Normally this blog is in Norwegian, the beautiful language of weegies everywhere, but I shall deviate from this to ease the understanding for all Norwegian-impaired people out there. This means that this post will be filled to the brim with bad language, grammatical and misclicking errors as well as misspelling. It has been unsuccesfully proof read.
Recently my girlfriend's house has been occupied by myself and two american tourists. I stay there mostly because I can't stay away from her, but part of the reason at this point was also the fact that it's easier to stay in the same house as your guests if you are to entertain them, and I put them in her house because there was more room there at the time. Anyway, on to the story.
Robyn is a girl I've known online for about five years. A rather long time even in my soon to be thirty year long life. Not as long as I've known Kåre (about 17 years, which Giso finds cute, but she finds many, in my opinion, uncute things cute, including yours truly), but still a long time.
So earlier this year she and I, or she, or I, don't really remember, we figured that she should come here. Her mother was convinced that I would do unspeakable things to her upon arrival and that she would never see her treasure again, so she insisted that Robyn came with a friend, which of course just would make my catch bigger. Her friend was the, at that time, unknown Diana. I had no idea who this was or even what her interests may or may not be. For all I knew Robyn might have paid this girl to be her chaperone.
There's always some level of uncertainty connected to aquainting oneself with people who one have never met before, but with Robyn I didn't think much about it. After all I've known her for five years. Originally we started talking about music, but eventually food has become a rather large shared interest. Her chaperone on the other hand was a different story, but I trusted Robyns judgement, and her friends are my friends and vice versa.
It was a nice and sunny day, and I spent part of it eating and drinking coffee with Kåre. At some point Robyn called from the airport and told me she had arrived and was ready for the airport bus. About half an hour later I went to the stop I had instructed them to get off at and there they weren't. Then I went and looked in a shop and came back for the next bus. There they weren't. Then I went home with some groceries and came back. There they were! They were here! In Bergen! It had happened! (I had half expected it to never happen.)
So what did we do once I had lured two unsuspecting americans to the absurdly proud city of Bergen? Of course I showed them around. A short list of what I did to them:
Fed them icecream of the Italian kind.
Pushed and shoved them onto the Fløibanen funicular.
Lured them back down the scenic route aka the route that is occasionally dangerous to those not accustomed to physical activites in the semi-wild. Aka city dwellers from New York and other American cities, suburbs and states that starts with New. Nobody died, but I did get to show them my giant rhubarb.
Took them grocery shopping for Norwegian foods, American foods dressed in Norwegian packaging and the occasional bacon in a tube. To much amusement all across the globe. Nobody died from food posioning. Slight stomach aches due to overeating did occur as did the education of taste buds to new tastes and textures that would constantly be compared to Asian-American foods. At some point everything was eventually compared to something either American or Asian or both. Quite enlightening.
Took them hiking from Ulriken and over a couple of peaks, down some valleys, through forests and ponds and eventually along roads back to civilization. Nobody died, broke a foot, sprained an ear, lost their hearing or became incapable to return to their homeland. Sprouts of asthma and the occasional outburst of whining did occur. Someone may hate me in secrecy for this.
Exposed them to all sorts of Norwegian foods (and some that aren't) like mashed fish, raspeballer, lefse, crabs (the edible kind), waffles, ridiculously fresh fish, my famous sandwiches (I'm the king!) and melkesjokolade. Oh, and there was even bacalao followed by homemade rhubarb tart. Some of which were down right hated, others were put on clothes, some were ruined by ignorrance and others were enjoyed so much that they were brought back to the homeland. Safely. With their new owners.
Put them on a boat and went fishing. Almost lost a finger, but all others remained safe. Even though some, names shall no be mentioned, can't swim. Can't swim. How is that possible? Ask Diana. Oh, sorry about that one. I blame the American educational system. The fish was barbecued and eaten. With something as unnorwegian as barbecued corn. Couldn't just let them have all foreign tastes for a full week, now could I? There's got to be a law against that.
Took them to see animals in captivity while pointing out how good those animals most likely would taste after being boiled, fried, deep fried, baked or steamed. Some would need a sauce.
Exposed them to the colourfulness of art and Norwegian houses. None was blinded.
Oh well, eventually the trip was concluded with unsuccesful attempts at pouting and sobbing that will convince just about anyone of our lack of acting abilities. Still nobody was seriously injured. Though a slight feeling of loss may occur upon return to the homeland.
