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.