norway Archivos - Institut Nòrdic

Alexandre Molina Norwegian student Institut Nòrdic

22 July

Alexandre Molina, Norwegian student: “I see myself spending the rest of my life in northern countries”

This talented musician from Valencia found his dream job in the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Norway, and from the very first moment he has felt at home in the Nordic country. Discover his inspiring story in the following interview.

By Hannu Arvio

Hannu: You are from Valencia. When you started playing the bassoon in Valencia, some years ago, did you ever think that you would end up in the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in Norway?

Alexandre: No, not at all, not at all. It was all very fortuitous, very random.

Hannu: How did it all happen?

Alexandre: Let’s see, I started playing the instrument from an early age. I started with the violin, then I also played the bassoon, which is what I play now. I studied in Spain until the university degree, then I went to Germany to do a master’s degree, and at the end, I spent about five years. By coincidence of life, the coronavirus also happened, which was a chaos for everyone, and they opened a position in Stavanger. Since it was all very uncertain, I also said, well, it looks good. I didn’t know the city at all, not at all. I had been to Norway once, but very briefly. Nothing, two, three days, which was in Oslo.

Hannu: Did you pass the test?

Alexandre: Yes, so I did a test, an audition. Which was also a little bit curious, because since it was during the coronavirus, the travel restrictions were very strict in Norway. You had to quarantine for 15 days. So my test was by video. That is, I sent some recorded videos of myself. And they selected three of us, out of all the people who had sent videos. And then those three people, one of whom was me, we were already going to play in the orchestra and audition in person.

Hannu: Playing in the orchestra?

Alexandre: Yes, playing in the orchestra and also separately. That is, playing alone with piano, let’s say the usual procedure. But it was like a final round.

Hannu: How long have you been in the orchestra?

Alexandre: I’ve been here for three years. This has been my third season, which I finished now in June. I started in August 2022.

Hannu: I have a question about musical life in Norway. You come from an area (Valencia and Spain) musically very developed. And you are in Norway, in another musically very strong area. Do you feel at home?

Alexandre: It reminds me, in a way, a lot. Because in Norway, there are brass orchestras and concert bands, blåseorkester as they are called in Norway. And yes, it reminds me a lot because they also do contests, competitions, like we do in Valencia or in other places in Spain as well. I feel it as familiar, yes.

Hannu: And what about working in a symphony orchestra in Norway in general?

Alexandre: Well, very well, the truth is that I am very happy and surprised for the better. Because I obviously came from Spain, but also from Germany. Germany, let’s say, is the cradle that is considered to play in an orchestra. It is the country that has more orchestras or where musicians move more. In Berlin above all, but also in Munich, in Cologne, in Frankfurt. The standards in Norway are almost as high as in Germany in every way. Not only on an artistic level, but also on a labor level, on working conditions. And the truth is that, as I was saying, it was a bit of an adventure for me, I didn’t really know where I was going to end up when I went to Stavanger. And I was very pleasantly surprised. It makes it very difficult for me if I wanted to return to Spain. The working conditions I get (in Norway) are very good. And the working environment is ideal, really. We have, specifically, in Stavanger, a practically new auditorium, which was inaugurated in 2012 and is one of the best in Europe.

Not only is the atmosphere among colleagues rewarding, but the working conditions are unbeatable.

Hannu: Let’s talk a little bit about the climate. You leave the Levante, the Mediterranean, which is one coast, and you go to another coast, which is the North Atlantic. Could you say that you have moved from sun to rain?

Alexandre: Yes, yes, literally. Well, yes, but in my particular case, as I had also been in Germany for five years before, well, I almost welcomed it, because I didn’t have a coast in Germany, because I was studying in Mannheim, near Frankfurt. Coming back to the coast, although it is very different, I liked it very much. It was also a bit like coming home in that sense. But it is true that the rain is much more abundant, the lack of sun also in winter, especially. But I like it because it is a different kind of sea. It feels a little purer. There is much more wind, the Mediterranean is calmer, more stagnant. And it is much more humid in Valencia than in Stavanger. Obviously, I had to buy all the waterproof clothes I had been warned about. But very well, the truth is that I am very comfortable.

Hannu: Stavanger is the third largest Norwegian city (230,000 inhabitants). How have you adapted to life in general? In the home environment, housing, food?

Alexandre: Well, the truth is that it is quite good and relatively fast, so I was telling you that the conditions I get in the orchestra are ideal. To begin with, the midday meal is at work, which is the lunsjIt is in the middle of the rehearsal, in the middle of the working day. We have the orchestra’s canteen there and also very cheap prices. And as for finding a place (home), it was relatively easy, because they helped me, not only my colleagues in the orchestra, but also from the administration. Any kind of problem or doubt you may have regarding documentation, they were always very nice and helped me a lot. And the good thing about Stavanger is that since it is smaller than, for example, Valencia, I could find something relatively close to my place of work. On a social level, the orchestra is very international. There are Norwegians, obviously, but there are also Swedes, Germans, and French; there are Americans, Asians too, from Japan or China.

It’s funny because in Stavanger, for being so small, the atmosphere is very international, so it’s very nice or very easy to fit in coming from outside. And in my case, there are also a lot of Spaniards, obviously. In the orchestra there is another guy, who, in fact, also came to the Institut Nòrdic before me, that’s why I come here, because he recommended him to me. He told me: “Look, this is perfect for us because it is from Spanish, Spanish-Norwegian, Norwegian-Spanish, and you do it online“. And the truth is that it has been very good for me, and that’s why I keep doing it. And also, the orchestra where we work covers the expenses of the Norwegian course, etc. So it’s very easy. The truth is that everything is ideal.

Hannu: We talked a bit about the language itself, Norwegian. How did it sound to you when you first heard it?

Alexandre: Well, slightly familiar, because as I said before, I was in Germany, I had already been there for five years, and obviously I had already had to learn German. And it has certain similarities, even before I started the Norwegian course, some words I already understood by context, because the vocabulary is Germanic, it comes from very similar origin, or also from English, a little bit. So it’s like at the beginning, without knowing anything, I already understood something by sympathy between English and German; I saw something in between. What does happen to me, and obviously I still suffer a little bit, is with the dialects. They have many dialects, and depending on the person, sometimes I think I’m not learning anything, or I understand practically 90% of what they say.

So yes, at the beginning it was curious, because I understood something, but I didn’t speak it and now that I’m a little more fluent and I’ve been there for three years and so on, I start to see more details, I start to realize more things about the Stavanger dialect where I am, because of course I’m learning Bokmål, which is like the standard dialect, which is the one that is taught to foreigners and the most predominant in the Oslo area. And when I go to Oslo, suddenly I feel more comfortable because I understand pretty much everybody, but in Stavanger, sometimes it’s funny that depending on the dialects, sometimes I suffer a little bit.

Hannu: And do you have any goals with the language?

Alexandre: My goal is to have a minimum of fluency to be able to live without any problems on a daily basis and to be able to defend myself without any problems, even if it is at a work level. Although obviously in Scandinavia they make it very easy for you too, because practically everyone speaks English. But I do notice it, that they appreciate it, that you speak and use their language. And the truth is that I feel more comfortable when I can have a conversation in Norwegian with someone who is a native speaker because I see that the connection is a little bit more personal.

