Today marks two months since we left for Norway. Time flies! Here’s a recap of the past month, including (once again) a mini-move and an update on how our new life here is shaping up. Enjoy the read!
Settling in Ski!
On June 1st, we finally received the key to our new, cozy, and for now (?) permanent place in Ski. For now? Well, Martijn's colleague has been bombarding him almost daily with listings for farmhouses around Oslo… large, beautiful, and very affordable compared to the Netherlands. But first, let's survive the first year here.
After moving our bags and a few items we had retrieved from storage to Ski in a rented VW Up over the weekend, the belongings from the Netherlands arrived on Monday. There was quite a bit of heavy lifting and DIY work, so Nanda decided it was the perfect day to start her 2-week course titled “How to Become a Successful Businesswoman in Norway.”
The day before our belongings were delivered from storage, we treated ourselves to a night at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in the heart of Oslo. This is where Martijn’s journey began six years ago, and we enjoyed a room upgrade, the extensive breakfast (thanks to VIP status), and a drink on the 33rd-floor terrace with a view of all of Oslo.
DIY Projects
Martijn couldn’t wait to dive into DIY projects. The blinds and curtains are up, and the desks and (books)cases are assembled. We were both really looking forward to sleeping in our own bed again and drinking coffee from our own machine. It’s the little things that matter so much. It’s great to be surrounded by our own things and to start building our life here.
Fortunately, we’re also surrounded by colorful flowers, green plants, and trees in our part of the garden. The new homeowners will move into their part of the house in a few weeks: since the lawn could use a trim, Martijn decided to fire up the lawnmower. It’s lovely to hang out in the garden, and Martijn is naturally busy growing tomato plants.
Our first visitors have also announced themselves. It’s great that Gina and Ger will visit us at the end of July: the Rinse apple syrup and Calvé peanut butter have already been noted as must-haves.
A More Normal Rhythm and Day Trips
We’re definitely settling into a more “normal” routine. During the week, we both work, and on weekends, we try to get out as much as possible. For example, Nanda visited the National Museum in Oslo, where she admired the works of Mark Rothko, particularly the series 'Towards the Light,' which inspired her. We’ve visited several nearby islands and walked there, enjoying beautiful views of the fjords. We also walked by Lake Sognsvann (and, of course, Nanda took many photos). Martijn has rediscovered his inner Lance Armstrong and regularly bikes from Ski to the office: a delightful 25km with “not a single flat meter.”
Photography Adventures
Last month, Nanda had a very enjoyable photo day with Marthe, Bjorn, and Magnus. They showed her the local photogenic spots: from a place with beautiful reflections to an area full of flowers and dragonflies, and a stunning river where the waterfall freezes in winter. Nanda ended up covered in mud and had to wring out her pants. According to Magnus, that’s how a nature photographer should look after a day of shooting, haha. Inspiration is also starting to come for her Earth & Light photo project. The day ended with a "small" soft ice cream.
Immigrant Program
In early June, Nanda participated in a two-week program specifically for immigrants. She learned a lot about Norwegian culture and the challenges you might face, such as finding a job, a good dentist, and language courses. The program included workshops on your skills, teamwork, design thinking, and setting up your own business. It was an intensive and educational program with a fantastic and diverse group! Her network has expanded significantly. Meanwhile, Martijn has accumulated quite a bit of overtime, so we can enjoy a few long weekends or midweeks away in July, August, and September.
Art for Health and (Mental) Well-Being
Nanda is expanding her business Troostkunst (Comfort Art). While it currently focuses mainly on grief and loss, she will now also focus on improving health and (mental) well-being. There are already four people interested in attending a nature photography workshop with her. Additionally, Nanda participated in the event "Support Patients with Cancer Through Art" and had a nice conversation with Dag Hol, one of Norway’s most renowned painters.
Bureaucratic Hassles
We’re also dealing with some bureaucratic hassles. Without BankID—a kind of DigiD—you can’t do much here: rent a car, sign an energy contract, arrange VIPS (like Tikkie), or view your bank details. Without BankID, it’s all a no-go. Fortunately, we have received our social security number, so hopefully, we’ll get BankID soon. Everything is also in Norwegian. For example, Nanda received a questionnaire for health insurance—three pages of questions, all in Norwegian.
A Few More Tidbits:
- Pinkpop is called OverOslo here: a music festival on one of the highest hills around Oslo, offering a fantastic view. DNB is the main sponsor, so guess where Martijn had a summer party last week! It turns out that Carola is the Anita Meijer of Scandinavia, and she also performed Martijn’s guilty pleasure “Why Tell Me Why” in Norwegian.
- The Ikea bookshelf “Billy” measuring 2.02 meters does fit in a VW Up, but a garden table of 60x60cm unfortunately does not. Long live the test drive with an electric MG in the evenings.
- Both Norway and Sweden are not participating in the European Championship, so despite his current 13th place in the football pool, Martijn already feels like the moral winner.
- A jar of preserved cherries costs about 10 euros here… for those wondering why Martijn was so busy canning cherries in recent years…
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