Personal experience: Life in Norway - mores, customs, traditions, way of life. Standard of living in Norway

Norway is one of the most prosperous European countries. In connection with the discovery of gas and oil fields in the sixties, life in Norway became almost fabulous.

Street in the center of Oslo

According to many people who want to leave Russia or Ukraine for "fabulous" Norway, they "fell in love" with this country as a child, looking at the magnificent illustrations of the great Kittelsen. Today, the “country of trolls” attracts not only connoisseurs of magnificent fjords and colorful folklore, which is so similar to Slavic, but also those who dream of settling in a prosperous state. Life in Norway in 2017 really compares favorably with life even in other European powers.

Most Russians, who are firmly convinced that it is truly good only where they are not, fall in love with Norway in absentia, according to numerous films, books and virtual guides. Indeed, the standard of living here is enviable, and the quality of medicine and education is more than worthy.

View of the Norwegian fjords

It is believed that in the "country of trolls" the lowest level of inflation and unemployment, and most importantly, almost communism reigns here: there are no poor, very rich - too. In addition, Norway boasts a life expectancy. Women on average live up to eighty-three years, men - almost eighty.

Also, most Russians and Ukrainians are impressed by the social policy, which includes:

Special "apartment" programs.
Special medical programs.
Free foreign language courses.
Payments for the birth of children.
needy.

And yet, you should not hope to be in a real paradise on earth. There are also significant disadvantages of life in the Kingdom.

Working conditions and wages

The level of wages in Norway is indeed very high. It is for this reason that most Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians leave for the Kingdom to work.

Salary comparison table in Norway with other countries

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that it is quite difficult for a foreign applicant to find a job in the country. Only a highly qualified specialist with a narrow focus can count on good earnings and career prospects. The rest can be in oil wells or fish factories.

Comparison of the cost of gasoline in Norway compared to other countries

Of course, not everyone can receive unemployment benefits. To do this, you need to meet certain criteria.

To whom the allowance is paid

There are the following requirements for those who wish to receive unemployment benefits in Norway:

The period of work at the enterprise is at least 8 weeks;
The person who lost his job was employed during the first three months of his stay in the Kingdom;
Working hours were reduced by 50 percent;
A person who has lost his job is actively looking for a new employer;
A person who has lost his job is able to provide an employment card every two weeks;
The person who wishes to receive unemployment benefits is not a student of one of the Norwegian universities;
A person who has lost his job and applies for benefits may submit documents confirming the legality of his stay in the country.

Comparison of various benefits in Norway with other countries

Benefit period

How long a person who has lost his position will receive unemployment benefits depends on what his salary level was last year and how much NOK he managed to earn. The level of income for the last 3 years is also taken into account.

So, the allowance is paid:

Within 104 weeks, if the amount of earnings is about NOK 160 thousand and 2 times the amount of national insurance.
Within 52 weeks if the amount of earnings does not exceed NOK 79,000.

In general, the unemployment benefit is about 63 percent of earnings. If the person who has lost his position has minor children, then the amount of the benefit will be slightly higher.

Features of life in the Kingdom

Norway is considered one of the most expensive powers in the world.

Detailed map of Norway showing border states

Prices in Norway, indeed, significantly "bite". In general, in terms of price levels, large cities such as Oslo are in a kind of "hit parade" near Tokyo. This is especially true for food products.

This is because the Kingdom is forced to import a large number of products.

Therefore, in order not to go broke on food, you need to learn how to save as much as possible and eat the way the indigenous people do.

The cost of rent is quite high. Renting a "kopeck piece" in a major city is approximately NOK 72.0 thousand.

The cost of food

In 2017, food prices relevant to average Norwegians are as follows:

Cost of clothes and shoes

Norwegian prices for shoes and clothes in 2017 are almost identical to Russian ones. Children's clothing in the Kingdom is slightly lower than in the Russian Federation. Most Norwegians prefer to shop at sales, where there is every chance to buy high-quality and even branded items at a discount of 50 to 90 percent.

Transport

In order to get from one Norwegian city to another, you will need to spend an impressive amount of money. Traveling around the city is also quite expensive. So, a bus trip in 2017 can cost fifty crowns. If you want to buy a car, you should know that it is subject to a very high tax. The average cost of a car varies within 250.0 thousand NOK. Even if you buy a car in another country, you will have to pay tax.

People who have the opportunity to buy a car or move to Norway along with their “iron horse” cannot but be interested in the price of gasoline in 2017. It is important to know that motorists can fill their car with both diesel and unleaded gasoline. The average price of gasoline is as follows:

In Norway, gasoline can be transported in a canister.

Gas cost

The average cost of Norwegian gas in 2017 was 0.80 euros. It is important to take into account that:

In 2017, the Kingdom supplied about one hundred billion cubic meters of natural gas to the people of Europe;
After the Russian Federation, Norway is the 2nd exporter of natural gas in the world;
About 95 percent of natural gas was supplied to Europe by pipeline;
Five percent of natural gas was supplied in liquefied form;
The growth in gas supplies was carried out at the expense of British consumers;
Recently, the Kingdom has supplied European countries with about 30 percent of gas.

Today, the country continues to exploit natural gas for domestic consumption.

Scheme of the structure of the gas industry in Norway

The volume of gas consumed is approximately two percent of the total volume. According to some reports, the cost of natural Norwegian gas will be reduced in 2017-2020.

Tax system

Significant disadvantages of life in this European country are associated with truly shocking taxes. Unfortunately, taxes in Norway also hurt the pocket of the average resident of the Kingdom. This is understandable, since this is the only way to ensure social benefits, which are steadily growing every year. According to some reports, more than a third of wages go to the tax piggy bank.

Residents of the Kingdom carefully pay direct, property and income taxes. The state also levies a fee on a significant number of relevant services and goods. A foreign person who managed to get a job in the territory of this state undertakes to pay tax.

Identity card in Norway

In addition, within eight days of arrival, the foreign applicant is required to contact the tax office at the place of residence. This is necessary in order to obtain a taxpayer card. As of today, the income tax is fifty-five percent for amounts exceeding NOK 81.0 thousand.

Medical services

The availability and the highest quality of medical services in the territory of this state have become a real talk of the town. The basic principle of health care in the Kingdom is to provide health care to all who need it. Status and financial situation do not matter.

Today, in terms of spending on the health of everyone who lives in the Kingdom, Norway is in the honorable 3rd place after a small state.

Hospital building in Norway

The structure of the medical system

The kingdom is divided into 5 medical territorial zones. Thanks to this, the state has the opportunity to exercise control over medicine. The quality of medical services is on the conscience of local officials.
There are 3 levels of care in total. It is represented by 4 types of medical institutions:

General health facilities.
outpatient institutes.
Psychiatric clinics.
Clinics of medical universities (this is where you can get the highest quality care).

Help for foreigners

Medicine in Norway suggests that any foreigner living in the state for more than twelve months is entitled to insurance. Also, a foreign person, regardless of his purpose of being in the country, has the right to choose both a doctor and a clinic.

In 2017, even illegal immigrants have the right to qualified medical care.
Minor children and pregnant women are entitled to free medical appointments. Unfortunately, this does not apply to dental treatment. The cost of treatment in a dental clinic is on average about six hundred NOK.

Psychological help

Many people, especially those who came to Norway from the southern regions, are psychologically unprepared for the peculiarities of the winter season in this country. Against this background, many emigrants develop a rather severe form of depression. During daylight hours, a person may have serious problems falling asleep. Often this translates into serious sleep disturbances.

