Navigating Risk (mark this)

While Norway is famous for high-ranking happy nations around the world, it is reported that the crime rates remain at a low level with shocking suicidal and mental disorder frequencies at the same time. Essentially, the assessment of mental health risks in Norway requires an understanding of different factors. Though Norway's strong social welfare systems provide substantial support to people, it is discovered that loneliness and social isolation can still be remarkable risk factors for mental health issues. As far as I know, Northern Europe has stepped up to the challenge which has brought severe social isolation to Norway. Loneliness is detrimental to the mental disorders of those who suffer from it, but also to their social cohesion in high-developed countries. Due to its special geographical location, Norway's long-term winters can probably trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for some potential-risk individuals. The likelihood of SAD tends to be much higher in regional travelling areas with extended periods of darkness and insufficient sunlight.  Therefore, as an international traveller, I would prefer to go places with partners for both safe and mental health risk considerations. We can obtain help in time from companions who will trust us, support our plans for challenges, caring for our psychological health whenever travelers get into trouble in Norway. Especially, when something urgent and unexpected happens beyond our plans, it seems hard to be alone but a couple of psychological therapies, such as meditation, tele counselling, or just listening to relaxing music with artificial light or fire will lessen your negative anxiety and isolated feelings.

Reference: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/10/23/tackling-social-isolation-northern-europe-steps-up-to-the-challenge

Culture Shock and Confusion (mark this)

It is all known that English is universally used around the world both in business and social and travelling situations. Most international travellers, tend to speak English as an assistant tool to cope with the complexity of native languages in our destinations. In China, my home country, people who get an education would like to speak English with foreign travellers to help them out with local confusion about culture.

However, the most concerned problem I care much about is that some Norwegians do understand English but they don't speak it. In my view, it is kind of inappropriate to leave one person aside because that person couldn't understand or speak Norwegian besides considerable inconvenience in daily routines.

Actually, most Norwegians have a reasonable mastery of English. We will find that English can be spoken in most public supermarkets and restaurants, as well as in hotels and with service providers. If the travellers are feeling uncomfortable starting a conversation in English, it is even more important to learn a relative amount of Norwegian. It is easier to establish an independent life if understand public information, chat in a social setting, and read basic road signs. If possible, use Google Translate or make native language partners accompany you at the same time, and try to avoid any isolation from society and people around you during the whole trip.

A foreign language can be a barrier that will cause culture shock and confusion in some ways, keep in mind that make preparations for Norwegian first and then feel free to seek help from others about it anytime to have fun in Norway.

Reference: https://www.oslo.kommune.no/english/welcome-to-oslo/learn-norwegian/the-importance-of-learning-norwegian/#gref

Meaningful Engagement (mark this)

(How do Chinese students tackle their new life in Norway? Illustration: Thinkstock)

A number of Chinese students come to Norway to further their education because of the attractive natural living and travelling environment as well as the developed social welfare system in this country. They usually have high expectations of the future where they can travel around the world and build a career but end up with social isolation and mental disorders due to culture shock and they have a hard time dealing with everyday problems which will take much energy and time.

According to these current problems, my meaningful engagement is supposed to improve the experience of Chinese students, preventing much pressure from daily and academic life and in Norway, helping them live healthily.

The first step to identify the situation, I would like to interact with student communities as a volunteer. After investigating the difficulties international students face, I probably find a new recognition of their social connections. In order to avoid severe isolation from Norwegian society, my skills to improve international and multicultural exchange are essential to promote an adaptation to a new environment. Creating a strong social connection between Chinese and Norwegian people is quite significant for the students. For most of them, joining a religious organization in the church is accessible, where they can meet people with a local cultural background.

On the other hand, providing support to people in trouble is necessary for the student communities to continue their life safely abroad. I believe my particular discipline skills of psychological therapies and tips for solutions to daily problems can make a difference.

Reference: https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2016/10/chinese-courage-meets-norwegian-daily-life/

Place Essentialism

As I know, northern European countries are mostly dream destinations for friends of mine. When it comes to Norway, is famous for travelling and its polar-based views. Besides, some people believe that Norway is a high-ranked country in gross national happiness among developed countries. Do a country’s inhabitants get happier as it gets richer? Most governments seem to think so, given their relentless focus on increasing GDP year by year. Reliably, long-term evidence linking wealth and happiness has, however, not been found exactly. Measuring well-being itself varies with problems since it usually relies on surveys that ask citizens to assess their levels of happiness subjectively.

This happiness is inseparable from Norway’s welfare system. That is, everyone with a long-term residency in Norway can receive free medical treatment and people can enjoy excellent medical insurance. Men and women are equally treated by policies. However, Norwegians have a high suicide rate due to depression problems. On the one hand, more than half of the year is long winters with long nights so the daylight hours are too short in winter, and people on the street are not as happy as in summer. The underlying reason may be related to the already happy and stable environment of Norwegians. Therefore, the direct impression of the happiest country is not accurate. The essence itself has something to do with the causation of suicide and depression which is easily ignored by most people when evaluating Norway. This is why problems happened regarding local Norwegian social backgrounds and the true feelings of citizens.

