A cold welcome

The day I arrived couldn't have been better! Snow is what I wanted and snow is what I got ... and lots of it ❄️ . It was entertaining to see how it dictates life here: people go to work by cross-country ski (preferably being pulled by a dog), they're shoveling snow on a daily basis, everything has spikes for extra grip (shoes, bikes, cars, ...) and it's rare to see a kid that's not on a sled 🛷.

Unfortunately this didn't last long and while the snow melted, I struggled a bit to settle in. It's cold and dark, I had to beg to get some shifts assigned and my place is pretty far from town, especially if you have to walk through slush all the time.

After being here for 4 weeks however, I have found my place in this cool city. Norway has a huge second-hand market so I found myself a bike 🚲 and skis and figured out there is a shop where you can borrow outdoor equipment for free. Only in Norway ... 🇳🇴

Today I did my first snowshoe hike to see the sun one last time before it disappears for 2 months ('Polar Night' sounds way too romantic for perpetual darkness in my opinion)! It's truly beautiful here!Read more