Name: Eduarda Castro
Programme: Bachelor of Business Administration- Specialization in Shipping Management
Home Country: Brazil
Surviving the Winter in Norway- A Brazilian perspective
Norway, with its breathtaking fjords, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Who wouldn’t want to experience that, right?
This is the perfect place for adventurous people. However, for a Brazilian like me, who is used to winters with 20 degrees, I was a bit anxious to see what winter in Norway would look like.
It took me a while to figure out how to survive the Norwegian winter. Luckily for you, I came up with the perfect plan so you can be ready for it.
Here are some tips and insights from my experience on how to survive and even enjoy the Norwegian winter.
Embrace the cold: Dress Right
If you can´t fight it, you might as well embrace it. This is the first and most important lesson. Instead of dreading the idea of a snowy winter, I learned to dress properly. Layering clothing is crucial. This starts with thermal undergarments, followed by sweaters, a warm jacket, gloves, a hat, and good-quality winter boots.
As Norwegians like to say: there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
Stay active
During winter, its very easy to just want to stay indoors and lay in bed. However, for Norwegians, every season brings opportunities to try different activities. Some of the things you can do are winter sports, like skiing and snowboarding, going for walks in the snow, and joining winter festivals.
I realized that staying active and socializing is a great way to beat the winter blues and make the season a lot more fun!
Embrace Hygge
The Norwegians have a concept called “hygge”, which could translate to a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Its about finding joy in simple things, like lighting candles, drinking a hot chocolate, or gathering around a fireplace with friends.
Hygge gives a special touch to the Norwegian winter nights.
Vitamin D is key
The lower amount of daylight during winter can impact your mood and energy levels. As a Brazilian used to sunny days, this was a very significant change. To reverse this effect, I started to work on getting enough vitamin D. This can be done by taking supplements and spending time outdoors during daylight hours.
Enjoying the daylight as much as you can is quite helpful!
They who have a friend, have every thing
Having friends to talk to and join activities with can make a lot of difference when it comes to fighting the winter loneliness. Spending time with my friends gave me a sense of community, which made me feel a lot more comfortable during the winter.
They also made my winter experience more special as we now have a lot of fun stories to tell.
The Beauty of Winter
Together with the snow, winter brings a lot of beauty. I’m talking about incredible landscapes covered in snow, with frozen lakes, and the breathtaking Northern Lights. It´s a great opportunity to go outside and explore Norway during this special season.
Taking the time to appreciate how unique the winter in Norway has made the cold a lot more bearable.
In conclusion, winter in Norway has challenged me to see the world in a different way. It has taught me to adapt, appreciate new perspectives, and find join in every season, no matter what. With the right mindset, a little preparation, and an open mind to embrace the Norwegian winter, you can truly make the most out of this magical season up in the Nordics.
