Comments for Life in Norway

Comment on A Personal Update by David Nikel

David Nikel — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:29:32 +0000

I will definitely miss a balcony and you’re right it’s gonna be top of the list when I buy!

But by “outdoor space” I don’t mean a shared courtyard or a bench in a park, it’s a very quiet space just outside my door, away from the road and neighbours. With a table and chairs

I’m saving a small fortune by moving here so I can begin to save some serious NOK, with one eye on buying sometime…

Comment on A Personal Update by Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:18:52 +0000

and you’re gonna miss a balcony… You can’t wander out into outdoor space in dressing gown… I just guess when you buy you’ll add this as a big deal. It’s surprising, the personal outdoor space…
I remember you enjoying our balcony with a coffee.

But regardless, when’s the flat-warming?

Comment on A Personal Update by Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:14:05 +0000

maybe I’ll get to meet your Dad again… I promise to swear less (unless whe have LSK home…)

Comment on Happy Birthday Norway! by Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:17 +0000

I am so glad you enjoyed this 17. mai as being part of.
may I point out, Jens (Prime Minisister) was actually over in Shetland to commerate the day. Shetland was part of Norway until given away as part of a debt.

One condition was – they always help viking ships / vikings.
And they did.
Many older filk still speak Norsk.

Add in the Shetland Bus during WW2
(there is a really good book called The Shetland Bus)

Comment on A Personal Update by Qouda

Qouda — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:29:32 +0000

Awesome. Stavanger is my favourite Norwegian town. It was love at first sight

Comment on A Personal Update by Audrey

Audrey — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:22:45 +0000

So many changes. In my experience, doing it all at once is a good thing. Lots of luck!

Comment on A Personal Update by Chris

Chris — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:26:40 +0000

Clearly I need to visit again when I get myself a proper real job!!

Comment on My Work Permit Headache by Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:24:53 +0000

It’s good to know that whimpering appeals work here! =)

Comment on 26 Things I Learned From a Year in Norway by Odd Helge Lindseth

Odd Helge Lindseth — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:20:21 +0000

Thank you once again for an interesting post!

What you can witness in Norway today isn’t so much an expression of socialism, but rather an expression of an important Norwegian value: Equality. If there’s a core Norwegian value it must be equality, well, in addition to our high valuation of closeness to nature! More than that, it’s not just a highly held ideal; Norway is indeed a very egalitarian society! After the Second World War we have managed to create a modern society with small class differences, a large public sector and a high quality welfare state. All our oil and gas revenues in the last decades have of course helped tremendously to achieve this!

This high valuation of equality might be explained historically: Norway has traditionally been a peasant society with few feudal or aristocratic traditions. Several mass movements in the 1800s and 1900s, such as the socialist movement, also contributed to the emphasis of equality more than elitism (so socialism has something to do with it …). The advent of the modern welfare state after the Second World also contributed in the same way.

The notion of equality is a widespread held value, but is interpreted differently across the political spectrum. Even the Progress Party and other political parties on the right argue with “equality rhetoric”. The political differences between political parties are, compared to other countries, quite small (did I mention equality?). So whoever wins the next general election in 2013, it’s safe to say it will not destroy the basic values of Norwegian society. There might be certain changes but the Norwegian model will remain basically the same.

Sorry for the long comment … Blame it on the professor in me …

Comment on 26 Things I Learned From a Year in Norway by Andrea

Andrea — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:37:35 +0000

Congrats on being here a year! This is a great list – some things we’ve already noticed and others we haven’t but will keep an eye out for now =)