Hannu: What languages do you speak?

Alexandre: I speak Spanish, Catalan, Valencian because I grew up there, but also obviously English, German. In fact, I could say that I’m even fluent in German, maybe even B2. And now, well, Norwegian too. .

Hannu: So you are studying your fifth language.

Alexandre: Yes, in a manner of speaking. I’ve also studied some Italian, but we leave that a bit more to the amateur level.

Hannu: A question for a musician: In what language do you count the waiting measures?

Alexandre: Not just the waiting beats anymore, but also when I go to the gym, you start counting. And I realize that it depends on the day. Sometimes I count them in English, sometimes I count them in Norwegian, sometimes I count them in Spanish. That’s funny. But the truth is that lately, more and more is in Norwegian.

Hannu: What are your plans for the future? You seem to be very happy in Stavanger, do you think you could stay there for a long time?

Alexandre: Well, I talk about it many times with my family and friends, and the truth is yes. I mean, I have honestly gotten used to or I have felt quite welcome and comfortable in the Scandinavian environment. And I see that the chances of me staying, if not in Stavanger, but maybe in Norway or even in Sweden, as I also work there from time to time, are very high. In other words, I see myself spending the rest of my life in the northern countries.

Hannu: Why?

Alexandre: For me, the most important thing is the work environment, which is very favorable and healthy. The working conditions, you feel very welcome, and there is a lot of support for everything that has to do with your trade, with your work, at the level of material that we need to buy, or also at the artistic level, in our case, of profiles. And the truth is that I like it, not only at a personal and artistic level, but also at a work level; for me, it is ideal. In my field, at least, it is one of the best there is.

07 July

Estera Nowicka and Narot Santos, Norwegian language students: “Studying Norwegian together brings us closer as a couple.”

Although Estera (Warsaw, Poland) and Narot (Aranda de Duero, Spain) live in their respective countries, their love knows no borders. To shorten the distance and share a goal, they chose an original way: to sign up for an online Norwegian course at Institut Nòrdic. Their experience is proving to be a success, and in this interview, they reveal the details.

By Hannu Arvio

Hannu: Before you became a couple, did studying Norwegian ever cross your mind?

Estera: No, not really, because I always had the idea that Nordic countries are cold countries like Poland, and since I have my own cold in my own country, I didn’t think it was worth going there. I was always a little bit more attracted to countries like Spain, Italy, and Portugal. I loved learning languages, but it was never my first idea to start learning Norwegian, really.

Hannu: So, what I can deduce is that it is a Spaniard who has led you to study Norwegian.

Estera: Partially yes. I like warm weather, and Narot loves cold countries, and three years ago we went with our friends to Norway. At that time, we had no plans to do the course together or to start learning Norwegian together. And we went to Norway, everything was very nice, beautiful, I loved what we saw, the people, the culture, the breathtaking views. Right, Narot? And I think after that trip was the moment when we started to think that it would be great to add to our long-distance relationship something that we could do together as a couple.

Hannu: Interesting. Being a long-distance couple.

Estera: It was like an advanced level added to that relationship, of course, because we had to find something that we could both do online, obviously, and on a regular basis. So we did go out with the idea of learning a language.

Hannu: So this Norwegian course you are doing together is like a part of the couple project.

Narot: Yes, a little yes.

Hannu: Narot, what was your first contact with Norwegian?

Narot: Well, many, many years ago. Because when I was in high school, like 18, 19 years ago, I always liked Scandinavia and I really liked the Scandinavian languages, the culture, and everything. So I had some friends who also liked it, and I don’t know, it was always funny. And when the internet started and social networks started to appear and so on, we always looked for people from Scandinavia and tried to talk. And I remember, I have it somewhere, I had an old Norwegian dictionary that I bought in Madrid. I was all happy trying to learn how to write four little things and so on. And then I have traveled several times to Norway, to Sweden, to Finland, to Denmark and to Iceland. I’ve been to all the countries and to some of them more than once. And nothing, I always wanted to study Norwegian, but well, for life’s sake I studied Finnish too.

Curiously, Estera, despite being from the north (Poland), abhors the cold. The opposite is true for Narot, who, being from the south (Spain), prefers it: the colder, the better.

Hannu: Estera, you have studied many languages.

Estera: Yes, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, German, and Norwegian.

Hannu: And Polish is your mother tongue. About Norwegian, how do you see it after all these? Is it difficult? Easy?

Mat: For me? Let’s see, medium-medium. Some of the grammar is much easier than, for example, Polish grammar or Italian and Portuguese grammar, but in terms of vocabulary or phrasal verbs, it’s very similar to English (sometimes). And these are things that always cost a little bit. So I would say that it’s not the most difficult language in the world to learn, but you have to spend time speaking, studying vocabulary, and just to understand better.

Hannu: Narot, you start from Spanish, how do you see it, Norwegian?

Narot: Funny. I’ve also studied a little bit of German, and sometimes I see it a little bit like a mixture of English and German. So, knowing English and having studied some German, Norwegian didn’t seem very complicated to me at the beginning. It is true that the vocabulary, like all languages, you have to learn. Perhaps what I find most difficult are the prepositions, which I always confuse. But, as far as I can tell, Norwegian is, I would say, easy. Because the grammar is not very complicated, actually.

Hannu: Narot, have you been to Poland a lot?

Narot: Me, yes. I’ve been, I don’t know, how many times have I been, 10, 12, 15 times? Well, four times a year.

Hannu: And you, Estera, have you been to Spain a lot?

Estera: Yes, even before I met Narot, I did the Erasmus program in Spain and worked a bit in the Canary Islands and Galicia.

Hannu: Norway as a country, what do you think? Narot, you have said that you have always been a fan of the Nordic countries, have you changed your idea of the Nordic countries over time?

Narot: Me? No way, I am still delighted. In fact, now I’m looking forward to going back. Estera and I have talked about the fact that we have to go back to Norway because now we also speak Norwegian.

Hannu: And Estera, you who saw the Nordic countries as a continuation of the cold, for you has anything changed, any new perspective?

Estera: Yes, very much so. Norway also has a lot of fame among Poles who go there to look for work. So, I more or less had that idea of a Nordic country, a country with a lot of cold, expensive, and with Poles looking for work there, but it was all the other way around. And the truth is that I fell in love with that part of the world that I never thought I could fall in love with, with all my love for the heat, the paella, the flamenco, and the happiness of Spain. I fell in love with Norway, its fjords, and its cold.

Hannu: Speaking of Norway, we can’t forget about working life. Estera, what do you do?

Estera: I am a course coordinator in a company dedicated to video game testing. In education, I am a psychologist and pedagogue.

Hannu: And Narot, you are a graphic designer. Norway is a country with a reputation for a very good working life and high salaries. Has it ever crossed your mind to look for something there?

Narot: Many times. Even living together. Many times, yes. I, in fact, a couple of years ago I was out of work. Then I was studying for a master’s degree and, quote unquote, I’ve been looking for a job there. Because it’s true that I’ve been looking mostly with Norwegian companies remotely, if possible. But we have said that our idea is to move to Spain and live together in Spain for a while. But we haven’t ruled out if, after a few years here in Spain, we try to look for something there.