In this regard, the emigrant theoretically has the right to receive psychological assistance. But to achieve this is quite difficult, since the presence of a psychological problem is recognized only when a person is diagnosed with such a serious problem as autism.

Conclusion

A well-known Russian proverb says that a fish chooses a deeper place, and a person chooses a better one. People usually go to Norway for quality education and treatment. It is quite difficult to get comfortable, if only because high taxes will eat up the lion's share of profits.

Considering that a person who is not a highly qualified specialist in any narrow industry cannot count on career growth, there is only one way out: to open your own business.

This is also associated with certain difficulties, but at least the foreigner will not be doomed to a semi-beggarly state.

Restaurant by the sea

Family reunification is also a good option. If a Russian or a Russian woman is lucky enough to tie the knot with a resident of Norway, then it will be much easier to move there forever.

“It’s hard enough to get comfortable, if only because high taxes will eat up the lion’s share of the profits.”
The assertion is false.
In the Russian Federation, a Russian pays not 13% of taxes on wages, but 43% (+18% VAT in the price of each product)! Don't believe me - google it.
Next, a very important question that you are missing is where do these taxes go?
I think that the lion's share of these taxes is returned to the people - in the form of social support, etc. (as it is done in any civilized country).
In the Russian Federation, taxes go:
- to the war;
- maintained by the police;
- for special structures, etc.
And after that, a smaller part goes to the goyim-vatan slaves. Read about the closure of hospitals in the Russian Federation, the inability to call an ambulance and other nightmares.
So I don't agree with your statement.

I was in the hospital twice a year with acute pancreatitis. The ambulance arrived within 20 minutes of being called. Three weeks in the hospital - more than 70 thousand for medicines (I looked at the price tags in the pharmacy). The doctors are great, the food is good, there is Wi-Fi. What did I do wrong? Stop telling each other fears about closed hospitals, and everything will be fine! Well, a stupid person, talking about something about vatans and goyim, most likely, another offended one and lives in the Baltic states or Ukraine, where the social. support even at the level of Russia and does not smell.
- I was in the hospital with appendicitis ... (here you might think well, yes, they will feed you a little without fried foods, etc., but no, they fed everyone like that) to be honest, they fed shit, the best thing that was in the hospital is apple juice, and the food, how to say, was SHIT … Normal porridge? It’s not better to give porridge from waste with taste (I can’t describe it, but the taste is just terrible) When they dragged rice with meat, I prayed to God to live 1 more day without food ... And after getting normal food (from friends and relatives of course) well, there are still a lot it was shit. Well, let's move on to the main apples, pears, etc. It was terrible to touch Carl to touch!!! Well, I had to (I think there is no need to explain what they were and it’s so clear “It was scary to touch”) :(... Well, this is not the worst thing, the worst thing is when a child is with you in the ward, for 2 weeks crying day and night. I I was ready to cry myself ... You can write about the beds in the hospital forever, but the horror lurked in the blanket if you want to warm up, just go f **** you will die faster than you wait for the doctors to understand that patients are also living people and they get cold. Well, the end, oh, I almost forgot, there is still coffee and tea without sugar only, and coffee with 2-3 grains is milipidric, the tea has some strange aftertaste in the ward, there is nothing except a chest of drawers and 3 more beds
  
  Mom was taken to the hospital to prepare for the operation, it was necessary to raise the hemoglobin. They found out that they did not have medicines and needed to buy their own, when after a few days there were no improvements, they asked what pills they give. It turned out - only vitamins, because. there is nothing. Of course, we bought the drugs and systems ourselves. But the question is - why did they not immediately say?
  We live in Russia, Ulyanovsk. I was lucky with the doctors - they got to good specialists. But there is no level of drug supply.
  
  Alekseyushka, my husband had a complex technological operation in St. Petersburg a month ago. The operation is expensive. My husband had a quota. The food is good. Only one thing. Before the trip to St. Petersburg, there was an annual visit to the doctors. According to various specialists. The diagnosis was made for six months. The sick leave was not given for three months. Although the husband, having arrived at the beginning of treatment on his feet, later took up the cane, and even later was forced to use crutches. experience mild discomfort. Later, I demanded that the orthopedist stop treating my husband, that it was useless to be treated for three months, and take up further examination of my husband. To me, a person who had not studied medicine for a day, it was clear that the diagnosis was not correct. And the head of the orthopedic department accused me of ignorance and exposed from the office. And as a result, I turned out to be right. Only, as I already wrote, my husband, by that time, was barely walking on crutches. And tens of thousands of money were spent on useless treatment. Considering that the husband is now on disability, this money was would not be superfluous for us. And I can also tell you about my colleague, whose son had a problem with his leg. They put him in surgery. And ... they operated on a HEALTHY leg. a friend died, who, as it turned out later, had appendicitis, and she was treated for acute respiratory infections for two weeks, although in addition to temperature, she clearly complained of abdominal pain and pain when going to the toilet. And I can also tell for a long time how they help my bedridden dad. H for example, a therapist will come, look, promise that they will come to take a blood test and a neuropathologist will come. The therapist will leave and safely forget about it. in many) HORROR,
  
  100% + real estate and auto tax on an annual basis, no matter how many times you buy and sell your property, bought with money that has already been paid income tax. You are liable to pay sales tax again and again.

I was in Norway this fall. Struck: on weekends for children under 12 years old (even foreigners) free travel everywhere (Oslo-Bergen train), metro, tram, bus, etc., attractions and entertainment - 30% of the cost of an adult (while an adult is cheaper on weekends, than weekdays). Saturday to Monday morning is a day off for everyone, even in stores. Shortened working day on weekdays (4-6 hours), maternity leave - 3 years - 1/2 mother with a baby and 1/2 father (the state pays 1,750 kroons monthly). The products are expensive, but they are edible (non-GMO), fresh, tasty, etc. Clothes are the same as ours, but a different quality of material and tailoring is felt (even in those brands that are in the Russian Federation). The police are always nearby, but not visible, everywhere is beautiful and clean. You can live there, you just have to learn how to do it (Russians were often met - no one complained).

I have been living in Norway for more than 5 years, I work in the medical field. Norway is a wonderful country, but like other countries, there are some nuances. Bread prices average 39 kroons per loaf. In such an average Norwegian store as Kiwi and Rema1000, Trout is sold filleted in 2-4 pieces and the price is 30-50 kroons, respectively (each fillet weighs 125 grams).
Next, about the third place in the world in terms of the quality of medicine. Every person living in Norway knows that medicine in Norway is one of the most expensive and at the same time the worst in Europe. You pay 300 kroons for each visit to the doctor (this is just an appointment). In addition, you never know which doctor you will end up with. I personally had to change the doctor, because he could not distinguish a sore throat from a common cold, it’s good that I thought of going to legevakt (ambulance station) myself, where I came across a doctor from Poland and really helped (any medical worker knows what serious complications the usual angina gives to the heart).
In addition, in Norway there are "dental tours" to Poland, as medicine is better and cheaper there. By the way, yes, the author writes about the cost of dental treatment at 600 kroons - this is true if there is no canal filling, because then the amount comes out to be about 1200 kroons. Also, the author forgot to add that when you visit a dentist, you also pay about 800 crowns for an examination plus treatment.
I don’t complain at all about life in Norway, I can afford a good life, but let’s not think that everything is smooth there. There are absolutely wonderful things there (cultural life in Oslo, for example, various exhibitions, concerts, etc.), but there is also bad medicine, and food prices are also not the lowest.
Do they have better education? Well, you've had enough. My child studied at a private school in America, without exams, only an essay, he entered 3 universities without any problems. It's hard for Americans to get in. I graduated from a bachelor's degree, arrived, retrained, it was very difficult, there was no training. The only thing is a good language (that was my goal), and that is American. Any of our graduates is better than an American one at times.

