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A couple of years ago I posted for advice from the STW massive. At the time I was considering weekly commute to work in Oslo. A short update for those interested
I’ve just completed 2 and a half years of the commute but will stop at the end of August after deciding that a full time move to Oslo wasn’t really for us.
Overall I’d say I’ve had a great time. The work, team and environment (riding mtb in the mountains after work) were great. My wife and son came out 4 times a year to experience Norway first hand - skiing, boating etc. But is fair to say that the winters are long and tough and a real grind.
The first year was really easy, I got an apartment, took my bike over and got into the work. The second year started to get harder and I started to realise that communicating with my family on video calls and being isolated in the dark cold winters was not a good way to live my life. So after much consideration we decided that if we weren’t going to move as a family to Norway then my commute should end.
I can fully recommend Norway (but be prepared for the winters) but working away from home is definitely time limited.
Thanks to everyone for the advice!
Thanks for the update
went to northern Norway earlier in the year.
it just blew me away. just a gorgeous wonderful place.
But, I thought to myself, what can you do here in the winter, in 24 hour darkness.
A pal of mine is just on his way home after a month sailing his 12m aluminium OVNI lifting keel boat around the coast, right up as far as the Arctic Circle. The pictures he's been sending back have been amazing.
A shame you are leaving the Nordics, but I can understand your reasons. Good luck with the future!
Ton, it's not really 24 hours of night. There is still daylight, it's just really limited. Oddly, it is the near total daylight during summer that messes me up most. Just cannot sleep without topcats.
I remember this thread. Thanks for the up date!
Life in Oslo is not really any more relevant to what it’s like in Northern Norway than life here is in terms of geography. It is further from Oslo to the northern tip of Norway than it is from Oslo to Rome. People don’t get what a massive place it is - or rather long.
Glad you enjoyed it, certainly something I’d consider for a while. Did you work in Norwegian linguistically whilst you were there? Also on a Norwegian income did it become more feasible financially?
Life in Oslo is not really any more relevant to what it’s like in Northern Norway than life here is in terms of geography. It is further from Oslo to the northern tip of Norway than it is from Oslo to Rome. People don’t get what a massive place it is – or rather long.
agree with that. it is huge, we flew from oslo for 2 hours to tromso.
talking to locals up there, I found it funny that it is easier to drive out of Norway and down through Sweden to get to oslo. as it is quicker.
I would move to live in tromso at the drop of a hat if I got a chance
I worked in English (luckily) as I’m crap at picking up languages
Also was on an expat package. This came with some pretty good benefits but only time will tell if it was worth the costs (missing a good chunk of family life each week).
Interesting OP. I live 8 hrs drive north of Oslo, in Sweden, darker, colder and so on.
The winter is perhaps a month too long (we can get snow in May sometimes) but the winters are fantastic. Cycling until November, then it is ice skating on frozen lakes, then December comes the snow and it's XC skiing, skiing and snowboarding until April. You can do all of this at night on lit slopes or lit ski tracks, or you keep an eye on the moon for moonlit xc skiing or fatbiking in the forest with just elk for company (snow brigthens up everything) We then get the '5th season' vårvinter (spring winter) where the days are longer, there is lots of snow and it is warm enought to ski in a t shirt and shirts. Magic time fo the year.
Then summer comes around and you can go mountain biking (proper mountains) for 8 hours until midnight when the sun never really sets.
Beats british dark wet grey winters by an absolute mile!
But, I thought to myself, what can you do here in the winter, in 24 hour darkness.
kalsarikänni (literal translation: getting drunk, in your underpants, alone)
You know all those scandinavian/nordic words that appear on christmas card scenes like Hygge (warm, cosyness) or lagom (everything in balance, moderation). Yea, those. Once you've had a hot coco and posted a steamed up selfie on instagram to show the world how ace your life is once. The rest of the time you get back from work, knackered and just want some me time, and what better me time is there than locking the door, opening a bottle, ordering takeaway pizza and forgetting life's problems.
It's like mindfulness, but with vodca.
The rest of the time you get back from work, knackered and just want some me time, and what better me time is there than locking the door, opening a bottle, ordering takeaway pizza and forgetting life’s problems.
Well put, Britain in a nutshell. oh wait i see...
