Speak the Unspoken: Exploring the Unwritten Rules of North Norway
Speak The Unspoken is interesting, surprising, and well-written.
As a journalist, therapist, and student of peace and conflict transformation, Gabriela Sirbu’s personal account of establishing a life in Norway will give you a good laugh and expose issues that are easily and awkwardly recognizable for anyone who has been a stranger trying to make their way – somewhere else!
The book gives a scarce view of Norway from a well-educated Romanian and fluent speaker who has been living and working with Norwegians for nearly 20 years. She offers a broad range of observations and well-informed explanations on everyday experiences, as well as more obscure characteristics of living in this beautiful country.
Follow her or not, she doesn’t beat around the bush, providing advice and clear views on living in Norway as a foreigner, which spurs some good reflections and takes the reading experience beyond the mere pleasure of having my Norwegian passport labeled!
Do you like reading in English and you live in Tromsø, Norway?
Then join our English Book Club on this link !
Speak the Unspoken: exploring the unwritten rules of north norway September 9, 2022 | Gabriela Sirbu
All cultures have their written codes, but primarily unwritten ones. It isn’t easy for newcomers, travelers, or immigrants in Norway to see them at first sight.
We need time, perseverance, interest, and willingness to understand them.
Also, a good knowledge of the Norwegian language is necessary.
The book is about the untold things of Norwegian society and culture. If you have an address in Norway, you can order it from this LINK , or from http://www.norli.no (click and send it from the shop in Tromsø). If you live outside Norway, you can find it on Amazon.
Why Northern Norway? Because I have been living in Tromsø, Norway, for 20 years.
All this time spent here helps me describe the subtleties and nuances of Norwegian culture.
Many Norwegians do not know how to clarify details of life and work because they are natural to them.
They were born and grew up with them and never needed to explain them to someone; that’s why it’s hard for them to put words to behaviors and actions that, for them, are implicit.
Just as in your own culture, there are many details that you do not know how to describe in words because they are implied, you were born and raised in them, and therefore you do not even think that they could be incomprehensible to those who come from other countries
Many immigrants come to Norway fascinated by nature and the social system. Behind this social system, the well-being and the lifestyle that can be seen at first glance, many years of tradition, planning, and action cannot be seen and are difficult to understand when they are not explained. This book describes some of the logic behind what you see. It can be helpful to know ahead what to expect.
The pictures are from my book launch in Tromsø, in Oslo at Litteraturhuset, and Stavanger at Sølvberget Library.
In the meantime, I have also been invited to present the book in Norwegian for Filosofiske Samtaler (pictures here). I have also presented it at the Volunteers Conference at Kirkesbymisjon in Tromsø and the Chamber of Commerce in Tromsø. I don’t have pictures, but I have a link to the event here.
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