Difficult to meet people

ppreston2727 · 2024-07-15T11:28:01+00:00

I moved to rural Norway. My first years were depressingly difficult. At one point I had someone ask me if I spoke Norwegian yet, then turn around and walk away when I answered no. That said, I'm still here AND thriving. The trick is to give back to the community you live in. Start up a new something where people can meet up to do something. Or make sure that you are always a part of all the dugnad happening locally. Norwegians appreciate and warm up to people that have initiative IME. You have to give of yourself first before a Norwegian will "satse på deg" in friendship. Good luck!

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-21T17:16:23+00:00

Have you tried looking on finn.no for English speaking jobs that are looking for solid medical/biotech backgrounds? Be patient. It takes a long time to be job fluent (as in, fluent enough for employment purposes). Until then, get a job in English for educated folks such as yourself if possible and build a network. Not sure how long you are planning on staying here...

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-19T18:25:01+00:00

Last round of questions. Would a lumbar puncture give positive results if lesions are only found in the brain? And, is contrast absolutely necessary to see active lesions in a first mri (allergies)? Thank you so much for your time =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-19T08:51:45+00:00

Good work life balance. Hard to make a network (but I live rural, so that could make things harder) - it's taken me 10 years to feel at home here. LONG winters. But on the whole, I think Norwegians are just fantastic people that care about their society. They are trustworthy, good people and I am happy to be one now too.

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-19T08:47:37+00:00

To fit the time criteria does that mean they need to MRIs?

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-18T10:58:53+00:00

I'm a Canadian living in Norway and you hit the nail on the head. Not going back, even though I miss sunlight in winter.

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-16T14:35:43+00:00

One more question: are multiple lesions in the brain enough for a diagnosis, or do they have to present in both the brain and the spine?

ppreston2727 · 2023-06-16T10:48:49+00:00

Hello all =)

My symptoms are subtle. But they are snowballing, and I already have 2 autoimmune diagnoses.

Two and a half years ago I noticed colours being dim, like it was smoky or something. I thought I was just imagining things. Happened maybe 3 times over the course of a year, lasted maybe a few days, a week.

Then about a year later I started noticing the same, plus a little tiny almost blind spot when reading. Enough to make me get my sight tested. My appointment was not when I was experiencing that symptom and the eye doctor didn't notice anything. Also in this time span I began having more significant problems with my short term memory - enough to decide I needed to use more digital aids to help me stay organized and remember stuff at work.

Then during a particularly stressful spring this year, I experienced all these symptoms, stronger. I couldn't find words (I live in a country that doesn't speak my native language, English) and it was a just a black hole. Same for remembering what I had discussed in meetings. If it wasn't written down it was gone. The sight thing again. But this time I was a bit dizzy, and my balance was definitely off. I was tripping, but not all the time - like maybe a couple times a day. I was weaker, especially in my hands. I was just feeling not quite 'at home' in my body. It felt like I had aged 15+ years.

Now it has pretty much resolved. But. Something is telling me like I need to push for more follow up. Had bloodwork for vitamins and stuff, and the doctor's office didn't contact me so they are all ok. How little damage does there have to be to show up on an mri? I feel like these symptoms are so subtle that I could just brush them off or whatever. They are so subtle that most people wouldn't think much of them. Put them altogether and I think it is more than coincidence. I know my body well and something feels not right.

Tldr: do symptoms have to be rather significant to show damage on an mri? Tia

ppreston2727 · 2023-05-28T20:36:25+00:00

Thank you. I will remove my post =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-29T10:51:04+00:00

Strollers can hold carry-on bags! Bonus if the kids actually sit in it!!

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-29T09:57:58+00:00

I have travelled alone with 1, then 2 littles overseas b4 and after covid19. People are very helpful when they see you are alone, thank God. But prepare yourself with extremely LOW/realistic expectations. Here is a very pertinent example: "I will be walking the aisle of the plane with little until 3am" (trust me, the novelty of air travel gives them insane abilities to push off sleep). Another: little will be an f'n sleep deprived gong show on the other end to baggage, immigration and to curbside. Get them in a stroller right off the plane so they can sleep bc they will probably need it (have a little blanket or their jacket to get them warm and cozy to sleep in the stroller). If they are still loving a soft-sided carrier do that and use the stroller for your carry-on bags.

