Now that my time in Norway is nearly at an end, I have been quite quiet here as I have been busy checking off everything I have desperately wanted to do before I leave. So, whilst this will be a short one, I wanted to share my experience of the beginning of the Christmas holiday Read more
The first week of October and turning another year older was not a smooth ride. In fact, anything that could go wrong, did go wrong that week. So in the very early hours of the Sunday morning that week, I booked myself a twenty-four hour trip to Bergen. This is probably the most spontaneous I have been Read more
The first thing that just about everyone who knows me personally said when I revealed I would be moving to Norway was ‘you know it is cold and snowing all the time, right?’ Four months in my study abroad, the temperatures finally hit subzero and the snow arrived. When the temperatures were reaching just above Read more
After saying goodbye on a train platform in Switzerland four months ago, I was reunited with my boyfriend recently. As discussed in Long-Distance Relationships, myself and Ben are both on study abroad schemes so travelling to see one another has not been feasible until now. After publishing that post, many have reached out and asked how Read more
In the last days of October, I finally took my first trip outside of Olso during my semester abroad. My boyfriend was visiting and, as a gift to one another, we decided to take a short break in Tromsø. Living in the south of Norway, the initial interest in travelling above the Article Circle is, Read more
When you start university, you are often told about the fresher relationship. The fresher relationship is someone you meet in the beginning of first year and have a whirlwind romance before it fizzles out before the semester is out. Apparently not one to join the stereotype, I am here two years later with that person I met on Read more
One thing that they do not tell you when you plan to live in Norway is that the night life is incredibly less lax, despite the drinking age being eighteen. Norwegian bars and clubs have various ages limits for entry, mainly ranging between 20+, 23+ and 25+ with fees ranging from free to ten pound. Read more
Call me strange but I have never spent my birthday without my family or outside of university and home. When I first got my nomination for studying in Norway, this understanding that I would neither see my family nor be at home for my birthday was instant and prevalent throughout the administration process. Celebrating a Read more
Every year, Oslo set up candle-lit mystical walks beside the city’s rivers to celebrate the September equinox where day and night share the same amount of hours. This week, myself and my friend, Anna, took the candle-lit walk alongside the Akerselva river where we were surrounded by eclectic art installations, live music, dance and interactive Read more
Since being diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions nine years ago, it is fair to say athletic activity has not been on my agenda. I spent the years leading up to university learning how to manage my conditions to the best of my ability and, in my second year of university, I felt confident Read more
As I write this, I have just submitted my first of seven assignments to one of the three modules I am taking at the University of Oslo. It is incredibly strange to realise that, at this point last year, the autumn semester at Cardiff had yet to begin and here I am, already neck deep Read more
One of the many things that I have quickly grown to love from living in Norway is the transport system. For £40 a month, I can travel anywhere on bus, tram, metro, and even ferry in Oslo with Ruter – the main travel service here. This means visiting the tourist attractions is incredibly easy to get to Read more
After the stress of planning, shopping and bleeding money, finally making the move to the country that will be home for the next semester or year is initially a relief. But moving to another country is a monumental moment in life that comes with its trials with loneliness and do not let anyone say otherwise. Read more
1. It is people friendly. As much as swimming in the Fjords was enjoyable, I did exit the water with very bloody feet. Sognsvann is a popular hangout spot for students, runners and families so it is pedestrianised to an extent. There is a paved trail for runners, there are numerous jump off points into Read more
It has been exactly a week since I moved to Oslo, Norway and what a week it has been. It has not been easy; there have been metro mishaps, social anxiety and general desire for a sense of geographical direction but this is a look into how I have settled into life in Scandinavia. The Read more
The countdown is on; I leave for Norway this Friday. It has been a very busy month shopping for everything that I can possibly pack into two suitcases for life in Norway for the next five months as well as completing all of my administrative forms. I found it difficult to find my type of Read more
When I received my nomination to the University of Oslo at the end of January, my checklist was quite small. Over time, it grew to what it is now. I have covered my personal to-dos on finance, health and travel and so, the final part to this series is the administration for both my home university of Cardiff and my Read more
Throughout completing the tasks for the financial and the medical sections of the preparation checklist, the travel arrangements I needed to make for the journey to Norway was on my mind. Unlike students travelling across the pond, I did not need to consider VISA documentation but I did need to consider when I would be travelling, who I would Read more
Health precautions can be as simple as a general check-up with the general practitioner, optician and dentist, vaccine evaluation and a supply of contraception. For others, like myself, who have long-term medical conditions, there can be more things to consider. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia nine years ago. Both are currently incurable Read more
Amongst the studying abroad process, there comes the realisation that there is a lot of administration and preparation to be done. I’ve spoken about the things to consider before applying, the steps to take when applying and my personal experience of seeking accommodation for my time in Norway and it seems only fitting to continue on this trail with my Read more
After getting accepted to study abroad by both my home and host university, it was time to begin thinking about my living situation. At Cardiff University, students travelling for a semester can either sublet their room through Erasmus+ or acquire a room when they return. I was torn on the prospect. There was a degree Read more
The Erasmus+ Application is a lengthy process. First, you will initially apply to your university; upon getting a nomination, you will need to apply to the host university, and then begin the process of finding accommodation and filling out a multitude of forms. So let’s begin with the basics; the first application, being nominated and Read more
Travelling is to live, or so they say, and thanks to international and European schemes, university students across the world are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to a variety of countries as part of their degree. Making the decision to study abroad is one that only you can make, it isn’t about Read more
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