Maybe you should try it's neighbor to the east ?

I'm guessing you are with Norwegian? There is no way in he!! I would put myself through JAA training unless I planned a minimum of five years in Europe. Anything less simply would not be worth the hassle and expense. Luckily all I had to do to get my JAA license was to tick a box .

Like others have said, if you don't like it go back home. I have made the opposite move and am considering reversing it myself. I know what you mean about having a different appreciation for your home country once you leave it. Had it not been for the crappy weather and lack of good aviation jobs I probably never would have made the move myself.

I never lived in Norway (visited many times for skiing) but I can tell you that IMO there are a lot of things in the US that can be extremely frustrating too. You say things are poorly organized over there. There must be a huge difference how they do things in Norway compared to my home country. Before I moved to the US (for a third time in my life) I lived in the Caribbean and I expected things to be run a lot smoother than down in island life. Boy was I surprised! There has been so many times where I have dealt with government/authorities and getting conflicting answers. The right hand usually does not know what the left hand does.

I'm in no way saying things are perfect over in Euroland, far from. As you mentioned paperwork being one thing. But this goes for the US too, or any other country in this world for that matter. It would be great if one could take all the good things from a number of countries and make one good out of it. Since that is not possible all you can do is to accept it and make the best out of it while there.

What I can tell you is that, most likely, when you do move back to the US there are things that will frustrate the he!! out of you because you forgot how it's done compared to in Norway. It's not until you have experienced something different that you will pay attention to things back home you have never thought about before. Good and bad.

As far as cost of living you have to keep in mind you chose to move to one of (if not the) most expensive countries in the world. But, also remember that as a person paying taxes over there you will never have to worry about getting sick, paying for having your kids in kindergarten, and later on sending them off to college. In how many countries can you become a doctor or lawyer withoug having to pay a single dime in tuition? Or having your wife stay home for a year (18 months in Sweden, not sure about Norway) with 80% pay after giving birth to your son/daughter? Or how about a mandatory five weeks of vacation. Just trying to show there are good and bad things with every system.

I hope you don't take this post as a bash on the US but instead as an advice from someone who has experienced living in quite a few countries, considering my fairly young age.

To finish off, I bet you will miss them Norwegian girls when you do leave .