Australia vs Norway- where to live...!

[myboylollypop]

my hubby is australian (adelaide) and im norwegian (from bergen). we have a two year old son, and have lived in norway for four or so years now..sometimes we wonder if we should go back to aus for a while to live- anyone who have done the same? any advice anyone?

[shari_z]

No, haven't gone back, but have been in your position, wondering where to live. I'm American, he's Norwegian. He had lived in England for many years, and he misses it very much. So for us, the question has been, Texas, England, or Norway? Where to live? I think we would have chosen England if we could have figured out the economics of it - he is a nurse and they are so poorly paid over there, and I have no really useful education myself (dyrepleier/veterinary nurse) to help out with. Texas would have worked out, but I am hesitant to move there - I feel so unsafe with my kids when I am there, and I do not like the politics and health care system in the U.S. In the end, we stay here because it is easiest. We own our house, he has an excellent job that allows me to be at home with the kiddies, and our 7 yr old enjoys her school and friends. We have a good social network here and just actually don't feel like putting the effort required into moving. But the question comes up on a regular basis, so I can empathise with you. (Now if Australia had been an option, I'd have gone in a heartbeat - that is my dream country to live in. :-)

 

Good luck with your decision!

[Anonym bruker]

Well hi there from one Aussie-Norwegian family to another. Your entry captured my attention. It is a burning topic of ongoing discussion in our household. Bizzarely my hubby and I met in Adelaide (he is the Norwegian). In the last 6 years we have lived 2.5 yrs Norway, 1 yr Aust, nearly 3yrs Norway and now we are heading Dwn Under again for 1 yr. We have a near 4 year old son, an 18 months old son, and another bubba due very soon. We live just outside of Oslo. I have found living in Norway very difficult and are frustrated that despite huge amounts of efforts to make things work here on a multitude of levels I just dont see us here long term. We often find ourselves thinking 'what the heck are we doing here in Norway' especially given that the lifestyle in Australia is generally alot more social, that we do not live close to or see Norwegian family much anyway and the few friends we have had have moved to other parts of the country, etc. We think next year will be an interesting year for us with respect to planning our longterm future. We will definately be coming back to Norway for a couple of years after this Down Under stint, however. The decision on where to live is also complicated by other issues which I am sure you are aware of. Norway is definately the place to be when your kids are under age 3 or 4 as it is extremely expensive to have children in daycare if both parents need to work, and then there are all the complicated issues with DIMIA (Department of Immigr Aust) that like to give us Norwegian-Australian families a hard time because Norway will not allow dual citizenship. The things we do for love, hey! The good thing is that my hubby and I feel the same about the issue and have always been prepared for a lifestyle of living between the countries (at least for now). By the way, we know another Aussie-Norwegian family who are heading back to Bergen (after 1 year back in Auss...she is from Adelaide...would you believe it!...and he is from Voss. They have 2 daughters aged 3.5years and approx 15 months old). If you give me your email address then perhaps I can hook you up. It is always nice to know others in a similar situation

[Mezza]

Is that you Nat?

Was getting very excited about meeting another family with 2 girls the same age as mine who will be returning from Adelaide to Bergen, and then realised it was probably me!

Looking forward to seeing you soon, and good luck!

Love Melanie

[myboylollypop]

melanie-

are you friends of mari and frode (nurses, living in oslo now?????)

if thats you, i think we' ve met last summer in bergen! (lunch with mari and frode n some other friends!) dont know if you remember me though- but i ve and aussi hubby and a little soon to be two ear old son..went to uni with mari n frode in adelaide!

if its you- are you in adelaide now? how are things going??

[Anonym bruker]

Hee hee! Yep its me! Goodness the world is a small place. Maybe you know the girl that put in this entry(?)

We look forward to seeing you all soon too. Hugs x

[Mezza]

yep, that's me too!

We have been in Adelaide since the start of the year and had a great time. We are coming back to bergen in January, so we'll have to catch up. I remember you, and I think I still have your number in my mobile!

[Spisepinnen]

Hi all!

 

Don't know if anyone is still reading this post, but I am finding myself in a similar situation as you guys.

 

I am Norwegian and am married to an Australian. We are currently living in Sydney, but are hoping to move to Norway for a while at some stage. As my husband is a professional musician, we probably have to live in Oslo for him to get enough work.

 

I see that some of you have found it difficult to live in Norway, what were these difficulties? Any problems with immigration?

 

Also, as Norway doesn't allow dual citizenship, what happens to your children with regards to citizenship? Will they just automatically get one for the country where they are born so that you can theoretically end up with one "Norwegian" and one "Australian" child??? Sounds fairly stupid?

 

Would love to hear from any of you

[SurferMamma]

Hi

Im not the one posted this back in 2008, but I know a bit about this as Im married with kids to an aussie as well. (Good to hear about others!)Our daughter was born in Norway so no worries getting a Norwegian passport. As Australia accept dual citizenship, it was not a problem applying for an Australian passport either. But it might be a problem the other way around, that is if they're borned in Aus..

 

We lived in Perth and Cairns for 1,5 years last year and enjoyed it a lot. But it was a very "safe" move, as I had first a year paid leave from work followed by a year unpaid maternal leave from work. So we always knew we were moving back to Oslo. It's a lot of practical things to deal with at the same time; where to live, day care, work, network and it will always take at least six months before you're settled. But I've grown to like this a bit and try not to focus on all the problems, and rather think of the positives.

 

For me, being away from my Norwegian family is the hardest part and makes it impossible to make that permanent decision about moving to Australia. Nevertheless; who makes decisions for the rest of their lives anyway? I believe in trying a bit of both worlds to see what fits you the best.

