[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Accusation.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Pricing-Strategy-pagebreak-top.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ custom_padding=”||”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ header_font=”||||||||” header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”40px||40px” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”36px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]

WHY DON’T YOU WRITE IN NORWEGIAN?

(Isn’t your audience Norwegian?)

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Pricing-Strategy-pagebreak-bottom.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ custom_margin=”||30px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||0px|” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”]But I do have days when I feel good. Sometimes it’s hard to put my finger on just what it is that makes me feel good. Maybe I managed to curb my addiction to sugar for a week, maybe I slept more than 5 hours (not applicable to this photo for sure, 4,5 hours sleep and only one cup of coffee ☕😉). One thing that will ALWAYS perk me up and make me feel fine is wearing pieces that I love. Yes, I’ll tell you who made them soon. But first I want to elaborate on the why of it all.

This weekend I was fortunate enough to be at @saltartmusic arranging a Christmas market. Curated of course by Handmade in Norway. I always shop at my own markets. It’s so hard not to when I have hand picked the designers that are selling their products there… After all, they were chosen because I love what they create. This weekend was no exception.

The pieces I bought feel beautiful. They ARE beautiful and they were created by real people who love to create, and that have a keen eye for beauty. The items I bought were all designed and crafted by real people that really care about what they do. They dedicate their time to their products. They are designers and artisans that are going against the grain, standing up and following their dreams. This empowers me. That care, passion and determination is infused in the handmade products.

I feel blessed to be able to be a part of that and wear these pieces with pride.

It also empowers me to know that I am supporting those dreams and helping to bring them one step closer by buying from independent makers and designers. It’s a fabulous feeling. It picks me up on a grey winters morning. It gives me a buzz that easily beats the best coffee in the world… And this buzz lasts all day long, and then again and again there after. This is why I decided to show my awkward self today. Because I’m feeling pretty darn fabulous.

All thanks to the following people.

Luscious Kyss lipbalm from @lykkebyjulie

Silver ring bracelet from @martynasbarzdelis

Brass and perspex earrings from @musimbiking (Sorry Sisi I can’t find your business account, update me please)[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||43px|||”]

This is a potentially controversial post. It is filled with some facts and a lot of my own opinions. Language puritans and those easily offended are advised to look away now. 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ background_color=”rgba(226,140,149,0.11)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”||3px|20px|false|false” custom_padding=”2.4%||0px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”25px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_phone=”center” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|||15px|false|false”]

A LITTLE BACK STORY

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”5px|20px||20px|false|false” custom_padding=”1.6%|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”36px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|15px||15px|false|false”]

I’m open to criticism, I believe it can be healthy. But the thing that irks people the most about me, is the language I speak… Seriously?!

I’m active in encouraging creative people to embrace their creativity. Through Handmade in Norway, I support and promote artisans and makers in Norway. Some people do not like the way I do this, or rather, they react to the language that I choose to speak.

I may not be Norwegian, but I am not one of those foreigners that refuses to speak another language.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Brit-abroad.png” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”right” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”20px|20px|20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|8px||8px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”16px||29px|||” custom_padding=”40px|||||”]

I live in Norway and have been here since 2005. I’m from England and moved to Oslo when I was 28 years old. I speak Norwegian. I’m told that I am very nearly accent-free, in so much as I can be mistaken for a Norwegian with a slight indistinguishable twang. I’ve also been told by some Norwegians that I speak better Norwegian than they do. I don’t believe this for a second, but I think that it is very kind of them to say so. I’m not the kind of Brit that expects everyone else to understand English.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ background_color=”rgba(43,133,117,0.13)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” header_2_text_color=”#4f4f4f” custom_margin=”|30px||30px|false|false” custom_padding=”3.6%||38px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”25px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_phone=”left” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin_phone=”|15px||15px|false|false”]

But why the heck do I write in English then? I live in Norway, I’m promoting people that live In Norway, and I’m surrounded by Norwegians. If I’m so well integrated, why don’t I write in Norwegian?

