Dating

The culture I am interested in researching is the Norwegian culture. I have a friend from Norway, and I’ve asked her questions about how it’s different from American ways, and I am fascinated by some things. Since she went to school here for a year, she has experienced both Norwegian and American ways of life.

Just recently, I was talking to her about how relationships are different in Norway than in the United States. She was telling me about this guy she really liked. One night they spent a lot of time talking and they kissed. I asked her if she was dating him, and she told me, "Kind of, but not really." I didn’t understand what she meant so she elaborated.

Apparently, in Norway, when you find a person you like, you usually don’t start dating right away. You casually date several people until you figure out which one you like most. Sure, we do that in America, but most people don’t like that way of doing it and commit to a relationship when they like someone. According to my friend, that’s very rare in Norway. She said it’s kind of like a test that they have to pass in order to become exclusive with the person they like. Once they begin dating officially, that’s when they commit themselves to each other.

I just found it interesting how much laid back Norwegians are when it comes to dating. It’s just a small fact, but I wanted to share it.

~My source is my Norwegian friend, Rebecca