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Honey, I’M HOME!

Today marks 1 month since I have returned from the best experience of my life. I think in the last month, I have said “I miss Norway” more than any other person on the planet. Every day I look through pictures and videos from my time over there and get so sad ☹. It’s amazing to be back in Utah with my friends and family, but so much has changed. After 5 months of constant travel, adventure and new experiences it feels strange to be back to a “normal” day-to-day schedule. What’s even more strange is how different it feels, even though it was the exact routine I had before Norway.

Before I left, everyone kept telling me “this experience is going to change you,” and “you’re going to come back a new person!” Since coming home I’ve been trying to figure out how I’ve changed since boarding that plane 6 months ago. I feel like that same person I was, but I’ve noticed that I’ve become comfortable with discomfort. While abroad there were so many experiences that completely threw me out of my comfort zone. Now that I’m back in the realm of comfort I feel like I can do almost anything, even if it is slightly (or completely) horrifying. For example, before Norway I would have NEVER raised my hand in class. I’m not a shy person but speaking in front of large groups is one of my top 5 fears. Today (on the 1-month anniversary of my return) I participated in class 3 TIMES. WHAAA? This may seem like a ridiculous example, but I was completely stunned that I willingly and fearlessly participated in class!

Norway taught me that your best experiences exist outside of your comfort zone. If I wouldn’t have gone on a road trip to Bergen with three strangers, I wouldn’t have met three of my greatest friends. If I hadn’t joined Business Society, I wouldn’t have gained experience that will be invaluable in my future career. Most importantly, if I had listened to that stupid little voice in my head that kept telling me I wasn’t capable of moving to a foreign country, I would have missed out on the best (the absolute best) 5 months of my life. Thank you Norway for showing me a side to myself that I didn’t know existed. I will be back soon, I swear.

Just four kiddos in Bergen!

Yo girl in an adorable cafe in London eating crumpets and drinking tea! (jk it’s coffee, just wanted to sound british

Americans & Canadians UNITE (mostly over our shared love of Justin Truedau)

Twins right?

One of my favorite days was thanksgiving. We actually managed to host a delicious thanksgiving with 15 people from all over the world <3

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A Utahn at BI Norwegian Business School

I’ve been in Norway for about 4 months now and I am only now realizing that studying abroad includes studying!?! WHAT!?! Lol, just kidding (kind of). The school part was honestly one of the harder adjustments I had to make. It’s just so different from what I was used to back home, that for the first few weeks I was constantly like “What. Is. Happening.” After 4 months, I’m finally adjusted and ready to talk about how wild and amazing it was.

           Although this isn’t the same for all courses, a majority of classes are graded on one assignment. The grade you get for that assignment represents your grade for the entire course (seems scary, I know (but it’s awesome)). The classes are for you to learn, not for you to feel pressured. In fact, there was a running joke at the school that the last thing they wanted from us was stress. We spent the semester learning as much as possible and then submitted a final summary of what we had learned (either through an exam or paper).

           The best part of going to school in a different country is getting to see all the differences but also the similarities. The teaching style at BI is more relaxed than it is at the University of Utah. Which at first, was so hard to become adjusted to. The lectures are based heavily on discussion, which can sometimes make it seem pointless. I’m not going to lie, I skipped more than once… (sorry dad). Overall, I loved going to BI. Academic wise, it was a little too laid back for me, but the best part was the community that the school inspires. We were all there to learn, inspire and create, but most importantly to do all those things together.

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Christmas in Norway

One of the main reasons I chose to study abroad during the fall semester was that I wanted to experience the Christmas season in another country. Boy, does Norway know how to do Christmas. First off, in all stores they sell this amazing drink called “Jul Brus” which translates to “Christmas Brew.”

It’s this sweet carbonated drink that tastes exactly like Christmas (cream soda & cinnamon). The best part of Christmas in Norway is the amazing Christmas markets. By Stortinget (the Norwegian parliamentary building) there used to be a beautiful park with a giant water fountain, but now it is a Christmas extravaganza called “Jul i Vinterland,” which means Christmas in Winterland. 

The sidewalks are lined with wooden booths where you can purchase a variety of stuff. Authentic Norwegian wool sweaters, Christmas ornaments, homemade jams, premium meats and gorgeous candied apples. 

In between the two lines of booths there is a massive Ferris wheel that offers the most gorgeous views of Oslo from the top. They’ve also transformed the giant water fountain into an ice skating rink. My favorite thing to do is cuddle up in the sitting area with a warm cup of Gløgg (the Scandinavian version of mulled wine) and watch people glide (but mostly struggle) across the ice.

