Some more interesting things. They are really nice to bad people. Last night a "fat" and drunk guy was actually fighting with the bar tender behind the bar because he wouldn't serve him. Not that one way is better or worse but in the U.S. he would have been ass over tin cups out the door with a bouncer posted to make sure he didn't return. No one messes with the bar staff. Here, they lightly wrestled him to the ground, let him collect himself and then they are all shaking hands but the guy is still so drunk he can barely walk. Instead of tossing him, they let him hang out around the door. He tries to sit on the arm of a "wicker" chair in front of my table. I immediately identified the situation as disastrous. I snatched my beer from the table as the chair, bowing under the weight of his 250lbs slowly topples backwards. His feet went straight up, flip flop flopping off his foot, my table was immediately dislodged and the next two behind it on the patio. One girl was covered in beer, another got a bloody toe and multiple beers were now seeping into the cobble stones. Bar staff helps him up, cleans up the glass, offers no one new beers and lets the guy walk off who immediately walks into the next bar quickly followed by the sound of more breaking glass...classic.
Oh another thing..when stores here close, they close. I was trying on some clothes today at 5PM and the lady knocked on the door and said they were closing and I had to go. She took all of my merchandise and escorted me to the door. Seriously??? They treated the drunk guy who fought the staff and injured customers better than a paying customer....interesting.
So, now on to some better things. NORWAY!!!! It was awesome. By far the best place I have visited thus far. It is an effing expensive country. A beer was like $10. I had a hamburger for dinner with two beers and my tab was $54 converted. But....the country and the people are amazing. I visited some family in the south who live on an island. I really lucked out with fantastic weather. I never expected to be buying a swimsuit and getting sunburned. I spent my entire visit in a bathing suit, on boats, swimming in the fjords, kayaking and enjoying the splendors of 20hours of daylight. People were really friendly and I loved their greeting. Everyone you pass on the island (no cars, only bikes and walking) would say cheerfully, hi hi. It was really pleasant. I met some of my cousins who were awesome. We went Fjord climbing where we pulled the boat up to the bottom of a fjord wall, donned our climbing shoes and started scaling the walls until we either fell off into the fjord or found a small summit and jumped back down 10-15 meters into the Fjord...effing fantastic. My family there was also just amazing. They go from a short but amazing summer to a long dark and snowy winter with difficult challenges. They have one of these huge ski jumps in the backyard (like the ones in the olympics..seriously). In the winter they use kick sleds and shovel snow and chip ice out of their boat to get to the mainland. I am 1/8 Norwegian and am now proud to have visited the motherland and call myself part Viking. I even have a t-shirt to prove it. The new manager started at work last week so I am starting to think about coming home. I have about 10 more weeks to train him and then I am headed home...but for what who knows. The company is offering me a few options all the way from Reno to Hong Kong but I just don't know...I'll wait to see what the offers really look like but I am not optimistic that they will surprise me. At least I know I have given them all I have for this assignment and achieved some great results. I'll give them a chance to keep me around.
For as much information that exists about America I find people here really know very little about our people and our culture. I try to make a difference one person at a time. I really love talking with them and understanding their culture. I am lucky to have this opportunity.
I miss everyone back home and hope to see you soon.
Pierce
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