The benefit of understanding the language!

Learning Norwegian, or any other language, when you absolutely need to is no fun! I actually believe the necessity of the situation hinders even the progress. Or maybe this is a bad excuse I tell to my lazy self...

In any case this is a celebration post! A post to celebrate the feel good moments of actually using and enjoying the language and all the opportunities it opens for my well being here!

Soon or later in your language learning you'll get a suggestion to read one of Erlend Loe's books.
This is a fact! 

Normally this involves the 'Naive Supert' novel but the 'Tatt av kvinnen' is a far better suggestion as it's so much less confusing and it exists in film form as well. If you're a little fan of literature then you'll soon find yourself reading a second book of his. I have read now several of his works and I absolutely love his simple style and his humor! I have found that his writing has this ideal balance of heart-aching and criticism of the things Norwegian society comes short.

This is my perspective of how to mention the issues of a specific society. Yes, you can point it out, even exaggerate and make it hilarious, produce a lot of laughter but at the same time you HAVE TO care DEEPLY for this society. Maybe this is one of the reasons, I have a problem with foreigners who point fingers, through fun blogs/ comic books ect, to how ''strange'' (clearly to them) the Norwegian ways are. It can always be, of course, that I'm too stiff  to get it but let's get back to Loe. Calling him my favourite norwegian writer would be a bit of exaggeration as I have read books of only two norwegian writers but he definitely holds this place in my heart right now, anyway!

So attending the discussion, he participated at litteraturehuset i Trondheim, was something that made me very proud of my language skills and super excited! I hardly ever get excited by meeting famous people but this time my enthusiasm was skyrocketed! & Certainly he didn't let me down!

I especially admired Loe's attitude towards the novice writer, Mímir Kristjánsson, who rather dominated the discussion leaving often the audience either laughing or impressed by all the heavy literature references he managed to include to each of his responses. :) Simon Stranger, who was the third writer in the event, spoke with modesty and clarity and I think he will be the writer I'll check next. After finishing, of course, the trilogy of Doppler!

Such a well spend Saturday afternoon!!! :D

Guest

Yesterday I was feeling a bit lonely and sad so I decided to go out for a walk. November is not my best time. I'm feeding on sun and the shorter days have always taken a toll on me, even when I lived in Greece! Anyway fresh air helps a lot, as well as fish oil but yesterday I had already consumed my fishy pills so I was putting on my sneakers

 when the landlord's cat decided to explore my apartment.

 

After her curiosity was satisfied, it was time for some petting and playing.  :D

Having a pet is great! Having a borrowed pet is even greater!! Thanks for the visit! 

You're very welcome during all the winter months and further!!!