I Love My Neighborhood: Osøyro, Os Kommune (Norway)

Welcome to another edition of “I Love My Neighborhood”, where I ask expats from across the globe to share the joys of local life they’ve found in their corner of the world.

If you’re just joining in now, check out the other cities that have been covered so far here.

Today’s guest post takes us to Scandinavia and comes from another country that’s a bit off the beaten expat track. Megan, an American in Norway, now lives in Oslo, but considers the small town of Osøyro her true Norwegian home — and with such gorgeous views of fjords and seafronts, it’s not hard to see why.

Megan: Why I Love Osøyro

One year ago I moved from the east coast of the United States to the west coast of Norway. Boy, was I in for a major culture shock. Moving from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the US to the peaceful and slow-paced life of western Norway was a true adjustment for me…but a rather good one as I am able to now reflect back on it. I have since moved on to living in Oslo, but my Norway ‘home’ will always be this little town outside of Bergen called Osøyro, in Os Kommune (‘Os’ is said like the ‘oose’ in the word ‘loose’, but with more stress on the ‘oo’ sound). I didn’t have much say-so in the decision of where to live in Bergen because my boyfriend already owned a flat in Osøyro, but had he not owned a place there, we probably would have ended up in the middle of Bergen, which would have never given me the true opportunity to experience and cherish my time spent in this little place outside of the city.

Osøyro is a town inside of Os Kommune and located on the picturesque Bjørnefjorden. Which brings me to my #1 favorite thing about it…

Bjørnefjorden

Bjørnefjorden is a stunning fjord (a long, narrow inlet filled with seawater and surrounded by cliffs or land carved by glacial activity) that is quite vast. I actually was able to look out of my window when living in Os and see the water. It took my breath away every day. I am actually currently in Os (I spend my time back and forth between Oslo and the Bergen area presently) and typing this as I overlook the fjord (proof above!)

Solstrand Hotel & Bad

Solstrand Hotel & Bad is an international hotel located in Os on Bjørnefjorden. It is a short walk from my flat and I often take my dog down there to catch some nice views…or nice rays in the rare event that the sun is shining. This hotel has a restaurant, spa, and seriously some of the most gorgeous views I have ever laid eyes on.

Kafe Engeline
This cafe in Os Sentrum (the center of town) is a place where I enjoy meeting my friends for coffee or tea during the week. The staff is super nice and extremely patient with me as I have issues remembering my pin-codes to my debit cards. =) It is one of the places I grew to miss the most once I moved to Oslo. Thank goodness it is always in Os waiting for me when I make the trip back for a few days!

Liafjellet

I have a dog. My dog likes to go on hikes. I like to go on hikes, too. This mountain is perfect for us to go on a mildly difficult hike and still enjoy pretty views along the way. There are different trails so keep one from becoming bored with the same routine each and every time.

Os Vaksenopplæring
Is it weird to put my old Norwegian language school on here? Probably…but I feel compelled to do it anyway. This school is an adult learning center for foreigners who move to Norway and want/need to learn the language. It was a savior of mine after moving here. I didn’t learn too much while in class because a lot of what we learned, I already knew…I just lacked confidence in applying it. But the school gave me the most important thing a language school can give you: motivation. The instructors were excellent and truly enjoyed their jobs. I actually looked forward to going to class each week, and after I left class I would spend the remainder of my day or night studying and practicing. For me, these courses were not about learning — it was about application. But for others, it was about learning, and I know many people who really learned a lot there so I think they deserve credit as one of my top places in Os.

Oseana Kulturhus

Just recently a large, stunning building was erected on the Os sjøfront (seafront). This building is the town’s new culture house. A culture house in Norway is basically a local place with a cafe/restaurant, theater, sometimes movie theater, and many other activities for the community. Oseana does all of those. Not to mention the building is green and environmentally friendly as it boasts Norway’s largest solar panel.

Mobergstranden

This ‘beach’ is right beside Oseana and a place I take my dog too almost on a daily basis when I’m in the area. It is the perfect place to let him off the leash and to run around without getting in too much trouble. And it provides the most breathtaking view of the Folgefonna Glacier in the background.

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About the author: Megan is an American from Virginia who is currently residing in Oslo, Norway after spending nearly a year in the Bergen area. She loves traveling and seeing what the world has to offer as well as exploring as much of Norway as possible. In her free time she enjoys Mexican food, American football, and trying to pretend that learning the Norwegian language has some relevance in the world. You can follow her blog at A Suitcase and Stilettos, her Facebook page, or tweet her @mstarr1188.

All photos courtesy of the author.