The quiet days between Christmas and New Year have a name in Norway: romjul. Time slows down, shops close early, leftovers multiply, and candles burn long into the afternoon.

It’s also the perfect moment to pause and look back. 2025 was another big year for us here at ‘51�Թ���' HQ. Some stories travelled widely. Others resonated more quietly but stayed with readers long after publication.

It was also the year we leaned heavily into video. Longer, better quality videos, and a whole new channel dedicated to cruise travel were among the projects I worked on over the past 12 months.

Together, they paint a picture of what continues to fascinate people about Norway: its landscapes, its quirks, its culture, and its everyday contradictions. Here are some of the highlights from the past year.

A Glacier Trip in the Rain

One of the most-read travel stories of the year was a personal account of visiting Briksdal Glacier by Troll Car, with my dad.

It wasn’t a picture-perfect day. The rain came down steadily, visibility came and went, and the glacier itself felt smaller than many visitors expect. And yet, it was absolutely stunning. Norwegian nature at its very best.

The story resonated because it reflected a very Norwegian truth: nature doesn’t perform on demand. The waterfalls were wild, the mountains dramatic, and the experience memorable precisely because it felt real rather than curated.

Sleeping Your Way to Norway

One of the most shared videos of 2025 explored something many people overlook: the Copenhagen to Oslo overnight ferry.

For less than the cost of a city hotel, you get a private cabin, sea views, and the quiet pleasure of waking up in a new country. For many viewers, this video reframed ferry travel not as transport, but as part of the experience.

It also tapped into a growing interest in slower, more deliberate ways of travelling to Norway. Copenhagen to Oslo doesn't suit every traveller, but there are many cruise ferries out there.

If you've ever considered taking one, either as a mode of transport or for a ‘mini-cruise' trip that are heavily promoted, take a watch to get a feel for the experience.

Brown Cheese, Reconsidered

Few Norwegian foods divide opinion quite like brown cheese. This year’s article on brown cheese ice cream was a result of something I never expected: I changed my mind about brunost!

After more than a decade in Norway, brunost had firmly stayed in the “not for me” category. I’d even turned my dislike into a running joke during my cruise ship talks, usually to the amusement of passengers who had already tried it without quite knowing what they were eating.

Then came an experiment at home. Against all odds, transforming brown cheese into ice cream softened its sharpest edges and revealed something richer, warmer, and surprisingly balanced. For the first time, I actually enjoyed it.

The article struck a chord with readers because it tapped into a shared experience. Brunost isn’t just a food, it’s cultural shorthand for belonging, nostalgia, and childhood waffles at the cabin.

Seeing it reimagined, and watching a long-time sceptic finally come around, made this one of the year’s most quietly satisfying stories.

The Small Cultural Surprises That Matter

The most commented-on video of the year by far looked at what still surprises me about Norwegian culture, even after years of living here.

From the deep attachment to nature to the nation’s complicated relationship with frozen pizza, the response showed that readers and viewers are just as interested in everyday habits as they are in fjords and northern lights.

When Norwegian Folklore Turns Dark

Not all stories of Norway are cosy. An article on the sea spirit Draugen explored the darker side of Norwegian folklore, where danger, death, and the unpredictability of nature loom large.

Far removed from friendly trolls and fireside fairy tales, Draugen belongs to a tradition shaped by life at sea, sudden loss, and communities living at the mercy of the elements.

This subject is one I’ve become increasingly drawn to. Over time, that fascination with myths and legends has grown into something more substantial, eventually leading me to develop a on Norwegian myths and legends, delivered to audiences sailing along the same dramatic coastlines where many of these stories were born.

The article stood out because it reminded readers that folklore in Norway was never just entertainment. It was a way of explaining real fears and very real dangers.

It became one of those quieter successes on ‘51�Թ���': not the most clicked story of the year, but one that found a deeply engaged and appreciative audience.

Bergen Beyond the Postcard

The year featured a video celebrating Bergen, a place many travellers think they already understand before they arrive.

Yes, there’s Bryggen, with its unmistakable wooden buildings and UNESCO status, and yes, the Fløibanen still delivers one of the best city viewpoints in the country. These classics remain popular for a reason.

But the video deliberately looked beyond the obvious. It explored everyday neighbourhoods, quiet streets away from the cruise crowds, and the lived-in feel of a city shaped by weather, trade, and history.

There were a few surprises too: places that don’t feature heavily in guidebooks, but say far more about what it’s actually like to spend time in Bergen.

The response reinforced something I’ve noticed more and more in recent years. Many visitors are no longer just ticking off sights. They want to understand Norwegian cities as real places, with character, routines, and small moments that linger long after the postcard shots are taken.

New YouTube Channel

With more than 23,000 subscribers, continues to go from strength to strength.

During 2025, I noticed the success of the handful of cruise-focused videos, which drew a different audience to the channel. To keep 51�Թ��� as focused as possible, I decided to launch a brand new channel focused completely on cruising.

The new channel, , will cover cruising in Norway, but also other destinations in Northern Europe, insights into specific cruise ships and cruise lines, and also general cruise tips for first time cruise travellers.

If you're a fan of 51�Թ���, I'm sure you'll enjoy this video, above, all about cruising in Norway.

Norway News in 2025

Alongside travel and culture, 2025 was also a significant year for Norway itself.

The general election reshaped the political landscape and set the direction for the coming years, particularly around taxation, public services, and Norway’s role in a changing Europe.

New research showed that far fewer people from abroad are choosing to work in Norway. This news marked a major shift in a trend that has shaped the labour market for the past two decades.

Other notable developments included continued debate over , growing attention on infrastructure in the north, and renewed discussion about how Norway moves forward from the oil and gas era.

Rather than dominating headlines, many of these stories unfolded slowly, but their impact will be felt well beyond 2025.

The post The Best of ‘51�Թ���’ in 2025 appeared first on 51�Թ���.

A little over a decade ago, while a Bachelor’s student at UC Berkeley, I met a girl from Norway. She was different. She was deeply caring in a way that was outside of my understanding, she was adventurous, she was playful, and for all the things that she was – there was one thing she wasn’t: a quitter.

