American Optimism
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| My pitiful attempt at a cartoon depicting Americans and Norwegians (generally speaking) |
Oh American optimism! I love it. I miss it. Where else in the world can you experience people with wide, glaring smiles, politeness, friendliness, names describing positive attributes (Hope, Faith, Patience) and the excitement of decorating for any holiday early? USA, that's where!
A vast underlining aspect that Americans don't necessarily think about, yet live their lives by, is the never ending endeavor of the puritan work ethic - the mindset carried by nearly all Americans that hard work paves the way to the American dream, and not to mention, social problems creating speed bumps on the way to that difficult to attain dream.
For whatever merit my own observations are worth, Americans (generally speaking) are pretty thrilled when we finally reach what we consider the American dream - a house, or well, a mortgage, a car, 2.5 children and a dog (or a cat, because you know, cats are fantastic creatures). Not to mention, the hope and optimism to improve and make whatever in life that makes our little hearts happy, even better!
Norwegians are still thrilled of course, but this is what is more or less expected of them. It's average. If you're married with your 2.5 children, chances are you have a mortgage and a car and that's okay by you because nearly everyone else has the same. This is what the Norwegians coin as an 'A4-liv' (A4 life). A4 is the standard paper size which is a rectangle, so basically what English speakers would call 'square.' It's an attainable dream for most. However, for me personally, I've found this A4 life pretty darn comfortable. I never expected to have an A4 life.
So here I am, living the American dream in Norway as a suburban mom!
A vast underlining aspect that Americans don't necessarily think about, yet live their lives by, is the never ending endeavor of the puritan work ethic - the mindset carried by nearly all Americans that hard work paves the way to the American dream, and not to mention, social problems creating speed bumps on the way to that difficult to attain dream.
For whatever merit my own observations are worth, Americans (generally speaking) are pretty thrilled when we finally reach what we consider the American dream - a house, or well, a mortgage, a car, 2.5 children and a dog (or a cat, because you know, cats are fantastic creatures). Not to mention, the hope and optimism to improve and make whatever in life that makes our little hearts happy, even better!
Norwegians are still thrilled of course, but this is what is more or less expected of them. It's average. If you're married with your 2.5 children, chances are you have a mortgage and a car and that's okay by you because nearly everyone else has the same. This is what the Norwegians coin as an 'A4-liv' (A4 life). A4 is the standard paper size which is a rectangle, so basically what English speakers would call 'square.' It's an attainable dream for most. However, for me personally, I've found this A4 life pretty darn comfortable. I never expected to have an A4 life.
So here I am, living the American dream in Norway as a suburban mom!
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