He was a skater boy

Naturally since I (Bjørn) moved to the US friends back in Norway/Europe have started looking for signs that I’m becoming too americanised too quickly. For example, am I losing their favoured British English accent, have I started spelling –ize in lieu of –ise, do I eat fries and not chips and am I losing [...]

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Smiling all the way to the bank

I (Bjørn) have been to the bank and came back smiling (yes, that has not happened too many times and for several reasons…). Where else in the world, except the U.S., would you be greeted at the counter by not only one but two smiling ladies?

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Global America

America is currently the only global superpower and undoubtedly the main driving force of globalisation – the process through which people all over the world supposedly become members of a “shared community”. An incredible number of global icons (Micheal Jordan, Bill Gates, 50cents, Brad Pitt, Will Smith) brands (Coca Cola, Microsoft, Nike), celebrities (Britney Spears, [...]

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Culture shock – Part III a (Typical American!)

So finally, I (Bjørn) have arrived at the most interesting part: the stuff that will make a gullible Eurovision-loving, Euro-boy like myself feel the tight grip of culture shock. Here are some friendly outsider observations about the US of A and its locals, the Americans and how they differ from the rest of the world. [...]

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Culture shock – Part II (What culture shock?)

So what is the big deal? A Norwegian moving to the American Mid-West is hardly going to suffer from culture shock when so many things are similar:

It is freezing! As I write this the thermometer shows -16C/3F. Ha – don’t make me laugh. I’ve slept in tent and been posted as a guard outside at [...]

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