Norway produces per capita: 1) gas 15 times, 2) oil 8 times.
And, probably, the Norwegians work better than others from the “cook” to the “president”.
Don't forget that in pre-revolutionary Russia, badly done work was characterized as "theft", if I'm not mistaken.
So, my dear compatriots, I think that our well-being depends only on ourselves.
Well, for those who want to live for free, good riddance ... And as Kozma Prutkov said: "An extra mouth is worse than a gun."

Residents of any country want to know how their country is perceived abroad. This is especially true for those countries that not everyone can find on the map. But in some countries it can become an obsession and one such country is Norway. For four centuries it has been under the rule of Denmark and Sweden, and now many Norwegians are trying to determine exactly what their own culture is and what they would like to become famous for. Some Norwegians believe that they cannot do anything right, while others believe that Norwegians do everything right. Because of this, there is a constant war of commentators in the national news feeds.

A crisis of Norwegian identity and insecurity emerges every time Norway is mentioned in the international media. This leads to a kind of morbid exaggeration. For example, when the Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen died a few years ago, the national media rushed to tell the whole world how much the swimmer meant to the world, to the development of swimming and to Norway in particular, although only a few people in the world heard about him.

2. The main national problem is not cold, but dampness

When you think of Norway, you think of winter. Yes, in some parts of the country it is really very cold. But in the coastal part of Norway, where most of the population lives, temperatures rarely reach ultra-low levels. In Oslo, it rarely drops below -10 degrees, which is no colder than in other cities at the same latitude, such as Anchorage, Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The hinterland and the North are, of course, another story. It is generally quite pleasant to travel throughout the country during the summer. The most inconvenient thing about the Norwegian weather is quite predictable - it's constantly humid and damp.

The city of Bergen is especially famous for its rainfall (almost 500 mm in January 2015), but other parts of the country see gray, wet landscapes that leave people in the same state of melancholy as dark winters. Cold is annoying, and humidity is depressing.

3. Most Norwegians have accumulated a lot of debt.

The oil treasures of Norway gave its people the confidence to prosper. Because of this confidence in a brighter future, rental rates in the country are among the highest in the world. Yes, most Norwegians have a huge combined income and access to well-paying jobs, and in such a situation, one would think that all financial problems were left behind. But, unfortunately, this is not the case. Oil prices remained high throughout the previous financial crisis, which means that Norwegian consumers are unlikely to have felt it and therefore continued to buy houses and borrow money. In general, in the country since 2008, housing prices have increased by more than 50%, and in Oslo by almost two-thirds. Rent arrears have become one of the highest in Europe. So it comes as no surprise that the TV show "Luksusfallen" has appeared, where a pair of experts give financial advice to families on how to get rid of unnecessary habits and objects and try to help them get out of debt. Until now, the high incomes of the Norwegians helped them, but at some point the desire to earn and invest money played a cruel joke on the Norwegians. And with today's oil prices, it seems that the problem is becoming more and more acute every day. And modern reality is increasingly spoiling the mood of the inhabitants of this country, driving them into the harsh jungle of national melancholy.

4. Foreigners do all the dirty work for Norwegians

There has always been a lot of controversy in the country about the Protestant work ethic. It was considered the basis of the economic success of the Scandinavian countries, Germany and even the United States. It turns out that you can easily forget about it after easy money has appeared. For more than a decade, most of the non-prestigious service jobs in most parts of Norway have been held by Swedes. Meanwhile, carpentry, painting, plumbing and many other jobs are carried out by workers from Eastern Europe, especially from Poland. Why is this happening? Simply because fewer and fewer Norwegians are willing to take on the job. Norwegians work hard, they just prefer to do it in the office without getting their hands dirty. Everyone knows that this can't last forever.

5. Norway has a big drug problem...

Not surprisingly, the country with the highest drug overdose death rate is in Eastern Europe, to be exact, Estonia. Guess who's in second place? Norway. Oslo used to have a very large community of drug addicts, it still exists, they just got kicked off the main streets. Plenty of ports and trade connections allow drug dealers to bring dangerous drugs into the country without much difficulty and, like in most Western countries, when this problem arose in the 1970s, Norwegians simply turned their eyes away. Now most European countries have decided to deal with the problem, but Norway still does not pay attention to it.

6. ... and problems with alcohol.

Unfortunately, this problem is typical for all Scandinavian countries. It used to be the norm that you were either a complete teetotaler or only got drunk on the weekends. Since then, traditions have changed a lot, in particular, the state monopoly on the sale of alcohol began to instill continental drinking habits. Norwegians now drink several glasses of wine at dinner throughout the week... in addition to continuing to get drunk on the weekends. Alcohol is in many ways the only thing that makes Norwegians sociable, because Norwegians are by nature introverts. Alcohol has also become a vital concept and part of the national culture. In Norway, no meeting seems to take place without alcohol. In the long term, this is harmful to health, but even in the short term, weekly alcohol gatherings affect the health of both the Norwegians themselves and society as a whole. According to recent reports, Norwegians are increasingly doing stupid, dangerous or illegal things and always under the influence of alcohol.

7 Norwegians Are Still Puritans At Heart

Despite all the aforementioned problems, Norwegians still have a high sense of morality. Norwegians are still a little skeptical about people not working during the week, especially if they drink more than wine, which is a sign of high culture in the country. Many are also quite skeptical of anyone who uses drugs to enjoy life, after all, alcohol has been a part of society for nearly two millennia, so why experiment and go against the norm? For all the talk about Scandinavian countries being the most socially liberal on the planet, look at how the country treats divorced mothers, sexual minorities, or people with darker skin than usual as soon as you leave the city. Fortunately, there are few places left where hostility is openly shown (mainly in the southwestern regions of the country).

Conclusion: Norwegian social liberalism is superficial and superficial as far as it is convenient for Norwegian society in this moment.

How good it is to live or go on vacation to Norway, perhaps life and vacation in the country are completely different concepts, for example, it may be good to relax in, but this cannot be said about permanent residence in this country.

Statistics about Norway say quite the opposite, so it is good to live in Norway and vice versa it is bad to rest, let's look into this issue. So, Norway's GDP is twice that of the United States and almost four that of Western European countries, all thanks to oil and gas reserves, which in total exceed those of European countries. Thanks to the export of energy resources, as well as fishing, Norway has managed to create unprecedented socio-economic conditions for its population, which even the neighboring Scandinavian countries envy, for example, if you divide the money of the Norwegian pension fund by the population, you get an amount of $ 147,000 per inhabitant countries. It is not difficult to understand the Norwegians who spoke out against the country's accession to the European Union. The reverse side of the medal of happiness can be the high prices for "everything" in Norway, the prices even scare away tourists from Western Europe, where you can still find 95 gasoline for 2 euros per liter.

