Ye Olde Pub (The English Pub)

[jjkoggan]

Our English teacher actually recommends to move to America and live there for a few months because the Americans obviously have much more freedom than us Norwegians

 

Freedom to or from what? A brief stint would definitely improve both language skills and cultural awareness. As I see it, neither norway or the USA see any significant emigration, so it must not be too bad in either place. Each has its own positives and negatives. I tried for several years to work in norway but immigration rules were just too difficult to overcome.

[The Doctor]

My English skills are pretty good, and she said that she felt more free when living in the States compared to Norway, nothing more then that actually.

 

I'm definitely going over to the States sometime, but not living there the rest of my life. Maybe go visit a friend I've got in Seattle or my dad who lives in Montreal, Canada and just drive over the borders and visit New York or something.

[2ball_]

Than/then mistake? Silly man!

 

Hmm..

 

Please don't use norwegians words in the middle of an english sentence, it just looks incredibly odd.

*Snip*

 

 

Endret 12. november 2010 av 2ball(s)

[The Doctor]

That's definitely a silly mistake!

 

"norwegians words".

[Slimda]

 

I've never said I'm perfect, and I happily accept any corrections you have on my spelling. I have to say that I quite often fail at using a capital letter at things like Norway, British and such words. Though the "s" on the end there beats me.

 

But hey, at least it's not a then/than-mistake!

[Bear^]

Just one english book? Sorry, but what's wrong with you?

 

Every single book I have (with the exception of a yuletide present) is written in english. Harry Potter, Wheel of Time, Otherland, Belgariad, Star Wars, Warcraft, Drizzt, Hellsing, and many many more.

I've put so many hours into reading that if I spent it on homework instead, I'd be in the newspapers with A's all over my sheets.

 

Wait, hold yer' horse here, Belgariad? You haven't read Malleron then by any chance? I hope you have, if not, you ought to.

 

As for English novels, I read only those. Eddings, Tolkien, Lewis, Deaver, King, Rowling. I love them all. I've read The shining, IT, The Dark tower series (7 books), Four past Midnight and more. Can't remember all of them at the moment. Deaver has great crime series with Lincoln Rhyme, a former investigator tied to the bed but still doing his duties. The film "The bone collector" with Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington is based on his book by the same name. Very good series.

 

I've read a lot. My book shelves are starting to give in at some places under the weight of the books. And I have way too many films as well, need another shelf soon, nearly filled up one already (with around 300 films or so). Nothing like relaxing with a good film or a good book after 8 hours of work.

[Slimda]

Yes, I've read Malloreon too, I just didn't bother mentioning it as it's technically the same series.

[Bear^]

Technicalities sure, but still, 5 books of pure joy, worth mentioning in the same sentence as Belgariad

 

I wonder if they ever will come around to make an adaptation of his book to the silver screen? With a good director I'm sure it could've been the best fantasy made, ever.

[Slimda]

Well, if you're intent on mentioning those, might as well mention the Belgarath and Polgara-book.

 

I doubt a movie will be made anytime soon. But, for a fan of fantasy, Terry Pratchett's books are being movielized! Colour of Magic, Hogfather and Going Postal have already been made.

 

*edit*

 

only sad thing is that rincewind the wizard is -old-.

Endret 12. november 2010 av Slimda

[thrice]

I was a bit dissapointed with how Rincewind was portrayed too. I liked Going Postal, but Colour of Magic and Hogfather was Hallmark-movies in budget and production. Needless to say, I was a bit dissapointed.

[Slimda]

Aye, they were of a lower quality, but they portrayed the movies in a proper style. But I did notice the absolute horrible cutting between scenes. Music would stop abruptly and similar "mistakes".

[Bear^]

Well, if you're intent on mentioning those, might as well mention the Belgarath and Polgara-book.

 

I doubt a movie will be made anytime soon. But, for a fan of fantasy, Terry Pratchett's books are being movielized! Colour of Magic, Hogfather and Going Postal have already been made.

 

*edit*

 

only sad thing is that rincewind the wizard is -old-.

 

Well, the Polgara and Belgarath book is back stories and not actual sequels to any of the existing stories. In fact, it's mentioned that both the book of Belgarath and Polgara has contradictions up to what happens in Belgariad and Malloeron, though they might be excused of "old age" even though Belgarath would frown on that, he's not that old

 

I'm afraid that it will be long before we see any adaptation of Terry's books. I see they're hung up on the financial part and that can take ages, and many a potentially good film have stopped at the financial aspect. Sam Raimi has yet to start developing his adaptation of The wee free man, and that's the only "feature" film Terry has a credit for through the Guild ranking system. Other than that there is nothing at all. And my guess is that it will take even longer to get anywhere close to filming any of these books. If you fail at financially selling your concept at one place, you're in deep shit managing to sell it other places. Cameron had huge problems getting the financial aspect of Avatar up and running, and only after years of negotiation and even suspending his own pay for the film until it had broken even he managed to get the film made. Making a film in Hollywood is 99% selling, 1% actual filming.

[Slimda]

Well, Terry's books are already being made into two-episode series, with a total duration of 3 hours. I don't mind those versions, as they're usually far more true to the source material, than what a Hollywood movie would be.

[jjkoggan]

My English skills are pretty good, and she said that she felt more free when living in the States compared to Norway, nothing more then that actually.