She knew what she wanted more than anything… and luckily, that was me. I wasn’t interested in dating anyone seriously (hey, I’m in college, right?) and after years of combat as a US Marine, my heart was neither interested in nor capable of love.

I tried to be just friends with her, I tried to tell her I didn’t want to date, I tried to tell her I wasn’t good enough for her, but she didn’t hear any of it.

So, we dated on and off, and then in the summer of 2013, I finished college and she headed home to Norway. And somehow, she convinced me to come visit (I’ll be honest, she sent lots of pictures of mountains).

We traveled all over the country together, running and climbing and adventuring and somewhere in that process, she started to melt away my insecurities about love. But, I already had plans to say goodbye and travel the world.

As we stood at the train station, she told me “I know that you can’t say it back, but I love you. And I’ll be here waiting for you.” I couldn’t comprehend her courage.

I left Norway and traveled around the world for about 18 months doing soul searching. “Who am I and what do I want in life?” I didn’t come to any clear answers by myself, so instead I focused on trying to find the answer.

I went on a trip as a missionary (I was raised in a Christian home but had too many doubts and questions as a kid), I worked in orphanages, I built schools, I did disaster response work, and I just tried to find anything that would make me happy.

I knew that I couldn’t find happiness inside myself, so I looked for it in reverse – by helping people. More insecurities melted away and slowly I began to realize that it wasn’t money or a career or even dangerous adventures that I wanted most. I wanted love and someone to share the beautiful things about life with.

A move to Norway

At the end of 2014, I returned to Norway. I had nothing but a backpack and some tattered clothes. Katrine and I had kept in touch and I decided to spend Christmas with her, since I was already in Europe. Neither of us knew what to expect.

Within a couple weeks, I had decided to stay in Norway and see if this was the woman I was going to marry. I knew that it wouldn’t be easy… I had no network here, limited transferable job skills, and I didn’t speak the language.

The only thing that I did have was a certainty that I wanted to give the relationship a shot. If I could give as much effort, support, respect, and dedication to Katrine as what she had given to me, then maybe love was really possible.

Now, a decade later, we have a life together, three children (with a fourth on the way) and I love her more than ever. It was definitely worth it. But it was not always easy. If you're considering a , here are 10 lessons I learned along the way.

1. It is not easy

I didn’t come here looking for easy. In fact, I knew that it would be a long and difficult process to stay here.

Finding work and settling down here has been much harder for me than it would have been in the US where I have family, friends, a professional network, I speak the language, and can easily land a job.

It hurts to be so far away from my parents, especially now that they have grandkids. I also have to work extra hard to find good meaningful work, fit in in social circles, and learn new skills (that first year of learning to cross country ski hurt!!!)

Easy is not a path to fulfillment. Norway is often viewed as this utopian society where everything is just free and taken care of for you and that’s just not the case. It is every bit as hard to survive and thrive here as it is anywhere else.

And if you chose to move here permanently, there are so many hurdles that you are going to have to make it over, and even when you make it over most of those hurdles you’re not done, you’ll have to make it over them again later and it will be even more frustrating.

It is not easy. But it is worth it (love is worth it, anyway. Whether or not the move here is worth it depends upon your motivations and expectations). 

2. Be vulnerable

Life in a new place is hard and lonely but . Vulnerability is the only way to fix yourself, improve your situation, make friends, learn, or achieve just about anything. If you come here and try to take on everything by yourself, you’ll drown.

You need community (yes, that can be hard since Norwegians aren’t especially social with new people). Find your people… whatever groups or hobbies or interests you have, there is someone else nearby who enjoys the same thing and bam, there you’ve already got a friend.

Now pick a few more things, find a few more people, make yourself a group, introduce each other to one another, and keep doing it. Share about your life, not just what’s good or sounds nice but what hurts and what’s keeping you down or haunting you. This will allow others to open up as well and that is truly valuable.

We as humans are designed to have community and it is hard to have community when you fake and pretend that everything is just great all the time because it’s not. So, be vulnerable, share, listen, and you will find that life becomes much more understandable.

3. Be disciplined

Moving here will require you to do lots of things that you don’t want to do. Discipline is more important than passion or motivation because both of those things will fade or come and go.

I love what I do for work, but I don’t love it everyday, especially when I’m up early with small kids, I’m tired, I have some must-do tasks that I don’t like, and so on.

There is so much stuff that needs done every day, regardless of how I am feeling that motivation or passion just aren’t gonna cut it everytime. The house needs fixed, wood needs cut and chopped for winter, diapers need changed, the house needs cleaned, laundry needs folded, work needs done, and it always will.

It’s often cold and rainy and you may have to retake a driving test and find a job in a place where you know nobody (and by the way, the job competition is highly educated and driven) and there will always be constant struggles and challenges.

Make the choice to get through them. Make the choice to absorb that pain and enjoy it anyway. Then you will thrive.

4. You can do it

Over the years I’ve had many people ask questions about moving to Norway, how it will be given their specific situation, and so on. Here’s the truth: if you want it, you can do it. You just need to overcome the obstacles in your mind.

Take away everything of what you think will be easy – because none of it will be easy. Nothing in life worth doing is easy, as the saying goes. As a friend once told me, “life is whatever you make of it”.

I’m not trying to sound like a life coach or whatever here but the bottom line is this: yes, it is hard to move to and live in Norway. Yes, you can do it if you want it. Yes, it can be a beautiful experience.

While those first 4 tips may seem like common sense or even sound like too much of a pep talk, they actually form the foundation for successfully acclimatizing to any new environment.

Don’t expect it to be easy, seek help from others, work hard and truly believe that you can make it happen. The next 6 tips are more specific to Norway.

5. Understand the legal requirements

Over the last decade I have gotten hundreds of messages from people wishing to move to Norway, or wishing to stay here longer.

Every situation is unique and you will be much better off if you have a good understanding of the requirements for getting the right type of visa or residence permit for your situation.

There are numerous hurdles and laws that are designed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. By doing your research and planning well, you can save a lot of headache.

