View from Floyen at night
It seems that lately this blog has become more of an analysis of places that I would like to live, rather than just a recount of my travels.
I actually enjoy the state of knowing about places and people enough to try to understand how they work, and what their values and motivations are.
Unfortunately it’s turned out to be fairly difficult to really analyse Norway, given that I still have not started classes yet, am living with English-speaking international students, do not speak Norwegian, and have very few opportunities to observe the Norwegians in their “natural environment”.
One thing that does strike me is that Norwegians seem to have a certain pre-conceived image of themselves that they think foreigners view them as – particularly that they are rude or cold. I have found all Norwegians that I have encountered to be warm and friendly, and I don’t expect to make conversation with people on public transport. I like my seat next to me to be empty too, so I don’t think we have any cultural clashes there.
One thing that they don’t seem to have thought of though, is that in general they are rich. If not from their own families or jobs, then from the state. This “welfare state” is not just any old handout, it turns out that ALL students are paid almost $20,000 a year, before any other special scholarships or bursaries they might manage to accrue. Their basic wages seem to be at least $30/hr. If they go on exchange they get even MORE money to support them through this “financially challenging” time. I don’t know exactly how much, but I did just receive an email from the law faculty advertising scholarships for exchange in Germany of $20,000 a year.
While it pains me immensely to compare this to Australian students’ financial treatment by the powers that be, what I have found especially surprising is how little Norwegians seem to value the benefits they are given. I think that basically it is a good thing that they do not have to worry about money when attending university – but they seem to consider this a basic human right, and even do not think that the money they are given is enough. Enough for what? A yacht??
Then of course they try to justify this with the old “oh but Norway is sooo expensive, we NEED it”. Oh don’t get me started on that one. Suffice to say that I just calculated that by buying my groceries in Bergen yesterday, I saved $5 on what I would have spent on identical items in Sydney.
Let’s just say that I’m looking forward to better understanding their perspectives in the future.
Nicola, Lara, Heidi, Laura at Gamlehaugen
In other news, I do indeed enjoy Bergen. I find myself comparing it to Bologna, rather than home. While I like both Bergen and Bologna, I like them for very different reasons. In Bologna I was basically living as I would if I were a “real” student there – in a flat with other Italians in the centre of town. I did not really have this “Erasmus” life of parties and whatnot, I had just a few good friends that I made naturally over a few months. I liked how convenient it was to walk everywhere, that the city itself was so beautiful and interesting, it always seemed alive, there was lots of student-friendly nightlife, and it was conveniently located for travel within and out of Italy. The exchange student group was also very useful for parties and very cheap weekend trips (such as a weekend skiing in Slovenia – 80 euro all inclusive). However what did bother me was that it was hard to make friends quickly, that there was no real nature – not even many trees – and the generally chaotic way Italians deal with life.
Here in Bergen those “issues” have been resolved – I have met more people than I can name right now, I think my Facebook has 55 “Bergen” friends at last count. The student residence is perfect for socialising with a very friendly atmosphere, almost nightly parties and events, as well as Klubb Fantoft for a convenient place to meet, play games, watch movies, and on Friday have a fun night of pre-drinks and clubbing with all the international students. I don’t think it is possible to ever be lonely here. Furthermore Bergen is absolutely a beautiful place to be in. I look out my window and see snow-covered Løvstakken, and the town is beautifully placed between the sea and the mountains. I really think I get a lot of energy from beautiful surroundings, which I was definitely missing in Bologna where I could barely even see the sky from my bedroom.
Steindalsfossen
However the city itself is not as beautiful as Bologna, and seems less student and pedestrian-friendly. I am also a good 15 minutes out of town on the bus, which stops quite early in the night (while parties start quite late). Transport out of town has been a nightmare to try and research, and when it is found it is very expensive. It seems Norway shuts down over winter, despite a generally mild winter climate (especially considering how close to the Arctic it is). Making travel plans around here is either impossible or extortionately expensive. I made my FIRST trip out of town on Monday, after finally getting some good advice from the tourist office. I got a regional bus to Norheimsund, on the mouth of Hardangerfjord, viewed a huge frozen waterfall, then got the bus alongside the rest of the fjord and up to Voss, then a train back from Voss. The whole episode cost around $60, which is quite reasonable for Norwegian prices, but this was the first time anyone could even recommend such an option to me, without paying almost $200 for a one-day trip. I really like to travel and explore, and I’ve found it very frustrating not being able to find much good information. Luckily I now know how to use the journey planner on Tide’s website, so I have high hopes for more short trips.
I think this is about enough babble from me at the moment.
Norheimsund
