Resolutions, Norwegian Style

I've made a list of new year's resolutions that I really want to keep. They might be like most resolutions you hear people talk about, but mine are also a little different. They are based on positive things that I've noticed about the Norwegian culture that I want to apply to my own life. With that in mind, this year I want to:

Eat like a Norwegian
No, I'm not going to start eating lutefisk regularly. There are other Norwegian habits that make more sense. Here's what I mean:

Norwegians are fairly adamant about enjoying unhealthy food only on the weekends. I learned this after one of the first lunches I took to school in the fall included potato chips. I am used to having potato chips with my sandwiches in the States so I thought nothing of it to bring them in my matpakke (Norwegian lunchbox). But when I produced the chips from my backpack at school, the response from my new Norwegian friends was nothing short of, "What the heck are you doing?" and "Are you crazy? Potato chips are Friday night food!" I ate the potato chips in defiance that day, but their reactions stuck with me. While I have eliminated potato chips from my matpakke, I still tend to eat junk food whenever I want. I'd like to change this and limit my treat-eating to weekends and special occasions, an un-American as that is.

Eating like a Norwegian will also mean eating more fish, which will mean buying fish and learning how to prepare it. And to round out my blossoming Nordic diet, I will be eating more fruit, vegetables, eggs, and whole grains instead of other bad stuff. That was my obligatory diet-related resolution. Now, some others:

Practice hospitality
Norwegians are a welcoming and generous bunch. They love to have people over for a delicious dinner, or just sit and chat over a cup of coffee. I've been blessed by the hospitality of countless Norwegians since I've been here, and it's made me realize I need to be more hospitable. I want to take the initiative and invite more people over.

Speak Norwegian

My Norwegian comprehension is good, but my conversational skills are lacking. I can have simple conversations and I am nearly professional at following conversations in Norwegian (depending on speed and the dialects being spoken). But I struggle to keep up quickly enough so that I can contribute, and I don't always know the words I should use. The next step is learning more so I can actively participate and rely less on English. I've found that being able to speak someone else's language lets you connect with them in a whole new way, and it helps you get to know some people you otherwise wouldn't.

Each day I've been teaching myself a few new Norwegian words to improve my vocabulary and it is already paying off. I need to keep it up and make the effort to speak more in everyday life. Since my Norwegian is far from perfect, I often shy away from asking things in stores or other public places unless I know exactly how to say it. I need to be more courageous and willing to make mistakes if I'm going to improve. Still, when I speak, people are usually surprised and impressed that I've lived in Norway for less than six months. That means I've come a long way since I got here and is a big encouragement to keep going. A huge thanks to all the Norwegians who have helped me learn the language so far!

Gå på tur (Go for a walk)
I want to get more exercise, but I don't want to join a gym. Instead, I'd like to walk more. I find that walking is a great (and free!) way to get to know your city and get moving after sitting most of the day. I walk to the store often and home from school once in a while, but I want to do it more often and explore new areas in Trondheim. How is walking Norwegian? I can't explain it right now, but trust me, it is.


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