Letter 4 - My First Autumn in Oslo

Dear you,

In this letter, I wanted to share a little about my first autumn in Oslo. 😊

Autumn arrived much faster than in France. By the end of September, the trees were already turning into soft oranges and deep reds and the city slowly settled into its colder season.

I witnessed beautiful landscapes on long bus rides along the fjord, the stillness of the water mixed with the colors of the trees… it felt quietly magical.

Like every autumn, we had our share of grey and rainy days but also those incredibly bright, crisp mornings with a perfect blue sky. And I think those days make you forget all the others. They feel like small gifts. ✨

We even had our very first snowfall on wednesday, November 19th. Light flakes drifting in the cold air (around –3°C) with the sun shining above us. It was one of those days that make me dream : wrapped in a warm coat, walking outside, hearing the soft crisp under my shoes, the sun golden and low, the sky completely clear.

Now, at the end of November, the days are much shorter. As I write these words, it is 3:43 pm and the sun is already setting, painting the sky with soft colours.

Since moving here, I can’t stop admiring the sky, every day different, every day beautiful.

I downloaded the Aurora app recently, because yes, it is sometimes possible to see northern lights from Oslo. Every evening, I check my chances : 2%, 3%, sometimes more (like 20% one day) and I’ve already stayed up late trying to catch a glimpse, without success yet.

But I’m hopeful. Living a little outside the city centre, on a hill, gives me better chances this winter.

The Christmas market has been open since mid-November on Oslo’s main square but I waited for the beginning of December to go. Before that, I spent time decorating the apartment, finding little lights and ornaments to bring warmth into the long evenings.

Here, people often leave small lamps or fairy lights glowing all night and it makes the darkness feel cosy and joyful. I love walking around in the evening and noticing all these little details you don’t always see during the day.

As for sauna updates : I’m still going regularly and I’ve even become a member, ahah. The water is definitely colder now, but so far I’ve managed to go all the way in each time. Ask me again in two months… 😉

On the Norwegian-learning side : I start to understand a little more of what customers say at the café but I clearly need to practise speaking. It’s not always easy because everyone speaks perfect English here and we often switch quickly for convenience. But I’m trying and I’m hopeful. 💪

Thank you for reading these little autumn moments.

Feel free to write to me if you ever want to share, ask or simply say hello.

Sending warm thoughts from the North,

Camille