Full name: Anna Kopeiko
Age: 23
Citizenship: Ukraine
Programme at BI: Strategic Marketing Management
My name is Anna and I am currently pursuing an MSc in Strategic Marketing Management. I was born and raised in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. I have visited many countries but had never been to Norway before. Therefore, my first acquaintance with Norway happened last autumn, during the pandemic. However, these circumstances have not made me upset because the main beauty of Norway is the outdoors.
On arrival, I spent a lot of time walking around Oslo and crossed the whole city on foot. It is worth it! You will be surprised at the contemporary architecture, buildings that have bizarre shapes. My favorite is Oslo Opera House and Bjørvika Barcode district that is not far from it. Also, I like Aker Brygge, it’s a fine place to stop and drink some cacao with a beautiful view. I am looking forward to summer to watch the sunsets there.
On sunny days I prefer to spend an hour in one of many parks, not far from my dormitory. Recently I found a very beautiful pond with ducks and swans. They are not afraid of people, so I often go there to feed them.
Sometimes when I want to meet new people and have a lovely chat I go to Kroa. Where every Tuesday and Thursday students can meet and have some coffee with buns. In autumn, I also had an opportunity to visit BInner, the traditional dinner for BI students. I met my friends there and we had a great evening. It is very valuable that BI cares about its students and does not let us feel lonely.
Oslo is quite hilly with beautiful nature and picturesque lakes. Therefore, hiking became my favorite sport here. I like to climb the hills and discover something new every time. Besides, the views from the top points are incredible! Sometimes I take some food with me and have lunch there, listening to the music and enjoying the beautiful view.
Truthfully, nature is not the only thing that amazed me in Norway. Some food surprised me. I had always liked herring and coming to Norway I decided to buy it here. Unexpectedly, I realized that it is sweet! I couldn’t believe my mouth because the herring that I ate before was always salty. I could not get used to it for a long time. But then I found out that it is not the only unpredictable sweet dish here. I realized that sauerkraut, pickles, and other familiar food have different tastes. All of them are sweet! Also, I tried traditional Norwegian cheese brunost. The taste is very unusual and … sweet too! However, I like it very much and will bring it to my family as a souvenir from Norway.
Looking back, I understand that I made the right decision choosing BI. Norway is very different from Ukraine, but it makes my life here even more interesting. The main thing is to be able to find the positive side of every situation.