Things in Norway That Feel Completely Wrong to Americans

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]There are some things in Norway that just wouldn't work in America and I'm an American who's been living in Norway for the past 1 year. And over that 1 year, I've noticed a lot of differences that just wouldn't work in the US systems and other things I picked up. And yes, I've come outside because it is just so peaceful. This is one of the benefits of living in Norway. It's just how peaceful it is. I mean, look at this weather.

[00:00:22]And it's so cold. The first thing that wouldn't work in the US but works in Norway is the trust system. In Norway, the trust system is extremely high.

[00:00:32]People have so much trust, you know, they don't steal, they won't try to attack you, they won't cheat the system.

[00:00:38]They're very, very trustworthy. So trustworthy that you can walk around anytime at night. People won't steal things if you leave anything, you know, if you forget your wallet, people won't steal it.

[00:00:48]And just in general, the system is more like a community rather than everyone against each other. From my observations in the US, people just really seem to want to be for themselves and not help out other people, you know? And that's not a good system because in the US we're taught to worry about ourselves. You know, there's a maybe homeless person, you know, you should focus on yourself. In Norway, it's like everyone tries to bring each other up and focus on helping each other rather than than fending for themselves. And I think that's a really great trait of a country is being have a having a good community, right? So, I think that won't work in the US because people, in my opinion, just seem a little greedy in the US, like certain people, not everyone, of course, but a lot of people seem very greedy and just not wanting to help out other people. But in Norway, it looks like people really do want to help each other out and they care about the community. And there's it's so trustworthy also that you can bring your babies on the public transport. I mean, if I had had seen them in the US, I would be very confused and honestly a little scared because of what would happen. But in Norway, mothers bring their children on the buses all the time.

[00:01:53]You know, kids can walk to >> [clears throat] >> school, no problem. You know, it's a very very great system. So, that's the first thing I want to talk about. Now, the next thing I feel like when working in the US is the tipping system. Because as you guys know in Norway, people actually do not tip. It is not a part of the culture and I find that really nice.

[00:02:12]You know, the workers or the sorry, the employees are paid quite well and there's no need for tipping. But in the US, tipping is everywhere. It has become the culture now and I can understand tipping at a restaurant or somewhere where somebody is making something for you. But at a grocery store or at a self-service checkout, it just doesn't make sense to me and I think people really rely on tips in the US and in Norway, you know, the system, the economy is so good that there's no need for tipping all the time and I really like this. You know, of course, I think it's good. I want people to be paid fairly, of course, but I think in the US, it wouldn't work because tips are very heavily relied on and people just like the idea of tipping. Everyone wants their tips. You know, they want to make extra money and as I said back in the other point, it kind of feels like some people might be a little greedy when it comes to tipping. Not everyone, of course. This is not a, you know, I'm not trying to say this to hate, but I think that a lot of people are greedy and tipping has become kind of out of hand in certain areas in the US. So, that's something that definitely wouldn't work in in the US, but it it works in Norway, no tipping, which, you know, I think is great because the employees are paid fairly and you don't have to worry about, you know, tipping a lot of money. So, of course, if I go to a restaurant in Norway, I will tip, but I don't even think that's common. So, that's all I want to That's the next point. And another thing that wouldn't really work in the US is just the amount of freedom you have in nature. I mean, look at this. I have very much freedom here. You know, there's not really any signs saying don't go here, don't go there, which I really like. In the US, I feel like in nature, there's a lot of signs restricting you from going here, going there. You're very limited in where you can go. But here, it's like I can sit on the grass, you know, and nobody's going to get mad at me, or I can sit on the benches, and I think that's really great. I mean, look at this view, guys, again. It's just so so peaceful and so beautiful, and I think this is such a great benefit Norway is.

[00:04:04]No wonder they're so happy. I mean, if I could sit here every day in this weather and just, you know, see this kind of this weather, it just it would make me feel so much better, right? That's why I think a lot of the countries in Scandinavia are ranked so high because they have the ability to go into nature and connect with the themselves, you know, cuz in the US there's not and people don't really go into nature as much as they do in the Nordic countries or Scandinavian countries. So, I think that's a very nice benefit of being here, and I don't think it'd work in the US to have nature as unrestricted because then I feel like people would do a little more damage to it or not really respect it. Because here it's very respected, right? I don't I don't see a lot of trash anywhere on the ground, which I think is another great benefit because in the US you go to a lot of nature places, and, you know, most of it is pretty nice, but there are places that do have some trash. So, now the next thing that wouldn't work in the US works in Norway is silence. Now, look at this, guys. It is so peaceful here. I'm here at the sunset. Look at this beautiful sunset in the background. Sorry, I need to just let me focus it. Look at that sunset, and then we have more beautiful over here, and it is just so peaceful here. I don't know if you guys can hear, but there is no noise out here. I barely hear anything. No people screaming, no people talking, and I think in the US this really wouldn't work because people in the US seem to always want to talk, fill the silence, you know, they're very shot They're very anti-shy.

