Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with norway

norwegian present search

seansbrain — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:25:13 -0800

Troll Calendars... Who knows what? I was in Honningsvaag, Norway about a month ago and saw a lovely, but very overpriced wall calendar featuring semi-photo-realisitc (think dinotopia) pictures of trolls frolicking and sneaking about Norway. I realized just recently that this would be a perfect present for a friend, but I didn't take a name, picture, or anything. Google and Amazon fu aren't helping me, but I don't sepak Norwegian.

Unidentified Coats of Arms on a 16th C. Map

RedReplicant — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:21:04 -0800

Curious coats of arms on a 16th century map-- can you help with identification and significance? I'm working on a conference paper about the Carta Marina by Olaus Magnus (1539). Here's a link to a reasonable scan of the map.

I've identified most of the coats of arms on the map, but there are a few that have eluded me. The Moscow coat of arms, for instance, on the right over Ivan the Terrible ("Great King of the Moscovites")-- the man on horseback with a bow and arrow appears in a couple of Russian coats of arms, but I haven't been able to find this one in a specifically Moscovian context. Normally their coat is St. George, who has a spear (quite a different connotation from bow and arrows).

Secondly, the coat of arms of Norway appears over the Faroe Islands (Olaus has labeled them "Orcad"). Faroe was historically attached to Denmark, not Norway. And interestingly enough, the coat of arms is reversed. I speculate that Olaus believes this property ought to be Norway's, but I have no historical basis for that. Any information would be appreciated!

One somewhat unrelated item: I've been unable to decipher the latin inscription on the king of Gothia (he is fictional; Gothia was a province of Sweden at this time). The other kings all have religious inscriptions or descriptions of their greatness.

I'd write up more of these items to Olaus' imagination, but his other map details are almost always based on some kind of historical sources. I'd really appreciate any information or light shed upon this wonderful map, even if it's not specific to my questions.

Hei! Venn!

chuckdarwin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:21:49 -0800

I'm headed to Norway to play some gigs in January. How should I prepare for my first trip to Scandinavia? Should I learn some Norwegian phrases? Will it be dark the entire time? Is it as expensive as I've heard?

I hope it's not like the movie.

hootch — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:31:16 -0800

How do you pronounce the Norwegian name Trond? Could a Norwegian member help me out with the pronounciation of the name Trond? My last name is Trondson and I've always prounced it with a silent D, but that's mostly because my brother's name is Tron, without the D. Just curious how it's pronounced "back home".

Hiberno-Norwegian marriage?

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:24:54 -0800

What issues would arise (legally) from the marriage of a Norwegian/Irish couple? I've come to the conclusion that in the next 12-18 months (no comments on timeframe, please), I'll almost certainly propose to my girlfriend. I'm Irish - resident in the Republic of Ireland - and she's Norwegian. I also hold British nationality through my parents.

What are the likely obstacles (as regards "immigration", law, etc.) that would arise in the event of a marriage? Would the fact that Norway is outside the EU (though inside the European Free Trade Association/EEA) cause any difficulties?

Additionally, if you can think of any major benefits I'd be interested to hear them too.

The Swedish Chef Would Answer This In Two Shakes

A Long and Troublesome Lameness — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:52:29 -0800

Which Nordic country should I visit? I would like to visit a Nordic country (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, or Finland). They interest me equally. Which one do you recommend for: (1) Americans; (2) traveling with a three-year-old; (3) with no significant knowledge of the local languages; and (4) who will spend most but not all of their time in that country's largest city?

How do I sell to norse companies?

MaxK — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:24:41 -0800

Norwegian Businessfilter: How would an american with almost no understanding of Bokmål go about getting contracts from Norwegian companies? What's the best way to go about selling computer programming services remotely to companies based in Norway? Is there an English-language business portal for the Norwegian tech industry? Really, this isn't entirely specific to Norway, but I'm trying to take advantage of lower taxes from foreign income while developing contracts with clients in countries I'd like to visit in the next 2 - 3 years.

Aside from all being great places to live...

StrikeTheViol — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:58:28 -0800

I'd like to know more about social, cultural and economic differences between Scandinavian countries. I've seen this and have a few acquaintances that introduced me to national stereotypes, but I'm sure it gets more complex. How does life really vary across Scandinavia?

Contact for Bard Breien (NorwegianFilm Director)?

priorpark17 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:45:57 -0800

Contact for Bard Breien (NorwegianFilm Director)? Looking for a contact for Norwegian film director Bard Breien.

