Scandinavians

[pddp 240]

I sold all my furniture and shipped everything else. Took about 2 months to arrive.

[Moomin 292]

Anything you can sell, get rid of it and buy some new upon your arrival. Odds are it's going to be cheaper, not only save the expense of shipping but also, things are generally less expensive in the US.

I took 3 suitcases and a dog on board the plane, then sent a big box a week before I left(it got here around the same time), then I had my parents send my personal belongings a little after a little. My clothing was put in those vacuum storage bags so it only took up half the space. I sold guitars, amps, dvd's, furniture, gave stuff away to charity and then some to friends/family. I only brought my monitor and desktop computer(without tower) because an identical one would cost much more over here.

Books.. If you send them through regular mail, then send a couple in each box if you're charged per the weight of the box. Cd's are the same - I get a few at a time. Having over 500, it will take some time though.

I thought about freight/a container shipped but all I needed was just personal junk to prevent me from being too homesick.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Yeah whenever people ask me what I'm bringing, my answer is "as little as possible". Computer, CD's, DVD's, some of the books, and some of my clothes (only what I actually use, everything else I'll get rid of). Oh and hopefully a painting.

I basically only own IKEA furniture, and there's no point in having IKEA furniture shipped. My wife already has a lot of furniture and also there's an IKEA in Pittsburgh, so... you know.

[EmigratingSwede 16]

I have looked into using either travelcargo.se or alfamoving.se. Travelcargo.se seems to be the better option for me since I won't be shipping any furniture (Maybe 10 or 20 boxes). travelcargodoes not insure your stuff quite as well though, so I might look into getting separate insurance for my collection of wine glasses.

[jaycali 415]

Yeah whenever people ask me what I'm bringing, my answer is "as little as possible". Computer, CD's, DVD's, some of the books, and some of my clothes (only what I actually use, everything else I'll get rid of). Oh and hopefully a painting.I basically only own IKEA furniture, and there's no point in having IKEA furniture shipped. My wife already has a lot of furniture and also there's an IKEA in Pittsburgh, so... you know.

When I first moved to the US for school I would go into IKEA every time I was homesick. The interior was the same exact look, smell, feel and layout in San Diego and Oslo. I literally felt like I was in Scandinavia. And they had Swedish and Norwegian food. Just a hint to all homesick Scandinavians who grew up at IKEA

Edited May 26, 2012 by jaejayC

[Mr. Borkström 63]

At the IKEA in Pittsburgh they had Swedish books in the book shelves.

[MissK 5]

They have IKEA close to where I'll be living too:)

I checked with one company to ship stuff with a container, to bring my bed (I love my bed he he) and about six boxes with glasses and stuff I would like to bring.

I got an quote for 33.000 NOK(about 5500 dollars)! So I guess I won't bring my bed... I will load our suitcases, with SAS you only pay 400 for an extra suitcase. With Posten we can mail 23kg for 1900 kroner. And I will bring stuff when I'm home on vacation or have family/friends bring stuff when they hopefully come to visit.

I'm planning to sell most of my furniture and give away stuff.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

What service did you guys use when you shipped your visa package to the NVC? Swedish/Danish/Norwegian post office or some other company?

Should I send it with some sort of express mail? I'm a little worried the package will get lost in the mail and I figure the faster it will get there, the better.

[jaycali 415]

I'll be using FedEx, DHL, TNT or UPS. If it costs 1000 kr so be it. I'm not sending anything that important/rushed with Posten

Edited June 8, 2012 by jaejayC

[Bornie 0]

hi guys

i will be moving to the US in couple of weeks, how did you manage the culture differences?? and how about missing your friend??

thnx

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I have a very supportive and understanding husband, which helps a LOT. He understands when I need to take our kid and go home for a couple of weeks, or puts up with my expensive orders of Norwegian food online. He also puts up with me when I go, "OMG NORWAY DOES THIS SO MUCH BETTER!" because he knows it comes from homesickness and not any hostility towards America. He also has been very willing to import some Norwegian customs and traditions (for instance, I don't allow anyone into the house with shoes on, which is apparently common here).

I don't know where in the US you're moving to, but being near other Scandinavian immigrants I would imagine helps (I'm unfortunately not, lol - the Scandinavian society in Pittsburgh is mostly 3rd or later generation immigrants who likes making lefse and don't really understand what I mean when I miss the Oslo cafe culture, for instance). I've found I get the most homesick around days that matter (May 17th, birthdays, Christmas, etc). There are May 17th celebrations around the US. There's also a Facebook group for Norwegians in America. Also, the ability to visit back home frequently helps. XD I go 2-3 times a year.

The cultural differences on the surface aren't so bad, and my day-to-day life isn't affected much. The things that are done differently day to day (for instance - nobody ever strolls with their babies in prams, #######?) I can do even though nobody else does them (I'll stroll as much as I damn well please, thanks). I've become lazy though (relying on driving everywhere will do that to you, lol). The biggest culture shock happens when I start looking at the big picture, and I get terribly annoyed that there's no maternity leave, that there's such a difference in quality between school districts, that job security/vacation isn't exactly up to par to what I'm used to from back home in Norway...

Skype and Facebook helps a lot when I miss my family and friends.

[Jilianne 1]

and spending lots of time at IKEA seems to help a lot of people

[jaycali 415]

I have a very supportive and understanding husband, which helps a LOT. He understands when I need to take our kid and go home for a couple of weeks, or puts up with my expensive orders of Norwegian food online. He also puts up with me when I go, "OMG NORWAY DOES THIS SO MUCH BETTER!" because he knows it comes from homesickness and not any hostility towards America. He also has been very willing to import some Norwegian customs and traditions (for instance, I don't allow anyone into the house with shoes on, which is apparently common here).I don't know where in the US you're moving to, but being near other Scandinavian immigrants I would imagine helps (I'm unfortunately not, lol - the Scandinavian society in Pittsburgh is mostly 3rd or later generation immigrants who likes making lefse and don't really understand what I mean when I miss the Oslo cafe culture, for instance). I've found I get the most homesick around days that matter (May 17th, birthdays, Christmas, etc). There are May 17th celebrations around the US. There's also a Facebook group for Norwegians in America. Also, the ability to visit back home frequently helps. XD I go 2-3 times a year.The cultural differences on the surface aren't so bad, and my day-to-day life isn't affected much. The things that are done differently day to day (for instance - nobody ever strolls with their babies in prams, #######?) I can do even though nobody else does them (I'll stroll as much as I damn well please, thanks). I've become lazy though (relying on driving everywhere will do that to you, lol). The biggest culture shock happens when I start looking at the big picture, and I get terribly annoyed that there's no maternity leave, that there's such a difference in quality between school districts, that job security/vacation isn't exactly up to par to what I'm used to from back home in Norway...Skype and Facebook helps a lot when I miss my family and friends.

Great analysis/points!! Lol where in Oslo are you from?

and spending lots of time at IKEA seems to help a lot of people

Indeed. Especially around Christmas time. But no IKEA where I'm going!

Edited June 12, 2012 by jaejayC

[Bornie 0]

Thnx guys

i am moving to arizona, i am from Trondheim so..i think what i am gonna miss most is the cafe culture with friends.

Also i am scared of not having any friends haha, but thay will be in order once i go to school.

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I grew up at Nordstrand, though I've lived in a few places across Oslo.

Making friends isn't so hard, if you're even a little bit extroverted and/or can get past the initial Norwegian tradition of not speaking to strangers. XD I've found that Americans as a whole are very willing to strike up a conversation with strangers and are very friendly (which is also why a lot of them find Norwegians rude - because we generally don't).