MAY_UNIKUM_WEB

OPINION
Forever a
Nikola Plavsic
Writer
Photo: freepik // rawpixel.com
Have you ever thought about whether you are ever going to become
an equal part of a Norwegian society? Are you ever going to sound
native when speaking the Norwegian language and wearing the
traditional clothing during the 17th of May celebrations, confident
that you will understand everything that people mumble to you
in their drunken voices, not having to apologize that you do not
understand their dialects or that you are still learning the language.
These largely unnecessary worries do become an obsession to
some expats after some time living in Norway. The pressures
of the smaller communities that are put onto the newly arrived
immigrants can be truly overwhelming.
What are international students whispering
about behind the closed doors?
Many of us, who moved here as foreign students, have been facing
a rational fear of not being accepted, not being included, feeling
alienated, alone, helpless and underprivileged compared to most
of our peers at university. But who are we to talk about not being
privileged when we are receiving a high-quality education, free of
charge, affordable student housing, free language course, access to
many welfare services by the state and a complete freedom to be
who we truly are in Norway. But is this enough? How hard it is to
live with a bipolar-like attitudes that daily shift from a complete
happiness to helplessness and fears, that only newly arrived
international students may feel?
The alienation that one might feel after moving to Norway as an
international student (most often full degree seeking students, that
will stay here for several years) is something that is rarely talked
about outside of the social circles of the international students. The
shame of asking for help when needed and the embarrassment of
not speaking the language can cause many troubles getting used
to the life in such a small, conservative city such as Kristiansand.
The overall good image of Norway, as an international hub and
one of the most popular options for international students due to
its universal free higher education (up until 2023, sadly this has
changed dramatically overnight, as you can read about in our last
issue), has been a constant for decades. The recent drastic changes
and shifts to the right, more nationalistic side of the politics are
already quickly affecting the international community in Norway,
especially students at the universities. The richest country in the
world, proud of its welfare models and socialist views is going to
make studying in this country a luxury, if you are from the Global
South (read – less fortunate countries). Since the new law about
tuition fees will not affect prosperous EU countries, it will make
an enormous change in demographics of foreign
students in Norway.
But many students have benefited by the
generosity of the Norwegian state. The gratitude
must never be outshined by the dissatisfactions
and disappointments. The privilege to everyone
that breathes in Norway is there, without a
doubt. But does that automatically exclude the
desire to change for the better and listen to the
international students’ struggles?
UiA is a very welcoming, safe space for foreign
students that is really trying hard to accommodate
the needs of everyone, regardless of their
nationality and the power of their passports.
International students can always turn to their
study advisors who can always reach out to help
in any way they can. But as we all know, the life
of a student is not only situated in the university
micro-world setting, but equally spent outside of
the campus as well, where the local community
can be less accepting and not understanding of
the difficulties of being an expat.
Knock, knock, may I
work in here?
What has been mostly discussed
in the international circles in
Kristiansand is without a doubt,
most prominently, difficulty
of finding any kind of job.
Having access to legally
work up to 20 hours a
week but not more
than that, not
speaking the
Norwegian
language,
not having
8