We started off meeting with the Human Resource rep to review routine rules that apply to working and living in Norway. Traffic signs...way different.
I achieved a big step, I'm now the proud holder of a Norway corporate badge - no going back now!
The company will apply for my work permit but we'll need to handle the hubby's work permit ourselves. We want him to get the permit as soon as possible so we went down to the police station this afternoon to submit his paperwork. We knew it would be tough to get all the way through the process in the short time we had so we treated it like a dry run. We didn't get it done today. On Friday morning we'll try again. We leave Norway at noon and the police office opens at 9 am so there's some excitement in this effort. Can we get it done in time? Will they reject us and force a two month delay?
The way this process works is that we apply and it takes anywhere from 2 to 4 months to get the work permit. Why is this important? When you get your work permit they give you a residents number (think Social Security number). Without the all important number you can't have a credit card, a bank account, a job, a drivers license or any other significant position that allows you to "live". So...hubby needs the number. They will give him a permit on the basis of "family reunification". Since I will have a number he gets one too. Nice family focused country. They love the families being together. Not all countries do - one country is known to have said there is no reason why the workers could not go without their spouse for a year.
We'll attempt the permit again on Friday morning. Our goal will be for them to accept his application. We'll let you know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed!!
After our trial run we called a real estate agent and saw one house in the downtown area. It was soooo great to see a house that we felt a connection with. It could be better but it's probably 90% where we want to be.
We seem to be recreating our Anchorage home here in Stavanger. The house we found is similar in many ways to our sweet house in Anchorage. There are four houses we want to see tomorrow. Two of the houses are scheduled for us to see.
Some of the real estate agents don't want to talk to us. They only want to work with the company representative. They say the client is the company rep. not us. There's something not quite right about that approach. But who are we to argue with local custom?
After our day of paper and process we walked around the city. Very nice ending to the day!
Big tower in the center of old town
All of a sudden there's a huge cruise ship in town!
Old town has turned into a shopping district
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