68 responses so far ↓

• 1 RennyBA // Sep 20, 2007 at 9:13 am

  Welcome to Norway and thanks for sharing your experiences as an expat. I think even Norwegians can learn something from reading your blog so keep up the good work!

• 2 Zach Behrens // Oct 4, 2007 at 7:26 am

  Your contact page seems to be broken, so I’m “e-mailing” in comment form. Feel free to delete this.

  Hey Kristie,

  I just read the article in METRO Magazine about your blog. Loved the stories you told.

  I would love to interview you for LAist.com, Los Angeles’ most popular metroblog. We usually do a 20 Q&A via e-mail. Half of the questions are easy little one-liners and the other half are the more fun and in depth story time type of stuff.

  Let me know if you are interested! I think readers would really enjoy!

  All the best,

  Zach Behrens
  Co-Editor

• 3 Peter // Oct 12, 2007 at 10:28 am

  Hi Kristie,

  Great blog and pictures too. Not only is it helpful but I’m sure A LOT of readers are enjoying your charming and well-written stories.

  I’m moving to Oslo at the end of October (2007) and have actually lived in LA for the last 4 years so I can relate to a few of your fustrations! (Hope you didn’t find it too cold!!..) Just like you, I’m going to be starting a whole new chapter in life and I must say, after spending days searching for any tips and advice, your blog definately puts a winning spin on things. Keep up the great work.

  Peter

• 4 Alex Garcia // Oct 12, 2007 at 1:56 pm

  Hi, thanks for visiting my Brisbane page. Sorry about the chat feature. I took it out, because nobody was using it. It will be back for limited time (till Monday if nobody uses it), if you want to give it a try.

• 5 Kerri at Abellamiento // Oct 13, 2007 at 6:17 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  What I have done in the past for my international buyers is to charge them only for the international shipping portion of the charge, for example, if the highest charge for shipping across the US was $10 and the difference left over for international shipping was $20, then I would only charge the $20. I hope that helps illustrate what I try to do to help out my international customers. Let me know if you have any other questions, and I sure do enjoy your blog!

  Best wishes,
  Kerri
  http://www.abellamiento.com
  http://www.abellamiento.ecrater.com

• 6 Taural // Oct 28, 2007 at 11:22 am

  Hi Kristie,
  I’ve enjoyed exploring your blog an getting to vicariously know a bit about you and your adventure. It’s always of great interest to me to see what other ex-pats go through and experience. I’m looking forward to reading more.
  Cheers
  Taural
  http://www.mygermanyonline.com

• 7 Jon Allen // Oct 31, 2007 at 2:30 pm

  Hi Kristie,
  I like the blog. I’ve been to Norway once and really enjoyed it. It must be a great place to live.

  I found you from blogrush.com

  PS.
  You may want to check the spelling of disclosure on your policy page :)

• 8 Jerry Graffam // Nov 2, 2007 at 3:51 am

  Okay, Kristie, if I were to guess, I would say that the above picture is taken from close to the same spot as the one of the front page, but shooting a different angle. Yes? No? Maybe a little? ~Jerry

• 9 Sigbjorn // Nov 6, 2007 at 9:43 pm

  Hey Kristie! I found your blog while searching for something about differences between Americans and Norwegians. This is because I’m actually a Norwegian having the joy of living in US for a year. I really liked your small stories (no free refills at McD hehe), and I hope you are settling in well in Oslo. Anyway, you made me curious, so I’ll guess I have to return to your blog every once in a while to see how you’re doing… :-)

• 10 Joshua Lomax // Nov 15, 2007 at 5:52 am

  Hey, great site. I am an American, living in Seattle, Washington. I have a desire to look into living in Norway before I settle down. I am 22 years old and very out going. I own a small construction company, I have a carpenter’s and painter’s skill set. I work hard, and am worried about the language barrier, how to immigrate, and how to find work. I would very much appreciate any assistance you could offer me. Do they have the opposite of ESL (English as a Second Language?)

