This is the blog of a Norwegian (Marianne, aka 'M') who moved to Australia in 2007 to be with Roger (aka R) and feels lucky to have escaped a comparatively communistic country with ridiculous weather!

Following our marriage ceremony yesterday afternoon, R and I went up the Space Needle with R's parents, because they wanted to take us out to dinner. We thought that was very nice of them.

I have a few comments on Usatian dining, however.

First of all, their restaurants are sooo loud! This would be because they all feel the need to shout at each other all the time, rather than speaking normally. It's the same in England, you can hardly hear yourself think in cafes and restaurants, and speaking to the other people at your table is difficult. You have to lean in and speak very loudly for them to hear you, thus contributing to the noise issue. Restaurants in Norway and Australia are nice and quiet, with other people's talking as gentle background noise.

Another thing is that their menu has "apetizers" and "entrées", apetisers actually being the entrée and the entrée actually being the main course. Why?? Do they not know the meaning of the word entrée?? It literally means 'entry' or 'entrance'.

There are apetisers (like chips or bread rolls), then entrée (small, light meal), then main course.