4 Truths About Growing Up In Norway

How does it feel to grow up in the country with the highest standard of living in the world? It’s no coincidence Norwegians are considered among the happiest people worldwide. Here are some truths about growing up in the Land of the Vikings.

You’re bound to take some things for granted

Growing up in Norway, there are some things you learn as indisputable truths. Take recycling for instance: as a kid in Norway, you’re trained to put plastic in a separate bin to compost and general waste. Growing up and traveling abroad, it’s only natural to wonder where the blue and green bins are, only to be told to your dismay that “there’s only one bin for everything”.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; there are core social issues that may seem like a given to you. Because you grew up with the knowledge that men and women have equal rights and so should be paid the same, that love is love regardless of gender and that the more taxes you pay the more your country will provide for you. Unfortunately, not every country in the world is quite there yet. But you can share your truth and hope that both you and Norway will act as inspiration for the future.

There are recycle bins everywhere in Norway

If you grew up in Norway, then you know that cold weather is no excuse when it comes to physical activity. Snow is your friend – so are skis. The cities are made to be explored by bicycle or by foot, not by car. Your jogging efforts can continue even if you’re pushing a baby-stroller and the minute the weather is nice you go hiking up the mountains. You may take a couple of things for granted (see above) but definitely not the beauty of nature surrounding you.

Bonding with a friend can also be done while skiing

You either love or hate pølse

Norwegian culinary scene is definitely booming – but that’s a quite recent development. For most families with young kids in the ’80s, a relaxed weekend dinner (or snack, for that matter) basically consisted of ‘pølse med lompe’ or, if your parents were feeling exotic, ‘pølse med brød’. Norway’s love for sausages, traditionally boiled and served with thin potato pitas (lompe) or like a regular hot-dog (med brød), it’s no joke – and has caused many 30-year-olds to not even be able to look at the stuff anymore. But then again, there are many who still consider pølse their national dish and will consume it proudly on holidays like May 17. Looks like when it comes to pølse, there is no middle ground in Norway.

Pølse is a staple of the Norwegian way of eating

If you’re over 35, you remember when things were different

As in, before all the wealth from the oil started pouring in. It may be hard to conceive right now, but Norway was actually quite a poor country after the second World War, before the discovery of oil changed everything. Today’s youth may have grown accustomed to a certain standard of living, but you still remember the importance of foraging for food in the forest and generally being frugal. Good for you, maybe you can teach the next generation a thing or two.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.