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Latest Oslo hotel reviews
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Many foreigners consider the Norwegians as impolite, arroant and rude people Where other countries use phrases like “please” “good morning” “ good evening “and “how are you ?” we just skip that part.
Norwegian society is a flat hierarchy with no obvious class distinction. You can talk to, and talk back to almost everybody. We’re all equal. Authorities are not expected to be authoritarians. A school teacher will always use her first name. ( Gerd, you were a wonderful teacher!) Our bosses are also addressed by their first name; many foreigners think that’s strange. I believe it must be very difficult for anyone outside of Scandinavia just to navigate in Norwegian working environments. Our authorities will mix with the rest of us.
We clean up after us. In almost every workplace you’ll see sign like “your mother doesn’t work here, so _you_ have to clean”. Since we’re a flat hierarchy we don’t have housemaids and servants. Everybody must contribute
And we value punctuality. Be there on time” When the meeting starts you want to be there. If not many stupid decisions will be made
When it comes to social life, it’s not that strictly, but for home invitations you should try to be there on time or, but don’t come to early and not too late.
And here comes the most interesting part.
We value honesty, or rather the Norwegian definition of honesty. When someone asks us “how are you ?” we don’t consider it as a way of politeness, but more like genuine interest. So when someone from an English speaking country asks us that question, we question the person motives for asking. So if the person is not really interested in our personal life, the person is fake or just trying to be nice, but doesn’t really care. We don’t consider it as just a phrase. So if we tell you all about our miserable life, we’re probably Scandinavians. So be prepared! So, unless we’re prepared for the "wrong"answer, we don’t ask.
So we don’t usually say “have nice day” when we don’t know the person and/or don’t want the person to have a nice day. We have to mean it in order to tell it. We don't show politeness by words, but in actions. So in a way we’re very logic and concrete people.
So compared to American standard, you are very likely to feel invisible here. So if you feel like hiding from the world, come to us!
Updated Sep 2, 2011
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When exploring Oslo you are very likely to se some sellers with the magazine = Oslo, or erlikoslo.
the price is 50 NK and the sellers get some excess themselves. They only accept cash. The whole goal of the organization is to help the street people gain a better life and dignity by doing honest work.
The Magazine was first published in June 2005. Other countries have been doing this for quite some time already like Great Britain and ” the big issue” from the early 90’s . =Oslo is member of the international network INSP (International Network of Streetpapers
This is Knut Olav johanessen our new mascot, a salesman for =Oslo and the main person in a movie made about his life as a street seller . The film is called Selger 329 or, (salesman 329). The Director Kari Anne Moe, who worked as a volunteer in =Oslo made this movie and Knut Olav was asked who he wanted to invite. He wanted the king Harald to be present, and this wish came through. But he didn’t expect the queen wanting to to be there too . She asked for permission to to join her husband, and they were both touched by the movie.
Knut Olav grew up in Oppsal Oslo. He had a tough childhood. He was bullied and picked on. When he searched for an acceptance he ended up beting a part of a drug enviroment . After several years working in the grocery industry his only job is selling = Oslo Magazine.
This Magazine has over 700 sellers, and 8 employees working in the administration. The adress is Skippergata 14.
I met him on my way to Majorstua and he was exited to be a part of VT, and my local customs tips. He usually sells the magazines in Briskeyeien, close to Albin up gallery and vinmonopolet (Wine Monopoly). So if you stop by you should say hello!
Updated Aug 25, 2011
Website: www.erlikoslo.no
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In Oslo there are plenty of dialects. Most people have moved to Oslo from other parts of Norway.
The Oslo accent/dialect is simply refered to as "normal Norwegian",but people from other parts of the country know that it's certainly isnt true. Children from all over Norway are quite good at speaking standard Norwegian from watching television. But mastering the Oslo dialect is quite difficult for kids outside of Oslo, it's not just the accent but so'me cultural knowledge as well. The Oslo far east accent is quite different from the accent spoken in Holmenkollen.
