Norway, March

Read in preparation for a trip to Norway, and found the Culture Smart series after noticing that Derek Sivers read lots of books from this series. I’ve made notes on things I found interesting. It would be funny to read the Culture Smart book on Britain – I’m imagining a Norwegian preparing for their trip to Norway and writing down equivalent things to what I’ve jotted down here; namely things like “British people always break at 11:00AM for Elevenses, and at around 3:00PM for afternoon tea”, and ‘‘all British people make yearly trips to see the royal family at Buckingham Palace”.

Highlights

Land of the midnight sun

Norway is sometimes called “Land of the Midnight Sun” since the northernmost part of the country is actually in the arctic circle, which is the invisible line past which the sun shines for twenty-four hours without setting at least one day of the year.

The Kings Choice

This 2016 film is about how the king of Norway acted during the second world war and “dramatises the invasion and Håkon’s response to Germany’s demands for capitulation”.

Halt on immigration

Although a halt was put on immigration in 1975, the great influx of migrants in the 1960s and more recently the acceptance of large numbers of both specialist workers and asylum seekers have led to Norway gradually becoming a more diverse and multicultural society – in the larger towns at least.

No word for city

It is perhaps an indication of Norway’s size, or its inherent modesty, that Norwegian has no word for city. Even Oslo, the nation’s capital, is a stor by, a big town.

High election turnout

Usually around 80 percent of the population votes.

Rejection of the European union

Norway has rejected the opportunity to join the EU… twice!

The dugnad

The dugnad is a collective effort, a work-sharing activity where people contribute as volunteers. For example, a school may hold a dugnad to clean up the school grounds one Saturday.

Seeing your neighbour’s salary

Annual tax records are published on the internet, so everyone can easily see their neighbour’s salary and how much tax they pay.

Gender equality ombudsman

Norway was the first country in the world to appoint a Gender Equality Ombudsman and for the last twenty years women have made up almost half of Norwegian governments and 60 percent of university graduates. The 1987 ruling, requiring that at least 40 percent of each gender be represented on public boards and committees, is now enforced in the private sector.

In terms of breaking into traditional male roles, you are more likely to see a woman driving a bus, working on road construction, and working as an engineer in the oil industry in Norway than elsewhere.

Punctuality

Do not ever make the mistake of thinking a Norwegian train, bus, or ferry will be running late. In most cases they leave exactly on time.

Patience

In many banks, post offices, and other places where it is necessary to wait in line an automated queueing system has been introduced. On entry to the premises you take a nummerlapp (numbered ticket) and wait for your number to come up on the electronic display screen.

State-school educated royalty

• Today’s Norwegian royal family consists of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
• Their two children grew up like most other children, and attended the local state school.

High score

The UN Human Development Index frequently places Norway at the top of the list.

Second homes

About a third of Norwegians own a second home called a hytte in the mountains or next to the sea.

The right to roam

• There is an “unofficial law” known as the “right of passage” which gives Norwegians access to uncultivated land anywhere, as long as no damage or harm is done.
• You can also forage on this land, and ski on cultivated land that is covered by snow.

Per or Kari

• There’s an imaginary couple called “Per” and “Kari” who represent Mr. and Mrs. Norway
• They feature frequently in advertisements, where market researchers poll them about where they go on vacation, what they eat, and so on.

Finding employment

…it remains challenging for foreign workers – even highly qualified ones – to find employment in Norwegian companies who often prefer to hire Norwegians, even when faced with labour shortages.

In fact, it is common in conversation among Norwegians to hear the ills of their modern society blamed on immigrants. Although Norway remains a tolerant country where human rights and civil liberties are well respected, xenophobic attitudes are becoming more acceptable and have been exacerbated by the 2015 refugee crisis and the rise of Islamic terrorism.

Flag flying

• All official buildings fly the national flag, and lots of homes have flagpoles in their gardens.
• There are strict rules governing the times that flags can be raised and lowered.

russfeiring

A big celebration students have just before their final exams of high school. More on Wikipedia.

