Out and About is a column where we talk to people currently living and working abroad, or people who have previously lived and worked abroad. This week we chat to Matthew Doms, who lives in Norway.
Tell us more about yourself and where you live?
I grew up in Cape Town, but now live in Voss, Western Norway. I absolutely love the outdoors and as such enjoy skiing, paragliding, fly-fishing and I’m going to start hunting too.
What do you do there?
I work as a ski instructor in the winter, and a paragliding instructor and tandem pilot in the summer. I am also the founder of Doms Biltong.
Was it difficult to adapt in a foreign country?
It was not difficult for me to adjust as I think when living in South Africa we are exposed to a lot of different cultures and people from different walks of life. I also lived and worked in six other countries before I settled in Norway.
What are the best and worst adventures you have experienced there?
One of my best adventures involved catching a wild Atlantic salmon in a river close to where I live. It weighed about 7 kg and wow, it tasted good! Another nice adventure was when I flew my paraglider for about three hours during a cross-country competition, completing the task from Voss to Gudvangen and back. The views of the snow-capped mountains, fjords and valleys down below were breath-taking to say the least, while the temperatures dropped below -15°C at altitudes around 2 000 metres above sea level.
My worst experience must have been paying too much money for below average food.
What do you miss most about South Africa?
The people, the weather and the food.
What was the strangest thing to get used to in your new country?
The hardest part of living in Norway for me is the long, dark and cold autumn. From September the temperatures start dropping below freezing point and the days get shorter and shorter. It also seems to rain six days out of seven.
What do you enjoy most about Norway?
The easy access to nature and the low crime rate.
Are you going to return to South Africa?
I return to South Africa from time to time to visit family, but for now that’s all.
Was it easy to find your feet there?
Yes, it was relatively easy.
Is the cost of living quite expensive or pretty much the same as in South Africa?
The cost of living is the most expensive in the world.
Do you often get the chance to travel? If so, where do you like to go?
I travel often. France, Spain, or wherever I can go paragliding or fly-fishing.
With a busy schedule like yours, do you ever get some time to relax?
I do sport to relax.
What does your typical day look like?
My average day has some type of sport involved, as well as making and
selling biltong.
