This weekend my part of Norway was socked with snow, and it’s been like walking around in a snow globe.

We got nearly a foot of snow in about 24 hours and it was cool to see how the Norwegians took it all in stride. But hey, this is Norway, what’d I expect? When I lived in Portland, Oregon we got a dusting of snow and the city shut down.

I put a toy car on our porch so you guys can see how much it snowed.

I put a toy car on our porch so you guys can see how much it snowed.

However here, the massive snowplows travel in threes shortly after the first flake drifts down from the clouds. Workers are continually dropping salt and gravel on the pavement and shoveling or bulldozing the walkways and parking lots. Plus, the cars use winter tires which have great traction. So basically life goes on.

Norwegians walk to the store, school or bus with no effs given to the mounds of snow. It helps that they’re extremely talented at walking on ice and snow.  When I step outside, I look like Bambi on ice, while everyone else is as graceful as Thumper.

Me:

via GIPHY

 

Them:

Disney cute winter bambi thumper gif

However today, with a foot of snow beneath me, I stood a chance to remain upright. As usual we walked the boys to school and I watched in awe as kids whizzed by us on mini-snowboards and sleds. Our family plodded through the thick powder and it took my 5 year old quite some time because the snow came up to his knees.

Walking to school amid knee-deep snow for the 5-year-old.

Walking to school amid knee-deep snow for the 5-year-old.

But it was fun, and though I slipped a lot, I didn’t fall, which is a minor miracle. And now I can honestly say that I’ve walked to school in more than a foot of snow that was uphill both ways.

The steep hill we navigate on the way to school.

The steep hill we navigate on the way to school.

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My life in Norway’s winter wonderland — 10 Comments

  1. Wow this looks really cool….as a child it would be amazing…the older i am getting i want to escape the cold weather. Norway is so beautiful! thanks for sharing.

    • You’re right, the powdery snow *is* really cool and it turns me into a kid as well. Just this morning on the way to school I had to resist the temptation to make snow angels because we were tight on time!

  2. Looks like the NYC snow I grew up with, only a LOT cleaner!! Have fun out there- what an adventure you are living! If I ever make it to the land of midnight sun I’ll be at your door with a pint of somethin’ ready to hunker down in the ice and snow and enjoy the landscape!

    • It’s funny, I was in downtown Oslo with a few new friends on Sunday and the grey snow from the tram, buses and cars reminded me of Manhattan in the winter. I admittedly got a bit nostalgic as I’ve got great memories of spending time in New York during the winter. 🙂

  3. We love to have You here Bambi! Anything that creats a smile,
    Makes the day go smoother…. 😉
    Nothing stops a Viking! Its very inportant to know how
    To adapt! And You Do!

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