Living with Norwegians
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Living with Norwegians

Your friendly guide to understanding Norwegian culture and surviving life in Norway.

The guide for moving to and surviving Norway

This guide is a collection of personal experiences, Norwegian stereotypes, and friendly advice on how to survive life in Norway. It's the ideal starting point for someone who is curious about life in Norway and for those already in the process of making the move.

The guide is organized into several sections. It's not meant to be some concrete "dos and don'ts" guide or heavy academic work on the intricacies of Norwegian society. Although it will tell you over 50 things you can try to not only survive Norway but hopefully thrive as well.

Preparing for Norway

Get ready for your move by preparing and better understanding these things

  • Join a FB group

    Connect with expats before you arrive

  • How to find a job

    Navigate the Norwegian job market

  • Finding Housing

    Tips for securing your new home

  • Navigating UDI

    Understand immigration processes

  • Transferring Money

    Move money internationally

  • OTC Medicine

    Stock up before you arrive

Getting Settled in Norway

Once you arrive in Norway here is a few things to start getting setup so you can get settled

  • Get a bank account

    Your first financial step in Norway

  • Setup Vipps

    The payment app everyone uses

  • Dressing like a Norwegian

    Blend in with the locals

  • Learning Norwegian

    Start your language journey

  • Understanding Janteloven

    A key to understanding Norwegian culture

  • Getting Healthcare

    Navigate the Norwegian healthcare system

How to Get Around Norway

Here is how you can get from point A to point B in Norway using several different modes of transportation

  • Public Transportation

    Master the unwritten rules

  • Getting a Driver's License

    Convert or get a new license

  • Airport Travel

    Get to and from the airport efficiently

  • Get a Tesla

    Join Norway's EV revolution

Becoming Norwegian

How to become a Norwegian by doing these things

  • Do a dugnad

    Community work the Norwegian way

  • Celebrate May 17th

    Norway's Constitution Day

  • Go cross-country skiing

    The national pastime

  • Try brunost

    Taste Norway's brown cheese

  • Go to Hytte

    Experience cabin culture

  • Become a Norwegian citizen

    Make Norway your permanent home

  • Go to Syden

    Vacation like a Norwegian

  • Play Kahoot!

    Try Norway's famous quiz game

So there you have it, many ideas for things to do to make living with Norwegians a little easier. Although if you managed to do even half these things, I'm sure you would do just fine in Norway.

Truth be told, Norway is a lot like many other places. It is what you make of it. And as places where one can make it go, you certainly could do worse. All the peculiar things that come with living with Norwegians are perhaps not so important when one has such a nice place to live as Norway.

For the other foreigners out there in Norway, I get it. This is a country that is easy to fall in love with. Those Norwegians aren't exactly bad looking either. Just know that it's also a country that's often hard to tell if it loves you back. You'll need to earn that love, and it will take time. And lots of work. This struggle before the reward is the Norwegian way.

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