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.