Help me plan my Scandinavian adventure!

snickerdoodle — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:50:54 -0800

Help me plan my Scandinavian adventure! I'm going to be spending 4 days in Iceland and 6 days in Norway in late August. Right now we're planning on flying into Iceland on a Friday, then departing Monday for Bergen. I somehow how have to get to Oslo by Friday for a wedding.

I'm looking for hotel and restaurant recommendations in Iceland and Bergen, Norway, as well as quirky, won't-find-this-anywhere-else type places. I've been to Norway before as a kid, and seem to recall not enjoying the native food, but I'm definitely willing to give it another shot. I'd like to do some hiking/outdoorsy things, but due to logistics will have limited equipment on me. I also love to dance.

Bonus question: what does one wear to an August wedding in Oslo?

Help me plan a European relocation?

dance — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:29:23 -0800

European relocation: I've been asked to help plan a friend's relocation from Switzerland to Norway. She wanted to do this herself by taking the seats out of a VW Caravelle and packing it up with her bicycle and personal effects (no large pieces of furniture are involved). I can't help but thinking that it would be cheaper and easier to have a company move her effects for her. It would save her driving nearly 3000km (that figure is for both ways) and is a safer option than having all the goods in the back of a car ready to fly forward in the event of an accident.

But has anybody made such a move? Was it easy? Was it a long time before the goods arrived? Was it expensive? Does it become more or less cost effective if you have loads of stuff vs. a lesser amount of personal effects?

And perhaps most importantly - can anyone recommend a firm we can use??

THANKS!

Visiting Bergen

ob — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:43:26 -0800

Bergen. What to do? What are the must sees? I'm going to be in Bergen for a few days in less than two weeks. I've read tourist guides online, but I'd like an insider view. I'm not going as a tourist, I'm working on a project there, but as I understand it I have mornings free (how very civilized!) So, what to see, what to do and, perhaps, what not to do?

Where can I watch Eurovision in Bergen, Norway?

Del Chimney — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:12:44 -0800

Where can a Brit who happens to be in Bergen, Norway on Saturday 24th May watch the Eurovision Song Contest? I know that the good people of Norway take the whole thing about as seriously as those of us in the UK (i.e. not at all) but since I am going to be there on Eurovision night I can't pass up the opportunity to see first hand how it all goes down in another part of Europe. It won't be the same without Wogan but I'm sure that his Norwegian counterpart will more than suffice.

What are my chances of finding a bar that will be showing it? Any suggestions for a venue? If so, how could I enhance my evening by ingratiating myself with any interested locals?

Mobile data transfer up north

uncle harold — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:07:35 -0800

Mobile Internet access options in Scandinavia? For a foreigner, preferably no long term contract. I'll be in Scandinavia this summer for about 2 months and will need regular and spontaneous Internet access. The time will be mostly spent in Norway, with maybe 2 weeks in Sweden.

I know mobile services are very advanced and cheap in all of Scandinavia. But are there local carriers that offer short term contracts (no one or two year obligations)? Pay by call or volume based options? Available to non-residents without a local bank account or credit card?

Thanks!

Norway, ice cream, and love

gregvr — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:37:22 -0800

I'm looking for a strawberry ice cream topping that we had in Norway! Please help! About 10 years ago, my wife and I had a wonderful vacation in Norway.

One of the things that we had quite a lot of was ice cream. Pretty much EVERYWHERE had an ice cream topping that was basically like a crunchy strawberry sprinkle. It was applied to the ice cream in cones like jimmies (or sprinkles) would be applied here in the U.S. I __THINK__ it was called something like "jordbaer-strusel"

While we were there, we went to a bunch of grocery stores trying to find it, but couldn't. We then did lots of internet searches to try to find it, but this was 1998 and there weren't as many online retailers as there are now, especially in Norway.

Help? Ideally a link to somewhere we can buy it online, but at least just a correct name we can search with.

Beklager, jeg snakker ikke norsk - EU national moving to Norway?

Happy Dave — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:06:53 -0800

Moving around in the EU - how about them fjords there? Another week, another 'how tough would this be?' immigration question.

I'm 26, British, living in the UK, married to an American who is about three or four years away (assuming the UK govt doesn't move the goalposts) from a British passport. I work in communications, she's a journo.

I've been thinking about the future, and in particular the various places in the EU that we might consider living and working, and Norway keeps coming up again and again in my personal wish list. I've always been attracted to Scandinavian culture, and my Dad works for a Norwegian firm and comes back with stories about working over there that make me really excited.

I'm also quite drawn to what I perceive as a pretty liberal, well-run government and strong economy, good education, healthcare and cultural life.

