Scandinavians

[Eve&Josh 5]

I'm gonna get a state ID. Do I need to carry my green card on me? Or is it better to keep it in a safe place?

By law you're supposed to carry your GC on you 24/7, but as someone who had their wallet (and as a law-abiding resident, in it the GC) stolen, I would recommend to keep it in a safe place (as long as you have a state ID on you, which you will have). Once I get my replacement card, I'm going to just carry a photocopy on me and leave the actual card at home.

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Boo, I failed my driver's test.

Parallel parking will be the bane of my existence. Still dependent on husband to drive me around... UGH!

[robhaa 1]

Just got a letter in the mail today from Skatteetaten.. To my US address.

The letter doesn't make much sense to me at all. It has two pages.. I attached the first one.. The second one is just general information.

Does this mean I'm officially "emigrated"? Does it mean they're processing it?

Yup, same letter as I got after I reported my move. I have also seen that my address has changed at other places that rely on "official" information, such as my bank and online broker.

[Moomin 292]

Boo, I failed my driver's test.

Parallel parking will be the bane of my existence. Still dependent on husband to drive me around... UGH!

The day prior to the test I practised parallel parking with lines(drawn with sidechalk) in the driveway and on the lines, I had placed an empty trashcan at one end and a chair at the other end. First time I hit(not just bumped) the empty trashcan and it made an awful amount of noise as it was madly rolling around and I ran out to make it stop and put it back, I swore I'd parallel park just fine from then and on. He he. It worked though. Never hit the trashcan(or any other car) from that point.

How long until you can go for the road test again?

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I've practiced parallel parking for weeks, now. We use orange cones that we borrowed from a friend. I still didn't get it right for the test. I hit a cone (which I've NEVER done before, ever - nerves, maybe?) and didn't get properly into the spot. I guess I'll keep practicing.

I have a new test scheduled for next week. I'd go sooner, but there weren't any appointments available.

[Moomin 292]

I've practiced parallel parking for weeks, now. We use orange cones that we borrowed from a friend. I still didn't get it right for the test. I hit a cone (which I've NEVER done before, ever - nerves, maybe?) and didn't get properly into the spot. I guess I'll keep practicing.

I have a new test scheduled for next week. I'd go sooner, but there weren't any appointments available.

Nerver, ja!

To be honest, I used a trash can and a chair because they were visible/tall enough in the rear mirror and when looking over the shoulder. The road test here was in traffic with two cars parked, ie normal parallel parking in the city so cones would've thrown me off to practise with. I just went by the reflection of the rear light in the trashcan as a clue to when I was close(and where exactly I was).

Good luck on your upcoming test Take the first one as an experience. For some, it helps when chewing gum. Whenever I drive remotely close to Chicago, gum is my best friend to calm the worst nerves.

[jaycali 415]

Yup, same letter as I got after I reported my move. I have also seen that my address has changed at other places that rely on "official" information, such as my bank and online broker.

How long did it take until the banks etc started using your new address?

I've practiced parallel parking for weeks, now. We use orange cones that we borrowed from a friend. I still didn't get it right for the test. I hit a cone (which I've NEVER done before, ever - nerves, maybe?) and didn't get properly into the spot. I guess I'll keep practicing.I have a new test scheduled for next week. I'd go sooner, but there weren't any appointments available.

Good luck on your next test llama! I'm sure nerves play a big role - like moomin said, chew gum!

[robhaa 1]

How long did it take until the banks etc started using your new address?

2-3 weeks, I think. If I recall correctly, it happened automatically in Danske Bank, Lånekassen and Nordnet. However, I had to report it myself to my other bank, Totens Sparebank/Terra.

Just to be clear, it was after I filed form RF-1402B to Skatteetaten, which I assumed you did too, since you got that notice.

[LlamaInvasion 76]

WOO I did it! I got my license on my second try, after 7 years here!

[Moomin 292]

WOO I did it! I got my license on my second try, after 7 years here!