Norway has some of the worst price competitiveness in the world in tourism, land transport infrastructure is also not conducive to active travel, environmental issues and the prioritization of the travel and tourism sectors. In the ranking of countries of the World Economic Form in terms of tourist competitiveness, Norway ranks 22nd in the world, neighboring Sweden 9th.

The Kingdom of Norway is a sovereign and unitary monarchy in the west of the Scandinavian peninsula with common borders with Russia and Finland, distinguished by an extensive coastline of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea. Norway is one of the oldest still existing kingdoms in the world. Norway has signed the Schengen legislation, but is not officially a member of the European Union, it has its own currency, the Norwegian krone.

Standard of living in Norway

Norway has the highest standard of living in the world, which is supported by the so-called Scandinavian welfare model, comprehensive social security, universal health care, for example, parents in Norway have 46 weeks of paid leave.

Oil in Norway

Norway boasts huge reserves of oil, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, fresh water and hydroelectric power. A quarter of GDP comes from the oil industry. Norway has the highest Human Development Index.

Climate and weather in Norway

The climate in Norway is cool, oceanic with the influence of Atlantic storms and adverse environmental conditions, abundant rainfall, but milder winters than those of its neighbors. The capital city of Oslo is the most favorable region in Norway for living, here is the warmest and sunniest summer, from the end of May to the end of July the sun never completely sets below the horizon in areas north of the Arctic Circle, and from the end of November to the end of January the sun does not rise at all over the horizon. In Oslo, the climate strongly resembles what can be observed in St. Petersburg, however, it is rather cool in summer, the temperature rarely rises above 15 degrees Celsius, in winter it is not very cold, about 0 degrees, in general the weather is very bad, which can bring great discomfort to heat-loving people .

In Norway, you will have to sit indoors almost all year round, this life is no different from prison, you will have to wean yourself from the sun, the dark and long winter will seem endless, there is no one on the streets at this time, as everyone is sitting at home, the streets are slippery, wet, cold piercing wind, but it can also snow a few meters. Psychologists recommend drinking fish oil and going outside every day so as not to go crazy.

Population of Norway, foreigners, migrants

There are 5,136,700 people living in Norway, half of them live in the country's two largest cities. 86% of the population has at least one parent who was born in Norway, 14% of the Norwegian population are immigrants or children of two immigrant parents, about 6% of immigrants come from the EU, North America and Australia, 8.1% from Asia, Africa and Latin America. In such municipalities as Oslo 32% of migrants, in Drammen 27%, in others less than 15%. Today, about 18.5% of newborns were born in migrant families. The rate of immigration to Norway has increased since the beginning of 2005, the main flow of labor migration is from Eastern Europe, especially from Poland. The population of Norway is actively replenished with children born in families of migrants from Pakistan, Somalia and Vietnam. The largest non-European minority in Norway are Pakistani Norwegians, in the last couple of years the number of Iraqis and Somalis has been growing, from European countries the number of people from Poland, Sweden and Lithuania is growing. There are a lot of newly arrived Muslims in the country, the attitude towards them is very wary, but restrained in a European way.

Religion in Norway

Most Norwegians are registered at baptism as members of the Church of Norway, which until the constitutional amendment of May 21, 2012 was the official state church. The nature of the Norwegians is very closed, cold, Nordic, they do not let people close to them. On long winter evenings, the illusion of depression can be created, but here such evil as alcohol.

Languages in Norway

There are two of them Bokmål and Nynorsk, the first is Danish, which spread during Danish rule in Norway, and Nynorsk is an artificial language created on the basis of dialects, so half the population speaks one language, the second another, friend they almost do not understand each other, they have to switch to English, it is well understood by modern youth. Everything in Norway is only in Norwegian, TV programs, radio, street signs, courses, theaters, websites, in general, all information and entertainment component is only in Norwegian, which will be very difficult to learn.

Education and universities in Norway

There are 7 universities in Norway that offer free education regardless of nationality and citizenship, for this reason Norway is very popular with our students, this is the best way to settle in this prosperous country with a recognized diploma and save a lot of money. Do not think that Norway has a very high level of education, after all it is a provincial country, there is a very strong lack of qualified teachers, the only advantage is that Norway is like Europe. Training is often conducted on English language, Norwegian of course is a big problem to face. If you do not know Norwegian, you will immediately find yourself in isolation.

Jobs, vacancies, economy in Norway

Residents of Norway fully enjoy the second largest GDP per capita among European countries, only Luxembourg is ahead of all of Europe, but in such a dwarf state, GDP has its own specialization. Today, Norway is considered the second richest country in the world in monetary terms, with the largest capital reserve per capita. The economy is based mainly on the export of oil and gas, but the disadvantage is the dependence of the economy on world prices for these resources, for example, in 2014 and 2015, the economy of Norway, like Russia, was hit hard by falling prices for carbon minerals. A number of key sectors of the Norwegian economy are in the hands of the state

Unemployment in Norway is at a record low of just 2.6%, it is interesting to note that 9.5% of the population aged 18-66 receive a disability pension, 30% of the working population work in government in high positions in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

salaries in Norway

Norway has one of the highest wage levels in the world, also for the hourly rate, and the difference in the salaries of the most sought-after high-skilled specialists is relatively not much different from the salary of some cleaner or waiter. Many state-owned companies are considered big employers, for example, the oil companies Statoil and Aker Solutions, the hydropower industry Statkraft, the aluminum concern Norsk Hydro, the largest Norwegian bank DnB NOR, and the telecommunications provider Telenor. Norway, like Liechtenstein and Iceland, participates in the common European economic space, but such sectors of the economy as fisheries, agriculture, oil are not fully covered by the corresponding agreements, roughly speaking, the Norwegians do not want to share their wealth with poor Europe.

Jobs can be found in Norway primarily in companies that exploit natural resources, such as oil, gas, fisheries, forestry, and mineral extraction. The housekeeper boom has happened since the early 1960s when oil and gas fields were discovered, after which Norway has pulled ahead even compared to other Scandinavian countries. Export earnings from oil and gas have reached almost 50% of total exports and account for more than 20% of GDP. Norway is the 5th largest oil exporter and the 3rd largest gas exporter in the world, but is not a member of OPEC. Back in 1995, the "State Pension Fund - Global" was created in Norway, where part of the money from the proceeds from oil exports goes, the so-called insurance fund or national wealth fund in case of any crises, minimizing uncertainty from the instability of oil prices, the task of the fund offset the costs associated with an aging population.Today, Norway's pension fund has $870 billion, that's $173,000 for every Norwegian, the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.Russia, which also depends on oil prices, is trying to go exactly the same way.

Who goes to Norway

However, in order to move to Norway, you must either be very rich or have a job, preferably with high qualifications and knowledge. But again, knowledge of the Norwegian language is mandatory, globalism has not yet penetrated this wilderness so much. If you have financial savings, then Norway is for you, but on the other hand, why spend these savings on a very expensive, cold and nondescript life when there are cheaper, but sunny countries.

Norway through the eyes of Russians

In Norway today, for more than one thousand immigrants from Russia or Ukraine, in general, the reviews on the forms are favorable.

