Source: "The Social Guidebook to Norway"

A potential Norwegian business partner invited me to his hytte with his family on a cold autumn weekend. 

On Saturday morning when we all woke up

His kids were sitting on the sofa 

and laughing at me.

Their parents were ready to go out

With their bathing suit on!

It was 0C outside

Raining and windy 

It was the perfect time for "morgenbad"

His wife jumped in first

He jumped in

I had no choice

In Norway

Trust and respect is built through physical pain and suffering

It sometime seems like Norwegians actually enjoy pain

They do not see it as a form for suffering

But as enjoyment

Walking hours in freezing rain and wind

Rolling in the snow naked

Jumping into cold fjords

Makes the hytte and the utedo seem so much more comfortable

And it may provide a boost to your social status on Monday morning at work!

Norwegian colleagues like to tell each other about how hard activities they did during the weekend! 

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Read more about our amazing Norwegian friends in Our Social Guidebooks to Norway 

By Julien S. Bourrelle

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