To make it easier to find information on this page and links to other pages, each article or news item will be listed below as a link to its location on this page. If the link opens a new page it will state so. The new and/or updated information is designated with NEW! 

Sign up for the Events List - What's Going on In and Around Oslo of Interest for English-Speakers NEW!
Reports from the FAWCO World Conference in Seoul, Korea, March 5-9 2008 NEW!
Election 2008 - Information for U.S. Citizens in Norway  
Tax Reminder and General Information from the US Embassy in Norway  
Absentee Voting in Election 2008  
Oslo Children's Museum Project
The Scholarship Recipients for 2007-2008
Members Only Password
New Regulations for Carry-On Baggage
Signs You've Been in Norway for "A While"...
US Mailing Address and Package Forwarding
Travel Tips
34 Million Friends
Skin Care Tips (opens new page)
Make A Difference (And You Can Do It In Your Bathrobe!)
Web Sponsors
Tips from our Certified Life and Relationship Coach!(opens PDF file)
Keep Up With Changing Policies and Practices
Registration in Norway Reminder
Support Our Library
The American Hour Radio Show
Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas

The Events List - Sign up and Find Out What's Going On

The Events List is a weekly, comprehensive list of events going on in and around Oslo that may be of interest to the English-speaking community. If an event is only in Norwegian, it says so. It is truly amazing how much goes on in Oslo every week--one never need fear boredom in this city.

To sign up, please send an email with the word "Request" in the subject line to events.list@yahoo.com. To cancel your subscription to the Events List, send an email with the word "Cancel" in the subject line to the above email. All email addresses on the distribution list are kept confidential. Efforts are made to research websites and verify all the events listed to the best of the list coordinator's ability. You are welcome to forward the Events List to anyone who you think may enjoy receiving it.

Reports from the FAWCO World Conference in Seoul, Korea

Election 2008 - Information for U.S Citizens in Norway

One year from now, on Nov. 4, 2008, U.S. presidential and congressional elections will be held. Leading up to the election, primaries will be held in most states to determine the presidential candidates for the Democratic and Republican Parties. The first five primaries will be held in January, and 20 more will be held in February. It is therefore important that you, as U.S. citizens, start thinking about this important election now. Registration for the first primary – the District of Columbia – closes Dec. 10, 2007.

 All U.S. citizens, 18 years and older, are eligible to vote in U.S. presidential elections, even if you are resident abroad. The voting eligibility and residency requirements for state representatives are determined by each state. Likewise, the rules for voting in the primaries vary from state to state. We therefore urge you to consult the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) via their website: www.fvap.gov to find out more information.

We have added a link on the home page of the U.S. Embassy Website, “Elections and Voting 2008.” The link is on the right side of the home page. If you follow the link, you will find some basic information about voting in the upcoming elections including how to determine which state you should vote in, how to register, and how to apply for an absentee ballot. We hope that you will all exercise your right to vote in the 2008 elections.

From the United States Embassy in Norway November Newsletter

Tax Reminder and General Information from the U.S. Embassy

Just a reminder: all U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents must report worldwide income from all sources to the Internal Revenue Service. You may not have to pay any tax, but you must file a return.

Tax forms are available on the Internet:

www.irs.gov

or by fax:

001/804/228-3929 or 001/804/228-3939

Tax assistance is available by phone from the IRS in the U.S., or from the London office.
The U.S. Helpline is staffed between 12 noon and 5 a.m. Norwegian time:

001/215/516-2000

The London IRS office: 0044/207/894-0477 (phone)

0044/207/495- 4224 (fax)

Tax assistance volunteers will be available at the Embassy in Oslo for limited hours from mid March to June 15, 2008. Call 2130-8651 and leave a message; your call will be returned.

The average exchange rate for 2007 will be posted early next year on the Embassy website at www.usa.no under American Citizen Services.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR U.S. CITIZENS RESIDING IN NORWAY  

• Make sure your passport is up-to-date. All U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to enter the U.S.
• U.S. passports are issued in the U.S. and express-shipped for distribution to overseas applicants. Processing time is about 4 weeks (longer in the summer). If your passport is no longer valid or about to expire, please apply for a new one. Log on to www.usa.no under American Citizen Services.
• Please report any change of address, telephone, fax or e-mail address, as well as any change of name, to us. Please also notify the Embassy if you plan to leave Norway.

