an apartment in nairobi
We’ve finally signed the lease to our new apartment! We’re living in the Kilimani area of Nairobi–basically where all the NGOs are based. The apartment is furnished and as such a bit overpriced, but what clinched it for us was the large lawn in the back–the only complex we saw that had a green space at all, unfortunately. And in … Read More
now for nairobi
7 pieces of luggage, 1 stroller, 1 car seat and 5 carry-on pieces later — and we’re in Nairobi. we’re here until the end of 2014 for G’s work, while also taking advantage of parental leave (which in Norway is a shared m/paternal leave of 49 weeks at 100% pay or 59 weeks at 80% pay). we’re camped at a serviced … Read More
Norwegian queue culture
I think this ad, by the public transportation authority of Oslo (ruter), is hilarious–and passive-aggressive. It says: “THANKS for showing a queueing culture…”. And yet if you’ve ever been on a bus or train in Norway you would know that Norwegians don’t queue, they mob (while jabbing with their elbows, or at least that’s how it feels to me). Same … Read More
the oslo cronut
oh, did I fail to mention that I’ve tasted the cronut here in Oslo? Quite tasty, and didn’t cost me $100 on the black market. (Surprisingly, at 29 kroner it’s about the same price as in New York–and not any more expensive than other pastries here.) You can get them at Maschmanns, an ultra fancy (read: awesome) food market in … Read More
korketrekkeren: the best tobogganing you’ll ever do
Winter is generally a crappy time to visit Oslo: it’s cold, it’s dark, and it ain’t pretty. But upon my family’s visit this February, I decided to take my brother out to try Korketrekkeren (“the corkscrew”), a toboggan run I’d often heard about. So one afternoon we took the subway all the way to the end (about a 45-minute ride), … Read More
meet the somalis
Over the past year, my colleague Cindy Horst has been researching how inclusion and exclusion processes have affected the Somali community in Oslo. As part of a larger “Somalis in European Cities” project, it has just released a wonderful set of illustrated stories depicting life in seven different cities around Europe (click image above to access). Somalis are one of … Read More
conflict diamonds video
I don’t usually write about work, but there has been a small project that’s been fun lately: I’ve been putting together videos for three projects as a test pilot in profiling different kinds of research. Here’s the first one, which is the simplest: a slideshow based on some great photos by my colleague Jason for his work on conflict diamonds: … Read More
the ultimate in food laziness
saw this in the freezer section of our local (Kiwi) grocery store yesterday: since when did toast become so difficult and time-consuming that we would need a ready-made frozen version of it? only in Norway. (or at least I hope so.)
focacceria (villa paradiso)
One of our favourite places to eat in Oslo is Focacceria, a small takeout joint run by Villa Paradiso (which is the best pizzeria in town, hands down). The focaccia is amazing; this is my favourite, with eggplant, buffalo mozzarella, basil and tomato: Focacceria is just up the side street from Villa Paradiso, and ever since discovering it we’ve basically … Read More
crêperie de mari
I was never tempted to go in when you were just a little crêperie on torggata. But now that you’re a full-fledged restaurant attached to a yuppie swedish store in Grünerløkka, you’re irresistible. nice crêpes, too. (I think this was the “italiano,” with pesto, olives and pine nuts.) Crêperie de Mari (facebook page) Thorvald Meyersgate 63-67 0552 Oslo