the INN Expats June Newsletter here!

Stavanger Chamber of Commerce and Industry
www.rosenkilden.com
Summer Newsletter
June 2014
Issue 6 – Year 9
2
Eye on June
Summer is an elusive season in Norway. Perched at the same latitudes as Alaska, Greenland and
Siberia, snow and ice stubbornly cling to the wilderness well into May and then reappear with a
jolt in the early fall. However, when summer finally does arrive it opens a window into this
country's love affair with its natural surroundings, as Norwegians of all social strata bound into the
outdoors the moment the snow begins its retreat.
Norway escapes much of the tourist crush that deluges Europe's more populous mountain regions.
The well-traveled destinations in the Alps - among them, Chamonix, France, and Zermatt,
Switzerland - bubble over with vacationers ogling the snow-crowned peaks. Norway offers the
perfect antidote: a remote and ragged landscape carved by majestic fjords into vertiginous peaks
and verdant valleys that remain largely out of the path of the tourist stampede.
Hiking is the best avenue to explore Norway's incredible nature. The DNT's (the Norwegian Tourist
Association) offers a vast network of designated hiking trails form a dense web of routes
crisscrossing the wilderness. Official trails are marked by the DNT's signature symbol: a T formed
by a splotch of fire truck-red paint dotting rocks and trees every 100 feet or so along the
serpentine routes.
Late June to early August is when the weather is warmest and the days are long and bright.
Temperatures in July and August can reach 25°C - 30°C. At the same time there is hardly any
humidity in the air. Sea temperatures can reach 18°C and higher, making swimming a popular
pastime. The warmest and most stable weather usually occurs on the eastern side of the southern
mountains, including the south coast between Mandal and Oslo. Even further north, summer
temperatures are rather pleasant, sometimes reaching high above 25°C.
INN Expats - June 2014
2
3
What’s on?
Tour des Fjords
28.05.14 – 01.06.14
Welcome to the 2014 edition of Tour des Fjords! This year’s edition of the Tour des Fjords starts in
beautiful Bergen and continue along the west coast fjords and mountains before finishing in
Stavanger. Tour de Fjords is an international bicycle race. In 2013, it lasted for 3 days but in 2014
Tour de Fjords will last for 5 days displaying the best of Norwegian nature. Spectacular stages in
stunning surroundings. From the opening day on May 28th to the last day of competition on June
1st, you will witness a spectacular race where teams at the highest level of the international
cycling participates. The organisers are working to broadcast up to 2.5 hours of daily live coverage
over the five days of competition on TV2.
Stage 1:
28th May
Bergen – Ulvik, 163 km
Stage 2:
29th May
Eidfjord – Haugesund, 202 km
Stage 3:
30th May
Hjelmeland – Forsand, 152 km
Stage 4:
31th May
2020Park – Stavanger, 181 km
Stage 5:
1st June
Risavika – Stavanger, 175 km
Visit www.tourdesfjords.no for more information and be sure not to miss out on this amazing
event and an experience of a lifetime! You get extended info of all the stages on the website.
Menu in English.
INN Expats - June 2014
3
4
Norway Chess 2014
02.06.2014 – 13.06.2014
Norway Chess 2014 will be one of the strongest super tournaments ever. Magnus Carlsen and
other top range players will participate. A unique twist is being planned for the location of the
supertournament. By using a variety of historical locations, we wish to get maximum attention to
the whole region. The Stavanger region wants to use the event as a means to promote the whole
district.
The tournament will include a super
tournament with the majority of the top 10
ranked players of the world. School
tournament with hundreds of children.
Celebrity tournament with a range of
celebrities to show their chess skills.
Visit www.norwaychess.com for extended
information about the tournament, list of the
prominent chess players that will be present
and watch a video from the Norway Chess
2013 tournament where Magnus Carlsen play
chess on the Pulpit Rock.
INN Expats - June 2014
4
5
Stavanger konserthus: Aries Spears Live
04.06.14 at 20:00
Master imitator Aries Spears is coming to
Scandinavia!
American stand-up star Aries Spears uses his
quick and brutally honest humor for spot-on
imitations from everything like Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z to Yoda.
