Norway - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture

Culture Smart! Norway steers you through social and professional encounters, enabling visitors to establish real friendships and business partnerships. Tips on meeting and communicating make socializing a pleasant experience, and chapters on customs give a glimpse inside a Norwegian home. The book also describes how the Norwegian commercial world operates—vital information for anyone doing business with one of the world’s wealthiest nations. The need to survive on a difficult, isolated terrain and in harsh climates forged a people who are hardworking and self-sufficient. On first meeting, the Norwegians are serious, polite, law-abiding, and hardy. They are also very private, and getting to know them takes time. But when visitors are able to see behind that façade they will meet the friendly, fun-loving, family-oriented people hiding on the other side. Front Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 About the Author......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Map of Norway......Page 8 Introduction......Page 9 Key Facts......Page 11 Chapter 1: Land and People......Page 13 • Geography......Page 14 • Climate......Page 15 • A Brief History......Page 19 • Norway’s Towns......Page 29 • Government and Politics......Page 32 • Norwegian Oil......Page 33 • Norway’s Place in the Region......Page 34 • Cooperation......Page 37 • Fairness......Page 38 • Equality......Page 39 • Patience......Page 41 • Natural Reserve......Page 42 • Wealth and Generosity......Page 43 • Royalty......Page 44 • God’s Own Country......Page 45 • Nature......Page 46 • Everyman’s Right......Page 47 • Work to Live, not Live to Work......Page 48 • Consensus and Nonconfrontation......Page 49 • Attitudes Toward Foreigners......Page 50 • The Norwegian Year......Page 53 • Flag Flying Days......Page 54 • Religious Festivals......Page 56 • Nonreligious Celebrations......Page 59 • Religion......Page 63 • Family Occasions......Page 64 Chapter 4: Making Friends......Page 67 • Work and Social Life......Page 68 • Greetings......Page 69 • Hospitality......Page 70 • Gift Giving......Page 73 • Dressing for the Occasion......Page 74 • Learning the Language......Page 75 • Joining Clubs and Societies......Page 76 • Expatriate Associations......Page 78 • Quality of Life......Page 79 • Let There be Light......Page 80 • Living Conditions......Page 81 • Landscape and Architecture......Page 83 • A House in the Country......Page 84 • Rent or Buy?......Page 85 • The Norwegian Family......Page 87 • Daily Life and Routine......Page 88 • Attitudes Toward Children......Page 89 • Education......Page 92 • Changing Lifestyles......Page 95 Chapter 6: Time Out......Page 97 • Shopping......Page 98 • Tax Back for Tourists......Page 99 • Banks and Currency......Page 100 • Eating Out......Page 101 • Service......Page 103 • Alcohol......Page 105 • Smoking......Page 107 • High Culture......Page 108 • Festivals and Events......Page 110 • Leisure......Page 112 • Sports......Page 113 • Skiing......Page 114 • The Great Outdoors......Page 116 Chapter 7: Travel, Health, and Safety......Page 117 • ID and Residency......Page 118 • Cars and Driving......Page 119 • Air Travel......Page 124 • Trains......Page 125 • Buses, Streetcars, and Underground......Page 127 • Boats and Ferries......Page 128 • Cycling......Page 130 • Where to Stay......Page 131 • Health and Security......Page 133 Chapter 8: Business Briefing......Page 135 • The Office......Page 136 • Working Hours and Timekeeping......Page 137 • Lunch Breaks......Page 139 • Trade Unions......Page 140 • Workforce Disputes and Labor Law......Page 141 • Management Model......Page 143 • The Glass Ceiling Broken?......Page 144 • Board Meetings and Decision Making......Page 146 • Presentations......Page 147 • Negotiation......Page 148 • Contracts and Fulfillment......Page 149 • Establishing a Business in Norway......Page 151 • Language......Page 153 • Conversation......Page 155 • Body Language......Page 156 • Humor......Page 157 • TV and Radio......Page 158 • Newspapers......Page 160 • Telephones......Page 161 • Mail......Page 162 • The High-Tech Norwegian......Page 163 • Conclusion......Page 164 Copyright......Page 166 Index......Page 167 Culture Smart! Norway steers you through the social and professional encounters of your visit to this new culture. By deepening your understanding it will enable you to establish real friendships and business partnerships. Tips on meeting and communicating make socializing a pleasant experience, and chapters on the customs and traditions that form the bedrock of family life give a glimpse inside a Norwegian home. And as well as offering an insight into their values and attitudes, the book describes how the Norwegian commercial world operates—vital information for anyone doing business with one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Norwegians enjoy arguably the best quality of life in the world. The country’s majestic landscape changes from the rugged coastline of the Arctic Peninsula, where fjords have carved their way into the rock, to its wild, mountainous backbone, from arctic tundra to the golden sands of its unspoiled southern beaches. This “Land of the Midnight Sun” is blessed with huge reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, timber, seafood, fresh water, and hydropower. There is no real poverty, and the welfare state provides for the basic needs of all its citizens. This was not always so. The need to survive in a difficult, isolated terrain and an often harsh climate forged a people who are hardworking and self-sufficient. The long coastline inspired a love of the sea and exploration, while a deep respect for nature is ingrained in their character. Since Viking times their parliaments have displayed basic democratic principles and a spirit of egalitarianism. Union with neighboring nations fostered a spirit of consensus, and a long struggle for independence brought about an idealistic nationalism. Today’s Norwegians have a strong commitment to equality and fairness and are proud of the society they have created. On first meeting, the Norwegians are serious, polite, law-abiding, and hardy. They are also very private, which can make newcomers feel as if they have come up against a stone wall. Getting to know them takes time, but when you are able to read the signs that take you behind that façade you will meet the friendly, fun-loving, family-oriented people hiding on the other side. "Culture Smart! Norway steers you through social and professional encounters, enabling visitors to establish real friendships and business partnerships. Tips on meeting and communicating make socializing a pleasant experience, and chapters on customs give a glimpse inside a Norwegian home. The book also describes how the Norwegian commercial world operates--vital information for anyone doing business with one of the world?s wealthiest nations. The need to survive on a difficult, isolated terrain and in harsh climates forged a people who are hardworking and self-sufficient. On first meeting, the Norwegians are serious, polite, law-abiding, and hardy. They are also very private, and getting to know them takes time. But when visitors are able to see behind that fa?ade they will meet the friendly, fun-loving, family-oriented people hiding on the other side."-- Amazon.com Culture Smart! Norway steers you through social and professional encounters, enabling visitors to establish real friendships and business partnerships. Tips on meeting and communicating make socializing a pleasant experience, and chapters on customs give a glimpse inside a Norwegian home. The book also describes how the Norwegian commercial world operates--vital information for anyone doing business with one of the world's wealthiest nations. The need to survive on a difficult, isolated terrain and in harsh climates forged a people who are hardworking and self-sufficient. On first meeting, the Norwegians are serious, polite, law-abiding, and hardy. They are also very private, and getting to know them takes time. But when visitors are able to see behind that façade they will meet the friendly, fun-loving, family-oriented people hiding on the other side. --Publisher Culture Smart guides help travellers have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.