Estera: For me it would be very nice to live the six summer months in Norway and the six winter months in Spain. That would be a great plan.

Hannu: True, it is the dream of many.

Estera: For me it is also important to speak Norwegian well. I think going there and looking for a job I would like to go there when we already have a B2 or C1 level of Norwegian to speak well.

Hannu: As you are a couple, let’s talk about couples. Do you know any other couple that does the same as you?

Estera and Narot: No. No, no.

Hannu: What does such a project give you as a partner? Because, in fact, you see it as a project with some depth. It’s not just meeting every week for class, but, as we just mentioned, at some point, maybe you’re going to live together in Norway. So, could you tell a little bit more about how this couple project has developed?

Estera: Yes, well, the first thing that comes to my mind is a joke that we always make on Mondays at eight o’clock in the afternoon, that we come into class and we say, oh, Narot, long time no see (laughs). Let’s see, Narot, maybe you can help me explain it a little bit, but I think a very important part of this project is that we spend time together doing things like studying together, having things to talk about, and we do our homework every week, always together. We also have a new group of friends, who we share those friends with at the end, who are our classmates. The truth is, our group is very special at school, I think, because we talk, we laugh, we chat, we help each other. Last year, the kids went to Barcelona to visit Martine. So I think that this project is not only to have another language to learn and to speak. Which I always think is good for the brain, to just say yes, I know how to speak Norwegian, but also to create a lot of common ground, as a long-distance couple. We can share more than just day-to-day conversations. Studying Norwegian together brings us closer as a couple.

Narot: Yes, it brings us closer in the end, that’s what Esti says, isn’t it? If we see each other every Monday, we meet to do homework, we share things in Norwegian, or I give Esti a book in Norwegian, well, in the end it has become a little bit part of both of our lives and it helps to strengthen ties between two people who live 4000 kilometers away from each other.

A group of 17 students and two instructors from Institut Nòrdic are standing on stone steps in front of the Monolith, a tall, intricately carved sculpture by Gustav Vigeland, located within Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo. Other large stone sculptures are visible on either side, under a partly cloudy sky.

15 May

Travel to Oslo 2025

By Laia San José Beltrán

Once again, students from Institut Nordic embarked on a cultural trip to a Nordic country.

This year, our destination was Oslo, the beautiful and eclectic capital of Norway. It had been since 2018 that we last visited, and that trip took place in winter.

This time, we experienced a very different weather pattern, enjoying the city in all its spring splendour with long, sunny days and wonderful temperatures.

And, fortunately, there was no rain! However, it’s always wise to pack a raincoat when travelling to any Nordic country.

This year’s trip took place between 1 and 4 May and included a group of 17 students from Institut Nordic, accompanied by Martine Hansen, director and head of Norwegian, and Laia San José Beltrán (The Valkyrie’s Vigil), a B1 Swedish student and expert in Nordic culture and history.

For this trip, Institut Nòrdic has designed a programme that combines the modern side of Oslo, with its surprising and diverse architecture, with the oldest and most culturally rich side of the city, which is brimming with history.

The programme includes visits to iconic and tourist attractions, as well as other lesser-known or less common places.

Of course, the gastronomic experience could not be missed: trying the typical food of each place is an excellent way to learn a little more about the country.

We had dinner at the Schrøder restaurant, which serves traditional Norwegian food such as reindeer and klippfisk-style cod. It is a well-known restaurant in the city for its age and for having appeared in several works of fiction, including Jo Nesbø’s crime novels about Harry Hole and some of Bjørg Vik’s books.

What’s more, as it was a public holiday on 1 May, we were lucky enough to see the streets filled with people wearing traditional costumes, such as the magnificent women’s bunad. It was a truly immersive cultural experience.

Below is a detailed itinerary of the trip:

Thursday, May 1 (free time)

Arrival of students from their various places of residence.

Depending on their arrival time, some took advantage of the day to take a ferry tour of the Oslo Fjord, others visited Akershus Festning (the city’s fortress, which houses the Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum (Norwegian Resistance Museum), and others visited museums such as the Fram, the Kon–Tiki or the Nasjonalmuseet, the national gallery.

Friday, May 2nd

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we headed to Frognerparken, one of Oslo’s most famous and largest parks, where we visited Vigelandsanlegget – known to tourists as Vigelandsparken – a collection of sculptures created by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943).

We took a tour with a city guide, Hernán, who then took us on a walk along the city’s most famous street, Karl Johans Gate, and its surroundings, where we visited Slottet (the Royal Palace) and Slottsparken (its gardens), Stortinget (the parliament), Nationaltheatret (the national theatre) and the Norske Nobelinstitutt (the Norwegian Nobel Institute).

We ended the morning at Oslo Rådhus, the city hall, admiring not only its spectacular brutalist architecture from the outside but also its interior, which is full of works of art and huge murals. It’s a much less touristy plan, but well worth it.

After a few hours of free time, which some people took advantage of to eat, stroll around and visit the Munch Museet, we met up at the museum’s café for a little fika (coffee and a typical Nordic pastry, a very popular activity in Sweden) to recharge our batteries and finish the afternoon strolling through the Bjørvika neighbourhood, in the small bay of the fjord.

This is another of Oslo’s urban and architectural flagships, where visitors can explore buildings such as the Opera House, the Munch/Stenersen Museum, the Deichman bibliotek (the new Oslo public library building), the Barcode complex, and the public sauna area.

To end the day, free time for dinner. Near the hotel in Sotorgata is Oslo Street Food, located in the Torggata Bad building – the city’s former public baths, built in 1925 – which is now a market featuring stalls selling a wide range of traditional and non-traditional food.

With tables and benches everywhere, it is a modern, multicultural place full of very pleasant places to eat, which some of our students were able to enjoy.

Saturday, May 3rd

We began the morning in the hotel lounge with a talk by Laia San José Beltrán about the Vikings, exploring their reality and their impact on popular culture.

This served as a prelude to our visit to the Kulturhistorisk museum (the cultural history museum), where an archaeologist from the museum guided us and explained some of the most important and outstanding pieces in the Viking exhibition, such as the Gjermundbu helmet, the only helmet from the Viking era that has been preserved (without horns, of course!).

Afterwards, we had free time to finish seeing the museum, stroll around and have lunch before heading straight to the ferry at Aker Brygge to the island of Bygdøy, where we visited the Norsk Folkemuseum (Norwegian Museum of Cultural History), which was founded in the late 19th century and is considered the world’s first open-air museum.

It houses extensive collections of objects and artefacts from all social groups and regions of the country. However, the most striking feature is its collection of over 150 Norwegian buildings, most of which have been relocated from villages and rural districts.

Among the museum’s most significant buildings are the 13th-century Gol stave church (a typical Norwegian wooden church), the 14th-century Rauland farmhouse (Raulandstua) and the 1865 residential building moved from 15 Wessels Street in Oslo. Many of these buildings can be visited inside and feature re-enactors who show and explain what life was like in the past.