More Scandinavians out on the roads, I applause. I've only seen one (besides me). It was a Swede, parked outside a pub.

Go celebrate! Congrats : )

[izola 1]

Okay, I'm now almost happy Started my new job and I completely love it, which is strange to me so that's really good. And yesterday we finally moved into our own home. After some annoying problems with the furniture (got two right arms for our armchair... two rights don't make a left) we now have everything built. Hubby has done the written for his drivers license and on Wednesday when I'm off work we're planning on hitting the DMV so I can try to get my learners permit and he can schedule his driving test.

Right now I'm just trying to dig up the form I have to send to USCIS for my move...

Grats on finally getting your greencard Bork! And grats LlamaInvasion on your drivers license!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Thanks Izola. Glad to hear things are coming together for you too.

What's happened in my life the last week or so:

- I got an American bank account last week. PNC. Now I just have to call my Swedish bank and activate some service that allows me to transfer money to foreign accounts and I'll be set in the bank department.

- I got my wife a dozen roses, a card and a box of chocolate for Valentines Day. I made lasagna. She got me a card and some delicious chocolate too. Russell Stover Pecan Delights - they were truly delightful! We had a nice evening. Neither one of us really care about Valentines, but since it was our first Valentines together, I wanted to do something nice for her, and she felt the same way.

- Saturday Feb. 16 was my birthday. We had breakfast at a place down in the Strip District called De Luca's, a diner. We chilled out at home for a bit and in the evening we went to a place called Latitude 40 - we played bowling and had nachos and pizza. I think my wife's daughter liked the place the most, but we all had fun. We got milkshakes on the way home. On Sunday we went to IKEA (I bought an apron, can't cook meatballs without an apron, and a coat stand called Portis) and then we went to a hibachi restaurant called Ichiban. It was the first time my wife and I had been to such a place, my wife's daughter had been a couple times before I think. I really liked it. The cook put on a fantastic show, and the food was really tasty. I had fried rice and fried noodles, veggies and fried shrimp. Just excellent! In the evening we went to my wife's parents and had dinner and cake. Great first birthday weekend in America, I had a wonderful time.

[MissK 5]

Sounds like a great time Bork! And happy belated birthday!

Well things is starting to coming together here too. I have been working on our AOS and finally sent it off today (there have been days where I thought, why the *ell did we not get married before we started all this...) oh well. I still get to play housewife a few more months.... Which so far have been busy with getting everything set up, visit from Norway and it's great to have time for my son right after school.

I got two bank accounts, one joint with my husband, I got a secured credit card with a 500 dollar limit, I got my social security card (twice, decided to add my husbands last name). Now I'm just waiting for NOA1 from AOS and then we will go to DMV to finally get my drivers license. Then I can go to buy wine alone!!! (sometimes I can't even get away with my passport as they have to scan the ID!!!) ANd wine is of course not the most important thing...

It feels like life is finally starting to get tighter again! Yay!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Happy Birthday Bork!

Has anyone here done DCF with the embassy before they stopped in 2011?

There is not exactly a ton of information on how this is going to work.

[MissK 5]

Sounds like a great time Bork! And happy belated birthday!

Well things is starting to coming together here too. I have been working on our AOS and finally sent it off today (there have been days where I thought, why the *ell did we not get married before we started all this...) oh well. I still get to play housewife a few more months.... Which so far have been busy with getting everything set up, visit from Norway and it's great to have time for my son right after school.

I got two bank accounts, one joint with my husband, I got a secured credit card with a 500 dollar limit, I got my social security card (twice, decided to add my husbands last name). Now I'm just waiting for NOA1 from AOS and then we will go to DMV to finally get my drivers license. Then I can go to buy wine alone!!! (sometimes I can't even get away with my passport as they have to scan the ID!!!) ANd wine is of course not the most important thing...

It feels like life is finally starting to get together again! Yay!

I can't edit previous post so I did it like this... Not starting to get tighter, but together again!!

Edited February 21, 2013 by MissK