Meet local expat: Gautam
Gautam is a software developer. Here at Sellanraa Café. Photo: Gwen Elliott
A whole 12% of Trondheim’s population has an international background! We caught up with some of these locals to get a sense of why they are living in Trondheim and why you might want to, too!
Gautam
Age 25, software engineer
Time in Trondheim?
-2 years
What do you do for work?
-Software engineer
Where are you from?
-New Delhi, India
Are you here long-term or short-term?
- Long-term, I have been here for two and a half years already. I lived in Glasgow for 5 years, but 2 years still feels like a significant chunk of time.
What do you like to do in Trondheim?
-I really like climbing here. Trondheim has one of the biggest climbing gyms in Scandinavia. A lot of outdoor climbing walls are really close, so you can do outdoor sport climbing, which is kind of rare in other places because you need someone to set up the route. Trondheim also has an active climbing community. I also enjoy playing board games here. The UK and India don't have as many board game events. I don’t think I went to any board game evenings before coming to Trondheim.
What are the advantages to living here?
-I really like climbing, so that is an advantage. Compared to other countries, Norway has a good social structure in the sense that your workplace takes more care of you as a worker than they do in India or the UK. You get better benefits, better salary, and a more relaxed work environment. I like the flat hierarchy. Even though you have a boss, you don’t have to do whatever they tell you or be very deferential.
What are the disadvantages to living here?
As a 25-year-old, you would think Trondheim would have many clubbing opportunities or a thriving nightlife. But if you're not a student, there isn't much to do in terms of nightlife. I also think that Norway, in general, has a bit of a monoculture going on. So if you're an alternative person, it can be difficult to find people you vibe with. Not impossible, but still difficult.
Things are also a bit expensive here, but you do make comparative money in proportion to that.
So you have better benefits, better salary, a more chilled-out work environment. I like the flat hierarchy.
- Gautam
Gwen Elliot
Gwen has lived in Trondheim, Norway for seven years. She is studying for her Master's in Gender & Equality Studies and volunteers for Amnesty International in her free time.
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