We concluded the day and the group trip with a group dinner at the aforementioned Schrøder restaurant, where we sampled typical dishes. A magnificent finale.

Sunday, May 4 (free time)

Before catching their return flights, some took the opportunity to stroll around some of Oslo’s most iconic areas, such as the Aker Brygge waterfront and the Tjuvholmen neighbourhood, an area located on a peninsula jutting out from Aker Brygge into the Oslo Fjord.

At the tip of the peninsula is an outdoor swimming area, which on Sunday morning was full of people of all ages enjoying sports. This was once a loading and unloading port and shipyard, but today it is one of the newest and most modern areas of Oslo, with striking architecture.

Since 2005, a major transformation has been underway as part of the Fjord City urban renewal programme. Today, there are homes, office complexes, art galleries, the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art and the Haaken Gallery, as well as the Tjuvholmen sculpture park. There are also many shops and restaurants.

To experience the contrasts that Oslo has to offer, a few hundred metres away, we visited the Kvadraturen neighbourhood, one of the historic districts, and Christiania Torv square, where the building that housed the city’s first town hall, Gamle rådhus, from the mid-17th century, still stands.

What are the Institut Nordic trips?

Every year, we offer a trip for students and accompanying adults to a Nordic destination.

To date, we have visited Stockholm, Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg, Uppsala, Bergen, Oslo, Tampere and Helsinki.

Students can participate in any trip, regardless of the language they are studying and their level.

At Institut Nòrdic, we typically plan trips lasting four days and three nights – although some people choose to extend their stay – to visit the most outstanding places in the destination, accompanied by local guides or experts, seeking a rich cultural immersion experience that complements what we learn in class.

On our trips, we combine group visits and activities with free time, allowing everyone to have a more personalised experience.

In short, Institut Nòrdic trips are a great way to test your language skills and discover the culture of the country. Where should our next destination be?

24 April

This Time It’s for Real. New Language, Here I Come!

By Hannu Arvio

When learning a new language, how one starts is very important. A solid foundation ensures better results in the future.

Languages are living, dynamic and hugely complex constructs, which makes them extremely difficult to master in their entirety. We can never consider ourselves to have learned a language completely, but we can feel more or less comfortable using it and come very close to complete fluency, even in a language that is not our own.

But to do that, you have to start well and progress steadily.

At Institut Nòrdic, our A1 beginner courses in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic are the foundation for everything that comes after. We build a solid foundation from the very first minute, leaving fewer doubts and mistakes to clear up in the future.

Our courses are comprehensive and provide enough hours and time to assimilate all the content without leaving anything behind, because if something is left unlearned, it will be noticed later on.

Between classes, homework, tests, essays, assignments and the student’s own learning, Institut Nòrdic’s courses have extensive content but are suitable for a good start, completing the entire A1 level (according to the CEFR).

The syllabus for the A1 courses we teach at Institut Nòrdic is similar across languages, but in this article, we will use Norwegian as an example.

Learners study the first 9 chapters of the book På vei, and the syllabus includes:

Communication skills

Introducing yourself and talking about yourself, asking for basic information.
Talking about the day and the weather.
Shopping in shops and ordering in a restaurant.
Planning free time and trips.
Giving and asking for directions.
Talking about and asking about family.
Reading and writing emails.
Reading informative texts.

Vocabulary

Approximately 1,500 words and expressions.
Basic vocabulary for everyday life, family, home, work, travel and leisure, shopping, numbers, times and dates.

Grammar

Pronunciation and alphabet.
Prepositions and pronouns. Genitive.
Conjunctions and connectors.
Nouns (definite/indefinite form).
Adjectives and adverbs.
Simple and subordinate clauses; use of inversion.
Verb conjugation in the present, past, future and imperative tenses. Auxiliary verbs.

Cultural knowledge

Basic information about history, economy, society and work in Norway
Travel within Norway and territorial organisation.

In addition, there are tests at the end of each chapter, as well as essays, conversations, videos, reading and listening comprehension exercises, presentations, and assignments.

The standard course consists of 32 sessions of 1 hour 45 minutes each with a teacher who, in addition to explaining the language, gives feedback, corrects, clarifies, evaluates and disseminates the culture. And behind the teacher is a proven methodology, certification and organisation from Institut Nòrdic.

During an A1 course, you will learn everything you need to move on to the next level without leaving anything important behind. If you have a solid foundation, there is no need to start over again.

18 March

The secret of organising effective courses is not in where you do them, but in how you do them

By Hannu Arvio

Nowadays, the offer to study languages online is overwhelming.

There are all kinds of courses, platforms, apps, virtual coaches, and hybrid courses in addition to a wide variety of proposals.

Everything is welcome, and at Institut Nòrdic, we believe that to learn, it is advisable to try all kinds of tools.

But we also believe that, to make courses that engage and in which you learn in an organized way, it is not necessary to invent anything new.

Our bet is to continue with the Nordic philosophy of always, which already includes everything necessary, and keep it updated.

Currently, all Institut Nordic courses are online group courses. We have left the classroom to use Zoom.

But has anything changed in the classes? Does moving from face-to-face to online courses entail any substantial modification in the school’s philosophy? Well, no. We continue to hold the classes as always, and we consider that it has worked very well for us.

Nowadays, the secret of organizing effective courses is not in where you hold them, but in how you conduct them.

Any quality language course, face-to-face or online, requires a professional teacher, modern materials, clear objectives, a fair evaluation with certificates, efficiency, and an organization that supports the teaching and the students in such a way that they can concentrate on what they should be doing: teaching and learning.

In addition, online courses have to be technically flawless with good sound, image, and connection on the part of both student and teacher.

At Institut Nordic, we plan our courses based on a philosophy that has already been proven to work and the high motivation of the students. Nordic language teachers could not be more satisfied with the results.

Here are a few highlights from the latest student evaluation survey (score 1 – 5).

The Zoom platform is suitable for the course and easy to use: 4.83
What is your level of satisfaction with the teacher? 4.79
The teacher makes it easy for all students to participate in class: 4.87
Overall score: 4.74

29 May

Nils Haugsveit, Norwegian Ambassador to Spain: “Knowledge of the Norwegian language is essential for understanding society and integrating.”

For most of his life, Nils Haugsveit has been between Norway and the Hispanic world, both at work and in his personal life, which gives him a privileged perspective to be listened to with attention. He feels at home in Spain because, according to him, Spain and Norway share much more than what separates them.

By Hannu Arvio

Hannu: You were born in Risør, a town in southern Norway. After several posts in different countries, including those of an ambassador in Buenos Aires and Kabul, you have been in the capital of Spain for about three years now. How are you in Madrid? Have you been able to enjoy all that the city and Spain in general have to offer?

Nils Haugsveit: Madrid is a fantastic city, and I am here with my wife. We enjoy life in Madrid, in all its aspects.

Hannu: Do you have or have you had any connection and/or personal relationship with Spain or Spanish culture?

