The Norwegians

By Dan Elloway

What makes the Norwegians NORWEGIAN: A witty guide to the views and values that shows why their way is the Norway.

There is nothing more important to Norwegians than enjoying the great outdoors. Happily, they have a lot of outdoors

to enjoy.

Reviews

‘A very concise and entertaining book about Norwegians and the Norwegian culture. I have already recognised a lot of cultural patterns and I’m looking forward to discussing these excerpts with my Norwegian friends’ Reviewed by KK
‘My Norwegian friend recommended this hilarious and funny book. I cried with laughter but also learnt a lot about the history, culture and everyday life in Norway. I want to be a Norwegian now :)’
Reviewed by EWA‘
‘Irreverent guides to foreign habits. Amusing but insightful and anything but xenophobic. Good-humored support for taking one’s first steps toward understanding the foibles of an alien culture.’
Stanfords Travel Guides
‘I bought this small book quite by accident today; I have not yet read all of it, but I have lived in Norway for over 40 years (expat) and so far I have to say the book is hilarious and pretty much spot on!’
Reviewed by Annie
‘I loved this book because it gave me a real introduction to Norwegians and helped me to make contact. I liked it so much that I have just bought the Xenophobe’s Guide to Canadians for my next holiday! Thank you’ Reviewed by Welcome

If you would like to comment or submit a review on the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Norwegians please do so in the box to the right.

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Links to make you laugh

Eat with the fishes. Europe’s first underwater restaurant has opened in Norway. It’s in a huge concrete tube partly submerged in the sea. No good if you are claustrophobic.

Bark Up or down? Firewood splits the Norwegians

Sir Nils inspects the Norwegian Guard.

The latest drama from Norway is like water under the bridge
Click on the image to read the article or here to see the live-streamed sea

How to make things “Cosy” in Norway
There is an important concept one needs to understand and embrace when living in Norway: being “koselig”. Most English speakers translate it by “cosy” but that term doesn’t even begin to cover everything that “koselig” can express. Click here to cosy up.

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Fireplace fires up the Norwegians
In Norway, they don’t watch the grass grow, or the paint dry – but a live broadcast of firewood burning in a fireplace has the nation enthralled. Courtesy of the Oslo Journal via The New York Times

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About the author

Freelance copywriter Dan Elloway was born and bred in the West of England. He threw in a promising career as an actor and performance artist to pursue a woman to Poland. When things didn’t work out with her, he moved to Japan, then Sicily, then Denmark, before eventually settling in Norway. Having been rained on constantly for two years in Bergen, he relocated to Tønsberg on the East coast, an area of the country that is sometimes misleadingly described as the Norwegian Riviera.

Not being the outdoorsy type, he tries to avoid extended contact with the Norwegian countryside as much as possible – much to the consternation of the locals. Instead he spends his days writing in cafés. He has published three English language textbooks, and written numerous articles, brochures and advertising campaigns. He dances the tango whenever he gets the chance.

He has a Norwegian-Polish wife and Norwegian-Polish-British daughter, and often fails to understand what either of them is saying.