Culture Shock header image 2
← The Special Holiday Edition Of The Carnival Of Cities I Feel The Love! →

Happy 2008

January 2nd, 2008 · 16 Comments

new-year.jpg
Happy New Years everyone! Last night I had a very interesting New Years Eve. It started off at our office, where we had some friends come to hang out for a little bit before we went down to the harbor (Aker Brygge). Then we all went to the water to watch the most unbelievable display of fireworks that I have ever seen in my life.

I have never seen fireworks like that before. The best fireworks I’ve seen before this have been at Disneyland on special occasions. But these fireworks kicked Disneyland’s butt. They lasted for at least 30 minutes, and there were so many, from every direction in the harbor the whole time. The entire skyline was filled with fireworks. It was so amazing, I really have never seen anything like it. It was truly an experience.

Then the adventure started…while we were at the harbor, the person who had the key to the office was trying to open the bottle of champagne with the key, and the key broke in half. So there were about ten of us stranded (of course, everyone left their keys, wallets etc in the office while we watched the fireworks) unable to get back in.

Thankfully everyone had a good attitude. We called a locksmith and they said it would be an hour before they could get there. So we all decided to go to the city center to a bar so we wouldn’t freeze to death. Then somehow we ended up at - of all places - a bar in Oslo, Norway that was a country western bar with two guys playing live music (they were really good too). We didn’t care that the crowd in this bar had no signs of anyone from our generation there. The fact was that we were freezing and needed to go inside somewhere to wait and this ended up being the place.

Imagine my surprise to be in a bar in Oslo for New Years Eve with a bunch of Norwegians singing out at the top of their lungs to Garth Brooks and Toby Keith songs. Who knew?! So my friends and I joined in, laughing, dancing, clapping our hands and singing at the top of our lungs to, “I’ve got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away…”. I had so much fun and so hilarious.

Eventually we got back in the office and all had fun, laughed and danced until 7:00am. It was great. I made some new friends, saw some unbelievable fireworks, and sang country songs to welcome in 2008. It was a pretty great way to start the New Year.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

So, they say that copying someone is the greatest form of flattery, right? Well, I am copying my friend Renny from RennyBA’s Terella. He says, “Like I say: One of the wonderful things about Blogsphere is to share. Link Love is one of them: where you feel connected - in one big family. So my New Years present to my faithful readers and friends is to list my blogroll. If you want to be enrolled and exchange in 2008, please mention it in your comment”

After seeing this and loving this idea, I told Renny I would be copying his idea (thanks Renny:). Even though my blogroll is not as long as his, I am including my blogroll and people who have regularly visited and commented on my site. I appreciate all of your support! Thank you everyone.

So to spread the love even further, click on at least one (or more) of the links below and leave them a comment telling them that Kristie has sent you, and wish them A Happy New Year!

Tags: Everyday In Oslo · Norway

16 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Zandria // Jan 2, 2008 at 1:17 am

    Crazy stuff about the key breaking in half! I saw fireworks on New Years Eve too, but it doesn’t sound like they were anything like the ones you saw. :)

    Happy 2008, Kristie!

  • 2 Wendy-Escapefromnewyork // Jan 2, 2008 at 3:17 am

    Kristie,
    Happy New Year!
    Sounds like you had a great night. Love those zany unexpected evenings. Thanks for the mention. I enjoy reading your blog and look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2008.

  • 3 Diane J. // Jan 2, 2008 at 3:42 am

    Happy New Year to you as well, Kristie! Thanks for the visit and comment on my blog. ;-)

    Hugs,

    Diane

  • 4 Ogie // Jan 2, 2008 at 3:52 am

    Tak Fyri for adding me to your list of sites.

    Gott Nýggjár and may you get all you wish for in 2008.

  • 5 brykMantra // Jan 2, 2008 at 6:27 am

    Thanks for leaving the comment on my blog, and thanks for this great list of blogs that I can check out! And Happy 2008!

    PS: You’re the only other other blogger besides myself that uses photo clip art (re the dancing Santa on your previous post). I use Hemera; what brand do you use?

  • 6 Thess // Jan 2, 2008 at 9:39 am

    Hi Kristie! Happy New Year to you too! :) and it seemed like you had a good start despite of the broken key ;)

    that’s what I missed, fireworks..a good one. Unfortunately the real fireworks happened in the city but we live outside of it…but all’s ended well

    have a nice day!! (I will add you on my list, if it’s okay with you? )

  • 7 wen // Jan 2, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Wow! What an adventure that one of the key!! Sounds like fun the fireworks and the bar :)

    Thanks a lot for adding me to your list of sites :) I am very happy we are blog buddies :)

    I wanted to wish you a very Happy New Year! May it be be full of happiness for you and your family!

    All the best,

  • 8 Lothiane // Jan 2, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    Happy New Year, Kristie! Thanks for all your comments and visits in 2007, I’ve really enjoyed your company. :) Looking forward to reading your blog in 2008 as well.

    Sounds like you had a wonderful celebration - even though you got locked out. :)

    All the best!
    Lothiane at Oslo Daily Photo

  • 9 Norma // Jan 2, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    Thanks for stopping by. This is a great idea. What a fun filled New Year’s you had! I don’t know why you’re in Norway, but I’ll look back through your archives.

  • 10 Caroline // Jan 2, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    What a fab New Year party you had! Love the blogroll idea, will start just now with leaving messages.

    Happy New Year - may all your dreams come true.

    Klem fra Caroline

  • 11 AL // Jan 2, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    hei kristie,
    Godt nytt år!!!!
    Thanks for visiting my blogger site!!!
    Will come by again :)

  • 12 RennyBA // Jan 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    Your taking Oslo and Norway and the New Year by storm Kristie and no wonder with your spirit and attitude. Sounds like you’ve overcome your culture shock and fit right in. This is exactly how this night should be celebrated in Oslo and you really gotten the most out of it!
    I was in Sweden and shot my own fireworks - post about it later t his week :-)

    I’m happy you adapted the link love idea and it feels great to be listed among your friends. A lot of yours are mine too - a wonderful example of how this blogworld network works!

    Hope 2008 will be a great year for you in Norway and that we’ll have some real winter weather with lots of snow soon. I’m anxious to see you on skis soon you know :-)

  • 13 richard // Jan 4, 2008 at 5:46 am

    Ah, so this is how you found your way to my blog. Hadn’t visited Renny’s yet. Hmmm … I wonder how you managed to pull mine out from his list - I had a hard time finding my blog.

    Thanks for dropping by.

    richard’s last blog post..Happy Birthday!

  • 14 lime // Jan 4, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    country western music in an oslo bar for new years. well that beats all! what a fun time it sounds like! happy new year.

  • 15 Shantanu // Jan 5, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Great post! American country music in Oslo…the world is getting smaller for sure… :-)

    My first time here; came from Renny’s blog. Wish you a Happy New Year!

  • 16 Europe A La Carte Blog » Blog Archive » Carnival of Cities 7 January 2008 // Jan 7, 2008 at 11:35 am

    [...] was the location for New Year celebrations for Kristie Dugan of An American in Oslo. In her post Happy 2008 she relates how her group of friends and co-workers were (thankfully temporarily) left out in the [...]

Leave a Comment