Things I Didn’t Realize I “Needed” After Moving from Scandinavia to America
From savings to comfort
Culture and lifestyle habits; everyday life can look quite different depending on where you find yourself on this precious earth. There are some things I didn’t give much thought back in Norway, and now, living in the United States, I wouldn’t really want to be without it.
I’m going to jump right at it.
A LinkedIn account
I’ve had an account since I was in college, but I didn’t start using it until moving to the United States. I never needed it when I was searching for jobs in Scandinavia.
Norway is quite small and LinkedIn can feel big and overwhelming. The platform also didn’t feel very personal or natural at the time, which, in my opinion, are important aspects when you’re looking for a job. It felt too… corporate.
When I was applying for my first job at a local newspaper, I literally walked into the newsroom and handed the editor my resume. It was terrifying but at the same time very rewarding when I got the call that they’d like for me to start freelancing.
I never applied for a job through a third-party platform before moving to the United States. And most of the jobs I applied for, I did in-person.
Old school?
For sure. But somehow, it worked.
Here, I don’t see myself getting past any reception without an appointment. People are too busy and like to do their research and background checks before they meet you. Which is fair enough.
In Norway, we simply trust you are who you say you are. One could argue this is a very naive mindset, especially these days, but our trust in fellow peers has also been linked to why Nordic people are generally happy, as reported in The Nordic Exceptionalism: What Explains Why the Nordic Countries Are Constantly Among the Happiest in the World. If you trust those around you, you might end up having a more relaxed approach to life.
In the United States, my LinkedIn account has come in quite handy and I’m not sure I’d have a job without it.
Not getting rid of the account anytime soon.
Air conditioner
A cliche, I know. I don’t need it need it, but it makes the summer heat durable.
It literally makes my life more comfortable when inside, from a purely selfish standpoint. Having an HVAC system isn’t the best for the environment but I am not sure I would ever give up having one in the United States.
When we got back from our vacation in Norway, we walked into our house at 4 am in the morning, jet-lagged and exhausted. Then, surprise, our air conditioner didn’t work. We tried desperately to turn it on, as if pressing the button one more time was going to help. Eventually, we gave up and went to bed.
It was then I realized how muggy, hot, and humid it feels like to not have a functioning HVAC.
We had someone come fix it the next day.
A 401(k)
Or any long-term savings plan, pension plan.
That’s the difference between being in your 20s versus your 30s. Rather than being at the start of your career, getting your feet wet, you start to think long-term. I was in my late 20s when we moved to the United States, and the mindset of a lot of Norwegians, myself included at the time, is that the government does the job for you when it comes to saving for your pension.
I didn’t invest in stocks or planned for my retirement back in Norway. I knew that by working I would add to my retirement and figured that was enough. The government does save a decent amount for you, but these days, it’s probably not a bad idea to save a little extra for pension if you can.
You never know.
It doesn’t have to be a 401(k), but some sort of savings might come in handy.
Insulated water bottles
Not a day goes by without me using it.
I didn’t even know insulated water bottles excited before moving overseas. It never gets warm enough in Norway that it’s actually necessary to have one. And by necessary, what I really mean is that it tastes much better drinking cold water instead of lukewarm.
In the summer, the only thing you put in a thermos in Norway is hot coffee.
These days, I don’t leave the house without bringing my white, beloved Hydro Flask. It’s simplistic, functional and makes hot days cooler.
I bought it last year, it was a bit pricy for a water bottle but it works great and still look brand new. Although it can take heat as well, I never put coffee in it during the summers.
A hot drink when it’s 90-something degrees Fahrenheit isn’t very tempting.
Cold water is.
There are things you need, and there are things you “need”. The latter tend to make your life just a little bit easier or comfortable. Coffee in the morning, cold water while strolling the park, and a fresh breeze on hot days.