Relocation guide norway by Shaun Giblin

Relocation Guide: Norway Our guide to living and working overseas

Norway Overview of Norway

Norway (Norge) is the westernmost, northernmost - and in fact the easternmost - of the three Scandinavian countries. Best known for the complex and deep fjords along its west coast, it stretches from the North Sea near Denmark and Scotland into the Arctic Ocean where it borders northern Finland, eastern Sweden and the north-western tip of Russia. Area: 323,802 km2 Capital City: Oslo Currency: Kroner (NOK) Government: Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy Language: Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Saami Population: 5,063,709 Population Density: 16 /km² Religion: No official religion

Air Energi in Norway

Air Energi has a Stavanger office located in Stavanger Business Centre, Kanalarmen 10, 4052 Stavanger. All our mobiliasations are fully supported by our assignment support team in the UK.

Geography

Norway is on a large peninsula shared with Sweden in the north of Europe. In the north, it also borders Finland and Russia. Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in the west of the country are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the

sea penetrates far inland. The vast majority of the land is a rocky wilderness, and thus Norway has large, completely unpopulated areas, many of which have been converted to national parks. Even outside the national parks, much of the land is unspoiled nature.

Main Cities 1. 2. 3. 4.

Oslo Bergen Trondheim Stavanger

Climate

Because of the gulf stream, the climate in Norway, especially along the coast, is noticeably warmer than what would otherwise be expected at such a high latitude. Almost half the length of Norway is north of the arctic circle. Summers can be moderately warm (up to 30°C), even in northern areas, but only for limited periods. The length of the winter and amount of snow varies. In the north there is more snow and winters are dark; on the southern and western coast, winters are moderate and rainy, while further inland the temperature can easily fall below -25°C. Even in the southeast, winter temperatures of -10ºC to -15ºC are common. Some mountain areas have permanent glaciers and patches of snow can be found in higher elevations even in the summer.

Holidays

The major holidays are Easter, Christmas (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are all considered holidays), and the “common vacation” throughout July. In May there are several holidays including constitution day (17 May) - the main national celebration and an attraction in itself.

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Public holidays

• 1 January - New Years day • Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday, “Skjærtorsdag”) • Good Friday (“Langfredag”) • Easter Sunday (“Første påskedag”) • Second day of Easter (Monday) (“Andre påskedag”) • 1 May - Labour day • 17 May - Constitution Day • Ascension Thursday (“Kristi himmelfart”) • Pentecost (Whit Sunday, “Første pinsedag”) • Pentecost 2ed (Whit Monday, “Andre pinsedag”) • 25 December - Christmas Day (“Første juledag”) • 26 December - Boxing Day (“Andre juledag”)

Banking Information

The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian crown (norske krone), abbreviated kr. A 1/100th krone is called øre. When you need to disambiguate the Norwegian krone from other krone (eg: the Swedish or Danish krone), use the official three-letter abbreviation NOK. As of October 2013, there are about 8 NOK to one euro. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, and 20 kroner. Paper notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 kroner.

ATMs

ATMs in Norway are called Minibank. There is no problem locating an ATM machine in urban areas. At main airports and Oslo Central Station, you can withdraw euros, dollars, pounds sterling, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian kroner. Nearly all stores accept major credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa.

Cost of Living

* This is an approximate guide only

Apartment (1 bed) Utilities Milk (1 litre) Loaf of bread Gasoline (1 litre)

9,500 kr 1,850 kr 14 kr 23 kr 14.50 kr

Accommodation

A single hotel room (always book ahead for weekdays) should cost you from around kr 800 and up (special offers are common and cheaper), but you can find reasonable cheap lodgings in camping huts (kr 300-600, space for entire family), mountain cabins (kr 150300 per person), youth hostels (kr 150-250 per person), etc. Most of these will require you to make your own food, bring your own bed sheets, and wash before leaving. For longer stays (one week or more) consider renting an apartment, a house or a high quality cabin. Several agencies offer reservations on houses or cabins owned by farmers or other locals. This type of accommodation is frequently more interesting than a standard hotel.

