A Note on The Norsk

Thanks to Ryanair, the close proximity between Norway and Ireland, and my ever growing impatience at being stationary for so long, I packed a single carry-on bag and jetted off to Oslo for Easter holidays. This new ound sense of spontaneity left me feeling light hearted and more enthused for Scandinavian culture than ever before.

With my knitted scarf knotted tightly around my throat, my jacket buttoned all the way to my chin, and my body braced for a wintry blast, I steppe doff the plane and was greeted by none other than a warm ray of golden sunlight. No harsh winds encircled me, and I need not make any effort to trudge through knee deep snow. It was 25 degrees in Norway in april and I was a little over dressed.

During my spasm of impulsive behaivour, I had failed to investigate anything about my destination and my lack of research left me standing deer eyed and covered in my own sweat and ignorance. To be perfectly honest, I was a little disappointed with the lack of Arctic weather, but I shed the extra layers and headed towards town anyway.

Now before I start contradicting myselfself, let me just say that Oslo is the most expensive city in Europe. And yes, many people claim this for cities throughout the continent, but let me tell you friends, teh Norwegians mean business. A simple pint of beer can cost you up to 10 Euro, the bus ride from the aiprport to the city centre maybe 25, adn even the cheapest hostel will ride the 30 Euro line. The only thing free in oslo is the air, and even that comes with a polluted price.

Because of my little wallet and Norway's greedy hand, I became what we all do at some point while backpacking; desperate. Despite my previous frustration with couchsurfing, I logged on with a fresh start at my finger tips and finally found two Norwegians that were willing to take me in. They were kind hosts, and their efforts exceeded their wants, but I still felt like something was missing. It was difficult at first, trying to fit the mould of a perfect guest. But what I found as the days dragged on was that adaptation is the key to every traveller's survival. Being flexible, open-minded, and downright elastic is what allows you to keep going. So I searched my backpack for even a shred of silver lining and in turn took that extra step out of the way, allowing me to get back on track and well on my way.