Education & Social Wellness for All

We had a flexible morning today, so we visited the Deichman Bjørvika Library. One of the 22 public libraries all over Oslo, the Deichman library system was founded in 1785. Located next to the Opera House overlooking the Northern Sea, this library attracts people of all ages. The library offers a great welcoming atmosphere and space for people to study, read, or hang out. I have never seen a library so lively in my life. It felt like being at a shopping mall with an interactive museum vibe. Each genre is purposefully decorated to match its topic. For example, the gardening book section has plants hanging on top, like a museum installation. It was great to see young Norwegians studying or lounging around reading. The library manifests SDG4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

At 1 p.m., we arrived at Lovisenberg Omsorg+, a local independent nursing home, where we spent our afternoon and evening with the residents. Lovisenberg Omsorg’s trademark is “The Good Day.” Their mission is to offer each resident freedom of choice in everyday life and good interpersonal encounters. We participated in their “eating with friends” program. After having lunch with the residents, we made fresh waffles. “Chefs” Mara and Hannah became experts with the Scandinavian waffle machine. 

After enjoying the waffles and hearing stories from some of the bilingual residents, we all sang Norwegian and American songs. It was a wonderful evening of local tradition and socializing, a testament to the power of community and shared experiences. The opportunity to interact with the Norwegian community was not just recharging but also a step towards promoting SDG goal #3, ensuring well-being is met at all ages.

Windshield Survey Activity

What is that smell? I wonder. 

Walking around Oslo’s downtown, I noticed the air smelled cleaner than expected. I associate city living with smog and tobacco smells. 

However, for Norwegians, this is not a surprise. 

Norway’s Climate Action Plan for 2021-2030 is a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and SDG 13 on climate action. By 2030, Norway aims to slash its non-ETS emissions by 40% compared to 2005 levels. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Norwegian government has devised a comprehensive set of economic policies that not only incentivize private businesses but also enhance the welfare of its citizens, all while significantly reducing emissions (Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, 2021). The Oslo Tram, vital for commuters since 1875, is a fully electric public transportation system with a ridership of about 132,000 (Wikipedia Contributors, 2024).

It is also expected to see people riding their bikes or using electric scooters. Bikers, vehicles, and pedestrians shared the road. Transportation injuries and fatalities used to be frequent in the city. However, in 2015, the city committed to achieving zero pedestrian and biking fatalities by 2030 (Hartmann, 2020). To achieve this objective, the city government set a goal to reduce car traffic by 33% by the same year, remove regular street parking in the city center, and close all through traffic streets. Today, one-lane streets allow cars in one direction, and in streets that used to have three or four lanes, the city reduced the number of lanes by installing bus and bike lanes (Hartmann, 2020). 

Distracted by the smell of spring flowers, I stepped on to cross the street. I missed looking before crossing, and a biker slammed on the brakes. I apologize profusely. The biker smiles at me and continues up the hill. Taken back by the biker’s kind reaction, I think to myself: It must be the smell of clean air.