• 11 Lynne McGuire // Nov 16, 2007 at 5:43 am

  Kristie!
  It took me a while to figure out that this was really YOU writing. Have you ever considered writing as a career: I am serious. When I first saw your blog, I ignored most of it because I figured it was some professional doing the entries. You are a really interesting read!
  Sorry I have no web site, but I am one of those loser Moms who have IDEA how to do such things (but I can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich.)
  I can’t believe you are gallavanding in Europa! I’d say Olé, but that’s too Spanish, and you haven’t been there yet: how about woot, woot!
  Loveto you from Lynne (but everyone calls me Pin now. Must be my boyish figure.)

• 12 Andrea // Nov 25, 2007 at 3:06 am

  Hi Kristie,

  I saw your blog listed in my Google Alert today for ‘expat’. I was in Oslo in September for a conference, so was very interested to read about you in Oslo. I was only there briefly, but it looked like a beautiful place.

  If you’d like to list your blog on our Expat Women Blog Directory, please visit our site and do so.

  Thanks Kristie!

  Andrea
  Co-Founder, ExpatWomen.com

• 13 Sofia // Nov 29, 2007 at 8:14 pm

  Hi! I found your you through expat-blog. I’m also an expat and have done my share of traveling but right now I’m looking for a new job in some pretty random locations and Oslo is one of them!
  Your posts are very sweet and I’ve enjoyed reading them, I’ll be back to read more for sure. I hope I’ll learn some more about Oslo to see if this is a city I may like to live in.
  Feel free to check out my blog anytime :]
  ~Sofia

• 14 Benedicte // Dec 5, 2007 at 12:01 am

  Hi! Found your blog searhing for weird things about Norway/Norwegians to give my foreign friends.. I am opposite of you, a Norwegian that have lived in the states. Would be fun to see more stereotypocal things about us, we deserve to hear it :) As you must have found out by now, we Norwegians are your friend when we know you well, but before that we are quite reserved. Hope you have settled well in Oslo and that you are enjoying life!

• 15 Jessica // Dec 5, 2007 at 1:08 am

  Hey,
  I miss you so much. Your site looks great, I had fun reading about what you have been up too. Are you enjoying the snow yet? I went to go to the grocery store the other day and it took me 20 minutes to clean the snow off my car so I could drive, haha. Well just wanted to drop a quick note so you know I look at your site. Talk to you soon.
  ~JeSsI~

• 16 Angela Brown // Dec 9, 2007 at 9:38 am

  Hello and Greetings from NC.
  My name is Angela and I am desperately seeking a way to move from the US to Norway. I was pleased to find your site and am hopeful that you could offer some advice. Truthfully, I am not sure where to begin or which route would work best. I am soon to be 28 years old and I have become increasingly aware that this country is not the place I would choose to be my home forever. As I right this I feel slight guilt as I think of the many people in the world who live in more poverished and underpriveledged environments- people who would give everything just to have the same opportunities as are afforded to most Americans. However, but, etc. I want OUT! I want out of here. I want to live in a society that is simpler, where education, healthcare, and over all well being is of more value. If you have time to offer help it would be sincerely appreciated.
  Hopeful and in need of encouragement,
  Angela Brown
  Raleigh, NC

• 17 Caroline // Dec 13, 2007 at 12:22 pm

  Hi Kristie

  Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog. I must tell you that I quite enjoy your blog as well and I have also labeled you as a favorite.

  Keep up the good writing girl

  Caroline
  migrationdiary

• 18 Binod Dahal // Dec 14, 2007 at 10:25 am

  Hi i am Binod Dahal from Kathmandu, Nepal.

  I have a trekking, hiking, mountaineering agency in kathmandu. Please fell free to ask a question about trekking, hiking and adventure activities in nepal.

• 19 PHC // Dec 20, 2007 at 3:58 am

  Hi! I was checking out your blog and I thought I would let you know that my best friend has an online travel agency, http://www.ytbtravel.com/marjorietravel

  I always buy my tickets from her website. The prices are very competitive with Expedia, Orbitz, etc. They are either equal or even less! Check it out whenever you have a chance. Thanks!

