Fires in Norway Posted by kari on Dec 25, 2010
I have always been astounded by the amount of coverage branner (fires) get in the Norwegian media. I swear in every Norwegian newspaper I open, there is an article about a brann. I used to think that perhaps there isn’t enough other interesting stuff to share with the public, so stories about branner naturally…
Asbjørnson and Moe Posted by kari on Dec 21, 2010
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812-1885)and Jørgen Engebretesen Moe (1813-1882)-the names that have become synonymous with Norwegian folkeeveyntyr (folktales). The two had been friends since their early teen years and later went on to collect folkeeventyr and edit them into a compilation that would forever impact Norwegian culture. Asbjørnsen was a writer and scholar from Christiania (old…
Jul Vocabulary Posted by kari on Dec 20, 2010
Now that jul (Christmas) is around the corner, you may want to impress your friends and family with jul vokabulær! So, you already know jul, but after this post, you should be able to tell someone what was on the meny (menu) for jul where you were. (if you have a Norwegian-ish meal). You should…
Road and Rail Tunnels in Norway Posted by kari on Dec 17, 2010
This may not seem like an interesting topic to many of you, but keep in mind Norway´s topography and the necessity to blast lots of dynamite to create tunneler (tunnels) for biler (cars) and tog (trains) to drive through (not to mention syklister-cyclists and folk på fot-people on foot in certain tunneler). Whether you…
Trolls and Huldras Posted by kari on Dec 15, 2010
On all of my 3 trips to Bergen, I have had some sort of encounter with a troll or a huldra, two of the many creatures in Norwegian folklore. Legends of these creatures are found throughout the country, but in my experience, the west coast seems particularly impacted by them. One summer my mom, brother…
Snowmobiling in Norway Posted by kari on Dec 14, 2010
I am embarassed to say that as a born and raised Minnesotan, I have never ridden a snyscooter (snowmobile, as they say in northern Norway, otherwise snøskooter or snøskuter elsewhere in the country) in Minnesota. Many of my friends and acquaintances own snyscooterer and spend a significant amount of time on them during the winter…
Fridtjof Nansen Posted by kari on Dec 9, 2010
Nansen (Oct. 10, 1861-May 13, 1930) grew up nearby Christiania (now Oslo), where his interests in expeditions and the outdoors blossomed. At age 2, Fridtjof was on skis and later skates. He broke the world record for skating one mile and for 12 consecutive years won the cross-country skiing championship in Norway. As a boy…