It was a rainy day and we stayed inside the school building all afternoon. One of my six-year-old students came to me and said: Jeg må luftes. Meaning: I need to get fresh air.
This cover photo was taken by me in a family reunion of my husband’s family. At one point of the gathering, we were all encouraged to go for a walk throughout the property.
Norwegians value fresh air and contact with nature. It’s been like this for generations. They have incorporated outdoor activities to their daily routine. I see many people cycling to and from work, to pick up their kids at kindergarten and to have fun.
The locals go for a walk year round, no matter what the weather is like. Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær. It means: there isn’t such a thing as bad weather, just a bad choice of clothes.
On weekends, the whole family goes to parks, streets, forests, playgrounds. They have picnics, meet with friends or go jogging alone. On rainy days, the strollers are covered by suitable rain coats, everybody wears rain coats and pants, carry umbrellas, etc.
This fresh air culture starts very early. At my baby’s first doctor appointment I was advised to go for a walk with her everyday from two weeks old. They say that fresh air is good for the lungs and health in general. She didn’t like it at the beggining, but I admit I felt better with fresh air. It really helps once you suffer from sleep deprivation with a newborn at home. Those all terrain strollers are awesome.
At school and kindergarten, children are used to going on weekly tours. They learn to dress according to the weather, go holding hands and carry their own backpacks. I think it’s great, because it teaches them independence, mobility, to wait, traffic rules, friendship and to work together, in addition to the obvious benefits of exercising.
Children spend some time outside every day, even in the rain. Everybody has rain sets and boots. They use buckets and scoops, jump in the puddles, run out and about. It is great to develop gross motor skills.
In Brazil, when it rains, you stay inside until it stops. Probably it’s because the rain will stop eventually. The weather is usually very nice. In Norway, if you wait for the rain to stop, it could take weeks. So I began to understand this go outside culture. And they want children to get used to it. That’s a point I understand.
When in Rome, do as Romans do.
I decided to try it myself. Go for a walk in the rain. I had a rain jacket with a hat, rain pants and boots. The most difficult part is looking outside and taking the first step. Once I’m in the rain, I realize it’s not so bad. Last year, I went several times for a walk (in the rain) with a Norwegian friend and it was nice. It actually feels like I’m part of the nature. Integrated. You know what, it feels good after you come back inside. My cheeks are pink, I smell fresh and I feel healthy.
Great benefits
I believe there’s physical and physiological benefits in going for a walk. Fresh air is good for your brain and lungs. Walking boosts your endorphins production, which is a natural feel good effect and improves blood circulation. Exercising keeps your mind in the moment: mindfulness. It’s possible to forget about your problems, refresh your mind. When you come back, it’s more likely to be more relaxed and find the solution for them. I have a Brazilian friend from university that always does that: whenever she feels anxious or troubled, she puts on her running shoes and goes outside for a walk. She says she feels much better after that. It works for me too.
Feeling lazy? Ask a friend to join you. Researches show that we are less likely to drop exercising if we have company. Friends motivate one another. That’s what I did last Fall. Frida and I went for a walk every week rain or pour. It felt great!
Enjoy the Norwegian fresh air.
Do you like this post? Then share it with your friends. Maybe they’ll get the hint and join you outdoors 😉
Juliana, this post reminded me so much of my first months in Norway! That get-outside, go-for-a-walk, take-in-the-fresh-air culture was the first to hit me. I was lucky that I had my dog Moka at the time and was forced out for daily walks regardless of rain, hail, wind, snow, ice or storms. Now I realize these outings were actually my preventive remedy and free introductory lesson! It taught me to dress, adapt and embrace nature and the outdoors which is so crucial to integrating in the Norwegian lifestyle.
Exactly. Thank you very much for sharing your experience, Sonia.