This is going to make me sound like the Grinch Who Stole Summer, but I had been dreading August for probably the past six months. I know, I know. Like, I know. Watermelon, beaches, suntans, picnics, swimming – summer is awesome! But what I find a little less awesome is times of transition.
A little ironic for a girl who spent the past several years perpetually in transit.
I was really excited to move to Norway, but honestly, I sort of just wanted to skip over the whole finding a place to live, making friends, and finding a job thing. I wanted to have a life in Norway, but the task of actually setting one up felt a little heavy.
But I survived, and today marks the beginning of my second month living in Trondheim, woohoo! And phew. Want to see how I fared? (No but seriously, do you? This is the first time I’ve written a monthly recap post, so please tell me if this is the most boring thing ever.)
The Exciting
I have an apartment! Who knew a 25 square meter room could make a person so blissfully happy. But I am. It’s so nice to have a home again, with a kitchen to cook in and walls to decorate, and it’s tiny but I swear it must be the prettiest apartment in all of Norway.
We’re on the top floor of the orange building on the hill.
I love Trondheim! So, funny story here. Before we found an apartment Dan and I Couchsurfed with a guy living in Sandmoen, in the southern suburbs of Trondheim. Not to hate on Sandmoen, but it’s not exactly the prettiest part of Trondheim, and the bus ride there from the train station is probably along Trondheim’s most depressing road. After passing the tenth warehouse Dan turned to me with a pale face and said that we had to move to Ålesund instead.
And for our first week in Trondheim we seriously thought about leaving – until finally we found the center of the city and realized that actually Trondheim is super beautiful!
I made a friend! Okay fine, actually Dan made a friend, in his Norwegian class, but then she became my friend and introduced us to her boyfriend and his friends, so now it’s sort of like we have a bunch of friends here! Who would have thought?
The Depressing
I’ve probably spent a fifth of my life in Norway and my Norwegian is abysmal. I like to think it’s my mother’s fault for never speaking to me in Norwegian, but actually I think I’m just plain bad at languages. Which is weird because I’ve studied like ten of them, but how many have I mastered? Zero. I’m like that sad kid who desperately wants to be a ballerina but is too tall and awkward to actually become one. No but actually, I was that kid. WHY COULDN’T I JUST BE SHORT?
Yet just as I stuck with the dance lessons and loved them between my fits of tears, I’m still pretty thrilled to be learning a language again. So many new words! And grammar, how I love thee! So at least it’s not all that depressing (except the being a total nerd part).
The Terrifying
I need to find a job, and to do that I have to interview in Norwegian ahhh. So far I’ve only dropped my CV off at a few shops and no one switched to English while talking with me, but no one gave me a job either. Probably because I was so nervous about my Norwegian that everything I tried to say came out backwards and they didn’t know why I was telling them I tnaw a boj (except the Norwegian version of that).
We still don’t have Internet at our apartment. That’s not the terrifying part – the terrifying part is how upset and lost and helpless not having Internet makes me feel. What’s wrong with me?
The Instagram
I’ve been trying to Instagram more because each time someone likes a photo it feels like a little ego boost, and I really love ego boosts. This was my most liked photo this month and I’m still feeling a little blissed out over all that love. That’s healthy, right?
Though actually this was my favorite photo I took this month – doesn’t it look like something from a cartoon?
The Budget
I’m not sure I’ll always keep such close track of my budget here, but I was curious how much I would spend in my first month in Norway.
Rent: 4,800 NOK ($576)
Food: 1,100 NOK ($132)
Electricity: 9 NOK ($1) – they must have read the meter right after we moved in so this is probably the bill for a day, not the full month, but word on the street is electricity is fairly cheap here.
Phone: 199 NOK ($24)
Entertainment: 105 NOK ($12)
Total: 6,213 NOK ($746)
Rent was the biggest expense, which sort of seems appropriate because I’ve always spent all my money on places instead of things. We could have gotten a cheap apartment in the suburbs in the basement of someone’s house, but I really wanted to be in the pretty center! I think it’s worth the splurge, and of course it’s more affordable since I’m splitting it with Dan. (A few people have asked if I’m going to do an apartment post with pictures and so I’ve put it on my to blog list!)
