I was finally able to catch up on the sleep I wasn't able to get on site this week. In total, I slept 15 hours between Sunday - Thursday. YES, 15 HOURS!!! This is normal as we have to be up by 5:30 am and host evening events which normally end around 10:00 pm. We also work on other events and try to keep up on our emails while we're on-site.
It was all worth it in the end as our client was very happy and the participants enjoyed themselves. And, that's why I do what I do. Really enjoy seeing people enjoy themselves.
The event did have it's downs though. I had to deal with last minute cancellations, a dead car battery (courtesy of valet) and credit card declines. As a result, I increased my knowledge of car batteries/alternators, the power of negotiation/persuasion and how to pay a $3,500 tab with someone else's credit card.
The group we hosted where all from Norway and for some it was their first time in the States. They where amazed how similar our rainy weather was to their Fall weather. And, because it's a steady 20 degrees right now in Oslo (one of the bigger cities) and some places have up to 500 feet of snow.
I learned a lot about the different cities in Norway from a great group of folks and really enjoyed the discussion we had. Here are a few (new to me) facts about Norway:
- There is no standard dialect of the Norwegian language as a whole due to people living in isolated pockets between mountainous areas (cover most of the country).
- The Country of Norway is not part of the European Union. What?!? However, they are closely associated with the Union through it's many memberships.
- Norway has over 20 political parties and no one party can easily gain majority.
- Norway is one of the richest countries in Europe with most of it's wealth resulting from oil and hydroelectricity.
- The sun is only up for 5 hours a day.
- Norway's notoriously inadequate and slow road system force a lot of people to use air travel within the country.
- Delicacy: Svio - traditional dish consisting of a sheep's head cut in half and boiled with the brain removed. Yummy!!
I'm currently working on producing the 2016 and 2017 events so I can't wait to learn more about his fascinating culture.