 But really, Oslo during Christmas is a dream. Even though it is ridiculously cold, the warmth of the Christmas season makes it bearable. <3 <3

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Oslo’s Public Transportation

My biggest fear before traveling is ALWAYS public transportation. I know every major city has some sort of public transport, but sometimes they are so confusing and google maps can only get you so far. One of the greatest things about Oslo is how flawless their transport system is. You can seriously go anywhere with public transport and tickets are reasonably priced. SOOOOO here’s how it works...

RUTER (the name of the public transport company). You can either buy a pass at one of their Kiosks, on the app, or at most convenience store chains (7/11, deli de luca, Narvesen, etc.). Oslo’s transport is different from most major European cities in that you can either buy a one way ticket, or a pass for however many days you are there. Then you tap your pass once to activate it and you are able to use it on any ferry, metro (t-bane), bus or tram! Seriously so simple. You just have to make sure that you always have your pass on you, because occasionally they have transport officers coming around to scan your card. If you don’t have your card on you or if you haven’t activated your pass they give you a fine. The fines are brutal. Don’t get fined. There’s a really awesome app that you can download called ‘RuterReise’ that you can enter your starting point and destination, and it will map out your route for you. AMAZING!! Seriously, the public transport has been my favorite part of Oslo so far. It’s so safe, incredibly clean and ridiculously easy to navigate. So far during this study abroad I’ve visited Amsterdam, Paris & London. I can say with 100% confidence that Oslo’s transport is the best. Whenever we travel outside on Norway, the public transport is always the thing we are most excited to come back to lol. Nerdy I know, but these things are important!!! 

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Living in Norway - What I’ve Learned so Far

Hello from Oslo! I can’t believe I’ve already reached the halfway point. I’m sorry for not writing sooner, but it’s so hard to find time to sit and write in the whirlwind that is studying abroad. I swear, every day there is something new to experience and it’s keeping me on my toes 24/7. In the short two months that I have been here, I have absolutely fallen in love with Norway. It’s a really difficult country to study abroad in, but it is incredibly rewarding. I have SOOO many stories to tell, but I want to dedicate this post to the main things I’ve learned about Norway (and some random pictures for effect (; )

1.       It is EXPENSIVE. And like not just a little expensive, but like “holy crap I just paid 15 dollars for a Big Mac meal at Mcdonald’s” expensive. It’s definitely the worst part about being here. But that being said, you can find ways to live here cheaply, it just requires intense budgeting and A LOT of self-control (which I lack completely).

2.       Norwegians are not very social with strangers. If you smile at a passerby, they will assume you’re either flirting with them or drunk (or both if you show teeth). But it’s so funny because the second alcohol is in the mix, they turn into the most friendly and hilarious people.

3.       Sunny days are worshiped like no other. The weather here is harsh, so when the sun comes out people rush outside to soak in some much needed vitamin D.

4.       The Norwegian culture is fascinating. One of the major reasons I chose Norway was it has been named one of the happiest countries in the world. I think the major reasons is that Norwegian’s don’t really have a class structure. Obviously there are people who make more money than others, but nobody thinks they are better than anyone else. Everyone is on an equal playing field here and it is AWESOME.

I have fallen in love with Norway and the thought of leaving makes me so sad. It does haves it trials, but holy crap it is so worth it.

Picture Descriptions (because I’m a dummy and don’t know how to add captions lol)

1. View of the Oslofjorden from a random High School that looks just like a prison.

2. Some random waterfall we saw on our road trip to Bergen. It’s seriously so crazy how nonchalant waterfalls are here. We literally saw at least 100 on our drive it was INSANE.

3. A fjord on our way to Bergen. 

4. Just a girl in Bergen living her best life and mentally pinching herself because this dream can’t be her actual life. (Plot twist: IT IS!!!!)

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Preparing to Study Abroad

This time next week, I will be living in Norway…. HOLY CRAP is that not the coolest sentence? I’ve been repeating it over and over this week and each time I say it a little scream follows (I’m excited, if you can’t tell). Studying abroad has been a dream of mine since I was in middle school and it blows my mind that I am finally doing it! I haven’t even left yet, but I can already tell that this is going to be the trip of a lifetime. SO before I leave and forget everything that I have done to get to this final week, I wanted to write a post about all the preparations involved with studying abroad…

Finding your program

This is hands down the hardest parts, because you literally have an entire world of options and have to narrow it down to one country. My advice is to begin your search with a clear set of priorities. For me, my biggest concerns were the cost of the program and the courses offered. I cut out programs that were either too expensive or didn’t offer courses relevant to my major and was left with my perfect program. BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway (where I’ll be living next week (AHH)).

