Lessons from Norway

Written By: Catherine Lemus

Major: Marketing

Location: Norway

Quiet Doesn’t Mean Rude:

Living in a city known for it’s “cold” personalities, I have gained a new appreciation for personal respect and privacy. While it was tough to adjust to minimal small talk and social contact with the residents of Oslo, I have started to understand why this is an accepted social norm. In the past, my extroverted personality would jump at the chance to speak up and ask lots of questions of others (while also speaking quite a bit about myself). After living in Norway, I now find myself taking a step back and allowing others the chance to grow comfortable with me before engaging. Respecting the privacy of others can be as simple as not asking too many questions in the grocery store or in line for the bus. Recognizing when others are taking time for themselves has allowed me to reflect more on my own thoughts and feelings while also soaking up more of my surroundings.

Every City has its Challenges:

At first glance, Oslo could easily be described as an ideal city. It is located in the world’s richest country. It is sustainable. It is gender equal. Having lived in Oslo, I would agree that many of these things make the city a pretty awesome living spot!

At the same time though, I have also attended several conferences and had some fairly skeptical professors over the semester. The discussions that ensued have helped me understand some of the struggles that Oslo and Norway are facing while maintaining the image of an ideal city. These struggles include gender employment inequality (only 60% of Norwegian women are working full-time compared to men), high taxes, and the moral dilemma between using oil as a main export while also establishing a sustainable society. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that I would go back to Norway and work full-time in the country if given the chance, but I also can say that I have a new appreciation for the reality of life in a Nordic country.

Candles can get you through Winter

The terms “hygge” and “koselig” are beautiful ways to describe the cozy feeling experienced when snuggled up in a blanket with a warm fire and candlelight. It is more emotional than our english term “cozy” as it is something that really gets into the soul. The evenings I have spent warm in my Norwegian apartment reading or watching Netflix might be some of my favorites from the entire trip. I have learned to embrace the dark seasons of the year by adding light and warmth into my home instead. Rather than forcing myself into the snow, I began to appreciate the beauty that an apartment can have when filled with the yellow light from candles and adventures from my latest book.

Certainly upon my return, I expect to buy many more candles which have helped to survive such dark and chilly winters. I know it sounds cheesy but I challenge anyone reading to find a good book and cozy up to a candle-lit evening wrapped up in your preferred blanket and you too can feel the warmth of a koselig moment!

Change up Your Routine:

When studying abroad, it is rare to be bored or have to do the same thing twice. The ability to always experience new things has been one of the best things for my personality which craves newness and adventure. I have also found that I rarely let myself fall into habits for fear of letting my days feel mundane or slow. This could be as simple as taking a different bus home or walking down a new street to get to my university. These little changes were neither hard nor time consuming. While I recognize that my life in Kalamazoo might not have quite as much opportunity for new experiences as in Oslo, I have learned the importance of finding new things to appreciate in life. Returning home, it will be important to spice up my scheduled weeks and months to be sure that I am living life to the fullest!

Patience Patience Patience:

One of my biggest advantages in life is that I speak English as my first language. One of my biggest disadvantages is that I do not have much language capability beyond preschool Spanish and a handful of Norwegian phrases. This semester I was in the shoes of both a teacher and a student countless times. As a teacher, I would help my exchange friends (from across Europe) edit their essays, refine their sentences, and correct their grammar as requested. I was always in charge of proofreading and had the responsibility of making sure our work was up-to-part when it came to how our thoughts came across on a page. As a student, I was constantly trying to learn new words from my friends who seemingly could understand one another based on the languages of their home countries. I have been forced to learn to be patient and intentional with my communication. The lesson of patience has also come across in my tolerance with myself, espcailly as I have pushed myself to learn elements of a new language. My impatience typically results in getting frustrated and quickly quitting. Having seen first-hand what wonderful progress can be made with dedication over time, my drive to improve my patience has been growing and can continue to improve throughout my life.

Stay Humble:

One of my favorite Nordic ideals is called the “Law of Jante”. This is essentially the mentality that within a society, there should be an emphasis on collective accomplishments and well-being rather than individualistic success. This is a big reason why teacher’s (even when holding their Doctorate degree) are only to be called by their first-name and students work in group projects far more frequently than solo. There can be some faults to this ideology, specifically when it comes to innovation and competition, but regardless the Law of Jante aims to foster a culture of collectivism which supports the society at-large. In business, this has helped me understand why it is so difficult to “network” with Scandinavians in the braggy way that usually is standard back home. The Law of Jante has taught me to keep in mind how my actions impact others and how to continue to stay humble as it can bring greater success over time.

Take a Walk, or a hike, or a ski…just get into nature!

Oslo is a capital city that is surrounded by nature and I don’t just mean surrounded by a couple of trees. Oslo has a forest, rolling hills, lakes, islands, rivers, and even a fjord! The beauty of this might not be apparent when standing in the city center but wander just a few hundred meters away and you can come across Akerselva, the city’s old mill river. Hop on a subway and in less than 30 minutes you can hike up Kolsåstoppen or Vettakollen for a fantastic view of the city. Float your way through the Oslo fjord and get acquainted with the five islands surrounding the city.

Since most everything is closed on Sundays in Norway, I have learned to embrace nature and dedicate my Sundays to the exploration of the natural beauty that surrounded me! I am so glad to have been given a day off from shopping and chores on Sunday because this day allowed me to relax and recharge while soaking up some fresh air and the occasional ray of sunshine. I have learned to slow down and appreciate the healing powers of nature and will seek out more natural methods of stress relief upon my return.

Categories: Lessons, Norway, Marketing