In one our news channels NRK, the reporters are supposed to speak either standard Norwegian or standard New Norwegian. So when one news reporter Ingrid Stensvold applied and was allowed to use her strange and rare dialect from Målselv, Troms there has been much dispute in wake of this.Many people are grumpy because she was allowed and no other. Some people have argued that she doesn't speak this dialect like other people in Målselv speaks it cause she was not raised there, but somewhere else,and besides from that she has lived in Oslo so many years that she has lost some of native dialect.
In Oslo far east there's a new accent mainly spoken by youngsters who parents are immigrants. Their accent is referred to as Kebabnorsk or "Kebab Norwegian" They speak broken Norwegian with a lot of foreign words(,arabic, hindi, punjabi etc) and some words they have created themselves. And a lot of swearing.
In big and modern cities in Norway the accent/dialect is easily understood, compeared to small remote villages. One of the exceptions is Trondheim, a lot of words are different or just pronounced in a different way.
in the nort of Norway, Tromsø to Finmark they speak standard Norwegian with a singing voice. Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen can be a challenge sometimes.
song "Æ E Nordlening Æ" (I'm from the North of Norway)
Berlevåg manchoir
Trøndersk is the Norwegian dialect spoken in the region Trøndelag.The dialect is among other things perhaps mostly characterized by the use of apocope, palatalization and the use of retroflex flaps (thick L). Some might consider it more accurate to describe trøndersk as a language than as a dialect (), but this is not common among linguists, for both linguistic and political reasons.
most of the personal pronouns are pronounced differently than in Standard Norwegian. The word for I ( jeg in standard Norwegian is pronouced Æ in Trøndersk. You (plural) is dokk/dokker.
The word "ikke" in standard Norwegian is itj (not),in Trøndersk.
a funny sentence in trøndersk : æ e i a æ å means I'm also in (class) A. only vowels.
Norwegian Idol comp : a girl singing in Trøndersk
Æ e trønder æ ( i'm from Trøndelag)
Guttural R sound: The south of Norway, and somewhere in Ålesund, the Guttural R-sound starts to rull instead.
Two sociolects in Bergen, : v=FKhNXsjGexc a Norwegian documentary
Stavanger
Kristiansand or somewhere close
Mårtens klage over de triste tiane an old song from the south of Norway
Updated May 2, 2011
Website: http://www.ling.hf.ntnu.no/nos/
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The weekend we visited Oslo, there was a food event on Karl Johans gate called "Matstreif", a part of Bondens marked (the farmers' market) and we had the chance to experience ecological produce from different parts of Norway.
Almost every stand had some of their produce for you to try out for free, before deciding if you'd buy them or not and I tried a lot of great cheeses, hams, breads and jellies. Some flavors I found particularly interesting are:
- Pictures 1, 2, 3: Jellies/marmalades: you will find jellies and marmalades in most places in the world but I really liked tasting the home made products on display at the food stands, in flavors that were totally unknown to me: Aquevit (yes, the spirits), lingonberries (tyttebär), and the one I liked the most was apple sauce with vanilla.
The jars were not only good but also appealing to the eyes.
- Picture 4: Kamkaka (or kamkake): I love bread, and when I saw this stand selling this bread of course I had to try it (and what really caught my attention was the name "kamkaka" which in Swedish could be translated into "comb bread"). Kamkaka is a crunchy bread made in a traditional way and found mostly in Korgen and Bleikvasslia. The ingredients of the bread are combined, then the dough is stretched out with a rolling pin and placed on a tool that will give the bread its special shape, then baked in a stone oven where it can get heat from above and below at the same time.
- Picture 5: Kling bread: Kling is a kind of soft flat bread (flatbröd) from the region called Telemark. I can't quite explain it but this isn't the kind of flat bread that you spread butter on. It contains a sweet "spread" that to me tastes like condensed milk.
