No. It isn't always smooth sailing. Yes, who doesn't love all the perks & welfare. I, for one, love & appreciate the sweeping views & fresh air. It is, however, very personal and subjective to say how life should be for a person. For me, life in Flekkefjord.. Norway, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. :)
If you do a Google search for expat blogs/sites/forums about moving to/living in or even leaving Norway, you'll get truckloads of shared experiences, tips, questions about this country. And, you will quickly realize it isn't all nice & dandy for everyone.
For myself, the process I've experienced here was considered smooth - I obtained my permit in paper after 6 months. It was just pure luck that the local offices were being absorbed by regional offices in the bigger cities. We had to make a few trips to Lyngdal, Egersund and Kristiansand for tax cards, handing in & finalizing paperwork, and that was it.
I started applying for jobs before I officially received my papers, and I was extremely lucky to secure one. Over the years, I've come to realize just how lucky/blessed I am, to be able to have a job in this tiny town. SO, to have a job in hand before my official papers arrived, I was extremely contented & relieved, even though it is totally different from what I used to do.
Thus, with papers & a job, life in Norway was under way :) Most of our social interactions were with colleagues or related to work. It could be because we're in a small town that locals are generally curious, yet reserved at the same time. They appreciate those who genuinely try to learn the language, participate in local activities and just want to be part of the community. We were featured in the local community papers when we first moved into the town & people would ask us about it, even two years after.
We each had a boss that took us under their wings, professionally & personally. It was through them that we were invited to many family celebrations, weekend gatherings and even, staying over at a hytte (holiday home). Hiking during different seasons, skiing in the winter, kayaking & boat trips when the weather permits, BBQs during summer & road trips were part of the things they had introduced us too!
It can be hard to find someone that understands our way of thinking. Those that became our friends over time, they tend to speak to us in English :) They understood that we could better express ourselves in English :p though sometimes they would mix it up with Norsk - one of them fondly names it as Norg-lish, hehe..
So, what about cultural/lifestyle differences? Oh yea, they are there, and sometimes, it can be a massive difference. I have mentioned some of it before, it can be quite frustrating and makes us think of home, family & friends. Other times, it makes us learn that things could be done in a better way. Most of the times, we focus on what we have in common instead. And, so far, we haven't really encountered outright discrimination *touch wood*, though we've heard about some instances.
The pace of life here is laid-back, as you may already know, but you could still find stress and folks burnt out from work, though not often and there are systems in place for those who needs aid. And for those who are used to things being done even before you need it, it will be a struggle. Ting tar tid - Things take time is a commonly used phrase here and used in almost all circumstances.. plus the high tolerance for mistakes, I can imagine how it can really drive someone from back home up the wall.
Overall, no, it's not perfect, there are flaws but life here has allowed me to explore a different lifestyle, be at sights that I could have only seen in pictures or on TV/websites, learnt a new language, experience seasons & different food, and in some ways, even re-connect with nature & myself. Most of all, I appreciate the chance to further strengthen and build my relationship with the Mister as a married couple :p
However, is living far away from family & close friends & all things familiar, for you? Maybe yes, maybe no.. I would personally support the idea of doing it at least once for a short period. It is something that you can read all about it, prepare as much as you want beforehand but nothing, NOTHING, compares to experiencing it yourself. So, go ahead! :) Plan an adventure, whether short or long term, to Norway or elsewhere :) and enjoy the journey!!!
Sharing the adventurous spirit,
ABE