Food & Drink Food

Traditional Norwegian “farm” food is made by whatever can grow in the northern climate, be stored for a year until new crops come out, and contain enough energy for you to do hard work. Regional variances in traditional food are huge and hence, and what is thought to be “typical traditional” for one Norwegian might be totally unknown to another. Typical examples are variations of yeasted and unyeasted bread and other forms of bakery, porridges, soups, inventive uses of potato, salted and smoked meat, and fresh, salted or smoked fish. Dried cod (tørrfisk) and salted cod (klippfisk) are staples of coastal communities in the north and can be seen drying on outside racks in spring and summer. The national dish of Norway is fårikål, a stewed casserole of lamb’s meat and cabbage.

the most extreme examples. Lunch usually consists of some bread and snacks instead of a warm dish but this is then compensated by eating well at dinner time. Vegetarians Very few Norwegian cuisine restaurants have vegetarian meals on the menu, but will make something if asked. Some of the few chains of stores/restaurants where you will always have a vegetarian option are Peppes Pizza, Dolly Dimple’s, Egon, SubWay and Esso/On the run.

Drink

Norway is often described as a “dry” country because alcohol is highly priced and a glass of wine/beer in a restaurant is in the range of 60 NOK. When in cities/towns with many students (Oslo/Bergen/Trondheim/Tromsø in particular), you can very often find prices to be lower. Ask at your place of accommodation or young people in the streets for hints and tips on where to go. Beer can be bought at supermarkets, however wine and stronger alcoholic beverages have to be purchased in state owned liquor stores (Vinmonopolet [30]). The price of alcohol, however, does not stop the locals from having a good time.

Social Etiquette

Norwegians are generally open-minded and tolerant and there are few, if any, dos and don’ts that foreign visitors need to keep in mind. Many Norwegian people can however be mistaken as somewhat rude and unwelcoming, due to the fact that they can

be very direct and that small talk generally doesn’t come easy. This is just a matter of culture; making contact with strangers, such as talking with fellow passengers on the bus, is uncommon. Furthermore, Norwegian as a language is very straightforward. If asked for a favor, you are likely not to hear a “please”. On the other hand, Norwegians say “takk” (“thank you”) for almost anything, including for example receiving change back from cashier or bus driver. It is customary to thank the cook for the food (“takk for maten”) in a private home. The reply will be “velbekomme” or “værsågod”. The once common use of the polite pronoun is nowadays extremely rare, and so is polite phrases and words in everyday situations, so don’t be offended if a Norwegian speaking a foreign language uses a very familiar language. The Norwegian culture is in some aspects very informal, and Norwegians usually address each others by first name only, except perhaps in official meetings. The informal culture is, however, not equivalent of that in southern parts of Europe; showing up late for meetings is considered rude, so is talking loud, being too personal with strangers and losing your temper. Although you may get away with arriving “fashionably late” at dinners in someone else’s home, this is certainly not expected and should be limited to no more than fifteen minutes. It is customary to take off your shoes when entering a Norwegian home - particularly in the winter.

Finer traditional food is usually based on hunted animals or fresh fish. Steak, medallions and meat balls from game, deer, reindeer and elk are highly appreciated foods with international reputation, so are fresh, smoked and fermented salmon varieties as well as a host of other fish products. Traditional pastries like lukket valnøtt (marzipan-covered whipped cream cake) are other original contributions to international cuisine. Cheese of various types is common, but one particularly Norwegian favorite is geitost (goat-cheese), a mild smoked cheese which bears a remarkable similarity to smooth peanut butter in colour, texture and taste. Today, Norwegians use plenty of sliced bread for almost any meal except dinner, whereas recipes for hot meals will be taken from almost anywhere in the world, including of course the traditional kitchen, but seldom © Air Energi 2013

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Public Transport

Norway is a big country and getting around, particularly up north, is expensive and timeconsuming. The best way to get around is by having access to your own vehicle.

Car

Norway has right hand traffic, as the rest of mainland Europe. Driving is generally easy as traffic is calm, and most drivers are disciplined and law abiding, although moderate speeding is common on highways. However, some city centres (such as Bergen and Oslo) may be confusing to navigate for the first time visitor due to many one-way streets. Traffic is generally light except for city centres and a handful of stretches on main roads (notably E18).

Plane

Norway’s craggy coastline makes roads and trains slow, so domestic flights are very popular. The largest operators are SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe. This is especially true in northern Norway, where towns and cities are fewer and further between, that air travel is clearly the most convenient method to get from town to town. Planes between the small airports are small, and they generally have several intermediate stops along the route to embark and disembark passengers. Unfortunately, it is also in these areas where ticket prices can be most expensive. Flights in southern Norway are cheaper than in northern Norway, and even though this area has better roads and rail, planes are generally faster than taking the train or bus. There are however no air routes between the cities within 200 km from Oslo, use the train or bus for this kind of travel.

