Janteloven

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

These ten 'laws' are what is know as Janteloven. It is very strong where I live, and growing up I got it virtually burned into me. I am an outsider where I live. I am born and raised there, but since my parents are not from the region I am not considered a local. As a child I used to read a lot, pay attention to the news and generally just know a lot. In class I would answer when the teacher asked something, I used to get very good grades and generally be the teacher's favorite. I was generally ignored by everyone else. Then as I grew up and learned about Janteloven (it is supposed to be dead by the way.. Yeah, right) I realised that if I stayed in that place for the rest of my life I would go crazy, and I figured that being good at school would be my way out. So I did not give up getting good grades, and the others kept ignoring me. I finally got away and got to Flekke. Where it was not only ok to be good, but expected.
The reason I am writing this weird post is because Ulrika and I talked about how weird it is being the one who weren't among the 'cool' kids growing up and now when we go back people admire us. I think it is because we said 'Fuck Janteloven' and got away and that the others wish they had done so too.