Norangsdalen, Norway's Most Beautiful Valley

Being a new resident of Norway, I had to attend formal Norwegian language classes together with other immigrants who, like me, have chosen to make Ørsta their new home.  English is spoken and understood in the country but is not recognized as an official means of communication.  The government of Norway provides free language instructions   as part of its immersion program for non-Norwegian speaking new residents.  I had to avail of this opportunity  as I was certain there was no way I could survive in my new community using my native Ilocano, Tagalog or English.  They say you can never teach an old dog new tricks; I say no dog is too old for new tricks!   At 50 something, I like to believe I survived norskkurs!  

Going on excursions is one of the perks of going to immersion classes.  These school outings aim to introduce immigrants to Norway’s way of life, experience its diverse culture, appreciate the magnificent surroundings and most importantly, help everyone integrate themselves and be useful members of the society.  

To reach Norangsdalen from Ørsta, one takes the ferry at Sæbo

The students of Norskopplæringa Ørsta opplæringssenter which I went to took a day trip to Øye, Norangdal in the summer of 2012.  To this day, the memory of this trip remains so vivid, the jaw-dropping vistas along the way, I am afraid, have been embedded in my mind permanently.  The weather was calm with just the right sunshine to create reflections of the towering mountains on the fjords and the wildflowers of summer springing out to line our paths. During the trip, I didn’t know which side to look at as the stunning panorama was like a fairytale setting of lush forests, deep blue waters and neat gingerbread-like houses at the foot of the hills.

Welcome to Øye, Norangsdalen!

We traversed through what is known as Norway’s most beautiful valley, Norangsdalen and took a short peek at its centerpiece, the Hotel Union.  It was built in 1891 and has since been a resort favored by the members of Europe’s royalty.  The hotel has a limited number of rooms, 27 to be exact, and no two rooms are decorated the same.   Stepping into the hotel’s wooden steps and floors was like going back in time.

Feels like home - the verandah as one enters the main door of Hotel Union in Øye

Stuff fairytales are made of

Our host, Oddny, who is also known as the school’s inspector, later welcomed us into her home in Øye, Norangsdalen to partake in a sumptuous lunch of Norwegian, Asian and African cuisine.   We could not refrain from taking snapshots after snapshots of our charming countryside surroundings.  Norangsdalen is definitely worthy of a repeat visit, hopefully soon!

Lunchbreak was spent at the home of our school director, Oddny

Simply idyllic!