Hello my darlings! I have been working hard on my norwegian which isn’t that easy by myself but I have invested in a very cheap but highly rated “teach yourself norwegian” book

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have :)

kier-cs:

Norway looks like Middle Earth on Flickr. by kier cooke sandvik

i took this on a school trip around the mountains when i was 16, i had to borrow an APS camera because i didn’t have any film for my own

(via unprofessionalattemptatmurder)

→ Norway: Tipping & Etiquette - TripAdvisor

In Norway, tipping is not required anywhere. Service (as well as sales tax) is always included in the bill at restaurants and bars. However, it is usual for Norwegians to leave a tip in restaurants and bars if they are happy about the service. You can round to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK (leaving coins), a 10% tip is considered generous. It is not uncommon to tip taxi-drivers or cleaning staff at hotels. Other service personnel almost never receive tips. You may sometimes encounter in some restaurants the servers demanding a tip of at least 10%. This is not required although they may act as though it’s compulsary. In real restaurants (where customers are served at the table by a designated waiter) tipping is very common.

Norway Commercial

(Source: youtube.com)

Frida Amundsen - Closer [Live in studio] [2011] (by FridaAmundsen)

→ Skepticism grows over immigration : Views and News from Norway

A new study suggests that half of all Norwegians want to shut Norway’s borders to new immigrants. Just as many believe integration efforts have failed. Immigrants from North America, Asia, Africa and other parts of the world only make up around 10 percent of the population in Norway, but it doesn’t appear many more are welcome.

oh shit.

oh god :(

(Source: sl0thsykes, via wonkanerd)

→ Going to College/Living in Norway, What are my chances?

I am a 22 year old US citizen, have about forty college credits in general studies (3.2 GPA), and want to go to college in Norway. I haven’t been to a University yet and all my college education has been paid for by myself at community college. I’ve been saving for a house (will have roughly $3500+ by August), but want to consider my options with school both local and abroad before tieing myself down by purchasing property. I would like to go to Norway because I am tired with how my country is run and want to see a diametrically different side of the world (there are other deeper motivations, see additional details for more info) From what I’ve researched, in no particular order of relevance:

1. Foreigners are able to get free tuition at Norwegian universities
2. Living can be expensive, but it is possible to find employment under a student Visa.
3. Leaning the norwegian language may be required depending on what degree programs are being attended.
4. If I stay for less than a year I will be required to have health insurance from my own coutnry.

Sites I’ve looked at: http://www.studyinnorway.no/ , http://www.nav.no/English/Membership+in+The+National+Insurance+Scheme

For what it is worth I have basic IT skills but no certifications, though I believe I could easily get A+/Network+ certified before the end of the year. I have around four years work experience mainly in customer service/technical support and sales. I already have a passport. I am currently employeed in technical support for an ISP. Staying state side I can try to get a house, subsidize the mortgage by getting room mates and try to use the $5000 yearly tuition reimbursement from my job to gradually work through a BA over the next few years (Local University costs about $4500 per semester so I could only attend a semester a year at this point or try to get another job that offers full tuition reimbursment) I have childish hopes that there is some chance I can find a way to move to Norway, attend school and work part time, and eventually pursue a career in IT since word on the web is Norway will be looking for IT professionals in the coming year.

Any hopeful/soul crushing advise?

Additional Details

These details are meant to offer insight in to my current line of thinking contributing to my desire to go abroad. I’ve grown up my entire life up to the last four months as a staunch believer in the LDS church. Part of growing up in a largely conservative house hold is the indoctrinated view point that the US is a blessed and choice land above all others for the disciples of God. This viewpoint, combined with a mixture of other doctrine and teachings in the LDS church led me to essentially live what I would now call an unfulfilled life, operating under the idea that my overall progression at this mortal stage of life was just a small part of a much bigger picture. I wouldn’t say I took life for granted, but I definately took it too casually by not worrying about getting a good education quickly after high school or taking a real interest in my studies. As far as I knew, the world was on a prophetic path to the second coming of Christ. My beliefs have changed now, along with it my world view, and now I am finding myself scrambling to make the most out of life. As a result I want to see the world and learn to appreciate just how fracking big and diverse it really is.

EDIT

Want to give a big thanks to everyone who’s given me feedback. So far here is the gist of the situation for anyone else looking in to the matter:

1. Tuition is free which drives up competition to get accepted in Norway. Pococoy provided some responses from his attempt to apply citing in some cases a nearly 9:1 applicant to acceptance ratio in some programes , though it looks like he was mostly applying for masters programs.
2. Again, tuition is free, but living expenses are not covered and there are no options (for undergrads at least from what I’ve seen) for financial aid. In order to get accepted you must show you have a year’s worth of living expenses saved. Once there it is possible to find part-time work (only part-time) to help with living expenses.
3. You will not be able to go to school/live in Norway with a travel Visa. Legally at least. A student visa or work visa are your main in’s to moving and going to school in Norway long term.
4. People and culture are good. You can find like minded people. Norwegians don’t go out of their way to introduce themselves in public settings and come off reserved because of it, but break the ice and you can find friends just like anywhere else.
5. It will take roughly 80-90,000 NOK (~$16,000 USD) to show adequate means to provide for yourself when applying for a student Visa. If you can get in with that, frugal living and a part-time job can help keep you there.
6. Norway and Finland (not 100% on Finland) are some of the remaining EU countries that offer free tuition to foreign students.

From the feedback I’ve recieved, unless someone knows something I’ve yet to find out, it seems I may have to figure something out at home and get a BA. There are more options available for masters programs and aid in Norway from what I’ve looked in to. Maybe in a few years I’ll have the capital and credentials to see what’s out there. I’m still looking for any new information anyone wants to offer or add however.

→ Working Women Are the Key to Norway's Prosperity - NYTimes.com

“Women,” says the union leader, Mie Opjordsmoen of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade, a mother of two. “Norwegian women work, pay taxes and have babies. That’s our secret.”