How to change your life, move to another country, and feel fulfilled? Magdalena Hawańczak, also known as the popular magdyland, talks about her journey.
Editor: In the first interview of our series, Marta Jaroszyńska mentioned that Norway feels like her place on Earth. Is it the same for you?
Magdalena Hawańczak: It was purely by chance that I ended up in Norway, but just like Marta, I fell in love with this place. Norway is breathtaking. I often mention in interviews and on my Instagram profile the silence, tranquility, and wild nature – everything here is untouched by humans. We Poles are used to everything being neatly arranged and perfectly planted, but here, plants grow as they wish.
So, are the green landscapes what captivate you the most?
Absolutely, yes.
Do you have any favorite spots in Norway?
I have plenty! It changes year by year, depending on where my husband and I travel. We do have our favorite spots, though: Ålesund is probably at the top for me. Geiranger, the Eagle Road, and Loen are also spectacular, with their turquoise lakes that simply amaze. Røros is another beautiful town; it used to be a mining town, and now you can visit the old mine. The town’s architecture makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The areas around Måløy, on the western coast, are also intriguing. Everyone wants to see Preikestolen and Trollstigen, as they’re already iconic. I must also mention Folgefonna National Park, which is incredible, especially with the glaciers and the stunning Bondhusvatnet lake.
Do these places captivate you because of their wilderness?
I believe nature is what stands out the most for me. I remember our first trip toward Stryn, driving, and suddenly, around the corner, we saw turquoise water. I couldn’t believe it! I was in awe. Or Trollstigen – the road that’s covered in snow all winter long. Every year, when they clear it, you can only see it from above.
‘Tourists come to Norway with some expectations of these spots, but they don’t realize how many stunning places there really are.’
I don’t just travel from point A to point B, because there are so many incredible spots along the way…
My husband always jokes that I should walk across Norway because I keep stopping to take photos all the time.
On one hand, Norway has stunning views, but on the other, it has harsh weather conditions. From your perspective as a Polish woman living in Norway, how do you cope with that?
I live in southern Norway, right by the sea. Our climate is different from what Marta experiences in Lofoten or the North in general. The weather is harsher there. I’m in touch with women living up North, and while flowers are blooming here, they’re just cleaning up after winter over there.
At first, many find it tough. Some can’t adjust to the difficult autumns and winters here. In the winter, it’s dark by 3:30 PM, and the sun rises around 9:00 AM. It’s hard when there’s no sun, but you get used to it.
I love winter. I don’t need heat, I even dislike it, so I always say I’ve found my place on Earth. Those who love summer and heat shouldn’t do this to themselves and shouldn’t come here to live permanently – they should come as tourists, preferably in summer.
How does staying in touch with other Poles living in Norway look like? Is the need for contact with fellow countrymen greater?
I think so. We need that support. My profile is mainly about travel, but I also post lifestyle content, about life in Norway. I touch on topics that interest other Polish women living here, but also others. They visit my profile for the same reasons I visit theirs.
We tend to stick together in these small communities, but I do miss closer bonds. I get the impression that Poles abroad don’t integrate as much with each other as other nationalities do, like Filipinos, for example. We seem to have a strong fear of being judged. It’s also worth noting that Poles work a lot here, especially at the beginning, because we don’t receive any social support. We choose this country to live in, so we have to work and earn. The costs are enormous. I think that’s why we don’t have much time to maintain deeper friendships. Most people keep close family ties and a few good friends, and over time, that feels like enough. What matters is having great people around.
I’m quite well-liked in my community. The women here often take inspiration from my ideas, and it always makes me happy when people visit the spots I recommend.
Do you travel to other countries as well, warm or cold?
I came to Norway when I was 36. Until then, I hadn’t traveled much. I was a farmer, so I was tied to a specific place. I didn’t really travel – sometimes we’d visit family. I know everyone wants to travel a lot now, but I don’t feel that need. I’m focused on Norway.
But I do have two dreams: I want to visit Greece and Italy, mainly because of the cuisine. I’ve been thinking about it for years, but I still end up spending my vacations in Norway (laughs).
In general, I prefer unplanned travel. My husband and I pack the car and just go. Sometimes we sleep in a tent, sometimes we rent a cabin, but we never make reservations in advance. I’m always the trip planner, and I love it. When it’s time to find a place to sleep, I search for accommodation. But if we can’t find a cabin, we just laugh and say we’ll camp in the wild.
