Author: froginthefjord

I am The Frog in the Fjord: a French lady who lived in Denmark for a bit before moving to Norway for good (or for now, who knows!). This blog is about all these new realities foreigners like me face when trying to adapt to a new culture, language, country and most of all to new people. In this case, trying to understand the Norwegian culture and blending in (or trying hard). I am hoping to give non-Norwegians a glimpse of what makes Norway and Norwegians so awkward and so loveable; and to give Norwegians something to laugh or to think about. Bonne lecture!
Politics

Should Nazi-supporters be on the agenda of Norway’s biggest political week? The story of Lysglimt at Arendalsuka.

Have you heard of Arendalsuka? Arendal is a small town in the south of Norway. A friend of mine who was living there told me there are three reasons to like Arendal: June, July and August. And it is precisely in August every year that all important Norwegian journalists, politicians, companies and organisations meet in Arendal for a week of meetings, podcasts, public announcements and … Continue reading Should Nazi-supporters be on the agenda of Norway’s biggest political week? The story of Lysglimt at Arendalsuka.

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Politics

Is Norway a Communist Country?

This is an assumption many non-Norwegians make, especially from North America. Here is a list of points that might make people believe Norway is a communist country: Norway has free education including higher education. University students even get a scholarship and a loan (from Lånekassen) on top of university being free. Norway can be seen as a “nanny state”, where many policies might seem to be interfering … Continue reading Is Norway a Communist Country?

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En Français, Environment

Un fjord rempli de déchets toxiques. La Norvège donne son feu vert pour le pire désastre environnemental de son histoire

La Norvège, ses maisons de rondins rouges, ses paysages à couper le souffle parsemés de rennes pâturants patiemment, et ses fjords…remplis de déchets toxiques. Voilà la réalité à laquelle nous nous sommes réveillés Jeudi 14 février en Norvège, alors que le gouvernement de coalition entre les Conservateurs, les Libéraux, l’Extrême droite et les Chrétiens-démocrates a donné son feu vert au groupe minier Nussir d’ouvrir une … Continue reading Un fjord rempli de déchets toxiques. La Norvège donne son feu vert pour le pire désastre environnemental de son histoire

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Culture & People

10 Norwegian Tips to Keep Warm in the Winter

Snow is accumulating and temperatures are sinking. So I’d say winter is here for good. And although you might cheer yourself up every morning by counting the days to Spring, you still need to get warm until that comes along. Time for a little Nordic course on how to keep warm whatever the temperature. Learn from the best! Choose the right fabric  Forget about cotton … Continue reading 10 Norwegian Tips to Keep Warm in the Winter

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Travelling

7 Reasons to go on a Yoga Retreat at Casa Bhakti in Andalusia, Spain.

There are many reasons one decides to do a yoga and meditation retreat: you might feel like your stress level has been too high for too long and cannot cope anymore. You might be a regular yoga practitioner and want to be in a quiet place with more classes every day and the time to do only that. You might be in the midst of … Continue reading 7 Reasons to go on a Yoga Retreat at Casa Bhakti in Andalusia, Spain.

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Work

“How to find a job in Norway” Book Review

“How can I find a job in Norway as a foreigner, without a network, without speaking Norwegian and without knowing any companies here?” is the million dollar question  foreigners ask when dreaming of moving to Norway, or integrate here after having found a partner and wanting to settle down. Sometimes they are a bit luckier and have one of those elements: maybe a small network … Continue reading “How to find a job in Norway” Book Review

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Food

How Norwegians’ Love for Traditions is Driving Me Crazy

«Vi er en ribbe-familie» is one of the strange sentences one can hear just before Christmas time in Norway (We are a “ribbe”-family). It is the end of a conversation when asking a family what they eat for Christmas (easy, it’s usually either ribbe or pinnekjøtt or sometimes lutefisk). Suddenly Norwegians are more sure of what they will eat for Christmas, in which house, and … Continue reading How Norwegians’ Love for Traditions is Driving Me Crazy

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Culture & People

Norway’s rules about everything- Interview of the authors of “Norske standarder”.

Several years ago when trying to learn about Norwegian culture and customs, I came across the work of Egil Aslak Aursund Haugerup. Yes I know his name is very long, and to this day I can barely say it, but the man has a few funny observations up his sleeve. He works for NRK, but also writes book about the Norwegian social codes. It is … Continue reading Norway’s rules about everything- Interview of the authors of “Norske standarder”.

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Work

Why is your Norwegian Salary much Higher in December?

You probably just realised that your salary seems higher in December. Some say the tax authorities only tax half of your salary in December and none of it in July. Well sadly none of this is true. No tax authorities, not even in Norway, ever gave one and a half month of tax free salary to a whole country. The Nanny state How does it … Continue reading Why is your Norwegian Salary much Higher in December?

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