Martine Gylseth, a senior from Asker, Norway, majoring in cultural anthropology, said she is not bothered by being the only Norwegian student at BYU–Hawaii. Although she had originally planned to attend BYUH for a short time, she said it was the pleasant, open and fun people who made her decide to stay.
She said she wanted to go to BYU in Provo but did not get in, so she told herself she was going to transfer as soon as she could. However, after two weeks of being at BYUH, she decided she never wanted to leave.
“One evening, I remember I was walking home and saw some islander girls in the hale who were sitting and eating. I remember I was hungry, but I didn’t have any food in my room,” she shared.
As she was walking past, she said they called out and asked if she wanted some food. “They were super nice and talked with me, and we’ve been friends ever since.” Gylseth said she is glad situations like this happen at BYUH because they don’t occur in Norway.
Norway is recognized not just for its Vikings and trolls, but also for its fjords–sweeping glacier-formed valleys that run into the sea.
What do you like most about Norway?
“I would have to say our Constitution Day because it’s the most highlighted holiday in Norway,” responded Gylseth. “It’s a great big party from the night before until the night after.”
She explained the purpose of the celebration is to remember their constitution. They celebrate it on May 17, the day it was signed. The celebration includes parades, singing Norwegian songs and partying under the sun, which sets around midnight, said Gylseth. “Everyone’s super happy and all the stores are closed, so it’s a really big holiday.”
She shared the elementary school students usually participate in the parade, walking while waving their national flag and singing the constitution song. The parade ends at their elementary schools, where she said they play “Minute to Win it” games and win prizes.
A great part about Constitution Day is people can “buy ice cream, cake and hot dogs everywhere, and no one will judge [them] for how many [they] eat,” said Gylseth.
Another way Norwegians celebrate Constitution Day is by having friendly conversations with each other, which she said is opposite to the characteristic of the often shy Norwegians. She said doing so is a way for the people to show how much they love Norway.
What is your national clothing?
Norwegian traditional clothing is called the bunad and can be worn on Constitution Day, Gylseth explained.
According to the Britannica website, “The national costume, the bunad, is characterized by double-shuttle woven wool skirts or dresses for women, accompanied by jackets with scarves. Colorful accessories (e.g., purses and shoes) complete the outfit.
“The bunad for men generally consists of a three-piece suit that also is very colorful and heavily embroidered. Traditionally, Norwegians had two bunader, one for special occasions and one for everyday wear.”
The bunad is usually passed on from generation to generation because it is expensive, Gylseth explained. “My mom’s grandma made one for my mom, then she gave it to me because I’m the only girl that fits it anymore.”
She explained the color of the bunad depends on what part of Norway the owner is from. “If you know all the different types, you could tell where it is from by looking at the color and the design.”
Gylseth said most have a design that includes flowers, and the bunad in her family is dark blue with flowers.
What is the weather like in Norway?
Norway has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter—which lasts the longest, she said. The first snowfall is expected in October or early November.
Gylseth said the sun is only up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter time, but in the summer the sun sets around midnight and comes back up at approximately 3 a.m.
“It’s nice and cozy in the wintertime. In the summertime, it’s really warm and nice, and everybody takes any opportunity they have to go outside and stay up all night.”
She said people’s moods fluctuate a lot with the seasons. “When they don’t get any sunlight, people tend to get depressed, so we have a lot of winter depression.”
In the summer, she said people are “absolutely happy” because of all the sunlight. She added they have a lot of barbecues and go to the park often.
Is Norway a monarchy?
According to the Norwegian constitution, Norway is a monarchy with three different branches of government.
Gylseth said they have a king and a queen, a royal family and a prime minister. However, she explained the king is more of a public figure whose primary responsibility is to sign documents.
What is the meaning behind the Norwegian flag?
The red, white and blue flag of Norway originates from the red and white Danish flag, which Norway was previously under. However, Gylseth said when the Norwegian constitution was signed, a blue cross, which symbolizes Christianity, was added to the flag to set it apart from the Danish flag.
The World Atlas website says, “The white and red colors represent the union Norway had with Denmark. The blue color that makes up the cross represents Norway’s union with Sweden before they gained autonomy…The combination of the three colors was something they borrowed from France, where the colors represent liberty.”
What is your favorite Norwegian food?
Norway is a multicultural country and has a lot of international dishes, Gylseth shared. Her favorite traditional food is Norwegian waffles, which look like a flower made up of a heart pattern.
She explained ordinary waffles need to have a lot of syrup to taste good, but Norwegian waffles already have a sweet taste on their own.
Norwegians typically put toppings such as ice cream, jam, sugar, or caramel-tasting cheese on top of the waffles, Gylseth added.
What is the language spoken in Norway?
Gylseth explained the official language of the country is Norwegian, although they do have different dialects.
She added, “It is similar to German, but for us, [Germans] speak as if they’re mad or angry. Other countries tease us with our language because it sounds like we’re singing when we speak. It goes up and down a lot when we talk.”
What are the most popular sports in Norway?
Gylseth said the country is well-known for sports like cross-country skiing and football (soccer).
Norway is famous for its ski jumps, slopes and terrain and, according to the Olympian database, the country frequently sweeps the board for medals in skiing events at the Winter Olympic Games.