Food: I was actually really surprised how cheap food in the super market is here! Wait, let me rephrase that. Most food in the supermarket is crazy expensive, BUT if you stick to store brand products it’s surprisingly cheap. Actually, sort of bafflingly so. Like, why is every loaf of bread over $5, but then one loaf (that looks just the same as the others) only $1. How? We also eat lentils for at least 3 meals a week, which is probably the cheapest meal ever, and we’ve eaten out a total of zero times this month.
Entertainment: We went to the movies once this month to see Amy, because Dan and Amy Winehouse like, totally kissed at a party once when they were teenagers and he wanted to see if he’d make it into the documentary. He didn’t. But it was so good! And so, so sad, I’m still depressed over it.
The Blogs I ❤
You may have noticed three lovely bloggers hanging out in my sidebar this month. I’ve really enjoyed discovering some new blogs through my blog ads, so I thought I would share a bit more about them with you!
So tell me, how was your August?
Melanie Fontaine says
I love monthly recaps, so bring them on!! 😉 And good luck for your second month in Norway!! 🙂
Silvia says
Thanks, Melanie, I’m for fall in Norway!
Mary says
God morgen! I love round ups! Love your apartment and I like all the photos from your Norwegain adventures so far! I hope you find a job soon!
Silvia says
Haha you’re totally going to master Norwegian before me!
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
I am a big fan of monthly recaps:) Yay for new friends and a charming apartment! I am actually really surprised as well at the grocery costs, I thought it would have been much more expensive.
Silvia says
Yeah, I had to double check those numbers because they seemed so low! Though we have been eating pretty simply, haha.
Jeanna says
The Bad: Your rent in Trondheim is CHEAPER then mine in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Good: The Dan and Silvia budget gives me hope I can legitimately put Norway back on my to-visit list. See you in 2016?
Silvia says
So… that means you should probably just move to Norway? (YES)
Jenn says
This is such a cute little town! And much cheaper to live in than where I live!
Silvia says
I was surprised by how cheap August was! It will definitely be more expensive once I get a job and start having a less strict budget though.
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says
Wow, your food costs were so low! I eat similarly here in the Caribbean and mine are often over $350/month just for one person. Our groceries are really expensive though (compared to wages) because everything has to be flown in or brought over on a boat.
Loved the shot with all the colorful houses! How quaint!
Silvia says
So, embarrassing confession: lentils are a super cheap meal, but I actually love them so much that in Japan I would order them from a foreign food store and have them shipped to my island, haha. Living on an island makes so many things more difficult and expensive, but at least it’s beautiful!
Priscilla Dixon says
are you sure that you don’t live in the Cayman Islands with me?? (native) food costs are horrendous and her total monthly costs is still less than renting a one bedroom here alone 🙁 .. maybe i should move
Justine says
Yay, I love the monthly recap. So keep ’em coming! It’s so funny because we both just celebrated one month in a new country and there are so many similarities between our monthly recap posts. Like being really excited about having an apartment. Silvia, I have an oven. It’s so exciting!!!! Also, I’ve experienced all sorts of panic the past month over not having a job too. But I guess I should be grateful that I don’t have to interview in Cambodian? I wouldn’t be able to pull that off, at all! I always get really shy and awkward speaking in foreign languages. Just keep practicing and I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it! Good luck and I’m looking forward to your apartment post!
Silvia says
It’s actually really comforting to read that you had such similar experiences! I hope our second month in our new countries is even better 🙂
Joella // Paper Crane Stories says
I always enjoy monthly roundups- I think I should do one my self but with my rate of posting it would probably end up being my only post each month haha. Maybe I should just do that- one reeeeaaallly long post each month haha! I totally empathize on the dreading moving/finding an apartment/getting set up thing having just done it myself. I dread all that stuff. Glad we both survived it!
Silvia says
I’m glad too! It’s funny – it seems like several travel bloggers I follow have recently moved!
Rachel says
I do love your Instagram. Man, the city center is pretty and yeah, you should totally be living there – good call. Your monthly budget really seems super cheap! That’s great! Are you guys refraining from buying beers? I guess not eating out realllly helps.
