It is not an option to stop hiking due to bad weather.
You are only allowed to stay inside if the weather is life-threatening.
Thunderstorms, rain, snow, ice and wind are an everyday reality for Norwegians. From an early age, Norwegians learn that outdoors activities shall not be cancelled due to bad weather.
They have, therefore, no other choice but to find good clothing.
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*Sandemose, Aksel (1933). En flyktning krysser sitt spor. Oslo: Aschehoug
§ 41 You shall hang lost mittens, gloves or hats
If you go cross-country skiing you will be considered Norwegian regardless of your real nationality. “Å bli født med ski på beina” is...
]]>If you go cross-country skiing you will be considered Norwegian
regardless of your real nationality
The expression “Å bli født med ski på beina” or "To be born with skis on your feet"
Describes Norwegians’ relationship with skiing, nature and winter
They show great pride in their ability to ski
By interesting yourself for cross country skiing
chances are you will ease your integration to this winter country!
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Begynner å rydde vekk og sier – “ja, ja, neida, sååå ...”
Begynner å gjespe
Begynner å snakke om hvor tidlig de skal opp i morgen
Stiller klokken på veggen
Sier: "Jeg tror nesten jeg må legge meg nå".
Starts to clear up and say – “yes, yes, no, sooo ...”
Begins to yawn
Starts talking about how early they must wake up tomorrow
Sets the clock on the wall
Says “I think I’ll go to bed now”
VIPPS – An APP developed by the Norwegian bank DNB which allows fast and
efficient transfer of money between Norwegian bank accounts.
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This is one of the 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws presented in the book "The 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws"
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Read more about our amazing Norwegian friends in Our Social Guidebooks to Norway
In Norway, it is usually not allowed to show that you are smart.
]]>In Norway, it is usually not allowed to show that you are smart.
It is ok to be smart only if you make an effort to hide that you are smart
If you do well for a test and did prepare a lot
you better pretend that “you just were lucky”
that “you did not read that much”
I Norway it makes people feel good that you “just were lucky”
and that you are humble about your good achievements
Fellow Norwegians are relifthat you are not smarter than anyone else
That you "just were lucky"
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You can either go past them, or stay behind, keeping to at least a two arm-length distance. Otherwise, you risk scaring Norwegians who will feel their personal space is being invaded.
This is one of the 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws presented in our new book "The 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws"
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Read more about our amazing Norwegian friends in Our Social Guidebooks to Norway
This rule only applies in the countryside.
Never in town, in elevators, hotels, coffee shops, etc.
Norwegians need to have the opportunity to escape to greet a stranger.
They will think you are weird if you greet them without a reason when they are not in nature.
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The entire country stops as people sit down around the nearest TVor laptop in their workplaceand watch the national heroes win almostevery competitionin a sport almost no other nation competes in
You shall send the card by post or leave it at the doorstep without...
]]>You shall send the card by post
or leave it at the doorstep
without ringing the bell
Especially in Christmas time
Doing this will result in the person receiving the visit
wondering why you are there and excusing the mess, lack of cookies to serve, etc.
This is a very uncomfortable situation
However, in the countryside it is allowed,
but mainly just on farms
The only exception in cities is on a birthday -
then Norwegians are prepared that people may ring the doorbell
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This is one of the 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws presented in our new book "The 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws"
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Read more about our amazing Norwegian friends in our other Guidebooks to Norway written by Julien S. Bourrelle and Sean Percival.
There you should go skiing - independent of how the weather is and enjoy a primitive lifestyle. Or at least...
]]>There you should go skiing - independent of how the weather is
and enjoy a primitive lifestyle
Or at least, pretend that you do
This is sort of the “perfect Norwegian dream”
Your whole Instagram feed
will be full of pictures of Norwegians in the mountains
at this time of the year
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This is one of the 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws presented in our new book "The 100 Unwritten Norwegian Social Laws"
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Read more about our amazing Norwegian friends in our other Guidebooks to Norway written by Julien S. Bourrelle and Sean Percival.
Just use your arm, this is called “The Norwegian arm”
]]>Asking may result in an embarrassing situation
where you talk without a real reason
It may disturb the person
Just use your arm,
this is called
“The Norwegian arm”
Illustration: The Social Guidebook to Norway
If you try to take this up again, you will be told that it has already been discussed. The fact that it is not solved is not such an issue..
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Norwegians present problems,
discuss them with everyone
and are satisfied with that
Often the problem stays unresolved,
and if you try to take this up again,
you will be told that it has already been discussed
The fact that it is not solved is not such an issue
Norwegian culture enforces the idea that one needs to work hard before being allowed to...
]]>Norwegian culture enforces the idea that one needs to work hard
before being allowed to enjoy something
This is the same as with your colleagues,
you must participate in a sport
before having a drink or dinner.
This is considered theft, in the same category as stealing someone’s...
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Norwegians are shy of conflict. Describing problems as challenges helps...
]]>Norwegians are shy of conflict
Describing problems as challenges
helps having a less conflictual environment
Norwegians strictly follow the line system,
except when a new cashier desk opens in the grocery store
Then they allow themselves
to run as fast as they can,
and pretend not to see that people around
them were there first