Well, today was my first visit to the American Embassy in Oslo, Norway. And it was an … um … interesting experience, you could say.

You see, in Oslo, the buildings are beautiful and very nice looking and have a certain style (I don’t know what the style is called, but they are all similar). And the American Embassy is right across the street from the Royal Castle of Norway which is surrounded by a beautiful park. Then as you are walking up the street to the American Embassy, you see this huge ugly grey fence surrounding a huge ugly grey building. And of course, that is the American Embassy.

The building itself really stands out as a hideously ugly sight in beautiful Oslo. It is so embarrassing (to me as an American) that we put something like that in this city.

Then I had to find the entrance to the huge fenced in complex. And was told by a guard (though the gate) to stand in line. There was only one person in front of me but it took about ten minutes. That doesn’t seem long, but I didn’t mention yet that the line is outside. In the very cold rain (and of course I didn’t bring my umbrella…but I didn’t expect to be made to stand in the rain for ten minutes before they let me in).

So finally I got let in to the security check place, where they took my purse, made me take a drink of the soda that I had (to make sure it wasnt poison or something - I don’t know), took a round piece of paper and wiped the top and bottom of my hand and put it into a machine to read and then finally I was sent through the metal detector.

They took my phone, purse, soda and everything I had with me. They let me take my wallet (after they looked through it) and sent me to the building. I have to say I felt a little violated!

Once inside the consular services area, it was not so bad, and I got in line. Waited for ten more minutes where I was told that I did not bring the right paperwork for what I needed and was told to come back tomorrow.

What an ordeal! I just need a document notarized. Well, it was an interesting experience.