If we were to think about moving to Norway, within, say, five years, what would be the plusses and minuses? Any expats or Norwegian MeFites who have done this or have insights? We live in London at the moment, but may move back to Scotland, where I'm from - how would Norway compare with Scotland in the above terms?

Cheers!

Try to say 'Scandinavian academia' ten times fast.

umbú — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:01:22 -0800

Are there different expectations for academic job applications in Norway vs. the United States? I'm in the United States, and I'm applying for an ethnomusicology teaching position at the University of Oslo. Do any academics out there have experience in both the U.S. and Norway? I have a feeling that I should alter my application materials (CV, cover letter, teaching dossier and writing samples) to conform to their conventions, but I'm not sure exactly how.

Help me find out more about this company and this man

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:51:06 -0800

An area of rural Norway I am very fond of is currently fighting a development bid by a possibly dodgy operation... The company is called Global Ventures, Inc [globalvg-dot-com] and is apparently headed by a man called Jan Petter Schøyen/Schoyen.

The website purports that the company is headquartered in Utah. They have a phone number on the website but it goes straight to a voicemail setup. Emails go unanswered. The website is littered with typos and generic images of idealised corporate America. Strangely it also features a page of "financial tools" which are hosted offsite and seem placed more to lend credibility to the site than because they are actually relevant.

The company claims to have a couple of dozen other successful developments under their belt but neither I nor the Norwegian papers can find any evidence of this.

Whois and the web archive show that the site has only been around since November 2006.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be going on here? I haven't linked to anything relating to the operation in case it appears I am trying to stage a Googlebomb. I would like to be proved wrong on the possible scam front even if I and the locals don't like the sound of the massive development planned.

Need help with a short trip to Norway (or other places in the area)

flyby22 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:26:01 -0800

Need some suggestions for a very short trip to Norway. I will be in Finland (work) next couple of weeks and I may be able to take one Fri-Sun period off during that. I have not had time to do much research since this whole trip kind of came together quickly. I was thinking of flying into Oslo on Thurs night and try to make the most of Fri/Sat/Sun. I will probably fly back to Finland on Sun evening or Mon early morning.

I would really like to see some of the Fjords. What are my chances and options of doing that in such a short time? I was looking at fjord-tours.com website at one of their tours called Royal Fjord tour. I think that can be done in a 24 hr period, but I can't seem to reach them using the phone number they have listed and strangely enough they dont have an email address to write to.

So any suggestions (including self help options) ?

My next choice is Stockholm if I can't make it to the fjords. I am open to any suggestion for short 2-3 day trip to any other nearby locations.

Many thanks.

Which path do I take: Norway, an MBA, or nothing at all?

mbatch — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:43:48 -0800

I've been offered a position in Norway. I am happily and gainfully employed in Maine. I am also considering an MBA. Does anyone have advice with regards to Norway, choosing the path less traveled, and life stability? I'm currently a software engineer in Maine and I like the small company I work for. There are about 50 employees and next to no internal politics involved. The pay isn't the highest but it is plenty for the area and my (single) lifestyle. The perks include extreme flex time (I essentially work when I choose), free food, company vehicles when needed, summertime BBQs, and free baseball tickets. I love the area as well.

During a recent trip to Oslo, Norway I visited a friend's work and was offered a position with his employer. They are a company of roughly 200 and seemed to be in growth mode. The work would be very interesting (more so than my current job) and there are perks such as free cellphone, home internet, and three free flights back to the USA per year.

However, the Norwegian firm has offered me a salary that is only ~20% higher than my current salary despite the fact that Oslo is the "most expensive city in the world". Using standard cost-of-living index numbers I have concluded that in order to have an equivalent standard of living in Oslo my salary would have to be more like ~60% higher or more.

That being said, my friend in Norway pays the same in rent that I do in Portland, Maine, so I know that using cost-of-living indexes that combine everything into one number aren't that great for this sort of comparison.

As it stands now, I see the Oslo offer as a very interesting and appealing path but I also do not want to set myself back too many years with regards to retirement savings and the like. My current job is extremely stable and somewhat rewarding. I like Maine and can see myself staying here for the long term (if not now, then down the road).

I'm 29, single, and I just finished a masters at McGill University in Montreal. I initially planned on looking into an MBA (or some other useful/pertinent degree) that my company would pay for. The more time I spend thinking about the MBA the more I think it might be unnecessary and a waste of time, but I also realize that my mind and body work much better with short-term goals such as graduate degrees than it does with long-term goals like retirement. That being said, I don't think the idea of doing an MBA just to remain motivated is the worst thought in the world.