Nils Haugsveit: During these years, yes, many, of course. We already have Spanish friends, which is something very important in our lives. And we have known many places here in Madrid and in the rest of Spain. I travel quite a lot in my job as an ambassador, but also my wife and I have visited different parts of Spain as tourists during these years, and it has been a wonderful experience in terms of culture, gastronomy… We have visited many wineries and nature spots, and, above all, we have met a lot of people.

Hannu: You speak excellent Spanish. Did you start studying and speaking it a long time ago?

Nils Haugsveit: Yes, although I don’t have a formal degree in Spanish, I started studying it 40 years ago. I am married to a Salvadoran, from El Salvador, in Central America. In the 1980s, I started taking Spanish classes. Then I went to work in Nicaragua and other places, first in Central America and then in South America, for example, as an ambassador in Argentina, among other things. And I have worked a lot in development cooperation in the case of Central America. Gradually, I have been learning Spanish, but you always have to improve the language; you could say that it is the most important tool in my work.

Hannu: A diplomatic question: How are relations between Spain and Norway at present?

Nils Haugsveit: We have very good relations. On the political aspects, we agree on many of the most important issues of international politics. We emphasise the importance of respecting international law and multilateralism: the importance of multilateral institutions and multilateral collaboration. And this is noticeable at the international level, for example, in the United Nations, since Spain and Norway often agree. We have a very active relationship in the cultural sector on different issues. We are also working and expanding trade relations, which is very important. One third of our exports to Spain are seafood products, something that is noticeable in Spanish cuisine. The best example is salmon, but also, in season, skrei, which is a very important product here. Spain is the main export market for skrei. Today, we are working a lot with different industries related to the green transition of the energy sector, in particular. I also want to highlight the importance of tourism, as there are 1.5 million Norwegian tourists visiting Spain every year. For us as an embassy and for the consular part, it is something very important. Both at the level of the embassy and the eleven consulates we have in different parts of Spain. And in many cases, this work requires a very close collaboration with the Spanish authorities at different levels.

Hannu: There are approximately 50,000 Norwegians living in Spain (Statistics Norway). Norwegians seem to like Spain, why do you think that is?

Nils Haugsveit: I guess everyone has their own answer, but in general I think the climate is very much appreciated and also the quality of life. Climate and quality of life in many ways is a very good combination. Among the 50,000 Norwegians there are working people, students, retirees and families. It is a very varied group, with very different reasons for living in Spain.

Hannu: There is also a growing movement of Spaniards to Norway. It is an important country as a tourist destination and more and more Spaniards are living permanently in Norway, today about 10,000 people (Statistics Norway). What is it about Norway that attracts Spaniards to want to settle there?

Nils Haugsveit: Same as in the previous answer, it depends on the individual. As far as tourism is concerned, I think nature is important. Norway, in the European context, is a country that is considered exotic, especially the far north. And for people who live permanently or semi-permanently, I imagine that in some cases they are families or people who have married Norwegians. And also work is an important aspect. We can offer employment in different sectors and that attracts a population group. And I imagine that among those 10,000 Spaniards there are also students. Work and studies I think are the main factors.

Hannu: In Norway, the level of education of Spaniards is one of the highest among those coming from other countries (Statistics Norway). Why is this the case? Does Norway offer jobs for this type of professional?

Nils Haugsveit: We do indeed offer work for this group of professionals. And it probably has something to do with the labour market in Spain and Norway, although we have no concrete information as to why that would be the case.

Hannu: If we talk about the working world, what specifically good things does Norway offer for Spanish professionals?

Nils Haugsveit: The good thing that we offer is work, in some cases, and that in Norway, we have a very good quality of life and social protection. We have security in many ways and a well-organised working life.

Hannu: So let’s say that the attractive thing is the Nordic system.

Nils Haugsveit: Regarding the labour market, it is a very organised society in general. We respect employees’ rights very much, we have a good union system, and in general, the Norwegian labour market and Norwegian companies function very well. In most cases, a lot of benefits are given to workers, which can make them look like attractive companies.

Hannu: In recent years, the immigrant population has seen a strong growth in Norway. What is required to integrate into Norwegian society? Is it necessary to know Norwegian?

Nils Haugsveit: Yes, it is absolutely necessary (to know Norwegian). There are many important things to integrate into any society, but language is fundamental, perhaps the most important thing. I know many people who have integrated into Norwegian society, and without a doubt, the most relevant factor is the language. Without knowing the Norwegian language, it is going to be very difficult to continue integrating in other aspects, and it is simply going to be very difficult to understand the society. Of course, the vast majority of Norwegians speak English quite well, but this does not mean that Norwegian is not important. Norwegian is spoken in most work and social contexts. And that is why language is the key factor, the key to opening the door to Norwegian society. Even if people speak English.

Hannu: Norway is a Nordic country, and Spain is part of the Mediterranean culture and a little bit of the Atlantic culture. Is there any important aspect that differentiates these two countries? And something specific that unites them?

Nils Haugsveit: The only thing I can say is that, of course, the geographical location means that they are two different countries in terms of climate, and that is a big and very concrete difference. We live in two extremes. Climate has its implications for people’s lives. But I have been much more struck by the fact that I think we share many things. I have lived in different parts of the world, I have worked a lot with Latin America and other parts of the world, and perhaps that is why it strikes me that we have so many things in common. I feel at home here in Spain. And I think it has to do with the values we share. It sounds very serious, but it is so that we share values and to a great extent also a social conscience, a perspective, a social vision that I have not found, to the same degree, in any other part of the world. We want to include everyone in society.

Hannu: If someone is interested in Norwegian culture or maybe thinking about moving to Norway, what would you tell them? What kind of advice would you give them?

Nils Haugsveit: The main advice is to learn the language. Because, I repeat, it is the most important thing to understand and integrate into Norwegian society. I am convinced of that. That would be the number one point. And the rest of the points depend on the situation of each one. What they want to do in Norway, what experience they have, where they come from and these things. Maybe a recommendation is that it will depend on the situation and what you want, but if you want to go to Norway to get to know the society and integrate into the country, in general, it would be good to move somewhere not so big, not necessarily the big cities. Live in smaller towns, in a more local context. But of course, if you want to study, you will have to go to the cities, but I think sometimes it is easier to integrate in small places than in the big cities. It depends a lot on your situation and what you want from your stay in Norway.

Hannu: But the fundamental thing is the language, and then it’s up to each individual.

Nils Haugsveit: Language is, and applies to everyone, but you also have to consider the wishes, priorities and experiences of each person. Perhaps I should emphasise that everyone speaks English in Norway, but this does not mean that knowing Norwegian is less important. You can survive with English, but to understand the society and to integrate, knowledge of the Norwegian language is indispensable.

06 May

Mario Venegas, student: “I really learned a lot of everything: about life, the country, the culture, the language itself”

Mario Venegas (El Papiol, Barcelona) grew up studying Norwegian. He started at the age of 14, finished all levels, and now, recently graduated in International Business, has an internship in Oslo. It is not common among young people to study a Nordic language, but he is proud to have done so. Learning Norwegian at Institut Nordic has been of fundamental importance in his life.

By Hannu Arvio

Hannu: What interests me a lot is your start with Norwegian. You were 14 years old when you started. Who made the decision?