A great start is to visit the . UDI is responsible for processing applications from foreign nationals who wish to visit or live in Norway.

6. Plan your move

As Dwight D Eisenhower famously said, “plans are useless but planning is indispensable”.

What this means is that life will almost never follow along with what you plan… there will be obstacles and difficulties and unforeseen circumstances… but the better you plan in advance, the more prepared you will be to quickly meet and overcome these challenges.

It is not easy to move to Norway, whether it be for a relationship, work, or just because you want to live here. You should have plans and backup plans for where you will live, how you will earn money, how you will take care of things such as housing, transportation, insurance, and finances, and so on.

Finding a job can be particularly difficult. For the Americans, taxes and related financial issues can be especially tricky due to laws such as , , and others.

In addition, you should try to learn the language in advance by using books or tools such as or others. I can tell you from experience that almost nothing is ever “easy” and that planning and being prepared for when things fall through will be essential to success.

There are plenty of Facebook groups, expat groups, Reddit threads, and local support groups to help provide information and support, so find what suits you best and start learning.

7. Acclimatize and adapt

Once you arrive, it’s time to continue learning the language, get active outdoors, learn how the Norwegian culture works, and prepare yourself for the long-haul.

Just the same as if you were going to climb Mount Everest and would take several stops on the way up to adjust, rest, and get acclimated, moving to a new country is much the same.

It’s time to embrace the culture, meet new people, and stay outside of your comfort zone. It is possible to live in Norway without doing these things, but your journey will be significantly harder.

For example, there are many people who move here and do not learn the language, but Norwegian is the business language and probably 95% of the workplaces will speak Norwegian.

International companies will often speak English as the official work language, but Norwegian will still often be used for social conversations. So, the more you learn and the more you adapt, the more successful you will be.

Similarly, there are few places in the world with a climate as unforgiving as Norway. The winters are long, dark, and cold, and the summers are not much better as they are usually long, bright all day, and cold.

There is a popular saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”… but I can tell you from experience that this just means you will need lots of different clothes.

I own probably 6 different types of jackets per season, 7 pair of different gore-tex pants, wool clothing in every possible thickness and several drawers full of gloves, mittens, socks, beanies and so much more.

Just being prepared to go outdoors here is an expensive hobby! But it’s worth it and I have gained an immense appreciation for being outside, regardless of the weather, which we have also passed on to our kids.

8. Rest

In case you haven’t noticed by now, if you do the above, you will be EXHAUSTED. There is so much to learn and see and do and plan for. There is so much that you need to adapt yourself to. You will miss home. Add in the constant dark and cold of winter, months at a time of freezing rain, and you have got a recipe for burnout.

I am guilty of being constantly on the go, always seeking new opportunities or adventures and never making the time to be still enough to relax, appreciate the beauty around me, and embrace the beauty of life.

In addition, I’m raising small kids, working, and trying to stay physically active enough to survive the pace of life.

Recently, I have found myself absolutely drained both physically and mentally. I hit the wall. And when I hit the wall, I told myself that I was being weak and I just needed to hit the gym more, work harder, and keep moving forward.

That didn’t work and I realized I really needed to finally rest, catch up on sleep, enjoy a book, and start saying “no” to some adventures. This period of rest (forced rest, since my body was literally shutting down) has been one of the best things I have ever done.

My advice to you: pace yourself, embrace rest, listen to your body, slow down a bit, breathe deep, and give your body and soul enough time to catch up.

9. Make it yours

This is perhaps the most important tip in this article. This experience, this life, this opportunity, all of it is yours to shape and do with as you wish.

A favorite quote that I heard from a friend years ago is “life is whatever we make of it”.

Don’t spend time comparing yourself to everyone else. Find what makes you happy. Listen to your heart. Be thankful for everything in front of you, and remember that even the biggest of obstacles are just a challenge.

Never give up on what you truly want. And remember that you are never alone.

10. Pay it forward

Once you’ve done the above, whether successful or not, use your experiences to help others. People care about your voice, your experiences, and your lessons… even if it may not feel that way.

There is another traveler, adventurer, or love-struck soul, searching for answers on how to move to Norway or how to complete some other complex life challenge. Your lessons and perspectives can be a beacon to others and help them to navigate through the darkness.

A decade ago, I started writing articles about living in Norway. From those articles I have helped dozens of people get jobs, I have made tons of new friends and looking back, I have captured some of the most beautiful and challenging moments of a key part of my life.

When our babies came, I put everything else on hold. I stopped writing, networking, or sharing. I am glad that I focused 100% on family, but it is possible to find time for both and I wish I had stayed more active in the local community.

There are so many awesome, inspiring, and motivating people to meet and to share with. Life is crazy, but we’re all in it together. I promise to keep trying my best to help others on their journey, you promise to do the same.

I hope this article has been useful. If so, leave me a comment below so I know to keep writing.

The post 10 Things I Learned From 10 Years In Norway appeared first on 51�Թ���.

We lived in Toronto for several years, but when I was pregnant with my second child my Canadian husband and I decided to move to Norway. I am sorry, Canada – you put too much emphasis on work. And it was time to leave.

It had nothing to do with safety, opportunities, health care, or standard of living; all of which is excellent in Canada. I am speaking of the “family first” approach which is essential to all Scandinavian countries, and part of the Nordic model.

In addition to people having a higher quality of life; it most likely has positive effects on gender equality, employment rates, fertility rates; and paradoxically, productivity. And yes – there are challenges too.

Parental leave

Norway is ranked as the #4 country in the world for parental leave. Parents have a total of 49 weeks with 100% wage coverage or 59 weeks with 80% pay.

The benefits of leave for fathers

When my family is visiting from abroad, they are surprised to see groups of fathers with strollers walking around during work hours.

Fathers have 16 weeks minimum paternity leave, and bond with their children very early; they have no choice. How this affects future generations is yet to be seen, but this special connection may even have positive effects on mental health.

If we were to continue to live in Canada, my husband would probably work long hours and I would take more care of the children. He would not have the opportunity to create the same bond with them.

