By Annie, Maddie, Otelia, and Lena
During our time here in Trondheim we’ve sensed a big shift in environment compared to Stavanger. What used to be a five minute walk along near-empty cobblestone streets turned into a fifteen minute walk dodging cars and bikes along bustling sidewalks. We can’t help but notice the abundance of college students and millennial workers rushing in the morning, and families of old and young walking along pedestrian paths on Sundays. We’ve moved from the budding oil city of Stavanger to the hustle and bustle of Trondheim and we’d love to share our experience with you!
One key difference between Stavanger and Trondheim has been the amount and appearance of citizens walking the sidewalks. We have noticed a lot more younger citizens that seem to have a “student” appearance, carrying bags or backpacks. These students move in smaller groups, and can be found working on homework at small cafes, just like some of us have been doing. They move through the city quickly, as if they have very important places to be and people to see. They tend to have a more “put together” appearance (no offense to Americans!) and wear more “dressy” clothes than American students do.
Having a free weekend in Trondheim, we were able to get out and experience a weekend in the life of a college student here. The University of Science and Technology holds a large presence with the campus located in the heart of the city. Curious about the nightlife scene, some of us decided to attend a jazz concert by a small local band. The crowd was mostly young people who could have been music students, fans of the band, or simply just looking for a relaxing night out. It was surprising to this demographic as we were assuming a much older audience. Being surrounded by musically enthusiastic Norwegians was comforting, and made all of us happy to know that there is a wide variety in the types of events held in this city.
Being somewhat of a college town, Trondheim also had a wonderful student center unlike anything we’d ever seen in America. Known as the Studentersamfundet, the building contained multiple clubs, bars, and even concert venues! The center seems to be open most days of the week, but hosts more events on the weekend, so going on a Saturday night was wonderful. A group of five of us went to the Studentersamfundet to see the band LOWi, who were absolutely incredible, playing a combination of indie and jazz. Our free weekend in Trondheim was filled with fun and music — somewhat typical college student experiences but across the world from St. Olaf!
Despite these differences, we feel like we fit in here! The city atmosphere and the presence of plenty of young people makes Trondheim feel welcoming. We have found many fun things to do, and an abundance of activities aimed at young people.