 

Exciting about your move...has your husband ever lived in Norway?

[mimmitiltre]

australia would be my choice! My husband is from scotland but he moved to australia to be with me and we stayed there for my last year of my 3 years study (in perth). Im danish myslef and not sooo attached to norway and oslo but theres def. a good economical reason to stay put in norway while your kids are small.. we would love to go back to perth to live or nz, but its the thing about getting a wellpaid job that holds us back at the moment and being close to our families(mine live in oslo).

Def. a big decicion though and not any clear answers as there are plusses and minus to both...but im still dreaming about the beautiful place down under..people are great and the nature is stunning!

Good luck!

[SurferMamma]

It most definitively is a wonderful place!

 

Where abouts in Perth did you live? We lived in Fremantle, and I miss it a lot.

[Spisepinnen]

Thank you for replying

 

My husband has only visited Norway once, but seems very motivated to test living there for a while. He thinks it's important for our future kids to spend some of their childhood in Norway. We don't have a set plan as of yet, it all depends on what I chose to do further in my career, and also whether he can get a job (or that I can get a job for that matter).

 

I am sad to hear that if our kids are born in Australia they won't be able to have a Norwegian passport. How does it work that if they are born in Norway, they accept that you get an Australian one? Or don't they know?

 

Hm.... don't know what to do about that one. We will most likely be starting a family before we move to Norway, so need to devise a plan quick smart

 

 

[mimmitiltre]

to surfermama,

 

freo is a real nice place..did you ever go to little creatures down by the waterside? that was our favorite place..such good beers and pizzaes:) we lived just next to UWA, as thats where i was studying, then moved just next to caltex and captain stirling down stirling highway..hung out there quite alot too.. man i miss it!

[SurferMamma]

he he he ..did I ever go to Little creatures???? Only probably twice a week. Loved their homerewed beer. (And food, and the whole place) As a matter of fact it used to be the place our mums group used to meet up, both with kids and without.

 

Nice place, miss it too. Any plans going back for you guys? We're going to Australia next christmas, but mostly on the east coast..

 

 

To Spisepinnen: Not sure about this, but think that if a child has a norwegian mother it is elegible for norw passport. So maybe if you appy for a Norwegian passport first, and then for an asutralian one, it wont be a problem? Noone asked us any thing when we got our daughters two.. But as I said, we got the Norw first. Australia doesn't mind people having dual citizenships.

[shari_z]

Hi Spisepinnen

 

Your children will be Norwegian citizens no matter where they are born as long as you remain a Norwegian citizen. You can read more about it here, at UDI's website (this is Norwegian, but they have it in English as well).

 

http://www.udi.no/Sentrale-tema/Statsborgerskap/

 

And specifically about children having dual citizenship:

 

http://tinyurl.com/yl9pjtj

 

I made that one a tinyurl because it was so long, but just copy and paste as usual and you'll get to the page you need.

 

I'm American, my husband is Norwegian. Both of my kids were born in Norway, both have dual citizenship. They travel to the USA on their American passport (they have to by American law) and travel back to Norway on their Norwegian passport (have to because they don't have bosettingstillatelse in their American one, naturally enough because they are Norwegian).

 

[Spisepinnen]

Thanks for the message and the links, good news indeed

[mimmitiltre]

we are thinking maybe next christmas, but thinking of all the creepy crawlers make me unsure..to small babies running around and all..but we will def go back someday soon..

[NormaJean]

All of you with a Adelaidian partner, did u study nursing by any chance;)?

[Anonym bruker]

 

I met my partner whilst studying business at UNISA. We have been together now for about 9 years. We have a two year old boy and a 3 month old girl. We are currently living in Norway, but will be heading back to Adelaide later on this year permanently. The climate is what draws us back to Adelaide. The lifestyle you can have down under is so much better than here, the winters in Norway are just too long and cold…..

 

It would be great to catch up with other Norwegians in Adelaide to socialise our kids with other Norwegian kids.

 

[Anonym bruker]

Is there still any aussie-norg's around on this forum? My husband and I are such a couple and would be great to meet others, especially expecting babies around now We've been lived in Norway for a couple of years and will stay one more before we're going down under for a few years (well, thats the plan anyway)..

[Mezza]

I'm still in and out regularly, but not expecting a baby any time soon. I have 2 girls who are almost 3 and 5. Always up for meeting fellow aussies though:-)

Where do you live? We are in Bergen.

[Anonym bruker]

Oslo here....with a 4 month old baby. But we've already decided on the big move. So in the end of 2010: Brisbane here we come.... :-)

 

Where are u going when moving back?

[2trollunger]

And one more here!

We are in Australia, but are slowly starting to plan a move back to Norway. It's such a hard decision though! I am Norwegian, but I know I'll miss our life here so much!

This is on my mind all day long at the moment. I think it's easier for me to be happy here, than my husband in Norway, with language,climate..

What are your long-term plans?

[SurferMamma]

Im still here! Jeg er norsk, husband Australian, from Brisbane. We have two kids, one is nearly four, last one is nine months. We've lived in Australia almost two years and moved back to Oslo in 2009. We're in Brisbane at the moment, on "fedrekvote-tur" for two months. Beautiful! We are probably looking at moving down under in two years time. Tell me more about your decision: where in Brisbane are you moving, what wil be your work situation etc?

It's scary - I think so for sure, specially living without my dear family. But also very exciting. Its a great country, and we wont be bored I suppose.

 

mari