There was something in the news way back about a Scandinavian celebrity who was in New York at a sidewalk caffe and left her baby at the table while she went to pay the bill or kick the Paparazzi or.... The police got involved "child neglect, child abandonment, you can't do this ... "

and she said "but where I'm from you do "

Well yes, it's very different here but I remember thinking "well, yes they do and how nice that there are places that that's true".

Also their educational system and schools are pretty amazing. And all paid for which leads to.....drum roll...a very smart populace.

Who knew that would happen when all kids can go to college if they want to?

When Bikeless was at UC Santa Cruz for a year she brought her son (who bikes also~in fact he was literally bikeless via a bike theft here so he got the full US experience). He graduated HS here. That year didn't count in Norway, not advanced enough. He did improve a grade in English, and got to kayak Santa Cruz, juggle and do theatre.

But it's way too cold, and there'd be fewer softball playing women who bat for the other team (woops, don't say that here ), and I'd have to learn another language, and I couldn't ride as often which is most important