[00:05:32]They hate when it's awkward. They hate that that silence, so they they always want something to be happening. And I feel like in Norway, people are just so okay with silence, you know, it brings them peace, and it really does. I mean, me sitting here, you know, looking at this beautiful view, it's just so peaceful and there's nobody talking except for me. And there's nobody making noises, you know, no music. And I'm in a pretty busy area and you would have expected that to happen, but no.

[00:05:58]It's not and I think that's such a great benefit of Norway. And you know, that wouldn't work in the US as I said, because people are very interesting in the US and they can make a lot of noise quite quickly. So, yeah, I just think that's something that wouldn't work. I wish there were more places of silence. I think if you want silence, you kind of have to go out into the nature or maybe go to a place that's not as populated. But in Norway, you can just you can just pretty much go anywhere and you're going to find some sort of silence. So, that's something I want to talk about. And I just want to kind of switch the angle real quick cuz I know you guys said you wanted to see me out in nature and or more outside.

[00:06:33]And you know, this is me outside, you know, this is so beautiful. This is a little off topic, but I just want to say how amazing this is to be in this kind of nature and to experience this. I mean, this is one of the most peaceful moments I've probably had in my life since moving to Norway.

[00:06:49]In the US, you know, I did have these peaceful moments, but here it just feels so incredibly you know, there's no noise. I'm trying to be as quiet as possible cuz I don't want to disturb anyone, but there's no noise, there's no people talking.

[00:07:01]It's just so peaceful and I'm the only one here. As you guys can see, as you probably see in the background, the sun's setting and it's so amazing here.

[00:07:09]So, I just want to say that real quick a little segment of me being outside cuz I know the videos have been you know, inside a lot and not really outside, but I like to do more videos outside. I just realized, you know, this is kind of my first one outside in a while and I just realized this is so beautiful. This is really amazing and to just be able to talk to you guys and share my my life kind of and inside moments, I think is really great uh amazing. So, I'm very grateful for that. So, just a little mini segment just explaining and kind of showing you guys that I'm outside, but let's get back to the last point or the last thing that wouldn't work in the US.

[00:07:41]And the last thing that I really like about Norway that wouldn't work in the US is people aren't trying to impress each other. In the US, there's this idea that, you know, the more you buy and the more you wear, the more expensive things you have, the better of a person you are. But in Norway, that's different.

[00:07:57]People don't base you off of how much money you have or how nice clothes you have. They don't like that, actually.

[00:08:02]There's a rule or it's a set of rules called Janteloven, which actually says that, you know, you're not It's not all about trying to show who's better than you or trying to flex. And I really like this because in the US, it can get over the top sometimes. And I don't like people judging me based on how much money I make or what clothes I wear. I'd rather have a real genuine interaction, and I feel that a lot more in Norway.

[00:08:23]Although the social life is tough and people are more reserved, I think once you talk to Norwegians, you see that they're actually very, you know, they're very, how do I say it? They're not trying to flex to you or flash your clothes. They're very very kind, very respectful, and you can have actually pretty nice conversations with them. So, I just don't think that'll work in the US because in the US, people, again, overconsumption is a big deal and, you know, they're they're always trying to sell you the next thing, you know, buy this new car, get this credit card, buy this iPhone, buy this Apple Watch, and your life will be so much better. And it's like you come to Norway and you're like, but people don't do that and there's not all these ads saying to buy the next thing and yet the quality of life is better in Norway.

[00:09:08]It's like, that doesn't make sense because in Norway, there are no ads. You know, I've not seen any company pushed down my throat, buy this item or buy this product or do this and your life will be better. I haven't seen that. And that's something else that I really like is, you know, you're not trying to be sold something all the time. You can actually live your life and, you know, do things freely without being sold something all the time. And I think that's a really great benefit of Norway. And it won't work in the US because in the US, companies are mostly trying to use you for profit and that's a not good system. And in Norway, the companies I don't know too much about the companies, but from what I've seen, it doesn't seem like a lot of companies are using you for profit. So, that's something I want to talk about and I think that's really important. All right, guys. So, I think that's going to do it for the video. I wanted to come outside because I saw you guys liked me being outside in the last video. So, just want to come outside again. Look at this beautiful sunset once again.

[00:10:05]But, I want to say thank you guys so much for watching the video. If you enjoyed, make sure you subscribe. Make sure you leave a like and make sure you comment below. Maybe I'll make more videos outside. I I love doing this and it's great to be out in nature and the grass feels so nice. I'm sitting on some grass. So, get that connection to nature. But, thank you guys for watching and I'll see you guys in the next one.

[00:10:25]Peace.