There are so many fantastic reasons why people choose to move to Norway.
The high quality of life, higher wages, spectacular landscapes, and strong social safety net can make it seem like a promised land.
But there are specific factors unique to life in Norway that will make you miss certain things about your previous life back home.
READ MORE: Six questions that will answer whether Norway is the place for you
While the many upsides of living in Norway deserve the attention they get, one would be remiss not to acknowledge some of the associated pain points of those who leave behind the countries where they were born.
Your friends back home
Everyone misses their families and friends when they move abroad.
Building a new social circle as an adult is hard anywhere, but Norway presents its own unique challenges. Norwegians are known to be a bit reserved, and forming close friendships can take both time and effort.
READ MORE: Settling in Norway: Five places to meet new people and make friends
Many people who move to Norway miss the easy, spontaneous social connections they had back home and find themselves longing for the casual, friendly gatherings they used to take for granted.
Therefore, don't be surprised if you find yourself reminiscing about the friends you grew up with and how effortless those relationships used to be after spending a year or two in Norway.
The Local has a guide for those seeking to broaden their social circles in Norway, which you can find here.
Warm (and dry) weather
If you've moved to Norway from sunnier climates like Italy, Spain, or Croatia, the Norwegian weather might be the first thing you start to "resent."
READ MORE: How to dress for the cold weather in Norway
With its long winters, frequent rain, and dark days – especially in western and northern Norway (think Bergen or Tromsø) – the climate can be a stark contrast to what you were used to.
Sunny, warm days can be a real rarity, and many people find themselves longing for the kind of weather where you can comfortably sit outside with friends.
Regularly socialising over (affordable) food and drinks
In many parts of southeastern Europe, going out for a coffee or a drink is a regular, affordable social activity that helps keep friendships strong.
However, Norway's high cost of living can make these simple pleasures feel like a luxury.
Grabbing a coffee (priced upwards of 60 kroner in most cafés) or a glass of wine (northward of 140 kroner in many restaurants) with friends can quickly add up, and replicating the social habits from back home might wreck your budget.
As a result, many expats miss the ease of socialising in cafés and bars, where gathering with friends doesn't come with a hefty price tag-induced headache.
Familiar dishes and flavours
Norwegian cuisine has its charms (the quality of Norwegian seafood, for example, is among the best in the world), but many expats quickly find themselves craving the flavours of their home countries – especially if they move to less urban areas of the country.
Finding ingredients to make traditional dishes from back home can also be challenging or expensive, and local supermarkets may not carry the specific items you need.
The longing for a favourite comfort food – whether it's a particular type of cheese, spice, or pastry – often grows the longer you're away.
Casual hospitality
In many cultures, hospitality is spontaneous and casual.
Neighbours drop by for a quick chat, and friends often gather for a meal without formal invitations or plans.
In Norway, however, social visits are more like doctor's appointments – scheduled well in advance and neatly slotted into a calendar.
Spontaneously dropping by a friend's place for coffee? You might as well slap them and call them names – the shock and confusion would be about the same.
Many migrants miss the easy-going vibe of these everyday interactions, where grabbing a cup of coffee with a neighbour didn't require a booking system.
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