| What is special or unique about your city? |
| Oslo is the capital of the Kingdom of Norway. The city has a blue-green image, as it is surrounded by the blue Oslo fjord and green hills and forests. Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, and its history goes back to 1000 years ago, when the first settlements were built at the inlet of the Oslo fjord. After the Great Fire that destroyed the city in 1624, the Danish King Christian IV, decided to rebuild the city in brick and stone, and named it Christiania. Three hundred years later, in 1925, the citizens decided to rename their city Oslo. Oslo is a pleasant city with over 500 000 inhabitants. The city is characterized by a mix of old and new architecture, parks, hills, museums, monuments, lakes, forests and the fjord. It is a vibrant city, excellent for shopping, cultural and sports activities. Oslo has a wide range of good restaurants and a lively nightlife. The city has become an attractive tourist- and conference city, with a large selection of excellent hotels and congress venues. |
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| What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city? |
| Over the years, we've watched Oslo, the capital of Norway, grow from a sprawling country town into the sophisticated metropolis it is today. Fueled by oil money from the "black gold" of the North Sea, Oslo today is permeated with a Nordic joie de vivre in contrast to its staid, dull reputation of yesteryear along with population growth; urban sprawl has come to Oslo. But Oslo still manages, in spite of its growing numbers, to have more green belts than any other European capital. There are still virgin forests in Oslo and hundreds of hiking trails that lead you to fjords or mountains. No slouch in the cultural department, either, Oslo has some of the greatest museums in all of northern Europe. The only problem is that Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Proceed with caution if you're on a strict budget. Norwegian people can also give the impression to visitors that they are reserved and not so easy to get in contact with. |
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| Are these impressions likely to change? |
| Impressions are likely to change once you become adapted to the environment, and be familiar with the language and culture. |
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| What is the local language? |
| The local language is Norwegian. However, English is commonly spoken as well. A large share of the Norwegian population also speak some German, French and/or Spanish. |
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| How easily could I live in this city without knowing this language? |
| For as long as you would like, since many people here are able to communicate in English, but It is highly recommended that anyone thinking of moving to Norway commits to learning the language as although many companies operate through English, Norwegian is still required. |
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| What are good things to remember in order to avoid offending the other residents of this city? |
| Simplicity and nature are the core of the Norwegian lifestyle. Tolerance, kindness to each other and independence are highly valued. Criticism of other people or others' systems is frowned upon. "Peace and progress" are mottos in the country that sponsors the Nobel Prizes. Norwegians treasure their landscape, outdoor activity, sailing, cross-country skiing, etc. |
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| How might the local weather affect my daily life? |
Oslo and the rest of southern Norway enjoys an active beach and water sport season in the summer months. Oslo is, believe it or not, warmer than San Francisco in the summer. Even though Oslo is situated on latitude 60 North, you should not leave your swim suit at home. Although this is as far north as Anchorage in Alaska, Norway owes its warmer climate to the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream keeps the fjords from freezing entirely, even in the arctic Finnmark region. Even more important are the southerly air currents brought in above these warm waters, especially during the winter. In comparison to western Norway, which has relatively warm winters, cool summers and frequent rain, eastern Norway, where Oslo is situated, is sheltered by the mountains in the centre of the country and has an inland climate with warm summers, colder winters, and less than 30 inches mean annual rainfall.
The snow usually arrives right in time for a "white Christmas", and skiing conditions are excellent from January through March. The closest downhill skiing area is less than 15 minutes by car from Oslo. Thousands of kilometres of cross-country tracks can be found only 5 minutes further to the north and west. A factor to be be aware of is the lack of light during the winter and the opposite, the short nights during the summer. Many people finds this the most challenging factor about Norwegian climate. |
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| Is there anything else I should know about the overall character of your city or its people? |
| Norwegians have a reputation of being somewhat introvert and difficult to get to know. It is not a Norwegian habit to speak to strangers on the bus or at the table next to you in a restaurant. However, Norwegians can be both welcoming and open minded towards foreigners. If you start a conversation you might notice that Norwegians seem a little reluctant at first, but most are happy when someone else takes the initiative. Norwegians have a direct form of communication and often speak out their opinions. |
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| Useful Links |
| www.chamber.no, www.visitoslo.no,www.norway.no, www.toll.no, www.aktivioslo.no |