The thing about Norwegians is that, they are not used to tourists, especially at this time of the year and especially at this part of the country, which is down south. So whenever I go to shops and make payments as usually the thing to do before leaving shops, they will always, without fail, speak to me in Norwegians.
At first this baffled me a little, but after a while I found that it is not bad to be perceived as a local. So these days whenever they went on in a stream of Norwegians, I would simply say:
"I beg your pardon?"
After which I would be replied with a puzzled gaze, a couple of blinks, followed by a welcomed phrase in English.
Provided the cashier I was dealing with could speak English or was not bashful to speak it. It was quite a curious thing for Norwegians to be shy to speak English. Considering that there are only almost 5 million native Norwegian speakers seeing as Norway has a population of 5 million people, I suppose this is the case. And they are surrounded by Scandinavian countries that had their own unique language and given the proximity of England and Ireland, I'd expect English to come a bit more naturally to them than we South East Asians.
But it was not so. My venerable hostess told me that Norwegians can be bashful to speak English sometimes. Of course, I must not expect to be spoiled with English when I'm here and I realize I should at least learn some basic Norwegian.
Takk, meaning Thanks. Laks, for salmon, Hår for hair and bukser, pants.
I also learned a few phrases. The one Iæm most familiar with is: Jeg har en an i bukser "I have a duck in my pants". And several phrases that says 'I am lost', and 'I am bleeding'.
When I tried saying 'I am lost' which is jeg har gått meg bort, I was replied with, 'you want to buy a boat?'. Aghast, I tried again. With a more confused expression, she asked me the same thing, only more incredulously,: 'you want to buy a boat?' I gave up and finally said what I meant. Apparently, I had mispronounced bort, which sounded like båt (å is pronounced as o).
So can you imagine if I was ever in an emergency and I wanted to say 'I'm bleeding and I am lost' but instead said 'Jeg blør! Og jeg har gått meg båt!', what kind of look would the locals have I wonder?
Adjø. Hvor er toallettet? Takk.
Ah...I am still a long way to mastering Norwegian.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Time Has Come!
I have chronic laziness to blog lately. But anyway, it is finally time! Time for what?
Time for my Norway holiday WHEEEEE!
My flight is today at 2359 hours. I have another 20 hours 39 minutes! I have to get my pants trimmed first though and get a new memory card for my camera today. I wonder how I'm going to KL Sentral. Or rather, when? The flight to Amsterdam takes 13 hours or so, and another 1 hour 50 minutes to Oslo. I am not good with long flights so I come prepared! Here's my list of preparation
Comic x1
Book x1
Pistacios x3
Cheezel biscuit x1
ipod x1
vaseline x1
eyedrop x1
tootbrush x1
Pirate bunny x1
I think that should be enough? Wheee~ overpacking!
Ta'ra!
Monday, February 21, 2011
CNY Holiday 2
Hello. It's been a while.
Chinese New Year was a busy, socially. I was so busy coping with all the outing invites in addition to those I made myself, that I had to push some plans away and made other people reschedule. I went to Sunway Lagoon as the main event. We went early, almost as soon as it opened and timed the rides so that we could go through all the dry rides first and do the wet rides last hehehe. Was soaked to my underwear by the time we lft Sunway Lagoon. If you haven't been there recently you'll notice that the location of the entrance has changed. I remember how further back the carriage ferris wheel was. It was so far back that the last time I was there, it was closed because there weren't enough people in the park. But now the ferris wheel is right behind the entrance.
There were so many changes there, which was very good. The large space that used to be an arcade has been turned into a haunted house. Good for them, though I don't like haunted houses as a rule. We had the pass for all the parks, but we only went to the theme park and scream park. We went a little crazy with the games there a bit and ended up with 3 Totoro plush toys. Someone practically belly flopped on and over the counter to see what plush toys were available under the counter -_-. Due to her shamelessness we got what we wanted hehehe.
Right after Chinese New Year is my Japanese class's final test and final class at least for me. I don't plan on continuing to the next class for the time being. Believe it or not I got kind of tired of having to go to class every Tuesday and Friday night. It just shows my waning interest, really. So we had a farewell party after the class and the next time I see sensei would be the marathon, hehehe!
The next night, right after a farewell, I had a reunion with my Kino friends. Yes, friends. Some people are colleagues, some people are friends. These are friends. Most of them were ex-Kino staffs. Fun, fun. A few days later I went out with school friends, so I basically went out with all my different groups of friends throughout Chinese New Year and beyond. So exhausting. I'm glad CNY is only once a year.