Street Art (mark this)

Today I am going to introduce a representative graffiti which is named Priest in Oslo, Norway. The artist Dolk whose most things painted on the street in Oslo has unfortunately disappeared, created Priest in 2009 which can still be seen in Strøget in Oslo city centre. It is accurately located at CBD close to Torggata 11, 0181 Oslo.

"Priest" is a powerful visual description of religion, authority, and societal norms. The image typically depicts a Catholic priest in black and white, dressing in a traditional cassock or robe, holding a paint tool can instead of a religious symbol or object.

Norway, like many countries, has a complex relationship with religion, particularly with the dominance of Christianity in history and its impact on society and culture. By placing this image in public areas in Norway, Dolk invites travellers to engage with questions about the role of religion in contemporary Norwegian society, and the influence of religious institutions on individuals and communities, thinking up potential choices for alternative expressions of spirituality and belief.

"Priest" by Dolk in Norway can potentially be considered an "unofficial" tourist attraction due to its popularity and recognition among street art lovers and tourists. Priest in Oslo has gained local fame, attracting tons of tourists devoted to street art. Its presence on social media and widespread recommendations strengthened its appeal. Tourists discover these artworks through online platforms, contributing to their status as unofficial attractions, and even actively seek out these sites to take photos and share their experiences online. Street art tours often feature Dolk's works, regarding "Priest" as an unofficial tourist attraction for those seeking unique cultural experiences on the other hand.

Photo by Roy Olsen

Symbols

Today, I'd love to explore the symbolism of the Viking longship, it is Norway's maritime heritage and spirit of adventure. I've chosen this symbol for its profound historical significance and its ability to encapsulate the essence of exploration.

The Viking longship was regarded as a symbol of power and exploration during the Viking Age, a period from the late 8th to the mid-11th century. These iconic vessels crafted by skilled Norse artisans, boasting sleek designs and impressive speed. They served as the primary mode of transportation for the Vikings, facilitating trade, exploration, and raiding expeditions across Europe. The Vikings, who partly originated in central and southern Norway, also became regional Nordic representatives.

The Viking longship's prominence in Norse culture and history made it synonymous with adventure and conquest. Its presence on the open seas symbolised the Vikings' prowess as seafarers and their relentless pursuit of new lands and opportunities.

While the Viking longship holds undeniable historical significance, its portrayal in contemporary contexts warrants critical examination. In recent years, the longship has often been commodified for tourism and economics, appearing in various forms such as souvenirs, replicas, and cultural attractions. On the contrary, this commercialization may ignore and simplified its historical significance of the Viking Age.

In sum, the Viking longship remains a potent symbol of Norway's maritime heritage and adventurous spirits. By acknowledging its complexities and nuances, we can gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for its symbolism and historical legacy.

(picture from https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/warship-of-the-vikings-drakkar-and-norway-flag-vector-22793341; https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1062244751/vintage-norwegian-pewter-viking-boat )

About Me

Look at the photo I took, it is pretty attracting! Bondi Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Sydney, Australia. It's renowned for its golden sands, turquoise-blue waters, and vibrant atmosphere. Particularly, it is the most impressive beach I've been to this year which I would like to recommend for you guys.

As a crazy backpacker or travel enthusiast, I am Brand Liu from China, mostly agree with the point quoted from the Pico Iyer's article that " We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. " I'd like to use "experience the world " to give you a better understanding of the quote. In other words, travelling provides us with an opportunity to go to strange and new places, to meet people in different cultural backgrounds , to see the beauty of nature, to try yummy food, to experience all amazing things that will happen around the world. We take actions to experience in person which broadens our horizons more than staying at home watching newspapers or surfing the internet. Therefore, I was driven by experiencing and learning a lot by the world to be an active backpacker. I've travelled around my home country so my goal is to explore the countries all over the planet. Hopefully, in my future travels, I wish more different places will be my destinations and I will gain the considerable knowledge of these to broaden my recognition and understanding of the world.

My next dream destination is Norway. It is a country known for its stunning natural landscapes, including fjords, mountains, and picturesque coastal towns. Norway's country specialization mainly could focus on its unique blend of natural beauty. Especially, Norway's unique natural phenomena, such as the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and the Midnight Sun, which occurs during the summer months in the northern regions. Because of its location in the near-polar region, Norway can see these natural landscapes, making it a popular travel destination. And the beautiful Nordic scenery like the coastline and the fairy tale world of ice and snow are very attractive to tourists. Next we will learn about Norway much more together.

(second photo from app XiaoHongShu)