Silvia says
Not having friends for most of the month helped, haha. Once we made some we started buying beers again, so I’m sure this month’s budget will be much higher! (I’m not keeping as strict track of it now though)
Katharina says
What has taken me so long to find your blog?! I LOVE it! And by the way, I love your month’s recap, too! I always find it a bit stressful to ease into a new place, even when you kind of know the country/language.
I actually just moved to Madrid – a city I had lived in what seems like thousands of years ago (so many things have changed!). Truth is, even though it’s exciting it’s also challenge after challenge (find a flat! open a bank account! get a SIM card! where’s the grocery store?).
I am wishing you good luck on your second month in Norway – I’m looking forward to reading more about it!
Silvia says
So nice to have you here, Katharina! I am so glad I’m not the only one who totally stresses over moving to a new place – as simply as getting a SIM card might sound, it’s so much harder in a new country! Wishing you luck from my end 🙂
Julie says
Glad you made friends so quickly! That’s the worst part about moving – not knowing anyone and feeling so alone.
Silvia says
Right? I was seriously worried I’d end up a total loner here, ha.
coffee in a cup says
WOW! you spent that little on food?! for a whole month?!?!?! store brand or not, i’m super impressed – i’d never been able to do that!
then again, i wouldn’t be able to eat lentils three time per week either 😉
Silvia says
My addiction to lentils definitely helps the budget 🙂 I’m sure we’ll spend way more money when we have jobs, but for now it’s nice to be able to budget so well!
CavaforLunch says
Oh, I love a good monthly recap. Hope you’re settling in well in Trondheim – what’s your plans since your moving back to the mother land? 🙂
Silvia says
Find a job and master Norwegian! Maybe easier said than done… haha
becky hutner says
ROUND UPS ALL THE WAY. You are like my budget hero. Isn’t Norway one of the most expensive countries ever? Our friends in Bergen certainly cry about it.
Silvia says
The Norwegian kroner is quite weak now so it’s not as insanely expensive right now. Plus I’m a budget queen, duh.
Camels & Chocolate says
As someone who has made that move abroad three times (Scotland, Holland, Denmark), I love posts like these! And off to follow you on Insta now (I’m @LunaticAtLarge there, btw) =)
Silvia says
Following you too! Excited to hear what this new Camels & Chocolate experience will be… 🙂
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
What a great round up. I’m happy for you living in pretty little Norway. I can’t wait to read more but honestly, I thought it would be much more expensive so you’re breaking news LOL!
Keep ’em coming!
Alex says
I totally understand your fear of moving. I really hate packing, which doesn’t exactly make sense for a nomad. Alas, I managed to sell my life and packing my new mini life if much easier for the daily basis!
Silvia says
It definitely is easier when everything you own fits into a backpack!
Leah says
Love the roundup! I’m so happy to hear things are going relatively well for you in Norway, and I’m glad you included the budget part because a) I was SO curious to know how much actually living in Scandinavia would cost and b) I’m SO glad to hear it’s less than most people seem to think. I just left Stockholm and did a lot of cooking rather than going out, and realized I would literally HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE if I actually wanted to live there, but at the same time I’d be pretty cool with that. I miss cooking, you know?
Silvia says
It is SO nice to be able to cook again! And it might sound ridiculous, but I missed lentils so much that I’m thrilled to eat them all the time in the name of budgeting, haha. But seriously, I was really surprised by how little we spent, and that’s with us choosing a more expensive apartment in the city. So living in Norway really doesn’t have to be too expensive at all.
dana says
so.. I’m going to norway !
thanks, i really enjoyed your blog/story. i know almost nothing about where I’m set on to going.
i could i move there? study there? going with an open mind. i could just learn something there and that would be fine too. what to do in norway? and, where to stay? can i make friends in a week? so many questions! but def I’m excited. i could be a blogger!
Silvia says
oh wow, how exciting! i’m sure you’ll love norway 🙂
KCole says
Hi, If you were 60 years old and alone, where do you think you would be comfortable, safe and happy?
Keep in mind, husband is dead, and China and it’s government are pissed things aren’t going as fast as they .have anticipated. I don’t want to be around when they take over. So, give me some places you would find attractive and safe , and hopefully people there would be honest.