Anna Cullen shares how life has changed since she moved from Tipperary to Tromsø.
My life has been full of change recently. Last October, I swapped the peaceful, green countryside of Tipperary for the stunning, snow-covered landscapes of Tromsø in Norway.
Moving 350 kilometres above the Arctic Circle has been a whirlwind and I am embracing this new chapter of mine, where the landscape, the culture, and the daily routines are all so different.
My lifestyle in Norway is a stark contrast to what I was used to in Ireland. The weather here is intense; I have gone from mild, rainy Irish weather to an Arctic climate. Instead of walking on the country lanes near my house in Tipperary, I now shovel snow off my doorstep and walk the icy streets of Tromsø with shoe spikes.
Gone are the days of leaving the house with just a waterproof jacket. Now, every day I need to think about thermal wear, extra layers and my winter boots.
My diet has shifted too as I've embraced local Norwegian delicacies. I no longer have the traditional Irish dinners, which hold a special place in my heart. My daily meals consist of waffles, hot dogs called pølse, a traditional dessert called lefse, and brown cheese called bronost.
Seafood is a must here, of course, and is nothing unusual, but now I have also introduced whale meat.
This past winter was my first time experiencing the Polar Night, which is a natural phenomenon where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for an extended period of time. It occurs in regions located inside the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere.
In Tromsø, the Polar Night lasted from late November to late January. During this time, the city experienced no direct sunlight. It still got some twilight during the day, which lasted for one to two hours only.
During winter in Ireland, I used to meet friends at a pub, but here during the Polar Night my evenings involved cross-country skiing, going to a sauna, or chasing the Northern Lights. While this was fun, it was also a challenging time, as the constant darkness really affected my sleep and energy levels.
Living through this phenomenon was a fantastic learning experience for me, as I quickly realised how important it is to look after yourself physically and mentally. I was forced to keep a strict routine by waking up at the same time each day and consistently exercising. I also learned to embrace loneliness and truly appreciate my family, friends and of course, daylight.
Since moving here, I have noticed that while Irish and Norwegian people share some similarities, there are some key cultural differences between them. Irish people can be chattier and more social, while Norwegians can be reserved, independent and more focused on nature.
It took me some time to adjust to the Norwegian way of life, especially because I was very used to Irish hospitality and the social culture. However, I have now integrated well, especially with my colleagues, and I find Norwegians to be loyal and adventurous people.
Everything in Norway is significantly more expensive, and this is something I struggled with when first moving. From my groceries to my rent, it seemed like my bank account was taking a serious hit. But I soon discovered that my wage was a lot higher here in order to compensate.
This is something that makes living here enjoyable and refreshing: Norwegians really value work-life balance. Speaking of work, my commute is slightly different here in Norway. In rural Ireland, I had to drive everywhere. But in Tromsø, I rely more on public transport, walking, or even cross-country skiing to get to the office.
The active lifestyle here has for sure made me physically stronger. Each week, I am participating in new activities like snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dog sledding, all of which I would have never experienced in Ireland.
When Ireland experiences snowstorms, the country is greatly affected, leading to cancellations and shutdowns. In Tromsø, life functions as normal. This is expected as Tromsø is built to handle extreme weather conditions. Snow is a regular part of life, and there are systems in place to keep everything running smoothly.
Snow ploughs, blowers and salt spreaders are a regular part of the winter routine. Roads, airports, and public transport are designed to function in these weather conditions, and the people here are accustomed to the snow and how to handle it.
Another common practice here in Norway, and one we are not too familiar with in Ireland, is the use of spiked tyres by vehicle owners. This helps drivers navigate the icy and snowy roads during the winter months, as the tyres have small metal studs embedded in the tread, providing extra grip.
While Ireland is no doubt a beautiful country with amazing nature, the wildlife and landscapes here in Tromsø fascinate me. The wildlife in Ireland tends to be more diverse in terms of mammals and birds, but Tromsø’s wildlife is adapted to colder climates, so of course this is something new for me. I get to experience reindeer and moose roaming around freely, arctic foxes, and whales swimming amongst the fjords feeding on herring.
Ireland also has softer landscapes with beautiful green hills, whereas Tromsø is surrounded by fjords and snow-capped mountains, some of which are visible from my apartment. Tromsø is probably one of the best places in the world to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), so I am very fortunate that I get to experience these natural light displays on a regular basis, sometimes even from my bedroom window. More recently, Ireland has luckily been able to see the lights, but it is a very different experience here.
In Tromsø, the lights "dance" in the sky. The auroras move in waves, ripples and spirals, which creates the illusion that they are waltzing around the night sky. It is a fascinating experience.
Life in Tromsø feels both adventurous and challenging, and every day brings something new to discover. My lifestyle has certainly changed, but despite my love for Norway, Ireland will always be home for me.
