Saturday, February 2, 2008
Job Security
As long as the U.S. dollar is weak and the Norwegian kron is strong (and the price of Norwegian goods stays sky-high), Kevin will always have a job at his company. Since moving back to the U.S., he has traveled back to the Gjovik office 3 times, and each time he has brought an extra suitcase full of merchandise from the U.S. to his boss and coworkers. He has delivered a whole suitcase full of Ralph Lauren sweaters to the CEO, a motorcycle helmet to the VP of Operations, and on this trip, a bicycle frame to the VP of Sales & Marketing. It's good to know that because of his special niche at the company, Kevin has a lot of job security. (And even if I'm wrong and someday he finds himself job hunting again, at least he can add "International Smuggler" to his list of experience on his C.V. now!)
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13 comments:
I'm surprised the custom officer in Norway has not said anything about Kevin bringing a bunch of stuff over there. I can understand the sweaters, but bicycle frame and motorcycle helmet? Did he get to wear the sweaters before he brought them to the CEO?
Ha ha, nope, he didn't wear the sweaters as they were gifts for the CEO's wife and daughters!
Going through Customs in Norway is much easier than in the U.S.--no form to fill out, and you only go over to the Customs counter if you want to declare something, they don't come to you.
After reading this blog entry, Kevin reminded me that he isn't just delivering a bicycle frame this trip, he also has a GPS, 2 watches and a bunch of doll clothes from the American Girl company...it's kind of ridiculous, but as I said, I guess it is a weird kind of job security! Emily
hahaha - so does Kevin go shopping himself for doll clothes and the like?
Victoria, no, thankfully Kevin doesn't have to spend his time picking out sporting goods and doll clothes. The Norwegians order things from the internet and have them sent to our house...I get so excited when the UPS guy comes to the door, but it's always something for somebody else, damn it! Emily
Yo Emily! The cat is so out of the bag now! I had no idea Kevin was my underground highway to cheap American goods. Gjøvik isn't too far for me to drive, you know! I'll wait, though, until you make the trip with him, then I can visit you AND pick up my internet orders. :-)
I do this too, but only for myself... Booze, candy, DVD's, toiletries, you name it. I'm heading to Boston in May, if any of you who are still here in the Arctic need anything. :)
You might consider this none of which is a joke:
_The NSA computers in the huge NSA facilities trigger on words like "customs" and uphemistically "surreptitious movement of undeclared goods" "travel" "airline" and others
_Notifying the world that you will be alone for a specified long period while your husband travels may not be the wisest activity
_Your name and address can be determined from you internet use by those who know computers and the web
Michele, hopefully I'll be making a trip back over to Norway this spring--I really want to see Lofoten during the midnight sun. I hope I'll get the chance to see you then (and bring over lots of fun, cheap American stuff for you!)
Liz, I live about 4 hours drive (or a very quick plane ride) from Boston--let me know if you want to get together. Boston is my favorite city in the U.S., so I'm always up for a mini vacation there.
Anonymous, do I know you in real life? If not, perhaps my personality doesn't translate well in my blog, but that post was written with tongue firmly in cheek. My husband is not actually an international smuggler, I just thought it was kind of funny that his coworkers always are asking him to bring them various random things, so I turned it into a humorous (to me, anyway) blog entry. I hope no government officials read it and take it the wrong way! As for your other warning, now I'm kind of creeped out! I write as a way to keep in touch with my long distance friends, and it didn't really occur to me that anyone else would bother reading my random natterings, much less take the time or effort to try to figure out my exact location. I guess the world can be a scary place sometimes and I should be more careful in the future about what I write here...in the meantime, my doors are locked, the alarm system is on and I have 2 big dogs who eat burglars for breakfast! Emily
Emily, I'd love to meet up! And we are going to visit NYC as well actually, from approximately May 28 - June 1, if you have any plans to go there? I'll be in the US from May 10 through June 8.
Hi Emily. Hey, Anonymous' comment IS creepy---WTF? Anonymous, please be polite and reveal yourself; it's kind of punky to scribble out "warnings" like that and not sign your name. I'm going on the assumption that you're not a weirdo and are actually trying to "help," but I resent the paranoid implication that a woman on her own is a victim of any kind. Way to keep the sisters down! Anyway, I think you've been watching too much "24."
Even so, Emily, you're all stocked up on shotgun pellets, right? :-)
Funny Michele, I was going to mention Emily's handgun and rifle collection myself!
Liz, I should be around at least for part of your visit (I might actually be in Norway part of the time!) It would be great to see you, and either NYC or Boston would be fun to visit.
Michele & Victoria, I'm going to assume the anonymous comment was made out of concern and helpfulness, otherwise I will just freak myself out! Emily
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