I'm in Oslo for about 8-9 months out of the year and absolutely love it. I agree with what you say about the winters though, November is the worst month for me - cold, dark, wet/icy - once the snow arrives it's much better. Being able to get into the forest on skis or my fatbike after work means I'm more active in the winters than I ever was working in London. Moving from there to Oslo about 4 years ago was the best decision I ever made - it was only meant to be 6 months, but once I got there I never wanted to move back. I don't have kids but can definitely see how the lack of family contact would be tough, plus constantly travelling back and forth. Next year I'm planning to spend the summer there for the first time, looking forward to some longer bike trips to see more of the country.
But, I thought to myself, what can you do here in the winter, in 24 hour darkness
"Fishing anf f***ing. And it's too cold to fish."
It's a GREAT time to return to the UK for life AND work! 😉
It'll be a whole world nicer seeing your wife and son daily as opposed to at weekends I'm sure. I was travelling into London for about the same period, about 4 hours of my life each day. Now I'm back in Cambridge and riding to work, 15kg lighter, happier, about the same amount of disposable income (maybe a bit less), only owning and running 1 car not 2. Sometimes the choices that might seem less sensible are the most sensible 🙂
@howsyourdad1 whereabouts are you? I'm in Luleå a fair bit at the moment and was wondering about bringing the bike out next time.
Thanks for all the responses
You’ve got to get into the frame of mind for the winter. I agree it’s a month too long. I also think the problem for me was that I’d work fairly long hours then just go home and be in “solitary” at the flat whereas in the spring/summer I’d be out enjoy the late nights on my bike
I recall one story of how men live up in the north of the country. Apparently it’s a diet of anti-depressants, caffeine pills and viagra. It’s the new apparently 😉
Finally it’s worth saying that I was up for the move (the state of UK politics etc also a driver for a few years out) but her in doors didn’t want to leave her mum.
Now If it was 20 years ago You wouldn’t have seen me for dust
@honeybadger I live in Rödön, near Östersund and Åre. Feel free to come visit!
Open offer of a cuppa if you are ever down in Stockholm or Uppsala too.
Interesting, I've really enjoyed Denmark and could probably work for a company in Norway too in Oslo or Stavanger, so it's on the maybe list.
Thanks @howsyourdad1 and @willard much appreciated. Still a bit random with my rotations out there but hoping to nab some time to travel round a bit. Is there a good Swedish resource for MTB trails? There seems to be a bit on trailforks but not a lot.
Thanks for posting. Really, really interesting to get the longer term perspective.
When I've worked there, one of the things that struck me was the slightly joyless working environment. Not a lot of time for small talk, just straight to the point. Very transactional.
I can't argue with the productivity and efficiency of the approach, but I found it a little clinical and emotionally bereft.
Do you think if is been living there, my Nordic colleagues would have been slightly more welcoming and engaging?
Currently Oslo is the only overseas location I've ever worked where the locals haven't offered to take me out for a drink / dinner after work.
Swedes, Danes and Finns have all been lovely. The Norwegians (Oslo-ites) just not so forthcoming.
What was I doing wrong in Oslo? If anything?
What was I doing wrong in Oslo? If anything?
https://www.thesocialguidebook.no/blogs/norwegian-culture
Read this. It's not always 100% accurate but it gives you the idea, especially when it comes to 'framing'.
I lived in Trondheim for 10 years and just recently moved to Stavanger. I would really like to move back to Scotland but I think the Norwegian system has spoiled me for living and working anywhere else.
Swedes, Danes and Finns have all been lovely. The Norwegians (Oslo-ites) just not so forthcoming.
That's exactly my experience also. I spent two winters working in Norway and it was pretty lonely. I was invited out by Danish colleagues; Norwegians never. In Denmark and Sweden I had a good social life. So now I'm a bit negative about Norway - fabulous scenery, very boring people. No doubt there are exceptions.
Norway – fabulous scenery, very boring people.
Only been a visitor, not worked there but I have to agree. There is a stark contrast as you travel from Denmark to Norway. The women we met in a public capacity (shops, ferries etc) were short to the point of officiousness, the men hyper reserved. I didn't detect any malice behind this - just the way they were.
In my experience Norwegians are generally very reserved and quiet. This isn’t the case for everyone and there are certainly exceptions
I was once told “if a Norwegian holds a door open for you they really like you”
It was certainly a factor in the thinking about moving there full time. For example if my wife wasn’t working could she easily develop a network? Could my son make friends and get invited for play dates etc etc