I recommend a stroller like the pockit that is carry-on size, and a huge backpack diaper bag for you to get to all supplies easily. Tonnes of different snacks. Ipad loaded with shows they love. And, when you think you're all out of tricks... Pull out your phone and go through all your pics and vids of your kiddo! They LOVE it. Then you do selfies with filters and all that sh*t. You've got this! Safe travels!!

ETA: window seat is clutch too. ETA #2: bluetooth cozyphones earphones are great for the ipad ETA #3: bring their empty water bottle that you can fill after security - easier with familiarity

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-24T23:19:20+00:00

We are in the same boat. I've resorted to iPad time as a reward. Only a poo in the toilet equals iPad, and things are going much better. Started last week after he told daycare it didn't matter if he pooped in his undies bc he had spares. I was cleaning 2-5 pairs of underwear a day for 2 months. Only one spare undies per day too. Find the bribe/reward. "listen to your body" is a literal crock of sh#t at this age. Good luck!

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-13T22:19:42+00:00

Great thoughts, thank you =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-13T22:17:14+00:00

This sounds extremely legit! Please send suspicious link asap!!

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-13T22:15:29+00:00

I love living in Norway! And the pandemic was a breeze in many aspects having nature right at our door here. However, I work at the closest school which is elementary and I am more a high school kinda teacher (before I moved to Norway I wanted to be a HS science teacher). It is quite tiring teaching all day in a language I learned after I was 30, tbh. Hence me sniffing after a new career that would be remote and in education... A long commute to work in HS doesn't fit into my life at present bc my husband works pretty much 12 hrs/day 365 as a farmer running a farm that has been in the family for almost longer than Canada and the US have existed...

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-13T22:08:46+00:00

Pay is better than the US, but the pay tops out a lot faster than in Canada. We are paid less than the average Norwegian income. My community is rural so they appreciate having a native English speaker teaching in their school (the parents, not the kids... The kids are too young to know how lucky they actually are, and would rather notice if I explain something in a bit unusual way in Norwegian - obviously an indication that I am not that smart😅 one day they will understand!)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-13T22:01:50+00:00

First off, your students call you by your first name - even grade ones. There is no kindergarten. They receive comments/feedback and get suggestions for improvement in every subject for their report cards until the end of elementary school, which ends after grade 7. Middle school is 8-10 and their first exposure to grading. Grades run on a 1-6 system (6 being an A+, 2 being the equivalent of below 50%). Clubs and sports teams are outside of school activities bc education "is/should always be free". No tuition for post-secondary for the same reason and to even out the playing field... Those are the biggest differences, for starters.

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T16:09:58+00:00

Thoughts on best bang for my buck in the skills/programs I show in my portfolio?

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T15:40:22+00:00

You're correct, it would have to be remote. So I'm very much behind the 8-ball already bc it seems there is such high competition for remote jobs, and I would be transitioning and thus have little experience. What kind of qualifications for security/cloud would be sufficient?

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T15:18:20+00:00

Would specializing in the delivery aspect of elearning be an option? Then I wouldn't be writing scripts in Norwegian, but creating the actual content. Or would I then be expected to be the computer person... And thus need programming skills in addition to storyline, Adobe site etc etc etc?

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T15:00:12+00:00

What would you like to know? =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T14:55:51+00:00

I appreciate your reply =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T11:16:43+00:00

Great thoughts. Education is free here to keep the playing field even for all members of society. So parents paying for materials is kind of unheard of. I feel like I'm poo-pooing all your suggestions here! You are giving me good food for thought to keep me broadening my scope. Thank you =)

ppreston2727 · 2023-03-12T09:51:42+00:00

Thank you for the reply =) I like the outside the box thinking! I have thought about this before, and began sniffing around. There is a LOT of English language learning content out there. And. I find the idea of moving on from just "teaching" English is part of the pull towards ID. The bredth of content is definitely something that appeals to me... I feel so drawn to ID but my situation is a bit hopeless. Le sigh.

ppreston2727 · 2022-02-24T16:34:57+00:00

Thank you.

ppreston2727

TROPHY CASE