Mario: Actually, it all started because I played handball since I was little, and since I saw the Norwegian handball team on TV, my mind fell in love with the concept of Norway as such. I started searching the internet and Instagram for pictures, following pages from Norway. And my mind was like I was living in Norway, aged 13-14. And from there, I started with the typical: downloading apps to learn Norwegian, but just to pass the time. Little by little, I saw that I liked it, and it was my mother who told me that if I liked it, we could investigate and look for something for me to really learn. I am a person who likes languages very much, and I have the ability to learn them. And my mother was the one who told me to sign up (for a course). She was the one who introduced me to Institut Nordic, and I said, “Go ahead.” I did the intensive summer course, and the rest is history.

Hannu: Interesting. So your interest in Norway came through your hobby, which was handball, after watching the national team on TV. Why the Norwegian team? What stood out?

Mario: Well, I don’t particularly remember; I just remember watching them play (it was the women’s team). I don’t know if it was a specific game that marked me, or a game against Spain, but for some reason, a seed was implanted in my mind. And from there came everything else.

Hannu: Then your mother told you that this could be taken seriously. I guess she saw that you were an industrious child, that you were serious about Norwegian.

Mario: Yes, my mother has always been my biggest support. If I liked something, she always encouraged me to pursue it. And she found Institut Nordic.

HannuHannu: At that time, you were in your fourth year of secondary school.

Mario: Yes, more or less.

HannuHannu: At this age, many children do things other than study Norwegian.

Mario: Yes, yes.

Hannu: At school, how did your friends take it, and did you have to explain why you were doing it?

Mario: Yes, at school, my friends, as I have always been a very studious person, were not so surprised that I studied something different. It’s true that everybody asked me why Norwegian. I think the question “why do you study Norwegian?” has been asked to me non-stop by family, teachers, friends, acquaintances, even in job interviews. It is always the typical question. It was strange and surprising, but people also said it made sense, because I have always been a person who loves learning. If anyone had to do it, it was me.

Hannu: During all these years, have you enjoyed answering that question?

Mario: Yes, it’s something I’m very proud of. It’s something different that I think at the time I chose a bit at random, but then during the years that I’ve used it, in class or travelling, I’ve enjoyed it a lot. My answer is perhaps not as clear as that of people who study because they want to go to work, or because of their partner… I say it’s because of handball, and it looks a bit strange, but that’s what I always say.

Hannu: You were in the classes with Martine for 5 years, more or less, you completed up to level B2.2. In a way, you grew up with the Norwegian classes until you became an adult. How did you feel in class? I’m not talking about the language itself, but about your experience, since you went into class with adults, where there were people between 30 and 60 years old. You were the little one trying to study a language with adult topics: housing, mortgages, work, etc. .

Mario: Yes, yes, absolutely.

Hannu: Now that you are 21 years old, do you think it has affected you in any way in your growth?

Mario: Well, it’s true that now I think, what courage, what bravery, to get involved at the age of 14 with people who had been working for years, who had a lot of opinions about life… When we worked on topics such as looking for work, housing in Norway or social issues… In the end, I’ve always been a fairly mature person, but with Martine, we would sometimes laugh, and I would adapt to the questions. For example, if we had to talk about our first job interview, well, at 14, I didn’t even know what it was like to work; I was just studying and not much else. So my answer was more about how I imagined that first job interview would be. It’s true that I’ve always got on well with older people, and I’ve never had any problem talking to them. In fact, I even met up with some of my classmates for coffee, even though I just had a Fanta. In that sense, the dynamic never affected me negatively, and in fact, I think it’s something that has helped me a lot in continuing my studies and now at work, where I find it very easy to relate to all kinds of people. Since I was 14 or 15, I’ve been with people who were 50 years old, and we were such good friends. It helped me mature a bit, and it’s funny that it happened in Norwegian class, because I only spent two hours a week talking to adults.

Hannu: Yes, it’s funny because you got into Norwegian and Norway as if you were an adult, but studying as a child in Barcelona.

Mario: Yes, in fact, when we were dealing with tax issues, there were things that I didn’t really understand and that I have learned through Norwegian classes, in general, as a concept of life. Tax issues, job search issues, or historical issues, for example, the Vikings. These are things that I had never worked on, and that when I dealt with them at 18, 19 years old, I somehow already knew them, and it is strange to have learned about them in Norwegian class, it is something very concrete.

Hannu: Sure, in Norwegian classes, you’ve already dealt with topics like job hunting, taxes, and social issues, which come after school.

Mario: It’s funny to have learned it through these classes. It’s true that I learned other concepts in addition to the language, so it was twice as dynamic and interesting for me. It was also what, being so young, kept me in class. I really learned a lot about everything: about life, the country, the culture, the language itself, from the people around me. I also learned a lot of things. I was like a sponge, I took it all in, and I hope that in the end it has served me well in life.

Hannu: The language itself, Norwegian – did you find it easy to study?

Mario: Yes, I don’t consider it to be one of the most complicated languages.

Hannu: What other languages have you studied?

Mario: I am quite fluent in French, and I am at a B1-B2 level in German. I find German much more complicated grammatically than Norwegian. I don’t know if it’s because I was younger when I started Norwegian 7 years ago, but this has made it stick with me more, even though I haven’t practised it too much these years. But I retain and maintain it quite well, and I think it’s partly because of the language itself and the way I learned it didn’t make me heavy at all, plus I think it’s not one of the most complicated. I think it was quite bearable, and I learned the basics very well, and I still maintain it quite well. Then there is specific vocabulary that, as in all languages, you forget if you don’t practice it. But the base is well established.

Hannu: Speaking of the country itself, you’ve been to Norway a few times. Your first impression was the handball team. And from there, you have been building your idea of Norway. How do you see it?

Mario: The first time I went was on the Institut Nordic trip to Bergen with Martine, the Norwegian class and other students from other languages. I remember that first trip as something special because I had a great time, and because I went with my mother, because I couldn’t go alone as I was so young. Already from that moment, Norway made a very good impression on me. Then, when I have travelled with friends, I have had more opportunities to practice Norwegian, for example in a cafeteria, and in the end, I have also met more people. I was on Erasmus in Copenhagen because in Oslo and Norway, you couldn’t, so I chose the closest option. And I also met people from Norway there. I think that the society, although perhaps in Spain we are more open to everyone, the people I have met (from Norway) have seemed super nice, the country itself has given me a good impression. What I had so idealised when I was younger has translated well in reality. I like the country.

Hannu: Personally, do you see it as a project to live there at some point in your life?

Mario: Yes, in fact, I will be moving to Oslo in August to do an internship in the operations department of a motorhome company. I’m finishing my degree this year, and I knew that once I finished it, I wanted to move to Norway. If only to get rid of the thorn of having lived there. So many years talking about Norway and I still haven’t really lived there, and I haven’t been able to see first-hand what it’s like to live there, beyond a week, which is the most I’ve been in Norway. I looked for this internship and my idea is to get a good idea of the country, meet people, get to know the culture, travel around the country and, if I see that I like it, that I can relate and that I end up with a good impression, I would of course love to extend my stay and develop my life there, if possible. I can’t say for the rest of my life because I still have many years to go, but for now I would like to spend a fairly long time for sure.

