It’s ferietid (holiday time), and many nordmenn (Norwegians) are going abroad – or spending time in Norway, which is usually a treat in sommersola (the summer sun). (In case you wondered – most Norwegians have 5 weeks of holiday a year. As it’s normal to dedicate chunks of that period to things like the Easter holiday, a typical Norwegian’s sommerferie – summer holiday – lasts for about 3 weeks. Unless you’re a student or a teacher and have a really looong sommer.)

Har du pakket kofferten? (Have you packed your suitcase?) Here are some things to remember:

• Klær [clare] (clothes): undertøy (underwear), strømper (socks), sko (shoes), bukser (trousers), belte (belt), skjørt (skirt), kjole [HYOL-eh] (woman’s dress), t-skjorte (t-shirt), skjorte (shirt), bluse (blouse), genser (sweater), jakke (jacket)…
• Badetøy (bathing clothes): badebukse (bathing trunks), bikini, badedrakt (swinsuit), håndkle (towel), sandaler (sandals), badeball (beach ball)
• Underholdning (entertainment): iPad, mp3-spiller, bøker (books, the singular is bok), blader (magazines). A great thing to bring when you’re travelling with others is a spill (game), like a kortstokk (a deck/stack of cards), backgammon or sjakk (chess).
• Medisiner (pharmaceutical drugs) and kroppspleieprodukter (body care products): solkrem (sun lotion – preferably with a high faktor), krem (body lotion), såpe (soap), sjampo (shampoo), deodorant, tannbørste (tooth brush), tannkrem (toothpaste), sminke (make-up), speil (mirror), barbermaskin (electric shaver), kam (comb), solhatt (sun hat)…

Of course, it’s always a good idea to bring a kamera if you see something nice! And a mobiltelefon (mobile phone) to call home.

Unfortunately, you won’t get far without your billetter (tickets) and penger (money).

Officially, Norwegians don’t need their pass (passport) to travel to the other Nordic countries or to EU countries. But any traveller will sooner or later be asked for some photo ID, so why not make it a rule to always carry your pass along?

With this, I just want to wish my readers a god ferie!