A Typical Day in Oslo
I do not have a set routine during the week because I am always trying something new. I have classes only two times per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. The relaxed schedule allows me to travel between classes, leaving Friday afternoons and returning before Tuesday morning. Google Flights is my go-to search engine for the best flights. You can place trackers on certain cities and you will be notified when there’s an unbelievable low price for a flight. This is how I have bought round trip tickets to Budapest for $15 and Prague for $20! Bus travel is also an option but from Oslo the only near destinations are other cities in Norway or Stockholm (which I have already visited five times).
I choose to travel on the weekends and finish my readings for class between Tuesday and Friday. After breakfast, it takes about 40 minutes to get to class. I always try to pack my lunch and many snacks since the class lasts three hours. Then, I usually stay around the city centre since my apartment is relatively far. I spend at least three hours in the university’s many libraries working on my assigned readings. Afterwards, I usually meet up with friends and try someplace new for dinner- we’re always on the hunt for cheap eats in Oslo! Getting lost within the streets of the cities means always finding something interesting. There are many flea markets and free art exhibitions, along with quaint coffee shops where we get to try local sweets. Fall is currently in full bloom. Almost every night before going back home I walk through one of the many parks in the city, trying to take advantage of the nice weather before the harsh Nordic winter arrives. The sun sets early, around 3-4 p.m., meaning that when it is 9 p.m. it really does feel as if it is much later. I get home early in order to wake up in the morning, on time for my daily run at Sognsvann Lake.
It is easy to develop a routine in the beginning of the semester, but I tried my best to prevent this. Four months can go by quickly and I do not know when I will ever be in Norway again. I promised myself when I arrived in August to leave my comfort zone behind. I will have enough time for Netflix when I am back in Boston!
