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eeing.It’s been healthy for my confidence. I don’t have that fear of failing. If I do fail, there will be other opportunities along the journey, because this country is ridiculously large and there’s room for all of it, failing included.<h2 id="7669">There will be no results if you don’t try</h2>In Norway, you can do pretty decent for yourself without trying too hard. There are systems in place, plenty of public support, and certain programs that you simply don’t find in the United States.Here, you have to work hard to see results.Sure, you can quiet quit and all that, but not at the start. At the start of everything you do in this country, you have to make an effort.You’re not going to see any results if you don’t try.Personally, I was quite nervous about continuing my career in the United States, writing in a different language. I didn’t see how it was going to work out. I am comfortable speaking English, writing is a different ballgame.I decided to give it a shot anyway, because the other option would be to stay at home, doing nothing, which was not a dream of mine. I am beyond thankful I had the guts to step out of my own comfort zone.<h2 id="e207">Faith is personal</h2>I grew up in a Christian household.Here, in a swing state, I’m guessing some would view me as a non-Christian because I fall within the political scene as more of a leftie. I’m also a journalist. If there’s one thing the other side of the spectrum doesn’t like, it’s the mainstream press.In the United States, faith and politics sometimes go hand-in-hand. It’s very different from what I grew up with in Scandinavia. For me, a non-native who doesn’t agree with a lot in this country, this weird combo of religion a

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nd politics has made my faith stronger, more personal.And I like it.Growing up, I would 100% take in everything most pastors would say, not questioning a thing. Now, I do research, and double-check. Triple check. I’m a little bit of a cynic, even. My husband would gladly confirm.I don’t blindly trust people on a stage.<h2 id="1fef">It’s ok to outsource</h2>Having people do basic things for you it’s a little bit of a taboo in Norway. I think it stems from pride in accomplishing things on your own, about not depending on anyone but yourself.If you have a professional cleaner take care of your house, you don’t tell others. You make your own dinners, you don’t have some company drop off food by your doorstep, along with a meal planner.If you hire a tutor or enroll your children in an education center for supplemental math learning, you keep it somewhat quiet. And don’t get me started on swim lessons. That’s the job of a parent, right there.I’ve realized it’s completely fine to outsource.Sometimes, I’m better off doing so, even. The Scandinavian in me prefers to do as much on my own as I can, but with three kids, it can be hard to simply stay afloat.We had our kids attend swim lessons at a local recreation center last year. Most of their friends around the same age did so, too. It’s not viewed as weird or as a parents’ failure to teach their kids the ABCs of swimming.It’s simply outsourcing it to a professional.Sometimes, that’s ok.I feel lucky to have such a close connection to two cultures. There are many things I can’t stand about them both, but like most things in life, there’s more good than bad. At least from where I stand.</article></body>

4 Simple Things I Have Learned As a Scandinavian in America That Has Made My Life Better

People just don’t care and it’s nice

It’s refreshing, living in the United States.

As long as it’s legal, nothing is really off-limits (yes, this can be both good and bad). And because everything is so big around here, you’re pretty much invisible.

After all, you’re sharing the country with 329 million others.

It’s different in Scandinavia. It’s a small corner of the world. If you do something out of the norm, people will notice. They will analyze your moves, and judge you if you do anything that’s … meh.

Even more so in Norway, a country with just over 5 million people. You’ve got yourself a pessimistic audience if you’re going outside of your comfort zone, taking risks.

Today, for you, some of the things I’ve grown to appreciate about the United States and the culture I currently find myself in.

People don’t care

Americans are too busy doing their own thing to care about you.

It’s not like they don’t care care, most people I’ve met in this country are genuinely nice. They’re just too busy.

What you’re up to isn’t really on their radar. They will cheer you on if you’re one of those trying something new and different, and then they’ll move on to whatever they’re up to next.

Although the glorification of busyness in this country isn’t the greatest, realizing that people, aside from your closest ones, don’t really care if you make it or not, is freeing.

It’s been healthy for my confidence. I don’t have that fear of failing. If I do fail, there will be other opportunities along the journey, because this country is ridiculously large and there’s room for all of it, failing included.

There will be no results if you don’t try

In Norway, you can do pretty decent for yourself without trying too hard. There are systems in place, plenty of public support, and certain programs that you simply don’t find in the United States.

Here, you have to work hard to see results.

Sure, you can quiet quit and all that, but not at the start. At the start of everything you do in this country, you have to make an effort.

You’re not going to see any results if you don’t try.

Personally, I was quite nervous about continuing my career in the United States, writing in a different language. I didn’t see how it was going to work out. I am comfortable speaking English, writing is a different ballgame.

I decided to give it a shot anyway, because the other option would be to stay at home, doing nothing, which was not a dream of mine. I am beyond thankful I had the guts to step out of my own comfort zone.

Faith is personal

I grew up in a Christian household.

Here, in a swing state, I’m guessing some would view me as a non-Christian because I fall within the political scene as more of a leftie. I’m also a journalist. If there’s one thing the other side of the spectrum doesn’t like, it’s the mainstream press.

In the United States, faith and politics sometimes go hand-in-hand. It’s very different from what I grew up with in Scandinavia. For me, a non-native who doesn’t agree with a lot in this country, this weird combo of religion and politics has made my faith stronger, more personal.

And I like it.

Growing up, I would 100% take in everything most pastors would say, not questioning a thing. Now, I do research, and double-check. Triple check. I’m a little bit of a cynic, even. My husband would gladly confirm.

I don’t blindly trust people on a stage.

It’s ok to outsource

Having people do basic things for you it’s a little bit of a taboo in Norway. I think it stems from pride in accomplishing things on your own, about not depending on anyone but yourself.

If you have a professional cleaner take care of your house, you don’t tell others. You make your own dinners, you don’t have some company drop off food by your doorstep, along with a meal planner.

If you hire a tutor or enroll your children in an education center for supplemental math learning, you keep it somewhat quiet. And don’t get me started on swim lessons. That’s the job of a parent, right there.

I’ve realized it’s completely fine to outsource.

Sometimes, I’m better off doing so, even. The Scandinavian in me prefers to do as much on my own as I can, but with three kids, it can be hard to simply stay afloat.

We had our kids attend swim lessons at a local recreation center last year. Most of their friends around the same age did so, too. It’s not viewed as weird or as a parents’ failure to teach their kids the ABCs of swimming.

It’s simply outsourcing it to a professional.

Sometimes, that’s ok.

I feel lucky to have such a close connection to two cultures. There are many things I can’t stand about them both, but like most things in life, there’s more good than bad. At least from where I stand.