Life in Norway Is Not Perfect for Everyone

Re “So, This Is Heaven: Norway,” Nov. 8: I am a 41-year-old man living in Norway. We do not experience “the perfect life” in Norway all the time. For example, we do not have eight weeks of vacation. Starting next year we will have five weeks of vacation. A woman’s leave when she sets a new child into this world is one year. She is paid 80% of her salary.

If I want to buy a new car it will cost about $30,000. There are spas in about 10% of Norway’s homes. (I am in that business.) I am a sales manager and earn $33,330 each year, minus 35% taxes. That leaves my family with $1,804 a month.

If we have to go to the hospital for surgery, Norway is trying to get the waiting time down to six months. We now have to wait for about a year until it is our turn. People die when they are waiting. So, please do not tell us that we live in a perfect country.

Thor Olaf Haugsnes

Haugesund, Norway

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Your article about Norway reminded me of the times I visited that beautiful place, both in the Navy and on business. What was missing: Norway has a high incidence of alcoholism, due to the combination of long nights and easy living.

Robert Park

Hermosa Beach