Moving to Oslo this January with a 5 Month Old

[ElizRose]

Hello Norwegian Mommies! 

My husband and I are about to relocate to Oslo from the Seattle, Washington, USA region in just a couple of weeks (around January 18th). My husband will be working on a PhD at the University of Oslo and I will be staying home with our lovely 5 month old baby girl. 

I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous about the move. I know the long flight and jet-lag will be trying but after that, I'm most worried about finding some friends with children to spend time with. Here at home, I have been able to get together with a couple of other mothers about once a week which has been so wonderful! One of my biggest fears is that it will be hard to make friends in a new country. I'm going to try to learn Norwegian but I have a feeling it might take me awhile to make much progress. If you are in the Oslo area and would like to get together sometime please let me know! 

I also have some questions about vaccines in Olso. We've been doing a bit of a delayed schedule with our doctor here but I have no idea how it will work once we get over there. In fact, I have no idea how you even go about finding a doctor in Norway. I guess I have a lot to learn! 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! 

~Elizabeth Packard and 5 month old Mary Elizabeth 

[Athravil]

Hi, and welcome to Norway! 

I live about 40 minutes outside of Oslo and I am currently home on maternity leave with my soon 10 months old youngest daughter. I would love to meet you and give you any assistance I can help you with. I have lived abroad myself and know how hard it can be to get around in the beginning. No question is too stupid to ask.

I hope the move goes better than feared!

To give you a few starting points - Norwegians are often perceived as distant and cold, not so true in reality, but we may be a bit harder to get to know than what you are used to. However, if you befriend someone, you are usually friends for a long time.

We also love to practice our English, so if you really want to practice your Norwegian be firm and persistent that you only want to talk Norwegian.

I recon you will be in the local healthsystem for the baby and will have check ups there with a person who is specialized in children's development - not a doctor, but more than a "nurse". Very often this is a woman, just as midwifes very seldom is male. She will be the one to set the vaccines - we usually follow the general Norwegian vaccineprogram, with a double shot at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months if I remember correctly. And the MMR vaccine. If you prefer to have a single shot at a time that is possible, also to have them delayed. 

There will also be a health check by a doctor.

I recon you and your husband will use the university doctors as your GP, I was very happy with them as a student.

I am sure you are swamped right now, so I'll PM you my contact info