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”16px||29px|||” custom_padding=”40px|||||”]

It is a valid question and I have been asked many times to justify my language choice. Now I think it’s time that I go public with my reasoning. I understand that it is a controversial decision, and some find it downright outrageous. I have even had people refuse to follow me on social media because I write in English. I was told once that it is disrespectful to the Norwegian people, and that it undermines my whole goal to promote Norwegian artisans and makers.

Now I won’t lie, I was taken aback by this. It’s a pretty shocking accusation and I didn’t like it one little bit. However, I’m as stubborn as a mule and not easily offended. So I quickly pulled myself together and concluded that this was just complete nonsense.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ background_color=”rgba(226,140,149,0.11)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”|||20px|false|false” custom_padding=”9%|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”25px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|||15px|false|false”]

So here we go!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”|20px||20px|false|false” custom_padding=”2%|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”36px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|15px||15px|false|false”]

My one and ONLY reason for writing (almost) exclusively in English is…

Dun dun dun *dramatic musical interlude*

I want to reach out to the largest possible audience and get my voice heard. My goal is to promote the artisans and makers of Norway to a global audience.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/globe.png” align=”right” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”20px|20px|20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|8px||8px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”||29px|||” custom_padding=”50px|||||”]

Here’s some numbers for you. There are 5,407,080 people living in Norway and nearly all of them speak Norwegian. Approximately 4,3 million of those people also speak English as a second language. Norwegians are very very good with languages, especially English. In contrast, the number of people that speak Norwegian is equivalent to just 0.07% of the total world population. The rest of the world is not so good at speaking Norwegian.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_margin=”|auto|2px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/numbers-1.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.2.1″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/numbers-2-1.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.2.1″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”40px|||||”]

Of the 7,5 billion people living on this planet approximately 1,5 billion speak English. That’s 20% of the global population that, if they were able to visit this website or my social media profiles, would be capable of reading and understanding what they read. They might not agree with me, hell, they might not even be interested, but that’s a whole other story 😉 Now obviously my reach is not that great to include every English speaker on the planet. But oh how I wish it was! Regardless, the odds are stacked substantially in favour of meeting someone fluent in English over someone that speaks and reads just Norwegian. 

So there you have it. My one and only reason for writing in English. To me, this is a no-brainer, and the criticism baffles me. But there are many different kinds of people in this world, and thankfully they’re not all like me. If there were more like me, then I’d probably be out of a job!

I can write in Norwegian if I choose to do so, but I choose not to for the benefit of the people I write about. Write me an email in Norwegian, and I’ll reply in Norwegian. Addressing a bigger audience gives a much greater chance of success.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ background_color=”rgba(43,133,117,0.13)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” header_2_text_color=”#4f4f4f” custom_margin=”|30px||30px|false|false” custom_padding=”3.6%||38px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%||10px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”25px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|15px||15px|false|false”]

When I decide to proudly shout across the internet about my amazingly talented network, well, I’ll do that in the most effective way possible. It’s English all the way baby!

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”50px||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_text_color=”#4f4f4f”]

There I said it! It’s out and I can’t take it back. It’s been a sensitive subject for some people within my network. I hope that this quashes any misconceptions and silences the skepticism about my choice of language.

Until next time!

Kelly Palencia – Founder of Handmade in Norway

Creativity and Community

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”rgba(226,140,149,0.11)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||20px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#2b8575″ header_font_size=”46px” custom_margin=”|30px||30px|false|false” custom_padding=”6.2%||66px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”36px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin_phone=”|15px||15px|false|false”]

SIDE NOTE: It is also worth pointing out that my website is a .com site and not a .no site. This was deliberate too and done for exactly the same reason. The content of my blog and the workbooks I have created to help makers apply to makers everywhere, not just in Norway. Restricting my site to the limited reach and lower grade SEO of a .no site would not make sense.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”35px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”0||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#4f4f4f” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”40px|||||”]

Sources:

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/norway-population/

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/how-many-people-speak-norwegian

https://blog.searchmetrics.com/us/seo-benefits-of-com-versus-everything-else/

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.1″][et_pb_image src=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/call-to-action-HiN-Academy-1.png” url=”https://handmadeinnorway.com/free-sign-up/” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.2.1″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]