Last Thursday, I had the distinct honor of serving as the keynote speaker at Talent Smash's Interact Afterwork event, hosted by Epicenter Oslo. This event was a vibrant culmination of Talent Smash, bringing together over 100 attendees representing an impressive 33 different nationalities under one roof to network, share our experiences of living in Norway, and find new communities and opportunities.
During my speech, I shared my personal journey of moving to Oslo almost two years ago and the mixed feelings that come with it. Like many newcomers, I’ve had my share of highs and lows. While I absolutely love the incredible nature and work-life balance here, there have been challenges, too. From struggling with skiing and navigating Norwegian bureaucracy to dealing with loneliness and language barriers, living abroad is far from just an Instagram feed of beautiful landscapes and new adventures.
Building a life outside of work can be a real challenge, especially for those new to Norway and Oslo.
That's why it was really special and important for me to share my journey, offer some practical hacks on how to build a social network abroad, and hopefully make some people in the crowd feel heard and understood.
The evening was not just about my story but also about the opportunities and communities that help make Oslo a welcoming place for newcomers. We had representatives from several fantastic groups who took the stage to introduce themselves and explain how to get involved: XPCoaching, Dead Poets, WITs (Women in Tech) Who Lunch, Prismatic Pages, International House / Oslo International Hub / Oslo International Club.
A heartfelt thank you to these communities and the audience for their participation, and to Epicenter Oslo for inviting myself and Unlock Norway to be part of this special event.
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