Now I've written very many MyTakes about Norway like Norwegian foods, tourist destinations in Bergen, facts about Norway, stereotypes and about my favorite things with my country. I've boasted very much about my country and now I'm going to roast it a bit too. In this MyTake I'm going to write about things I finds a bit silly and that many people in Norway does. With silly I mean things I finds either a bit weird, ironically or that I don't understand. That don't mean I'm against all of it.
1. Architecture
While some architecture is something most people finds nice looking like Nidarosdomen, Bryggen in Bergen and the stave churches, Norway also have much simple architecture that wouldn't be seen as the most beautiful sight for many. Despite the fact of Norway being one of the richest country in the world it has many industrial looking buildings like in Førde and many other villages. In one way it's a good sign like Norwegian prioritizing other things more like the health care for instance and use more money at that instead, but as a Norwegian I admits it's a bit ironically that it looks the way it does and that many countries at the same level as Norway have more decorated architecture.
2. Small talk is all about the weather
I'm also admitting I'm guilty in that one. It's hilarious and silly at the same time that many of us Norwegians aren't more creative when it comes to small talk. Either we're saying nothing or it's all about the weather.
3. World richest country, but eating this...
Typically Chinese lunch (left) and typically Norwegian lunch (right).
In many countries that's either at the same level as Norway economically and living standard wise or are poorer eats warm lunch and dinner. In addition their food contains more ingredients and have more diversity. Example Sweden, Finland, India, China, Japan and France are known for eating warm food more frequently for lunch than Norwegians. India, China, Japan and some Mediterranean countries also have more diversity in their food from what I've noticed because of their culture. If a typically Chinese are going to be lazy for dinner, they goes for either a soup or some rice with some vegetables while a typically Norwegian can either eat a frozen pizza (Grandiosa pizza) tasting like paper or eating bread. I do personally know some Norwegians who sometimes eats breads with peas, beans and scrimps at for dinner if they feels too lazy to make properly food.
Mediterranean lunch.
4. None-luxury is luxury and luxury is none-luxury
Cabin vacation (left) and 5-star hotels (right).
Experiencing something you're not used to may be fascinating, but I still don't understand it in every cases. Some upper middle-class and rich people in Norway do sometimes choose to spend their times in cabins without any electricity, running water or WiFi during their vacations. Often they're either going fishing in their rowboats or going skiing in the mountains. Some also goes hunting or living in tents. So the stereotype about all rich people going to the 5-star hotel with champagne, big beds, TV, delicious food, limousine etc. don't apply to everyone. Some choose the cabin over the comfortable hotels.
5. Too shy
I do support the norm of people respecting other people's personal space, being calm etc. But sometimes the shyness in Norway goes too far. I'm not saying everybody are like that, but I think too many are it. Many people where I lives are very little talkative and it's difficult to start a conversation with them. The shyness and the extrovert-ism isn't all about pure shyness, but also about the culture and expectations. I do think it's possible to find an in between thing where it's possible to be talkative and socially active without being too loud, annoying and breaking people's personal space - something that not everybody seems to get.
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