  PS. I have my own celebrity gossip blog if you want to check it out or trade links. http://popgoesmytongue.blogspot.com/

  Thanks for taking the time to read this :)

• 20 Chris Gore // Dec 29, 2007 at 11:02 am

  Hello Kristie,

  I found your website this morning doing a Google search for “american expatriate norway”. Actually, my wife (whom is Norwegian) and 16 month old son moved to Norway back in January of this year. We live in Bergen. I got a dream job, fresh air, nature, and progressive social/political climate here in Norway. Of course, my wife is glad to be here. I didn’t miss the good ol’ US one bit until twinges of homesickness began poking through my consciousness once in awhile starting back in, about, summer. Well, reading through your blog helps ease things. I really love Norway but also need some connection with my people here. It is really great to read your writings and also the opinions of others. Would love to contribute once in awhile as I also have a story to tell – having lived hear for a year now.

  Keep up the good work,

  Chris

  Bergen, Norway

• 21 Nate // Jan 3, 2008 at 9:18 am

  I like your blog, I’m working out the kinds in my Cutline theme now and am working on a new header.

  I’ll surely stay posted, I’ve always wanted to live in Norway. Civil freaking people over there, pathetically unhappy, ignorant folk here in the U.S.

  Enjoy your stay you lucky duck!

• 22 Leena // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:27 am

  Hi Kristie,
  thanks for visiting my blog!
  your proposition is interesting but unfortunately I don’t fit your profile. Turku is in Finland, maybe the Norwegian maps show something like the Swedish name Åbo.
  I am just crazy enough to blog in English :)

  Leena’s last blog post..Polar Bears in Finland?!

• 23 Dicky Hendrawan // Jan 6, 2008 at 10:35 am

  I want to do fruitpicking. How may I join your program?
  Thank you.

• 24 Kelly // Jan 9, 2008 at 6:34 pm

  Kirstie-
  Hi, like yourself I’m soon to be an American living in Oslo Norway. Question, and this may sound crazy but I’ve been living overseas for over a year now in Ireland, but do they have Kraft mac & cheese in Norway? I know…. crazy. But hey, I read that you miss Fredericks of Hollywood, so enlighten me…. I love mac & cheese, haven’t had it since I left the States long ago…. Thanks.

• 25 Jon // Jan 11, 2008 at 12:27 am

  Hello Kristie,

  I’ve been following your blog with interest for a while – special interest, because I’m a Norwegian who just married and American and she’s planning to move here to Oslo soon. I was hoping to ask you a few questions about how your move and your application process went, so could you please get back to me?

  Thanks in advance,

  Jon

• 26 Sharon Le Van // Jan 14, 2008 at 8:21 pm

  Hello Kristie,
  Could you refer me to any real estate agency websites for the Oslo area. We(family of six) would be looking to rent a house, and I´d would just like to get an idea of what´s available. We currently live in Germany and it is possible to check rental offers online.
  Have you already made reference to this on your website? I landed here after googling: Housing Oslo Norway. However, I´ve clicked about everything slightly related.
  Just a note, on being American….I´ve had to keep a smile on my face when some people responded by saying, “I´m sorry,” or “It doesn´t matter,” to finding out I was American. Oh, ha, very funny…my response to these sort of comments, in a joking manner, “Oh, I left my horse, cowboy boots, cheeseburger and brain at the door, would you excuse me.” It was the opposite during the Clinton years. I could go on and on about that annoying aspect, but I have to make dinner now. Hope to hear from you soon.

  Sharon

• 27 Laura // Jan 15, 2008 at 11:05 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  I was searching online for some coherant information about moving to Norway and thank goodness I found this blog.

  My boyfriend and I are visiting in June, he’s been offered a job there and we are trying to see if it’s a good fit for us. I am so excited even just to visit.

  I’m still confused about all the visa’s and work permits, resident permits and what not. I guess what I do get is the settlement permit.

  How do you go about living there for over a year or more? Can you keep applying for visas and work permits?

  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

  Thanks soo much even just for reading my comment!

• 28 Hersh Bhardwaj // Feb 1, 2008 at 2:42 am

  I know what you mean! I moved to UK 5 years ago for studies and now after having spent so many years I moving back to India. Its really strange!

  Hersh Bhardwaj’s last blog post..Are You a Fluorescent Pig, or, a Purple Cow? Ebay Knows!