Sick days for children

The Norwegian Government is very generous when it comes to granting leave when our children are sick.

There are always some who take advantage, but my experience as a HR-manager is parents with young children are extremely efficient. Giving them benefits increases loyalty, which makes them work even harder.

Also, society steps in 100% when children are seriously ill, or even dying. Knowing we don’t have to worry about work in such situations makes us feel safer, which is beneficial to general health. I am always certain all of this is a profitable project.

Cheap daycare

Parents in Norway spend 8% of average income on daycare, compared with 37,3% in New Zealand, 35,7% in the UK, and 33,3% in the US. The government also subsidizes private daycare and prices are more or less the same everywhere.

General acceptance of children

When we first moved to Norway, my Canadian husband was amazed to see that it is commonplace to see colleagues and clients bring their kids to the office, take a child to the dentist during work hours, or leave at 4pm every day because the after-school program is closing.

My impression is that children in Norway are less supervised and have more autonomy than in most countries. This is most likely due to overall safety.

Norway’s societal trust is also very high. A common sight is strollers lined up outside the café while parents sit inside drinking coffee, watching with a casual eye. I don’t think it is even legal in some countries.

There is general acceptance of nursing anywhere. Even The Storting’s administration is looking into if the delegates are . 

Gender equality

Norway is ranked #3 on , while Canada is #25, and US #23, ranked after countries like Nicaragua and Rwanda. According to Statistics Norway, there has been an . In 2019, 37% of all leaders were women.

My prediction is that if Norway continues to keep today’s approach to parental leave (this depends on the political situation), gender equality will increase even more.

By the way, my Canadian mother-in-law still thinks mothers should stay at home to raise children, but she is particularly old fashioned.

Does it affect productivity?

You would think we are less efficient? Not true. Norwegians work on average 38 hours per week, and Norway is one of the .

We are extremely efficient and task oriented. Working long hours is highly overrated and I am not at all surprised we are ranked top.

We also have integrated systems and very little bureaucracy. If you change your address, all IT systems update automatically including your banking and work systems.

I haven’t lived in Canada in 10 years, yet for some reason my Canadian in-laws still receive an annual letter from the Ministry of Health reminding me to have a mammogram. Clearly they didn’t get the memo that I left a decade ago. This kind of systemic inefficiency would never happen in Norway.

There are downsides

Yes, taxes are high, but not as high as you would think. Income tax is around the European average. However, sales tax in Norway is high.

The main downside for employers is they spend more time hiring and training, and the predictability is reduced. For society, it is problematic when the population is aging. We need more people working and not receiving benefits.

However, none of these downsides were enough to tip the balance for us. Norway’s policies and general societal attitude to children means there is no better place for us right now.

The post Why We Moved To Norway When We Had Children appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Norway's strict entry requirements have forced many travellers into a quarantine hotel. 51�Թ��� contributor J Alex West describes his experience of staying in one after a 30-hour journey back to Norway.

A tale of quarantine

On the fifth of June, we entered quarantine in Oslo. Prior to arrival, we had to pay 4,200 kroner for quick-result Corona tests to obey Norwegian entrance laws:

‘The test must have been taken in the last 24 hours prior to arrival in Norway. For persons arriving by air, the test may be taken in the last 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the first leg of the flight.'

Hotel quarantine was mandatory for us as travellers coming from almost-COVID-free New Zealand, as it is a nation outside the EEA/Schengen area.

We applied to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration well in advance for a ‘strong welfare consideration' and requested we be allowed home-quarantine for the sake of our three-year-old son following 30 hours of travel.

It was only when we landed and spoke with a Norwegian border official, that we were informed that a ‘non-response' was a ‘rejection-of-application.'

Quarantine hotel in �Ұ�ü�Ա����ø��첹, Oslo

At the hotel in �Ұ�ü�Ա����ø��첹, there was a single baggage trolley available for all the detainees coming from the bus, so it took some time to get our gear to the eleventh floor.

Our room was without air conditioning, fan, or fridge – three single beds crammed side-by-side, our bathroom containing a small sink, cubicle shower and toilet.

The current law at that time allowed hotel occupants to wander outside for up to four hours. We were instructed that we could go inside shops only for medicine and necessities.

The sun was out, and amidst the loosening of Oslo restrictions, �Ұ�ü�Ա����ø��첹 was heaving with people having a good time.

‘No more than two persons in the elevator' was written on an A4 sheet in the lift. As the door closed, a hand dipped into the elevator triggering the censors to open the doors fully.

Two men shuffled in, chatting to each other as I backed up. They pressed 9 and 10.

Food in the quarantine hotel

On Day 4, I was given sliced ham, sliced cheese, and sliced bread for the third consecutive breakfast. This was to be breakfast for the entire quarantine, with the occasional addition of boiled egg or Nutella and cream cheese.

In polystyrene takeaway containers, dinners were comprised of pasta, burger cutlets, boiled and fried potatoes, chicken, and salads – each meal with an abundance of red onion. 

Portions were generous and without the complements of herbs and spices. As we could not refrigerate our food, we had to throw a lot out. Not fans of fizzy soft drink, we accumulated 60 bottles of Fanta, Coke and Sprite to take back to our home and eventually serve to guests.

Daily walks and jogs along the crowded Akerselva path allowed for welcome breaks from the hotel. The staff did not assume I could speak English, so I embraced all opportunities to speak and practice Norwegian.

One morning, I entered the lobby. The security guard was distracted by his phone. His mask dangled by string around his ear and when he noticed me from the corner of one eye, he hurriedly put his mask on properly.

Hot drinks were available for guests 24/7.

‘Can I have tea,' I asked the receptionist. 

‘Wait one second. I have to put water in the kettle.'

The receptionist returned after a few minutes.

‘Thank you.'

An early exit

We took tests on day seven. On day nine, we received negative results. Released twenty-four hours early, we left the hotel and headed home, having handed over the nine thousand kroner hotel .

Read more: The Ten Rules: A Personal Experience of Janteloven

Like so many returnee residents to Norway who have endured hotel quarantine, we will not be able to contribute to small local businesses trying to get back on their feet as restrictions are loosened this summer, which is a great pity – but we simply can no longer afford it.