The salary in Norway is on average 5,000 euros, a third goes to taxes, if the salary is over 10,000 euros, then taxes are already 55%, but 80% can be charged from legal entities. Taxes are taken from luxury goods, often Norwegians buy everything on credit, even if they have enough money for purchases from their wallet, it’s more profitable. After paying taxes, like with an astronomically large salary, Norwegians may not have enough money for the simplest things, so prosperity here is a relative thing due to very high prices for goods, products and services, families with very high incomes are eventually forced to take out loans to buy , for example, the simplest furniture in the house. The working day is 7.5 hours, everything else is at a double or triple rate. In Norway, there is no such stratification as we have on the rich and the poor, everyone is a single middle class, there is a total leveling, there is no reason to envy a neighbor. There is no corruption, not a relative is hired, but a professional in his field. Norwegians retire at 67. By this age, old people can do whatever they want, for example, live on some round-the-world cruises or buy property in southern Europe or on the islands. In Norway, the role of social support is high, if a citizen does not have enough money for something, the state will definitely help.

Medicine in Norway

Medicine in Norway is free, but given the entire tax burden, it could be better.

Transport in Norway

Due to the fact that the country is stretched along the coast and low population density, public transport is not as well developed as in other European countries, this is especially noticeable outside of large cities. However, there is a modern rail network and highways.

Apartments, houses, real estate, rental and sale prices in Norway

Renting a two-room apartment in Oslo can cost 1000 euros per month with utilities, it seems that the price is not very high by European standards, the cost per square meter of real estate is also at an average level and much cheaper than in Moscow. However, finding an apartment is very difficult. It is depressing that there is no construction boom in Norway, the number of hunters to find an apartment is more than offers. The future tenant needs to contact the agency, which will draw up a questionnaire for him, salary data will be entered, if the person wins the competition, then he can count on living space. Local housing is warm, but inside is very modest, even compared to Soviet housing.

Food in Norway

The prices for groceries in supermarkets are simply crazy, in Norway there is practically no agriculture of its own, with the exception of fish. Almost all food products are imported, if a person does not learn to eat like Norwegians, then almost all the money will go to travel, especially the cost of fresh vegetables and fruits in the long winter. A kilogram of vegetables or fruit often costs around 10 euros per kilogram.

Disadvantages of living in Norway

Many go to Norway believing in a fairy tale that there is high social support, but in fact such support needs to be earned, social benefits are guaranteed after at least one year of official work, payment of all prescribed contributions. It is absolutely not true that the Norwegians will feed the foreign freeloaders. It is also a fact that in Norway you cannot live on social benefits.

In Norway, products, goods and services are limited. Life in Norway and even in its capital Oslo can be compared to a village in other countries, there is a lack of food, shops can work with reduced hours, the number of specialty stores and products is limited, traffic is limited, there is a steady queue for many socially important things, for example , it is difficult to take a child to the sports section, go to the gym or swimming pool yourself, in the summer many enterprises work for a reduced time. In Norway, despite the large influx of foreigners, there are no ethnic restaurants and exotic food. There are no festivals and holidays in Norway, life can seem very, very boring, many everyday pleasures are not available.

Norway is a very difficult country for migrants, it's one thing when a couple or the whole family comes here, it's another thing when one person, most likely such a person will be left alone, will only see work and an empty apartment in the evening. Those who are accustomed to the noise and joys of large cities in Norway will not like it very much.

In Norway, life is very difficult from a physical point of view, in order to walk to the store with your feet, you will have to expend an order of magnitude more effort than in any other country in the world, because you have to go through snowdrifts, ice, puddles, hills and the like. It is worth noting the problems of discrimination and racism. Medical servants are rather mediocre, the same can be said about teachers, whose level is also not the highest. You will have to rely only on yourself in everything, the Norwegians absolutely do not care about foreigners.

Eat modestly, live economically, behave calmly, do not talk too much... These principles are followed by the citizens of the most prosperous country in the world - Norway, where oil revenues belong to the people.

The first thing that strikes a visitor to Norway is the prices.

46 crowns, please. Come to us again, - the seller smiles affably, and I think that this is the most expensive Big Mac that I have ever allowed myself. In terms of rubles, it costs more than 350, that is, more than three times more expensive than ours. The so-called Big Mac index allows you to determine the level of purchasing power of the country's population. In Norway, this index is one of the highest in the world. But not only him.

For several years in a row, the country, a third of whose territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle, has been ranked first in the world in terms of the human development index. This complex indicator reflects the standard of living and the potential of the nation.

The average monthly salary of Norwegians is 42,300 crowns, that is, about 4,580 euros. But it's "dirty". Norway has a complex differentiated taxation system. The minimum income tax rate here is 27% (in Russia it is fixed at 13%), and a few years ago it reached almost 50%. VAT - 25% (in Russia - 18%). High rates are directly related to the developed social security system in the welfare state. And the citizens of the country are ready to give this state a solid part of their income, realizing that what they give is guaranteed to return to them in the form of free and high-quality medical care, decent education and social benefits. The total income from taxes paid by Norwegian residents and businesses is more than 40% of the country's GDP. The lion's share of this amount is accounted for by oil companies, which are subject to a marginal income tax of 78% (in Russia, the profit tax for oil companies is 20%).

The first oil field in the Norwegian part of the North Sea was discovered in 1969. A couple of years later, the country's parliament adopted the concept that oil revenues should belong to the people. This is how Norway went from the poorest country in Europe to the most livable country in the world.

modesty for show

The joke about Norwegians is that they are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, skis on their feet and a barrel of oil in their pocket, says Dina Johnsen, wife of the vice president of Telenor, Norway's largest telecommunications company. - But the highest good for the inhabitants of our country is to be closer to nature: to be able to breathe fresh air, admire the fjord from the kitchen window.

The Johnsen family lives in an affluent suburb of Oslo, but there are no wrought iron gates, no marble lions, no fancy spiers. Everything is Scandinavian. And so it is everywhere: outwardly, the houses of rich people cannot be distinguished from the houses of Norwegians with an average income. Everything is neat, tasteful, and the lawns near the houses are equally green and even everywhere. It is not customary to demonstrate wealth in Norway.

Recently we were invited to visit the family of one of the richest people in the country, - says Dina. - So, in the children's room they have all the furniture from IKEA. Why spend extra when you can get by with what you need?

On the streets of Oslo, people don't flaunt big brands. Instead of expensive cars, wealthy Norwegians drive electric cars. In terms of sales of electric vehicles per capita, Norway ranks first in the world. Those who buy a high-tech vehicle are supported by the state not only with low taxes, but also with a number of other benefits, such as free travel on toll roads, free parking, and even free recharging. Electric vehicle owners are exempt from the 25 percent value-added tax and purchase tax, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars per vehicle. As for gasoline prices, they are among the highest in Europe in Norway: a liter costs about 15 NOK, that is, more than 112 rubles. The state takes care to preserve the purity of nature. The focus is on alternative and renewable energy sources.

The habit of saving

Most of Norway's oil and petroleum products are exported. Domestic needs are mainly provided by the energy of hydroelectric power plants installed on numerous Norwegian waterfalls and rivers. In terms of its production per capita, Norway again ranks first in the world. The energy of wind and tides is actively used.

A whole generation has grown up in the country, accustomed to keeping the lights on, complains Sigurd Kvikne, owner of the Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand. - All because electricity prices are low.

Together with his two sisters, Sigurd runs the family business. Hotel Kviknes is one of the largest wooden buildings in Norway (8000 square meters). It is heated by electricity. Heaters are installed both in historical rooms of the 18th century and in modern ones. There are no frills in the rooms, everything is simple.

