AboutRoy Helge Rasmussen Expertise I live in the southern part of norway and can find my way around most of the country. I will answer questions about social life, culture, language and politics to the best of my knowledge. I am not so good at travel tips outside the south-eastern parts, although I will try to answer.
Experience I live here and have been guiding members of my family around when they visit from abroad for years.
Expert: Roy Helge Rasmussen Date: 2/2/2008 Subject: find work and live in norway as a specialist
Question QUESTION: Thanks you for this unique site, i have many non answered questions :
I am 35 years single doctor specialised in Obstetrics & Gynaecology .
I lived in Paris for 5years where I did my studies but I am lebanese .
1.Is it hard for a foreign specialist to find work in norwegian hospitals?
2.Is it difficult for single man to live in norway? how is social life comparing to Paris?Is it more easy to come as a couple ?
3.Are foreign doctors treated the same as norwegian doctors in term of salaries ?
4.Do I have to learn Norwegian before applying?
5.Do you have many foreign specialist well integrated ?
May I thank you again for your kind responses.
Nagi.
ANSWER: 1) Not particularily. Lots of MD specialists work in norwegian hospitals. It takes quite a bit of effort and skill, but with all these foreign doctors everywhere, it can't be impossible either.
2) No. Not that I know how life for a single is in Paris, but if you know how to adapt to the local society, then you should be ok. You'll probably be working so much that you don't have time for all that social life anyway ;-)
3) Yes, salaries are negotiated based on numbers of years of experience and are generally negotiated centrally by the Doctors union. First thing after you get approved - join the union.
4) Yes, we have many foreign specialists. How well they choose to integrate is pretty much up to them. Norwegians will let you alone until you try to achieve contact. Many people from southern regions feel this is a cold way to behave, but it is viewed as respect here. Join a club, go to a gym, join a union - take part in voluntary life. If you're christian go to church, if you're muslim find yourself a mosque. If you're atheist join the atheist association. Start coaching the local boys football team, join the scouts as a scoutmaster. Involve yourself in the homebrewing beer-afficionados union or anything. Invite people for dinner, make people relax in a homey atmosphere and you'll fit right in.
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QUESTION: thanks for your fast and clear response,well I am deeply christian and I like beer so if it is enough to be integrated it would be ok but this was not enough in Paris since people work too much with more than 80hours per week and never go to church ... .just one last question: is there sites or books you can recommand to learn norwegian before trying to come?
Answer Just don't expect anything to come for free, and just chew down the inevitable setbacks and I think you're going to be just fine. You speak, or at least write good english so you'll be able to communicate with everyone from day one. And since you're christian you probably have little in the way of dietary considerations - another hurdle that is not there on the road to integration.
The dark and cold during the winter does seem to make many people depressed during the cold season, so it is especially important to be busy then.
When you search for a church community that is right for you, you should try to find one that is alcohol tolerant. Many of the pentecostal other caristmatic churches disapprove of alcohol in any form due to historical reasons (one hundred years ago norway was a nation of drunkards - worse than russia today)
The major church is the norwegian lutheran church, with churches everywhere. But the activities and social functions each parish vary wildly. Some places there's only ten senior citizens coming to service on sunday, some places are buzzing with activities every evening for any age group. The smaller denominations generally have a higher level of activity, and lower tolerance in one way or the other - so what suits you all depends. A church is a social construct anyhow so you need to find something that fits.
80 hour weeks is not common, and strictly illegal in many professions. Sadly medical doctors are the one exception. There is just not enough of them so they tend to work way too much. On the other hand, after passing the language test, and have your education background approved by norwegian authorities, you can pretty much point your finger on the map and decide where you want to live at random.
