My Home in Tromsø: Enduring Its Undeniable Allure

I have heard Tromsø described as a "GORE-TEX" city. I can confirm that I also wear my ankle rain boots (also known as wellies or gumboots) every day.

What do you like to do in your free time?:

I especially like going down to the piers of Tromsø. On tough days, I hop on the bus, cruise down to the city sentrum, and behold the selection of sailboats in the dock that day. This month I will complete my open-water scuba diver training, as I want to learn anything I can to survey the environment.

What language(s) do you speak? How do you say "Hello" in your language?:

I am lucky to have grown up as a native English speaker. I believe I speak Norwegian at an early intermediate level (A2.3) and will continue to cement that with my teachers. Achieving this level was my goal when I arrived in Norway ten months ago. In Scandinavia, where many people speak English as a second language, a learner of Norwegian must make a concerted effort to find native partners willing to take the time to practice their language with you. You can exist in this country with English, but I know many people who can attest that you are not truly connecting to the local community without fluency in the unique language of Norwegian. 

In the stores, I have mastered this interaction:
Me: “Hei.”
Store clerk: “Hei. Vil du ha en pose?”
Me: “Nei, takk.”
Store clerk: “Kvittering?”
Me: “Nei, takk. Ha det bra.”
Store clerk: “Ha det.”

Do you have pets?:

I do not have any pets. I think I move too much for a pet to be happy. However, I can confirm that people love their pets worldwide. For example, my friends in Prague love their adopted cats.

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