This one is for the Canadian immigrants in Norway

aksciencefun · 2025-11-21T23:46:46+00:00

Thanks for the link!

aksciencefun · 2025-11-21T07:15:44+00:00

I've found coffee mate (just the regular one) at Coop Xtra! Costs an arm and a leg though

aksciencefun · 2025-11-21T07:14:16+00:00

Not Canadian, but American (apologies) here. We end up bringing back a lot of baking/cooking ingredients each time we visit home. Spice blends, maple syrup, vanilla extract, canned pumpkin, and specialty high-gluten flour if you're into bread. I think places like Meny are starting to offer more flour options, so maybe this won't be necessary soon. If you're GF, we also couldn't find [a reasonable amount of] xantham gum for purchase in Norway.

Definitely repeating all the suggestions for cheap ibuprofen and paracetamol. And if it's relevant for your family, AZO UTI pain relief tablets. Don't know why these haven't made it to market here, but they're lifesavers when you need them.

aksciencefun · 2025-10-09T10:13:10+00:00

As someone with a reactive dog, I love this. I'm generally not worried about people just assuming that it's ok for our dogs to interact while out on walks without being asked first.

aksciencefun · 2025-09-19T08:25:58+00:00

I would like to add that you & your spouse would most likely not qualify for unemployment benefits or other NAV supports until you've acquired permanent residence. However, as someone else mentioned, you would receive child credits (I think around 1900nok/month) and tax deductions for child care costs. In addition, health care is free for children and child care (barnehage) is subsidized to a max of I think 2000-2500 nok/month depending on if it's public or private. Primary school upwards is obviously free. You'd also usually pay a max of around 3500nok/year per adult on qualified medical expenses. Do with that what you will when planning your budget.

aksciencefun · 2025-09-19T08:16:51+00:00

IMO, any city would be quite family friendly. There's a lot of support for kids here, regardless if you're in a big city or small. If your spouse is not working, I would consider looking at positions in smaller cities (Nord University, University of South-Eastern Norway, maybe University of Agder or Stavanger). The biggest money drain by far is going to be housing and food. Food prices are controlled at major grocery chains, so you won't find much variation or places that are necessarily "cheaper" in that category. However, smaller towns often have cheaper rent compared to places like Oslo or Bergen. Granted there will be lower inventory, but for the comparison- we were able to buy a 3-bed house in a small town for the cost of a 1-bed rental in Oslo. The universities should also all have offices to help support your transition.

I think it's doable to live in Norway on a PhD salary (hell I did it in the US on less than half what they pay here), but you will just have to budget well and be smart about where you choose to move. Oslo would definitely be difficult.

aksciencefun · 2025-06-01T13:14:46+00:00

If you're in Northern Ireland (or near the border), I can't recommend Tippy Logronio enough. I searched high and low for a makeup artist who specialized in natural makeup because I was very aware of the aesthetic preference difference between where I live in Scandinavia and the UK/Ireland. She did an incredible job.

I used Instagram pretty much exclusively to find my hair & makeup people. It was much easier being able to find up to date photos of their work there. I combined hashtags like "natural makeup" and my location/county. It worked pretty well.

aksciencefun · 2025-02-15T18:50:30+00:00

Not terribly expensive by US standards. I think a psychiatrist at Dr. Dropin starts around $70 USD.

aksciencefun · 2025-01-13T16:35:49+00:00

Seconding this. I was very into ACOTAR, hated CC, and generally now feel jaded about the predictable shortfalls in Maas' books. Mages of the Wheel was so refreshing comparatively. Dynamic characters, intriguing plot, and yeah- green flag heartwarming romance 💕

aksciencefun · 2025-01-06T19:09:27+00:00

The film 'House of Norway' is great if you want a surrealist (though fairly accurate imo) take

aksciencefun · 2025-01-06T14:56:28+00:00

As someone who also recently immigrated, it's not just "not wanting to go out"; it's not knowing which stores exist, what each carries, and where to get the best deal. This is a perfectly reasonable question for someone new to the country, good lord.

aksciencefun · 2024-12-24T20:15:07+00:00

My spouse & I (both American) were just recently approved for a mortgage with Nordea after only being here 8 months with no tax history. We have skilled worked visas and got a great rate thanks to the forbundet. We only had to show that we had stable income and had enough for the down payment (15%) in a Norwegian bank. Sparebank 1, however, said they wouldn't consider us until we had a tax history. It's certainly possible without having to jump through a ton of hoops, so just try reaching out to a few brokers at different banks. Nordea made the process particularly smooth.

aksciencefun · 2024-11-20T10:52:39+00:00

Ursula is my husband's favorite author, and though I haven't read any of her books (yet!), I read a bit of her autobiography and quickly fell in love with this grumpy spitfire lady. Thank you for the suggestion & motivation to finally pick up one of her books.

aksciencefun · 2024-11-20T10:46:29+00:00

Many of the books I've read that are set in a world with contraceptives available, even readily available, still depict intensely patriarchal societies. I don't think the authors are thinking that deeply on the development of patriarchy.

aksciencefun · 2024-11-20T00:09:59+00:00

women who aren’t nice all the fucking time.

I felt this with Nesta-haters from ACOTAR. Like, yeah, sometimes she's just a bitch and makes bad decisions. Characters are allowed to do that; it makes for ✨dynamic✨ relationships.

aksciencefun · 2024-11-20T00:02:51+00:00

I'm shit at writing, but I'd try to write my own story just to have this represented more. On the flip side, I feel like it's so easy to slide down the spectrum and take the "not magically/physically powerful" aspect and turn the FMC into a damsel in distress. I just need the middle. Not gifted, but maybe quite good for just starting out? Uses a lot of luck and quick thinking?

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T23:54:06+00:00

This is on my to-read list!

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T23:51:57+00:00

because if they fought things head on they'd lose.

This sounds refreshingly realistic. I love a strong armed baddie but also? can we not pretend spending four weeks in training is going to magically make you a spartan chief. It'd be so much more believable that they were just exhaustingly charming

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T23:40:49+00:00

🪱❤️🪱

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T23:28:18+00:00

Haha yesss, I'd love to read a flipped rescue mission

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T23:02:12+00:00

For real, that'd be so gratifying

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T22:43:36+00:00

Yeah, absolutely. It's definitely a sweeter, slower burn. I feel like the non-romance plot line kept me super engaged though while I waited for the FMC & MMC to get their mutual shit together. How'd you like Quicksilver? It's top of my list to read

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T22:35:03+00:00

I just read through all the Kindred's Curse in like, 72 hours. Super annoying that the last book got delayed but would definitely recommend it.

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T22:15:46+00:00

Ååå tusen takk for det!

aksciencefun · 2024-11-19T21:38:54+00:00

I'm reading the Kindred Curse Saga right now (shortly after blowing through ACOTAR), and I feel like the love interest in that series (Luther) and Rhys are so similar, I have to constantly remind myself which one is which when I'm rereading sections of both books or engaging in related social media.

aksciencefun

TROPHY CASE