Field notes | The Norwegian Experience

The Cold Norwegian

I notice a lot of people describe Norwegians as socially cold -even my friends and family from the US say the same.

Dave // BERGEN April 22

Norwegians Are Addicted to Brown Cheese

I’ve learned to love black coffee, tolerate lutefisk (barely), and I can now pronounce “kjærlighet” without sounding like I’m choking on a potato.

Dave // BERGEN April 22

I really hate gym

It now turn’s out that my employer pays half the monthly cost of gym memberships. I showed up wholeheartedly for a hard workout-session at my close-by gym for the very first time.

Dave // BERGEN April 20

Bergen humor is a special flavor of Norwegian wit – think dry as week-old flatbrød, delivered with a straight face while the rain pours down outside. It’s not loud slapstick or over-the-top jokes. Instead, it’s sharp, sarcastic, self-deprecating, and often wrapped in that thick, sing-songy Bergensk dialect that sounds like someone cheerfully gargling gravel.

Dave // BERGEN April 19

Stolpejakten or Pole Hunt

Let me tell you, after a few years here, my energy levels have been… well, let’s just say they’ve been auditioning for the role of “retired sloth.” Rain, wind, and that cozy Norwegian urge to Netflix-and-waffle my way through winter didn’t help.
But then I downloaded this app from Google Play called Stolpejakten, and suddenly I’m out there feeling like a slightly overweight treasure hunter with a caffeine buzz.

Dave // BERGEN April 18

Norwegian Bank Romance Hits a Speed Bump

I’ve been an American in Bergen for twenty-two years now, which is long enough that I no longer flinch when the cashier at the supermarket tells me my total in Norwegian kroner. I still occasionally catch myself calculating everything back into dollars just to feel normal, but mostly I’ve gone native.

Dave // BERGEN April 14

Sweaty Sunday Hustle on Ulriken

Yesterday my wife and I took the Ulriksbanen (cable-car) up for a proper Sunday reset. Nothing beats that slow, creaky ride up the mountain with Bergen sparkling below like it’s showing off just for you.

Dave // BERGEN April 13

A midlife crisis served with rain and a side of reality

Let’s start with the obvious. I live in Bergen, the city that invented weather as a full-contact sport. Seven months of sideways rain a year will make any man philosophical. Forty-eight hits different when the only thing creaking louder than the old wooden houses on Bryggen is your own spine and knees

Dave // BERGEN April 10

Taking the First Step Toward a Healthier Life

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it really takes to build a better, more balanced life. For me, the most important starting point isn’t a new diet or a drastic fitness plan -it’s a visit to my primary care doctor

Dave // BERGEN April 08