Norwegian authorities have been very clear to explain that the biggest issue about Corona virus is not the mortality rates. It’s how fast it spreads. Any hospital can collapse if too many sick people need treatment at the same time. It means shortage of doctors, nurses and equipment. It also means other treatments and surgeries being cancelled. That’s why quarantine is so important. Trough physical isolation, the virus is less likely to spread and instead of many sick people at the same time, we can have fewer sick people each time.
Our society has organized itself in a way that most citizens are now working from home. Supermarkets have been cleaning the carts, ATM’s keyboard and have antibac and gloves available to customers. Even tv shows are now aired without audience in the studio. Tv reporters and journalists are being good role models for the population.
In Norway, most people live in houses, not apartments. So, there’s not much elevator button or corridor handle bar touching. We don’t have housekeeping. Families live pretty much on their own. They clean, wash, cook, paint, fix everything themselves. So, if you can do home office, your children stay at home and you commit yourselves to only go out to buy food, I believe it may work and we can lower the number of sick people being treated at the hospitals at the same time.
Norway is known as the land of dugnad. Dugnad means voluntary work. Solidarity is very strong in Norway. We’re used to join forces to clean the public playground on the block, the sidewalk, support the local soccer team, corps, etc. Children are encouraged to have solidarity and empathy. I got a note on my car windshield once. It was from a group of students that were asking for donations of second hand sports equipment for their classmates who couldn’t afford buying them. Every year, NRK Super produces a videoclip of a pop song called “Blime danse“. Each year with a different choreography. Its message is to include everybody. It’s very popular among children of all ages.
Norwegians are not easily seen as extrovert people, like Italians. However, after watching those touching videos of Italians singing, dancing from their windows and balconies, around 7000 Norwegians were willing to clap for our health professionals, in a way to say Thank You.
What I’ve seen mostly on social media is people doing their best to cope with isolation, keeping positive thoughts. On Wednesday, we had Zumba class by the amazing Yaneluz live, on Facebook. Check my interview with Yaneluz here https://makingnorwaymyhome.com/interview-with-a-successful-immigrant-in-norway-yaneluz-jimenez-what-do-you-do-to-make-norway-your-home/ Many artists are performing online, like the popstar Maria Mena who sang from her balcony to her lucky neighbors.
What I want to say is:
- Most Norwegians are willing to put life and health first and follow the government’s instructions.
- We live already not so clumped on each other.
- We love to go for a walk in the woods, parks, beaches (in the Winter, beaches are not really crowded). There’s plenty of fresh air and space for us. That means we have a place to breathe and release anxiety. https://makingnorwaymyhome.com/?s=Let%27s+take+a+walk
Maybe a lesson Norwegians can learn from this pandemic experience is:
- Do better hand hygiene.
- Lesson to those who came back from Italy and didn’t care, and those who drove to the cabin and had to be almost dragged back: it’s not a moment to put yourself first.
Norwegian people are doing all right.