The post Life in a Norwegian Quarantine Hotel appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Five years ago, I wrote a post about children’s birthdays in Norway, from the perspective of a very young, immature new father.

If you were visiting that post to gain insights about kid’s birthday parties in Norway, it may not have been the most adequate guide. However, it was written in good faith, to be a bit tongue in cheek, poking fun at some of the personal experiences I have had.

I assume you the discerning reader used the internet to find the story, so remember to check the source before you jump into sweeping generalizations about the author, even though they may be true.

Unfortunately, accurate commentary aside, since I wrote that post I have had two more children and in turn a wealth of opportunities to really and truly feel and understand the topic of being a foreigner in Norway with kids.

I don’t necessarily want to typecast myself as the Norwegian kids birthday party expert, so read the following parenting tips as more general in nature. 

#1 Be Inclusive

As many who live here can tell you, there are some rules when it comes to birthday parties.

If you are planning to have a party and plan on inviting kids from school or barnehage (essentially a kindergarten on steroids, for kids from ages 1-5, as kids start 1^st grade from age 6) you should either invite all the kids, all the boys or all the girls.

This is a bit of a written and unwritten rule, seen as a small way of pushing for inclusivity. We live in central Oslo, there are approximately 17 different languages and ethnicities represented across my two daughters’ classes.

We feel it is very valuable for our children to have such a wealth of diversity both in school and at home, especially for birthdays and special occasions where, our kids can build strong bonds across the community with their classmates.

This rule can also be interpreted in different ways. My eldest daughter who is 7 celebrated a friend’s birthday party this past spring where all the girls in her class were invited and went to the party. The person celebrating was a boy.

Reading the invitation “in Norwegian” I could not help but laugh and said to my wife why did I never think of that. She said with a smile and a wink, if you did, none of the girls would have gone to your party.

#2 In hot dogs we trust

Hot dogs, cake from a box, bag of mixed candy, repeat.

There is no award for throwing a grand kids party in Norway, at least in my experience. We have done our fair bit of entertaining and considering my earlier post, we are a fair bit wiser.

I do not have time to consider the adults anymore, it is a tough crowd having upwards of 15 kids making fun of my accent when I speak Norwegian.

We have three summer babies, so we have gone from having parties with face-painters and the balloon guy to more humble affairs. Hot dogs are key. The most common variety is the weinerpølser, the long thin pork sausages that come linked.

It is good to check with the other parents or the school if there are allergies and kids who do not eat pork so you have the right options. Ultimately the dogs are the currency that will keep the party flowing.

Serve with buns and – Norwegian circular flat bread, that you roll your sausage in, most common way they eat it here, it’s like rolling your hotdog in a tortilla, definitely an acquired taste).

Ketchup and mustard are also key. Forgetting the ketchup, or not having enough is a serious offence in the eyes of young revelers.

#3 Find positives in the pandemic

Even during the pandemic over the last year, Norway has allowed kids to visit each other’s homes and socialize for most of the lockdown, albeit only with kids in their classes.

In addition to this families can have about 1 or 2 families to “pod together” with to keep in line with the evolving social distancing rules and norms. For my family this has meant hanging out infrequently with our neighbors and one other family, and kids from my daughters’ school and barnehage.

All it takes is one FaceTime with a friend or relative with kids back in the US to really understand how fortunate we are here in Norway to have the options we do. This has also meant finding the silver lining in every situation.

We have felt the pandemic has changed the way people interact with each other in a positive way. As a young family, with kids wanting to maximize their social interactions, I think we have become more social within these smaller groups then before.

Our neighbors who are mostly Norwegians, have become more open, more inclusive and dare I say much more talkative. You can feel that everyone is ready to get back to some semblance of normal life and I think our little community has become stronger because of how we reacted to the lockdown.

A tip that has worked really well for us, is that our eldest daughter has invited a much wider assortment of classmates over to our home and to activities after school. She has broadened her little world herself by playing with kids that she may not have played with as much before because they had different interests.

Not to brag but the class has created some really fun ideas to connect after school, such as a Sushi Club, where they go and “taste-test” take-away Sushi when they visit each other.

We may not be able to do everything we want to, and we may not ever go back to how life was before COVID-19 but we have and will continue to adapt its in my our nature.

#4 Find your community & don’t be afraid to expand it

As any immigrant can identify with, we tend to gravitate to what we know and understand.

As a Bosnian American I came to Norway knowing a few Bosnian Norwegians and American Norwegians and these friendships served as an excellent foothold in getting to know our new home.

At first, I was apprehensive to immerse myself in Norway and erroneously let Norwegian stereotypes define my viewpoints. As the initial cultural differences slowly subsided and my family discovered interests and activities that exposed us to a wider range of diversity, we became happier.

Driven by our kids interests, my family has expanded our community beyond our native cultures. We have slowly become more “Norwegian”, but at the same time we have also become more intertwined with other communities in our neighborhood.

We celebrated Diwali for the first time as a family this past November because we have become closer with our new neighbors, a family from India.

As an American we may get a bad rap for being brash and outspoken, maybe too forward. I feel that our ability to be comfortable starting a conversation with just about anyone is a huge plus.

My first few years in Norway I wanted to fit in, so I was much quieter, much less active than I would normally be out of deference to Norwegian customs and ways.

I wanted to give space and in turn began to expect space. Corona has challenged this view. I see now that I can be myself while still fitting in and this has had a positive knock-on effect for my kids as they are now beginning to discover their own unique identities and how they compare to others they go to school with.

When we ask our two girls, who are 7 and 4, where they are from, they say “we are Norwegian, Bosnian Americans.”

Young families regardless of their cultural or socio-economic background have similar challenges. We are all trying to do the best we can for our kids and you should not fear reaching out through social media or through activities at school.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because you might be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

#5 Slow down

The last tip is to slow down. With the first kid we felt pre-occupied in needing to get things done. It was like we were building up a CV so that we could say look at all the great things we have done as uber responsible millennial parents.

