What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Norway?
We asked people in Norway if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...
"Asked waiters for the government instead of the bill for a couple years before learning that regeringen and regningen are different words," said another expat in Oslo, Norway.
"Not a lot, other than using incorrect Norwegian at times. I have noticed that it generally takes Norwegians almost 20 minutes or so to say goodbye to each other when leaving social situations. I often just want to say goodbye and leave right afterwards without a lot of this last minute small talk. Perhaps I might have been a bit abrupt a few times and it rubbed some Norwegians the wrong way. No one has said anything, but a Norwegian would generally never confront a foreigner about it anyway. Seriously. :)," wrote a member who made the move to Gjøvik, Norway.
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What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Norway?
If you live in Norway, newcomers to Norway would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Joshua Wood, LPC is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and serves as Co-President of Expat Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.
Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.