Olivia Goes to Norway

Hey everyone! As some of you may know, I am heading to Norway to study at NHH until December! Several people have asked me to keep them updated on my adventures, so I decided to create this space to share them with everyone who wants to know!

I found out I would be going to Norway for a semester of academic exchange exactly six months ago, and since then, I have been filled with excitement. Saying this however, it wasn’t until today, when I arrived at the airport, that the reality of this event finally hit me. Leaving for another country is all in all very exciting, even though I know there will be periods of adjustment for me (i.e. getting used to a new culture and language).

I will be studying in Bergen, Norway at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. Bergen is a city located on the Southwest coast of Norway (see the map above for its exact location), and is probably best known for its colourful wooden buildings, as well as being titled the “gateway to the fjords”. In my opinion, I believe Bergen will be the perfect place to appreciate both the Norwegian culture, and the spectacular natural beauty of the fjords. Recently, Norway was ranked as the world’s happiest country, and I am eager to experience for myself just how everyday culture sets Norway apart from others in this matter. Not only am I excited to completely immerse myself in the Norwegian lifestyle, but I am also ecstatic to learn from those around me who I will be studying with, as there will be exchange students participating in the exchange from around the world.

While I have made lists of places I want to go, and things I want to do, I have narrowed down to a set of personal goals which I will base my exchange off of:

1. View everything as a learning experience, and make the most out of every opportunity given.
2. Step out of my comfort zone by doing one thing a day that challenges me.
3. Learn 10 new words in Norwegian each week (obviously at this rate which I have set out I will be absolutely fluent in the language by the time I get back).
4. Make friends from as many different countries as possible.
5. See places I have always dreamed about.

I will keep this post short for now, since my flight is boarding soon, but I will be posting updates on this space in the future to let you all know how I’m doing and what I’m doing! 🙂

-Olivia