Norway ~ Tromsø – 2013
Despite bitterly cold temperatures that leave your extremities feeling like ice cubes, Norway regularly scores in the top two or three when it comes to “happiness” scores…not sure how they actually work those things out – I assume it is more technical than walking up to people with a clipboard and asking “ARE YOU HAPPY?! NO LIKE…ARE YOU QUITE HAPPY – OR LIKE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY?” Or maybe that is how they do it – answers on a postcard please. The thing is, happiness is of course subjective, so how can you possibly throw it on a scale? You see spending a day lying on a sofa ,dipping marshmallow into hot cocoa before shoving it in my face, all the while having someone massaging my feet – would make me the happiest man on earth (in my book), however you may get the same level of happiness from say…something completely the opposite…like…giving a homeless man chocolate coins and hiding around a corner to wait for his reaction, or hitting a pensioner with a French baguette – I mean, I personally would say you are deeply disturbed due to those desires, and need to seek psychiatric help…but my point is, our happiness comes from different places, so I am not sure I trust a scientific happiness algorithm.
Anyway…
I was fortunate enough to spend a day in Norway back in 2013 as I flew out of Tromsø airport when returning from my Finland/Sweden venture…I’m afraid to report the rumoured happiness didn’t rub off on me! Maybe you have to be a full time resident to get the full privileges, rather than just a fleeting visitor – but the horrifically cold weather had me considering peeing my pants in exchange for temporary warmth, I considered that it wouldn’t be so bad as I had so many layers on they would serve as a makeshift nappy. No point bitterly dwelling on that I suppose – missed my chance.
Naturally the first port of call in these situations is to get yourself a hot drink, but I recall that I could barely scrape together the money for a warmish coffee, as I had been paid in useless English pound sterling…despite the surge of melancholy over the fact that I wouldn’t be able to have a delicious slice of cake, I clung desperately to the cardboard of the cup – pathetically thankful for the vague heat it provided to my ice cold fingertips. In stark contrast, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund ranks as the richest sovereign wealth fund in the world…and yes, sure, money doesn’t buy happiness – but I am sure in a country that is effectively a huge fridge-freezer, being able to afford North-Face jackets and copious amounts of whiskey is probably a massive plus! I mean look at this fella:
Anyway, we decided to go for a little walk – the logic wasn’t all there clearly, if we were to fast forward it a little it would go something like this; arghhh, that was freezing! GET INSIDE, GET INSIDE! Ahhhh, so much better…phew, all better. Fancy a walk? Against my better judgement we wandered back into the open air freezer…unsurprisingly we were hobbling back in stricken with frostbite approximately ten minutes later (tops!) As we piled back into the café I was instantly taken aback by something – it’ll seem small to you probably, possibly a little stupid in fact – but it is something that struck me as spectacular!
The young lady who was working there was going about her usual duties, you know – smiling at the customers, wiping a table down, blah blah blah – but then she leaned down to open up the dishwasher…and preceded to take the whole fully stacked tray out with one hand, pulling it out and placing it down without so much as a grunt of disapproval – the same way in which I may take out a notebook from my bag and place it on a table…obviously I am no Arnie by any account…argh, again I realise that this may seem like nothing to you, but I was in total AWE! Listen, those things are heavy! THEY ARE! As one of five kids I was tasked with piling splodgy plates into those contraptions for literally my whole childhood, even in my wildest nightmares I wouldn’t ever consider removing the tray with plates still in it, that would be lunacy – but I suppose if I went utterly insane and attempted it, I could manage with help from every single one of my siblings! And even then, we would winge and moan about it.
As I stared (listen, I tried not to, but I mean come on – that is AMAZING!) I noticed that she wasn’t wearing your usual café worker outfit. Instead, she was dressed head to toe in Adidas spandex type of material, in fact if it wasn’t for the apron you would have thought she was about to take part in some kind of Olympic event. I mean, she had the thickest thighs I may have ever seen, but like muscle you know? And wait…whoa…she has biceps, like really big, oh…actually she is…
I took another sip of my rapidly cooling coffee and tried to look out of the window instead of leering like some kind of sex offender.
But I couldn’t help it – perhaps this is what love at first sight is like? I didn’t ever think that was my type but…oh…that’s when I began to notice that the other two girls working there were of a similar build and dressed in almost identical sportswear. Perhaps this is…errr…like a thing that –
I awkwardly tried to ask for my elder sister’s opinion, (unsurprisingly that didn’t go well, as I came off as a huge sexist and in short a massive piece of shit):
“Have you…have you…noticed how muscular these girls are?” I whispered uneasily,
“John, I knew you would say something like that – many people would say that they are some of the most beautiful people in the world!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I would too! I’m just saying that…listen…well, this will sound unbelievable – but one of them lifted the whole dishwasher tray out by herself!”
“WHAT?!