• 29 Jessi Clark // Feb 4, 2008 at 5:16 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  Just ran into your blog while I was looking for seasonal work in Oslo. My Norwegian petit ami and I are going to give it a shot, so I’ll be in Oslo for the summer. Beautiful city, is it not? Just wanted to relay my thanks about some of the helpful tips I plucked from your narrative; as ever, I Support the Expats.

• 30 annabell // Feb 4, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  hi

  my husband and i are thinking to move to norway. he is american and i m german. he is already looking for a job. now we heared so much different stuff that we dont even know what to believe anymore.
  do you know how the work permit applying works. did you had to apply before you got to norway or could you apply from withing the country?
  it be so nice if you could help me out with some info. thank you so much

• 31 Jeff // Feb 8, 2008 at 7:16 pm

  I work for a just-launched website for American expatriates called Americans Abroad (americans-abroad.net). We’re trying to build an initial user base, gather feedback and see if we can get the site going. I’m trying to find people familiar with expatriates and groups that could help me get the word out. We would love it if you would check out the site and possibly post a link to it on your blog, or at least mention it. In return for the favor, I’d be happy to put a link to your blog in return on the Resources section of our site if you want, just let me know.

  Thanks a lot.

  ~Jeff
  Americans-Abroad.net

• 32 Bin // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:16 am

  Hi Kristie!

  Great blog. I lived in Trondheim from 2001-03 and reading your blog reminds me of all the great times I had in Norway. I currenly live in Virginia, but would love to find my way back to Norway someday soon.

  At that time, 9/11 had just happened so it was pretty interesting to be an American outside of the US for a while. If you have any questions about my Norwegian experience, please let me know! Ha det!

• 33 bhhl carlson // Feb 17, 2008 at 1:58 pm

  thanks for sharing your knowledge with the world.
  i too will be moving to oslo in june of 08 and any info i can pick up will be very useful.

  thanks tons.

• 34 bhhl carlson // Feb 17, 2008 at 2:53 pm

  hi there,

  i forgot to introduce myself and tell you a little about me.

  i am becky. i have two kids one 11 and one 12 and my hubby will be be working for the embassy.

  we currently live in brunswick ga. (1 an hour from jacksonville fl.) since i am a georgia girl i am very timid about moving so far north.
  we have lived in the chicago area before, but never this far north.

  i am currently filling out paper work for the international school in oslo for at least one kid. the other child i will be homeschooling. so educational needs are taken care of.

  i have no idea were we will be living yet. hopefully that will develope next month.

  i really have enjoyed reading your enteries and have learned a lot.
  please email me and feel free to offer any advice.

  any advice on what to buy here in the states and what i should just stick in storage or get rid of?

  we should arrive in oslo the last week in june.

  have a great day!
  bhhl

• 35 Emily // Feb 19, 2008 at 11:23 am

  Hi, I am an American who just moved to Oslo with my Norwegian Boyfriend at the end of January. I was curious if you have any advice on meeting other Ameicans in the city. I would love to just find a way to branch out socially.

  Thanks!

• 36 Jesse // Feb 22, 2008 at 7:06 pm

  My family and I are moving to Oslo in the next month or so (I will be working for Telenor) and would like to know how to go about finding a rental home/apartment. Do you know of any good links that would help me out. Thanks!

• 37 Catherine // Feb 26, 2008 at 1:26 pm

  Hey, I came across your blog while searching for culture shock quotes on the web and read through a few pages. I am and expat living in India and thought you may like to know a few things before you come.

  1. “Proud to be an American” – Many Indians do not have a strong bias against Americans, in fact, many have sons and daughters living in America, or have been there themselves. The bias is shown more towards white people. If you are white and good looking, prepare for stares and some people may try to rip you off if you buy something. Where ever you stay, you can ask how much a taxi/auto ride should be. It would be even better if you have an Indian friend help you while shopping, they will be able to bargain the price down more effectively do to the fact, they will most probably know the prices, and will speak Hindi.

