NORWAY - TRONDHEIM

All Norwegians that I have interacted with speak English very well. Communication with locals, as with other nationalities, in general, did not pose a hurdle. What I wasn’t aware of is that Norway actually has two official languages - Norwegian and Sami, spoken by the Sami ethnic group of the North - as well as two subgroups of the Norwegian language, called Bokmål and Nynorsk. The country has a lot of different dialects in Norwegian, but the written language is in either of these two, with Bokmål prevailing in most regions.

Interestingly, I was surprised to discover quite a few similar words to my own language, given the geographical distance between the two countries, one being in the North and the other in the South of Europe. Reading signs was relatively easy since, like English, Norwegian uses the Latin alphabet, and some words are pretty similar to English. It was quite fun extracting the meaning of words I’ve seen throughout the day in different contexts. Pronunciation also proved to be an exciting challenge.

Although Trondheim is a mix of international and Norwegian students, I wanted to get involved in places where I could meet and interact with local students since most of my friends were internationals. I met wonderful Norwegians from an organization I started working in, whom I could learn about their country and language - and vice versa. Generally, I am curious when it comes to learning about different cultures, so I actively try to meet locals and converse with them.

Being in an environment where everybody speaks English is comforting, especially as a newcomer, but it also implies that one should proactively try to study the language of the locals. With English as a common ground and thus not experiencing any communication barriers, it is also encouraging for an international student like me to satiate my curiosity about new cultures. In Trondheim, there is a language cafe that organises language exchange meetups regularly, and everyone is invited to practise their language skills with both local, and international students. On top of that, it was a great opportunity to forge meaningful connections in the city.

Should I have gone to a more culturally distinct country to my own, with a completely different written alphabet and language, with English not being a solid competency among locals, I believe that I would have discovered new ways to interact with them regardless. It would have pushed me out of my comfort zone, looking for creative ways to bridge the communication gap. Even though English is a competency among Norwegians, I think being proactive by asking questions and being interested in their language is an important skill I have honed throughout my stay in Norway. The necessity to engage with the local culture and language encouraged me to take initiatives, such as participating in local events, volunteering at a cultural festival with both international and Norwegian artists, joining student organizations, and attending these language exchange meetups. These efforts were not only about enhancing my linguistic skills but also about building connections and understanding the social fabric of Norwegian society. This proactive attitude would have been even more crucial in a country with significant cultural and linguistic differences from my own.

In conclusion, my stay in Norway was a multifaceted learning experience; the English proficiency of locals surely made the transition smoother, but the eagerness to immerse myself in the local culture made the experience more enriching, enhancing my ability to navigate diverse cultural settings. This is not only beneficial for personal growth, along with qualities like being open-minded and flexible, but for fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity in a globalized world.