Funerals

The state pays a lump sum to cover funeral expenses.

Please and thank you

• There’s no real informal use of “please”
• takk does the job of please and thank you, and is a bit of “all-purpose politeness”.

Everyone speaks English

The major problem likely to be encountered by students of Norwegian is in finding the opportunity to practice their language skills. Ever helpful, Norwegians in shops, banks, and post offices will reply to a faltering Norwegian query with a response in perfect English!

Steep roofs

Steep roofs help snow from causing damage.

Food

A traditional Norwegian breakfast consists of bread with cheese, ham, or salami, topped by thinly sliced tomato or cucumber. Eggs – soft- or hard-boiled – are also popular. Juice and coffee or tea accompany the meal.

• There’s no school meals and all children must take a packed lunch (matpakke).
• Throughout the day, people typically drink strong black coffee, rarely with milk.

School and attitudes towards children

Although parents may accompany children when they start school, at age six, children soon make their own way there and back.

Motorists should also be aware that children have the right to stop the traffic when they wish to cross by putting out their hand.

Pupils call their teachers by their first names.

Education stops being free at the higher level: Norway has eight universities (including Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromsø) and twenty-three university colleges.

Shopping

• Most shops are open from 10AM-5PM Monday to Friday, closing at 3PM on a Saturday and not being open at all on a Sunday.
• Some town centres have late night shopping on Thursday until 6PM or 8PM.
• Shops are not open on public holidays.

Tax

• Value-added tax called merverdiagift, and shortened to mva, is 25% and is levied on all goods and services.
• This means shopping can be expected.
• But tourists can get a refund of around 11 to 18 percent of sales above ~£40 if they shop at stores displaying the “tax free” sign and take a coupon to the airport.

Coinage

Even though there’s 100 øre in one krone, the only øre coin is the 50 øre coin. When paying for shopping, purchases are rounded to the nearest 50 øre.

Card machines

The message godkjent informs you that your purchase is approved.

Eating elk or reindeer

Port is the most widely available and least expensive meat; beef and strongly flavoured lamb or mutton are also available; poultry is still relatively uncommon. Many visitors take the opportunity to try elk or reindeer.

Lunch

Lunch in Norway is usually cold, perhaps an open-faced sandwich.

Tipping

• Service is included at most restaurants.
• When it is not, waiters don’t expect to receive more than 5 percent of the bill.

Alcohol

Not only are there strict regulations governing the times at which alcohol may be sold, but wine and spirits are available for sale only at designated state-controlled wine shops. As the distance between these shops may be considerable in rural areas, and as the tax of alcohol is high, visitors may not always be able to buy wine.

• askevitt is a traditional liquor distilled from potatoes and grain.
• There’s a big rush on Saturday at 2:30PM before shops close for the rest of the weekend.
• Bars only really exist in towns and (when this book was written) a pint of beer might cost around £7.30.

Famous artists

• The painter Edvard Much
• The playwright Henrik Ibsen
• The composer Edvard Grieg

Midnight marathon

For those interested in running, the June Midnight Sun marathon in Tromsø is held at midnight, but more conventional starting times are available at the world’s northernmost marathon at Spitsbergen (Svalbard).

Quick flights

Comparing flying and driving:

Stavanger and Oslo, for example, takes at least eight hours in the summer when the mountain roads are open, but flying time is around thirty minutes.

Many Norwegians commute daily by plane to Oslo and other major towns and a simplified check-in system means that taking the plane is almost as easy as getting on the bus. Air travel is not cheap, but there are discounts for regular travelers.

Oslo’s transportation system

• There’s an underground train network called the “T”.
• You can buy travel cards available for 24 hours or more, and can be purchased from Ruter’s sales points (Ruter run the transportation network in Oslo).

Two languages

There are two written forms of Norwegian:

• Bokmål
• Nynorsk

Long TV programs

…other programming has included the 134-hour voyage of the Nurigruten boat route along the length of Norway’s western coast from Bergen to Kirkenes and a 12-hour long broadcast on firewood, including 8 hours of a live fireplace and commentary from wood experts.