A Date With Helga

Well I was on the couch on Friday night, watching the movie of the week Before Sunrise with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. If you haven't seen the movie, the protagonists meet on a train in Europe, and decide to get off the train (at his destination) in Austria in order to continue their nascent conversation and to test the chemistry developing between them. The catch is that he is to fly back to the States the following morning.

I admit to being the kind of person who makes comments throughout a film, TV program, news report, whatever, and Friday night was no different (even though I am in this house alone). I told the girl not to get off the train. I told her to walk away from that guy (he was so annoying), and I told her not to trust him. I told her so many things, that I realized that if she took my advice, she too would be sitting alone on a couch on a Friday night in a European capital...

So, deciding to do the opposite of what my Super Ego would have me to do, I committed to going out on Saturday.




My 'date' began with a trip to the Nobel Peace Center museum. As you may know, the Nobel Peace Prize is given out here in Oslo (the prize for literature is given out in Stockholm). This is an amazing, state of the art museum built in what used to be a train station. Apart from the permanent collection, there was an exhibit featuring 40 artists from around the world, and their commentary on global warming. Also, there was a fantastic exhibit about the 2006 Peace Prize winner Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank who provide small loans and financial counselling to the poorest (mostly women, of course) of Bangladesh. I'll tell you, I was so taken by this man's work, and so angry about the perpetuation of poverty in the US. Yunus said to Fortune Magazine that they ask for no guarantee, no references, etc. Consider this, Grameen Bank has lent out close to 6 billion dollars, and has a repay rate of almost 99%!

Afterwards, I walked around Aker Brygge, the 'boardwalk' of Oslo. As this was a fairly nice day, there were lots of people out. I had a delicious hot dog!


Then, I took myself for champagne and dessert at the great French bakery Pascal (they actually made my wedding cake...the cake was excellent!). Since the hot dog was so cheap, I figured I'd splurge on the champagne (I do watch $40 a Day)! I sat outside and tried to develop some ideas I have for this dissertation chapter, and otherwise tried not to look too uncomfortable on a first date with myself...


Well, the evening hours rollled around, and I knew I would have to take myself for a drink and dancing. This was the scariest part. But, did I mention that I've been working out? I felt good about putting on makeup, tight jeans, these red shoes from Filene's in Boston, and working this braidout! This is about as big as I can get my hair to go, but I thought I looked good.

I read about an old school hip hop show, so I figured that would be a great place to get lost. I wasn't sure what Norwegians meant by 'old school,' but, I haven't been to a good old school show in Cali unless it is jumping off from my own iTunes library! Anyway, these are the lessons I learned about going out alone:

1. Be selective (read point 2).
2. Men are quicker to approach a woman alone (men are sooo shy!), but be careful (I did NOT make eye contact with anyone on the street (read point 3)
3. Making strategic AND effective eye contact is much easier when one is alone in a bar, restaurant, or nightclub.
3. It is easier to get into the club for free when you are alone (even the kindest, flirtiest doormen have trouble slipping in a group of 4 girls).
4. As soon as a good song comes on, get on the dancefloor and enjoy yourself. Hey, you are already in the club alone, stop worrying about what other people think!
5. Don't accept a ride home from a man revealing his handcuffs and discussing his expertise in martial arts. Scary!
6. Focus completely on your good time

PS. By the time I got home (3am), I realized that I am totally over the club scene...