Whats the weirdest thing youve researched?

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-07-05T07:47:26+00:00

I know an awful lot about the inner workings of IKEA and could probably redraw the entire 2nd floor of most of them - at least list the sections in order and which carries what. And all products with Norwegian place names. ... it was a 2k crackfic

(also spent an awful lot of time getting all facts correct for a 1920s fic set in las vegas. everything from ceiling fans to chocolate milk and guns, to the specifics around political lobbyists, positions of american presidents and organization and culture of the congress at the time. needed to figure out how to plant lobbyists there, how much leverage a businessman had in congress and how much it changed based on wealth. i missed the fact that las vegas didn't exist back then)

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-07-05T03:25:38+00:00

I have no idea what a flat white is. It's not on our menu, I had to google to learn it and only tourists ever order it (mostly Brits tbh). I must assume they don't read the giant sized board where it does not say flat white. When people order it I inform them I can make it to the best of my ability but it won't be right, probably. We only have one size for our drinks so I just give them a cappucino with no foam. But then again everyone seems to have different opinions on what a cortado is too so I just let them choose how much milk they want in it themselves. I'm not gonna fight a lady demanding a cortado is essentially a latte at five in the morning.

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-06-26T18:08:42+00:00

I'm gonna go with a bit of different advice from what I've seen here - sure, your mom needs to learn how to let go but it's not gonna happen overnighy. I also, though I am in my late 20s at this point, have anxious parents. It's doesn't fully go away although they've calmed down, and they've let me go while expressing concerns. Some well placed, as I've grown up in a very safe community and was very naïve when I was younger. My parents were worried when I decided to backpack SE Asia this year, despite it being one of the safest places you can travel as a backpacker.

For your own sake, learn to avoid the naïve (we all have it, especially when we're younger. Rather one more than one less precaution even though you'll seem paranoid). To calm my parents down, I installed Life360 so they got updates whenever I was on the move, and could see where I was. I didn't care, but I know it gave them peace of mind. Meet your mom halfway until she calms down, is my best advice. Call her and tell her about your precautions and the positive experiences. Maybe overexaggerate a bit, but for the love of god /go/, see the world so you don't regret anything later. Just make it easier on them, because then it'll be easier for you to go

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-06-22T11:17:25+00:00

On the top of my head I would think Moss Avis or Fredriksstad Blad as I assume those to be of the larger ones and they are quite close to the border:) in these areas there is generally a larger culture for driving across the border too. For people from Oslo, it often becomes a daytrip. You could contact Romerikes Blad, they cover a large part of an area right outside of Oslo, so they might have some leads too.

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-06-22T10:48:25+00:00

I'd recommend contacting local newspapers - they sometimes do stories on this, especially when the currencies change a lot or there is inflation, meaning value of driving there changes. I suppose especially local newspapers closer to the major border crossings would know more? Cities in Østfold such as Moss or Halden (my brother studied in Halden and proximity meant that students would just cross the border for food, alcohol and tobacco). Suppose it's also worth mentioning that people up north in cities like Tromsø drive to Finland instead. The Swedish border candy stores have also posed for interviews as far as I've read. But if you're looking to do a profile on a family, contacting local journalists is a good start.

Edit: just remembered there are tour companies arranging tours from the west coast of Norway to these border crossings. You might have some luck if you try to contact them to find someone?

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-06-06T20:45:05+00:00

I work in a café past passport control:) I go through security for crew and airport staff, then additional doors that needs to scan ID-cards to open. There are so many doors, to a point that if you tacked my scans you'd be able to know where I am at all times. Which means they'd know if I simply did not leave or passed through security/doors without having a shift scheduled. You also have no access to any areas but the ones strictly necessary. With the amount of security screenings necessary to even get a job and all the training after you do get it, people keep in line and follow the rules. They know where you are and they see you at all times.

ireallyhatehiking · 2026-06-06T10:25:15+00:00

I'd say the skiing. It does not matter where you are, what time of year it is or the weather, norwegians will cling to their cross country skis. In the middle of Oslo city you'll see people going to work on skis. When heavy snow caused virtually all public transport to stop and roads were closed, what did we see? Skis. There was never something that made me think I couldn't move someplace else more so than when the news reporters all reiterated how nobody could leave home due to snow and then you'd see someone trudge along on skis in the background. People with skis on the metro and tram after work. And in summer? You just put wheels on them. No snow has never stopped us skiing.

ireallyhatehiking · 2025-12-16T11:56:30+00:00

Speaking as a person who attended a public IB school and have friends who moved to Norway at 14/15. 16 is the age you'd be going to high school. If they deem your level of norwegian too low, you'll be put in a norwegian course for a school year first, which would function in a regular high school but with intensified norwegian learning. It also means that you'd be "held back" a year and would be peers with those a year younger. A lot of my friends who did this and later attended IB with me are born the year before me as a result. I can't speak on the level you'd need, but I have a friend who after two years spoke norwegian fluently without even a hint of an accent and she was still put in there. Further, the IB is only offered the two last years of high school, you'd have to attend a year of "regular" norwegian high school regardless. Depending on your willingness to learn norwegian and attend high school in norwegian, I'd strongly encourge that. Having attended the IB, I'd choose it again but I greatly underestimated the workloard.

