One of the biggest differences is the lunch. In Sweden you sit down with colleagues and eat a hot meal for at least 30 minutes, often 45 minutes. You bring your own food for lunch (in a lunchbox) or you eat out. In Norway the typical lunch is two sandwiches in the “kantina” (the company’s food court) for 20 minutes or in front of the computer for 15 minutes. The sandwiches are often healthy, fibre bread with cheese, egg, ham or salmon and with some side-salad the lunch is complete….for the Norwegian people yes, but not for the Swedes. I really like the sandwiches but they are not what we are used too and it is less than the Swedish lunches. We eat a hot meal that keeps us full until dinnertime in the evening. Norwegians eat dinner much earlier than Swedes and that is the explanation of the diverse routines. I do not say that any of the routines are right or wrong, just that there is a difference.
When comparing the surrounding nature of the two capitals Oslo and Stockholm, there is not a doubt that the possibilities of using it are much greater in Norway. Only 15 minutes away from city you are in the forest and can go skiing or hiking. In summertime, you can reach the ocean in 15 minutes where you can go sailing or snorkelling. The mountains are very close and by car you can reach several ski paradises just hours away. I love skiing and in the picture below you can see me and my colleague Ewa Sitkiewicz in Beitostølen (3 hours from Oslo) before Christmas enjoying the Norwegian nature. It will definitely be more of this.
I wish you all a Happy New Year! In 2010 I will tell you more about my job at Nidar AS.