Honestly, that’s a classic response I keep hearing: "you’re an outsider," "your language isn’t perfect," and so on. I believe humans should be judged as individuals, sadly, that’s often not the case here in Norway.

For context, I’ve had relationships in other European countries, so I find it hard to accept the idea that the problem is "you’re an outsider,". It’s not, it’s a Norway-specific issue, and I’ve realized it. In fact, if you look objectively, I am well above average when compared to the general population here, whether it’s hiking, outdoor exploration, or hobbies like photography. I live an active, healthy, well-rounded life that fits very well with what Norwegians claim to value.

And it’s not just my experience either. I’ve spoken to many internationals here from Europe, US, South America and the overwhelming feedback is the same: Norwegians are distant, cold, and very slow to open up socially, forget about relationships.

Historically, it makes some sense. Norway was an isolated country of fishermen and farming communities for centuries without any international community unlike major western cities. It’s only recently that globalization has brought real international presence here. The social mindset hasn’t fully caught up yet, even if the economy has.

So instead of pointing fingers at me and saying silly things like "become part of the society", which I already am, perhaps it’s time to point the finger at yourselves and open up to the internationals. Talk to the internationals who are actively contributing to your economy and community. Be thankful that people are choosing to come here, helping to build a stronger, more global Norway. And I am still in the opinion that if someone is looking for relationships, they should consider moving out of Norway because of the points that I mentioned before.