How has your life changed in Norway

number one, cannot find work so cannot have bank account or personal number so no doctor, purchase of broadband \ little luxuries like a mobile phone subscription etc etc etc...mental health "0"

cannot get child into barnhague before August = no chance of me working - doing anything as I have to be a full time mother. I have done all the paper work, registered at the polis etc...been very honest and followed all Norways rules.

Perhaps if you are married to a Norwegian this is easier, but I didn't realise Norway was secretly old fashioned and not liberal at all! ( I have lived with my Norwegian Partner for 14 years in London and life was good. I had a well paid job, my own property in London, anything I wanted, power to buy anything I wanted, put my child in good childcare, have a car etc - totally independent. No I feel like I have no rights! I can't even join the local library as I have no personal number.

Novemeber  whilst prepapring for my move, I sent all my qualifications to utdanningsdirektoratet and still have heard nothing - its March 28th 2017 Now! I am in every moment I can learning Norwegian (when my 3 year old is asleep = not as I would have hoped), but seem like my life has become totally rubbish now.

A  propos my child who is supposed to be Norwegian (he has a native Norwegian father), he cannot get a personal number or doctor (because I cannot get a doctor or number), because he was born in London UK. I have to I was told by NAV get an apostille from a lawyer as British Birth certificates and passports are not enough proof he is Norwegian. What the hell is going on? I am from the UK. I dread to think what  my situatuin would be like if I was from Hawaii.

so to answer the initial brief "How has my life changed?" My life is totally backward, and standard of living is basic and depressed. If I had it my way. I would book my return to the UK in a second!

I totally feel what you are going trough. was wondering if you are allowed to stay for more then 3 months without getting a personal number. Aren't there any immigration lawyers who can help you out.

I don't think I really want to stay in Norway that much. But It's complicated as my child's father is Norwegian....Not feeling very enthusiastic right now. If I had a job I'm sure I'd feel differently - money etc. I'm living off my English savings.

That is the irony of it ... it´s difficult to find a job without a personal number and and it´s difficult  to get a personal number without a job

My life has definitely changed!  'Better or Worse?  it depends on how you look at it and your priorities.

I had a very well paid job back in Singapore with lots of friends and families.  Singapore is considered very much a more first world country compared to Norway.  Easy to get nice food and nice things.

But then we have very little nice nature and no seasonal differences.

I lost all the amentities and freedom that i used to enjoy in Norway but I also receive other kinds of enjoyment that I never had before.

I learnt to slow down a little at work and enjoy more family life.  I learn to enjoy a stroll in the forest and a swim in a real natural lake.  I learn to play in snow.  I learn to be more frugal because I don't earn as much and things are so expensive here.  I also learn to cook food at home more because there is no way to get food that i like outside and it is so expensive to get food outside too.

At times, I get so fed up with the system here.....medical and government....and wish that we can move back to singapore.  But I can see that Norway is a better country for my kid to grow up in.  In Singapore, kids are sent to learn enrichment classes when they are only a year old.  That is all because of the competitive nature in the society.  I don't want her to grow up in such an environment.  I want her to enjoy her childhood and play as much as she want when she still can.