INTROODUCTION

So you will be in Norway? Being in Norway is meeting with challenges as well as opportunities. The challenge of being in a new system and totally a different culture and the chance making new discoveries of another culture is life transforming experience.

This is a guide aimed at motivating experts from around the world coming to work or for training in Norway, to learn a little about general aspects of Norwegian life before arriving and a quick start point on arrival. It is to help you to get the most out of your first time stay in Norway and help you to enjoy working and living in Norway.


Chapter 1

I arrived in Norway on Feb 2001. The first thing that welcomed me with an embrace hit was cold. It was biting my skin and my toes were numb the minute I came out of the airport. The people were nice but except for the smiles I did not understand a thing of what they were saying. For three more months the cold continued: I hated to go out and at one moment the snow came. I stood at the window for hours on end enjoying the sight of it. It fell for days and it seemed as though it would snow forever. There was snow everywhere. I tried to ski for the first time. It seemed easy when the Norwegians we were with did it but as soon as I got the ski on me, I fell. I fell so many times and in fact that first day on the ski indicated to me that there were more challenges to overcome if I was to successfully live and work in Norway. At least I needed to learn to ski or to love snow or rather to enjoy winter. By all courage, I learnt to ski like the way a child learns how to walk. With all patience I learnt the language as a baby bubbles its first words and slowly without knowing it, I was not just skiing, I was also loving snow and speaking Norwegian.


GEOGRAPHY

Norway stretches out 1750 km from South to North and 420 km widest width from east to the west. It has a total area of 387,000 km2 and shares borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. The country is characterised by mountains, deep valleys and coastal plains. There are many extensions of the sea going deep in the country. These extensions are called fjords and make Norway to be very beautiful especially in summer. The country is a united kingdom achieved by st Olav in 11th C. It has been under Denmark and also Sweden. In 1905 Norway achieved independence. It is today a limited monarchy with a government led by a Prime minister. Temperatures dramatically ranges between minus in deep winter to +30 in a good summer. There are three distinct seasons.

Winter: Dec, Jan, Feb. when temps are very low. Snow falls and can be on the ground for days. Snow is beautiful to see but it affects daily life. Without proper clothes, it may cause serious health damage. In heavy snow busses, trains and aircraft may be disrupted. Winter is depressive sometimes due to the shortness of the day and the dark atmosphere. Snow is so slippery and can cause serious accidents. Fortunately, you can have a lot of fun on the snow skiing. Do not be afraid to ask someone you know well to take you for a skiing trip. They may not ask you if you wish to but when you request someone will be happy to learn you. Never go alone! It can be dangerous if you are a first timer.

Spring: March, Aril, May when temps begin to rise. Flowers spring up and the leafless trees begin to bud. Birds and insects follow and soon the country are full of a beautiful and colourful season.

Summer: June, July august are the most longed for months. People take vacation from work to enjoy the long missed sun. People go to the beaches and sunbath with minimal covering on them. The days are long and nights short. In mid summer, comes the midnight sun. In summer ask someone you know to go with you to the beach and swim if you can or play with sand if you can’t swim. Just enjoy the sun as it lasts. But it should be noted that it is not guarantee that there would be sun in summer, some summers can be as good as a winter. It is therefore advisable to make the best use of summer by socializing and outdoor activities that enhance relationship with others.

Autumn: The leaves change colour as they dry up. Then comes heavy wind and rains as temps begin to fall. Before you know it, it is winter again.


POPULATION and ECONOMY

The country has a little above 4.5 million people and has been named by the UN as the best country in the world to live in. Life expectancy is as high as 78 years there are not so many immigrants compared to England and France. You will hardly find a person from e.g. Kenya or Brazil. However, the rapid growing economy has made Norway an attractive country to work in. Due to this reason, the number of experts from all over the world has increased. In Aibel for example, there are over 60 nationalities represented.

Oil, natural gas, farming, Shipping, fishing, production of electric power and industrial activities are chief earners for the Norwegian economy.