Last year he did an exciting appearance in
Morgonpasset, P3 which got the hosts crying
with laughter, and this summer he is coming
to Scandinavia! The tours shows include
Gothenburg, Malmø, Stockholm, Oslo,
Stavanger and Bergen.
Aries Spears is somewhat of a comedic
prodigy. His debut as a stand-up comedian
got off to a start as a 14-year old at the end
of the 80′s, hugely influenced by his big idol
Eddie Murphy. As a teenager he performed
on TV for the first time, and got his first
major film role at the age of 17 in the big hit
movie “Malcolm X”.
Since then he has amongst other accomplishments been a big star on the comedy show “MAD TV”
for eight years and often performs on big comedy shows on TV as well as huge talk shows like
Conan O’Brien. His last stand-up show “Hollywood, Look I’m Smiling” was recorded with a fully
seated Best Buy Arena and was even broadcasted on the TV-channel Showtime.
In his standup shows Aries Spears uses his infamous imitations of actors like Al Pacino and Denzel
Washington, sports celebrities like Mike Tyson and Shaquille O’Neill and rap stars like Snoop Dogg
and Jay-Z.
Aries Spears has also starred in dozens of movies, including blockbusters like “Home of Angels”
and “Jerry Maguire”.
Purchase tickets here:
https://www.billettportalen.no/kjoep/billetter/?token=ZBixHRJxbOd2SwXx2oZS0JtltXtTYOcsWHF7
ZVfeMlU9a5P4T%2fJZEWmncJ5iendEYu9mUt9pFEj8809FWk2BMoF8PcxnjbuF
INN Expats - June 2014
5
6
Fish & Cow: Tom Shobbrook og Julian Castagna
04.06.14 at 18:30
In cooperation with the wine importer Best Buys Natural Wines, Fish & Cow invites you to a
unique food- and wine party. We are getting visitors from Australia, and celebrate with raw
materials of top quality on the grill! Julian is coming. A movie director who got tired of making
movies and moved to the mountains Beechworth to make bio dynamic cult wine on Sangiovese
and Syrah. And Tom is coming. He made wine in Chianti but became so convinced about
biodynamic cultivating, that he returned to his place of birth, Barossa, where his parents sold
grapes and now makes some of Barossa’s most drinkable wines.
Julian and Tom are very unlike as persons, but as wine producers they are similar. They are
unbelievably enjoyable persons who operate small family houses respecting the nature and the
local vineyards. They are down to earth, unpretentious and like primarily to eat good food and
drink good wine together with friends. They do not produce much wine, but the quality of it is sky
high. This is therefore a unique possibility for you to enjoy an evening with top quality food and
learn whatever you want about wine. Or just enjoy the evening together with friends.
The number of seats is limited, so mail your interest to therese@fishandcow.no or call 51 50 50
50.
Price NOK kr 1500,- which includes wine with all the courses, biodynamic cider, and champagne.
INN Expats - June 2014
6
7
Checkpoint: Comedy Box – English
04.06.14 at 20:00
Scott A. Capurro is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor
based in San Francisco. His comedy material is deliberately
provocative, referring often to gay life and culture, politics, race and
racism, and popular culture. Movies and TV shows include Mrs.
Doubtfire 2, and Where's Elvis This Week?
MC for the evening is Will Mars (UK). On the line up you also find Siri
Seljeseth (NOR) and Adrián Minkowicz (ARG).
Please visit www.checkpoint.no for more info.
Tananger Deep Sea Fishing Festival
04.06.14 – 07.06.14
Tananger Deep Sea Fishing Festival is an annual
sea fishing festival with competitions and
festivities. It was the prelude to all the organized
fishing sports in Norway and even in the rest of
Europe. Over the years, it has become a concept
in fishing circles and it is now noted for good
fishing, good company and a spirit of friendly
rivalry. The Festival will start on Wednesday, 4th
June and will end on Saturday, 7th June. It is now
divided in two festivals, Flatholmen and Feistein
and focuses on a total of 15 hours of effective
fishing using small boats with a capacity of 4, 6
and 8 fishermen. You will fish from a new boat each day! The scoring system is a peculiarity for
Tananger Festival and makes the competition really exciting!
You find Stavanger Deep Sea Fishing Club at Havneveien in Tanager: http://g.co/maps/p79sv Give
them a call at 51 69 40 00 or send an email to post@hummeren.no if you have any inquiries.
