The Cultural Shock!

Being here for 2 and a half months I have noticed some things that are different and that I would call cultural shock. Coming from Serbia I thought this country is not that different then mine. They are both in Europe, not that far a way and I have traveled little around Europe so I know how the Westerners (that is how Serbs call people from rich countries) think. But now, I have to say I was wrong!
Norway is very different! First cultural shock was going on a beach in HALD. On the way there (20 min walk) I could count on fingers of one hand how much paper garbage I saw on street. In Serbia I would have to use paper,pan and calculator to count all of them! :) My friend Bojan has told me a fanny story of what happened to him while he was in Norway. He was in front of House of Parliament in Oslo along with some Norwegians and he saw a empty cigarette box thrown on the ground. He reached to picked it up, thinking in his head: "Oh these Norwegians think that there country is so clean, but look at this! Garbage in center of Oslo!". And when he picked it up he saw a stamp on it  (every pack of cigarettes has an stamp signing in what county they are sold) written is Serbian Cyrillic alphabet: Republic of Serbia! :)  It was clear that some Serb, living in Oslo and buying cheap cigarettes in Serbia has thrown it on the ground!!!
Second thing what I have noticed was when we arrived on beach. 2 beach volleyball sets a long with nets, lines, net holders completely left there for people ti use! I assume that one set like that cost around 500€. And that is not only think that Norwegians "leave behind"! You can also find unlocked bicycles in dissent condition on almost every corner, balls on football fields, metal BBQ fryers on every beach,... If you would leave something like that in Serbia it will disappear in one minute!  
Third one was just last week. Ivan and I were looking for a store to buy a stamp for a mail to send a card to our friend. We went in this random store that sells newspapers, magazines, candy's, drinks, and etc. While we were coming inside I saw a blond girl, wearing lots of makeup who was working in the store. We approached and I asked her if they sell stamps. When she opened her month the sound coming from her mouth was a man voice! Very deep, ruff and very manly! I couldn't believe with my ears and eyes! It was a transvestite! We went outside and ask one another:"Did you see same think that I saw?". You would NEVER see something like that in Serbia. I mean, I assume that there are transvestites in my country but they are not in public. It was my first "dude in skirt" that I saw in my life!

Forth thing is how Norwegians are closed people but that is a blog for itself! :) Long topic!!! :D


I hope you enjoyed mu list! I will keep updating it! And I know, still no pictures! That is terrible,right?! :)

The Work

Last blog I wrote generally about life here. Now I will write about my work. We are working with LAGET. It is our job to visit high school's and collage's in Tønsberg area. We go to Larvik, Sandefjord, Stokke, Bø and other places also.

It is very exciting to visit groups here. They usually meet on lunch break and spend about half an hour praying, reading Bible and sometimes they have a speaker who is preaching. It is great to see young people meeting in schools and using their potential. Unfortunately, we cannot meet in schools or universitys in Serbia. I have noticed that people are really interested about Serbia and work there so most of time I talk about that. I never thought that all experience with wars, bombings, and spending hours in line for bread and milk will be use full one day . :)

Also, what I have noticed is that a lot of young people in Norway are very insecure. I meet people who have problems discovering what is meaning of life, is God loving them, is there love, etc. Many young people because of that search answers in drugs, alcohol, witchcraft, unmoral sexuality... I never thought that can be issue here. It teaches me that financial stability doesn't bring you peace. I new that in theory of course, but I also see it practically now. In Serbia young people usually have only one problem: Where to get money? But I guess, we all need Jesus and only he can fill are gap of emptiness!

OK, I am done with preaching now :)
Hope you will read it and I expect comments...


P.S. I hope soon I will put some pictures to my blog. It is very funny that we are in Tonsberg for one month and we didn't take a single picture! haha...

The "Utlending"

Hey everybody!
It's been 2 weeks since we come hear and finally I got some time to write my blog. Don't worry, I wont write about every single thing that I did in this 2 weeks :)

I'm writing this from student library at campus. When we talk about cultural shock, I have to mention this. Library is equipped with about 60 great computers, with fast Internet and 21 inch monitors. Its just great! You wouldn't see this in Serbia :)

What we do hear in Tønsberg is visiting LAGET school groups. They usually meet for 30 minutes during lunch break. Sometimes I talk to them or just read Bible and pray. Its been great experience so far.

Also we were in Oslo last weekend on internationall student camp. They called us one week before and asked if we wont to join. We said yes, and then the guy said: OK, then you will be main speakers on camp!  It was shock at first but in the end it was a great experience. We talked about Christianity in Serbia, about why are we Christians and about Evangelising. It was fun doing that. Also, group was great! I meet a lot of great people!

Also, Ivan and I have joined a local football team! We were this Monday on our first practice. I even scored on the game. Only problem is that it was an own goal. I think that  they will kick me out of club if I continue with great performances like that. :)

I forgot to say that we have great boss (contact person) Kjetil, who is taking really good care about us. He took us shopping in Sweden. HARY TOUR !!!   :) It was very good. I think we bouth enough meet until Christmas.

That's it for now. I will try to update my blog more often.

my first blogging

Hey people!

This is my first blog, and I hope it won't be the last. So, I am in Norway for next 9 months and I will try to write most of my thinking here. To be honest with you, I find this very strange. I am doing this right now just to show respect to our teacher, Idunn :) (and to check if she will read this as she promised) :)

Talk to you soon!