PLACES, PEOPLE AND CULTURE

The capital city is called Oslo and other important places are Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger Tromsø and Kristiansand. The people are friendly and not all can speak English. Not all people know well about the country you come from except on what they see on the TV. However Norwegians are well travelled and they can share so much about their experiences abroad. It is advisable to share so much about your country. That is one reason why you are in (or going) to Norway. Norwegians are very cultured. They like the nature and the best thing one will do for you is to take you to one of the beautiful nature sites, beach, nature hikes or just being out there in the woods, mountains, parks or garden. I must say that Norwegians enjoy gardening around the house. And the dream of most is to have a cabin and a boat. Camping and skiing originated from Norway. There are also Norwegian traditional foods, clothes, use of candles and family gatherings. I should not forget rich love for music, art, painting and literature. Work begins normally between 8 and 9. As a worker you get well paid, protected from injury and accident and discrimination on grounds of race, gender, age etc is highly discouraged at work place. Everything in Norway rotates around time. Keeping time is important when you will get to transport, work, meeting, appointment, visits etc. Do not think about time the same way you do in your home country, in Norway time is a shared resource. People should keep time to the dot and follow schedules to every detail. Be careful to be tidy or to tidy up after yourself during a visit and some restaurants. Sometimes it may be taken for granted that you understand what is going on, so ask where you doubt and whenever you differ or feel uncomfortable, accept that this is a different culture and make the best out of it. There are many areas of likely disagreement and controversy which include homosexuality, divorce, abortion, smoking, partying, drinking, punishment, clothing, love, marriage etc. Tips: You will of course find unique patterns of behaviour which will seem alien to your background. It is normal to sometimes feel lost and disoriented when you are in another country because it is a new culture to you. However, with time you should find familiar grounds, people and ways from where you will almost unconsciously learn the language and the culture easily. BUT be interested otherwise it can be boring. It does not mean that you forget about your ways, but rather understand that differences in culture and way of life are a vital essence of human existence. The Most important day in Norway 17th MAY: On 17th of May, everything stands still and all people young and old go to the local town to participate or see national day procession. On this day, Norway celebrates the moment it became constitutionally independent. This is when you can put on your best official clothes and expect to meet everybody in town.


Leadership model in Norway: To be a leader or a manager in Norway is not a big deal. A Norwegian leader is rather a servant than a master. Women leaders are very common and must be treated with respect even if they be younger. Bureaucracy is less and relationship between people and their leaders is usually down to earth. That does not mean that they are not respected or that they are weak. This is a desirable model of leadership used in almost every aspect of Norwegian life including family. Relationships: In some cultures, relationships are very easily forged. Not so in Norway. It is possible to be neighbours with someone and never have any interaction. Relationships between people develop very slowly.


Chapter 2

ESSENTIAL SERVICES:

Find out the postal address of your residence in good time and use it correctly. The postal services are available at the nearest town.

Health: In Norway you pay for medical consultation and dental services but the state pays for serious hospitalisation. Check with Aibel HR about medical services as soon as possible. The most common sickness is Norwegian cold. It is a cold that is combined with coughing, sneezing and high temperature in the body. It is common in winter.

Banking: As long as you have the right documents and work permit, you can open a bank account. in any local bank.

Public Library is free to use and is rich with books on most languages and free internet services are also provided. There, you can borrow books but also movies, DVDs, music or just read topics of your interest.

Holiday and Free time: You are entitled to a 5 weeks holiday in a year. It is advisable to plan your holiday in such a way that you get the most out of it. There are many places you can visit in Norway. There are also possibilities for developing a hobby or a sport. Aibel has its own sports club which you can join but there are also many free time places such as swimming halls, sports centres and so on. “When I was free in winter, I spent my free time learning how to paint and with this knowledge I organised a successful summer art exhibition which was attended by over one hundred people”

Free time in Norway could be a time of exploring your imagination. If you can do something that can portray your country to Norwegian people, you will have played a role of a cultural ambassador., but you can also explore the country’s reach nature.

Immigration: On arrival in Norway, you must register yourself at the nearest Police station. Norway is a relatively new destination for immigrants. There is only 4% immigrants at the moment of which EU make the highest percent, people from other European countries and Russia make about 16%, those from Asian origin 9%, and North America and Canada 5%, people from Africa make 6% and South America 3% of the immigrants.(2006)

Money: Learn the currency as soon as you arrive. It is called Kroner and a single person can spend from about Kr 400 a week on food. To manage money does not mean that you should not spend it but there are ways of getting best out of what you have. Tips: Do not take Norwegian money for your home currency for if you do, you might never spend it coz it seems so expensive. A bottle of cola would seem 10 times costly. Avoid being charged for over dues materials e.g. Library books, walk short distances by being habit earlier. Buy foodstuffs and clothes from selected average price stores e.g. REMA 1000(Food, domestic ware) SPARKJØP (clothes) and there are now a range of foreign shops offering a range of food stuffs from Middle east, India, Africa, China etc.

Loneliness: You will most likely be assigned a mentor. Make the best use of him or her by keeping in touch and talking about your progress, fears or some of the things you feel concerned about. Remember that you will miss home and be sometimes home sick especially when winter bits your skin and stays on for too long, at such moments see if you can talk to your leader about your feelings or difficulties. It is not good to keep your feelings to yourself, sharing it with someone else will help to clear up a cloud of doubt and ease your burdens.

