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88 Comments

  1. Nice post! I’m guessing Bergen must be a bit friendlier than Oslo where we live…hard for this southerner to deal with the lack of civility. I think you’re spot-on about the younger generation here having more potential for accepting people they don’t already know. You just have to concentrate on the many good aspects of life here and deal with the less desirable ones.

  2. Well done! You got your point across perfectly. I would have never thought a lot of these things about Norway. And the tabacco thing, yuck. Why do Euros all do it?? Sorry to generalize, Euros, but it is true. I am glad you decided to write it :)

    1. The snus and general tobacco thing is an uphill battle. Honestly, the amount of young people smoking now compared to 5-10 years ago is massive. Barely anyone smokes. They’re gradually making it harder and less attractive to snus as well. Like the law that tobacco wares can’t be on open display behind the counter isn’t even 10 years old, and just recently a law that forces tobacco containers to be in the most unappealing brown color possible, along with the mandatory “YOU WILL DIE” notes. I say give it another 5-10 years.

  3. this is so interesting! Having lived in several countries, I know how some societies may some colder than others, even if the people themselves are actually super friendly. And I agree, Scandinavian fashion is totally amazing.

    1. I like Oslo its a lovely city. However I was in for a shock when trying to socialize with Norwegians. One of the drawbacks of having a dark skin you are seen as inferior or an immigrant. Even though I was from the UK I had a hard time making Norwegian friends.

      I cannot speak for other cities in Norway. However in Oslo. The locals are jealous if you wear better clothes or have a more expensive car then them. They immediately label you as a show off. Or you will get comments like “he is probably selling drugs to under age girls and using them for trafficking”.

      If your dark skinned guy forget even trying to make friends with Norwegians in Oslo. Focus on meeting expats as you will beable to connect better with them and less likely to get stabbed in the back.

    2. Just wanted to add on what Jim said about how being a show off is seen as a negative. It’s one of the things I love about Norway, the Law of Jane (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante). It’s an over extracted, and satirical “social rule” of the Nordic people.

      The “rules” may sound ridiculous, and horrible, but I think it’s a good thing. People are kinder, they don’t complain, and people don’t look at themselves as superior to other. The “law” has been very controversial lately, and the younger generation does not like it. You can see this in how celebrities have changed over the last decade. From very humble, down to earth and just like the common man. It has become more the “worship” of celebrities as there is in America.

      On your comment about racism in Oslo I find this very hard to belive, 1/3 of Oslo are immigrants, and known to be a very accepting place. There are some problems, like the fact that immigrants in Oslo are responsible for more than 3/4 of the violent crime, which has made some Norwegians angry and scared, but overall people are very accepting.

      But Norwegians are hard to get to know regardless of your skin color or nationality because Norwegians are not very social with strangers. Norwegians do not often socialize with those they don’t know. Being self-sufficient, not bothering others, and being quiet are common Norwegian social norms in the daily life. Not disturbing others as society functions daily is highly emphasized, including casual conversation with strangers, eye contact, holding the door open, being too loud, or sitting next to a stranger when you could sit away from them.

  4. I like posts like these. Norwegians are incredibly gorgeous, and I can agree with the people being cold thing for Germans. Unfortunately the girls were always cold but I leave that to the fact that I was friends with all the guys :) Standard…