INN Expats - June 2014
7
8
Music fest Stavanger
07.06.14 from 11:00 – 23:00
Music fest Stavanger has its roots in Fête de la Musique which is held yearly the 21st of June in
France. An outdoor event where everything is free. Music fest Stavanger will also take place
outdoors and the city's musical diversity will be accessible to everyone in the city this day. The
artists are leaving concert halls and rehearsal rooms behind, showing their skills to the public for
free. Free admission is the main idea behind music fest and in Stavanger, the musicians play
without being paid.
Visit www.musikkfeststavanger.no for more information.
Skagenkaien (Vågen): Market in the City Centre
07.06.14
Market in the City Centre will be held monthly throughout
the year. It will be located in the inner harbor, on both sides
of the fish market.
The market will showcase a broad selection of merchandize
and offer great experiences such as cultural events and food
presentations.
A lot of people have requested a good market in Stavanger,
maintaining the European marked tradition. The Market in
the City Centre is a feel-good collaboration between the fish
market of Stavanger, Sjøhuset Skagen and Stavanger Sentrum
AS, under the expert guidance of iPAX Food AS. The aim is to
reclaim and to furher develop a long market tradition.
Local goods of top quality directly from the producers!
INN Expats - June 2014
8
9
Kite Festival at Hellestø
07.06.14 - 08.06.14
Norway's largest and oldest annual kite
festival begins with a large kite workshop in
Sola kulturhus Saturday and continues on
the Hellstø beach Sunday. International kite
fliers will be attending both days.
The kite festival usually gathers as much as
5000 participants and is one of the region's
most popular outdoor family events.
Saturday: Build your own kite in Sola
kulturhus from 11am - 15.pm. There will be
several models to choose from, and you can
come and go all day, no registration. It takes
from half an hour to an hour to make a kite.
Prices from NOK 50
Sunday: Kite Festival at Hellestø beach from 13 - 16pm. Demonstration from the international kite
fliers, great prices for self-made kites and diplomas for all children. Kites, food and drinks for sale!
Parking NOK 50, participation is free. Hellestø beach can be found here: http://g.co/maps/uxyub
Nordsjørittet (North Sea Race) 2014
14.06.14
It is too late to sign up for this year’s event, so join as a spectator and see if this is something for
the calendar next year!
The cycle clubs at Sandnes, Dalane and Nærbø comes together to arrange this huge event.
Nordsjørittet is a bicycle race from Egersund to Sandnes with a total distance of 91km. The track is
rated as easy, with a mix of paved roads (60%), gravel roads (20%), and the rest is a mix of walking
paths or single-track. A mountain bike or a hybrid bike is recommended. A road racing bike is
unusable!
You get there by train from Sandnes or Stavanger,
or other stations towards Egersund. You can find
more information at www.nsb.no
We recommend you visit the English info page for
the event with extensive information on the
route and other relevant topics:
http://www.nordsjorittet.no/om/vis/english_info
INN Expats - June 2014
9
10
To the city from Statoil – Free Outdoor concert in Stavanger
14.06.14 from 14:00 - 17:00
This yearly event is Statoil’s gift to the people of
Stavanger. Good weather is almost guaranteed and the
concert draws crowds of all ages. This is a perfect
concert for families to attend.
This is where you find Bjergstedparken:
http://kart.gulesider.no/m/nUljd
Full program will be announced later!
Following an absence since the 2011 season, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour returns again
to a very popular venue in Norway for the double-gender 2014 FIVB Stavanger Grand Slam. The
Stavanger event, to be held from June 24 to 29, will mark the 18th time for a men’s competition in
Norway and the 15th women’s tournament held in this country.
A total of 31 previous FIVB World Tour events have been staged in Norway, including 13 straight
men’s events (1999-2011) and 10 consecutive women’s events (2002-2011). The 2009 event in
Stavanger was the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships.
This year’s FIVB Stavanger Grand Slam will be
the fourth Grand Slam of the 2014 season and
the third in a string of 7 FIVB Grand Slams to be
held over an eight-week window. The seven
consecutive FIVB Grand Slam events start in
Moscow, Russia (June 11 to 15) and ends in
Klagenfurt, Austria (July 29 to August 3).
