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Bc Andrej Sliška, Brno University of Technology,

ročník 3

About the country

Location of the place

The country of my internship was Norway. Norway comprises the western part of Scandinavia in Northern Europe. The west coast is broken by huge and amazing fjords and thousands of islands. Shape of the country is mostly defined by Scandinavian mountains. For every nature lover is Norway the paradise.

City

My work projects required traveling so I have spent my week in Norway in different cities such as Tromsø, Harstad, Bergen etc. However, the most of the time I have spent in capital of Norway, Oslo. In Oslo is also Exact company headquarters. Even Oslo has not so beautiful city center like other capital cities in Europe, in general is Oslo very nice, clean and green city, full of many modern architectural gems and amazing museums and galleries, such as Munchmuseet or Nasjonalgalleriet, witch is one of the most interesting gallery I have ever visited.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

Norway has the most beautiful nature in Europe. To see an amazing nature if you live in Oslo, you have to take ride by subway to the end station and you will be surrounded by wilderness. If you live in some smaller town, there is enough just to open window. I was lucky and I saw many parts of this country. I would definitely recommend to visit national parks such as Rondane, Jotunheimen, Hardangervidda, Dovrefjell etc. You must also visit as much fjords as possible. But my favorite part on Norway are island. My favorite are Senja, Andørja, Vesterålen and Lofoten.

Employer

Exact Geo Survey AS. Very nice company with lovely collective. This is kind of company, I would like to work in.

Work description

I worked on many different projects. The biggest project I have been participating in, was about measuring heights of state leveling net points, to get new and better precision, using static GNSS (global navigation satellite systems) method. I also worked on smaller project which were about setting out, leveling and surveying.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

I was lucky with accommodation which was relatively cheep due to it’s location. The company has refunded all my travel costs. According these facts was my salary sufficient and I have also brought some money back home.

Language requirements

I did not have to be a native speaker, but the company required good communication skills in both, current and technical English.

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

Flat was situated almost in the Oslo city center. It took just 10 minutes walking from Oslo sentralstasjon. The flat was very nice, clean and fully equipped. It has living room with balcony, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms. In flat lived four people. I lived in a shared room with my colleague. Bed in shared room costed 3500 NOK. The flat was provided by IAESTE Norway.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

I did not get offer for airport pick-up. IAESTE was organising events almost every weekend. I mean bigger events for whole weekend such as mountain weekend, Oslo weekend etc. Also trainees were organising some smaller meetings such as BBQs, museum or gallery visitation or just hanging out during sunny days.

Meeting other foreign students

To meet other trainees was able almost every day. There were organised many events. I have joined some of them and met very nice people.

Sport and culture

As well as in other countries, in Norway have people many oportunities to do sports. It depends on you if you are interested in or not. The culture of Norway is closely linked to the country's history and geography. Traveling the country you can find many museums related with religion history, fishing or ships. Oslo is full of interesting museums and galleries which I fully recommend. At first place it is Nasjonalgalleriet and than Munchmuseet, Folkemuseum etc.

Food, local specialties

I do not have many experience with typical norwegian meals or drinks. Sometimes I had waffles in waffle kiosk, which is not very common in my country. Norwegian beer doesn’t taste very lovely. But I really like products such as Snøfrisk, which is like cream goat cheese. Next stuff I tried first time in Norway and fell in love with it was mysost. It is Norwegian brown caramelised cheese.

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

There were three other Czech guys on the IAESTE internship with me. In Exact company works two Czech guys any couple other Czech student were also in Oslo via IAESTE. There was enough of Czech language around me.

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Prepare for Norwegian weather and bring a good outdoor clothes. Prepare for higher prices if you are not from switzerland or the other richest countries. If you will drive the car, read parking rules or you get very famous yelow ticket.

What not to forget with you

Money and outdoor wear.

Benefits of the internship

The intership was full of benefits. I have improved language and comunication, get many useful contacts, improved my CV and all other profesional skills. One of the biggest benefit was that I was working in the nature so I explore many places of beautiful Norway.

Cooperation with IAESTE in the foreign country

My IAESTE babysitter took me to office for foreigner workers and help me to apply for tax number. Than he went with me to my office and to accommodation. After couple week he had quit and I got a new girl but she was not responding when I had questions or needed help.

Overall experience with IAESTE

I really appreciate work of Kristýna Šimková from IAESTE Prague. She was very helpful and respond very quick and regulary. On the other hand comunication with people from IAESTE Norway was not that helpful and sometimes they did not respond. IAESTE Brno, my local office in Czech Republic was absolutely useless and ignored all my e-mails.