegians value their children so much. These Norwegian kids are adorable...their white platinum blond silky hair is so gorgeous, you just want to touch it! Many of the parents we talk to say that foreigners do touch their kids hair a lot because they can't believe how beautiful it is LOL. Of course I had to touch it too!

As usual Avery talks to everyone and makes friends quickly. Logan follows her everywhere and they have a great time together. They are really bonding on this move. (And Logan is talking up a storm...must be his survival instinct kicking in) She & Logan were playing with Polish, Swedish & German kids who did not speak English. (Their parents did) It didn't matter...they all had a blast.

We have been busy in-processing the NATO base and house hunting. When we finally do find a potential house to rent, we pull up to look at it and people are moving in! The house hunt has been difficult so far. These houses rent fast and we are competing with other military families both US & NATO and families in the oil industry. We check the listings every morning at breakfast then call the realtor. They are a little slow getting back to us, but we are going to see two more houses today. We are hoping for some luck!

I am not allowed to drive yet until I take the Norwegian drivers test at the end of July so I am truly a military "dependent" at this point. That's ok with me...I am not a fan of all of the traffic circles. Aaron is a pro at them already...I still have to figure out who yields when...yikes! Aaron bought an old old old Mercedes (we call it the pimp mobile) to use as a commuter car as we wait for our SUV to arrive in September.

The weather changes by the hour...sun, rain, wind and cooler temperatures are the norm right now. Everyone says this is not a typical Norway summer. We carry jackets & sweaters at all times. There is water all around us, the harbor is right in town, the beach on the North Sea is a 10 minute car ride so it gets pretty windy. We hope to find a house on a fjord...I can handle the wind if I get to see the water everyday!

We are looking forward to school in early August for Avery. Logan will stay home with me a few more months as we get more settled here. Aaron's Norwegian physician attended Avery's school (the International School of Stavanger) as a child and said it has always been the best school, so we are excited we got her a place in the pre-K class.

Tahoe is doing great...he loves hanging out with us by the harbor and just being with his family. Boy did I miss him!! xoxo