The planet's best beach volleyball players return
to the Vågen harbour dockside purpose-built
courts in Stavanger, the "oil" capital of Norway.
This is also a perfect opportunity to sign up as a volunteer! Either you are young or old, a volleyball
fan or new to the game, volunteers are needed for everything from linesmen to drivers. Sign up
through wtstavanger.com, contact mateguro@gmail.com or call 954 77 868 for more information!
INN Expats - June 2014
10
11
Open at the Iron Age farm
Sundays between 11:00 and 16:00
Iron Age Farm at Ullandhaug – A glimpse of
everyday life in Norway 1500 years ago.
The Iron Age Farm at Ullandhaug is a
reconstructed farmstead from the Migration
Period, dating from 350-550 AD. It is located
at the top of Ullandhaug, 3 km from the city
center of Stavanger, and affords a fantastic
view of North Jæren and of Hafrsfjord where
King Harald Fairhair fought the battle that
united Norway into one kingdom around 900
AD.
An archaeological excavation of the farmstead was carried out in 1967-68. The reconstructed
farm buildings were later erected on the original sites.
The farmstead consists of two longhouses, a smaller building, wells, stone fences and burial
mounds, positioned, as they were 1500 years ago. Dressed in the style of the time, the men and
women in the family demonstrate and describe the day-to-day life during the Iron Age and provide
information about the archaeological excavations and all the ancient relics in the area.
Guided tour at 1pm (13.00). Visit http://am.uis.no/category.php?categoryID=7000 for more info.
Boreal Transport: Bus / hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Monday – Friday
Boreal Transport offers bus from Stavanger to
the Tau ferry and bus from the ferry quay at
Tau to Preikestolen Fjellstue here you start
the hike.
Please see link for timetables:
www.boreal.no/pulpit-rockrogaland/category845.html
Don't forget hiking boots, wind and
waterproofed clothes, packed lunch and drink
for the hike!
INN Expats - June 2014
11
12
Boat sightseeing on the Lysefjord
Monday – Sunday
Enjoy a 3-hour tour of idyllic islands, the majestic Lysefjord, the Pulpit Rock, waterfalls,
breathtaking scenery and lots more!
Tickets: www.rodne.no, at the quay (Skagenkaien, Stavanger) before departure or at the tourist
information in Stavanger.
For other information/group bookings/family
ticket; please send an email to
mail@rodne.no, or call them at 51 89 52 70.
If you pre-book, they stop at the Lysefjord
Centre. Minimum of 15 passengers required
for a tour. Groups of 15 persons or more
travelling and paying together receive a 15 %
discount on ordinary adult tickets. Not
available for online booking. Kiosk, souvenirs
and guiding in several languages! An alcohol
license applies on board – one is not allowed
to bring own alcohol.
The Canning Museum: Sprat Smoking
Every Sunday from 11:00 – 16:00
The Norwegian Canning Museum is located in a former canning
factory in the old town of Stavanger. The first Sunday of the month,
you can participate in the process of sprat production and making
fish balls. This is also an activity day to learn and to experience how
the factory life played out. Great activities for children!
This is where you find it: http://kart.gulesider.no/m/nn15O
Stavanger Kunstmuseum: Art for Children (6 – 10 years)
Every Sunday from 12:00 – 13:00
Art for children is a one hour offer every Sunday for children in the
age 6-12 years old, accompanied by an adult. One of the guides
takes you on a dialogue-based tour through the exhibitions and
various workshop activities. The children’s art hour is adjusted to
the temporary or the permanent exhibitions at the museum.
This is where you find it: http://kart.gulesider.no/m/nnEWU
INN Expats - June 2014
12
13
INN Expats - June 2014
13
14
No car needed – the green section
The sun is shining, the weather is nice and warm and it’s time to hit the beach! In Stavanger there
are several options within walking and bicycling distance if you want to be in the sun, have a swim
and socialize.
Vaulen (east of town)
At Vaulen you find six small, beautiful sandy
beaches. On windy days the area is well sheltered.
You find Vaulen at the end of Stasjonsveien in
Hinna. There are play areas for children, beach
volleyball nets, football and basketball courts,
diving boards, toilets and a kiosk. Vaulen is the
most visited beach inside Stavanger municipality.
