Norwegians make fun of their weather A LOT. They laugh about how cold, rainy, and gray it gets, but when the sun is out, I myself as a tropical girl who loves warm weather, have to sing praises. It is majestic when the sun reveals itself and shines over the mountains, especially when autumn trees are showing off their various pretty colors. Mr. Fantastic said I arrived at a “bad time” but also during a “good time”. The skies were often gray when I arrived in October, but the earthy colors are soothing.
I also like the weather changes because it makes you appreciate the sunny days more. There is a stark contrast between the nice days and the “gray” days. I am learning not to call any days “bad” days, but just “gray” day because to Norwegians, there is no “bad weather”, only bad clothes. As long as you layer enough, the weather is absolutely manageable.
Read more: Understanding Norwegian Weather: Why Gray Days Matter
The environment is a huge change for me, but I love that many walks and hikes are accessible to us. It makes getting some exercise easy, and the view from the top gives you a sense of achievement.
Being in nature is just also always refreshing. Even if I feel cold and get sweaty, I don’t get sick. Maybe there is something about the fresh air that cleans my internal systems.
Food and meal times is also different from what I am used to. As an Asian, I often have all meals with rice and any form of hot, cooked meat as protein. In Norway, many meals can be prepared with cold food, bread, and potatoes. They taste nice too, but food you are used to gives some emotional comfort.
It’s a good thing that there is an Asian food shop not too far of a drive from us so that I will always have a place to get my fix when I am craving them.
Once I get to do some proper grocery shopping, I will try to share my creations here and on the vlog. I hope to see you in that story! In the meantime, please enjoy my journey to Norway below.
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