If you prefer to travel without planning, how do you decide which places to visit?
Last year, we went to Lofoten. The decision to go there was made on the way to Oslo – we had to go to the consulate. My husband asked where we were heading, and I replied that there were still so many places I wanted to visit. He said, “Let’s go to Lofoten,” and so we went (laughs).
Often, when we’re driving and notice something hot to see just a bit off the route, we turn off and explore. We approach it with the mindset that we might never get the chance to see that spot again. Sometimes, in the evening, I’ll sit in our tent or cabin and look for another spot I’d like to visit.
I’m the kind of person who will always find something in travel. It’s a form of freedom—we don’t need to rush. We travel at our own pace, exploring everything there is to see during the day. We’ll stay somewhere for a couple of nights, then pack up and move on. And I get messages from women saying that after following my advice, they stopped staying in hotels. It’s limiting—you need to be back for dinner at a specific time, and if you drive too far from the hotel, you have to return. But with our travel style, we can see so many more places. Sometimes, even we’re amazed at how it works out—it’s an incredible adventure.
You must have plenty of exciting travel stories to share. Can you tell us one of them?
Last year, when we were heading to the Lofoten Islands, I was calling campsites looking for places to stay. It wasn’t until the third call that I found availability. A man answered and said there were two free cabins. He also mentioned he wasn’t there at the moment but would leave the keys in a box at the reception, so we could just go in ourselves. Later, he asked what time we’d arrive, and it worked out that he’d be there by then. The trust people have in Norway is incredible—they just leave the keys for you.
Another story, a bit earlier but from the same trip: we sailed to the Lofoten Islands without any reservations, which was risky since it was the high season with lots of people. Once we arrived, I started calling campsites and cabins, trying to find something. Eventually, I found a place. The lady on the phone said everything was booked but mentioned that she had a boat. So I said, “We can come and check out the boat!” (laughs).
It often happens that when we’re driving and see something interesting along the way, we turn off to check it out. We take the approach that there might not be another chance to see that place. Sometimes I sit in the tent or cabin in the evening and look for the next spot I want to visit.
I’m sure, with all these adventures, you have plenty of interesting anecdotes. Could you share one?
Last year, when we were driving to Lofoten, I called several campgrounds looking for a place. The third one had available cabins. The man who answered said there were two cabins left, but he wasn’t on-site at the moment. He told me that when we arrived, we’d find the keys in the mailbox at the reception and could let ourselves in. Then he asked what time we’d arrive, and we agreed that he’d be there when we got there. The trust in Norway is fantastic.
Another adventure, a bit earlier but from the same trip: we were on our way to Lofoten without any reservations, which was risky since it’s packed with people during the season. Once we arrived, I started calling campgrounds and cabins. I finally found something. The lady who answered said everything was booked, but she had a boat available. So I said we could come and check out the boat (laughs).
‘And we ended up spending two nights on the boat. That was an adventure in itself…’
I’ve always been lucky with people. I’m open, and I believe that kindness comes back to you. It’s fantastic.
I remember our first night in a tent. We were at a campsite, and we weren’t well-prepared at the time, but everything we needed was provided for us. One side of the tent was bordered by cows mooing behind a fence, and on the other, we had a beautiful beach. I always say that the views in Norway make traveling worth it. I know people are afraid of traveling the way we do, but it’s worth being brave because it’s truly amazing.
Last year, my husband and I set out to visit all the stave churches—those iconic wooden churches in Norway. There are twenty-eight of them, plus a tiny one that’s also listed. We visited that little church last year. It’s on an island near Kristiansund, 14 kilometers from the coast, and we sailed out to see it. We had to wait an extra night because there weren’t any tickets available, but we made it to the small island. The guide told us local legends, and apparently, every bride from the island gets married in that church or not at all. The only way to reach the island is by boat, which makes it even more special.
If you hadn’t reached that Spot, you probably wouldn’t have learned that fascinating detail…
Definitely not, especially since the island is uninhabited now. There are lots of cabins, but they’re all used as summer homes. The only way to get there is by boat.
Let’s talk about courage. Not everyone has the courage to leave their old life behind and start over. What motivated you to do it?
In my case, it started when I separated from my former partner and moved out. My daughter and I simply needed money. I came to Norway because my brother was here. He had work, and I flew here with my sister-in-law, who was too afraid to come alone. My brother found us a month-long job, and we worked here for that month. Then, the decision was made to go back to Poland, and for the next two years, I kept coming and going between Poland and Norway, until eventually, I stayed. Many Poles say they come here for just a while, but that while turns into a year, then two, then ten. That’s when you have to start learning Norwegian because you’re here for the long haul (laughs). Many of my friends did the same.
