- Don't find love in Norway
Simone Tangstad paddle boarding on a lake near Trondheim on a sunny day. Photo: Simone Tangstad
Moving from Germany’s southernmost wine region to Trondheim, Simone Tangstad has swapped a Central European idyll for the natural forces of Central Norway. Her journey here involved a message in a bottle, a student exchange, and the love of her life.
When we were little, my brother sent a message in a bottle, and it was found by a Norwegian au pair a few kilometers north of our home. She got in touch and invited my whole family to Norway!
- Simone
Simone’s parents didn’t need to be asked twice – they took their children to Lyngdal, fell in love with Southern Norway, and ended up buying a house there. From that point on, life was split between southern Germany and relaxing summer holidays in Norway.
“Back home in Bad Friedrichshall, my brother and I grew up surrounded by vineyards. That area doesn’t just produce grapes, though – Audi, Porsche, and Mercedes all have either their headquarters or manufacturing bases in the region.”
Horsepower was also a constant feature of Simone’s childhood. With both parents loving Harley-Davidsons, it was simply a case of holding on – Sundays were spent exploring the German backroads on two wheels. There were even day trips to France.
- Don’t find love in Norway
While studying economics in Hamburg, specializing in marketing, the opportunity for an exchange arose.
The rest of the class went to New York. I went to Kongsberg! Mum jokingly told me: ‘Come back when the term is over – don’t go finding yourself a man in Norway.
- Simone
Simone did indeed come home at the end of the term, but she had found love in Norway.
In Kongsberg, I met Espen, who was also studying there. When the term was over, I went home for my last year of study and then worked at an advertising agency in Hamburg. Espen continued his master’s in robotics and cybernetics at NTNU.
- Simone
In 2016, she decided to give living in Trondheim a go. Espen and his cousin Martin took her in at their student accommodation. Simone spent three months getting familiar with everyday life in Central Norway, including taking a course in Norwegian at Folkeuniversitetet (an association that offers adult education courses online and in person).
A language-learning course is a great way to meet others in the same situation. If you find it scary speaking Norwegian to Norwegians, remember it’s easier to practice with others for whom Norwegian is not their mother tongue.
- Simone recommends
Simone Tangstad has set up camp somewhere near Trondheim. Photo: Simone Tangstad
Everything is less than ten minutes away
Three months were more than enough to convince Simone that Trondheim offered most of what she missed from Hamburg.
Although Trondheim is much smaller than Hamburg, the culture, the food, and everything here in the center give me a feeling of being in a big city. Plus, everything’s accessible within ten minutes. The buses and trams make it easy to enjoy everything Trondheim has to offer.
- Simone
Once the decision to move had been made, it was a question of finding a job. Simone made a conscious choice to wait until she was actually living in Trondheim before she started looking for work. Searching for a job in a small city where everyone knows everyone else can have its advantages.
I carried on with the Norwegian course, got to know more people, and built relationships. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I don’t really like networking meetings. But I went to one, and two hours later, I was offered a job!
- Simone
Taco the dog on a city near hike. Photo: Simone Tangstad
In a start-up – and skiing culture
Simone found a job in marketing at Assitech, an entrepreneurial company with origins at NTNU. At this small company, she became part of a team of like-minded, fearless, and curious colleagues. However, she didn’t share their love of skiing.
A few weeks after I started there, we were supposed to be going on a ski trip to Åre, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. My colleagues had competed at junior national championships in ski jumping or were competitive snowboarders. My Sunday trips had been on the back of Mum and Dad’s Harleys, not on skis to a cabin in the middle of the forest!
- Simone
Assitech grew quickly and was acquired by Topro in 2021. Dealing with markets in 19 countries, Simone helped facilitate the transfer of knowledge from one company to the other. In autumn 2024, her journey continued to the digital marketing agency HK Link, where she took on a position as Technical Manager for data and analysis.
I enjoy taking the tram to work in the center of Trondheim – especially leading up to Christmas, when all the decorations and lights fill the streets. Plus, I get to use all my experience at HK Link.
- Simone
Simone and Taco out skiing. Photo: Simone Tangstad
Kos (cosiness) is the best thing
While embracing the new challenges of working in Trondheim, Simone has grown to enjoy skiing. With good conditions in the area from November to May and a house in Byåsen, she could hardly avoid being converted. The ski trails in Lian are just a short walk from the tram stop at Rognheim.
Skiing trips also mean the best thing of all – kos – having a nice, cosy time together. Norwegians talk a lot about the concept of kos, and that makes you feel the cosiness all the more. We feel it after a skiing trip, on Friday evenings, and at the cabin. We can even have a cosy and enjoyable time at work, especially in winter when it’s dark outside.
- Simone
As “mum” to sheepdog Taco, Simone has come to love Bymarka – Trondheim’s city forest – all year round. In the summer, she balances on a paddleboard on the lakes of Haukvatnet or Baklidammen, and in the autumn, she forages for mushrooms.
My top tip is to take the bus or tram up to Bymarka. Haukvatnet and Baklidammen are the starting points for many lovely trips. In Germany, lots of people pick mushrooms. Here, though, you can find winter chanterelles right alongside the forest roads. Just one of many little, but lovely, advantages of living in a small city.
- Simone concludes
Simone and her dog - Taco - on the beach.
Writer based in Trondheim and Trondheim.com comtributor.
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