Kid 2 was a shock to the system; she came into this world as the boss and remains the leader of our family. Kid 3 has really shown us how far we have come since Kid 1 in that you just have to go with the flow.

You can’t plan everything you can only hope to contain the chaos. Our expectations have been lowered and our ambitions have been tamed.

We have slowed down in order to catch up because thanks to Norway we have a lot of time to enjoy these crazy moments.

If you’ve read this far, thanks for taking the time. If you have any thoughts, you want to share please comment below!

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Norway is gorgeous any time of the year but it transforms into a magical land during the winter season.

People often associate Norway with Northern lights and fjords, not to forget its gorgeous mountains. Towards the south region, there is an endless coastline with some gorgeous beaches.

If you travel up north you will find yourself in a completely different scenario. It is the most precise manifestation of the term ‘winter wonderland'. GOT fans will surely relate to it!

However, in order to experience the cozy winter retreat, you need not travel all the way up north. If you live in Stavanger there are plenty of places to enjoy the winter retreat.

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Fancy skating on a Frozen Lake? ����å���ٱ𾱲Ա����ٲԱ�� is just perfect for you. It is one of the lakes in Sandnes, just off the E39 route.

The lake is a popular scenic spot throughout the year. During summer, you will find people fishing and swimming here. The place is equipped with benches and has plenty of parking space.

Being a nature lover, I came to this gorgeous place several times throughout the year. The view drastically changes every season.

Read more: Facts about Stavanger, Norway

While the spring & summer season has lots of greenery and a lovely lake in the middle of the mountains. You will find swans and ducks playfully swimming in it making it picture-perfect.

Winter metamorphoses it into a winter retreat. This year the lake is completely frozen inviting adventure enthusiasts to sled & skate on its thick ice.

Sola beach

Beach & winter might sound like an odd pairing. I thought that too until I revisited Sola beach recently. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people walking/jogging along the beach.

I walked up to a small structure on the beach to have a 360° view of the place. It looked absolutely stunning!

The snow-covered mountain on the horizon, pretty houses, and roads covered in a thick layer of pristine white snow. The occasional pop of color from colorful winter outfits of the visitors added to the beauty of the place. 

I would say don't wait for the summer & hit the beach. It has its own unique charm during winters.

Alsvik Naturesenter

Looking for a place to celebrate your special day or just a small get together in the lovely outdoors? Look no further than in Sandnes.

The place has many facilities like a BBQ & volleyball ground among others. The booking can be done on the internet in case you would like to organize a get-together or small event.

Go for a hike, make a snowman, roast marshmallow, or just soak in the scenery, the choice is yours. Alsvik natursenter won't disappoint you.

Rogaland Arboretum

This one is yet another place that I've frequented in the past year. It has an amazing range of flora & fauna. Spread over 60 hectares of area, is the country's notable botanical garden.

I loved capturing its ‘Snow-white' beauty. The long pine trees standing tall in all their glory, short shrubs, and bushes covered in lite fluffy snow was a sight to behold.

Rogaland Arboretum is yet another ‘Family-friendly/Kids friendly' place in Stavanger. A small pond covered with water lilies, open fields & a play area is so inviting. Kids of all ages will find something to keep themselves engaged in this lovely outdoors.

Stokkalandsvatnet

One of the most popular jogging/running spots in the area with the enchanting surroundings.

In the winter season, it offers a good skating opportunity. The kommune regularly measures the thickness of the ice. It is often safe to walk, skate or sled.

You can walk or cycle around the lake. It is a good 4 km track. If going with your family, do not forget to bring some bread as you will find a flock of ducks and swans swimming in the lake.

Read more: The History of Stavanger

Currently, it is declared safe by the kommune. It is a perfect time to skate on this pretty lake tucked away in the Sandnes area.

I have mentioned some of the places within the city limits where you can enjoy a good winter getaway. Apart from these spots, there are several other places close to Stavanger where you go for winter sports.

Compared to 2020, this year Stavanger has got a good amount of snow. Let's make the most of it!

Garima Nag is a Travel & lifestyle blogger on Sweet Sharing, sharing her experience & interesting stories from her travel around the world & staying in 4 different countries. When not writing you will find her lost in nature with her camera for company.

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A foreigner living in Å������ܲԻ� takes us through some of her first tastes of a Norwegian Christmas.

There are a lot of delicious Christmas foods and treats to try out in Norway but today I am going to write about the ones I have tried in Å������ܲԻ�.

Christmas in Norway is a fun, full of lights festival and experiencing it in the beautiful city of Å������ܲԻ� is a delight to the eyes.

Julemenn

The first Christmas treat I ever tried was in my Norwegian language class. Our teacher was supposed to make us familiar not only with the Norwegian language but also the culture here.

It was the beginning of December 2016 and our Norwegian teacher brought some Julemenn along with hot coffee. Yum! “Julemenn” in Norwegian literally translates to “Christmas Men”.

It is a delicious, soft, cake like sweet treat which I believe is not that hard to make at home.

This Christmas treat has various names in Norwegian, such as; hvite kakemenn, julemenn, spekulasi and so cute to look at. 

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I used to consider myself vegetarian at some point in my life. It did change when I came to Norway but I was still not very fond of eating meat in general. I am not really proud of what I am about to say but I used to be very picky about food.

In 2018, I had the chance to enjoy the Christmas dinner with some Norwegians. I will be honest, I was afraid to try this famous Christmas food called “�ʾ��ԲԱ����ø�ٳ�”. The reason is because it is meat. Lots of meat. Now let’s come to the taste.

You eat these lamb chops with some mashed potatoes on the side but for me, to eat the meat with not so many spices, rice or bread was scary. Until I tried it. I tried it just the way Norwegians were eating it, with the mashed potatoes. I was really surprised and amazed because it was absolutely delicious.

What shocked me most was how good it was considering it doesn’t have many spices, aside from salt and pepper.

