Big decision

[Vorpal]

I've been looking for a job since the end of last year. I've really enjoyed looking after kids the last couple of years, but my other half isn't able to work, now, so we're swapping.

I've had the good fortune to get three job offers. I turned one down because I didn't think it was as good as the others; neither in pay or working conditions. The other two, however, leave us with a difficult decision. One is in the USA, and the other in Norway. They are roughly equivalent in terms of salary versus buying power. It seems that the main advantages and disadvantages are:

USA:
closer to my family (though a couple of states away, so not too close)
farther from Mr. V's family
we can buy a bigger house
only 15 days holiday & longer working hours

Norway
good schools / support for the little ones
no friends or family nearby
good working hours & holiday time
farther from my family, but not too bad for visiting Mr. V's family (UK)

Mr. V slightly favours Norway because of the quality of life. I slightly favour the USA. The job isn't in any states I've lived in before, but it would be a much easier transition for me culturally.

[horizon]

vorpal: you'll still be able to post on the forum from either place so it really doesn't matter which you choose.

[Vorpal]

vorpal: you'll still be able to post on the forum from either place so it really doesn't matter which you choose.

Thanks. That means I can take some of my friends with me.

[bensonboo]

Are they both permanent? Do any of you speak Norwegian? Which of the countries average weather conditions do you prefer?

[Richard]

good schools / support for the little ones

That would swing it for me.

[Vorpal]

We don't speak Norwegian. But Norwegians speak English well, almost universally. I'm pretty good at languages, so I think I'll cope. And I also think that having another language (or more) will be good for the kids.

Both jobs are permanent. The one in the USA is north central, so not much different in climate from Norway.

[TonyR]

We don't speak Norwegian. But Norwegians speak English well, almost universally. I'm pretty good at languages, so I think I'll cope. And I also think that having another language (or more) will be good for the kids.

Both jobs are permanent. The one in the USA is north central, so not much different in climate from Norway.

Personally I'd go for Norway over the US of A, especially if its around Chicago-Detroit-ish. The USA is much more work focussed and you'll be lucky to take all of the 15 days. Usually holidays are long weekends. There is also the security issue. There are a lot of no-go areas in the US, especially in the big cities, but it goes beyond that. My sister's family came back after they found out their five year old daughter's friend had been showing her her fathers loaded gun he kept in his bedside drawer.

[horizon]

vorpal: it's a good question. I thought about it for a while and wondered what I would do. In the end I came up with the idea of living in both places. The school year would be spent in Norway and Norway would equal work with short visits to the UK at Xmas etc. I would the arrange to spend the long summer vacation in the US near to your parents. Maybe camping, cycling and canoeing - no pressure, no work. It's still the best way to experience America.

[kwackers]

Whereabouts in Norway? The sun sets for the winter over there and it's bloody cold...

[Vorpal]

Lier region. West and a little south of Oslo.

[kwackers]

Not too bad then. I guess the sun doesn't quite make it under the horizon for the winter so far south?

I know the weather's pants here, but months with no sign of the sun would drive me daft!

[karlt]

Not too bad then. I guess the sun doesn't quite make it under the horizon for the winter so far south?

I know the weather's pants here, but months with no sign of the sun would drive me daft!

British weather is one of the finest points of living here. It seldom gets too hot, never gets too cold apart from some virtually uninhabited parts of Scotland, and rarely gets homicidal. I never quite understand what people's objections are.

Most other parts of the world you'll have to put up with any number of the following: temperatures in the 30s every summer, temperatures below -20 every winter, metres of snow every winter, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, dust storms and/or violent thunderstorms. Not being subject to extreme weather doesn't qualify as "pants" in my book.

[Vorpal]

Actually I quite like the weather, at least in the East. I can cycle almost year round, and it's seldom either too cold or too hot to make that an uncomfortable experience. I miss the autmun leaves, and it's nice to have enough snow once or twice in a winter to go sledging, but otherwise, if I could order weather to suit, it would (mostly) be British weather.

We would probably stay if I could find a job within commuting distance. Unfortunately, I can't. And the only job prospects I have in the UK don't want to pay me enough to keep me here.

Since I've got to move, anyway, I prefer to go work for someone who values my contribution enough to compensate me well for it. Both of my offers are at twice the equivalent pay (in terms of buying power, not currency) that I could get in the UK, unless I was willing to work offshore in the oil industry.

[kwackers]

I never quite understand what people's objections are.

Most other parts of the world you'll have to put up with any number of the following: temperatures in the 30s every summer, temperatures below -20 every winter, metres of snow every winter, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, dust storms and/or violent thunderstorms. Not being subject to extreme weather doesn't qualify as "pants" in my book.

I agree. But then it's fairly subjective and depends on whether the weather stops you doing stuff you want to do...

(I think it's the 'variability' that people object too. Be nice to be able to plan stuff. )

[thirdcrank]

What would we find to talk about if the weather was always the same. I tend to bump into the same people =largely BOF's like me when I go for my paper etc and I made the point to somebody the other day that Eskimoes must have little small talk.

Day 1: First eskimo "Snowy again." Second Eskimo "You're not wrong."
Day 2: First eskimo "Snowy again" etc............

This may be why they are said to have so many different words for different types of snow.