EMBASSY CONTACT INFORMATION

e-mail (best option): osloamcit@state.gov
telephone: 2130-8787, staffed from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
regular mail:

U.S. Embassy
American Citizens Services
Henrik Ibsensgate 48
0244 Oslo, Norway

From the United States Embassy in Norway November Newsletter

Absentee Voting in Election 2008

U S citizens living overseas have the right to vote in all U.S. elections. Register this week in order to make the absentee voting and ballot request deadline.

The easiest way to register and request your absentee ballot is through the Overseas Vote Foundation’s online voter registration tool that allows you to complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in just 10 minutes. You can type directly on the FPCA and then print the completed form, sign and mail it to the County Clerk. This tool is non-partisan and your data will not be saved. As you fill it in, make sure you look at the overseas voting rules for your state, which are available on the site. This voter registration tool is available at:

http://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/

Information is also available on the Federal Voter Assistance Program website at:

http://fvap.gov/

You can download and print a registration and ballot request form (FPCA), fill it in and post it to your county clerk’s office. You must also look up the information on your state requirements. To do so click on your voting state at:

http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag.html

If you do not want to download the form, you can get a FPCA from your Voting Assistance Officer at your local US Embassy or Consulate or from your FAWCO voting representative at your local American Woman’s Club.

Oslo Children's Museum Project

Project Olso Children's Museum is committed to planning and creating a on-profit institution that will:

• offer healthy and fun cultural activities year-round for children
• challenge children through diverse experiences and inspire their creativity
• build bridges of understanding between children and families with different backgrounds

More support is needed. To join "Friends of Project Oslo Children's Museum," or learn more about the project, visit www.oslobarnemuseum.org or look for them at the Independence Day celebration in Frogner Park. More information will be coming.

The Scholarship Recipients for 2007-2008

Members Only Password

The Members Only password has been changed for the new AWC club year. To receive the password, your membership dues must be paid for the present AWC club year. Please contact me or our Membership Coordinator if you do not have the present password.

Signs You've Been in Norway For "A While"...

• You have trouble remembering how to stand in line without a ”take a number” machine.
• You catch yourself saying things like ”We didn’t have any decent pålegg in the house when I went to make my matpakke this morning, but it didn’t really matter because I had to go to Ligningskontoret on my lunch break anyway, so I just bought a pølse and a melkesjokolade on the way back to work.”
• When you go back to the States, the first thing you do is untuck the sheets on your bed.
• You have had chocolate chips turn white with age in the cupboard because you just can’t bear to use your very last bag!
• You can whistle the theme to ”Norge Rundt”. (Extra points if you already knew it’s actually a Grieg piece.)
• A stranger tries to strike up a conversation with you in a shop and you wonder what on earth she wants?!?
• You don’t bat an eyelash at the concept of herring for breakfast.
• You own more than six pairs of wool socks.
• You refer to politicians by first names only.
• You consider buying studded tires. For your bicycle.
• You can participate in a discussion about which is better—Pondus or Nemi.
• Before hosting a party, you remember to check that your guests have a place to put their coats and their shoes.
• You finish a bottled drink while walking down the street, and place the empty bottle beside the nearest trash can, so the roving gangs of Bottle Returners can find it more easily.
• You can remember which biathlon distances add time for missed shots and which have penalty laps.
• You regard any bread that can be chewed fewer than 30 times as ”mushy”.

by our Fjord Flyer editor, Cindy K.

U.S. Mailing Address and package/mail forwarding

Many of us expatriates experience the frustrating situation of trying to order something online from a U.S. company and finding out that they'll only deliver to a U.S. address. If you have friends or family there to send items to, it's not such a problem. However, it's nice to bypass the extra step and postage. One of our watchful members read in Aftenposten about an American company that will provide you with an American address for packages, magazines, and mail, and forward them on to you, so it saves on paying toll. If this interests you, read more on their website.

(Thank you to Kristin H. for the tip.)

Travel Tips

Whether you're planning your vacation or just taking a quick trip abroad, check out our economic first aid tips for your trip! Read more...

34 Million Friends

A FAWCO representative haslaunched 34 Million Friends of the United Nations Population Fund in the EU. In 2002, the Bush Administration refused to release $34 million the Congress had voted for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). I thought the reasons given were spurious and started asking 34 million Americans to give at least one dollar. Another woman, Lois Abraham, had the exact same idea. This has become a nationwide grassroots campaign for the women of the world and their reproductive health. www.34millionfriends.org

UNFPA works in 140 countries. It tries to make sure women don't die in childbirth, and that they can plan their families the way most of us do. It works against AIDS, female genital mutilation, and violence against women. It tries to make sure girls have the same rights to food education and health care as boys. One sixty-six countries contributed to UNFPA last year, but not our own. 34 MiIllion Friends has to a small extent, stepped into the breach. We have saved lives, lessened misery and sent a nice message to the world from the American people.

