The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
Diana Nabiruma and Harriet Anena
1 October 2008
opinion
Oslo — Thank God for globalisation. Because of it, the first few minutes at Oslo Airport leave one feeling like they are still in Kampala.
At least going by the availability of a Coca cola and the airport building's interior that looks just like the inside of Serena Conference Centre. A Ugandan will feel right at home. But, that is about all there is to the globalisation.
Norway is an amazingly beautiful country. You find trees at the airport! Being one of the richest nations in the world, you would expect to be greeted by cold chrome skyscrapers from all corners but this is not the case.
The sight of the mountains takes your breath away. The Alps lie in an orderly manner with some sitting in a humble slope and others standing up in an erect and orderly arrangement. The beauty of the mountains is coloured with the bed of the blue North Sea.
But if you don't know the definition of coldness; visit this country. It is real here, like is common about the rest of Scandinavia. Never mind that it is autumn now; the weather here has agreed with God that those who like their clothes skimpy must cover up.
And again if you are a Ugandan who only visits your bed after sunset, Norway will have you staying awake forever.
At this time of year, it can be 9p.m. but the sun stays busy terrorizing you with her rays. It only gets dark at 11p.m!
We travelled to Norway with other Ugandans on an exchange programme recently.
The team was knocked out by Norway's magical beauty and imposing nature. Take Lofoten Islands; the temptation is to think that God was totally unfair to Uganda. The islands are awesome. If you are a Christian, then you have reason to believe your God is the finest designer. A real artist no one compares to.
At Volda City in the western part of Norway, when the sun begins to set, its radiance falls on the humble North Sea to create a tranquil romantic sight that leaves you admiring nature. Then the white glaciers on the mountain tops with a
mixture of the sun rays create an addictive urge to keep looking.
Norwegians are keen on environment protection and gender equality. The rocky landscape looks unwelcoming to the growth of any vegetation, but the Norwegians beat all odds.
The mountains are all covered with green pine trees planted purposely for the betterment of the environment. Norwegians don't know the meaning of the word litter. In fact, they seem allergic to it.
Of course in terms of technology, we are eons apart. That is where globalisation ends. Escalators are everywhere! In
Kampala, apart from the Garden City escalator and the ones recently installed at Capital Shoppers, such technology is unknown. The result of this is that one never gets used to these things and they get terror struck to get onto one. If you intend to visit Norway, get on that machine and start rehearsals. You have to use the escalators here.
Railway transportation is another area where you will come across technology that baffles an African mind. Purchasing the ticket alone from the vending machine can be quite a circus.
But then, you get onto the train without anyone asking for the ticket and I thought many a Kampalan would use this chance to board without a ticket. After all, there is no conductor ready to get into a fist fight with you over no fare.
But do not be fooled; to get out of the station, you need to open the exit with your ticket. Without it, you cannot go anywhere and will have to go back to the beginning and get the ticket. Not even a street smart Kampalan can beat this system.
But, the Ugandan students would sure love the transportation network here. A student's identity card is the only fare needed. No need to jostle with touts for discounts.
And the mighty Mercedes Benz here is a taxi - special hire. Can you imagine that? It performs the function of those usually dirty tins here that are painted with blue stripes. Just imagine your valuable Benz being lowered to such a level. Well, it is not exactly lowering here, because a taxi ride in Oslo is no pocket change affair. Just as well that the ride comes in a cool form of a Benz.
When it comes to the people, you will be rather surprised to find that Norwegians whose GDP per capita is US$ 41,420 are so modest.
Their simplicity is manifested through their houses; they are miniscule and cute. If you are from Kampala and you see a Norwegian house, you would wonder where all the reported riches are hidden. This is because no self-respecting Ugandan tycoon can put up such small structures for a home. When one is rich, it has to be manifested
in the size of one's house (even when the family is small) and people are not satisfied with owning just enough land, they want to have a whole village to themselves properly fenced off and electrified. But while the not so rich Ugandans obscenely show off, the rich Norwegians prefer to keep it simple.
But this is the funny thing; there is no place like home, even when that home is Uganda.
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