Tasty Salmon and Friendly Africans

I've been in Oslo, Norway for the past few days meeting a potential client. I have to say that I do like the city. It's small, about 500,000 people, but it's definitely got charm and it seems like people live a relaxed happy lifestyle. Compared to the crowds and pace of Singapore, it's a very relaxing town.

I've been really enjoying the food, as I always do where ever I go. I think lunch today was the first meal I've had since I've been here that I didn't eat salmon. It's like they can't give it away fast enough. And it's delicious. Good cured salmon is available in Singapore, but as you'd expect, it comes at a price. It's been a nice treat.

There was one experience I had here that I didn't expect though. It just reinforced with me how absolutely clueless I usually am.

After a wonderful dinner with our client, my three colleagues and I were walking back to our hotel at around 10:30 last night. As we made our way down the quiet cobblestone streets we started passing by a surprising number of black women who seemed to be just standing around in the cold night air. By their accent that I heard when they were chitchatting with each other, I figured they were from Africa. I was actually thinking to myself, "Wow, there must be a tour here from somewhere in Africa. I wonder if they came on the cruise ship at the dock down the road?"

I was swiftly pulled away from this thought when one of these nice young ladies looked at me and said, "I want to **** your ****!"

"Um...no thanks."

Although she seemed very friendly, I don't think she had made this offer out of the goodness of her heart.

If I had been walking down a dark street in Boston or NY and seen women standing on the street corner at 11pm, I would have just assumed they were working. I don't know why it didn't dawn on me here. I guess it was because they were so bundled up for the cold of Norway. Regardless, I need to get my head out of my butt.