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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A month of Thanks!!

November.  To every American this means one thing...Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, a day of turkey, potatoes and gravy, pies, football and family.  It also is a great reminder of the many things we have to be thankful for.

Now, since I don't get to celebrate Thanksgiving as I usually do, I am spending the month reminding myself of what I am truly thankful for.  I am starting today, on November 1st and will be done on Thanksgiving.

Today I am thankful for...

November 1
Today I am thankful for a safe, warm bed and house with working electricity.  I am thinking of all those stuck in the US after Sandy without these things.



November 2
Today I'm thankful for Fridays.



November 3
I am thankful for nice weather.  There is rain so often in Bergen that a day of sunshine and dry air is heavenly.



November 4
Today I'm grateful for internet.  Today, I was able to be in Denver and Bergen at the same time to celebrate my sisters baby shower (ok, over Skype but close enough).



November 5
Thank goodness for coffee!! I wouldn't make it through a Monday without it!



November 6
Voting day! I'm grateful today for that privilege.



November 7
Sales at the grocery stores.  After living in Bergen for long enough, I've learned to love these and be so grateful for any and all specials, even if I have to go to 3 grocery stores to get everything I need.



November 8
Lose Yourself by Eminem.  My favorite running song that keeps me going any time I feel like I'm going to be flung off the treadmill due to exhaustion.



November 9
Norwegian Quote of the day toilet paper. Great for practicing Norwegian :)




November 10
Birthdays! It is a celebration of one more year of life, but also a wonderful reason to get together with family and friends.



November 11

Workout buddies!! Spinning is way more entertaining when there are others with you to laugh at the funny, bouncy instructor.




November 12
My Dad!! November 12th marked Fars Dag in Norway, which of course will make me think of my Norwegian Dad.  I feel like the luckiest lil girl in the world!




November 13
Facebook birthday reminders. Sorry folks, I don't think i'd be able to remember everyone's day without the help!




November 14
My dad's old Izuzu Rodeo.  When I was 16 and learning to drive, I was forced to practice and take my drivers test on this manual truck.  I am so grateful to this day that I am able to drive any type of car.



November 15
A job!! I am so grateful to have a job and a paycheck when there are so many people out there searching.




November 16
Airplanes!! World travel has made the world a smaller place.  I live on the opposite side of the world from those who I love the most, but with a click of a button (and a few dollars), I have a plan to visit my family and friends, and meet my newest niece!!



November 17
Education!  I was given the opportunity to receive a higher education at two well known universities, something very few people can say.  I had the chance to attend a conference this weekend and further my education even further.



November 18
Cupcakes and wine...need I say more?



November 19
Edvardsensgate. The apartment in Bergen.  Like a university has student housing, our family has family housing.  Nearly everyone has lived in this apartment in Bergen at one point.  My dad, my aunts and uncles, and loads of cousins.  Here, the cousins have become good friends, we all have at least one funny story about living here.  Thank you to my Grandpa for buying it years ago!!




November 20
My American drivers license.



November 21
Visitors!! My dad is coming to Norway today and I am so excited to see him!



November 22
Last but SO not least, my family and friends all over the world.  I would need years to thank everyone individually for all that they have done.  I truly am one of the luckiest people in the world to be surrounded by such awesome people!!!!!!!


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Norway vs. the US in Driving

A drivers license.  Something I never knew I took for granted until I moved to Norway.  Now, I am facing a nightmare of a test and potentially thousands (yes, thousands) of dollars!!

So, in the US, it is quite simple to get your drivers license (it was 12 years ago at least).

Step one: Turn 15 and get your drivers permit.  Log the appropriate number of driving hours with a licensed driver and study for the drivers test.

Step two: Turn 16 and go to the DMV.  Take the drivers test and pay the $21.00 fee. If you fail its ok, you can take another one on the spot.

And done, you have a license.





My test went a little like this...

I was 16 and my mom said "Lizzie, it is time to take your driving test".  I did not want to because I had not practiced as much as I would have liked.  Plus, the only car we had to take to the test was a manual, and I didn't know how to get past 3rd gear in a stick shift!  Mom won and we went to the DMV.  I took the written test and only missed the road sign question (no crossing, what is that??).  Then came the driving test.  We went around the block for about 10 minutes, all while the car was screaming "change gears!!".  I sat through a right turn on red, forgot my blinker, and stalled the car when I tried to park it.  But passed.

In Norway, things are NOT as simple and certainly, NOT as inexpensive.


I am lucky because I got my license in the states, so I don't have to go through the normal steps to get my license in Norway.  All I have to do is take the practical exam within a year of moving to Norway.  Well, a year is coming up way too soon and I have learned that the test is not as simple as you would think.  Plus, it's nearly 3000KR ($530).

What I've learned about the practical driving test in Norway

  • It takes nearly an hour!
  • They will ask you questions about the car and driving that you have to answer correctly.
  • They will direct where they want you to drive, but "trick" you by saying things like "turn left" when they know the left turn ahead is a one way, going the wrong way.
  • They are VERY strict!
  • If you fail, you have to start from square one!!!

What is square one you ask??
  • Many, many hours of required lessons by driving instructors including slick road driving and CPR.
  • A difficult written exam.
  • 15,000-30,000KR ($2500-$5000) from beginning to end, depending on where you take the test!