  2. “Beef Blogs”
  India is a primarily vegetarian country (vegetarian here means no eggs as well). There are plenty of restaurants and street food that will serve non-veg, but this will be chicken and lamb products. Pork and beef are uncommon (muslims don’t eat pork, hindus don’t eat beef) If you want beef, be prepared to shell out for it, because you will most probably have to go to a NICE (5 star) hotel restaurant where prices are comparable or more than what you will find in LA. Beef from anything less than that may be a little risky. Of course, heavy tourist places such as Goa will have beef as well, but again, perhaps a bit risky. Just check it out with your waiter.

  3. “Etiquette”
  People in India eat food with only their right hand. The left hand is only used for serving your food. This is because of two reasons: 1. Since Indian food is usually not eaten with utensils, your hand gets dirty with food and saliva and people don’t like sharing that with each other and 2. (The historical reason) when people go to the bathroom, they use their left hand to wash themselves with. Toilet paper is not part of the culture here, they use water. Most places now will have toilet paper, but I recommend traveling with a little on you just incase.

  4. “Language”
  English is everywhere thanks to British rule for so long. It is written on most products that you might buy or use, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble washing your clothes ;-)

  If you have some more questions before you go, maybe I can help you out with them, just drop me a line.

  Good luck,

• 38 aida // Feb 27, 2008 at 8:52 am

  Hi ,my name its aida and im american citizen and my husbend to we are thinking to move to Norway but we dont now what we need can we get work permit and can we have permit to live there and for how long ,and where we need apple for here in US or when we get there .Place if you have any information lets me now THANK YOU

• 39 Susan Moe // Mar 1, 2008 at 4:42 am

  My family and I are moving from Seattle to Oslo in June for a one year assignment and just this morning I was wondering what the gym/yoga scene was so your post today about your trek to yoga was perfect timing. Can you share any information on the gyms and/or yoga centers you like? I don’t know how big Oslo is, but I’d sure like to live near a good gym or yoga studio.

  Anyway, great to find your blogs. Thanks for sharing all this great info and your fun stories with us!

  Best regards,

  Susan

• 40 gwenyunderpants // Mar 10, 2008 at 4:30 am

  hello. I love how you write. It’s so easy to read. I found your site while googlin’ around for Norway info. Currently we live in Portland, OR.. my husband has been offered a job in Bergen. Have you traveled there? Got any tips? Is finding work as a US Citizen (me) tricky?
  hope you enjoyed your trip!

  thanks.
  hilary

• 41 Clark // Mar 14, 2008 at 3:14 pm

  Hey,
  Just wanted to stop and say Takk! I wanted to find some Oslo blog and your the first one I dropped by. And it is realllly good. You update so often with relavent things that a expat would like to know.

  I am extremely interested in Oslo, because I will be studying there next semester for a year I believe. i cant wait! Maybe I can meet you and your husband and you can do an interview or something haha.

  Take care,
  Clark

• 42 Kimberly // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:48 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  Thanks for writing this blog! I feel so much better learning about others who are going before me — I too am an American (Southern CA girl) moving to Oslo soon for a job. I am very nervous. Very scared. I want to go for it, but … well, I hope I make it.

  In any case, thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to reading more. Thanks for the info on the gyms, yoga, groceries, public transportation and housing. Right now, those are my biggest concerns.

  Sendin’ sunshine frm the states,
  – Kimberly

• 43 Varcoda // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:23 pm

  hi there! i chanced upon your blog while looking up information on workpermits, and it has been alot more help than the huge chunk of words on the UDI website..

  i’ve been to norway, and i wish to study there. however, my application to IFUS wasnt received.. (the norwegian language course for NTNU ) and i was considering taking a course elsewhere. however, i have no clue what permits would allow me to stay there for about 1.5 years to learn the language and apply for uni..

  would really appreciate advice from you! :)

• 44 BOB merritt // Mar 27, 2008 at 7:39 am

  hey iam also an american i wnat to move to Oslo norway like what do i half to do to do it

• 45 Deirdre // Mar 31, 2008 at 2:53 pm

  Hello Kristie,

  You mentioned that your wife is Irish. Does she speak any Irish? We’re recording a programme in Oslo with Irish speakers in mid April so if you know anybody who’d like to take part you might let me know.

  Thanks a million.