“I know it’s crazy right?! But believe me, I just saw her!”
“AND?”
“Well…it was with one hand! That’s pretty amaz-”
“SO?!”
“IT WAS FULL OF PLATES!? GAAD!”
We both went on an unofficial break from talking to each other for the next little bit – as we gave each other silent treatment on both sides. This gave me time to notice a few things, one being that many people are built in this way, that gyms and health food shops appeared to make up a large percentage of the buildings. Could it be true? Surely not? Was the path to happiness truly a good exercise routine and a balanced diet? I mean it sounds outrageous – up until that moment I was a firm believer in happiness being found in ice cream and quality sitcoms…but hey, the truth is in the pudding, right?
I bet Norwegians don’t eat pudding – you don’t get like that from eating pudding. Man, I love pudding.
Anyway Norway, don’t judge me so harshly for my ignorance – it is truly a beautiful country you have! I mean the Norwegian fjords? Wow! Let’s just say that whoever made those – great job! And you are a beautiful set of people, I am just deeply, deeply, jealous. Perhaps one day, with lots of training – I will lift out the full dishwasher tray with one hand…
Guys, if we don’t have big dreams – then what is the point in life? That’s my message here.
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Storytime with John 
Sweet!
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No disrespect, but clearly you have no idea how to dress for winter! You’re not even wearing a coat! No wonder you were cold!
And it’s true, we must dream big. But seriously, dress for the weather, my friend!
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Layers Julia, layers! 😉
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Yeah, well come to Canada during January and try that.
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haha I want to come to Canada, but I will come prepared! (Now you’ve schooled me, haha)
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Let me know when you do come to Canada, it would be cool to meet a fellow blogger (keeping in mind that I’m in the Maritimes and Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world)!
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I would love that! I’ll be in touch for sure!
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I’d figured the best way to really stay warm in winter was to keep yourself inside a microwave oven set to “reheat spaghetti”.
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You look so cute 🙂
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haha, stopppp I’m blushing 😀
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Yeah i can see that on your nose
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So funny 🙂 Thanks for the laugh – I needed it 🙂
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Always happy to oblige 🙂 pleased you enjoyed it!
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As always, you make me laugh. By the way, you need to thank Slartibartfast for the fjords!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGcBmlDTcHo
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Definitely impressed by your Amazons on ice, but have to second aforementioned opinions…maybe you wouldn’t have been so miserable if you had brought a ski jacket!
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Exactly! That’s what I was saying!
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Urghhhh you’re right, you’re right! 😦
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Laughed my way through this post, as usual. Feeling sorry for how your sister reacted to your questioning hahahhaa. You obviously meant no harm in your words, but sometimes women can just be irrational and angry no matter what a man says! I admit to having these brief periods of lunacy, and I know many others who do as well. I would chalk it up to her simply not being in a good mood. I’m in awe of your ability to withstand the cold, I live in quite a warm place and have never witnessed snow falling from the sky. I’d love to see things like the Northern Lights, but I’m quite afraid that I’d freeze my bum off before I even step off the plane!
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Hey, great post!
A friend of mine is a graphic designer who does Norwegian book covers. I don’t know if it is just her publishing house but all the books cover grim topics! ( 100 poems to cancer. Death in the night etc . . .) I don’t know where that fits into happiness, but perhaps reading grim stuff also makes you happy not to be staring in a Norwegian book!! I do agree with your idea about good food and exercise making you happy. For me, it is yoga 5 times a week and some home grown pot 🙂
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What an enjoyable read and an interesting observation you made. Gosh you look so cold – you have a very red nose ;-).
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Awesome story here. Thanks for the laugh and motivation.
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Slartibartfast was the man! I love that you and your sister fell out so quickly ha ha real siblings. oh and go with the dishes a man must dream.
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I love the cold! Love love love. I would much rather be cold than hot.
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Bethany as you know I’m even worse in the heat, so probably with you on that one! I just love a moan is all 😀
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Well if you ever need a travel buddy let me know. I vote we go cliff diving.
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I’m with you, if happiness means I never get to eat anything good and I have to spend my life in a gym, well, call me depressed!
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Very interestingly told! I really enjoyed reading it. My mother was half Norwegian. I did notice when I was up there, particularly Sweden, that the people are beautiful. I always attributed my strength to the German in me, but now I must credit the Norwegian. But a big tray from the dishwasher , loaded? I have to think about this….
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Cool, interesting and cold TRIP?! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Kamila
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I’m with juliacann. I dare you to come to Winnipeg Canada in February. Stand at Portage and Main for 15 seconds and you will convinced that you are in hell and it froze over.
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hahahaha Wanda you’re making this very, very appealing…I had long-johns on, do I get no credit at all? 😦
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“Anyway, we decided to go for a little walk – the logic wasn’t all there clearly” – Love that phrase… where does the logic go in retrospect?
