The well-worn phrase “a car is not a luxury, but a means of transport!” is just right for Norway. I understood this at once, arriving there. My future husband met me at the local airport and drove me straight “into the forest,” into the village of Homborsund. “It was winter, a blizzard was blowing…” , at midnight, 15 December 2010 I was met by the household: a collie dog, named Sami, the cat Kawai and two girls of 15 and 17.

I arrived on a tourist visa for 3 months and after the New Year holidays I decided to spend time usefully and go to Norwegian language courses in the city of Grimstad. Buses in Norway run to a timetable and that is good, but to some villages not very often, and that is bad for those who do not drive a car, I understood at once!

I had an international Ukrainian licence with me, but I had no driving practice, and my then future husband Ivan agreed to help me. On weekends, on an empty narrow and winding road I began to practise. In Norwegian this is called privat øvingskjøring. A private person who teaches you is called ledsager, who must be a full 25 years old — fylt 25 år and must have with him a førekort with 5 years’ driving experience. There must be in the car an extra mirror — extra innvendig speil, and at the back of the car a special sign is attached — rød L, which shows that “a pupil is at the wheel.” Practice driving can begin from 16. But one sits for a licence from 18.

Having received a licence, the first 2 years are considered “på prøve” — “probationary.” If they take it from you because of a traffic offence — trafikkforseelser, then you will have to take courses again — ny føreprøve and there will be a ny prøveperiode.

When I studied on courses, there were obligatory theoretical classes and once a question was asked: “how do you understand who a ‘dyktig bilfører’ is?” Well, I turned out to be the eldest of those present in the group and had already passed the theoretical exam, so I began to answer first: a dyktig bilfører has good driving skills — kjøreferdigheter, mestrer trafikken krav — observes the requirements of driving, understands the whole responsibility as a driver, that on the road he is NEVER alone, treats people, animals, nature and everything that surrounds him with respect. During driving everyone must be aktpågivende og varsom — alert and careful, ikke være alkoholpåvirket — without alcohol, ikke være uskikket — unfit by reason of — på grunn av sykdom eller trøtthet — illness or tiredness, and must follow the rules and road signs — må følge trafikkregler og skiltregler.

And now important words and expressions — Viktige ord og uttrykk! HMS: Helse, miljø og sikkerhet — health, environment and safety. Skikket fører — a reliable driver. Sperrefrist for førerkort — “suspension,” withdrawal of the driving licence. Førekort på prøve — that is the first probationary two years of driving. Nullvision consists of etikk, kunnskap, ansvar — ethics, knowledge and responsibility. And the last notion nullutslipp av CO2 — the striving not to pollute the environment with exhaust gases CO2.

to be continued…..