I’m an American Raising My Kids in Norway

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Monica Virga Alborno, founder of Wanderwild Family Retreats. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I’m an engineer who has always been interested in living abroad. I grew up in New Jersey and went to Penn State, but my first job after school took me to Kuwait. That’s where I met my husband, Ziad, who is from Saudi Arabia.

Ziad and I worked together, and we were as dedicated to our company as we were to each other. The company put us on a dual career track, meaning we’d be working from the same location. Then, they transferred us to Angola, in West Africa. Three years after Zaid and I met, we got engaged in Paris during a vacation.

We planned a wedding in Africa and got married in New Jersey. But once we were ready to start a family, I wanted to leave Africa so I wouldn’t need to worry about diseases like malaria while pregnant.

We asked our company to transfer us again, and now we live in Norway with our two kids.

The nature around our home is beautiful

Ziad, who grew up in the desert, said he wanted to live somewhere he could see the ocean, mountains, and snow. I told him I didn’t think that place existed, but I was wrong. Our company transferred us to Norway, and we immediately fell in love with the country.

Today, we live about 20 minutes (by ferry and bus) outside Norway’s second-largest city. I can see fjords and mountains from our living room. We’re on an island with hiking trails all around. Our house is comparable to an American home: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a huge yard with plum trees.

Parental leave is mandatory for men and women

Living here, I understand why Norway is one of the happiest countries in the world, especially for parents. It starts with parental leave, which is mandatory for both mothers and fathers. I had about nine months of paid leave, and Zaid had about four months.

Parental leave isn’t meant to run concurrently but to flow one after the other. When the mother returns to work, the father picks up the home duties. From the beginning, both parents are responsible for the home and the baby. This policy results in more moms returning to work and a better balance in the household, I think.

The public day care is an affordable forest school

Both my kids attend Barnehage, a Norwegian public day care that’s a cross between forest school and Montessori education. Because of Barnehage, both my kids speak Norwegian — which I’m still struggling to pick up. They learn to get outside in all weather and bake homemade bread. Truly, I couldn’t design a better program.

The cost for both kids to attend for 40 hours a week is $420 total. I also receive a monthly stipend for the kids, which will continue until they’re about 16. That amounts to $350 monthly.

A pelvic floor therapist visited the day after I gave birth

Medical care in Norway is high-quality, but it has a more holistic approach, especially during pregnancy. During both pregnancies, I wasn’t seen until 12 weeks. Pregnancy and birth were treated like natural processes, not medical events. The maternity floor had dim lighting, and for the most part, the staff left me alone unless they were needed.

When I needed an emergency C-section with my daughter, the care was outstanding. A pelvic floor specialist even visited me in recovery so I could start healing my core on day one. I wanted to try for a VBAC with my son, and I met with a team at the hospital who explained how I could safely do that (which I did).

The quality of care makes me OK with higher taxes

Last year, my daughter had a severe virus that left her intubated in the ICU for nearly a week. She had two nurses assigned to her 24/7, and a massage therapist who came in frequently. They even kept a diary of what happened to her each day, including pictures. They explained this helps patients understand the time they lose when they’re unconscious. My daughter only has positive memories, despite the traumatic experience.

When she was transferred to the children’s hospital, there were literally bicycling clowns to entertain the kids. Americans are quick to point out Norway has higher taxes, and that’s true — I pay up to 38% of my income in tax. And yet, I can see the direct benefit of my tax money on my quality of life and the care my children receive, so it doesn’t bother me.