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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what Nordic country you would move to, if forced?

212 replies

Wildwildwildwest · 15/07/2023 23:20

Just that really. Bored on a Saturday evening and wonder what others might think! What would be your number one choice, ranking from favourite to least. For reference the Nordic countries are Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.

OP posts:
WheretheWildMumsAre · 22/07/2023 19:49

FORCED?

I would bloody love to move to Scandinavia… Finland would be my top choice, or Sweden.

unfortunately the language barrier would be a massive setback for DH (he would definitely need it to work if he were to do the same career) and I think I would find it hard being away from my family.

but have you seen Finland? It’s incredible

Horriblewoman · 22/07/2023 19:57

Sweden. I’ve got my passport and should now be able to apply for dual nationality. Plan at some point in the future is to take a sabbatical and spend a few months in Gothenburg.

or Copenhagen. I loooooooove Copenhagen but it is pricey.

MTGBTTATP · 22/07/2023 20:07

Crikeyalmighty · 22/07/2023 11:17

@MTGBTTATP interesting as we know quite a few people in Stockholm and went a fair bit when we lived in Copenhagen- I found the people friendly and jolly but probably because we know them. I think the scandis in general are often quite self contained and not seeking to expand their friendship circles, but I think this is partly because they don't tend to move around a lot. They have good social housing in many of these cities, plus more consistent prices if you own, so aren't constantly moving away for more space - in Copenhagen it was noticeable how the population was more mixed age groups- still lots of older people of all 'classes ' I spoke to a 40 something Cooenhagener I met at the business centre and she said it's common to still have family and school friends and old Uni friends locally and hence they don't rush to meet new people and are very family focussed too - it's just the mindset they have. It sucks a bit in this aspect if you move there , depends if it bothers you, but as we found it's even harder if you work for yourselves and lots of the international meet ups are very very young folk.

Is it possible you visited in the summer? - they can be quite different then...but living there year round, was not worth it. The weird thing was they all talked about how they behaved differently when they travelled - they talked freely to new people but when they returned to Sweden they'd revert back - they said they felt very controlled by societal norms, I just found it quite suffocating. Not the place for me.

WheretheWildMumsAre · 22/07/2023 20:07

Horriblewoman · 22/07/2023 19:57

Sweden. I’ve got my passport and should now be able to apply for dual nationality. Plan at some point in the future is to take a sabbatical and spend a few months in Gothenburg.

or Copenhagen. I loooooooove Copenhagen but it is pricey.

If you do, please start a thread and tell us about it!

Tiddlywinkly · 22/07/2023 21:24

Of those I've only been to Iceland. I went in winter and it was stunning. I liked the locals dry humour.

I'm visiting Copenhagen next month and Norway next year. I can't wait.

I'm going to vote Norway. Both parents discovered genetic links to there so I'm a teeny tiny bit Norwegian. Any excuse - it looks beautiful.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/07/2023 23:51

@MTGBTTATP no, I've been all times of year- I can see it wouldn't suit everyone. I definitely think you have to have quite a self contained mindset. My Spanish friend hated it .

Puffinshop · 23/07/2023 10:33

I've lived in Iceland for more than a decade and have been a citizen for a while now. It suits me nicely. It's no paradise but I like upsides of the small population more than the downsides. It's a lovely place to live and wonderful for families and children. I'd move here all over again if I had my time again.

I laughed at the comments about volcano risks - everyone I know sees eruptions as exciting and we love them! Well at least the nice friendly lava eruptions that don't cover everything with ash and don't cause glacial floods. But living in the capital, the only volcano risk is ash, which is not a huge deal in my opinion.

The worst thing is the dark of mid winter, but you get through it.

Puffinshop · 23/07/2023 10:34

Maybe I'll revise my opinion if Katla goes..

thousandbirds · 23/07/2023 10:34

Bliss1221 · 22/07/2023 19:45

Says a brit who hasnt been to Finland or Estonia.

You might want to start your journey of education by listening to both countries national anthem-which is the same btw.

Show quote history

A brit? I’m in Sweden, been to Finland quite a few times and Estonia too if it matters to you. We were taught the different Nordic national anthems in school. Thanks for trying to educate me though.

thousandbirds · 23/07/2023 10:44

You seem awfully angry over Estonia officially not being a Nordic country @Bliss1221, I have no idea why tbh.

Denmark is very hygge, I recommend going there.

Itstime2023 · 23/07/2023 10:54

Sweden 100%

JazbayGrapes · 23/07/2023 11:16

Sweden probably. Been there, kinda liked it. But i also think i'd be bored.

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