Hannu: By now, you have finished school, high school, you are about to finish International Business, and you have an internship in Norway. In a way, your childhood dream is now coming true.

Mario: Yes, totally, 100%. When I think about that idea that was so far away and that was not structured in any way, little by little, everything I have been doing has led me to be able to achieve it. And it’s something I’m very proud of.

Hannu: Would you advise other people to follow your path? I mean, start learning the language and then go to the country.

Mario: Yes. It’s true that today we live in a world where I probably don’t need to have a C1 in Norwegian to live there, because maybe when I get there, people will speak to me in English, unless I impose myself and try very hard to speak and be spoken to in Norwegian. Maybe it’s not mandatory, but if someone, as a kid, has an idea and loves a country, I would recommend that they learn the language. If you love Norway because you love the Norwegian fjords, or you love Finland because of the thousand lakes, learn the language. Whether it’s because you want to get to C2 for professional reasons, or simply because by learning the language, you learn the tongue, which on a curriculum level always stands out, but you also learn about the culture and the country. In class, I learned a lot more than just grammar and vocabulary. And then, learning languages, for those who like it, is a lot of fun. You meet a lot of people, and the classes are fun. And if you want to learn more languages later on, it’s also useful. Now that I’m studying German, I realise that knowing Norwegian has made it easier for me to learn German, especially at the beginning. So yes. My path is a bit particular, but if someone has that idea as a child, even if it is far away, I recommend that you go for it. You have nothing to lose, and you can always quit if you don’t like it. I recommend it. I love languages myself and will always support anyone who likes them.

Hannu: Would you like to add anything?

Mario: My relationship with Institut Nordic is very special. It’s a strange thing, but being so small also helped me to be independent. For example, the first time I took a train by myself was to go to a Norwegian class. I am from a village, El Papiol (El Baix Llobregat), and to go to Barcelona, I had never gone alone, and my mother left me to go to Norwegian classes. Whenever I walk past the Urgell metro station and see the door, I always think of Institut Nordic. I hold it very close to my heart because it has made me mature a lot. I understand that the path is different for other people, but I have that connection.

Hannu: Somehow, you have entered adult life through Institut Nordic.

Mario: Yes, yes.

Hannu: In that world where the Norwegian and Nordic language students are. They are usually quite nice people. It’s a very diverse world.

Mario: It’s such a unique thing that there aren’t that many people who sign up, but it creates a cool atmosphere. For example, my classmates. There is a classmate from when I studied A2 who is now living in Tromsø, and I have already talked to her about going to see her. It’s been 6 years, she’s about 40, and I’m 21. In the end, as we have that in common, it creates that good vibe, and the truth is that I have a lot of affection for them, my mother even more (laughs). My mother loves Martine (Mario’s Norwegian teacher), and she hardly knows her (laughs). So yes, there is a lot of affection.

26 July

Susana García, scientist in Svalbard: “You can see that the glaciers are retreating very fast”

Born in Guadalajara (Spain), Susana lives, works and studies Norwegian in the northernmost inhabited place in the world.

By Hannu Arvio

Right now (22/06/2022) you are in Ny-Ålesund, in Svalbard and, without exaggeration, you could say that you are the most northerly Spaniard. In fact, there is nothing in front of you, right? How did you end up there?

I live in Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard. Ny-Ålesund is a small international scientific community. There are different institutes here that are dedicated to scientific studies of the Arctic, and for the last two years, I have been working for Kartverket, which is like the map agency in Norway (Norwegian Mapping Authority in English). I work at Kartverket’s Geodetic Earth Observatory in Ny-Ålesund.

I am a telecommunications engineer, and in Spain, I belong to the Astronomer Corps of the Ministry of Public Works. I work with a special type of technique, very specific, to study the movement of tectonic plates and the Earth’s rotation. It is a small international community, and two years ago, the Norwegian colleagues had a vacancy. There is a lot of turnover in Ny-Ålesund, because people usually stay here 3-6 years, it’s not a place to live permanently, for life. And I put in my resume, and thanks to my experience, I was a perfect fit.

What did you think at the moment you were told yes?

Well, I worked in Ny-Ålesund for the first time nine years ago, for a year, and also for Kartverket. I had to look up on the map where Svalbard was, and I remember very well when I told my mother that I was going to Svalbard to work. Because once I was told that I had been selected, my partner and I knew that I could not say no, that it was a vital experience on a professional and personal level. And I remember taking the globe, which we all got as a communion gift in Spain, and telling my mother: “look mom, I’m going right here, under the metal part that holds the axis. There is an island there, which is the closest geographically to the North Pole and I am going to go to work there”. And my mother said to me, “Daughter, isn’t there another place farther away to go to work?” (laughs). But in reality, it’s not that far away.

You are in an extreme place: with 3-month days, 3-month nights, a very extreme climate… What is it like to live there?

Ny-Ålesund is a very special place, in many ways. It is a very small, isolated place; in winter, we are about 30-40 people working permanently in Ny-Ålesund. In summer, when the scientists come, we are about 180 people. There are very few of us, but at the same time, it is a very social place, where we all know each other, where life is lived very intensely. Apart from work, in our free time, we try to take advantage of the environment and the nature around us. We try to ski and go snowmobiling in the spring, we hike, walk and climb mountains, go boating or kayaking in the summer… and there is always something to do. There’s always an excuse to celebrate. This week, for example, on Saturday, we have the “summer party” to celebrate that it is summer. And as you were saying before referring to light, we are in the middle of the summer solstice and in the middle of the midnight sun period. We have 24 hours of light for almost 4 months. That affects us, because the body is tired most of the time, because you don’t realise how late it is to go to bed, and you are always active. On the opposite side, in winter, we have total darkness, and we are also tired because the lack of light can affect the energy we have. We have to supplement with vitamin D mainly, and omega-3. There is something very typical in Norway that is made of cod liver, and it tastes very fishy, but there is also a lemon-flavoured version. This is not known in Spain.

During the pre-interview, you told me that, in the midst of so much nature, you humans are like intruders there.

Yes, indeed.

How does that affect your day-to-day?

Yes, we are aware that we live in a place that is unique, that is untouchable. That in reality we are the strangers and in the habitat in which we live we have to affect it in the least possible way, to have an impact that is the least possible. And also, taking into account that the flora and fauna, polar bears in particular, are animals that can be dangerous. That affects our logistics when it comes to going out or planning an excursion, scientists going out to take samples on the glaciers or in the ocean. We always have to go, as a precaution and for safety, with a flare gun and a rifle. We are all trained to safely use both weapons, for our safety, for the safety of others, and for the safety of the polar bears.

Polar bears are protected, and it is forbidden to shoot or kill them. In case of an accident, the governor of Svalbard would open an investigation to clarify whether there was really a need (to shoot) or danger. The animals are protected. I have never had to use it (the rifle) while out hiking, fortunately. I have seen polar bear tracks, and that’s when you really realise they are there. We don’t see them, but they probably see us. But we also regularly practice using the rifle to be prepared because it is a place where it is very cold, it can be very windy, and we have to be a bit trained in case we need it. That’s not usually the case, although last week, before we arrived, there were three polar bears eating a seal in the river that runs through Ny-Ålesund, and you could see it perfectly from the office. My colleagues said it was like having a live documentary.

