09/04/2025
When I first moved to Norway, friends kept asking: “Are you the only Black person there?” “Is it just polar bears and snow?” “Do you have any friends?”
Living here has been challenging and beautiful. New language, new culture, completely different way of life. It’s stretched me and reminded me what really matters.
Luckily, I have an incredible wife and two amazing kids pushing me to keep growing.
Some days I still feel like a complete outsider fumbling through conversations. Other days, I’m humming Norwegian songs I’ve discovered or celebrating because I actually understood what my neighbor just said.
Here are 14 things most Americans don’t know about Norway 🇳🇴
1. No polar bears walking around (that’s Svalbard, not mainland Norway)
2. Yes, there are Black and Brown people here and I’ve made amazing friends
3. Norwegians live for the outdoors, rain or shine
4. Work-life balance is real here. Family time is sacred
5. Sundays are for slowing down. Most stores close
6. Norwegian is tricky, but I’m celebrating every new word I learn
7. Kids spend tons of time outside, even in freezing weather
8. The fjords really are that breathtaking
9. The northern lights are real, but you need patience, clear skies, and a lot of luck to see them
10. Coffee is practically a national treasure. Strong and always flowing
11. Norwegians seem reserved at first, but once trust builds, friendships run deep
12. May 17th (Constitution Day) is their July 4th. The whole country celebrates with parades, traditional clothes, and serious national pride
13. At least in Aureosen where I live, being a farmer is basically equivalent to being a rockstar
14. I’ve discovered Norwegian artists and music I genuinely love (not just because I live here)
I’m grateful for this season. The challenges, growth, and new perspective.
What’s one assumption people had about a place you’ve lived or visited that was totally wrong?