Reasons to Study Abroad in Oslo
Upon returning home from a semester in Norway, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my overall experience abroad. I was fortunate to have a generally positive experience and already miss my friends and the lifestyle I lived while in Oslo. Here are a few of the things I have found I…
Lessons I’ve Learned While Living in Norway
Quiet Doesn’t Mean Rude Living in a city known for it’s “cold” personalities, I have gained a new appreciation for personal respect and privacy. While it was tough to adjust to minimal small talk and social contact with the residents of Oslo, I have started to understand why this is an accepted social norm. In…
My Favorite Spots in Oslo
After nearly four and a half months of living in Oslo, I have begun to notice there are locations that have become more familiar to others. Certain parks, streets, and cafes seem to bring me an extra dose of happiness which is why I seem to have gravitated toward and revisited them throughout the semester.…
Celebrating Thanksgiving Abroad
I love the holidays! Ever since mid-October I have been playing holiday music while studying, cooking, and just walking through Oslo’s city center. The chilly air was really helping me to get excited about the upcoming holiday season, especially after visiting snowing Tromsø and returning to a while Oslo as well. The one thing that…
Savoring my Final Weeks in Scandanavia
Wow how time flies! It feels like just the other week that I was nervously boarding a flight to Oslo, truly terrified of what the upcoming months would hold. Now looking back of course it seems so silly as I had nothing but new friends and adventures to look forward to. Today is Sunday, December…
A Weekend in the Arctic Circle
Ever dreamed of being surrounded by ice and snow in a place with only 5 hours of daylight? I certainly didn’t. Being a warm-loving person, the idea of the freezing cold tundra was the furthest thing from vacation I could imagine but spending a weekend in Tromsø, Norway helped to change my mentality around wintery…
Maintaining Relationships While Abroad
I am a very independent person. Maybe in some ways that seems obvious if I voluntarily left The States to live in a new country for a semester but regardless this is a point I wish to make. Being independent does not however mean that I struggle with or lack having strong relationships in my…
My Study Abroad “Sponsors”
The study abroad scholarships that made my experience in Oslo, Norway possible! The version of study abroad that I have been able to experience has been extremely privileged. On top of studying at a private Norwegian university, I have been able to afford studying in coffee shops, taking trips across the country (and a few…
Learning to Navigate While Abroad
#FollowCat One unavoidable aspect of travel that has caused me some pre-trip worries (and general frustration, even back home) was navigation. This may sound silly because our generation is fully equipped with technology to give directions and even real-time traffic updates but nonetheless it has always something that has frustrated me. Surprisingly, when I arrived…
How to Dress Like a Norwegian
While many other European countries might be known for being stylish and colorful, I think it is fair to say that Norwegians lean more on the side of functional fashion. With October temperatures consistently in the single digits (at least for Celsius), it is imperative that a Norwegian dresses warm and with lots of layers…
Norwegian Education for an International Student
The study part of “study abroad” seems to be experienced in many different ways depending on the host country and level of difficulty of a student’s host university. In Norway, quite honestly school has been very laid back and simple yet that will likely change as the semester continues. Before I get into the nitty…
Food in Norway
Let’s be honest, Norway is not exactly known for its high-end or particularly phenomenal food. When I first arrived in Oslo, I was a bit nervous to see how expensive food of any kind was (grocery store or restaurant) and began my search for dishes that were delicious yet friendly for a student’s budget. Luckily…
Fiskbolle and Fjords in Bergen
Bergen was been on my list of must-see locations long before I arrived in Norway. For hundreds of years it has preserved its history and culture while being influenced by traders from across the world! Some of the most well-known features of Bergen are the mountains and fjords that surround it and all other west-coast…
Follow the Leader…Across the Forest
One of my favorite things about living in Oslo is how hiking and outdoor activities are such a natural part of everyday life. With the city literally built around a forest, the air just feels fresh and clean! This Friday, I along with three other exchange students got together to hike Vettakollen, a relatively easy…
Stavanger is for Hikers!
This weekend my girlfriends and I made our first trip away from Oslo to explore the southwestern city of Stavanger. With the exception of a large hike, we didn’t have much planned and were excited to see what all we could discover in this town in the fjords. Upon arrival, we drove through the city…
How to Spend a Sunny Day in Oslo
Even in August, Oslo can easily keep temperatures around 65 °F (15 °C) and rain for hours at a time. For this reason it is important to cherish every sunny moment available, even if it only lasts a few minutes! The great news is that Oslo has TONS of unique places where locals and tourists…
Fadderullan (Buddy Week!)
Starting August 13th, BI Norwegian Business School and all other universities in Oslo celebrate orientation also known as Fadderullan (fa-deh-rue-lahn). This is a time for new and exchange students to get to know one another and the city. I thought welcome week back in the USA was long but fadderullan takes it to a whole…
First Impressions
I have officially been in Oslo for over 24 hours and I must say that I think I am going to like it here! I arrived in Oslo after a red eye flight and only 1.5 hours of sleep. The flights to Amsterdam and Oslo both went smoothly and I was even able to navigate…
Be prepared
With less than 2 weeks left before I embark to Oslo, my time has been filled with appointment setting and last-minute shopping. Here are a few things to add to the to-do list before leaving the country. Appointments Hair…balayge to keep the highlights looking fresh Birth control (and other medications) Contacts for 5 months Purchases…
#Goals
One of my favorite parts of sharing this upcoming journey with friends, family, and colleagues has been the countless pieces of advice offered up in conversation. It is interesting because these goals really tell me a lot about what the advice-giver values in life and what they wish for me as well. Things like “travel…
Applying for a Student Travel Visa
While a student visa looks quite simple, really just a piece of paper, it can take a few weeks or even months to obtain! A student visa allows a current or prospective student to stay in a country for 90+ days safely. Here is a run down of what it took for me to get…
Study Abroad…It’s Not For Everyone
Studying abroad is not for everyone. If you enjoy meeting new people…it’s probably not for you. If you hope to open your mind…it might not be your thing. If you want to explore life in a new city, If you wish to be exposed to a mysterious language, If you enjoy unwrapping unique cultures, If…
Study Abroad Orientation…It’s Getting Real!
Today was another check on my study abroad to-do list, study abroad orientation. Despite traveling on a short-term trip once before, I have never actually attended study abroad orientation but it certainly gave me all of the butterflies and excitement that I have needed! While orientations can often be dry and filled with senseless information,…
Conquering Study Abroad Scholarships
Regardless of study abroad, there is always a season for scholarships. This year brought some unique challenges though because I felt a much greater obligation to seek out funding opportunities that probably would not be served up on the silver platter that is “WMUFinancialAid.com”. Not gonna lie…from October to March, I always have scholarships looming…
The Journey Begins
Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. Paulo Coelho Allow me to start off by saying I have no clue if ANYONE, ANYWHERE will EVER read this. And I don’t think I mind. My main goal of this project is to track the progress I make toward studying abroad while creating a collection of…
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