Sigurd Kvikne is also dressed plainly: sweatshirt, sneakers and distressed jeans. He prefers a bicycle to a car. You can’t say right away that you have a millionaire in front of you. Sigurd has a worthy role model - one of the richest people in the country, 92-year-old Olaf Ton. The owner of a chain of hotels and other real estate travels by public transport, although he can afford a lot.

Not only millionaires avoid unnecessary expenses, but also the head of state.

The daughter of the Crown Prince of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is in the fifth grade at the same school as our daughter, says Dina Johnsen. - I often see her father in ordinary clothes at the door of the school. He picks up his daughter after school and they walk together to the Tesla electric car. The prince helps his daughter carry the briefcase, he gets behind the wheel.

Ekaterina Bagreeva, general manager of the consulting agency, says that rubber boots and a down jacket are the clothes of a typical Norwegian, regardless of his wealth. The former Muscovite has been living in Oslo for 17 years and has long ceased to be surprised.

When I first attended an important meeting with top managers, - Ekaterina recalls, - I was amazed at the appearance of my colleagues. Everyone, except for me, was dressed in a casual, if not sporty style, brought thermoses with coffee and sandwiches, although there is a cafe in the office building. They did not hesitate to eat right during the presentation. And some took off their shoes almost immediately after the meeting began and put on warm woolen socks. Two colleagues even took out pillows from their backpacks and put them under their backs. They were all comfortable, unlike me, who was sitting with a straight back and in a strict business suit.

Not to create inconvenience to yourself and others, to avoid stress is another important feature of the national Norwegian character. She even has high technology in her service.

Only calmness

An unusual device at Gardermoen Airport in Oslo looks like a shower. A huge watering can on a thin leg, installed in the middle of the waiting room, is called “sonic shower”. This device is designed for those who are afraid of flying. If you stand on a small red dot marked with paint on the floor under the “soul” dome, you will hear the sounds of nature - the sound of the sea and the cries of birds, prayers and motivating phrases in Norwegian and English like “You are strong, you can”, which should calm passengers before the flight. In the area under the dome, a clear stereo sound is heard, as if someone is whispering these prayers directly into your ears. Take a step back and you won't hear anything.

That's all Norwegians, explains Betina Hansen, sales and advertising coordinator for a travel company. - We not only try to avoid stress, but we are also terribly afraid of disturbing someone. Violating someone else's comfort - with a loud conversation, music, or even the clatter of heels on the paving stones - is considered extremely indecent.

We are sitting in the oldest tavern in Norway, Bryggen Tracteursted. A very popular waterfront restaurant in Bergen is full of customers, there are children, but no one makes noise. After 9 pm, even in the city center you will not meet noisy companies.

- Norwegians usually go to bed early, at 9-10 pm. Disturbing by phone calls later is not accepted, says Betina. We get up early too. The working day for many begins at seven in the morning, and at 16-17 everyone strives to reunite with the family. Around this time, most shops also close. Norwegians fix their working hours on their own. During processing, the employee applies for overtime pay.

Most large companies practice the so-called "home office". This means that if there is no need to attend meetings or meetings at work, you can solve problems at home, sitting in front of a computer in slippers. True, staying up at work or in the "home office" is not accepted.

In Norwegian companies, no one fusses, but everyone is on time, Betina assures. - It is not customary to talk about work at home. The couple discuss family affairs, plans for the weekend. In cafes, they also don’t talk about work and don’t sit on iPhones.

Bryggen Tracteursted serves simple food - turnip soup and klippfisk, dried cod. The same food was cooked here 400 years ago for Hanseatic merchants. Until the middle of the 20th century, Norway was a very poor country, the locals made do with what they could get from the sea and grow on poor soil. The main food was potatoes and cheese made from goat's milk. Fish caught in the fjords were harvested for the winter. The national cuisine of Norway is peasant: hearty, nutritious and very simple. And today, Norwegians prefer to eat modestly. Rutabaga soup and cod are almost festive dishes. The principles of life that have evolved over the centuries have remained the same: to manage small, to be able to save, not to chat without a reason.

Simple life

Silent farmer Laila Quellestad treats me to gray pancakes with homemade jam. The dough is made from flour and water. Laila keeps 30 sheep on the Otternes farm, but she rarely eats meat - it's too expensive. Well-groomed lambs of the Old Norse breed chew hay behind the fence. From the lawn you have a view of the fjord that any five-star hotel would envy. The Otternes farm, or rather four peasant households from the beginning of the 18th century, is located on the banks of the Aurlandsfjord, the longest (204 km) and deepest (1308 m) branch of the Sognefjord in Norway. Laila lives in one of the old houses. Time-blackened wooden walls, a traditional grassy roof that retains heat… Picturesque, but not too cozy. On the first floor there is an earthen floor, narrow windows, similar to loopholes. A rickety staircase leads to the second floor. You can’t even straighten up to your full height there - they used to only sleep on these peculiar mezzanines. Behind the house is a corral for domestic animals. Behind its fence is a meadow where peasants have been grazing sheep since ancient times. However, for her Laila buys hay.

- Once upon a time, grass for grazing sheep was the main "money" of the peasants. This part of the meadow behind the fence is rented only for the summer. It makes no sense to pay in autumn, hay is cheaper, - Layla explains sparingly. She has no time to be nice - one of the sheep, a young bright named Marion, ran away. The animal has left tufts of wool on the mangled barbed wire fence, and Layla is in a hurry to fix it so that the other sheep do not scatter. The fugitive, by the way, has already been found on the road below. The day after tomorrow she will be taken home by a driver who brings food to Laila once a week. There is no worker on the farm; she manages all the affairs herself.

I'm not a peasant woman, - Layla admits. - In her youth she worked in the highland police. And in 1998, the state bought this farm from the previous owners in order to save it from destruction and maintain its historical appearance. There are 84 of these left in Norway. I got a job here because I want to be closer to the earth and nature. It’s like I’m working, but it’s like I’m relaxing.

Rest - do not work

If you ask a Norwegian “Where are you going for the weekend?”, it means whether you are going skiing or skating,” says driver Benjamin Rock. - Summer options - shooting and orienteering. And if foreigners spend a lot of money on holidays in Norway, then the locals need only a fishing rod and rubber boots to spend the perfect vacation. Families go outdoors. You can often see such a picture: dad shoots in the forest, and mom walks with a stroller nearby. And the child in special headphones.

Benjamin moved to Norway from Germany for a high salary. In winter, he drives a city bus, in summer a tourist bus. And in the offseason, he works as a taxi driver. Benjamin took me to the famous Borgun Stave Church, one of the oldest surviving frame churches. It was built during the Viking times, in the XII century.

Behind the church begins the ancient royal road Vindhellavegen, Benjamin points out. - Everything is marked out for walks for an hour, for two and three hours. Many Norwegians walk this road with a backpack on their shoulders. Recently I was at a celebration in honor of the 40th anniversary of a colleague. So, she rented a house in the mountains, and before it all the guests stomped on foot six kilometers uphill. In general, going somewhere with a backpack, even on a short hike, for Norwegians is the same as for us Germans, going to relax by the sea.

The German Benjamin appreciates peace and solitude, for which Norway has all the conditions: “I'm here like I'm on vacation. You go along the route, admire the scenery and relax.

For a rainy day

The absence of stress and the habit of worrying over trifles, healthy environmental conditions, confidence that the state will not “throw” and take care, give the result: the average life expectancy in Norway is 82 years.