• 46 Chad // Apr 3, 2008 at 2:06 pm

  Hey, great site, thanks!

  I see you’ve already gotten a lot of this, but wanted to pile on a bit more! I am considering moving my family to Oslo, have friends living there, who love it. Problem is, I have no idea how to find work, which I really need to do before we committ to going! Do you have any suggestions where an English-only speaking American should start a job search?

  thanks!

• 47 Cyn // Apr 5, 2008 at 11:01 am

  Hello,

  We are in the process of planning a move to Oslo and would really appreciate some info on average costs of living. We’d like to do a budget to make sure we know what life will cost us.
  Things like rent per sq ft, utility costs, avg wkly grocery bills, dinner out for 2, tank of gasoline, gym membership etc..
  Can you shed some light? Sounds like you are the expert.

  Thanks,

• 48 Doc // Apr 20, 2008 at 8:12 pm

  Thanks for dropping by and commenting on my blog (http://docreport.blogspot.com)
  Looks like your the well seasoned traveller and quite a popular blog!

  Cheers from Uruguay : )

• 49 Quenut // May 7, 2008 at 3:14 pm

  Hi Kristie!

  Thanks for the offer, and I would be delighted to do it :) By the way, my email adress is kennethnygaard@hotmail.com

  Keep on blogging! :)

  Quenut’s last blog post..More on flags..

• 50 Heatheronhertravels // Jun 3, 2008 at 1:15 am

  Hi there Kristie

  Your article was included in the latest carnival of Europe posted at Heatheronhertravels. You can see it here.

  http://heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/06/carnival-of-europe.html

  Please could you do a link-back of some sort to make your readers aware of the Carnival.

  Many Thanks
  Heather

  Heatheronhertravels’s last blog post..Carnival of Europe

• 51 Kirsten // Jun 25, 2008 at 10:10 pm

  Kristie,
  Thanks for the comments!
  As far as the note graphic and my header, I bought them from istockphoto.com. You can buy illustrations too. This website got me the idea. Just scroll down to where she talks about making a header image. Let me know if you want any help.
  I hope you get this!
  Take care,
  Kirsten
  Oooops-Here’s the website:
  http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/blog-templates.html

• 52 Kristie // Jun 25, 2008 at 10:31 pm

  @Kirsten: Hey, thanks! I wish that would work for me but there are two problems with that for me…I dont have photoshop, and I already hired someone much more talanted than me to fix it. So hopefully soon, I will have a great one too. But yours is great, espically what it says.

• 53 John // Jul 6, 2008 at 3:37 am

  Kristie,

  I am moving my family there in September from North Carolina. I was wondering if you have any information (housing, average salary, kid friendly things to do).

  Please let me know.

  Thank you,
  John

• 54 Kristie // Jul 6, 2008 at 1:23 pm

  @John: I am working on a series at the moment with a lot of this kind of information. I will hopefully be publishing it soon!

• 55 gustavus // Jul 14, 2008 at 10:06 am

  hello, my friend congratulations , very nice blog , very useful ,iam really begining to think in a trip overthere maybe olso , looks great , good

• 56 ART // Jul 15, 2008 at 5:25 pm

  Your link to UDI in the Settlement Permit page should be http://www.udi.no instead of dot com.

  Thanks for your blog :)

• 57 Hayley // Jul 17, 2008 at 4:02 am

  Hi Kristie,
  I was looking for information on moving to Norway and found your wonderful blog! I have visited Norway several times (I’m in the UK, so it’s not too far), and would consider moving there in the future.

  Your blog offers great insights into the life of an ex-pat, and it’s fantastic to find something that’s so up-to-date as well as entertaining- keep it coming!

• 58 Kristie // Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36 am

  @Hayley: Hi! I am so glad that you find my blog helpful. I love writing it and sharing my stories with everyone. Its always nice to know people enjoy reading it too!

• 59 Kristie // Jul 25, 2008 at 12:55 am

  @Hayley: Hi Hayley! Thanks for coming by. I am glad that you enjoy reading it! Its always nice to know that other people ‘get’ my strange/dry/sarcastic sense of humor sometimes :) I hope you keep coming by and letting me know what you think!