Here is where you find it: http://g.co/maps/ty2fk
Godalen (east of town)
A very popular spot for the population of Stavanger and a
favorite for the younger generations. The beach is part of a
larger recreational area with walking paths along
Gandsfjorden and Storhaug. This is also a nice and sheltered
spot on windy days. The area has a playground for children, a
diving board and a kiosk.
This is where you find it: http://g.co/maps/du3yz
Badedammen (north of town / city centre)
This is an artificial enclosure where seawater is pumped in from 12
meters. Naturally the water here heats up ahead of any other
place in town. The area was developed for the first time around
1800 and rehabilitated in 2004. Here you find a small sandy beach,
toilets, two small piers, a slide and a grill. This is where you find it:
http://g.co/maps/qkt29
Møllebukta (west of town)
Have a swim at the exact spot where the Viking kings fought their
territorial battle in the year 900, later to form what is known as
Norway. The area is situated along Madlaveien south of
Madlaleiren military base. This is a small and beautiful beach that
normally gets crowded with happy people on nice summer days.
You find the famous sculpture "Swords in a rock" at the east end
of the beach. This is where you find it: http://g.co/maps/uxr2t
INN Expats - June 2014
14
15
Seasonal Info
-
Fishing licence
If you’re going to fish for salmon, sea trout or arctic char, you have to purchase a fishing license.
Children and youth below 16 years are not required to purchase the license. You can find
information and prices here: http://fiskeravgift.dirnat.no Also note that any kind of salt water
fishing is free of charge.
-
Open fire
You may light a fire in the open country but not in or near woodland from 15th April to 15th Sept.
Don’t damage trees when gathering wood for your fire; use old, dry branches and twigs. If you
make a fire on the shore, don't put it directly on rock, otherwise the rock will split".
-
Fellesferie
Fellesferie is a holiday period when all of the employees of one company, or everyone within one
group of profession takes time off work at the same time. Fellesferie is not a term in the holiday
legislation, but a strong Norwegian designation on the period of the summer when big workgroups
take out their holiday, and it is usually the last three weeks of July.
-
Buses
From the 22.06.13 – 18.08.13 busses run on reduced summer routes. The times no longer valid
will be marked as yellow in the charts. At the same time this is a good opportunity to use your
bikes. An extensive map showing all the pathways can be found here:
http://www.stavanger.kommune.no/Global/Sykkelkart.pdf
Summer Activities for Kids
There are a lot of days to fill during the summer months, and offering activities for the kids is easy
if you know where to look. At Tjodolvsgate 53 by Mosevatnet on the other side of the highway you
find Gamlingen: http://kart.gulesider.no/m/nUkQh This is two outdoor swimming pools connected
to a large area for relaxation and play. Every Sunday at Lundsvågen you’ll find seawater
aquariums, play ponds for kids, the pirate ship "Little Marcille," miniature golf, yacht charters and
food and refreshments. There’s an open gym full of equipment for children:
http://www.barnesteder.no/steder/norge/rogaland/stavanger/lundsvaagen
Visit a farm and interact with farm animals at Gausel Fritidsgård:
http://www.barnesteder.no/steder/norge/rogaland/stavanger/gausel-fritidsgaard
or fill the day with funfair activities, farm animals and barbecue at the highly popular Soma Gård:
http://somagard.no which you find at http://kart.gulesider.no/m/nUkTz Visit the Tourist
Information Offices for an abundance of different suggestions and activities. The office in
Stavanger can be found right across the road from the Stavanger Cathedral.
INN Expats - June 2014
15
16
Kongeparken – Family Park
Kongeparken is Western Norway's largest amusement park and Rogaland's most popular
attraction. Discover the delights of the magic chocolate factory where children are invited to make
real Freia milk chocolate! The park has much to offer, including Norway's longest bob run,
"brumleband", Norway's biggest merry-go-round - the Humla, Norway's highest Ferris wheel - the
Airship, and a teddy bear hotel.
Located in scenic surroundings at Ålgård by highway E39, 10 minutes from Sandnes city centre.
Visit www.kongeparken.no for more information on all the attractions, opening hours and more.
Visitors from Abroad?
This is the time of year when a lot of expats living in the
region invite family and friends to experience Norway.
The spring and summer months are both spectacular and
packed with a vast variety of options no matter what the
heart desires. To help plan their visit there are some
great resources made available through
www.visitnorway.no in a great number of languages.
