"You're Not in Kansas Anymore"

When you visit or live in a different country things will be different.  A lesson I  learned is that regardless of what you think of where you are at they are not going to change, so take it as it is and enjoy the ride.  As the saying goes, "When in Rome do as the Romans do."  With that being said differences can be annoying, funny and interesting.


Food and Eating
Eating is a huge part of every culture.  Norwegians will have a half hour lunch to eat open face sandwiches, and/or some cheese, caviar or liver pate from a tube.  Dinner is around 5:00 pm.  Eating out is expensive so it is not as common as in other parts of Europe.  Many restaurants are closed from December 23 until January 3.

In France a full hot lunch may be up to two hours.  Dinner may be as early as 7:00 pm but could start as late as 9:00 and still last two hours--food is to be enjoyed along with the company of family and friends.  Food and wine are not a part of the French culture, rather they defines it.  The French food pyramid includes two glasses of wine.  After lunch a restaurant may close completely, or the kitchen may close while drinks may be served.  Reservations are recommended, often saving your table for the entire evening not just an hour.  Don't ask to take home the food you didn't finish.  No need to tip as it is in the price of the meal.

Shopping
Shopping requires some planning in Europe.  Norwegian stores follow North American hours Monday to Saturday.  Stores are closed on Sunday with the exception being plant stores and any shop that is less than 1000 square feet.  Some grocery stores open "Sunday-Only" shops, and in my experience if they do not have what you need just ask and they will go get the item from in the regular store.  France also has Sunday closings although some of the larger stores are open.   In France most shops are closed on Mondays, and week days from around 12:00 until 2:00 pm to allow customers and employees to enjoy their lunch.  Every French town has a market at least one day a week where you may buy produce, meat, bread, cheese, clothing and even mattresses.

Driving
Driving is a mix bag.  Getting a driving license in Europe can be expensive and laborious even if you happen to live in a place where a license exchange is allowed (such as between France and Texas).  Until several months ago a driving license in Norway was good until the day before your hundredth birthday.  We have not received our permanent French driver's license yet, our temporary license is the size of an A4 sheet of paper with our photo riveted on.

Round-abouts are easy to learn and greatly increase efficiency for light to medium traffic.  There are two types of roads, priority and non-priority.  Priority roads have a yellow diamond sign (see photo below) and are like any road in North America.  On non-priority roads (yellow diamond with a slash through it) traffic from the right has priority.  The concept sounds simple and logical but takes some getting use to.  Imagine you are driving down your residential street and you come to a four way intersection and no one has a stop sign.  If a vehicle is coming from the right you must stop and allow them to drive.  If there is a car on the street to your left it must stop for you.  Unfortunately I have cut off and annoyed several drivers, but fortunately without incident or damage.  Whether a road is or is not a priority road may not influence its size; there are roads that look like sidewalks, sidewalks that look like roads and two direction roads barely wide enough for one car.

Priority Road and Leaving City Limits

French Village Road, One Way

Two-Way Street (as wide as one car)

Stop lights in France are at the stop line.  An additional small light is located on the light pole at eye level.  After you enter the intersection you have no idea what color the light is which makes clearing an intersection on yellow a challenge.

Stop Light on the Stop Line (notice small light next to passenger)

Most traffic signs are easy to figure out but there are a few that cause difficulties.  A blue circle with a red diagonal line does not mean "do not enter" rather it means "no long term parking" (i.e. you can stop to pick someone up or let them out of the car).  A blue circle with a red X means no stopping/parking at all.  A sign you often see leaving a town or city is a white sign with a crossed out 50.  The sign means "end of 50 km/h zone."  You are expected to know what the new speed limit is, which often is 70 or 90 but which one?

Short Term Stopping Only (with time limit given)

Technology and Communication
Europeans are ahead of North America when it comes to commercial and communication conveniences.  Debit/credit card transactions in Europe require a PIN, not a signature, adding to security.  Norway does not have checks but money may be transferred electronically using the recipient's bank account number (name of bank is insignificant).  France uses cheques but funds may also be transferred by RIB number (bank, routing and account number in one).

Internet fees are low and speeds high.  Our Internet fee includes Internet, an Internet based land line, and basic television channels (over 100) at a price of $45 USD.  My son and I use our Internet provider as our mobile phone provider giving us unlimited calls, SMS, virtually limitless data (at a limit the speed reduces, but no extra cost) and calls to Europe and North America are at no additional charge, all for a price of $20 USD a month.

Much of Norwegian bureaucracy can be taken care of online.  Turnaround on documentation is quick.  The French are the antithesis with mounds of paperwork, redundancy and long turnaround time.  Our visa paperwork was all done manually with the final product being laminated in front of us. On the plus side you can take official drivers and passport photos at a photo booth for 5€.

Fashion
Fashion is interesting.  In Norway people dress up more to go out than they do for work.  Jeans and sandals are not out of place in the work place while "going to church" clothes are worn for going out on the town.  The French dress well with men in shirts and ties and women with dresses and skirts.  Many European beaches have a "lack of fashion" with women having the freedom to go topless and young children (under age 5) running around naked.  Saunas may be co-ed and clothing optional (i.e. sans clothing preferred).

People
The most interesting thing about wherever you go are the people.  Upon first impression Norwegians may seem rude and unfriendly.  It is out of the norm to say "hi" to someone you pass on the street or greet colleagues at work in the morning.  A gentleman holding a door open for a lady could be interpreted as the man thinking the woman is weak or unable to open the door herself.  Norwegians are reserved and self sufficient.  Once you get past the facade Norwegians will be the best friends you ever had and will go out of their way for you.  One day my son and I were looking for an item in the grocery store.  When I asked the lady next to us, who had been ignoring us for help she went out of her way to help us--super helpful.  The one exception to the rule in Norway is when you meet someone on the hiking or cross-country trail as a conversation may break out resembling long lost high school friends reuniting.

The French may appear to be "snobs" until you are familiar with proper etiquette.  It is common to greet passers by on the sidewalk.  In the past shop owners lived behind or above their shop so when you entered their establishment you were literally entering their home so a "hello" and "good bye" were in order, a practice that is still in use today.  Friends may greet each other with a kiss on each cheek (often just an air kiss).  Taking time for coffee, tea, drinks with friends is a large part of the French culture (i.e. aperitif time is in the late afternoon, restaurant kitchens closed but bar open).  When we moved to France we met more of our neighbors in two days than we did in four plus years in Norway.

Conclusion
If you do not want to learn and experience something different you may as well stay at home.  Enjoy the differences places have to offer, you aren't going to change them anyway.  There have been things I hated at first but have come to learn and appreciate.  At times when differences were annoying but by far the greatest asset to living and traveling abroad has been experiencing what is new and different to us.