To ensure a long and quality life for citizens in the country, a fund has been formed into which the net income of the Norwegian oil industry is deducted. Established in 1990 as the State Oil Fund (Statens petroleumsfond), in 2006 it changed its name to the Global State Pension Fund (Statens pensjonsfond utland, SPU). According to the Norwegian authorities, this name emphasizes that this is money for the future, at a time when the natural resource is depleted. As of October 2015, more than seven trillion NOK (more than $825 billion) was set aside for a rainy day in Norway. The fund is the largest in Europe - the value of its assets is more than one percent of the global stock market. The procedure for replenishing the fund is determined by the government and approved annually by the parliament; about half of the state budget's oil revenues go into it. The principal position of the Norwegian authorities is that the expenses of the state treasury are covered by taxes, and "oil" money is a reserve for "extreme cases", only 4% per year can be deducted to the state budget. The fund's assets are invested in 75 countries and 47 world currencies. 60% - in shares, 35-40% - in securities, up to 5% - in real estate.

Economists predict that in 2020 this stock will exceed the trillion dollar mark. Revenues from oil production and investments in the stabilization fund are transparent, data are published regularly. Any Norwegian can get acquainted with them. Get acquainted and rejoice that after the depletion of deposits, Norway will retain its leading position in the world and will not reduce the standard of living of its citizens.

Orientation on the ground Kingdom of Norway

Conventions

1 Sognefjord
2 Nerey Fjord
3 Aurlandsfjord

Capital: Oslo
Square: 385,170 km2 (67th in the world)
Population: 5,190,000 people (116th)
Population density: 15.5 people/km2
Religion: Lutheranism
GDP:$420.958 billion (27th)
Average monthly salary: NOK 42,300 (~€4580)

Attractions: Akershus fortress in Oslo, Hanseatic Bryggen embankment in the city of Bergen, fjords, Preikestolen rock.
Traditional dishes: Pinnekjøtt (pinnehyot) - salted and dried lamb ribs steamed on birch branches; smalahove (smalahove) - lamb's head, lutefisk (lutefisk) - dried fish soaked in alkali.
Traditional drink: aquavit (strength about 40%).
Souvenirs: Brunost (bryunost) - brown whey cheese with caramel flavor, figurines of Vikings and trolls, sweaters with deer.

Distance from Moscow to Oslo:~1650 km (2 hours 40 minutes in flight)
Time behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer, by 2 hours in winter
Visa:"Schengen"
Currency: Norwegian krone (1 NOK ~ 0.11 EUR)

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In the “Moved” section, we publish stories about how and why young people leave to live in other countries. Last year, art director and stand-up comedian Natasha Alekseevna launched the process of moving to Norway, but she already managed to gain impressions and experience that she shared with 34travel. How to get a place to live and work in Norway and feel the branded Norwegian calm - read below.

There is a lot of physical work for which emigrants are hired. But I needed experience in agencies. If you just send a cv, they may not respond. You have to come with cv, knock, say “I want to work for you”. My first month in Norway began with the fact that I arrived, and the next day I went to an interview on the radio. I came to this interview by chance - the University of Oslo threw a cry that they need radio hosts with English. But my English was not enough for them.

You drink coffee with each employer, he asks you questions - what are you, how are you, you probably feel so bad in Belarus. Do you think, what's the point, why are you asking me these questions? And for the first month, I actually attended several interviews a day. They don't want to hire you because you're not in the Norwegian advertising industry, you don't know how it works there. But at the same time they offer unpaid internships. If they tell you that your cv is left in the database, then they do just that, they can call for some kind of vacancy or internship in a couple of months. At the same time, without knowing Norwegian, it’s really possible to get a job.

If you are not afraid of menial work, or you just need money while you are looking for a normal job in your field, then there is a shaft of work. Wash the house, sit with the child, unload the wagons, cut down the forest. There is enough such work for emigrants, and the Norwegians are happy to take the Slavs for it, because they consider them more responsible. The Norwegians themselves work like brakes, everything is relaxed - why bother if they get normal money anyway.

If people are ready to take on menial work, then you can earn quite normal money. And, in principle, cleaning houses, as I did, is a dust-free job. Because the Norwegians themselves are clean. If you are hired to clean the house once or twice a week, then they will pre-clean it themselves minimally, you will come and you will clean even better, and you will get your € 60 for two or three hours of work. And the coolest thing is the attitude towards you. You come to clean, they go to work, while they leave you breakfast - coffee, a pie. Then they will call many more times, ask how you are doing, congratulate you on Christmas and New Year, leave gifts. It's like you're talking to friends.

“If you are hired to clean the house once or twice a week, then they will pre-clean it themselves minimally, you will come and you will clean it even better”

They are very much interested in visitors from Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus. They need manpower. The Norwegians themselves will not go to work for hard physical work, moreover, few of them will work for some uncle. They work for themselves, many have their own small business. Even Norwegian students do not go to such jobs. Therefore, they are interested in the labor force. At the same time, they have a very normal attitude. They receive you very friendly, they are interested in talking with a person from another country, to learn about your experience.

As for earnings in all sorts of advertising agencies, I had a shock. Because the average salary in Lithuania in such a place is around € 600 (if you are lucky and you get into a top agency). In Norway, even if you have little experience and you do not know the language at the best level, the average salary after taxes is € 2000.

Getting a job is not as difficult as it might seem. At least with the type of documents that I have. I now have a Lithuanian residence permit, not a student one, which is important, and with these documents I can come to work there. If they accept me, then I need to get an ID number in Norway, it is done through the UDI and Politi services. With this ID number, without which you cannot legally take a step, you get a job, you sign a contract and work for yourself calmly. Of course, you will have to tinker a little with the design, but in general the procedure is quick.

But the ID number is required in Norway. If you have a student visa (my friend lives there), then you can only work part-time, in principle, this is a common story. In Norway, the rules are as follows: first you get a work visa, you work for 3 years and you can apply for a permanent residence permit, and after another 4 years - for citizenship. But if you have a permanent residence permit in Lithuania (or another EU country), then you have the right to live in Norway for 90 days without work or find a job with 70% employment and obtain a permanent residence permit in Norway.

“In Oslo you meet a lot of different emigrants and few Norwegians themselves”

The most expensive thing in Norway is housing, especially in Oslo. But if this is an area where only emigrants live, then at Norwegian prices it will be more or less normal. Renting a room in a three-room apartment with a good repair will cost € 600-750. I probably would not be able to live in Oslo, because although it is small, it is too noisy, very expensive. It is much cooler to live in that Norway, which is located in the suburbs. Because Oslo is the same Norway as Moscow is Russia. When you settle in the suburbs, you see how they live, you can communicate with them. In Oslo you meet many different emigrants and few Norwegians themselves. In connection with all sorts of political things, they gradually dump away.

Utilities are also high, around €100-200 for everything. A deposit is requested and usually - for three months. In Norway, in order to save time, everyone connects to their Internet banking and pays through it. There is one trick for people like me who come and are not immediately determined. You can take individual subjects at the University of Oslo, this is called "enkeltemne". It is very easy to take, they are always there. You take 10 points and become a student. This entitles you to housing. The main thing is to do it as early as possible, two to three months before the start of studies (until the end of August).

