Very interesting read Dillon about a world I don't know that much about. I am a Norwegian who is married to an American and who has worked with many Americans here in Norway.

What is interesting about reading this piece is despite the fact that Norway and Israel are kind of at opposite ends culturally, there are many experiences you elaborate on here which are similar.

Although I want to point out that Americans are generally well liked in Norway. But you have similar challenges with it taking long time for many Americans to learn the local language properly if ever. Like Israel everybody speaks English in Norway so one isn't exactly pushed to learn Norwegian.

But boy can I related to what you said about rules. Norwegian rules work quite opposite of the US. It is all about avoiding communication here. So don't say "excuse me" if you an avoid it. Like if you can get past somebody without asking them to move, then do that. Here in Norway it can get so silly that we walk through another aisle just to avoid having to say "excuse me" to someone block the line.

When I came to the US I found the constant "excuse me" really confusing. I would keep trying to move even though I wasn't blocking anybody. I came to realize that Americans say "excuse me" almost as an announcement: "I am going to be going past you now, just so you know it."

Yelling is obviously very different here. Norwegians have an aversion to yelling. So much that German soliders invading Norway was specifically instructed not to yell to Norwegians. It is in the manual every solider got about Norway.

Not that I have really seen Americans yelling in Norway. But it could be at an airport like in say France where somebody gets agitated and loud. There is a high chance that person is American.

Fortunately I don't have the experience that Americans complain a lot in Norway. They seem to integrate well. But Norway may be closer to what Americans are used to than Israel.

If anything perhaps we could be nicer about not holding every American accountable for electing George W. Bush or Donald Trump.

This is probably a challenge for many Americans in Norway, that politics is a popular and common subject. It is not taboo like it seems in the US. I can tell Americans often get uncomfortable about this.

I am not sure how that works in Israel? Would people speak politics in lunch or is that taboo in Israel given how serious politics can get there with all the conflicts?