What can I say? I tried it all, and still they had a good time. So good, in fact, that I will most likely visit them at some point.
11 kommentarer:
Truly sad I missed it all .. though I have been there with you guys in my mind and thru Robyns blogg... Was nice to get her on the phone would have been nicer to acctualy meet her..
I hope I'll get another chance to meet Petter! :(
"This means that this post will be filled to the brim with bad language, grammatical and misclicking errors as well as misspelling." HAHA!...nah, you're fine! Don't you see how many errors I make? AND I ONLY KNOW ENGLISH! So that's sad.
I haven't gone swimming in years. :( So I may have forgotten how to do it.
I'm SOBBING NOW!...okay, not really. But I had a dream last night that I was still in Norway! Except I think I was in Oslo. But still, that means...I wish I weren't here. It's really hot and humid and blech and the sun actually goes down and stays down! And no weegies.
GOOD TIMES! THANKS SO MUCH! WEEEOOOOO!!!
As a reader of Robyn's blog and a fan of her adventures (food and otherwise), and as one who (like her mum) had initial reservations about this trip (I'm a mum myself), I was so pleased to read of her wonderful experience and of your magnificent hospitality. I greatly look forward to reading of your visit here, in whatever blog the report may be posted. (And give my regards to your proof reader, who did very well indeed!)
you deserve a best host award or something! reading about her visit was great. ok that's all. bye!
I'm another of Robyn's fans, and if your blog were in English, I'd start reading it more often too.
Unlike R's parents, I don't see a problem in visiting total strangers or having them over to my house as long as they come with some kind of recommendation from a friend or their relative who I probably know from childhood. Sounds like you had a blast hosting R and D, plus from all of R's posts, she had a great cross-cultural life-changing moment. Hopefully this gives her parents less stress over her future jaunts around the world (maybe they won't be so worried if her fans in the Philippines invite her over next!).
I was hired to accompany Robyn as a spy - a spy who doesn't have swimming capabilities.
I welcome you to blame America's school system for that and all other flaws.
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Sadly I'm not a foodist, but I alwayws learn and discover a lot more taste palettes by Robyn and yourself. I'm just your poor starving artist. :P
It all works out!
The stash of rhubhar has been safely imported into the US without harm. The stash will be sold in bling-blings to non-weegies of... some fusion.
They'll be jealous of what they had missed in an atypical first-time Euro trip to a land so close, slightly far, from the Arctic Circle. Oh, and the awe-some Morten Sammiches that can never be recreated here. They are now an indigenous memory of Bergen, Norway. (Well, they technically are.)
Took them to see animals in captivity while pointing out how good those animals most likely would taste after being boiled, fried, deep fried, baked or steamed. Some would need a sauce.
Our people do the same exact thing. We have no shame in cooking up zoo-life animals. Mmm. Except that wolf fish. He creeps me out.
As each eventful day progressed the more unexpected things got. Hey, I never knew I was going to hike a mountain (I thought that was a joke prior to the travel), but I'm glad I did. Cause I intended that as a goal in a European travel. Woo haaa. Yay. Go me and my NYC subway-stairclimbing excercise. Only complaint was the sun burning me to crisp.
Take care. It was a great pleasure. If you come to the States I'll show you... uh... hot dogs.
Another lurker of Robyn's blog here. And, I, too, would be a lurker of yours if you wrote in English. Great post!
I'm in agreement. As a reader of Robyn's blog, your writing (in pretty much perfect english...better english than me!!) is engaging and cute (even if you feel you are not). Wish you will continue to write in english...but I have a feeling you will not :-)
"At some point everything was eventually compared to something either American or Asian or both. Quite enlightening."
--Hee, hee...we compare things to what we know, right?
Thanks for the photo links. It looks like you all had such a great time!
Oh, and fresh rhubarb is the BEST!!! You are very lucky :-)
Strawberry and rhubarb pie is an American classic. There are lots of recipes online.
Hello all.
I am currently walking about with a tiny english blog-baby in my belly, and it may just end up so that I actually create this blog during this summer, so beware!
Thank you all for your comments. You'll probably be duly informed in Robyn's blog when my English one is created.
I hope you make the English blog soon, cos ye know...um...you should carry around babies for too long. [scratches head] Especially since you're a guy. [more scratching]
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