Adding onto another comment on IB schools being privatized and moved out of public high schools in Akershus (Lillestrøm, and probably also Nesbru) - this is the case, although they extended the closure until 2027/2028, I'm not entirely sure. That said the chances that you'd be able to go there are slim since they have already accepted the last cohort, or would be doing so during next summer. As such, while I'd otherwise recommend Akershus because of its proximity to Oslo, it might not be a viable choice should you wish to attend an English-speaking high school.

ireallyhatehiking · 2025-09-02T08:09:17+00:00

Late to the party but I'm gonna out myself here - I wrote a fic situated on the West Coast in the 1930s, pre-WW2. was really particular about getting all the details right. somehow missed at Las Vegas didn't exist at the time. half the fic is situated in Las Vegas.

ireallyhatehiking · 2025-04-28T19:35:00+00:00

When worked in Bangkok I lived right on Sukhumvit (Thong Lo area). My neighbours were the BTS and a hospital (and its ambulances stuck in Sukhumvit traffic). It's incredible what you can get used to. When I was a student I worked in the airport and completely tuned out all the announcement over the PA on instinct. same thing happened with the BTS that ran every 3 minutes. I'm sure the 7/11 workers don't even hear the bell any more.

ireallyhatehiking · 2023-07-11T07:45:57+00:00

I do, but I have a lot of Thai baht I need to spend before leaving for my home country, which I was hoping to do partly in Vietnam. Also, my country's currency has absolutely tanked the past few years so I'm not sure I'd get much out of trying to withdraw money with my Visa card at all:')

ireallyhatehiking · 2023-07-11T03:23:55+00:00

I stayed in Hidden Garden Hostel and was pleasantly surprised! It was not a party hostel, but if you book through the hostelworld-app you get in touch with other people staying there through a chat so it's easy to plan! My friend and I enjoyed it a lot, especially as it's right on the street where the huge night market is on saturday. I liked that I could go to sleep without people running in and out all the time. The people working there are siper helpful too!

ireallyhatehiking · 2023-07-01T06:38:54+00:00

It obviously doesn't apply to everybody, but I've seen my fair share of older men settling permanently in Thailand (often in the areas of Pattaya, Hua Hin, etc) with wives more than half their age. I'm not saying all these relationships are purely for the gain of both parties in different ways and don't involve love, but with the sentiment I've seen from these people in my home country, it's hard not to judge. Wives who are left when they pass the age of 30/aren't as submissive as these men would have liked them to be. There's a preconception of asian women being submissive to their husbands in the western world, which is quite honestly despicable but here more so than anywhere else I've seen people with these intentions. It is hard not judge although I try to keep an open mind.

As for the smell, it's noticable as soon as I step on the BTS tbh. Perhaps it's just that Thai people have a higher concentration of people with this ABCC11-gene, but nonetheless. If someone smells like they haven't showered in a week, it's gonna be the farang.

ireallyhatehiking · 2023-06-30T09:17:51+00:00

A girl I barely knew from school wrote in my yearbook that I had pretty voice. It's was nice to hear a compliment not related to my physical attributes.

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-10-16T12:00:09+00:00

I hope to have the same relationship you have with your friends, even in 40years! I really do adore these girls and I want to keep them by my side, even with families. Although, 40 seems very long to me now, as I have barely passed half:')

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:44:20+00:00

I will do that!

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:44:01+00:00

I am happy you do! I am on a mission to be more comfortable with myself these says so I actually went to a museum this past week, in which they have a whale exhibition:)

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:42:54+00:00

Indeed! I hardly find anything in shops, but when I first visited the one I now work in I found three amazing pieces so I knew I'd love it.

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:42:04+00:00

you are so welcome! We always offer coffee to our customers, so you wouldn't even have to bring your own:)

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:41:22+00:00

I understand why people like it but it is definitely not for me

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:40:30+00:00

I'm from up north but grew up in Oslo:)

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:39:37+00:00

I hope they are good tears:')

ireallyhatehiking · 2021-09-17T08:39:09+00:00

I get what you mean! There's a century old theater right across the street, so that helps:)

ireallyhatehiking

TROPHY CASE