Why is it so difficult??



This is a two way road, one requiring driving skills more advanced than those on a Colorado highway.




I filled out the application to transfer my drivers license after I came back from the states and I didn't hear anything in return.  I did take my time to actually apply, so that is my own fault.  But, finally when I did get in touch with them, I learned that there is a waiting list for the test, and they may not have any availability before my January 5th (1 year) deadline.  And the woman I spoke to told me "and if you fail the first time, you have 4 weeks probation before you can start again and you'll have to start from the beginning".  

Basically, she thinks I'm going to fail? Awesome.

So, my best bet is to take the bus outside of Bergen to the driving company early tomorrow.  Hopefully there, they will be able to give me a date for a test, either in or out of Bergen before my year mark.

And once they do (and I will fight hard for it!!), all I will have to stress about is passing!!!




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Norway vs. the US in Health Care

So, I recently had my first experience with the health care system in Norway.  In the states, I was a Kaiser girl, living on a pretty nice, yet inexpensive insurance plan.  I can say now that there are easily some differences between the two...



Getting a doctor
The process of getting a primary care physician, or, a "fastlege" is pretty similar between Norway and the US.  Once you are signed up with an insurance company, or once you have received your personal number in Norway, you can then pick your doctor.  Mine was picked for me, simply because I didn't get to it in time.  Oops.



The appointment.
At Kaiser, I would call and make an appointment within a one week time frame, depending on the situation of course.  If needed, I could come by on the same day but would not always see the same doctor.  Often, it was a nurse practitioner.  In Norway, it is not always as simple to get an appointment.  My doctor is open from 8:30 to 4:30, and closed between 12 to 12:30 for lunch (perfect...just during working hours).  When I called for my appointment, they wanted to schedule me in for an appointment in a few weeks time.  Finally, after I said it was more urgent, they gave me an earlier appointment.

Anytime I went to an appointment at Kaiser, I would be a little early just in case I needed to fill out some paperwork.  HIPA forms, consent forms, confidentiality, personal history bla, bla, bla.  When I showed up early for my appointment here, I waited until my exact appointment time when they came and got me for my appointment.  No paperwork required in Norway.

The appointment itself was different than what I have experienced in the states.  Without going into too much detail, I will say it was very casual and somewhat awkward.  It felt more to me like a simple home visit than an appointment to a doctors office.

Any time I went to the doctor in the states, whether for a cold, a physical or whatnot, it would always begin with vitals and a chat with a nurse.  Blood pressure, pulse and of course, weight.  Then, questions about what's going on, pamphlets with information on everything and follow up appointments.  Organized, white, and formal.  In Norway, it was very informal.  No vitals, just straight to the point.  Hello, I'm the doctor, what do you need?  The end.

The image I have in my head of my doctor's office in the US. White, modern, clean, cold.

The image I have of my Norwegian doctors office.  Older, clean, cozy.



The Care in Health Care
No matter where you are, you always here that it is important to be proactive about your health.  Ask questions, research, be picky.  It is no different in Norway.  If anything, from my small bit of experience, I have learned that it is even more important.  The first thing the doctor said to me at my appointment was "what do you want me to do".  I didn't know that I was suppose to know.  I had to get stitches and the doctor let me walk out of the door before I remembered to ask when I needed to come back to have them removed (and on a side note, when they were removed, they forgot a few small pieces which I later removed at home).  It's not difficult to remember these things, but it is certainly a different routine and not a responsibility I am used to having.



Big vs. Small
Kaiser has fancy technology and new buildings.  I once got a flu shot through my car window.  There are normally big road signs directing you to the facilities.  When you get to the building, it is not always easy to find your way to the correct building and there were 4 elevators taking you to the many levels.  My doctors office in Bergen is a very small, old, wooden building that sits on the edge of the water.  There is one small waiting room, a hallway and maybe 5 big rooms to patients.

A directory at Kaiser

Not my exact Norwegian doctor's office, but just about.



One thing I will not miss about the American health insurance system.  Talking to machines.  I would call to make an appointment and....

press 1 to get program information
press 2 for details about your bill
press 3 for facility locations
press 4 for problems with your online account
press 5 for the pharmacy
press 6 to make an appointment...finally

then...
press 1 for an appointment in the boulder office
press 2 for an appointment in the broomfield office
press 3 for an appointment in the westminster office
press 4 for an appointment in the denver office...finally

then...
type in your medical account number and press #
type in the last 4 letters of your social security number

then...
talk to a nurse about your appointment.  They will talk to the doctor and call you back with an appointment time.  Now, don't miss their call or you will have to start at step 1 again.

In Norway, I called, they answered and I made an appointment.  That's right...I talked to a person.



Getting information

At Kaiser, the turnaround time for tests and such was normally 24 to 72 hours and you would get a call or be able to check those results online.  I had a simple test done in Norway and was told it would be up to 3 weeks.  They would call if there was any news.  No news was good news.  That is a stressful 3 weeks if you are waiting for anything serious!


Which is better??
There is a lot of discussion these days about health care and what is best...private health insurance, government run health insurance???  I can't tell you which is better.  I barely have experience with the system here in Norway.  For now, all I can say is that there are ups and downs to each.