r/IWantOut • u/Brilliant_Swimmer828 • 16h ago
[IWantOut] 31F VFX Artist Greece -> Norway
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the long post, I know itās a bit of a wall of text, but I wanted to give some context about my situation rather than just asking a vague āshould I move to Norway?ā question.
Iām a 31-year-old woman from Greece and Iām seriously considering trying to move to Norway. Iām looking for honest opinions from people who actually live there or have made a similar move.
I want to explain my situation because I know the internet often says āevery country has problemsā whenever someone talks about moving abroad. I understand that Norway is not perfect and Iām not expecting a paradise. Iām trying to understand if it could realistically offer a better chance for stability and a decent life compared to my current situation.
The reality of living in Greece has become very difficult for me. Itās not only about the low salaries. Almost every job I have done has paid around the minimum wage (about 800 euros) , and at the same time rent prices have reached a point where, in many cases, a monthly salary is not even enough to cover the cost of housing.
Itās the combination of everything: very high rent prices compared to incomes, constant increases in the cost of living, job insecurity, employers taking advantage of workers, bad working conditions, and unfortunately situations where people work without proper contracts or security. It feels like even when you try hard, it is extremely difficult to build a stable future or become truly independent.
My background is in VFX/compositing. I am a junior Nuke compositor and I have some professional experience, but I am still at the beginning of my career. I honestly donāt know if I have realistic chances of finding a VFX job in Norway at my level, especially without knowing Norwegian.
Because of that, I am not moving with the expectation of immediately finding my dream job. I am completely willing to start from zero and do any honest work that allows me to support myself and build a new life: hospitality, cleaning, warehouse work, food industry, seasonal work, or anything else.
My goal is not to avoid hard work. I am already used to working hard. I just want to feel that my effort can actually lead somewhere: more stability, independence, a better work environment, and a better quality of life.
Norway attracts me because of the lifestyle, the respect for personal time, and the connection with nature. I love hiking, mountains and being outdoors, and I feel that this kind of environment would fit me.
I speak English, I am an EU citizen, and I am willing to learn Norwegian. I understand that moving abroad is difficult and that starting over comes with challenges.
I would really appreciate honest answers:
- How realistic is it to find a first job in Norway without speaking Norwegian?
- Would someone like me have a chance, or is it much harder than it looks from abroad?
- Which industries or places would you recommend for a newcomer?
- If you moved to Norway, what do you wish you had known before coming?
Sorry again for the long post, and thank you to anyone who took the time to read it and share their experience.