She was supposed to stay in Poland forever. She enjoyed working in shoe and clothing stores, worked in computer graphics, and treated trips abroad as short episodes. Norway interested her primarily as a place she would like to see someday. Meanwhile a planned weekend turned into a stay measured in years.
In an interview with Radio Wataha, Paulina from Ålesund talks about how she ended up on the Norwegian coast, learned to work in finishing trades, and after the breakup began to build her own circle of friends. Her story also reveals a picture of the local Polish community — encountered at training sessions, while shopping and around the shared table after Sunday mass.
First there were books, then a ticket to Norway
Before she thought about moving, she read a Norwegian saga. Descriptions of old tales, fortresses and castles awakened her curiosity about the country.
"Gosh, someday I'll want to visit Norway," she recalls thinking at the time.
Later she met a guy who was about to go to Norway. They started texting and talking. She decided to visit him. At first she talked about a weekend, then about a week or two. Even before the trip the idea came up to find work and earn a little extra.
She didn't wait for everything to organize itself. She browsed Facebook groups, called, messaged people and asked about various jobs — from cleaning to finishing work.
She flew in on 23 September, the day after her birthday. As she says, she gave herself a birthday present that way. A few days later she saw her first northern lights.
From computer graphics to finishing work
She is professionally trained as a computer graphic designer. Before leaving she worked in retail and also did graphic design work. Over time, however, she felt that professional design was taking too much of her creative energy. Her own ideas and clients' expectations did not always align.
She decided to keep graphic design as a side, more hobby-like activity. In Norway she tried something completely different.
She began working in finishing. Painting, priming, grouting or installing membranes — she learned everything from scratch.
"They really taught me everything from the ground up," she says.
Her recollections strongly emphasize a readiness to learn. She believes that women can also do well in such tasks. She herself was eager to try and acquired new skills in practice.
A one-month stay extended to two months. She and the guy she had come to visit became a couple. The relationship later ended, but Paulina still sees that meeting as an important beginning of her Norwegian story.
"He was an inspiration and I think he appeared in my life to be that impulse for change."
"Okay, one more year"
Asked about the length of her stay, Paulina laughs at her own successive declarations. Instead of a single decision to stay forever there were further years she allowed herself.
"Every year I always said: 'Alright, one more year. Alright, one more year.'"
In the interview she is already talking about the fifth year of her Norwegian story. She does not portray it as a time without difficulties. She recalls changes, the breakup and moments when she kept more to the sidelines. Despite this, when asked whether she would choose to go again, she answers without hesitation: yes.
"It's definitely easier and somehow lighter for me here."
Ålesund: views worth stopping for
When we ask what she would show someone coming to her area, the first thing she mentions is Aksla.
- Definitely the Aksla viewpoint is top number one, you have to see it.
In Paulina's story about Ålesund the closeness of nature keeps coming back. Mountains, fjords, the sea and places where you can go for a walk are an important part of her everyday life.
She also appreciates the silence and the slower pace. In winter neither the darkness nor the weather discourage her. She notes that she herself manages well in these conditions.
After visits to Poland, however, she can become overstimulated. Returning to Norway gives her a sense of being able to breathe. It is her own experience, connected to a rhythm of life in which she feels better today.
The Polish community in Ålesund meets for coffee
Are Poles visible in Ålesund? In Paulina's opinion, definitely yes. She lists gyms, restaurants and shops. Her own getting to know the local community, however, began above all with Sunday meetings at the church.
Initially life as an emigrant revolved mainly around work, home and her relationship. After the breakup she did not actively seek contacts for some time. Later she began to open up to new acquaintances.
The meetings after mass helped: coffee, cake, fruit and conversations.
- We have such a family gathering. And it was there that I met many wonderful people, she says.
Some of these acquaintances moved beyond the Sunday meetings. Today they stay in touch and see each other on other occasions as well.
Her story shows the Polish community from a close, everyday perspective. A shared table and time for conversation helped her meet people with whom she could share the experiences of living in Norway.
Work for women: her experiences from several industries
Paulina worked in Norway on finishing work and cleaning, and currently — as she says in the interview — she is engaged in transport.
She remembers cleaning as the hardest. She points to the physical effort and situations when after demanding work attention focuses on a small shortcoming. In her personal comparison both finishing work and transport turned out to be easier.
She believes that a determined person will be able to find work, although she also assesses that it is sometimes harder for women than men. This opinion comes from her experiences and observations in the area.
Her own path has encompassed several different industries. A graphic education did not prevent her from learning finishing jobs, and later trying another occupation.
Tranquility also has a less comfortable side
What Paulina likes most about Norway can also irritate her. She values the lack of hurry, but when she wants to handle a specific matter, the waiting becomes burdensome.
In the conversation she complains about the slow pace of official matters. From her perspective, waiting for weeks, and sometimes months, is one of the biggest inconveniences of living there.
However, she does not elaborate a long list of complaints.
- I don't know, because I try not to get upset — she adds.
Movement and „Back to Yourself”
Outside of work she finds time for activity. She mentions the gym, and currently above all pole fitness, stretching and dance classes, including heels.
She also runs a TikTok profile under the name „Back to Yourself”, which she explains as return to herself. It was there that the Radio Wataha interviewer came across her for the first time.
This return to herself fits the story she tells: changing jobs, meeting people after the breakup and arranging everyday life in a place she originally came to only for a short time.
For now she does not foresee major changes. She also does not say that she already knows the answers to all questions about her future. She does know, however, that if she could go back to the moment of departure, she would choose Norway again.
- In my view everything happens for a reason and certainly works in our favor. I always start from that assumption.
This article was based on a conversation by Radio Wataha with Paulina, who lives in Ålesund. The statements were edited editorially while preserving their meaning.
