3 Things I Miss The Most While Living Abroad: Norway
#2: My Family and Friends
I have been living in Norway since 2014. At the beginning it was an experiment of 6 months. I moved here because I had found an internship. My choice was also motivated by my love for Scandinavian’s nature and lifestyle. During those 6 months I met a local and felt in love. As I say in this article: I came to Norway for work and stayed for love. Life just happened. I’m the type who likes to embrace life as it happens (mostly, not always). So when I fell in love I thought “you know what, why not stay a little longer and see what happens”? That’s how I went from 6 months to 6 years now.
I have had my share of highs and lows it’s been a true adventure. These quiet and slow times we’re going through are allowing me to reflect on my life abroad: things I enjoy about living abroad but also things I miss. I’ll be writing about things I enjoy in a next post.
Bellow 3 things I miss most while living abroad
#1: The French Healthcare System
Moving to Norway I didn’t consider so much the scenarios what if I get sick? Buying into what is mediated as Norway: a country of free health, I did not spend too much considering all scenarios. Especially when one is healthy, no antecedents, fit and young, that element did not play high in the equation. Yet it is central, that is what I am coming to realize.
It is well known that the French system is among the best ones in the world. That I can confirm after having lived abroad for few years now. It is best when it comes to the overall coverage but also to the way one is treated when sick (from my experiences in France: I rarely had any double thoughts after any consultation or diagnosis). In Norway I have, many times. Yes I am comparing here: can’t help it, I take on fully the comparison hat.
Here in Norway it is commonly said that the healthcare is “free” but it’s not. I will not get into boring details but you can basically spend a lot of money if you’re in need and can’t wait the long waiting lists to get to the specialist. Can you imagine that some waiting lists can go up to 6 months (public way)? To get a scanner if you don’t have a personal or professional insurance, it can take up to 3–4 months. It’s great to live in Norway but better get not sick?! Or get sick but be prepared and able to pay the price without counting. As an example I was in need of immediate physiotherapy last year in October and I could not get any available physiotherapist in Oslo until January 2020. I went private and spend more than 600€ between November — December. I could not believe my eyes nor my bank account. The quality was there though (even though it didn’t fully fixed my muscular issues), and you get treated as a Queen (at the level of the money you are putting in).
Aside the long waiting lists and health cost, from my experience there’s a lack of empathy and consideration in the public services: I have written widely about it here (my first article on Medium — not positive at all but it enabled me to express out loud how I perceived the Norwegian public healthcare system then).
You get treated automatically without the provider taking the time to understand your issues or the eventual pain you’re may be experiencing. It feels like some healthcare providers have stones instead of hearts. I have no other words. In parallel I have also come across warm, funny and super empathetic health care providers, so it’s not a collective thing, it varies from individual to individual.
#2: My Family and Friends
I miss them so much. Especially during this period. We usually travel to meet each other twice to 3 times per year but this year will be the exception and it’s challenging. The people who know me best and understand me without even me opening my mouth: I miss them. Those friends I meet after years and we still reconnect as if time had not created a gap between us: I miss them. There’re my rock and I wonder how long this adventure abroad will last. Maybe it’s time to go back home? Maybe. Easily said than done for now…
#3: The French social life
French people are social. We see value into social interactions. Every opportunity is good to get to know the other person and interact just for the pleasure of interacting. In Norway that’s not the case (different values). I call Norwegians “socially self sufficient”. There’re enough for themselves. They enjoy so much their “alenetid” = “alone time”, that they seem not to value other individuals that much. Most of Norwegians hang with the same social groups for ages. They can be hanging with the same people from kindergarten until adult age: true story. My Norwegian husband has one best friend and it’s a friend from kindergarten. This still intrigues me, hard for me to assimilate from my perspective… At least that’s loyalty well illustrated.
How about your dear reader? Any of you living abroad currently? How are you experiencing it? What do you enjoy most and what do you miss from your home country?
Until next time, thank you for your time. Take great care of you.
One love✨💜
