From August 14th to December 22nd 2022 I was in Oslo for a semester. I studied at UiO, taking 2 mathematics courses: MATH4460 – C*-algebras, MATH4800 – Complex analysis and a Norwegian language course for international students: NORINT0114. I want to write something about my semester there, after not having done so as faithfully as I did in Canada, but I want to still share some highlights.
Studying
The courses I took were varying in difficulty: Complex analysis was pretty easy, with a lot of overlap with my bachelor’s course in complex analysis in the beginning, but picking up later in the semester. C*-algebras was pretty tough, since I missed most prerequisite knowledge in functional analysis, but it was interesting and fun nonetheless. The language course was tough in a different way, but super fun (I still have my phone set to Norwegian). After awkwardly sitting in the first lecture of C*-algebras with only 6 people in the class, my first lecture of the semester, I realized that one of the students was also an exchange student, who coincidentally had the exact same courses as me, though a different class for the language course. This was a big relief, as I was afraid I would be surrounded by only native students, and would have a hard time connecting. I communicated with my fellow exchange student the most, though the native students were also very friendly, even letting me borrow ski gear for a weekend!
Having fun
Besides studying, I had a lot of fun in Oslo and other places in Norway. I especially loved hiking and going out in nature, but we had some fun in Oslo as well. Every Wednesday, there was happy hour night at this club called “Mabou”. Most exchange students went there, even causing lines to form later on in the semester, making everyone show up earlier and earlier. Besides that, I spent a lot of time working out, since I lived literally right next to the gym. I went on many trips, visiting Bergen, the Kvitfjell ski resort, taking a trip to Stockholm and many more, but most of all, I enjoyed…
Nature
What I loved most was the nature. I want to share some of the coolest places I have been.
Lofoten
Before going to Oslo, I spent some time trying to join WhatsApp groups of international students. One of those was a group of hiking enthusiasts, and right after arriving in Oslo, a trip to the Lofoten islands was proposed. Having heard of this magical place, I was of course eager to join.
Driving around
Even just driving around the Lofoten Islands was amazing. The weather was not as sunny as one might hope it to be, but the views were still amazing.
Reinebringen
This is a very popular hike, well actually, more like a very popular staircase. The hike consists only of a very long staircase, up to a viewpoint of a town called “Reine”. When arriving at the top, it is possible to go slightly further, but since the weather was kind of wet, the top of the mountain was very muddy and slippery. I crawled up slightly further on all fours, just to look down a 300m drop. Startled, I crawled back down to the viewpoint. Since we were there late August, there were not that many tourists anymore. In high season, this is one of the most popular hikes though.
Hauklandstranda
We briefly went to Hauklandstranda in the evening. There is a hike there up the hill next to the beach, which is supposedly very beautiful, but due to the time we did not do this hike.
Henningsvær
A small town in the Lofoten islands. I am particularly proud of the picture on the bottom left. This town is very well known for its oddly located soccer field:
Hoven
That evening, we hiked up the Hoven hill. After being surpassed by multiple elderly trail runners, we got to the peak, with a small cliff running through it. We even saw some predatory birds fighting in the sky!
Kongstinden
On the last day, we hiked up Kongstinden near Svolvaer. Can you spot me in the left-hand picture? The end of this hike required us to climb up a steep rocky wall using a rope, though you seemed to also be able to walk around.
Trolltunga
This was definitely the longest hike I did during my time in Norway. We hiked 27km total, starting from P2 (the larger parking space that is a few kilometers down from the hike start). We tried to start early (at 6am), which is before the first shuttle buses go up from P2 to the hike start. This means we had to hike up 3km along a steep road, which took so long that we were still surpassed by the first shuttle bus. So for anyone planning to do this hike: if you want to start early, reserve a spot on P3, and otherwise just take a (but preferably the first) shuttle bus up from P2. Of course, we took some pictures at the most popular viewpoint of this hike: the Trolltunga rock, sticking out of the mountain over a few hundred meter drop.
Kjeragbolten
Another tough hike. This hike takes you over 3 steep hills, leading into a long plateau. We started the hike quite late, and the weather was not great, but we were alone at the main viewpoint! This is a rock sticking between two ledges, suspended at a height of almost 1km above the ground. Some people are brave enough to stand on it, but after a strong gust of wind when trying to cross the narrow ledge onto the boulder, I figured I would just be safe and sit down.
Preikestolen
Another very popular hike. We did this hike at the end of the hiking season, and we got up at 4:30AM, starting the hike at about 6AM, just to arrive at the viewpoint at sunrise. This trick worked, we hiked through the dark and the rain, and arrived at the viewpoint at 7AM, having the rock to our own for almost an hour!
Besseggen
Another very popular, but very beautiful hike! You have to take a ferry to get to the start of the hike, and then hike over a mountain ridge, back to the ferry port. We took the very last ferry of the season, and had beautiful autumn colors and snowy peaks. The hike is most well known for having to climb a narrow ledge (“egg” in Norwegian), next to a steep drop:
Tromsø
“The capital of the north”. I visited right before going home before Christmas. I was lucky enough to see very bright northern lights on our last night there, though the nature around Tromsø is very beautiful by itself.