Right now I'm full speed ahead with my thesis. Stalker mode up 110%! Wish me luck! Ta'ra!
Chinese New Year was a busy, socially. I was so busy coping with all the outing invites in addition to those I made myself, that I had to push some plans away and made other people reschedule. I went to Sunway Lagoon as the main event. We went early, almost as soon as it opened and timed the rides so that we could go through all the dry rides first and do the wet rides last hehehe. Was soaked to my underwear by the time we lft Sunway Lagoon. If you haven't been there recently you'll notice that the location of the entrance has changed. I remember how further back the carriage ferris wheel was. It was so far back that the last time I was there, it was closed because there weren't enough people in the park. But now the ferris wheel is right behind the entrance.
There were so many changes there, which was very good. The large space that used to be an arcade has been turned into a haunted house. Good for them, though I don't like haunted houses as a rule. We had the pass for all the parks, but we only went to the theme park and scream park. We went a little crazy with the games there a bit and ended up with 3 Totoro plush toys. Someone practically belly flopped on and over the counter to see what plush toys were available under the counter -_-. Due to her shamelessness we got what we wanted hehehe.
Right after Chinese New Year is my Japanese class's final test and final class at least for me. I don't plan on continuing to the next class for the time being. Believe it or not I got kind of tired of having to go to class every Tuesday and Friday night. It just shows my waning interest, really. So we had a farewell party after the class and the next time I see sensei would be the marathon, hehehe!
The next night, right after a farewell, I had a reunion with my Kino friends. Yes, friends. Some people are colleagues, some people are friends. These are friends. Most of them were ex-Kino staffs. Fun, fun. A few days later I went out with school friends, so I basically went out with all my different groups of friends throughout Chinese New Year and beyond. So exhausting. I'm glad CNY is only once a year.
Right now I'm full speed ahead with my thesis. Stalker mode up 110%! Wish me luck! Ta'ra!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Psychotic Homie
I have recently gained a psychotic new housemate. A great motivation to finish my stupid thesis quickly. I don't care how great this place I'm currently living is. I don't have my own room or my own bed. When the family comes over I have no privacy and gained a mountainload of stress.
In addition my psychotic housemate thinks anything in the house is shared. And if they are personal things she does not share. She asks for them and takes possession of them. I think I may have to start making a personal stash of food and things like I did back when I was living at the hostel. Someone needs to learn that certain things are not for share.
My privacy and peace of mind, for example.
Ta'ra.
In addition my psychotic housemate thinks anything in the house is shared. And if they are personal things she does not share. She asks for them and takes possession of them. I think I may have to start making a personal stash of food and things like I did back when I was living at the hostel. Someone needs to learn that certain things are not for share.
My privacy and peace of mind, for example.
Ta'ra.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Stufff with 3 Fs!
Salmi: It was pride and pure stubborness that got me to resist those damned marshmallows. People (locals and foreigners alike) expect you to understand their needs without having to communicate it and then get offended when you did something they found offensive. Yet when it comes to other people's customs, they think its their right to be critical and ignorance as if theirs is the only one that matters. I thought I should take a page from their book and gave them a taste of their own medicine for a change, really. And turned out they didn't really like it hehehe.
My tickets arrived! Now I have all my tickets from KL-Amsterdam-Oslo-Amsterdam-KL woohoo! Apart from tickets I have been doing all sorts of preparations. Like end-of-winter clothes and souvenirs! Neko Ramen 2 still haven't arrived though O.o. Oh well it's still January!
My sister recently enrolled at MAHSA Uni College and I hated playing driver, and no she's not getting the car yet. I asked her if she's taking this huge (about 30kg) bag of clothes with her to college and she said no. It was her spare.
I'll say, the amount of clothes she took to school should have been the spare. But never mind.
I am finally done with my industry report. FINALLY! But I have nothing new to share about the book industry for my presentation this Friday. Good thing I still have the January duty roster so I'll know who I can disturb for lunch hehehe! Funny how I haven't gone there since I came to pick up my paycheck. I'm on a credit crunch to save for my trip...I'm still new at this saving business but we will see!
Aaargh I need to finish my stupid thesis!
Ta'ra!
My tickets arrived! Now I have all my tickets from KL-Amsterdam-Oslo-Amsterdam-KL woohoo! Apart from tickets I have been doing all sorts of preparations. Like end-of-winter clothes and souvenirs! Neko Ramen 2 still haven't arrived though O.o. Oh well it's still January!
