Exhibitionists and Voyeuers

The winter weather might be similar but aspects of life in Norway are very different to ours in Austria. Sitting just south of the capital Oslo, and looking out of the window at people taking their afternoon stroll despite the minus 15⁰C,  wrapped in hats, scarves and bulky coats, one could be forgiven for saying things are much the same in both in both places.

But as the sun goes down at 3 pm, and lights in the houses come on, one difference becomes clear: Norwegians don't have much use for curtains.  In Embach, as the sun sets, curtains are drawn making living rooms and kitchens snug and cosy.  Norwegians, however, brightly light their rooms for all outside to see.

From where I sit on the second floor, I can see directly into the kitchens and living rooms of a number of homes. People are preparing the evening meal, watching tv, working on their computers, reading the newspaper, and enjoying coffee and cake. As the evening wears on, more rooms are lit and more details of private life at home in Norway become apparent.

The temptation into voyeurism is hard to resist: your neighbours' lives laid bare. But no- one seems to notice or be bothered.

Are the Norwegians.exhibtionists? Not really, but in a land where winter daylight hours are short, during the long dark evenings, people are keen to see as much light as possible. Keeping the curtains open (if there are any) means it is possible to glance outside and see that the world hasn't gone away.

Back in Embach, one other difference is evident at this time of year: Austrians get up early and are heading for the ski lifts in bright daylight at 8am. In Oslo, no one seems to want to lower their feet to the bedroom floor until the sun has shown itself after 9. So it's hardly surprising that Embachers are snuggling under the covers by 10 pm while Norwegian lights are burning brightly till midnight.