Applications, applications, applications… and then more applications

Once you find your program match, research the applications involved because there are many and they all have deadlines… (eek) For me, the first application was for the specific exchange program and was through the University of Utah. The next was an application to the school and was through BI Norwegian Business School. With housing, you have the option to either stay with a host family or live in a dorm setting. I chose the dorms, which many schools have on campus. BI is a little different, in that they have A TON of student living options to choose from, none of which are on campus. I picked the one that was closest to campus (only a 6 minute walk). The final and most important are the visa and passport applications. I already had my passport, so my focus was on obtaining a visa. For Norway, the visa application required a lot of preparation and research. After getting all of my materials, I had to fly to the closest consulate office and turn in my paperwork in person. Which meant a trip to San Francisco!!!!

Money, money, money

People have this misconception that studying abroad is outrageously expensive, but I swear it’s not. I mean it is a lot of money, but it’s typically similar to what you would spend for a semester at home. The key is to have a realistic budget and save as much as you need before you leave. To give you some ideas, here’s everything I did to fund my study abroad…

-          Financial Aid

-          Working 2 Jobs

-          Babysitting

-          Yard Sale

Hadet bra venner (Norwegian for ‘Goodbye Friends’…. I think)

Now, just to survive this final week. I’m almost all packed and have started the goodbyes to my friends and family. It’s been difficult knowing I won’t see them until Christmas, but not nearly as bad as the thought of not having Chick Fil A for 5 months? Honestly, how am I going to survive without my dear and beloved chicken sandwich? Ugh. This is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

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I hope this post gave you more insight on preparing to study abroad! If you have any questions, please, please, please ask me. Everyone should have an experience like this, so whatever reservations you have let me get rid of them and help you study abroad too!

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Goodbye Utah… Norway I’ll see you soon! (AHH)

[mactenny]

Social Media Submission: How to Become a Salt Lake Aficionado in One Day – A 5 Step Guide

Salt Lake City has been my home from the day I was born. 20 years later and I am still not sick of it. Whether it’s the unique culture, surreal landscape, or mouthwatering food, Salt Lake provides non-stop entertainment. The following 5 steps are essential to experiencing the city like a local. The best part? It’s designed to be accomplished in a single day (if you’re up for the challenge) ;).  

Step 1: Canyon Drive through Big Cottonwood

Big Cottonwood Canyon is incredible year round, but it’s best in the summer. To make the most of your drive roll down your windows and put on your favorite songs. Once you reach the top, you can either drive back down (and proceed to step two), or you can hike one of the many trails that the canyon offers.

Step 2: Hammocking in Memory Grove

There are many gorgeous parks to hammock at in SLC, but my personal favorite is Memory Grove. This little park is located on the outskirts of downtown, just below the capitol building. The location is gorgeous, but the real draw is that it is always full of dogs. A two for one deal where you can relax and play with so many cute doggies!! Side Note: You may think the wind blew my hair like that, but no… that’s just how I style it every day... ;)

Step 3: SHOPPING. City Creek or Ken’s Rare Books

These two places are the best for shopping. 1. City Creek: Us Utahn’s are really proud of City Creek, because it is the coolest mall. 2. Ken’s Rare Books: This book store… It’s. The. Best. Endless options, well organized and so cozy.

Step 4: Sunset over the Great Salt Lake

The sky is perfectly reflected on the water making for a breathtaking sunset. If you’re really feeling adventurous, I dare you to float in the lake. The high amount of salt in the water keeps you afloat without you having to exert much effort. If you do this, make sure your next destination is a shower because you are going to feel NASTY.

Step 5: Hike Ensign Peak… at Night

Ensign Peak is this amazing hike right behind the capitol that provides killer views of downtown Salt Lake and the surrounding valley. Admittedly, it’s awesome at all times of the day, but there’s something about doing the hike at night that feels… perfect.

CONGRATULATIONS, if you’ve completed the above 5 steps I declare you a Salt Lake aficionado. BUT did you really finish an epic challenge like this if you didn’t post about it? Share your Salt Lake accomplishments on any and every social media platform with the hashtag #SLCexpert. Now your friends and family can see how well experienced you are on all things Salt Lake City!