ABOUT
Melanie is originally from Germany and has lived in Cologne up until her move to Norway in 2019. When she moved she was 38 years old, which makes her 42 now. She has always worked in IT and she does so now as well. At work she mostly speaks English due to the nature of the team which is spread all over the world. At home they speak a mixture of English, Norwegian and German – basically a secret language that nobody understands besides them! She says that speaking three languages can mess a bit with your head and after a while they start to mix into each other.
Moving to Tønsberg
When and why did you move to Tønsberg?
My partner, who is Norwegian, and I met in 2017 and we had a long distance relationship for two years when we decided to live together in one country. It was an easy decision to go to Norway, because I kinda fell in love with the country and its beauty at first sight.
We then started preparations and collected information about the bureaucratic hurdles and rules. In March 2019 I found a job annonce online which immediately clicked with me. I applied and got the position – literally the first one I applied for. From there we had 2 months left until the job started. So, one can say we had a hectic start.
How did you get set up?
I prepared quite well, read as much as possible and also had help from Norwegians.
Since I am an EU citizen I had a relatively smooth transition. Once you get the most important ID in Norway, you`re basically all set: the Fødselsnummer. It’s a social security number that allows you to sign contracts, get a bank account, get access to the health system, etc. Since I came to Norway with a job contract and an address I was pretty much set up and only faced a few hiccups.. That was the official part, the mental and psychological effect of such a drastic life change I handled a bit differently. In the beginning literally everything was new and I was in a constant state of excitement. I moved from a city apartment into a house by the sea. My new job with new colleagues started, I now had to speak a foreign language all day long and started learning another one at the same time. Literally every part of life became new: I needed new doctors, became familiar with the health system, figured out what I can and can’t find in a supermarket. Bought a car, had a drive-in-snowy conditions instruction (because here snow is a real thing). That was and sometimes still is exciting and challenging. More challenging was the sudden distance to people. Of course, you miss them but it all became even harder once Covid hit the world and borders were closed.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
No, not at all – since I was employed I was already âin the Norwegian system” and insured. It is called Helse Norge and once you have the ID you are in.
What did you bring with you?
I actually brought quite a lot, including furniture and lots of boxes with personal items. And my cat Lili. I had a complete household in Germany. I tried to get rid of some things, kinda typical when you move, but overall I brought much, including a pretty large record collection. I had hired a moving company and had help from my family as well.
How did you find an apartment in Tønsberg?
When I got the job, we started searching for a place to live. Searches like that are usually done via FINN – itâs basically a marketplace where you can find everything. Private persons, as well as companies place their offers there. As we wanted to live in a house, we looked out for houses to rent, found one, and still rent it to this day. Like everywhere, the prices for rent depend on many factors, such as size and location. We were very lucky to find a beautiful and spacious house near the Fjord with a breathtaking view – of course that comes at a cost.
What surprised you about life in Tønsberg?
That the easy-going lifestyle is not just a clichĂŠ. Life here is just very relaxed and I love that not everything circles around the job and work – at least that’s my experience. I also find the level of digitalisation in Norway impressive. In addition to the amazingly well-developed and fast internet connections, it is also brilliant how everything is connected. I haven’t had a letter in the mailbox since I moved here, almost everything is done online. Register a car or a new address, a doctor’s appointment or a renewal of a prescription? All can be done online and identification is safe and secure due to the mentioned identification number. The speed and availability of mobile internet is one of the best in Europe and I can confirm that. Are you in a lonely cabin up in the mountains and want to binge watch Netflix? No problem! Youâre out on the Fjords, far away from the shore and you can still use fast internet. Love it.
What should people consider before deciding to move to Tønsberg?
I think that really depends on the personal reasoning for the move. I have seen people come to Norway because they were dissatisfied with the politics or general development of their home country. And later they realized that it had to work here too, that integration can be difficult and that it is not always easy to adapt everything. To be fair, there is always something to complain about and Norway has some rough edges, too. Therefore, I would suggest actually visiting the country beforehand, and find out about the politics, cultural differences, rules and laws and even the weather conditions (snow!!!). Some people have left Norway again due to the longer periods of darkness during the winter time. It is also very important to check whether your education/ occupation is accepted here. Certain professions require higher language skills, particularly in health care. For me this was not an issue and because I am an EU citizen many things were already accepted, my drivers license for example.
What apps do you find useful in your daily life in Tønsberg?
In general there are some apps that are helpful to use in Norway, not only in Tønsberg:
–Finn – that means âfindâ and is a marketplace app where one can find literally everything
–Yr – a weather app that comes with an Aurora* forecast (*northern lights)
–UT – a great app to find hiking trips and routes
–EasyPark – quick and easy parking tool
–Vipps – is an app that almost every Norwegian has, works only with a norwegian bank account (immediate money transfer). Saying âJeg vippse deg – I vipps youâ is a very common phrase. Also used in combination with Finn.
