Friday, January 20, 2012
Business Badgers Abroad Blog
Hello from Oslo! I have been here for about two weeks now and it is really starting to feel like home. The city is absolutely beautiful with gorgeous views and colorful and old buildings everywhere! I have spent the majority of my first two weeks attending welcome week events and exploring the city.
Oslo seen from the Holmenkollbakken ski jump
A club called InSA (The International Student Association) throws a bunch of welcome week events to introduce exchange students to the school, the city and each other. There are around 150 exchange students from around the globe, so the opportunities are vast to meet new people – some of my new friends come from Romania, Spain, Germany and even the U.S. The BI also puts on an intercultural workshop to help exchange students understand the Norwegian people and learn about the cultures of everyone else. It is very helpful and a good way to meet tons of new people.
A view of one of the harbors from atop the Oslo Opera House
Oslo itself is on a great city! As the capital of Norway, it is quite large with half a million people, but it feels a lot smaller and is easy to navigate. The weather is quite similar to Wisconsin; it has snowed multiple times since my arrival. However because the city is located in a valley on a fjord –just a big body of water – with mountains behind the city in the distance, the temperature is a little milder – no below 0 weather here! The Norwegian people are reserved but very kind. They tend to be quite, but they don’t hesitate to help one out when asking for directions. I have asked multiple people how to get places, and I always receive good directions with a smile. Every excursion I make into the city brings new sites and an appreciation for Oslo – it is a stunning place! I greatly look forward to the rest of my semester here!
View of another harbor from near Akershus Fortress