The main secret to its deliciousness is hidden in the process of drying and salting the meat. Just thinking about it is making me hungry, I am telling you. After writing this blog and looking at these mouth-watering pictures, I am definitely looking forward to having pinnekjøtt again this Christmas hopefully. 😉

Julebrus

This is another favorite Christmas treat of mine. The word “brus” in Norwegian means “soda” and “julebrus” means “Christmas soda”. It is not only a pretty looking beverage, but it is also very delicious.

I really loved it the very first time I tried it in 2018. Since then, everytime I see Julebrus in the shops, I get excited like kids to get some Julebrus and so; I bought some more julebrus yesterday. 😀

Pepperkaker

Pepperkaker are yet another sweet Christmas treat. Pepperkaker are light, crispy, Christmas cookies that you will find in every shop in Norway during Christmas time. It is very light in weight and to eat too.

Every time I have tried pepperkaker, the box is full of cookies; brown in color and of various cute shapes, such as; heart, stars.

I bought this yesterday and I was sure the box would be full and indeed it was! Also, the box had some beautiful art on the outside.

Usually, the one I used to buy from other grocery stores comes in a round, plastic box.

I am aware that there are other Christmas treats in Norway as well, that I have read about and know about, but I only wanted to write about the foods and treats that I have tried during the Christmas time here.

If I try some other foods this Christmas Eve, I will surely write about it too.

Vi ses & God Jul! (See you soon & Merry Christmas!)

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I have a lot of wonderful stories to tell about Norway, but today I am going to write about my first snow experience in Norway, and in my life!

From jeg heter Rubab, hva heter du..? to speaking 70% Norwegian, I have come a long way.

I first came to Norway as an international student in 2016. I still remember vividly; it was 6th of August 2016 and I reached outside my student housing at 12am.

I was so happy to bring my dream to life, that I couldn’t stop smiling the whole bus ride from the airport to the NTNU campus.

Life in Å������ܲԻ�

I live in Å������ܲԻ� and don’t really want to move away from this city, but I might at some point in life for time being. What I love about Å������ܲԻ� is that it’s a cozy and small city of Norway located on the west coast, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord, which is yet another beautiful place to visit.

Å������ܲԻ� is famous for its art nouveau (French for “new art”) architectural style. According to Jugendstilsenteret Museum which is located right in the city centre, called “sentrum” in Norwegian, the city was rebuilt after a fire in 1904.

My first Norwegian snowfall

I came to Norway 4 years ago (I turned 24 only six days before I reached Norway) and I had never ever seen snowfall! You can imagine how excited I must have been to see my very first snowfall.

I still remember it was Monday around 3am in the morning and a friend of mine texted to look outside the window because it was snowing. Finally! It was January 2017 and it snowed quite late that year (2016). As if the snow knew I have been waiting, so “it” decided to arrive late to Å������ܲԻ�!

Read more: Expat Blogs

Anyway, I got out of my bed and looked outside my window, and there it was; all the cars were covered with snow, poor people who had to shove it in the morning but not me, so I enjoyed the beautiful view.

I was super excited in the morning and decided to go to sentrum by bus.

I think I can say that I fell in love with Å������ܲԻ� once again that day. Even though I love colors around the city, Å������ܲԻ� looked mesmerizing covered in snow.

Everything was white and the city seemed so much brighter. I took the day off for myself and enjoyed my company alone, taking pictures and just feeling the cold wind across my face.

Fast forward four years, I still love the snow and beautiful snow-covered mountains but now I am also a bit terrified of it because of “glatt”.

“Glatt” is what Norwegians use the word for “slippery”. People who have experienced snowfall before, must be familiar with the frozen snow.

Read more: Why I Love Å������ܲԻ�

For people like me, who didn’t experience snowfall before, the frozen snow on the roads after a heavy snowfall can be quite slippery if you are not careful.

Well, it is still slippery even when you are careful. Watch out people, I learned it the hard way after experiencing a few terrible falls!

I have a great story about my weirdest, funniest, scariest experience with glatt but that’s for the next time.

Vi ses!

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Upon arrival in Norway earlier this year, I made it my goal to ensure I keep playing football for as long as my knees last. By sharing my experience, I hope that this will help others looking for a game for competitive or social purposes to review the options that are best suited to their own individual needs.

Having always played for pub or Sunday league teams, my assumption was that I would be able to find a similar setup here in Norway. As I was soon to discover, such a structure is not as clearly defined.

That doesn’t mean that access to the beautiful game for amateurs in Norway is ugly (far from it); rather that in order to experience the intrinsic joy and team camaraderie found through a fleeting moment of shared brilliance or a gritty 1-0 win; a further level of determination and commitment is required off the pitch to provide the dreamer with the initial opportunity to lace up their Predators and slip the shin-pads in.

An international football club in Oslo

The starting point as always was to scour the internet, flood the usual Expat groups with posts and comments asking for advice and fire off a few emails. At this point I came across  who proudly proclaim themselves to be ‘The International Football Club of Oslo’.

The admin from the club was very responsive and I was told that although they were currently full, they would welcome me down for training any time.

The club itself seems to have a strong social scene and are probably the closest thing I could find to my previous footballing experiences.

Read more: Bislett FK: The International Football Club of Oslo

For anybody in the Oslo area and looking for this kind of setup then it could be a great option for new arrivals. As the commute was a little too far for me, I continued my search closer to home.

Following discussions on social media, I was directed to the .  This is a great resource which lists out all the clubs by region and division with contact details.

Training with an amateur football club in Østfold

Using this I contacted various clubs in my local area (Østfold) and was invited to a few different training sessions.

Having attended a session for a team in Division 6, I quickly realised during the 20^th lap of the pitch, as the goalkeeper went jogging past me, that this team was much younger, quicker, fitter and I was out of my depth in addition to being out of breath.

To complement the high standards, the language barrier and established cliques within the team made it a real challenge to integrate. This is not a criticism of the club, merely a personal observation from my own encounters. The session itself was very well run and professional with excellent drills and engagement throughout.

The coach and admin manager made a point of speaking to me at the conclusion to explain that the standard in Østfold is probably higher than most other parts of Norway as football is the primary sport. This had not been a casual session followed by a beer in the pub.

I was given the details of another local team who may be a better fit but until now they have been unresponsive.

