A lot of people say that in Norway you get ‘free health care’ but that is only true if you are unhealthy. There is a threshold where unhealthy  pass into the ‘free’ zone. However, if you are healthy you must pay. When I say a ‘healthy’ person, I mean someone who only needs to see [...]

Whenever it snows after the snow has already melted or frost freezes on your car in May, Norwegians say ‘Global warming, Pfffft!’.  When it gets below zero in summer or the wind chills you to the bone… ‘Global warming, pffft.’  When there is snow still on the ground in June or colds days for a [...]

Every Easter in Norway people go to Easter Mountain.  When you ask a Norwegian what they are doing for Easter, ‘going to Easter Mountain’, they reply.  Newspapers have Easter Mountain weather reports.  People get rescued on Easter Mountain.  And there is a mortality count on Easter Mountain.  Even when coming home, there is Easter Mountain [...]

I went to the bakery in Alta and asked if they had any croissants.  Their response: ‘What’s that?’  An Australian reply would be ‘You are kidding me, right?’ but I saw that they really meant ‘what’s that?’.  With a big breath in and a big exhale, I composed myself. I have been a little disappointed [...]