You women who live abroad have some idea of how tough women have it in this world. Would you join 34 Million Friends? Our web site is wonderful. I have traveled to 18 states and spoken at over 40 colleges and universities about this. People from 30 other countries have also contributed. We ask for people to take a stand for the women of the world. One can do this by sending one dollar. One can send more than one dollar too of course.

Americans should give their tax deductible gift through the US Committee for UNFPA. The address would be US Committee, PO Box 681, Toms River NJ 08754-9922, USA. This is a special box for 34 Million Friends. Non-Americans can give through www.UNFPA.org with a click on 34 Million Friends or they too can give through the US Committee.

Make A Difference
(And You Can Do It In Your Bathrobe!)

Want to help feed the hungry, save the rainforest, rescue an animal, or fund free mammograms without leaving your own home? Well now you can at the click of a button! At www.thehungersite.com you can make a difference just by clicking the button on the page. There are also links for The Breast Cancer Site, Child Healthcare Site, Rainforest Site, and Animal Rescue Site. On all these sites just making 1 click helps funding, or if you are looking for gifts or a little something for yourself, there is a link to www.gearthatgives.com. For each item purchased additional funding is given to your chosen cause. This site show which items are available for international shipping, or use this site to purchase those birthday gifts for friends and family in the States. Remember that up to NOK 200 is allowed into Norway tax free and there is a breast cancer pink crystal ribbon pin that fits in this price constraint! Take a look, but at least remember to make a daily click (put the site into your favorites).

Web Sponsors

If you wish to become a sponsor please contact our website coordinator for more information.

Keep Up With Changing Policies and Practices

Did you know that you should register with the Embassy when you reside, temporarily or permanently, in Norway? Or did you know that the Embassy no longer issues passports, but instead accepts passport applications and forwards them to the U.S. for issuance? To keep yourself up to date, check out our Embassy information/link page or go directly to the Embassy's website.

Registration in Norway Reminder

Having given a reminder about registering at the U.S. Embassy, I was subsequently reminded from a member about registering with the Folkeregister. The following is the information from Alice T.:

Once again there is NO mention that ALL residents of Norway, regardless of nationality, must register with the Folkeregister for the kommune in which they live.

The only exceptions are, I belive, diplomatic families, citizens of the other Scandinavian countries who are in Norway without their families, and foreigners who are going to be in Norway for less than six months. These are the people who have a 'D' numbers instead of the ordinary Person number because they are not considered to be resident in Norway! (THAT is why 'D' numbers are temporary! They are NOT temporary identity numbers to be used while waiting for an ordinary Person number to come through from the kommune in which you are first registered.)

Remember - Person numbers are issued by the kommune in which you are born (or in which you have your first registered address if you are a foreigner).

Remember, too, that you must inform the Folkeregister every time you move house, even if it only crossing the corridor of an apartment block!

Support Our Library

Many new members might not know that our Club is a member of the associate program of Amazon. If you use either of the links at the bottom of this page or on the Library page when you purchase a book (or any other item) from Amazon.com/co.uk, you support the AWC Oslo Library--we receive a credit of 5-15% of the selling price of each item you buy which we will then use to purchase new books for our Library. Your purchase counts!  So whether you are purchasing one of our recommended books or just looking for something new, hook up to Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk from our site and support the Library! 

The American Hour Radio Show

"The American Hour" radio show celebrated its eighth birthday September 2007! Listen to the show every Sunday on Spectrum 558am or mw between 5:00 -6:00 p.m. in London and the South East, or in archive format online at www.theamericanhour.com. It’s simple to listen to a show – just click on the "Listen Now" button on our homepage to listen to the latest show or click on "Previous Shows" to listen to past shows.

In addition, we have lots of useful links on the site which visitors can browse whilst listening to the show. (Note: you will need a Real Audio facility to listen to our show, which can be downloaded free from our site.)

USA TODAY provides a weekly US and world sports news and reviews each week - live from their sports desk in Washington. The paper also offers reduced subscription rates and home delivery service to certain destinations in the UK and across Europe. To find out more visit www.usatoday.com or
e-mail europe@usatoday.com.

Federation of 
American Women's Clubs Overseas

AWC Oslo is a member of FAWCO. Find out what's new in FAWCO and the other American Women's Clubs around the world by visiting the FAWCO Web site. 

AWC Sponsors