One in three families in Norway owns a cabin in the mountains called a hytte. It is common to visit your hytte in the winter, ski through the mountains with your friends and family, and have lunch and a warm beverage by a fire in the snow.
Growing up in Minnesota, I am no stranger to winter and snow. I learned how to alpine (downhill) ski when I was only three years old, and I look forward to skiing every winter. I moved to Norway and assumed I would have no trouble learning a new form of skiing: cross-country. However, despite its popularity, I quickly realized that it is not as easy as Norwegians make it look. The first time I tried it, I could hardly stand up because the snow was so slippery. After falling more times than I’d like to admit, I eventually caught on and had so much fun! I loved getting to experience winter on skis and was especially grateful to my friends for their patience.
Do you remember the Norwegian word friluftsliv? This word refers to the Norwegian love for spending time outdoors, especially in nature. Skiing is an integral part of the concept of friluftsliv because it is not only fun, but it also allows people to connect with their environment when the conditions are harsh. Can you imagine not being able to go outside or get around your neighborhood for almost six months each year? It would be impossible for me! But as the saying in Norway goes, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.