Being a foreigner: If it is your first time to be in Norway, then you should be prepared to learn and see new things. You will be asked and you will also ask many questions, some obvious and others extremely awkward. Racism is highly discouraged in Norway but you can meet with the common difficulties of being a foreigner such as being misunderstood and misunderstanding the others. The greatest hindrance for a foreigner in Norway is the language. It may be so boring when you don’t understand anything around you. Sometimes you may go to meetings and come out wondering what was being discussed. However, it is fun to see yourself progressing in learning the language. The best way to get to learn Norwegian is to use children books and to listen to others speaking and just speak like them and do not be afraid of getting something wrong. When you are corrected, you do not forget. Your company is dedicated to make sure that you get the information you need in English. In case you need help with some information you do not understand, do not hesitate to contact the HR dept. If you face a major discrimination, discuss it with your leader or someone you trust but do not over react.

Clothing: People dress casually even at work and church. In winter you need warm clothes. There is a saying in Norway that goes like this “The problem is not cold, the problem is wrong cloths”. Often, clothes are expensive but you can buy cheaper and affordable clothes from given shops. However, during parties, weddings, Christmas eve, 17th may, everyone is expected to be formal with men putting on their suits and ties. The best thing to do when you are invited to an occasion is to ask what code of dressing is expected. It is better than to be in an occasion feeling out of place the whole time.


Food: Food in Norway is diverse. It is also expensive compared to most countries. A high portion of food supply is imported. However, it is of high quality. Due to low temperatures, vitamin D, which comes from the sun, is rare. To supplement it, it is advisable to eat more fish and you can buy the vitamins from shops. There are special dishes in Easter, Christmas and New Year eve. At Christmas time, a rice porridge known as Julgrøt is usually served. Many foreign people do not like it after the first taste, but to encourage everyone to take their share, there is a nut which you can find in your share and get a present. That is nice and fun thing to do when together.

Mannerism and formality around the table is important. E.g. when invited to the dining table, do not waste time, if you are not sure how to eat something; ask or wait to see how others do it and copy, when you finish eating do not leave the table before everyone else, when the eating is over, help to clean up.


Chapter 3

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Many people assume that everyone is "just like me" or any country is just like theirs unless they look different. To make the assumption that we are all alike would be the same as to assume that all cars are alike or all mothers-in-law act the same way. Needless to say, these are not true or fair statements. Assumptions about cultural background influence how people interact with each other. Culture refers to the many diverse ways in which human practices and beliefs differ among groups. Culture includes religious, social, political, and family customs. It is not uncommon for different cultures to have different values related to allocation of time, family conversations, or views of education. Many of these practices and beliefs may be different than your own. Frequently, many people find cultural conversations very uncomfortable. For someone to be more comfortable, they must first know what their beliefs are and be accepting of their own actions and ideas. There are several steps to make conversations across cultural lines easier.

Build Mutual Understanding To build a mutual understanding, it is necessary to respect differences and listen for more than words. Listen to ideas, viewpoints, and experiences. Have true respect for other individuals. Do not judge or question, but listen to life experiences and values and try to understand what is happening. Remember, you cannot judge because you have not "walked in their shoes." And that the idea is not to make them act or believe your way. Your way are as strange as other people ways are strange to you. Cultural relativism is treating other people's way as equally as yours.

Listen With an Open Mind When learning about a culture, put your feelings aside and listen. It is a teachable moment for both parties to engage in telling their stories. Sometimes we offend people and do not even realize that it has happened. Simple statements like"Norwegians are realy strange", "these people" or "Africans are all alike except you of course" can be very offensive. Many times these statements create misunderstanding between individuals. The more culturally diverse situations you are in and the more you know about other cultures and their people, the better you become at bridging differences. You may find that there are agreements on some issues. The best way to undo misunderstanding is to talk about the issues. Avoid mean spirited remarks and narrow viewpoints.

Do Something After learning more about cultures and people from different backgrounds it is important to help others understand the differences. Each person needs to realize that having a different background or culture is just different. You can help improve communications across cultures by taking action. The simplest support of other cultures is to correct false statements that people make about them and interrupt jokes or stories with the truth. You can also involve people from diverse cultures in your groups or ask them to present their cultural knowledge to others. Usually people are more fearful of the things they do not understand so help to inform them.

Focus on Relationships Move beyond the words and into the quality of communications. Everyone has heard it said that to have a friend you must be a friend. Relationships involving different cultures take time, work, patience, and understanding. In relationship building, find other people who are interested in different cultures and value diversity. It will be easier to understand when several people talk about what they are experiencing. Overall, to become more proactive on building bridges between cultures, bring other people into your conversations. It may be easier to express a viewpoint when several people understand the culture. The more you learn about other cultures the more comfortable you will be in diverse situations.

Impressum

Texte: All material on this book are a copyright of the author and may not be used without prior permission. copyright © Kam.Resource.Center
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 11.08.2008

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Widmung:
To all who inspired my first time stay in Norway