Meet local expat: Gunnar
Gunnar is a father of two. 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!
Gunnar
Age 42, partnered father of two.
Time in Trondheim?
-8 years in Trondheim
What do you do for work?
-I help produce video and other multimedia projects at NTNU.
Where are you from?
-From Iceland
Are you here long-term or short-term?
-I am here long-term, we integrated really well. We like living here. Culturally it is very similar to home. It’s been very easy to get to know people through work.
What do you like to do in Trondheim?
-I really like Trondheim in the summertime. We live at Lade and have access to nature and the sea. Long walks on the beach! I don’t like Trondheim in the winter time.
What are the advantages to living here?
-I just like being here, I have never put my finger on why I do like it. I think it offers everything I want in a way. I can access concerts, bars, it has enough without being overwhelming. It is easy to get around.
What are the disadvantages to living here?
-I am super content. I am really content with Trondheim. Maybe more so than other places I have lived in. I am not missing something or wanting for something. I think I found what I need here. If not, I go out and fetch it. Like travel. Trondheim is very polarized between summer and winter. We have all the students in the winter and so many cultural events. There shouldn't be so many things happening in such a small city, but because we have students we do. But then it becomes quiet in the summer. But then you also miss all the things that will happen at the same time. I guess you get the best of both worlds in a way. In the summer it’s quiet and in the winter you are offered things you wouldn’t otherwise because there are so many young people here doing things here. Socially, I think integrating - I have never had a better time integrating than I did here. In Norway you can be super lucky or unlucky depending on the people you meet with integrating.
If it wasn’t for the people, Trondheim wouldn’t have anything special to offer me and I could basically live wherever.
- Gunnar
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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