Warm Wishes…
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Your stories are hilarious. You never let us down. Another GREAT one! Judging by that picture I would be hypothermic in ten seconds or less, so I think you did just fine (although another few minutes and you might have been close to risking the tip of your nose, lol). Keep those stories coming!
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I’ve got cold shivers just from looking at that picture of yours. Layers or no layers, but you look like some one dressed for beach rather than some one prepared to tackle all the snow and cold weather of Norway. No wonders you’re cold. And given that I’m perpetually cold during winter myself in my homeland’s latitude and longitude, I doubt it I’d ever want to go to Norway in winter. I’d probably become an icicle just looking out of the window. During summer would be quite another matter – I definitely would love to some day visit the country
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Can’t help but notice you have a great relationship with your sister, even though you have your unofficial non talking periods 😉 yes layers John, ski jacket, gloves, beanie, woollen socks, boots, thermal underwear…ok the mother in me will stop now.
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I do thankfully, well actually I have a good relationship with all of my siblings – wouldn’t have it any other way! And yes, layers, layers, layers! My Mam was insistent on the same thing before I left! 😀
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Hmm shudda listened 🙂
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OMG! How a different perception can make act others like wild animals. Don’t worry about that! The bureaucracy in Austria is well known and special! The officials are mostly frustrated and need their right to exist. That’s why you sure got a lot of sympathy of the people watching the scene!
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I just noticed I ended up in the wrong post… sorry … that comment was meant for your Austrian experience!
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I once got lost in snow storm and in my panic I ran into building and hid inside…it was inhabited be group people who freak the hell out be my presence : )
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Lol great story! I think that crisp cold air helps them breathe better, deeply and enlarge their lungs in turn increasing the speed of their metabolism and getting more oxygen to their body as a whole. The ease on digestion and breathing for immunity helps massively in staying fit but of course it sounds like they did their share and a half of exercise!
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hahahahaha you may be on to something there!!!!
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Happiness – subjective AND relative. Hey, I come from a tropical island and am now living in the second coldest city in the world (in Canada)! There are lots of things I’m happy about in Canada, and there were lots of things I was happy about in my tropical island, but they are different things! Yes, and do dress appropriately for the weather next time around (I have lots of experience now :0!)
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Great story John! Thank you for sharing this with us.
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Cheers Richard, all the best to you my friend!
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Oh, my goodness, you are funny!!! 🙂 🙂 😀 I am from norway and this made me laugh and laugh and laugh!!!! 🙂 🙂 I had such a great time reading this! 🙂 I am from the south though, not the north, and I am quite a tiny thing with no chance of lifting that tray, hihihihi!! 🙂 🙂 But this was a treat to read!!! 🙂 Thank you!! 🙂
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haha, I am glad Trini! Very glad! I certainly want to return to Norway, as I only got a little glimpse of what your country has to offer 🙂
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So the internet over here won’t let me like this (we have some weird apocalyptic storm yesterday), but this just reminded me of the queerist encounter I had with two Norwegian nudists on a beach in Bali.
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You have grabbed my attention…haha…please continue! 😉
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Haha, I should write a post about it actually. I’ll do that. Short version of it though: these nudist Norwegian women convinced me to have a weird therapy/massage session because they overheard I was terrified of swimming in the ocean after being attacked by jellyfish. Basically: they somehow managed to get me in the ocean after a day. In my defense with having strangers touch me, I was only a foolish 17 year old. God, that makes it worse.
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Norway isa great, but next time, try to go in the summer. Summer in Northern Norway is pretty hard to beat for sheet beauty and awesomeness. 😉
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haha! Oh I have to return that’s for sure! Summer in Norway…hmmm…has a ring to it 😀
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I can relate. I went to Bergen, Norway 4 months ago and still found them attractive for some reason… By the way, thanks for liking my blog’s latest post, New York In Fiction! 🙂
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First of all your welcome, I’m following you now so I can check out more! 🙂 Oh, and glad I wasn’t the only one with Norway, haha! 🙂
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Thanks John! I also have the archives of previous episodes of the short story series if you wanna check it out. How often do you publish your work on wordpress? I love Scandinavia, not necessarily for the estrogen muscles 😉
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Hey, that’s my country you’re talking about! 😉 You gotta be pretty tough to survive the northern part of Norway. Just lucky you didn’t understand what they were saying, because they have the most graphic and hard core swearing in the northern hemisphere… Thanks for checking out my blog btw.
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“Graphic and hardcore swearing” hahahaha! Sounds like we would get along just fine 😉 I want to head back to your country, beautiful scenery there and clearly I only got a short glimpse – where else is good to see?
Pleased I stumbled across your blog by the way 🙂
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One needs to keep active in cold climates, for unlike bears we can not get to hibernate. Reminds me a little of women that know how to swing an axe in mountain forests. Where the air is thin and the work is demanding in such selective and sustainable places.
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