Other dreams of mine include buying a sailboat, considering rental property (as an investment), and/or building my first home. These things all take money, of course, and I'm sadly an obsessive retirement saver and I am having problems "living life in the now".

Does anybody have thoughts, insights, or other information? Specifically, is anyone familiar with the tax implications of working as an ex-pat in Norway? I've searched the web to no end and found little useful information. I've also been told that learning Norwegian is fairly easy if you immerse yourself. The company I would be working for is not concerned with the fact that I do not currently know any Norwegian and they assure me it is easy to pick up.

Did Norway have gas lighting around the year 1879?

Green With You — Wed, 16 May 2007 08:37:37 -0800

Did Norway have gas lighting around the year 1879? I'm a student working at a library and one of the staff librarians was asked a question about whether or not Norway had gas lighting in 1879. This is for the purposes of theater authenticity for the work "A Doll's House". Being a helpful sort I tried looking as well and couldn't come up with anything definitive either way. Any information will be of great help.

Norwegian sound of agreement

tumble — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:27:44 -0800

What is the name of the vocalization Norwegian speakers make when they are agreeing with a speaker? It sounds like saying 'ya', but on an inhale instead of an exhale. In English, it would be replaced by 'mmhmm'. I heard it mostly when a group of people were talking to each other, and the listeners would make the noise when they agreed with some point. What's the name of this sound, and more generally, what is the term for this kind of vocalization?

Gift for a 16 year old American going to Norway for a year.

yetanother — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:01:03 -0800

Gift for a 16 year old American going to Norway for a year. My stepson is leaving Oregon in August to be an exchange student in Norway.
What would be the most useful gift I can get him before he goes?

Bonus points for suggestions of things he can take as gifts for his host family - two parents and 3 teenagers.

From Modena to Trondheim - on a student's budget

divabat — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:34:02 -0800

I'd like to go to Modena, Italy in early December to meet some friends. I'd also like to attend a student festival in Trondheim, Norway, in mid-February. What else can I do between December and February? I'm right now planning a mostly-hypothetical European trip in my head.

I'd like to go to Modena, Italy around Dec 8 - Dec 11 2006 to visit some friends.
I'd also like to attend ISFiT 2007 in Trondheim, Norway from Feb 16 - Feb 25 2007.

I have all this time in between and I'm not sure what to do with it. I'd like to participate in youth/student-oriented activities (though a music festival every week would be rather overkill). Anything creative, out-of-the-box, and international is great.

I would be departing from either Brisbane or Sydney, Australia, or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, depending on my visa situation. I have a Bangladesh passport (with Malaysian permanent residency), and I need a visa for nearly everywhere. I'm not sure if the European embassies in Australia (I'll be studying in Brisbane come July) will let me apply for a visa there, or if I have to go back to KL and get it done there instead. A Schengen visa would allow me to go to a lot of places at once, so that would be the most convenient.

(I'll be flying straight back to Brisbane, probably through Sydney.)

There is a slight possibility that I might pop over to the US for a bit in January for a meeting/some volunteer stuff (I have a US visa so that's not a problem) but it's not a priority, just a "maybe".

Questions:

1. Aus/KL -> Modena -> ????? -> Trondheim -> Brisbane. What goes in the "?????" slot? I've been to The Netherlands, Belgium (loved both places), Germany, France, and elsewhere in Italy. I've also been to Switzerland and the UK, though I'd rather not factor that into my tour because I need separate visas for those.

2. Do I get the Schengen visa from the Italian embassy (first stop) or the Norwegian embassy (longest stay, but last stop, possible sponsorship)?

3. How do I get to Modena from Rome and Trondheim from Oslo?

4. I haven't a lot of money. Really. Malaysian ringgit does not travel far, and I don't know how much Australian dollars I'll be able to earn. How do I keep within a really low budget? Are there places that would pay me to travel, or sponsor me? (I might get something for ISFiT, but I need to be accepted first).

Any ideas, thoughts, etc would be good. It would be my first fully independent trip (well, save my 2 week trip to Denver this April, which I still owe my parents money for - they bought tix) and anything helps!

Quality Anorak for hiking across Norway required

Funmonkey1 — Fri, 19 May 2006 09:18:35 -0800

I need a goretex Anorak for hiking in spring/fall that is rainproof, breathable and provides some warmth for varied terrain across Norway. Priced out some options in country, but am very hesitant to pay 3000 Kroner (500 bucks) for top model gear here when my brother is coming over from the states in June. Any suggestions? Will be used on all terrain and hopefully can fit into a ruksack when not needed.