How much are Norwegian Women Worth?

I recently participated in the OECD Climate Change Expert Group (CCXG).   Many OECD publications are spread throughout the building and I picked up the OECD Observer - the magazine.

As I read it later that night (with a glass of wine!) I learned new pieces of information.  For instance, did you know that the first SMS message - ever - was sent in December 1992?   It was interesting to remember the world where the concept of an instant message did not exist.  It is only 20 years ago.

The also had an article about the origins of the World Wide Web.  And I learned that someone starting thinking about it in the 1930s!

But the most fascinating fact I learned came from an article where the Norwegian Minister of Finance wrote about why and how Norway has supported women in the work force (making the country one of the best ones for women to work and live in). He wrote:

"If the level of female participation in Norway were to be reduced to the OECD average, Norway’s net national wealth would, all other factors being equal, fall by a value equivalent to our total petroleum wealth, including the value of assets held in the Government Pension Fund-Global."

And extraordinatory point to make.  And this is the minister of finance speaking.

Here is the rest of the article "Women in Work: The Norwegian Experience".

Insane winter terrace!

We all know that Norwegians are crazy about the sun. Today Oslo was sunny. True. But the city was officially cold: -7 degrees!

The sun made no difference. It was cold!

And yet.

People smiled, there was a summery feeling in the streets.

I even noticed a busy café terrace. Full of sun lovers, sipping their (frozen?!), their faces greeting the sunshine as if -7 degrees did not matter!

I had to stop and stare.

So I took this photo so that I can can confirm that I didn't imagine the sweet yet insane scene.

The sun seemed as surprised as I was.

Ich Liebe Berlin

As I type that I love Berlin, I wonder if I will ever write that I love Oslo.

Perhaps. It is unfair to compare.

(And Oslo is growing on me.  I just need to spend more time here. I am frequently somewhere else!)

Now, back to loving Berlin.

What a city!  So much is going on! And much seem on its way.  Everywhere I went, I notice the signs of change, signs of endless imagination and a certain aloofness that makes me, intrigued.

And then is Berlin's in-expensiveness. Bjørn figured that prices are about a third of what you pay in Oslo. Contrary to Oslo, the bills got me to smile - a full grin - each time.

I had to go to Berlin for work so it was a very short visit. We spent two days walking around in the most miserable weather - colder, wetter, darker than we deserved.   And yet, I was happy to wonder around while thinking hard about the fateful city of Berlin, its historical footprint and the most inspiring re-invention.

Here are some colorful memories of this past Saturday.   The wall you see below is a piece of that wall. . .

 I leave it to your imagination

No legs to bike. . .

Looking forward

Babylon in Berlin

Very few visits get me more energized than a visit to a Museum.  And this Sunday, I had the good fortune to go to the Pergamon Museum - the building on a island in Berlin in 1909-1930.

If I close my eyes and think of the greatest moment of wonder, I think of Babylon´s Ishtar Gate, from the 6th century B.C.  Yes, you are reading it right: 6th century B.C.

It was one of the city gates to Babylon (the region of modern Iraq) and ornamented in blue glazed bricks.  It is a visual delight and I could have been there for hours, just contemplating. (Sadly, we were at bit in a hurry).

The gate was named after Ishtar, the goddess of love and war.

Part of the gate is original, but some bricks were reconstructed.

A miniature helps you visualize the majestic structure...

I have never seen a more beautiful gate.

Norwegian Magical Realism

I have never seen the Northern Lights.

And I really do not want to leave Norway - or this life - without seeing them.

The New York Times run a photo essay by the Norwegian writer, Karl Ove Knausgaard (See my previous entry about his controversial book "My Struggle").

The photos make me want to drop whatever you are doing, get a ticket with Norwegian Air and be there tonight...

But I can´t so here are the photos.  And here is the article:  The Magical Realism of Norwegian Lights.

Who said that Magical Realism only belong in think books?

This is a photograph I took of the New York Times article, I hope I will not get in trouble. I just want to make sure you do see the Photo Essay!

Walking on Water!

This Sunday I walked on water for the first time in my life. 

The blue liquid had frozen and invited us to walk on it.   The experience was unusual nonetheless.  For Norwegians it is normal.  But for me, it was a distinct moment of loud wonder!

Like a child discovering the sea for the first time.

The water, its movement, its sound, had turned into a wide, white, quite floor. An endless platform for pedestrians in search for silence and peace.

Just by standing there I charged my batteries for a month.

Standing on the Frozen Waves!!

The day before I had come back from Thailand, where I had been attending a conference.  As I walked on the frozen water, my body felt confused but lucky: swimming in a warm pool a few hours earier, and now walking on a frozen water a few hours later...

And I confirmed that water is, no doubt, my element.