Despite the obvious deficit in my own fitness and technical ability in addition to being pushed outside of my social comfort zone, the overall experience was positive as it allowed me to re-asses my individual level and establish an absolute conclusion on what I am looking for at this time.

For anybody looking to join a ‘proper’ team, I would highly recommend reaching out to clubs and asking to attend a training session to gauge exactly where your level may be in Norway.

Finding the answer through social connections

Football has a unique way of bringing of people together, either through discussions about professional teams and the latest controversy or through the establishment of role models and fallen idols.

It was through such conversations that the door to regular, casual games began to open. Following a chat at a social gathering, I was put in contact with a friend of a friend who plays weekly with a core group for fitness and fun.

After my first game here, I felt much more at ease with the level although time and language remain the key aspects required for me to feel fully integrated.

The alluring captivation of a cold, wet and windy Thursday night under the floodlights may not be everyone’s ‘kopp te’, but for those willing to put themselves out there and break through the perceived social barriers of Norway, there is ample opportunity to continue to grace the hallowed turf at whatever level you feel suitable.

Some final advice

Without sounding too simplistic, the key (as with most things in Norway) is getting to know people and building a wide network. Core groups can be difficult to break in to but given time, determination, and a willingness to understand language and culture, opportunities are available.

Be willing to take a knock and get back up and you will be rewarded with the opportunity to continue playing.  To end with a quote from a famous Norwegian “Playing games is the best time of your life, and the more games you get, the better it is”. 

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After just one year in Oslo, I'm moving from Norway’s vibrant capital to Stavanger. Here's why.

My Norwegian adventure is rarely dull, that much I can say for sure. It's exciting and fun but so far it hasn't been much of a settled existence. This has mostly been because my education has dictated my journey so far.

My initial stay in Stavanger was interrupted because I got accepted into a university in the U.K. Then, following my time there, my studies took me to Oslo.

Now, because my current programme doesn't require me to be physically present in classes, I took the decision to move back to Stavanger. But why?

A Norwegian-tinted backstory

My love affair for Norway started in early childhood when I was told numerous stories about my Norwegian ancestors. My great-grandfather grew up in Stavanger before emigrating to the U.K. in the early part of the 20th century. I remember being captivated by these tales.

In 2015, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and visited Norway for the first time. I spent a long weekend in Stavanger with a friend and quite simply fell in love with the city and the county of Rogaland. I knew I had to find a way to get back there, to try and live in the city and see if I could make it work.

The following year I did return (via a three-month stay in ). I found a job and a place to live, and things were going well, but something was missing.

My reluctant return to the small island

I needed and wanted a better eductation. But when I was living in Stavanger in 2016/17, I didn’t have the qualifications required to enter directly into Norwegian universities for bachelor studies. But I did have the required entry level diplomas for most British universities. I had a dilema on my hands.

I decided to apply to a number of institutes in the U.K.. I got accepted onto an intensive bachelor programme that was a three-year degree but one squashed into a two-year period with little or no holidays. It was the best option I could have hoped for – i could save myself one year and return to Norway right after.

My return to Norway

One of my main goals was to get myself back to Norway before Brexit took away my chance.

So I marvelled at the British government’s incompetence which in a bizarre way worked in my favour as the leave date was renegotiated and then there was always the transition window on top of that.

On my return to Norway, I had planned to go straight back to Stavanger but my education, again, dictated otherwise. I got accepted onto a master’s programme at the , which meant that I had to move to the capital.

After being stuck in a small town (Buckingham) in the heart of England for two years, Oslo was a welcome change – maybe I could settle here, I told myself in the early days.

The Oslo experience

Oslo was a great experience, my studies were enjoyable and I got to see the other side of Norway, the southern and eastern parts of the country. I made friends and enjoyed everything the city had to offer. But something changed deep inside me in March and April 2020; it was during the lockdown that I again got a yearning for the west coast.

I have a solid network of friends in Stavanger and a flight back to see my family in the U.K. was only 1 hour and 25 mins. I believe it's in these unprecedented times that you realise just what is important in life. My decision was made  – I was going home.

A west coast love affair

Stavanger is located in the county of Rogaland and is a part of Norway that has just about everything one could wish for. There are mountains, fjords, flat sandy beaches, and at the centre of it, the bustling and international city of Stavanger.

During the three years living away from the Stavanger, each break I had between terms, I visited the city. Each of those trips always felt like I was coming home, and those kinds of natural feelings are always good to bear in mind when thinking about moving to—or even back to—a place.

Read more: The Pros and Cons of Living in Norway

One of the common mistakes many make when they visit a place is they think, yeah, I could live here. But they do so with a “tourist head” on their shoulders. Such spirits are often inflated with a rose-tinted view or nostalgic notions, with practicalities ignored.

That is not to say such moves don’t work out. Because they sometimes do, as in part mine did, but I also had a connection.

A connection to Stavanger

Without wanting to sound overly romantic, I do and always have had a strong connection to Stavanger and this part of Norway, even before I visited for the first time. I just feel this part of the world, even in the dreary darkness of winter has its charm.

During my first stint living in Stavanger, I’d often sit on the banks of the fjord and gaze out at the open waters and the mountains beyond and my mind would just empty. Many times I’d think just how lucky I was to be living in such a beautiful location..

Breaking away from that and heading back to the U.K. to study, even though it was only for two years, was the one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But it certainly raised my determination to make it back.

Looking forward and not back

In the early period of moving to Norway, on both occasions, I missed the wider choice of foods in British supermarkets and, of course, the prices in Norway took a bit of getting used to.

But by far the biggest thing I missed was my family. But I’d tell myself that they were only one short plane journey away and I'd also focus on the opportunities and lifestyle that Norway could give me.

Finishing my degree is now only one year away, beyond that, I’m focused on carving a career for myself. I also have plans to get a mortgage and realise the ultimate dream of owning my own home in Norway.

It has been an incredible four years, a whirlwind journey, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Even the two years away from Norway in the middle weren’t so bad knowing I was going to return. Right now, my heart is happy and I'm content in my quiet corner of Norway.

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