Since I moved to Norway, foreign friends have come and gone. Students, people with short contracts, people who can’t stand the cold and the rain. People who meet someone and want to try other countries, travellers. But it is really in the past 2-3 years that I’ve noticed a pattern of people leaving despite a well established life here. Foreigners with good jobs, often with … Continue reading Is it still worth it to live and work in Norway?
Norway has it all, doesn’t? Happiest people on Earth, a yearly Nobel Peace prize to hand out, a low unemployment rate, high gender equality, paid parental leave, red cabins in the woods facing the fjord, clean water and air. My goodness, what are we doing still here, we should all move to Norway! Calm down. There is no perfect place. There are great reasons to … Continue reading Moving to Norway: Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving
There are around 800,000 foreigners living in Norway, according to the Norwegian Statistics Bureau (2020 numbers). That makes up to almost 15% of Norway’s population. There are wonderful perks at living in Norway for a foreigner, from universal healthcare to great parental benefits, not to mention higher salaries than in many other countries. However when the corona crisis hit many of us realised one thing: … Continue reading Being a Foreigner in Norway in 2021 under Corona Restrictions
“Emily in Paris” is this Netflix show making the top 3 of most seen series in many countries, including Norway and … France! I saw the title many times and felt bored before I even clicked on play. What is the point, I thought, for a French like me to watch the fabulous life of an all-too-skinny American who wears bérets and learns to say … Continue reading #EmilyinParis. The perfect show about French clichés we need right now.
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.
Three days ago the New York Times was offering its readers a tour of all the amazing things one can do in 36 hours in Oslo. It says that “The Norwegian capital is filled with art and stunning architecture, but nature, too, is an integral part of urban life”. Is that enough to make Oslo the coolest city of Scandinavia? Let’s see what the city … Continue reading Has Oslo Become the Coolest Capital City in Scandinavia?
Rêvez-vous de cabanes dans les bois au bord d’un fjord, de vous réveiller au rythme des aurores boréales et de faire connaissance avec des Norvégiens au bord du fjord en pêchant? Vous rêvez de déménager en Norvège et ne savez pas où commencer? Je m’appelle Lorelou et écris un blog d’humour en anglais pour les étrangers installés en Norvège et j’écris aussi pour des journaux … Continue reading S’installer en Norvège. Bonne ou mauvaise idée?
Morocco seems like an inexpensive country…until you get here and hear the price asked for just anything from taxi rides to food. Everyone in the tourism industry from hotel chains to the guy shining your shoes in the streets knows the exchange rates for Euro and USD to the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Although it is still way cheaper than European capitals like London or Paris, … Continue reading Morocco: How to Bargain and other tips to travel on a Budget
Check your budget As you’ve probably heard, living in Norway is expensive. It might be a bit easier right now with the NOK falling, but in any case between the rent, the transportation, the food, the drinks and all the things one needs just to live, things sum up pretty fast if you are not careful with your budget. As an indication, Norwegian students … Continue reading 10 tips for a successful student exchange in Norway
One’s first first reaction in these circumstances is to make sure one’s family members and friends are fine. The 7 areas of Paris where the attacks occurred started turning around in my head: is any of my friends likely to have attended the rock concert at The Bataclan last night? Could any of my family members have been in the Cambodgian restaurant where people got shot … Continue reading 2015. The Year that Traumatised France