In general, Norwegians are very, very economical people, they do not spend money on what they do not need, and on what is impractical. They are simple and invest in valuable things. Of course, everyone has different values. But what I noticed among the Norwegians and what I love very much (as one of the most important things in life) is comfort and home. Here they are ready for comfort and home and will invest a lot.

Connect the Internet, open a bank account, see a doctor - if you have an ID - go ahead. You come to the bank and make an easy account, connect the Internet to Telia, visit a doctor for a fee, of course, in any clinic by registration. But Norwegians don't get sick. Elderly people do not have a cult of the hospital and sticking around there every morning, as in Belarus or Lithuania. Because in Norway people run even at 70 - I know, such grandfathers overtook me when I ran in the morning.

It is better to move on foot - firstly, you will save money, secondly, it is your health, thirdly, Oslo, for example, is very small, you can get around it on foot. Same story in Drammen. In Oslo, people love bikes and the subway. A car is needed only if you work outside the city, it is difficult to park it and it is expensive to pay for crossing zones. To save time, you need a bike. With a city bike there is no problem at all. It's cool and comfortable. The rest of the transport in Oslo costs about €10 per trip, the travel card is about €70 if you are not a student. If you go from Oslo to Drammen, the ticket will cost about € 20. Therefore, a bicycle and on your own two!

“In general, Norwegians are very, very economical people, they don’t spend money on what they don’t need, and on what is impractical”

Fuckers like me gather in the libraries there and talk to each other two or three times a week. Talk Club. It’s easier for me to perceive the language by ear, all I did was go and listen to people, turn on the telly. For those who know English, Norwegian is easy to learn. Very similar in terms of education times and all that. You learn this base in a week, and then it's a matter of practice, you just know what you have to say, order. If you communicate, it's easy to learn. The language is very funny and interesting.

Just going out to drink coffee will cost the same as, for example, in Lithuania - € 3, no more. They have coffee shops or just coffee machine shops, with a bunch of coffee drinks, and you can just stand there and try. If you came just as a tourist and you have a budget of € 50 for three days, then you will not die of hunger there.

If you go to chain stores like Rema 1000, then you will overpay for vegetables and fruits by € 2-3 more than in stores that are usually opened by Arab emigrants. They bring products from their country, from Belarus, condensed milk, for example. Therefore, vegetables and fruits in such non-chain stores are much cheaper and better, because they are brought from warm countries.

“Norwegians seem to have a healthy lifestyle, but they like everything overcooked, but they make this overcooked at home”

As for the rest of the products, they have a monopoly on everything. There is one manufacturer that makes all dairy products. On the one hand, this is certainly good, because this is the development of the domestic market, but on the other hand, there is not enough diversity, my family lacks “their own products”. And for me, for example, this is perfect, because they have everything “eco”, gluten-free, super-healthy there. You will not see a bunch of meat in the store, salted-salted sausages - this simply does not exist. Much more racks of cereal, muesli, beans. Norwegians seem to have a healthy lifestyle, but they like everything overcooked, but they make this overcooked at home.

The stores there are like warehouses. People just buy and leave. The same with cafes and mid-level restaurants - everything is simple in them, there is no atmosphere. Drank coffee, ate and left. They lack comfort and our cuisine. They love barbecue, kebab, Belarusian and Ukrainian cuisine. Everyone I asked said that they come to our countries and first of all go to eat. Therefore, it can be a goldmine for everyone who would like to do something similar there.

“Every Friday you can fill your evening with such cultural parties, although in fact everyone goes there not because of art, but to chat and chat”

I used to hang out, go to techno parties, rap parties. There is no such thing. They have a different culture of relaxation. For them, rest means going to a neighboring city, climbing mountains, walking around. In the summer, they finish their work week on Thursday. They go to the fjords on their boats and are gone all weekend.
There is one Rockefeller club where they bring cool artists and make techno parties. But to get there, you either need to be with someone you know or pay €20-30 to get in. And at the same time be in their theme, go through face control and dress code. And this is difficult, because you come from another country and in any case you are different from the Norwegians.

But there is one salvation for those who want to hang out on Friday. The theme of art is rapidly developing in them, exhibitions of contemporary artists are held. If you monitor this, then you can go there, chat, they pour you there, you get to know everyone, because they all go in a crowd from party to party. And every Friday you can fill your evening with such cultural parties, although in fact everyone goes there not because of art, but to chat and chat. By the way, in Oslo, if you are an aspiring artist and you want to make an exhibition or installation - please. There are certain institutions you can write to, they will give you a room.

Bars are open until 3, after they are licensed not to pour. Everyone mostly drinks at home and only comes to the club to dance. There are no wild dances here. They come, sit down at the table, talk, and this is all their hangouts.

Norwegians will always help you, in any situation. I had a fight with my parents and decided that I would leave. I packed my suitcase and went to the airport. And before him 100 kilometers from Oslo. I think I'll hitchhike. While walking to the track, they approached me a hundred times, offered to help, bring the suitcase. As a result, they took me to the airport, sat there with me.

I have seen such cases many times. In the store, my grandmother became ill, she twisted her leg, fell. All the sellers ran to her, gave her water, called an ambulance, which arrived no more than 5 minutes later. Even in Lithuania people often pass by.

They always smile at you, they always say hello to you, they can talk to you in the store. You think it's cool, how friendly. But over time, it starts to strain, because they are always smiling, and you can’t understand what kind of emotion they really have. Either they are mad at you or they don't like you. Therefore, at interviews, for example, it was sometimes difficult to navigate.

In the first month I was very bored, I wanted to go back home, it was boring. But in a month you get used to this calm weekend, you go somewhere in nature, you can just walk in the mountains. At the same time, you get tired (I once walked 30 kilometers up and back and then lay for two days), but it's worth it. These are completely different sensations, you even calm down inside yourself. Those who are looking for peace should go there, live like this and communicate with the Norwegians - they are the most calm people. While I was living in Lithuania, I was wildly twitchy, constantly in a hurry somewhere, running, all kind of sad, sad, although in Lithuania everything is not so bad.

“They can turn to the state in any situation and the state will help them. They don't understand how the state can dump you."

In Norway, you relax. You can have any problem, but you know that you will solve it. It seems to me that this is due to the fact that they never experienced the stories that our countries experienced. They can turn to the state in any situation and the state will help them. They do not understand how the state can throw you. How can you ask for help and be sent. There is no such thing there, and therefore they are always calm, because they know that there is support from the state, that they will not stay on the street. And you also calm down, make your life measured. You work, even if it's a dirty job, even if it's hard for you, but you know that you will get normal money for it, you can live. Most people who go there from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia know that they will work hard. It may not be a dream job, but they know that for this money they can travel, help relatives, whatever.

Norwegians are polite. It's probably more politeness than friendliness. They are stingy with emotions. If people are friends with us, then you are directly in touch with this person 24/7, sincere conversations, gatherings, weekends. With them, everyone lives on his own, while they are very open. How I met a Norwegian. I sent cvs to all these offices, and a guy from one office found me on Facebook, wrote, let's meet at least get to know each other, we will know who you are and what you are. It was strange for me, because at that time they could not offer me anything, but they met just to talk about fashion, about the weather. In this regard, they accept you, there are no problems. But it's more of a stereotype that they're so cold-blooded. They became very interested in the movement in our countries, they are interested to know what is happening in our country and how we live.

Older people, of course, are not ready to transform into a different mentality, so they live in their own diaspora. And young people are able to integrate. It is only through mentality that one can understand why their system is structured the way it is.

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