Fjords, mountains, northern lights, rapidly changing weather… That is what the northern coast of Norway is made of.
In this blog post I am going to tell about my exchange period in Northern Norway. I was an exchange student at The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) last winter and spring. I lived in Alta which is a city located in northern coast of Norway and has around 20,000 inhabitants.
Why I chose to go to Northern Norway?
The decision to spend the exchange period in Norway was pretty clear to me.
First and foremost, my host university in Alta offered courses that I found really interesting. The courses included a lot of practical work, which was a big plus for someone like me who loves hands-on learning.
Secondly, I wanted the exchange destination to be similar to my home country, Finland. I like cold and snow, so I did not want to go in Southern Europe.
Last but not least, I wanted the exchange process to go as smoothly as possible. I have previously resided in Denmark, so I was well acquainted with the rules regarding traveling, studying, and working between Nordic countries. I basically hopped in my car, drove to Norway, and all “paper work” I had to do was inform Finnish authorities that I would be living in Norway for the next 5 months. Simple!
Courses and school life
During my time in Norway, I completed two courses: Event Management and Arctic Friluftsliv. In the Event Management course, we got to volunteer in Finnmarksløpet, Europe’s biggest dog sledding race. We also attended lectures and worked on group projects, but the main task was to help organize this amazing event.
The Arctic Friluftsliv course focused on ski trips, orienteering, avalanche safety, guiding, and much more. We did numerous ski trips, with the longest one lasting 4 days. This course was one of my favorite courses ever.
Free time
Despite being a small city, Alta is always buzzing with activity. There are sports events throughout the year. The university has brought many students into the city, and there are weekly activities organized for students.
In my free time, I was exploring the mountains or doing different outdoor adventures. I also joined in on student-organized events like quizzes and karaoke nights – it was so much fun!
Pros and cons of Norway
Pros:
- The nature in Norway is breathtaking
- Norwegian culture is similar to Finnish culture, which makes it easier to integrate there
- Norwegians are friendly and always ready to lend a helping hand
- Norway is a safe country to live in
Cons:
- Nearly everything is expensive in Norway
- Making Norwegian friends can be a bit challenging if you don’t speak Norwegian
- Weather conditions can be fierce and unpredictable. Some days, stepping outside felt risky, with strong winds threatening to sweep you away. Road closures and tunnel shutdowns were not uncommon
To sum it up, my time in Norway was nothing short of amazing, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as an exchange destination. Especially if you’re an outdoor enthusiast and like to explore nature, Northern Norway is an absolute paradise.