One of the strangest things about being here is how different things actually are from home. You wouldn’t think that the differences would be so vast, but they really are. People are different, and the culture is different. One of the biggest culture shocks for me so far is probably ASDA.
The one closest to campus is a HUGE supermarket that’s open 24 hours a day on week days, and closes at 10 pm on Saturdays and 8 pm on Sundays. This place literally has everything from single malt whisky to kitchen knives and I haven’t even explored the whole place yet. This means that you can literally come in at 2 am, buy a bottle of whisky and a kitchen knife, down the whisky and go stab someone. WTF???
For my international readers, let me explain why this is strange to me. In Norway, no shop is allowed to sell beer after 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on Saturdays, and beer sales are closed on Sundays. Only special, government controlled shops are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages above 5% or so, and these shops close at 6 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on Saturdays. Quite apart from all this, only kiosks and things are allowed to be open 24 hours a day. NO WAY would ANY shop selling knives be allowed to stay open after 11 o’clock in the evening in Norway.
I’ve got to know some more music students. On Tuesday we went out for Karaoke, which was lots of fun. My flat mate Grace is AMAZING!!! Best soul voice I’ve ever heard in someone her age (she’s 18 years old) and definitely the best microphone technique! Karaoke was fun. I sang Africa by Toto and Supermassive Black Hole by Muse (which made Abi really happy). Some of the people there were pretty good, some were awful, but regardless it was a great evening. We all had fun, at least.
On Wednesday I went to Birmingham with a handful of first year pop music students for a concert. A Master student called Denis had his graduation show at a place called Jam House or some such thing. It was a reggae concert, and it was brilliant! I’m not even a big reggae fan, but I had a great time. All the music students who decided to stay behind really missed out, cause it was a great show. I talked to some more new people (I impressed myself by managing to discuss indie rock with one person, jazz with another and metal with a third in the space of about an hour or so), enjoyed the music and had a generally nice time.
Last night I stayed in and watched My Fair Lady with Emma. Seems like tonight is gonna be another one of those quiet nights. Abi’s got Jodi over, and Grace’s boyfriend is coming so he and Luke are gonna sit in Luke’s room and play guitar. Emma and I are in the kitchen with each our laptop. Annette is the only one who’s gone out tonight. Still, I’m feeling pretty good. I’m eating normally again, no longer nervous and panicking… I hope I can keep this up.
I’m taking a trip home on the 29th. That helps, too.
I borrowed the photo from Grace, hope it’s okay. Left to right: Me, Emma, Luke, Annette & Grace.
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Been there, done that etc, well sort of. I was visiting Scottish friends who were working abroad, but it’s when you get into “normal grocery shops” (slight push describing Asda as normal, given that the branch I usually visit is about 50% clothing, electricals and media, but that seems to be normal for a shop that size these days) that the differences between how different nations shop show up.
There are a lot more differences than you’d think, too… You’d think that Norway and Britain would be rather similar, having had so much cultural exchange over the centuries, and we are quite similar, too, but it’s the little things, the ones you don’t notice till you’re living in it, that make you realise how different we really are…
I’d also suggest that Norway has more in common with Scotland (and the Isle of Man) than it does with the English Midlands, where you are.
That’s an interesting point… I have a friend in Glasgow. Maybe I should find out?
You’ll get used to it pretty quick.
Actually, you probably have already.
The UK alcohol laws used to be as restricted as the Norwegian ones, but they changed a fair while ago… good thing? Bad thing? I think it’s just a Thing…
But still, now you are there, have fun, and don’t do what I did (Which was have too much fun and screw up the academic part spectacularly).
*hugs*
I’m ridiculously boring. I don’t go out much.
Right now I’m having fun sitting in the kitchen with a couple of my flat mates. When I go out, I like quiet pubs and good beer, and most of the people here are into clubbing, so it’s easy to say no. So don’t worry, I’ll stay on top of my studies! 
The difference is there alright, I notice it when I’m in Ireland as well. I suppose one doesn’t feel these things as well when ones just over for some sightseeing, but it sure hits ya when ya live there, ey? I still cant quite get my head around all the norms over here.
Glad to hear yer eating and finding people though ^,^ Keep at it and have fun, yeah?
You too!
And yes, I am eating normally once more, it feels so good! Today I made a massive portion of Carbonara! I shared it with Abi, but there’s still about half left. I’ll put it in the fridge and have it for lunch tomorrow. 
Aww, ya know what I’d really like now? A good bottle of red wine (that isn’t ice-cold: damn you Japan) and Mei’s carbonara and company… *sniff*
I promise to make you carbonara the next time we see each other!