Trondheim, Norway

TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

( 997 - 1997) - 1000 ÅR

I was based here from 15th September 1997 - 31st July 1998.

Trondheim, this is the first city I ever come to in a foreign country. I was transferred from my KL office in West Malaysia to be base here for a period of time.

Its was middle of autumn when I arrived here and the temperature is about 6. I manage to buy some jacket and clothes to keep me warm because in West Malaysia is the lowest temperature I can remember is about 28.

The coldest temperature I ever experienced was on a sunny saturday morning in the middle of December when I went down to Trondheim town center for a walkabout and saw that the temperature is -14.

Overall, I was lucky to be given a chance to experience, work and learn about this country and its people.

Memories and thoughts that I will have for my stay here.

This is the first time I ever experience winter and snow. And its the first time I have slipped and fell down 3 times and hurt myself on the left elbow and my right knee. The darkness starts after 2.30pm until 10.00am in the morning. I didn't go skiing but I enjoyed a bit of snow sledging.

During winter time, I was pretty worried whether I can cope with the cold weather. Too my surprise it is not too bad. I have to buy and wear the correct clothes. I usually put on a tee-shirt, a long sleeve round neck tee-shirt ,a winter jacket and gloves. I have bought a autumn and summer jacket. My summer jacket is a rain coat with a hood to cater for spring and summer. It rains quite frequently during this spring.

During summer time, the day is longer. I think it starts to get bright at around 4.00am and it starts to get dark after midnight. I did not turn on the lights in my apartment unless I want to do some reading.

Monday to Friday, most shops closed at 5.00pm except on Thrusday which closed at 7.00pm. Sunday, no shops are opened except restuarant and fast food. The only time I can go for shopping is on a Saturday. The shops opened from 9.00am until 4.00pm. There is a shopping mall in the central town Trondheim Torg which closed at 6.00pm.

There is a few chinese restaurants in Trondheim city center. The one I like the best is near to the old bridge. The food doesn't taste like Chinese food in Malaysia but it is the closet I can get to a good meal of chinese cooking.

There is a bus strike for five weeks from 14th of May to 10th June. It wasn't a problem for me to go to work because it only takes me about half an hour to reach there. One thing that interests me is when I buy a bus ticket, I can used the same ticket to take any buses in the same bus zone within a period of one hour.

The normal office working hours are from 8.00am until 4.00pm. Saturday is on off day. During the summer season, the working hours is shortened by half an hours which means that its from 8.00am until 3.30pm. The government wants the people to have a stress-free working environment.

The company that I am based in is a five storey building with a canteen on the ground floor. This canteen is specially cater for the staff working there and the cost of food is subsides by the company. I am staying in Jakobsli. It will take me about less than half an hour to walk to my office. I usually do walk to the office in the early morning before seven. A little bit of exercise a day is good because our body blood tends to thicken in cold countries. So its a good thing to do to keep my blood circulating in my body.

On the way to the office every morning, I walked pass a fjord. Its a nice scenery to look at. The mountains beside the fjord, the sea and the green colour of spring time.

In the month of July, a lot of Norweigns take three to five weeks of summer holidays. Its time for them to see the sun and have a sun tan. The school holidays begin in the beginning of July and its the time for family outing.

I am hoping to eat some Norweign strawberries. I was informed that it is the best strawberries in the world. The weather has not being kind in Trondheim during the summer. Strawberries need sunlight to blossom. There are some Norweign strawberries from south which is around 34,-kr a small box. I need to wait for a few more weeks for the price to go down to 25,-kr a box is reasonable.