–Posten and PostNord – the apps to follow and track packages, open post boxes etc.
–Taxifix/ Uber – self explaining
–TOLL – Norwegian Customs App, perfect to check whether youâre within or outside the limits of goods you`re allowed to bring into the country
–Førerkort – your digital drivers licence app
–Finn – that means âfindâ and is a marketplace app where one can find literally everything
–Yr – a weather app that comes with an Aurora* forecast (*northern lights)
–UT – a great app to find hiking trips and routes
–EasyPark – quick and easy parking tool
–Vipps – is an app that almost every Norwegian has, works only with a norwegian bank account (immediate money transfer). Saying âJeg vippse deg – I vipps youâ is a very common phrase. Also used in combination with Finn.
–Posten and PostNord – the apps to follow and track packages, open post boxes etc.
–Taxifix/ Uber – self explaining
–TOLL – Norwegian Customs App, perfect to check whether youâre within or outside the limits of goods you`re allowed to bring into the country
–Førerkort – your digital drivers licence app
Living in Tønsberg
What specifically is Tønsberg famous for?
Tønsberg is Norwayâs oldest city and is located in the southeast of Norway, an hour south from Oslo. Every year, the famous Slottsfjell festival takes place in the city. During Summer, the city is full of people from Norway as well as from all over the world. Tønsberg is a tourist spot and has a lovely harbor area.
What are your favorite places in Tønsberg?
A walk at the harbor, called âbryggaâ is definitely worth it. If you like to have a nice view over the city, Slottsfjell – a historic site – is a nice place. FrodeĂĽsen is also great for a walk and gives a nice view from another angle. Every place close to the sea is actually nice. I also recommend a walk through the âgamlebyenâ – the old town – which is very pretty.
Do you feel safe in Tønsberg?
Yes, Norway in general and Tønsberg are very safe. I had no situation in which I felt unsafe or in danger. Overall, Norway is a safe country. I often hike alone in the woods or to remote places, and never have I felt insecure.
What's your list of favorite restaurants and cafÊs in Tønsberg?
My favorite is Apollon, a bar in the center of the city – itâs a vinyl bar and since I am a vinyl/ record collector, this is by far one of my fav places. Along the brygga two of my favorite restaurants are Steak and Kverneriet. If you want to order in, Peppes Pizza is a good choice. When it comes to Sushi, my favorite is Ms Volcano in Kaldnes.
What are some local artists that you recommend checking out?
It’s definitely worth checking out Sverre, who can be found on IG under @sverre__s
. His latest album is really great.
What do you know about music from Norway?
Besides the very well known band a-ha (âTake on meâ) and some very influential dark metal bands like Mayhem and Satyricon I am not too familiar with much more norwegian music.
Final Thoughts
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?
Moving abroad takes a lot. Itâs emotionally challenging and pushes you to your limits. Itâs heartbreaking to leave people behind and amazing to expand your horizons and immerse yourself into a new culture. It showed me what I am capable of. Accepting changes and enriching what I have learned over decades. In addition, speaking a third language is pretty cool, too. There are very positive experiences, probably too many to list here. I have become another person and I am very happy about that. I feel stronger and more in-line with myself than ever. On the other hand, I had the sad experience of losing family members and not having the chance to say goodbye – due to the distance and closed borders (that was back in 2021). There’s always two sides of the coin, but overall I don’t regret my decisions and I am proud that I moved and found a second (or even third) home in Norway.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
It wasn’t always easy, but I was lucky enough to already know a few people when I moved here, thanks to my partner and his family. Through the job I also met new people who became friends. In general, it takes some time to âwarmâ up with Norwegians but they’re very friendly people. Iâd say I socialize mainly with Norwegians but am lucky to call other expats friends as well. In addition, I still have very strong connections to many of my friends in Germany. I miss them for sure, and I am grateful that they are still a big part of my life. Many of them have already visited me and are very supportive. Fortunately, almost everyone supported me during these life-changing times.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to see so much more of the country. I have been on a road trip through Norway every year so far, but the country is big and there are many places I’d like to visit. On top of the list is Svalbard, an island close to the north pole. I also discovered that there are 28 stave churches in Norway and even if I have no particular interest in churches normally, they are really something special and very impressive. Beside them being very old and specifically built, they are also the last existing ones in the world. Of these 28, I have already seen 20, and my plan is to see them all.
Thank you Melanie for sharing your experience moving to Norway with us! Quite an incredible place to live! I didn’t know about Stave churches, so I had to look it up! Amazing. All the best in your explorations đ
If you want to know more, contact her on her account for her life in Norway or her second account to learn more about about vinyl collecting and music.