• 60 Jeremiah // Jul 25, 2008 at 1:32 am

  Hello Kristie, currently have application for fiance-visa to move to Norway. Just received word that my proof of being single from my local county clerk isnt good enough because I need to prove Im single in the entire United States. Very frustrating as unable to locate how to get this document, any help would be greatly appreciated.

  Jeremiah

• 61 Kristie // Jul 25, 2008 at 4:16 pm

  @Jeremiah: I had the same problem. I got married here in Norway, but they said that I had to have that ‘proof’ as well. I contacted every possible government office in the US that could help and they all said that that form that they wanted did not exist. So I resorted to writing a letter that stated that I was single and had it notorized instead. Once I brought it to the office in Norway they said that lots of Americans have this problem and that they accept the paperwork without that “proof”. It was enough to have a motorized letter from me swearing that I was single.
  The funny thing though is that when I submitted the paperwork here in Oslo, the woman told me that she had seen this ‘proof’ form before from the state of California (even though the state of California said it doesnt exist). Anyways, it is confusing. Dont kill yourself trying to find that paper, because you wont. Just write a letter and get it motorized and when submitting the paperwork, just let them know the situation. The ‘official’ Norwegian government officials are suckers for a sob story :) haha j/k. It will be okay, dont worry too much about it!
  Let me know how it goes! Good luck!

• 62 Cassandra // Sep 8, 2008 at 2:37 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  I tried to use your contact me page, but it was not working correctly for me. I am a San Diego native, but lived in NYC for 4.5 years and just moved to Oslo a month ago. I would love to meet for a coffee sometime and discuss your experiences!

  Hope you are enjoying Oslo, it has been total culture shock for me.

  Cassandra

• 63 Tamera // Nov 19, 2008 at 4:47 am

  Hi there!

  I’m American (grew up in Seattle), but I lived in Stavanger, Norway for 18 years (moved over when I was 22yrs. and took my Nursing degree there). I became very integrated into the society as it is expected, and basically didn’t speak English for all of those years..We are now expats in Houston, and will most likely have to move back to Norway in a year, or so.

  As you really get to know the underlying aspects of the culture, you’ll experience several more culture shocks. I didn’t have my first pang of “homesick” until 10 years had passed. But, hey..no country is perfect.

  It was good to come back home. Take very good care of yourself!

• 64 Kristie // Nov 24, 2008 at 4:27 pm

  @Tamera: Hey Tamera,
  Thanks for your comment! It is so interesting to hear about your experiences and culture shock. I hope to hear from you more :)

• 65 Azam Muhammad // May 8, 2009 at 4:33 am

  Hi Kristie,

  Your doing a great job keep it up may God give you with good health and Joy in your life.

  Regards,
  Azam Muhammad

• 66 Greg // Sep 5, 2009 at 8:59 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  You mentioned the feelings nof loneliness sometimes and missing home.I myself am British and left the UK in 1988 aged a 24.The amount of times that I was gonna get on a jet and go back!
  Well you know,tomorrow will be a better day,and so I have lived happily in Helsinki,Finland for 21 years.Would I fo back home ow? yeah………….Like pigs will fly one day!
  Keep youe head up,you ever know what`s around the corner
  Greg

• 67 bunchil // Sep 13, 2009 at 2:08 pm

  Hi Kristie,

  Looking forward to your next posts! Love your style in writing: concise and clear. But very human and funny too!! Have much to learn from you cuz obviously many people are reading ur blog as it always pops up in google search regarding norway. Anyways, thanks so much for your blog. It has inspired me to also document my plans to move to Norway and share it on the web. Because I personally feel it’s even trickier when coming from a developing country.

  I notice you get many random questions as if you were an immigration officer in Norway. But hopefully with my experience as well (fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly) it can help others.

  Anyways, best wishes for you :)

  Best, Bunchil

• 68 Steve // Oct 1, 2009 at 10:54 pm

  Hello Kristie,
  It’s fun to read through pages of your writing, and I’m definitely an RSS subscriber now. I am from San Diego and living in Canada. Looking forward to your future articles!
  -Steve
  Fact of the Day.CA

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