My sister recently enrolled at MAHSA Uni College and I hated playing driver, and no she's not getting the car yet. I asked her if she's taking this huge (about 30kg) bag of clothes with her to college and she said no. It was her spare.
I'll say, the amount of clothes she took to school should have been the spare. But never mind.
I am finally done with my industry report. FINALLY! But I have nothing new to share about the book industry for my presentation this Friday. Good thing I still have the January duty roster so I'll know who I can disturb for lunch hehehe! Funny how I haven't gone there since I came to pick up my paycheck. I'm on a credit crunch to save for my trip...I'm still new at this saving business but we will see!
Aaargh I need to finish my stupid thesis!
Ta'ra!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Spring Cleaning Report
So last Sunday my friend came over to clean my house while I helped her.
Yep, that's how it turned out. She was awesome, battling those dust monsters with nothing but a broom and sheer determination. I stood on the sides and cheered her on - mask on and everything, of course hehehehe. I didn't expect her to be so overzealous that she cleaned out the entire room and even changed the location of the furnishings. Because of that we didn't get to finish the whole house, so phase 2 will start this Sunday.
I bought a PS3 just before the new year. It's white with 500gb memory. Only in Malaysia can you get a white 500gb PS3. Pimped up PS3 is the way to go around here hehehe.
Kujong is healed. So he got a second chance. Hmph.
Ta'ra!
Yep, that's how it turned out. She was awesome, battling those dust monsters with nothing but a broom and sheer determination. I stood on the sides and cheered her on - mask on and everything, of course hehehehe. I didn't expect her to be so overzealous that she cleaned out the entire room and even changed the location of the furnishings. Because of that we didn't get to finish the whole house, so phase 2 will start this Sunday.
I bought a PS3 just before the new year. It's white with 500gb memory. Only in Malaysia can you get a white 500gb PS3. Pimped up PS3 is the way to go around here hehehe.
Kujong is healed. So he got a second chance. Hmph.
Ta'ra!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Spring Cleaning
Lynn: Darurat indeed. Only a whole Snack Plate could satisfy a darurat as opposed to one piece of chicken, right? If I was going to eat something due to darurat, I'd make it worth it. Like moose meat or something exotic like that.
Tomorrow I will have my friend over to help me spring clean the house. I've been inspired lately by the Hoarders program on Astro. They managed to get their house cleared out and cleaned up so beautifully because there is actuallya team of maids who does the cleaning as the junk people haul out the trash. I do agree though that those houses are way too chronic compared to my humble apartment, but I was inspired no less!
My past history confirmed that my spring cleaning always turned out well whenever I have a help over. They are okay too when I do it alone, but with an impartial help, I move along quicker and without delay. My usual help stays in another state so I have to turn to another help who lives well, not in the same state but closer. Tomorrow's victim shall be Kak Farida hehehehe.
To prepare for tomorrow, I decided I'll do some decluttering. So far I have thrown out two huge plastic bags of used shoes, 5 trash bags and a lot more I couldn't remember, and there are still more on the way! I just almost filled up the entire refuse chamber so I thought I'd give it a rest tonight and continue again at 2 pm tomorrow after they have cleared out the 'refuse chamber' and return the empty trash bin hehehehe.
The keyword is wipe down. I want the house to be so clean it smells like chemicals.
Ta'ra!
And I spent 1 hour 45 minutes exercising today.
Tomorrow I will have my friend over to help me spring clean the house. I've been inspired lately by the Hoarders program on Astro. They managed to get their house cleared out and cleaned up so beautifully because there is actuallya team of maids who does the cleaning as the junk people haul out the trash. I do agree though that those houses are way too chronic compared to my humble apartment, but I was inspired no less!
My past history confirmed that my spring cleaning always turned out well whenever I have a help over. They are okay too when I do it alone, but with an impartial help, I move along quicker and without delay. My usual help stays in another state so I have to turn to another help who lives well, not in the same state but closer. Tomorrow's victim shall be Kak Farida hehehehe.
To prepare for tomorrow, I decided I'll do some decluttering. So far I have thrown out two huge plastic bags of used shoes, 5 trash bags and a lot more I couldn't remember, and there are still more on the way! I just almost filled up the entire refuse chamber so I thought I'd give it a rest tonight and continue again at 2 pm tomorrow after they have cleared out the 'refuse chamber' and return the empty trash bin hehehehe.
The keyword is wipe down. I want the house to be so clean it smells like chemicals.
Ta'ra!
And I spent 1 hour 45 minutes exercising today.
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