‘You either need courage or ignorance. When you don’t know what’s ahead, it’s easier to make decisions.’
I feel very good here—I’ve found inner peace. I often feel calm inside, and people notice it. I get asked all the time, “Magda, how do you stay so calm?” (laughs) Of course, I’m not always so well-behaved, but I’ve achieved a certain kind of peace here. Maybe it was triggered by illness—a few years ago, I received a serious diagnosis. It brought a crisis, a breakdown, but I managed to sort it out. I told myself, “Magda, you’re alive, everything is fine, everything’s under control, and you need to enjoy life—if not now, when?” I stopped postponing happiness for later. I want to be happy here and now. And I think that’s a wonderful approach.
You’ve become an inspiration for others, especially women, showing that it’s possible to change your life and shape it differently.
I totally agree. I know I’m an inspiration to many women. I get tons of private messages. That kind of trust, even online, is very important. Women tell me they’re inspired by me—they’re changing their lives, leaving unhealthy relationships. I always say, you can start over at any time. Women my age—I’m almost fifty-four—often think their world is over, that there’s nothing more they can do. But you can do anything! We can do anything!
I’m the kind of person who can always create a home, no matter my age. I believe we shouldn’t be afraid—we should take advantage of everything inside us. I was also afraid of many things. I wasn’t born brave, but sometimes life decides for you. When I started over, my daughter was in her final year of high school. I knew I had to succeed, and that’s a powerful motivator.
You frequently share content about the books you’re reading on your profile. So, my next question is: could you name three books that you think are worth reading?
This might be a bit of a challenge (laughs), because I admit, I don’t always remember the titles. It’s like with movies—I watch them, then revisit them, only to realize I’ve seen them before. The same goes for books. If I turned around to look at my bookshelf, I’d probably find books that I’ve gone back to, books that have inspired me. I really enjoy books that deal with emotions, relationships, difficult situations, and overcoming those challenges. I also read a lot of psychological books. There was a time in my life when I really needed these kinds of books…
‘At one point, my mindset was that I wanted to change someone, make them different, but now I believe the only person I can change is myself – how I perceive someone else.’
You can’t change other people. You have to work on yourself, and I’ve worked through a lot in my own mind. What I read in these books inspired me. Not to dwell on the past, not to live in it. It’s already happened, you’ve lived through it, now it’s time to move on and live in the present… I have a few of these books, but I can’t recall the titles. Generally, though, they are women’s literature, filled with emotion.
So, would you say that books play a self-therapeutic role in your life, helping you find yourself?
Absolutely. I also want to add that it’s important to read to young children and encourage them to pick up books.
I believe books awaken imagination in our minds, allowing us to see more.
I also enjoy travel books because I learn about places worth visiting, but I admit, I do a lot of my own research too.
I think the younger generation is more focused on watching short videos on Instagram or, even more so, TikTok. It’s like you watch something, then scroll on. It’s hard to stay focused on something, and I’ve experienced that myself. What starts as five minutes of watching suddenly turns into an hour—just so you know, it’s not always perfect…
The internet is a great place for discovering valuable content, and that brings me to this question: What can we find in Findia? What kind of Hot Spots have you added to the Travel Creators Map?
I’ve added a few spots from my local area, as well as from my travels around Norway. This list is still growing, but I need to spend some time working on it. It’s often the case that we’re on a trip, see something hot along the way, and decide to stop. In my town, there are many interesting spots that have gained popularity thanks to my recommendations. For example, there are some large boulders that have now become well-known locally, but we Poles hadn’t explored them before. There are plenty of such spots, which will eventually make their way into the app…
Lately, I’ve been spending less time online because I’m focused on finishing my book, which is taking up most of my attention.
About the book, it’s a fiction book, travel guide, or something else?
It’s going to be a fictional novel, more of a slice-of-life story with some Norwegian themes. The book will feature beautiful locations in Norway, but it’s not meant to be a guide. However, if someone wants to, they could travel along the routes described in the book.
This novel is planned as the first in a series, and I believe in its success. You have to believe in yourself. I know it’s a good read because I’ve read it myself (laughs). While it’s not an autobiography, there will definitely be a lot of me in it, especially the emotions I carry within.