There were 3 stands selling Kling: Skreppa, Klingeling and Eventyrsmaken.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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A great way to see many of Oslo's sights without breaking the bank is to buy an Olso pass. It will allow admission to most of Oslo museums and provide free public transport. They can be bought for valid time periods of 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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Reading is a very popular activity in Norway. According to the encyclopedia Britannica, Norwegians read more than any other population in the world, spending an average of 500 kroner a year per capita on books.
Some famous Norwegian Authors
Peer Gynt
Henrik Ibsen (et dukkehjem)
Anne Holt (Crime litterature)
Unni Lindell (Crime litterature)
Jo Nesbø
Karin Fossum
Jan Mehlum
Updated Apr 1, 2011
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we´re almost all taught to never leave the table without saying takk for maten ( Thank you for dinner). By learning to say this, a foreign guest will make a very good impression. We say a lot of "takk", but not so much unnskyld (sorry)
Updated Mar 13, 2011
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you have probably heard about AHA Yahoo
and this song in Norwegian sung by Morten Harket about a girl called Kamilla Yahoo
Kamilla and the thief is a very old movie. I really doubt that that this movie would be accepted today, we dont want our kids to hang out with criminal guys.
IDOL Kurt Nilsen Yahoo
Marit LarsenYahoo
Marion Ravn Yahoo
Lene Marlin Yahoo
Ane Brun, Yahoo
Alexander Rybak norwegian/english need no further introduction.
jan teigen a Norwegian artist, got zero points in Eurovison song contest many years ago with "mil etter mil" Yahoo
Bobbysocks Yahoo
our new young talented stars: The BlackSheeps and their "Oro Jaska beana and a dog called Camilla "Yahoo
Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of our most loved artists. Lives in oslo and Copenhagen. She has a really beautiful voice. It has been said that in Bergen where she comes from you can joke about almost everything exept from Sissel Kyrkjebø. Yahoo
Herborg Kråkevik. A Norwegian artist who also lives in Denmark. She sings in Norwegian and has no international career. But you should really listen to her voice Yahoo
Odd Nordstoga a mystic norwegian artist that sings in Norwegian Yahoo
Finn Kalvik is one of mye favourite Norwegian artist. I would not say that he has a great voice, but I like his lyrics. He sings about life in generalt, and there'no clichés, just very honest lyrics that I'm found of. . He also got zero points in Eurovision song contest ( as we often do). I believe you have to understand Norwegian to like this artist.
" Aldri i livet", " I will never ever leave you" Yahoo
Halfdan Sivertsen, of our most loved Norwegian artist, here with his Love song "Yahoo
one of our most belonged songs: Jorn Hoel with " har en drøm" (have a dream)"Yahoo
This song will always mean something spesial for meg. When I was 12, a seven year old boy at my school died. " har en drøm" was his favourite song, and he would listen to it every time before he went to bed. And at the funeral, Jörn Hoel was there and sung his song.
Björn Eidsvaag: "Eg ser" or "I see (you)"" a beatiful songs, that's often used in Funerals. I believe it has something to do with Jesus, but I'm not sure. Only Eidsvåg knows. Yahoo
and me singing an old popular christmas song by Alf pröysenYahoo
Updated Jan 25, 2011
Visit Royal palace in winter. It is beautiful covered by snow. Royal guards are undertaking their duties despite snow and oldness. Tractors are paving ways for people to walk. The royal garden is all over white and it becomes a fairy tale place.
Written Jan 18, 2011
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If you're going to live and work here we would really appreciate you trying to speak a little Norwegian. We all speak English here, but most of us usually get a bit annoyed by foreigners who does not speak any Norwegian after several years here.
At the cafeteria close to me there's an american waiter who still does not speak any Norwegian after living here for more than a year. I really get a bit annoyed when I have to order my food in English, and that he expects me to speak English. We all know that Norwegian is a complicted language, but trying to speak some Norwegian sentences should'n be that hard. So you should make an effort trying to learn our language, and we will help you getting the words you need.
Written Jan 4, 2011
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Reviews and photos of Oslo attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Oslo sightseeing.
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1,199 members live in Oslo
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