 

I'm definitely going over to the States sometime, but not living there the rest of my life. Maybe go visit a friend I've got in Seattle or my dad who lives in Montreal, Canada and just drive over the borders and visit New York or something.

 

 

These are things often said before one moves somewhere and over time becomes enamored with the place, gets married and never comes back. I work with many foreigners who transfer to the USA thinking they will only stay for a few years only later to become citizens after their kids and themselves develop social and professional contacts. Only about 10 percent of foreign expats actually go back home, at least at my place of employment.

 

Part of the allure is a level of multicultural appreciation and pride that exists in corporate america that makes them feel at home. You will never find an article in an american paper calling a naturalized citizen a "turk with an american passport" as is often done in europe, they are simply turkish-americans once they achieve citizenship

 

This stupid custom and attitude in much of europe is destructive. Do you think Obama could have been elected president if he were seen as "kenyan" and not american?

 

Anyways, just a pet peeve of mine. On the other topic, I agree that your english is quite good. It would be difficult to detect foreigness from your writings. Montreal is an excellent city to visit but it probably has the most european feel of all cities in north america. If I were you it might be fun to visit cities that celebrate their norwegian heritage like Stoughton, Wisconsin or Decorah, Iowa. There you would see americans carrying american and norwegian flags at the same time on 17de mai (sound familiar?) You would likely find it comical too.

Endret 12. november 2010 av jjkoggan

[henbruas]

It's been quite a while since I spent some time in here. The discussion revolvs around grammar, literature and other serious topics as always, I see. Never much casual smalltalk around here.

 

jjkoggan: I don't want to be troublesome or anything, but just a quick heads up: We wouldn't actually write "17de mai" in Norwegian. Ordinal numbers are written that way in English, but in Norwegian you would write either "17. mai" or "syttende mai".

[jjkoggan]

It's been quite a while since I spent some time in here. The discussion revolvs around grammar, literature and other serious topics as always, I see. Never much casual smalltalk around here.

 

jjkoggan: I don't want to be troublesome or anything, but just a quick heads up: We wouldn't actually write "17de mai" in Norwegian. Ordinal numbers are written that way in English, but in Norwegian you would write either "17. mai" or "syttende mai".

 

It is quite common to call syttende mai celebrations in norwegian american celebrations 17de mai along with many other butchered versions. A bit uncommon in norwegian but not unheard of. It was actually the name of a newspaper titled "17de Mai"

 

Oh how I miss the norwegian zeal for correctness!

[The Doctor]

Nice reading, jjkoggan.

 

The reason Montreal is my main goal at first is that my father lives there and then I'll move on to visit some of the "Norwegian" states. I find those states quiet interesting, sich as Minnesota, Wisconsin and so on.

I would probably laugh a bit if I saw someone waving around with a Norwegian flag :!:

 

But then again; there are so much opportunities in the US and visiting the big cities like NY City, Las Vegas and LA would be kind of a dream. And as said earlier in this thread I have a buddy in Seattle and from what Wikipedia can tell me there are 400.000 Norwegian Americans there.

[Getingar]

"Utvandrarna" is a good movie/book about the scandinavian emigration to usa

[jjkoggan]

Nice reading, jjkoggan.

 

The reason Montreal is my main goal at first is that my father lives there and then I'll move on to visit some of the "Norwegian" states. I find those states quiet interesting, sich as Minnesota, Wisconsin and so on.

I would probably laugh a bit if I saw someone waving around with a Norwegian flag :!:

 

But then again; there are so much opportunities in the US and visiting the big cities like NY City, Las Vegas and LA would be kind of a dream. And as said earlier in this thread I have a buddy in Seattle and from what Wikipedia can tell me there are 400.000 Norwegian Americans there.

 

What I thought would be comical would not be norwegian flag waving but rather the games and activities at these syttende mai celebrations. There is little understanding of modern norwegian culture and language at these things and this ignorance can be quite comical. I remember Fleksnes once making fun of norwegian americans attempting to speak flawed norwegian. I have been laughed at more than once for my flawed attempts with spoken and written norwegian.

 

The flag waving I bring up to illustrate a different attitude towards immigration between our great lands. Legal immigration and multiculturalism is celebrated in the USA, and unlike syttende mai celebrations in norway, waving foreign flags on independence day is not controversial but often adored, especially in areas where there are high concentrations of particular groups of immigrants. Cinco de mayo, mexican independence day is celebrated in every large city in america because mexican immigrants are everywhere, polish, indian and irish festivals are held in many others and norwegian festivals are held in the midwest and places like Seattle. Immigration symbolizes america for the majority of americans. It is who we are, after all except for native americans.

 

Illegal immigration, on the other hand is a different and controversial issue.

[jjkoggan]

"Utvandrarna" is a good movie/book about the scandinavian emigration to usa

 

 

I have seen it and agree. You should take a trip to the midwest and see the fruits of their labor. Even today more norwegians emigrate to the USA than the reverse, though the numbers are very low. I belong to the Scandinavian Society of Cincinnati and we celebrate scandinavian culture and language. There are many recent immigrants in the society who left for employment reasons and never moved back to scandinavia. On the other hand there were many who for various reasons did not do well here and went back home. Those who did were tough, self reliant and creative and expected no help from government. This is a big reason why our politics are different from yours, an expectation that each individual bears primary responsibility for themselves and that government is not the best way to solve social problems. This is what norwegian immigrants thought at the time and their descendants are not too different today.