What do expats find most challenging?

"The hours of operation of shops and other public places; the lack of understanding Norwegian at times when people speak to me (I feel like an idiot); the "can't be bothered" or "pass the buck" mentality people working in the service sector often have here -- whether it is Telenor, UDI, NAV, or the local municipality offices, etc. Experience has shown me that these type of workers are incapable of admitting a mistake, apologising for mistakes, or actually doing their job effectively. Lastly, the staring. I came here from a big US city where people rarely look at you in passing (unless there is really something to look at) each other on the streets or in cars, etc. Here, it is more common. It has angered me so much when I saw people staring or looking at me. I was told it's just local curiosity because they don't know me or haven't seen me before (one person even said it's because I'm handsome), but it's hard not to think it rude and unacceptable behaviour. This is not so much the case in cities like Oslo, Trondheim or Bergen," said a member in Gjøvik, Norway.

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"Expats in Norway often find it challenging to adjust to the reserved nature of the local culture, as well as their expectation of punctuality and organization. Additionally, many expats find it difficult to learn and understand Norwegian, which is the primary language spoken in Norway. Additionally, the isolated nature of many of the Norwegian rural areas can make it difficult to establish a social circle outside of the workplace. Finally, due to the high cost of living, it can be difficult for expats to manage their finances and budget accordingly," remarked another expat who made the move to Norway.