We enjoyed our free weekend in Lillehammer in many different ways. Some of us explored the snowy sights and others enjoyed some much-needed rest. Surprisingly, there is a lot to do around this little Norwegian town!

This past weekend, a large majority of our group spent the weekend out in nature. In Norwegian culture, there is a concept called friluftsliv, which translates to “free air life” and refers to a Scandinavian value for time spent outside. This concept, popularized by Henrik Ibsen, permeates into Norwegian culture, and you can see people spending any bit of free time from their workday outside, or spending their whole weekend with their feet locked into a pair of skis. Well, when in Norway, do as the Norwegians, right? Several members of the group navigated the trails around Lillehammer and Sjusjøen and hiked to see what small-town Norway is really like in the winter. Many of us also tried cross-country skiing, a pastime that is near and dear to Norwegian’s hearts. It looks easy when the natives do it, but for many, this was their first-time cross-country skiing, and it showed! The views were absolutely breathtaking, including evergreen forests, distant mountains, and foggy clouds below (many of us were at about 3,200 ft. in elevation). We watched as our classmates each took their turn tripping and falling on the trails. Our group will definitely have some lasting memories (and bruises) from our time on the mountain!

With all the activity of this trip, many of us used our free time to catch up on our sleep and relax. Naps helped to relieve our sore muscles and rejuvenate our tired minds. We also had time to watch a movie, play cards, and/or go shopping. The Storgata (main street) in Lillehammer has many unique stores where you can find Norwegian sweaters, chocolate, and the infamous Norwegian cheese slicers, or Ostehøvel. Fun fact: the inventor of Norway’s famous cheese slicer, Thor Bjørklund, was born in Lillehammer and Ostehøveler is still produced here today.

Lillehammer has met and exceeded our expectations for what winter in Norway looks (and feels) like. This free weekend not only allowed us to explore the Norwegian wilderness but also gave us a chance to reset and prepare for the remainder of our trip. There is so much more to come, and it’s all going by so quickly!