Train

You can buy a Norwegian Rail Pass or the equivalent InterRail One Country Pass to

travel cheap by train through Norway. If your itinerary is fixed and you don’t have too many destinations, it might be cheaper to buy ‘Minipris’ tickets online. If you book well in advance, you can get one-way tickets for as little as kr. 199. When buying online, you can choose ticket delivery at the station or at the train, the latter means you only need to know your seat number, the train steward has your ticket. Their website sometimes does not work for people outside of Norway. In that case you can call their call center, but be sure to mention that you tried on the website first. Phone reservations normally incur a kr 50 fee per train ticket bought. For long-distance trains and night trains, seat reservation is mandatory, but usually can be done on short notice, e.g., at a train station, since the trains are rarely fully booked. Generally, the trains are most crowded at the beginning and end of the weekend, and that means Friday and Sunday evening. Shortly before and at the end of major holidays like Christmas/New Year and Easter, trains are usually very busy. If you try booking for these days at a late time, you may find all the cheap tickets sold out. Furthermore, the seat you reserve may be among the least desirable, that is, facing backwards, without recline, and facing towards and sharing the legroom with other passengers.

don’t have to worry about timetables as there are frequent departures. Note however that most ferries don’t run after midnight or they run only every second hour.

Safety

Norway has a low crime rate. The most likely crimes for tourists to experience is car breakins and bicycle theft. Pickpockets do also tend to be an increasing problem in urban areas in the summer season, but it’s still nothing like in larger cities in Europe. It is always a good idea to look after your belongings, this includes never leaving valuable objects visual in your car and locking your bike safely. Single women should have few problems, although ordinary street sense is advised after dark. Especially the inner east side of Oslo has become more dangerous during night hours over the last decade. Even so, there are still relatively few violent crimes. The greatest dangers to tourists in Norway are found in nature. Every year, quite a few tourists get hurt, even killed, in the mountains or on the seas, usually after given, unheeded warnings. For example, do not approach a glacier front, big waves on the coast, or a big waterfall unless you know what you’re doing, and do not walk on glaciers without proper training and equipment.

Emergency Contacts

Boat

Car ferries is an integral part of the road network in coastal regions. Prices and time vary with the length of the crossing and amount of traffic, call 177 for more information or check nearby camping sites for information booklets and timetables. Ferries often have information about other ferries in the region. On the main roads ferries are frequent during daytime, typically every half hour. Reservations are usually not needed, drive to the ferry quay and wait in line until the ferry docks. On main roads tourists typically

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Police - 112 Fire - 110 Ambulance - 113

If you are unsure which number to call, 112 is the central for all rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.

Road Assistance Falck - 02222 Viking - 06000

Tra vel Tips Be prepared

Generally, overseas travellers are more likely to be injured through unintentional injuries than to be struck down by exotic infectious diseases. In fact, accidents and traffic collisions are the most frequent cause of death among travellers, so ensure you have good insurance and if you are hiring a vehicle, ensure it is in good working order. It will be beneficial to have some vehicle maintenance knowledge if you are planning on travelling to the more remote areas of the world, where a breakdown in harsh conditions can cost your life.

Copy your documents

In the unfortunate event of your luggage going missing, or your passport / wallet is stolen or lost, it is a good idea to have copies that can help you with re-issues. Take 2 colour photocopies each of your passport, plus visa stamps and documents, driving licence, important prescriptions or other ID documents. Make 2 sets of the documents and keep these copies separate from your main luggage, preferably in 2 separate bags. It is also a good idea to copy scanned or phtocopied documents to an Internet based e-mail account. Make sure someone at home knows how to access it in case of an emergency.