The www.regionstavanger.com site is specific to the
Stavanger region and a great resource for planning
activities.
INN Expats - June 2014
16
17
Texas Days in Stavanger 18 th to 25th of June
There is an established exchange program between the cities of Houston and Galveston, USA, and
Stavanger, Norway. 70 guests will arrive from Houston and Galveston, including 50 young
representatives from cohirs, jazz ensables, dance troops, scouts and golf, in addition to business
leaders and people within the business community. Through a whole week they will they will stay
with Norwegian host families, and perform, compete and learn as much about Norway and
Norwegian culture as posible. Included on the program is a trip to the Pulpit Rock and the beaches
along Jæren. Stavanger is a sister city of Houston and Galveston, and the whole city is welcome to
take part in the program in collaboration with the host organizations in Stavanger.
Come join in, with our without a cowboy hat!
Sunday June 22nd at 11:00 there will be a concert with a cohir and jazz ensable from Houston/
Galveston at Stavanger Dome Church. Admission is free and open for everyone.
Tuesday June 24th at 19:00 there will be a concert and show with the different groups from Texas
(cohir, band, dance) as well as the local groups from Stavanger at Bjergsted v.g.s. Welcome!
INN Expats - June 2014
17
18
Welcome to Syttende Mai – by Alana Meehan
This month has marked 2 important milestones in my ex-pat life. The first: I have now been in
Norway for exactly a year and a half. And while this may seem like a rather mundane achievement
for those who have been here for a while, you should know that I have a rather fussy relationship
with the countries I live in. Basically, me staying put, and more importantly, not feeling the need to
run screaming ,“Get me OUT of here!” through the town square means that Stavanger must be
doing something right. So…way to go, Stavanger.
But the second milestone is the biggie, and I am almost
embarrassed to admit it, but here it goes: this year was my first
17thMay on Norwegian soil. I can’t exactly remember what tore
us away from celebrating this holiday here last year, but I can tell
you that I was definitely out of the country. By the time we arrived
back, the streets were clean and pristine, and everyone was
whistling, twiddling their thumbs , and acting as though nothing
ever happened. This year however, I was determined that this
holiday would not escape my scrutiny.
The buzz among the ex-pats I know, mostly long-termers with Norwegian connections, was that
this was a national holiday without parallel in the rest of Europe and other Western countries. On
the surface, sytennde mai seemed like an innocuous enough day. First, everyone gets dressed up in
their national costume, and they take the kids down to their parade, where they kiddies walk
around singing their school songs and waving flags. Then, it’s time to eat about 12 ice creams and
14 pølser. After that, the adults get THEIR parade, after which the kids start crying because they
are bloody exhausted from all the flag waving and singing and their really hot bunad and they
sugar crash from all the ice cream and then it’s time to go home, whereupon the adults can get
some serious drinking done, at home, on the boat or in town. Phew. I think I have just about
covered it.
I decided to start my own evaluation of these rituals from the balcony of my apartment in town.
From early morning I was able to quietly watch the constant flow of families, dressed to the nines
in their bunad, all heading into their gathering point for the children’s parade. As I abandoned my
perch and made my way along the streets, I felt significantly out of place in my Saturday work-out
ensemble. It was like I had been transported back 150 years in time and that any second now, I
would be noticed and have to make a serious dash for my time machine to escape the irate
villagers with pitchforks. Now, if only I could remember where I had parked that darn time
machine.
Despite my lack of appropriate attire (note to self: must buy more flags and Norwegian themed
gear next year), this was my favourite part of the day. The kids were up and excited and more than
anything else, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. And if I thought the Americans had
national pride, well, the Norwegians sure could give them a run for their money. Although I think
next year, if I may make a suggestion, you might want to consider some fireworks. They aren’t just
for New Year’s anymore, you know. Having seen everything from marching bands to barnehager
take part in this show of patriotism, I am not sure what else there is that Norway hasn’t already
covered.