In the window – how interesting!

Yes, impressive. Polar bears are impressive animals.

I have read that Ny-Ålesund has also been a base for expeditions, such as Roald Amundsen’s. Do you have an explorer part, too, in your character?

Yes, a little yes. A little bit of everyone. Not as brave and adventurous as the Arctic, Norwegian and international explorers. Amundsen, with his zeppelin and several expeditions, started from here, and that is also in the atmosphere of Ny-Ålesund. The buildings are protected; they are cultural heritage. We have the Amundsen Villa, from where the Zeppelin was launched. We live with that, looking at the past, trying to protect it.

Speaking of the past, I wanted to take a turn and talk about the future. There is a lot of talk about climate change and its impact on the Arctic. In your case, in your short history in the Arctic, which is 9 years, have you noticed it?

There are differences, especially in the melting of glaciers. In the acceleration of glacier melt. The ecosystem, the Earth in general, is a changing system that evolves continuously, and there are changes, which, in fact, scientists here are dedicated to monitoring and following. What is clear with respect to climate change is that there is an acceleration of these processes. There have always been changes, but for some time now, these changes have been accelerating uncontrollably. In fact, this year the snow season ended a month earlier than last year. On a short scale, it may not mean anything. Weather is not to be confused with climate change, but the numbers throughout history, as long as we have had measurements, indicate that these changes exist. I personally think the glacier behind Ny-Ålesund is half of what it was when I was first here. We see historical photographs, but even in the time frame between 2011 and 2014, you can see that the glaciers are retreating very fast.

And that is accelerating.

Yes. The previous year, we had a record-high summer temperature. It was 21 degrees for a couple of hours. That temperature had never been reached before, which here in the Arctic is an extreme value. This year, the record maximum temperature in the month of May was broken. This year in May it was 9º, which has never happened before. These are indicators and, obviously, what is important is the time series, the long term, to see how it evolves and try to predict how this is going to be. And the statistics and the numbers, which do not depend on what I think is good weather or bad weather, indicate that this change is accelerating and that it is going in a warming direction, with all that this implies: sea level rise, change in ocean salinity… something that affects marine ecosystems and that, in turn, also affects the rest of the fauna that depends on these ecosystems: polar bears, seals… If the number of seals decreases, polar bears have less food. If the area of ice sheets decreases, which is where the bears hunt, they also have less food. In fact, scientists are now studying how the bears are “learning” new methods to hunt seals without ice, which is quite impressive, the ability to adapt. But if they were not able to adapt, as can happen to us humans, if we are not able to adapt to certain temperatures or certain conditions….

It is difficult to make a positive reading of such an abrupt and uncontrollable change. But back to your work, how is what you do at Karverket related to these changes in the climate?

We are dedicated to monitoring changes on Earth. We are dedicated to geodesy studies using techniques that study where the Earth is in the universe, how it evolves and how it changes, and we monitor gravity and sea level. We generate a terrestrial reference system that serves as a basis at an international level, because we collaborate with other institutes or with other observatories at an international level. At the international level, we manage to have a frame of reference that serves as a basis for scientists, using other measurement techniques such as satellites, GPS or other instruments, to be able to have a zero reference to measure, for example, sea level variations. We need to know where we are and where the sea is “at source” to know how it varies with respect to this reference. We are generating this infrastructure so that scientists can make measurements and follow these changes in sea level, melting glaciers, atmospheric changes…

Why is Ny-Ålesund a good place for that?

There are different observatories distributed all over the planet. Geographically, Ny-Ålesund is a strategic point because it is located in the north and is able to link between sub-networks of observatories on one side of the planet and on the opposite side. For example, the United States with Asia and with Europe. Because we have a position where we see in the sky quasars that are common to all parts of the Earth, it has been estimated that without Ny-Ålesund in the international network, the quality of the data would decrease by 20%, which is a lot, because of the very northern position we have. But the rest of the stations are also interesting and important because there are measurements to be taken. The greater the number of observatories, the higher the quality of the results.

Svalbard is part of Norway, and you work for a Norwegian public institution, Karverket.

Yes, it is a governmental institute. Administratively, Svalbard depends on Norway, and in Ny-Ålesund in particular, the companies in charge of logistics, such as Kings Bay AS or the Norwegian Polar Institute, have a major role in the management, not only on a practical and logistical level, but also on a scientific and research level. Karverket is a Norwegian institution, but there are German-French, Italian, Indian, and Chinese institutions here… Because Ny-Ålesund is special on a scientific level and on a working level, but on an administrative level, we depend on the government of Svalbard.

Do you intend to stay, to live in Norway?

I do not rule it out. I have been in Svalbard for two years now, in the second part of my Arctic adventure. I have a contract for two and a half more years. I don’t rule it out, and I wouldn’t mind also trying on the mainland after the experience here in Ny-Ålesund, maybe working remotely or helping colleagues… It’s a possibility.

You imply that you are very happy with the work.

Yes, I am very happy, I am very happy. I am also very motivated. Karverket has given me a great opportunity, and I also feel it is a great responsibility. I am the Station Leader at the observatory, so I am responsible for a whole team. We are three Norwegians and two Spaniards. And the truth is that I feel grateful and very well valued, and that makes the motivation, the desire to work and to continue collaborating with them very good. Yes.

About your Norwegian studies, are you now in the first year?

Yes, I started last summer with the intensive A1 course, and this year I have completed the A2.

How are you doing?

I am very happy and very motivated. I’ve already bought the book for the next course, and I’m on the crest of the wave right now. (laughs). It is not always like that: learning a language as an adult, and in my case, in particular, since I am not very good at languages, it is difficult. Norwegian is a difficult language, I’m not going to say it’s the most difficult, but for us Spaniards, especially because of our hearing and pronunciation, it’s very difficult. The motivation goes up and down, but in general, I see a very positive progress since I started until now, in one year, and right now I am looking forward to starting the next course.

And there you communicate in Norwegian?

No, that’s the hardest part: the talking.

It is also an international site.

It’s an international site, and people usually respond in English. But I want to make my own språkkafe to speak Norwegian (language exchange meetings), and in fact, I prepared a small poster with a drawing of a beer and said, “Are you going on vacation to Spain? Do you want to improve your Spanish enough to ask for a beer? I’m at that level where I want to start speaking without fear.

Wouldn’t now be the time, after two courses?

Yes, I should. What I do notice is that colleagues, because they know I’m studying Norwegian, many times they don’t switch to English, they try to get me to listen. And I think they like it, that they feel very grateful to see the interest in learning the language.

The truth is that if you are from a country with a “small” language, such as Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or Icelandic, and if someone learns your language, you see that person in a different way, he or she starts to be “one of us.”

(laughs) There is still a long way to go, but the truth is yes. I feel super comfortable here, but I think that speaking Norwegian can help me to integrate better into the small Norwegian culture here. Most of the people are actually Norwegian, and sometimes it is easier.