Vaccinations

Check with your medical practitioner on what vaccines are required before your travel. Due to your medical history, you may require more than one dose, or you may need boosters for childhood vaccines. Check the latest travel advice and travel bulletins for your destination before you depart, and also while travelling, so you can ensure you have the latest information. Common diseases contracted by travellers include those which are the result of eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Taking medicines with you

Book a check-up at your doctor or dentist, dbefore you leave. If you wear glasses or contacts lenses, bring an extra pair of glasses and your prescription. Persons taking prescription medications should make sure they have an adequate supply for the trip, and/or bring their prescription, making sure it includes the medication trade name, manufacturer’s name, generic name, and dosage. Prepare a simple medical kit of over-the-counter medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, antihistamine, antiseptic, diarrhoea medication), bandaids, thermometer, sunscreen, and insect repellent. When travelling overseas with medicine, (including over-the-counter or private prescription) it is important that you talk to your doctor and discuss the amount of © Air Energi 2013

medicine you will need to take. Carry a letter from your doctor detailing what the medicine is, how much you will be taking, and stating that it is for your own personal use. Leave the medicine in its original packaging so it is clearly labelled with your own name and dosage instructions. If you have to inject your medication, inform your airline before you travel and, if necessary, arrange a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to carry them.

Your health on long-haul flights

Keep important medication with you in case your luggage goes missing. To help avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT): drink plenty of fluids, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and whilst seated, stretch and rotate your feet and lower legs. Walking around the cabin at regular intervals will help.

Scuba Divers

If you have been scuba diving, don’t travel in an aircraft for at least 24 hours after your final dive.

Coping with Jetlag

Factor the effects of jet lag into your itinerary. In order to cope with Jetlag you should get a good deal of sleep before your journey. It is also important to rest as much as possible during your flight. Planning to arrive at your destination as near to the time when you normally go to sleep will also help with the adjustment. If you are able to plan your itinerary allow time on arrival for adjustment or plan meetings at similar times to back home. Some people advise changing their watches to destination time when they get onto the plane. While this helps many people, for those who are on regular medication, such as diabetics, watches should remain on home time until you are able to adjust your medication to local times on arrival at your destination or as suggested by your health advisor.On arrival at your destination get active as soon as possible, as exercise has been proven to improve productivity. Adjust your meals and activities to local time as soon as you can. Exposure to light is also a good way of naturally allowing your body to adjust. If you need to take a short nap, do, it will help refresh you, but don’t forget to use an alarm clock or wake up call to get you up!

luggage to when they find it. It is wise to make a copy of your passport details and any other important papers or vaccination certificates that you are carrying with you when you travel. Leave them in a safe place in the office or copy to an Internet based e-mail account. Make sure someone at home either a partner or friend knows how to access it in case of an emergency. You will need photo identification even for air travel within the UK.

Personal Safety

Be aware of your surroundings at all times; thieves will use many tricks to distract you - wiping something off your shoulder while an accomplice is picking your pocket, getting young children to surround you while they plan to rob your belongings. Trust your instincts, especially when visiting countries where a high poverty rate comes along with high petty crime rates. When not attending meetings, try to blend in with the crowd when out and about - try not to look like a visitor! When enjoying the local nightlife, guard your food/drinks and keep your wits about you. Beware of the fact that you will be an easy target after a few too many drinks. Avoid walking home to your hotel late at night, even if it is close by. Get a taxi. Don’t take shortcuts through poorly lit areas, it pays to trust your instincts in these situations. Keep your wits about you when making new friends - men and women may come across very friendly indeed if you are the route to an easier life. Be careful of telling people where you live.

Unsafe Water - What to do

If travelling to more remote areas with poor sanitation - only drink boiled water, hot beverages, such as coffee and tea, canned or bottled carbonated beverages, beer, and wine. Ice may be made from unsafe water and should be avoided. It is safer to drink from a can or bottle of beverage than to drink from a container that was not known to be clean and dry. However, water on the surface of a beverage can or bottle may also be contaminated. Therefore, the area of a can or bottle that will touch the mouth should be wiped clean and dry.

Lost Luggage

If you happen to lose your baggage on arrival at your destination airport, tell the airline immediately and get suitable compensation. Agree on an amount you can spend on essential items that you will need and give them an address to deliver the

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Frequently asked questions Do I need a visa to enter Norway? Those who are not EU citizens will require a valid entry visa. We will advise and assist you with the process of obtaining one if necessary. Can I take my family with me? Those who are non EU citizens will require a valid visa / permit. We will advise and assist you with the process of obtaining one if necessary. Do I need a local bank account? Yes.

Contacts Air Energi Norway Kanalarmen 10, 4052 Stavanger Norway europe@airenergi.com Air Resources - Norway Welhavens vei 5 4319 Sandnes Norway europe@airenergi.com