Mountain Cabin

A few weeks ago, we spent the weekend at a friend's charming, traditional cabin, or "hytte," in the beautiful mountains a few hours east of Oslo.  As you can see from the progression of photos, we had a big surprise waiting for us outside when we woke up Sunday morning....

We're looking forward to spending another weekend there in a month or two so that we can practice our cross-country skiing skills, and impress our Norwegian friends!

Forest Day Celebration

What better way to celebrate moving to Norway than to attend a Forest Day fair, complete with reindeer skins and elk eating?

Elk on a Spit! (the signs says "Forest Company")

Amazing Coffee with Spruce

A Teepee... Not very Norwegian, perhaps

Lunch

Norwegian Woods

Deer Stew, Burgers, and Hotdogs!

Roasting Curled Bread (marshmallow roasting is relatively new here)

Dining in Style

A Day in the Life

Now that we've been living in Oslo for 5 weeks, I've fallen into a comfortable routine.  Here's a little photo story about my typical weekday.

Hmm, which muesli should I have for breakfast today?

Walk the dogs past the local daycare

And past the pretty horse barn

Take the train to downtown Oslo

Go to my language class from 9 am - noon

Snacktime!

Head back home (usually after exploring some tidbit in the Oslo center)

Home Sweet Home

Take the dogs for a walk on the trail

Buy a few things at our local shopping center

Make dinner

Admire the sunset together

Street Art Tour

Last weekend I went on a fantastic street art tour of Oslo.  Torrential rain fell the day before the tour, but the weather on Saturday was perfect for spending two hours wandering in search of these half-hidden goodies.  

The first photo is my favorite: the only way to make a little red "Posten" box any cuter is to add an adorable girl-with-straw stencil to the side!

WWW

Finally: we have internet!  It has been a blissful couple of days full of reading the news, watching Netflix, and typing Norwegian words and phrases into Google Translate every 5 minutes.  Since our furniture has yet to arrive, we have officially named this: The Internet Room.  Cozy, isn't it?

Rommet Med Internett

Summer Storms

Bad weather and a continued lack of internet have made this past week a bit frustrating.
But I met with the American Chamber of Commerce last week about my job search and started intensive Norwegian classes on Monday, so I'm feeling cheerful about the future despite the rain and hail pummeling our terrace!

Life in the Suburbs

So far I love living a bit outside of Oslo.  After all, it's difficult to get a view like this from a terrace in the city:

Hand Cramp

Moving to another country involves a ton of paperwork. 

-We filled out forms to send our belongings via container ship.   

-We filled out forms to satisfy the pet import requirements.    

-We finalized our lease on the day we arrived in Norway.  

-Last Monday, I registered my documents with the Oslo police and the tax office.  

-On Tuesday, we filled out forms to open a bank account. 

-On Wednesday, we began the process of being paired with doctors. 

-The Internet company finally allowed us to fill out paperwork for internet service (this should be up and running in a few days).

-And on Friday, we completed paperwork to buy a car and insurance!  (More on the new car later).  

I still need to research cell phones and coverage plans, job applications, and graduate program applications.   And I'm not sure what I might be forgetting.

Yes, I’m tired of signing my name.  Which reminds me: since our credit cards have chips (which we specially requested) but no pins (a huge shock to all Europeans that we meet), we seem to be the only people in Norway that still have to sign our credit card receipts.

Despite our busy schedule, it is a pleasure to see the Norwegian efficiency at work.  Perhaps Switzerland is better known for this, but Norway easily could challenge the Swiss to a “Train Running on Time” duel.  In less than a month, every last administrative detail should be finalized, and we will essentially be considered Norwegians.  Skål!

Unplugged

We are still without Internet.  Of course, we're also without chairs or anything else to sit on when we are finally able to use the Internet.  But at least that's our own fault.

Because of a lack of Norwegian credit history (does anyone have credit history in Norway except for Norwegians?), the Internet provider for our apartment complex was reluctant to grant us service.  To be fair, I'm not sure how this would be handled in the US if we were Norwegians moving to Seattle and trying to open bank accounts, rent an apartment, etc.  We are incredibly lucky to have a wonderful relocation agent, who handled the entire conversation this past week and somehow convinced the company that a professor and attorney in their 30s were safe bets.  We should be plugged back in Tuesday or Wednesday!

So our daily 30 minute treks to the free internet at the Østerås Senter cafe will be necessary for only a couple more days.  This will be our second Sunday without any access, however, as most shops in Norway are closed Sundays by law.  (More on this interesting tidbit later!)

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, "Overseas in Oslo," my diary of our adventures in Norway.  Over the next four years, I plan to regularly publish thoughts, photos, amusing anecdotes, and other tidbits as Chandler and I learn what it means to be Norwegian.

Exactly 187 days separated our decision to move from the USA to Norway and our arrival at the Oslo airport, with seven suitcases and two dogs in tow.  We spent those six short months preparing documents, saying goodbye to friends and family, and frantically packing everything from chopsticks to chairs.  On July 26, we signed the lease for our new apartment in person and officially became expats!  I've already switched the dollars in my wallet for kroner, my Costco card for the local "kaffekort" punchcard, and my devotion to Junior Mints for an exciting affair with cardamon buns

Family

Friends

 

Goodbyes

Packing

Packing Break