INN Expats - June 2014
18
19
As the day wore on, and the children toddled off home and the adults let loose, things definitely
took a more sombre turn. I had certainly expected a significant amount of drunken debauchery and
a few laughs along the way, but it quickly became more serious than that. Although most of it was
good natured rabble-rousing, I was also witness to some rather more disturbing behavior on a
public bus, and unfortunately, the police were called. Standing at the side of the road, I had to note
that this was not exactly the kind of scenario I had expected for my first national holiday in
Stavanger, but I suppose no country is immune from acts of idiocy when one has had a few too
many “ice creams”. Don’t worry, Norway, I don’t hold it against you. All in all, you hold a pretty
good party. Think I might stick around next year.
More blog posts from Alana Meehan on www.expatters.blogspot.no
INN Expats 17th of May Celebration!
The 17th of May was as usual celebrated with parades, music, food and ice cream. Streets packed
with people and a massive display of national costumes. And this year the INN Expats group was
more than spectators, participating in the Folketog behind our very own banner. The group was
both seen and heard, as our members always knows how to throw a party. Hipp hurra!
Visit our Facebook page for more photos from the day! www.facebook.com/INNRogaland
INN Expats - June 2014
19
20
Summer Solstice
In June, the length of day culminates on Summer Solstice June 21, when you will notice that it is
dark for only a few hours at night. On June 21, the sun rises at 03:54 in the morning and sets at
22:44!
From Winter Solstice on December 22nd to June 1st the length of the day has increased by 12 hours
and 25 minutes. In Norway, Summer Solstice is celebrated on June 23, and is called
Sankthansaften.
Sankthansaften is also called Jonsok, which means “John’s wake”, important in Roman Catholic
times with pilgrimages to churches and holy springs. For instance, up until 1840 there was a
pilgrimage to the stave church in Røldal (southwest Norway) whose crucifix was said to have
healing powers. Today, however, Sankthansaften is largely regarded as a secular or even preChristian event.
In most places the main event is the burning
of a large bonfire. In parts of Norway a
custom of arranging mock marriages, both
between adults and between children, is still
kept alive. The wedding was meant to
symbolize the blossoming of new life. Such
weddings are known to have taken place in
the 1800s, but the custom is believed to be
older. It is also said that if a girl puts flowers
under her pillow that night, she will dream
of her future husband. Around this time of
the year, it is common to eat Rømmegrøt
and Spekemat (cured and dried meat).
INN Expats - June 2014
20
21
ONS celebrates it’s 40th year in and will offer a bigger exibition and festival than ever before. As
many as 50.000 visitors are expected to the venue and people from all over the region are
involved. Some offer their homes for rent, other work as temporary drivers or as extra staff at
restaurants.
The festival in Vågen is open for everyone to
attend and offers three nights of wonderful
culinary experiences, music and
entertainment. The ONS Festival makes ONS
an event unlike any other in the industry.
The aim is to take good care of all the guests
attending ONS and offer them something in
the evenings too, as well as being open to
anyone in Stavanger who wants to come,
whether they’ve been to the exhibition or
not.
The festival opens Monday the 25th of August at 17:00 and closes Wednesday 27th with a big
concert in the heart of Stavanger, the city’s intimate harbour.
Houston is one of Stavanger’s twin cities and offers a large tent to promote the close partnership
between them. The tent is open from 17:00 to 24:00. The Houston tent needs 8 – 10 volunteers.
The famous BBQ chef Craig Whitson is responsible for food and drinks. As many as 150 guests will
be served at a time. Representatives from the City of Houston will be present to answer questions
about Texas, and there will be an enjoyable briefing to promote Houston for those who have not
been there.
Stavanger Forum will also be needing volunteers to hand out programs amongst others. This is
during daytime from 8:30 to 17:00.
ONS offers a week with plenty of opportunities to build a network and valuable connections.
Anyone who has the opportunity to help out during the event can send an email to Inger Tone
within the 5th of May.
Please write to odegard@stavanger-chamber.no and specify if you would like to participate during
daytime or in the evenings. Inger Tone will invite everyone to a small get together in May and
present more information. Please don’t hesitate if any questions.
INN Expats - June 2014
21
22
INN Expats events
in June
 Bike Ride around Hundvåg
 Visit Lervig Brewery
 Maintaining a Norwegian
Home
 Job Training
 Introduction to Sailing
 CV Registration in English
 Learn to Kayak
 Trip to Kjerag
Much more on
www.rosenkilden.com
INN Expats - June 2014
22
23
INN Expats - June 2014
23