This is a rare day: I’m sitting at home with Pirate Booty Snacks to my left, a cup of warm apple cider to my right and a laptop in front of me. We always intended to get another laptop, but things have been moving at SUCH a fast clip.Anders has been fantastically busy at the Museum (where the PC resides from 9 to 5) and I have been crazy busy taking care of the kids, the house, and traveling from NYC so I can see family & friends. Hopefully, this gives some explanation as why my updates, blog or otherwise, have been relatively spotty.
When I tried to “revive” my blog (see the previous entry from a lifetime ago), I figured I’d have the time, the laptop, and the energy to write my commentary on what I thought would be reverse culture shock. There have been bits of that, for example, my frustration with American car culture or the unbelievably crappy cell phone service. What really threw me for a loop was realizing that I’m dealing with culture shock. After all, I’m living in New York City, with kids, in a neighborhood where the taxes paid per head are most likely more than my paid salary. This resembles nothing of the life I was living when I left the States nine years ago.
In a way, culture shock is much better than reverse culture shock. There are challenges to overcome (finding an apartment & a day care was a fright), new places to explore (Central Park, playgrounds, museums), and cuisines (surprising boring in this neighborhood). While these things can be frustrating, they are often exciting, too. I’m learning a lot about being a stay-at-home mom, American style. Theo goes to day care three days a week, which is extravagant, considering I’m at home with Livy. I was shocked to find out most day care facilities cost more per academic year than I paid for my college degree per academic year. What’s worse is so many of the day cares or pre-schools are only open 3 hours a day! (What’s the &%!* point?) Norway really outshines the US when it comes to gender equality, child support & education.
A pleasant surprise has been the overwhelming positive reaction people have to the kids, especially Livy. She rides on her tummy in her baby carriage, prompting all kinds of exclamations, smiles, and sometimes, debates. There’s a secret army of women who help me get Theo around on public transit and an amazing support staff of men who offer me their seats on a crowded subway. I am incredibly grateful for these small courtesies, since public transit is such a beast in this city (and that's when it's working).
And if you haven’t guessed by now, I’m seeing NYC through the lens of a child. I chuckle at the vision of myself, some twelve years ago and my trips to NYC. Twelve years ago, I basically partied my way through the city, its galleries and its venues, always ending the trip with a fantastic brunch. With the kids, eating out is not relaxing and seeing concerts is not a reality. (There’s just no way I can stay awake through the opening bands to see the headlining act.) Now I skip from park to playground, scour the city for cheap & tasty eats and find fun venues for Theo. I am far from bored, and I know we’re spoiled, living the good life thanks to the generous travel stipend Anders received from the University.
To be honest, I look forward to getting back to work, but there in lies the rub: work is in Norway. Fantastic Norway, organized Norway, ahead-of-the-curve Norway, sterile Norway, cold Norway. Never in my life did I imagine that I might suffer reverse culture shock in a place other than the US and I certainly didn’t anticipate how much I want to stay in this dirty, convoluted, backwards, colorful, vibrant place just a little bit longer.
