So while unpacking, you get the "I'm really
here!!!" shock. You're happy and sad. You want to smile, but feel like
crying. It's a very chaotic mixture of feelings to have left everything familiar
behind and be in an entirely different place for the first time where you don't
know anything or anyone. It is powerful!
First Impressions:
The money!! GOD! Not the currency, the
conversion of the Norwegian Krone, but how much everything costs: so expensive.
The same statistics that put Norway in the Top 3 countries to live and work,
also put it in the Top 5 (Top 3! But is not to scare anyone) of the most expensive
countries.
Ok we can say, that the pay-checks are high,
but considering how much it costs basic needs, like accommodation and food, we
can say that (at least) half of your salary is to cover that.
After a time here, and getting fully into
that, the other half will perfectly suit your life style (attentions you'll not
get filthy rich that easily), but in the beginning, when you're getting into
the first steps about Norwegian lifestyle, that can be a shock! Remember, that
if you're coming with a work contract, you only receive the salary in the end
of the month, which means that, in the first month you will have to sort it out
how you can survive! Yes bring your piggy bank that you're saving since
childhood, that should probably do it for the first month! Oh and yes,
considering just the basic needs. (We can go into details about this issue later
because the amount of money you will need will depend upon a few things).
The light! Or lack of it, depending the time
of the year that you arrive. Since it is a country way up in the north, that
has more influence in the summer/winter time compared with the countries closer
to tropics. Let's put it this way: if you arrive in summer time (Jun-Aug)
you'll see you well awaked at 23:00 due to the strong sun light! If you arrive
in winter time (Nov-Feb) you'll feel sleepy at 17:00 because it is already "pitch
black". And this varies within Norway, if you are in the north or in the
south, because in the north (above artic circle) you'll get the full extreme
experience! Winter with no light, Summer with no night.
The weather! Ok this probably is the most
cliché topic, because everyone assumes that since this is a Nordic country it
is always snowing and polar bears walk free in the streets. That`s wrong! Norway is
a multi-cultural country, open to all types of nationalities, so grizzly bears,
pandas and all types of bears are free to walk in the streets!!
As the light, the weather also varies if
you're in the north or in the south and also in the west or east… basically as
any other country! In the north, more cold and snow, in the south more
moderate. In the west, near the coast more wind and rain, in the east (inside)
more cold and hot (not much wind).
But basically don't be scared with that, it
is not that bad!... ok if you`re going to the north it is extreme! But in the
rest of the country you easily get used to the weather conditions, and prepare
yourself to it (Clothes of course!).
The language! Yes, as we said, almost
everyone speaks English, but you don't expect that in their country they will
guess if you don't know how to speak Norwegian. If in your country you approach
someone in the street, market or some other place would you speak in English? That's the same here.
And when you never heard this language, your reaction is just freeze, staring
at that person confused wondering if the person spoke at you or just mumbled some
words. Then that person will immediately see in your face that you're a foreigner
and address to you politely in English.
The houses! Unless you come from
another Nordic country, the houses may be quite an experience. They look lovely
just like the houses in the cartoons and fairy tales, all colored and made of
wood. However, unless you're here for many years or you were born here you will
not have access to one of those wonderland mansions. The spaces of the houses
are tiny and mostly you'll be obliged to share that space with someone you may
or may not know. If you go for a bold choice to live on your own be prepared to
spend a significant amount with yourself and still have a ridiculously small
place. You should also be prepared for sharing the house not only with other
guests but with your own landlords, since most of the houses have transformed
the lower floor (yes: the lower floor beneath the ground) into an apartment so that they can profit from the increasingly
search for a place to stay.
Another disturbing thing about the houses here is that
they seem to no be familiarized with the concept of covering the light. Maybe
since half the year is dark during the night they don't need it, but what about
half of the year when the days are so long that they are part of the night as
well? Besides even when it's dark outside, there's always some light coming in,
which for a person who is used to sleep in the darkness may be quite a bummer. (This may not apply if you have to go for one of the "bunkers".)
Another interesting issue about the windows is
that there's usually no curtains and when they exist they're often smaller than
the window (I don't understand this one). It's like there was no more fabric
left and they are shorter or smaller in the sides that the size of the window
itself.
Variety! Siste, men ikke minste: if you're
expecting to see the streets full of white people with bright blue eyes and
radiant blond air and you (most likely) landed in one of the main cities, get
ready for a variety of shapes and forms, since the Norwegian towns may be
small, but they're very international. In fact, one of the biggest shocks we
had when arrived was facing a beggar, as soon as we left the bus in the city
center. We thought there were no beggars further north (living conditions,
weather) - but there are, mostly from eastern Europe.
So basically these were the main issues that called our attention when we first arrived. Later we'll take a deeper look into some of them.
