Tag: Expat in Norway

Culture & People

42 Signs you’ve Been Living in Norway for too Long

A few weeks ago, I was watching the football game France-Iceland on television in Oslo. For the first time, my heart was torn apart between two choices: supporting France, my home country, or Iceland, the almost Scandinavian and underdog of the competition? I could never tell my French friends that I wish Iceland won. But I felt so close to the Icelanders who are like Norwegians in … Continue reading 42 Signs you’ve Been Living in Norway for too Long

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Blog of Norway, Language, Travelling

10 tips for a successful student exchange in Norway

  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

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Culture & People

Norway is the best country to live in. Really?

In the last weeks of 2015, I saw my Norwegian friends and colleagues happier than usual. Did a Norwegian skier just win a competition? Is the price of the Christmas ribbe cheaper this year? Almost better: the United Nations had just published its yearly report, showing that, once again, Norway is the best country to live in. For the 7th year in a row. Can you … Continue reading Norway is the best country to live in. Really?

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Original illustration by Ole Johnny Hansen for afroginthefjord.com
Culture & People, Language

How to differentiate the Norwegian Dialects?

When you start learning Norwegian everything looks nice and simple. 5 million inhabitants in this country you think, it can’t be that hard. You’ll learn the one language here and you will be fine. Okay, two languages actually, with nynorsk. Wait, three with the Sami language (actually there are many Sami languages but they use one in official matters such as NAV). Why are there … Continue reading How to differentiate the Norwegian Dialects?

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Illustration: Ole Johnny Hansen 2015 for afroginthefjord.com
Language

More proof showing Norwegian is not an easy language

Yes I am surfing on some kind of language wave here (see my previous post: Confusing things Norwegians say). I promise the next blogpost will be about something else. Here is a list of words that have always confused me, and for a reason. A long vowel instead of a short one, a mistake in how you shape your “u”, making it into a “y”, forgetting … Continue reading More proof showing Norwegian is not an easy language

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Culture & People

Wonderful things (most) Norwegians do

After my previous blogpost Annoying things (some) Norwegians do, I was expecting many reactions of people saying that what I wrote is unbelievably wrong and how dare you say bad things about a country hosting you etc.. Forseeing such reactions, I had prepared a counter blogpost to reassure the crowd on my intentions: despite sometimes poking where it hurt, I am conscious of all the … Continue reading Wonderful things (most) Norwegians do

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Culture & People

Annoying things (some) Norwegians do

1. You know how some media say the biggest problem of the 21st century will be the lack of clean water? Norwegians usually let the water run for many long minutes before they take a glass of water from the tap because it has to be cold. Very cold, like glacier water temperature. While the rest of the world is saving drinking water Norwegians just … Continue reading Annoying things (some) Norwegians do

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Culture & People

Every Rule You Should(‘nt) Break on Norway’s National Day

  Norwegians will tell you there are no rules on the 17th may, their National day, and it is true to a certain extent. On this day celebrating the day they signed their Constitution and felt free and independent, kids are allowed to eat as much ice cream and pølse as they want. Teenage “russ” are allowed…well they are allowed to do anything, and that … Continue reading Every Rule You Should(‘nt) Break on Norway’s National Day

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Food, Politics

Another Odd Norwegian Scandal: Purreløk i Plast

If you’ve been reading the newspapers lately you noticed that there are pictures of leeks all over the place (purreløk = leek in English = poireau in French). This seems just like another vegetable, you would think. Right now in Norway it THE current storm because Bama, a Norwegian company, started selling leeks individually in a plastic and cut the top dark green part of … Continue reading Another Odd Norwegian Scandal: Purreløk i Plast

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Politics

The Norwegian Tax System Explained

The first thing you do when arriving in Norway is to get a tax card at the Tax authorities. You will not understand anything of what it says, except that everyone in Norway is expected to pay tax, including yourself whatever you will work as here and wherever you come from. Just so you know, paying tax in Norway is a very serious business. In the U.S … Continue reading The Norwegian Tax System Explained

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