Surprise, I just moved up to Northern Norway!
Okay, maybe this wasn’t so much of a surprise. I’ve already mentioned that my two week road trip through Northern Norway this past summer was somewhat of a hunt for a new place to live and well, I found it. And I couldn’t wait to share the good news with my friends, but the thing with sharing so much online is that when I see people in person they already know all of my news.
Basically all of my friends were like, we read your blog posts from Northern Norway. So you’re moving to Mosjøen!
Lol am I that transparent? I mean, I guess my blog post from Mosjøen was a bit enthusiastic. Or maybe it was just so obvious that Mosjøen is the perfect place for me, and everyone could see it.
Mosjøen is super pretty and in Northern Norway but still south of the Arctic Circle, so it still gets a bit of sun in the winter. It’s halfway between Trondheim and Bodø, two of my favorite Norwegian cities, and it’s 10x the size of Rauland but still small enough that it might have some nice community vibes. Like on Friday everyone gathered to eat porridge at the world’s longest porridge table in the town center. I like porridge, so maybe I’ll fit in?
But what I really loved about Mosjøen is how much love the locals have for the town. As soon as I published my blog post about my time there locals were commenting and even emailing me saying they were so happy I enjoyed it. So much pride!
It was such a nice change from local feelings towards Rauland, where pretty much everyone says that it used to be such a lovely place, but now it is getting way too crowded with ski tourists and it’s not the same anymore. Being told that the place you’re living used to be nice is such a bummer!
I’m also so excited to have a new region of Norway to explore. You know I’m always encouraging people to get off the beaten path in Norway, as there is really no reason to stand in a crowd of tourists while in Norway. This country is enormous and filled with beauty, so I always get frustrated when all the tourists only visit the most famous towns and hikes.
And honestly I think Helgeland offers all the very best of Norway.
Plus northerners just seem so much cooler, to the point where when I talk to people up here I’m equally thrilled to listen to their dreamy accents and horrified to open my mouth and realize I sound like a southerner (actually technically Norwegians would call my Norwegian “eastern”). My Norwegian is still a work in progress though so… maybe I can work it in a northerly direction?
I also loved driving across the border into northern Norway and seeing the huge elaborately designed sign over the road marking the beginning of the north – I even turned around to see if the south was as prideful in their sign and nope, it was just a little note marking the start of the next county.
But the best part of all was when I was getting close to Mosjøen and the northern lights came out! So I basically drove home into the northern lights, it was so magical. And surely a good omen of things to come? I hope so, because I sort of never want to move again. My arms are still sore from carrying that sofa (plus I would just love to have a permanent home to call home – saying goodbye to friends is the saddest).
That’s all my news for now – I’m actually traveling around northern Norway this week so I’m getting my first chance to feel homesick for Mosjøen. So stay tuned for blog posts from Senja, Dyrøy, Bodø, Lofoten, Vesterålen, and the Helgeland coast! In the meantime you can follow along on Instagram.
Also if anyone has any suggestions for what sort of car to buy when I get back home I am all ears.
Mikaela says
I’ve never heard of this place, but from your photos I now feel a strong need to go. Happy you’ve found a new home in Norway and I hope you’re loving it.
Cheers from Canada!
Nynke says
Wow! Congratulations! And on the car, I’d just like to say: please do buy one! Preferably a four-wheel-drive, I guess? And with winter tires!
Emily says
This place is beautiful and sounds wonderful…I love the idea of it having a community feel! Congrats!
Ragnhild says
Congratulations on the move! Mosjøen looks so cute! Especially those colourful houses 🙂
Norm says
Very exciting! The village sounds totally charming. I hope to make a move like that one day.
Renates Reiser says
Seems like you made a good choice. Mosjøen is such a cute place, and it looks absolutely dreamy in the snow! I wish you all the best. 🙂 Oh, and I would get a car that has a heated windshield. It’s such a drag to wait for the ice to melt or have to scrape it off every morning… >_< Haha.
Charlotte says
I could totally fall in love with those pink and yellow houses too! <3
Cato says
Welcome to Mosjøen =)
Daniel Heggli says
This is so cool – it is really interesting to read something about a somewhat small community that one lives in from a “foreigner”!
Welcome to Mosjøen/Velkommen til Mosjøen, I’m sure you’ll love it here!
Dominique | dominiquetravels.com says
Wow what an impressive move! It looks beautiful! Especially in summer this must be a really nice place!
Kelsey says
Oh my gosh I am so excited for you! It looks sooo pretty. As a self-professed Norwaphile (like a francophile??) I can’t wait to see what it’s like living there and your content from northern Norway, too!
camila @ adventitious violet says
It looks so beautiful and charming, I understand the enthusiasm! Excited to read more about it!
McKenzie Allyshia says
Oh my goodness those photos are absolutely stunning! I can easily see why you are choosing to make Mosjøen your home. My grandpa’s mother and father came from Norway and it has always been a dream of mine to visit one day. This post makes me want to bump it up on my “to do” list.
Nina says
Hi! I found your blog by accident because my husband got relocated to mosjoen in April for a 5 month assignment. Myself and two children, 18 months and 3.5 will be going with him. I know NOTHING about it. Would you be up for an email to give me some tips?! Thank you!
Silvia says
Oh wow, how exciting! I’m not really sure I have any tips to give as I’ve only been living here for a couple of months, and I’ve been away traveling a lot during that time, but of course feel free to get in touch. And good luck with the move!
Nina Victor says
Hi!!! So we e been in a mosjoen now for about 2.5 weeks and it is definitely an adjustment!!! Where are you originally from? I’d love to pick your brain about it! Could I email you?! I never realized how small a place could be…beautiful though!!
Silvia says
Of course, you can email me at silvia@heartmybackpack.com